Click on the picture to see this Collection!! Name: Matt Paprocki Location: Ohio

1- What is it that you collect?
Video games, related action figures, and gaming magazines.

2- What was it that brought you to collecting? And what is that keeps you going?
There’s a local store in my area that I found right around the time I landed my first job. Their specialty is used music, movies and games. More of an upper level pawn shop, really. The best part was (and still is) their insanely low prices. I can walk in there any day and pick up 10 games for less than $20. Things just sort of blossomed from there.

As the collection builds, I know there is always stuff out there I still want, such as games I missed as a kid, or things I simply passed over when they were new. The thrill of the hunt also plays a role. Nothing like stopping at a random garage sale and finding a box of stuff dirt cheap.

3- When did you start collecting?
I’d say it’s either close to or over 10 years now.

4- Why Video Games?
I’ve been playing games since I was old enough to remember doing so. I've never stopped. It’s a fun hobby, a great time waster, and career path (journalism) at the same time. It’s always great to pull a game off the shelf that’s been recently remade to get a feel for the new version, or even for a sequel if my memory isn’t holding up.

5- When did you start displaying them?
I don’t think there was a starting point. The games were always out in various stages of organization. As the collection grew, so did the space requirements. Everything has always been out in the open. It’s too hard to find stuff if it’s not.

6- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your collection?
It wasn’t so much an inspiration as it was a necessity. Before all the boxed games were alphabetized, a typical conversation went like this:

Friend: Hey, do you have Game X?

Me: Oh yeah. Want to play it?

Friend: Sure!

Me: Great! It’s on that side of the wall, somewhere in the pile of 350 games. It’s in red box. Or, well, it could be blue. Good luck!

Friend: How about we just play with what’s already out?

Me: Probably the best idea.

(It can really cut down on playtime when you spend more time searching)

7- Do you have a favorite character(s) you collect?
Sort of hard to do that with the games obviously, but with action figures, it’s probably Sonic the Hedgehog. Just a great character design, and there have been some real nice piece over the years. The Mario memorabilia is widespread too.

8- Which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
I’m not even sure I can answer that. There’s way too much stuff to consider. However, since the question was asked, it’s probably my Neo Geo. It’s considered to be one of the holy grails of video game consoles (though the market has really taken a nose dive lately), and it’s just a perfect game machine. My parents one year for Christmas bought me a custom made street sign with the rooms (well, one of them at least) name, Gaming Nirvana. It’s a great way to prepare for the entrance into the room

9- Which item was the most difficult to obtain? And which one is your prized possession?
I never really go out and actively seek items. I more or less stumble onto them. Nothing has been particularly tough to find since I wasn’t looking for them in the first place.

The most prized is probably the first gaming magazine I ever owned, a Game Player’s issue from 1988. It’s been read more times than it ever should have been, but from now on, it’ll stay wrapped in plastic. The issue itself is nothing special at all, and it’s probably only worth a few bucks, if that. I look at it as a starting point I guess.

10- What is the oldest item you own? and the one with the most value?
I’m not deep into true retro gaming. I missed the Atari era by a few years, but the Intellivision is the oldest console I own, along with a small stack of games. I’ve grown fond a few, and I likely never would have had I not become a collector.

The highest valued item is a tough call. I own Spiderman for the 32X, the hardest to find North American release for the failed Sega console (runs about $150 on average), Flintstones: Surprise on Dinosaur Peak ($200+), or the recent Samurai Shodown V Special, the final release for the Neo Geo ($250+). Those prices can drop or rise. Just seems to be the person buying them who sets the current price.

11- What inspires you to purchase an item to add to your collection?
Most likely some form of mental condition. That or just love for the hobby. I believe the latter. I have to. =;)

12- Customizing figures and statues has become very big, have you ever purchased a custom figure or statue and have you ever tried making one?
I own one outside of the game collection, a Brent Barry Starting Line-Up. He’s my favorite NBA player and never had a piece.

13- What do you think of the custom Craze?
I see nothing wrong with it. I’ve seen some really nice pieces, and in some cases, this could be the only way to find a figure of something. As long as a rare figure isn’t being changed, I’m all for it.

14- Where do you make most of your purchases from? ebay seems to be a favorite with collectors these days, are you an ebayholic?
EBay is too expensive. Sellers are ridiculous when it comes to shipping, and in my eyes, eBay needs to do something about it. I’ve refused to purchase many an item because of them. Being a small seller myself, I know what it costs, and I’ve never once overcharged. There’s always a way to ship cheap and safe.

Outside of that little rant, the store I mentioned above remains my key goldmine. Garage sales and various flea markets come in at #2.

15- Is your collection insured?
No, our homeowners insurance company won’t do it. I want to have it done though, and I’d do it tomorrow if they would let me.

16- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
Nothing, really. As I said above, most of this collection is simply found on the fly without actually looking. If I don’t have it, and the price is within reason (read: cheap), I buy it. There are a few Neo Geo games I’ll never actually own that hit four digit price tags, and those are more dreams to own than actually hoping to acquire them.

17- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection?
Varied, ranging from awe, to dumbfounded, to appreciation.

18- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? could you tell us about that?
No, I never have, but desperately want to. The Classic Gaming Expo is a yearly event. It’s on that ever growing list of things to do at some point.

19- Most collectors today go on what they call a toy run, do you participate in that as well? And what are your favorite spots? Do you have a routine?
I used to until I hurt my back a few years ago. That makes it tougher to get around for a long period. That’s significantly cut down on my trips. I do have a pattern. I just don’t stick to it like I used to, and some websites now focuses strictly on deals. That makes planning easier, and I can head for the deals I know are there.

20- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed?
Nothing stays sealed unless the packaging offers something. I have a few magazines that I’ve never opened (including an alternate opened copy so I can read it), all of my games are opened, and a select few action figures remain sealed. Unless you’re planning on selling stuff, you might as well be able to enjoy it. Games of course probably follow this rule more so than anything. They’re useless inside of a sealed package, but there is a market for them in this condition.

21- At what stage do you think your collection will be at 10 years from now, do you think you would have grown tired of it?
I’ve been playing for 20 years, so the chances of me being tired of video games in 10 years, well, there isn’t a chance. If I keep collecting like this for 10 more years, I’ll need a second house.

22- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection?
Focus. When I first started I did have some goals as I tried to collect every Nintendo NES game. There are smaller libraries to start with to give someone a feel for the hobby. The NES really isn’t a good starting point with over 500 games to track down.

You also need to do research. Just because a seller says it’s rare doesn’t make it so. It’s an odd hobby in that the more famous and popular stuff is usually the cheapest. It’s the stuff you’ve never heard of that commands the big money. Never fall for a dealers words.