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[Poetic.Injustice]

The numbers are eye-popping and mind-boggling. The human brain struggles to comprehend their enormity: Over 11,000 video games without a single duplicate copy. Over 25 years to collect the sum. Over 260 photos taken of the Guinness World Records event to verify the collection, back when it was 400 titles smaller. There are 21 consoles represented by complete North American sets of released games, along with 14 more systems categorized as being "near-complete" sets, then many more with partial sets.

But perhaps the most incredible, unbelievable-at-first number is this: $1.00. That was the beginning bid for the online auction of this unique, once-in-a-lifetime collection of games (although it is important to note that there is a reserve price not yet met). Game Gavel, a games-specializing auction site, is hosting the listing page. The collector himself is Michael Thommason, who wrote many personal notes to accompany the webpage,

Perhaps amazingly, at press time the current bid still stands at only $2,200, which represents a value of about 20 cents per game. Then again, at the moment the auction still has ten days remaining -- plenty of time for an ambitious collector to make a serious move on a truly unique purchase. After all, someone has to meet the reserve... and it could be anyone.

http://www.examiner.com/article/wor...lection-at-online-auction-reserve-not-yet-met

http://www.gamegavel.com/item.cgi?show_item=958029

 

[Myggen]

I'm not a fan of the jersey he's wearing in that picture. Not a fan at all.

It's at $5,678.00 now by the way. I have no idea what a collection of this site "should" be sold for.

 

[Lovely Salsa]

No complete NES collection, no neo geo collection

no thanks

 

[Roboter]

This should be bought by a museum

 

[TheOMan]

Dat backlog tho

 

[Rydeen]

What's the reason he's auctioning them off? That's a lot of time and financial commitment to just up and sell off.

 

[GavinGT]

What's the reason he's auctioning them off? That's a lot of time and financial commitment to just up and sell off.

He finally got a girlfriend.

 

[maomaoIYP]

I never understood people who collected games instead of playing them.

 

[xDUMPWEEDx]

This guy has gotten a lot of coverage lately, being featured in a few magazines, Guinness, etc.

Surprised he is selling off the whole collection so quickly.

Anyone want to guess what the reserve is? My guess is $200,000. Keep in mind he is selling it as a single auction, which will get him less money overall than if he sold everything individually.

 

[d9b]

Over 11,000 video games ... Dat backlog!

 

[onken]

Must be hard letting all that go.

 

[Dagobert Duck]

He finally got a girlfriend.

Typical GAF

 

[Faith]

This will end up around 100-200k $.

 

[blazeuk]

The fun is in the collecting, I'm sure whoever buys it will still be happy but that's a lot of games to get all at once, I'm not sure where you'd start with that.

 

[Maastricht]

I agree it belongs in a museum or library. Surely would think it's worth more than the current bid though ... I presume the serious bidding will only close to the closing date?

 

[Gen X]

If I won that I would start selling off the games individually at around 10 games per week.and put all money from sales into a separate bank account. Much growth, so interest.

 

[CTLance]

Guys, guys. Kickstarter.

We need to pool our pocket cash and buy this collection. Then establish a trust fund to handle the stuff, roaming across the Americas in a wave of exhibitions raising awareness of the rich culture and history of video games. Afterward, establish a museum somewhere cheap but secure, preferably in an old missile silo or something.

...or donate the stuff to an existing museum. Boring, but would work too.

 

[Deleted member 74300]

 

[Starwolf_UK]

It does come with the certificate, right? Edit: "I’m also including the actual Guinness Certificate." YES!!

As for the whole "how can he afford all that"

Other than those two items, I do not think that I have spent more than $200 on any game system or $80 on any piece of software. I rarely pay more than $10–15 for anything.

There is your answer. 15*10,000...ugh...man he could go to college for that.

 

[sublimit]

What's the reason he's auctioning them off? That's a lot of time and financial commitment to just up and sell off.

"Family issues."
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/...-s-largest-video-game-collection-on-sale.aspx

I hope everything works out for him and his family.Must have been a really tough decision.

 

[See You Next Wednesday]

"Family issues."
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/...-s-largest-video-game-collection-on-sale.aspx

I hope everything works out for him and his family.Must have been a really tough decision.

Family had Issues with his collection.
Jealous bastards?

 

[7DollarHagane]

I don't understand who buys these multi thousand peice collections.

Half the fun is the hunt of collecting.

Wait I understand, someone is going to spend a year parceling this shit out at a store or online.

The guy should just do that. Spend a few months listing and shipping all the best stuff and then sell off the crap in bundles.

 

[SillyEskimo]

Family issues.

That's usually the nice way of saying divorce.

 

[Cheska]

"Family issues."
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/...-s-largest-video-game-collection-on-sale.aspx

I hope everything works out for him and his family.Must have been a really tough decision.

Now I remember! He was the guy in the GWR video posted on here not too long ago.

 

[themagicalkitsune]

He finally got a girlfriend.

Good one Jeff!


Wait it's under 10k? Lame. It will probably pick up a bunch though.

 

[SolidSnakex]

I remember reading GI's interview with this guy. He said that Shenmue was the last game that he bought at full price.

 

[FlashbladeGAF]

Family had Issues with his collection.
Jealous bastards?

Family needs to "deal with it"

 

[Redshirt]

He finally decided to go all digital.

 

[Drain You]

I feeling like buying a collection like this whole defeats the purpose of collecting. I get excited when I get to add something to my collection, getting it all at once would just be anti-climactic.

 

[Hyperactivity]

Looks like he needs the money soon, otherwise he may have made more money overall selling them individually

 

[Objectively Bad Opinion]

He finally decided to go all digital.

Yup, he collects games in his Steam library now. He says it's better and physical is the past.

 

[elfinke]

Truly awful jersey aside, this is pretty great.

 

[GavinBT]

I will give you $1 for it.

Wonder why he is selling.

 

[Nipo]

If I won that I would start selling off the games individually at around 10 games per week.and put all money from sales into a separate bank account. Much growth, so interest.

At 10 games a week selling off the whole collection would take what? About 20 years? Anyone looking to sell off this collection in parts would need to treat it like a full time job for at least 2-3 years.

 

[Maintenance]

If I lived in the US I would gladly buy this, and make a video playing each game to completion, even if that took my entire life.

 

[Fine Ham Abounds]

If he had traded them all in at Target last month he could have gotten 4 times that much

 

[Cormano]

Exactly my thoughts

 

[Labadal]

Leading bid at $21.000.

 

[krae_man]

If I won that I would start selling off the games individually at around 10 games per week.and put all money from sales into a separate bank account. Much growth, so interest.

All that effort to sell Bulls vs Blazers, Madden, and the metric fuckton of sports games worth 5 cents each?

But hey, there's probably a boxed copy of Duck Tales 2 in there!

 

[BPoole]

I'd love to know how many he has played to completetion

 

[Respawn]

Dude should've stayed single. I remember my friend sold his Ducati right after he got married, didn't even have kids yet. Curse ye woman with your slender necks and ample bosoms. curse ye.

 

[charlequin]

That's usually the nice way of saying divorce.

Possible, although given the way he describes it I would assume either surprise medical bills, care costs for elderly parents, or kid costs (you could send a pretty big litter to college on the cash this'll bring in.)

It actually doesn't surprise me much to see people with a collection this big sell off; once you hit a certain point you've pretty much achieved what you set out to do and you have to get second copies of anything you want to actually play anyway. He even mentions he's sold off full collections before in the listing; think of it as prestiging.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

Kinda sad to see this guy having to part with it. If nothing else, I guess nobody can accuse him of being a hoarder now.

 

[Salamande]

Note the guy who has the winning bid as of now. That's Palmer Luckey's handle...

 

[BeforeU]

Thats shit load of games.

 

[Elija2]

Note the guy who has the winning bid as of now. That's Palmer Luckey's handle...

Well, now it's "notevenarealbid" so...

What even happens when someone who was faking a bid wins? Are they just not required to pay and nobody gets anything?

 

[Zukuu]

It's at over 50$k and reserve price still not met.

 

[lt519]

If I won the lottery and never had to work again, I'd buy. Then I'd make it my mission to play every single one of those games, even if it was just for a minute.

 

[AlteredBeast]

This guy is awesome. Arsenal jersey, shit ton of Sega games, last game he bought full price was Shenmue.

Maybe the family issues he is having to fund have to deal with a long lost relative avenging the death of his father and theft of a priceless mirror? Maybe?

At one point, my collection (which is much smaller now since I sold off most of my DC collection) included over 500 unique titles and 26 consoles. I was a handful away from a complete Master System collection twice!! Curse ye, desperate teenage years and the desires of a foolish man's heart! (sold 75 SMS games on eBay once for 150 dollars for mother effing prom of all things!)

 

[Solidsoul]

If he had traded them all in at Target last month he could have gotten 4 times that much

As someone who used the Target fuck-up and spent many days in the thread, this comment made me laugh out loud.

Good one.