GPX

I haven’t been grading since the pandemic, but I can give some suggestions: - if you’re looking for the cheapest option, then it’s just a matter of browsing the relevant websites. - if you’re assuming WATA is going to give better returns if considering a resell, then I don’t think that’s a guarantee in the current market. - VGA is still an option because it has more serious collectors who give it more trust than the newer companies. Yes, they all have some flaws, but VGA is undoubtedly more reliable as a grading service.

Plot twist: that crack pipe was a limited edition, rarer than the AirZonk!

I don’t think any franchise should retire as all it takes is a refinement with some slight additions and the franchise may well kick into another gear again. Having said that, and despite my Sega affection, I feel the 3D Sonic games have a limit to how far they can stretch, as the maniacal speed running in a 3D platform doesn’t quite translate well into games. I’m fine with future 2D Sonic games if new concepts can be added.

This is interesting to reflect, as I like art but I never really cared about the color to choose in the player design. In fact I can barely remember a game in which I choose a color other than the original one! The only example I can think of is choosing between the red Ken (original SF2) or purple/yellow Ken (revised editions), in which I liked choosing random colors.

I gave it a 7. However, I actually share similar sentiments to yours. I have it on Xbox Live and played it for a stage or two. I recall enjoying the game but for some reason it never hooked me to keep playing like Contra or Metal Slug. I might give it another go to see how my views have changed.

Good to see you have a clearer understanding of your goals. Having 90% of them sealed/graded is already a mighty fine effort. Congrats on the achievement so far!

I don’t have an actual inventory so the numbers are my rough estimates: ~ 1200 Nintendo NES/SNES/N64/GameCube/GB/GBA/GBC ~ 1000 Sega MS/MD/MCD/Saturn/Dreamcast/GG ~ 1000 Sony PS1/PS2/PS3 and Xbox Original ~ 100 miscellaneous (eg. PC, 3DO) The aim is to slowly trim the collection over time, while I constantly review and figure out my “ultimate collection”, and before I give it up when osteoarthritis and early dementia hits me.

Embrace your inner nerd! Thats what helps to keep the fire going. Also, being authentic to yourself is what maintains happiness.

I think our misunderstanding came about from this quote “I think it's also perfectly valid for someone to give a game a 5 (or less) just due to it not personally being their cup of tea, even if objectively it's a very good game.” ”Not personally their cup of tea”, could mean a partial dislike for that particular genre (which is what I agreed with the “yes”); or it could mean a full dislike and avoidance of properly playing all future games of that genre (which is what I added with the “no”). I should have emphasised that the “no” is a very small percentage.

I’ve played and completed all the Castlevanias on the GBA and DS, and I tend to agree that these ones have a more quicker hook to them. Maybe because a more relatively simplistic formula compared with SOTN? I can’t be entirely sure as my memories are a bit hazy with the portable versions. Although I do recall Portrait of Ruins on the DS was my less preferred as that was more action-oriented than the others.

I don’t know if you realize, I’m actually not arguing with your points of: - everyone is allowed to vote - a person who dislikes a game can give it whatever score. (I don’t have any issue with differing tastes) My point is about the validity of the score in some, and that there are examples where you can and should question their review/score (talking about a very small minority). My point in the previous responses is to do with people who don’t really ever play the genre and by extension, will likely give it very low scores. I’ll give a couple of examples: - (reviewing a bullet-hell-shooter) “Too hard. Games should be more relaxing”. - (reviewing an RPG) “Too boring. I quit after playing 5 minutes”. I can speak for myself that I’m not an RPG fan as a gamer, and have only completed Wind Waker and have only attempted minutes to hours of other RPGs. I don’t bother to give score reviews to RPG games on VGS, knowing that I don’t have the time nor patience to give it a proper review the game needs investment in.

I think there are 2 separate issues: 1. Does anyone have the right to vote on a gaming poll? I guess the answer is “yes”. 2. Does a review of a 3/10 score with one or two words summary, and from someone who doesn’t seem to understand the genre…does that person have the same weight of influence as a reviewer who gives it a 3/10 who talks about the rationale behind his dislike and displays a passion for games and the genre in question? Personally, I rate the rationale behind the score to be much more important than the score itself.

I would say “yes and no” to this. Yes, of course we’d all want a variety of scores to cater for individual tastes. No, if it’s never a genre they’d play, then I’d question a bit more of the validity of their score. I guess you can say there’s honest reviews which are helpful, and then there are unhelpful reviews, despite the honesty.

OptOut is the anti-AVGN with respect to N64 games! Jokes aside, you could make a pretty awesome YouTube reviewer of all things N64. You have my backing!

@DarkKobold, congrats on your SMS set so far! I collect for Pal only and I would agree Masters of Combat is one of the rarest ones, if not the rarest. That along with Buggy Run and Power Strike 2. I liked reading your horror-turned-good stories. Much better than the horror-turned-horrific ones!

I’ve never actually played MK4 or the later games in the series. I’ve also never really liked playing games on the KB and was more into the consoles. I only have a small selection of PC games just for collecting purposes and enjoying their art/display. I bought this around 10 years ago. I had a hunch it was rare, and funny to recall it was listed by an ex-store owner for about a year and no one was buying it, so I took the plunge and made the purchase. I think I bought it for roughly around that value of the price sticker. I agree with your sentiments, as I’ve not seen another sealed one since then! (Granted, I haven’t been overly active with the PC search.)

Here are some of my favorite PC games as a collector’s bundle, notably the action/fighting genre. And here is something I believe to be quite rare, a sealed 3DO Blaster. It appears to be a PC converter to allow you to play 3DO games.

I think once you play a game during an era of nostalgia, it’s hard to rate a game without some kind of nostalgic influence. I also agree with your views on the 10s and 5s, with the 10s not needing to be perfect, and the 5s may still be a recommendation due to some unique aspect even though it may be mediocre as a whole.

Here is the current VGS game debate voting system (shortened version from 5/10-10/10): 10/10 - One of your very favorite games of all time. 9/10 - Killer f'ing game. Everyone should play it. 8/10 - Great game. You like to recommend it. 7/10 - Very good game, but not quite great. 6/10 - Pretty good. You might enjoy occasionally playing it. 5/10 - It's okay, but maybe not something you'll go out of your way to play. There’s actually 2 ways you can vote for the game from the above: 1. Purely rating it by the numbers and ignoring the description of the scoring system. In other words, the numbers are representing your level of affection for the game. 2. Purely rating it by the description and then you pick the number relating to the description. So what then if the score you REALLY want to give, but it doesn’t quite match the description in the above scoring system? For instance, what if you really think the game is freakin awesome, you feel it deserved a 9/10..but..you don’t think “everyone should play it” so do you go a rung below and score it an 8? Or stick to the initial gut feel of a 9? TLDR - how do you normally vote, by the numbers or by the literal description? “It depends”?

Congrats! I’m curious to know if you’ve revised you’re goals with the graded stuff? Have you had any further thoughts since the original post?

I can’t imagine you going full blast with the pool shots while those glass cabinets are there! I’m so impressed with the setup rather than the numbers. Absolutely gorgeous!

I hope you can try to mix the guitar with different styles of music. I like the Crickets video with your 3 different guitars. That was cool! Hope it all goes well for ya!

Can I book you in advance if Karl rejects my proposal? Jokes aside, you have great content on your channel. When are you planning for the next rap video?

Or maybe you’d get more volunteers. Gaming freaks on here might also be into other freaky stuff!

I’ve never actually played Castlevania on the NES. My first experience with a Castlevania game was on the SNES with Super Castlevania IV. It’s one of my favorite SNES games of all time, so I do enjoy the shorter arcadey-levels format. I don’t necessarily feel SOTN is less quality than the earlier Castlevanias, but I can see to a degree it might put people off if they’re more into their action gaming rather than the explorative gaming. I guess the main difference between us, is that the explorative nature of SOTN dilutes the core values you seek in your Castlevania, whereas I see it as an enhancement to the core premise of its earlier games.