Our first interview is with a collector from the United States named Ed, more popularly known as “Splatter Trigger”. ST has a love for all video gaming, and isn’t a true hater of any system or game. From the NES and up, he loves them all. He currently owns just over 20 consoles ranging from the TurboGrafx 16 to the Sega Dreamcast.

About Ed “Splatter Trigger”

“For the most part, I am a completest collector. I love everything from the NES on up, though I’m just getting into the current gen (excluding the Wii). My favorite consoles have to be the SNES and TG16/CD. My favorite game of all time would have to be The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time followed by Final Fantasy VI (or 3 here in the USA). For any more info you might need, you can check out my channel’s homepage.”

Make sure to check out Splatter Trigger’s Youtube channel here!.

The Interview

ZG: Everyone has to start off somewhere, so how did you start? What was it that made you want to start collecting video games; and how long have you been collecting?

ST: I’m going to be lazy here…the answer is in my “Why I Got Into Gaming” vlog from March 2009.

ZG: When you first started collecting video games, what was the most troublesome problem you had to overcome?

ST: When I seriously got into collecting in my early teens, it was finding a good shop to score at. At the time the internet was in its infancy so it was either pawnshops, Funcoland, Software Etc. (both which are owned by Gamestop now) and a neighborhood video rental store. Software Etc. and the rental store were the best though. They always had TG16/CD games in stock. At the time, the system was dying.

ZG: You have a really good collection and it must be very time consuming to search for video games. How do you manage balancing your free time on collecting and playing games, and spending time with family and friends?

ST: Searching for the games is actually the easy part! Playing them is difficult. I generally play handhelds during the week and my consoles on the weekend. Keep in mind this isn’t an everyday thing too. When I have some time on a weekday for example it might only be 30-40 minutes of playtime at the most. It’s very difficult to play, being a father.

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?

ST: Going for a complete “Working Designs” collection at the moment. When that passes I’ll still snag WD merchandise, but will focus on the SNES, TG16/CD and imports. I really don’t have a specific genre, but more of a specific scope. And I rarely have impulse buys anymore.

ZG: What would you say is the most rewarding aspect of being a hardcore video game collector?

ST: Making the score in the wild or opening that package from whatever online site I purchased it from.

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?

ST: Not really. I did buy a collection from a drunk (who was very drunk at the time) but it’s not that interesting of a story excluding my surprise that he drove an hour to meet me for our transaction.

ZG: What would you say was the hardest piece of your collection to obtain?

ST: At this moment it would have to be my complete copies of Vasteel and Cadash. I actually found Vasteel from a seller in the Netherlands of all places. And it was the North American WD version of Cadash. I actually waited for over a year for a complete copy before finding one. Interestingly I got it for as much as incomplete copies had been going for during that year of waiting.

ZG: As a collector, do you find it worth buying collectors editions of games or are they just a con?

ST: Tricky. Retro Limited Edition/Collector’s Edition games, I believe are worth it. Today’s LE/CE games are so mass produced (excluding imports MF v1.5 LE and Heavy Rain Collector’s Edition (UK) for example) that sometimes it’s just not worth it.

ZG: Of everything you have, what is your most treasured item and why?

ST: It’s actually not a game or console at all. It’s my father’s hand drawn maps for The Legend of Zelda NES.

ZG: What is your most desired game right now?

ST: Red Dead Redemption for the 360. Retro-wise it would be Working Designs Elemental Gearbolt Assassin Case for the PS1….but the last one sold for $3,000.00 on Ebay so it seems highly unlikely that I’ll ever get one!

ZG: Have you ever been tempted to sell your own collection? Do you think you ever will sell it?

ST: At one point I did start selling off my own collection. Then I got back into gaming and the collection continued. If my daughter doesn’t get into the hobby then yes someday I will sell it off.

ZG: Do you have any tips for people who are thinking about starting up their own collection of video games, and video game merchandise?

ST: Start of small if you want rare items. Or go with lots on Ebay, Craig’s List, tag sales or flea markets to get more products for your money. But above all, be patient. If you want something, it will come to you.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this little insight into video game collecting, check back next week where I’ll be interviewing a collector from Finland who works for a video game magazine. A big thank you to Splatter Trigger for taking time out of his busy life to answer my questions, and if you still already haven’t done so, go look at his YouTube and be amazed!

What questions would you like to see in the next interview? Drop a comment or the box below or leave a post in the forums.