Our Interview this week is with a video game collector from Finland named Janne, who goes by the alias of “finngamer”. He has a complete collection of every English language, N64 game released. He owns over 1,300 video games, over 30 consoles and nearly 20 handhelds. If that wasn’t enough, he also owns 3 arcade machines.
About Janne “finngamer”
“I’m a 1981-born videogame enthusiast from Finland. I’ve played games since, oooh, 1984, and I’ve actively collected new and old games since 2002. I also have a wife and a cat. So I’d qualify myself as having a life, if that’s what you’re wondering. In 2008, a bit of a dream came true for me when I started working for the Finnish gaming magazine, Pelaaja. It’s a great feeling when something that you love doing the most actually turns out to be a career for you.”
The Interview
ZG: First off, what was it that made you want to start collecting video games, and how long have you been collecting?
FINN: I have always had that drive for collecting, whether it was hockey cards or something like that. I’ve always taken seriously the things I love. And I love videogames, so I just had to start collecting. I’ve collected for maybe 10 years, with maybe 6 of them really actively.
ZG: When you first started collecting, how did you know which system to start collecting for first and why did you choose it?
FINN: I collect good games for all consoles, like all collector’s should in my opinion. But my passion, the Nintendo 64 for which I’m collecting all 400+ games, started from few things. First of all, I love the console, that should be your starting point. Secondly, it’s doable. With this I mean that there are only a few hundred games for it, so the collection can be completed somewhat reasonably. Lastly, the whole thing started when a game store I worked for had 5 crappy games still sealed, so I bought those for really cheap and I was underway! Of course I already had all the Zelda’s and Mario’s beforehand, so having those really AAA-class games among the collection really gives it a backbone.
ZG: I saw in one of your video’s that you have custom built shelves to keep your Nintendo 64 collection on. Can things like having to get custom built bits of furniture be problematic at all? I imagine before the shelves were built you was a bit worried about where to store the Nintendo 64 games?
FINN: There are collector’s who keep their games in big boxes and only look at lists of what there is still to buy. I love to put everything on display as well as I can. Knowing that I was going to get all the N64 games, I really needed a place to store them. So doing a shelf yourself was not only a necessity, but this way I got it just right.
ZG: Do you have a specific console or genre of games that you are currently collecting for or aim to have a full collection of? If so, how do you work out which game to get next, or is more of an impulse buy?
FINN: Deciding on which game to buy next is a tricky thing. Usually I get inspired by a specific system, and then I’ll only buy SNES or PC Engine or Saturn games for a while. This also gives you good insight onto the prices and availability. As well as to whom the best sellers are, as opposed to getting one game here and one game there. But I also do impulse purchases, especially when I’ve decided to buy something from a seller and I’m looking for games to have their postage combined.
ZG: What would you say is the most rewarding aspect of being a hardcore video game collector?
FINN: I don’t know, maybe having friends come over and see them be really entertained? Of course it’s really fun to know that you’ll never be out of games to play. But it’s also really rewarding just to watch your collection. I know it sounds weird, but the games that you line your walls with are a big part of your life. They are full of happy memories
ZG: What would you say are the rarest games for this current generation of console?
FINN: It’s bit tricky to estimate, I wouldn’t classify any normal game as rare yet. Also, most limited editions are really not that limited, but there are some standouts. I’d say the European version of Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition is one of the rarest this generation.
ZG: Like most collectors, you buy your games from Ebay, game stores and flea-markets; but do you have any stories about the strangest place you’ve bought a video game?
FINN: Well, I know it’s not weird, but I do have to say that working at a game store is quite a nice opportunity for a collector. Get games for stock price and get to skim the best games from the games the customers bring you.
ZG: In your opinion what’s the hardest Console or handheld to collect for?
FINN: All consoles have their pros and cons. The PS2 has probably the biggest library of games ever, so that means you can find games cheap, but finishing the collection is quite impossible. The Neo-Geo only has 100+ games and is a really interesting target, but there are games of over $1,000 or even over $10,000, so there’s your challenge right there.
ZG: You’re working for the Finnish gaming magazine, “Pelaaja;” that must be quite an achievement. How did such a great opportunity come about? I bet your work friends are envy of your collection!
FINN: One day I got tired of sitting at the game store and decided to apply for the magazine. They weren’t even hiring so it was really a stroke of luck that they just had an opening. It’s really a nice feeling that the thing you have loved to do in your free time for over two decades turned out to be just training for your job.
ZG: What would you say was the hardest piece of your collection to obtain?
FINN: Has to be the Majora’s Mask Adventure Set. Only a 1,000 were ever made, so it really rarely pops up on eBay. I think I even paid a bit of more than it was worth. But I didn’t care; it’s the jewel of my N64 collection.
ZG: Do you have any tips for people who are thinking about starting up their own collection of video games, and video game merchandise?
FINN: Just collect for the systems that you love. Don’t think you should buy something just because someone else says that you’re wasting your time. It’s really funny how offensive some people take it when you collect for a “bad” system like the N64. Just do your own thing and don’t let others put you down. You also have to set some goals for your collection. And first and foremost, you should decide if you just want the games or maybe complete copies of the games. You’ll regret it later if you decide to upgrade all your loose carts to “complete in box” games, so make the decision early if you’re unsure.
ZG: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, and good luck with hunting down the next rare game!
Janne’s YouTube can be found here. I hugely recommend that you check out his videos to get a chance to take a peek into his “game room”. Additionally you can check out his personal website here; where you can keep more up-to-date with which video games he owns and in what condition they are in.
