Today’s video games need to come with pewter figures, poster maps, and… angry letters?

Bill Loguidice — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 16:58:29 +0000

Although my boxed computer game collection is not what it once was, I still occasionally acquire interesting older titles for a variety of platforms. I have a particular fondness for bookshelf games from SSI and Avalon Hill, album style games from Electronic Arts, and just about anything else related to CRPGs. The latter was how I came to acquire CRPG 2400 A.D. from Origin, which included a large poster-sized map, three metal (pewter?) robot miniatures, and the usual quality documentation many games of the era featured. Of course, as collectors know, being second-hand, you sometimes get the occasional previous owner gem, like hand-drawn maps, notes, magazine scans, etc.

Now, 2400 A.D. is not among the beloved games from Origin’s back catalog, which most notably includes the Ultima series, but features many other high profile titles from the 1980s and 1990s. A lot has been written about how poor this particular game is. What’s interesting, though, is that the previous owner chose to put his feelings down on paper, writing a manifesto around January 7, 1990. Presumably, he never sent it, but I’m glad that it survived to find its way to me roughly 1 month shy of exactly 30 years later. Check it out:

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A brief look at my current video game and computer collection – June 2020

Bill Loguidice — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 20:52:56 +0000

After getting rid of my oversized video game and computer collection several years ago via an auction house, I’ve gotten asked occasionally about what I’ve kept or if I’ll collect again. I did end up keeping some items and I have been adding pieces here and there, albeit in a very different way than I did for the previous 40 years or so of collecting. It’s more personal and targeted now, and limited to just one room in our basement, where it will remain.

Of course, I still maintain several top of the line PCs, and have all of the latest major consoles and similar devices like smartphones and tablets. That will never change, as it’s important to me for a variety of personal and professional reasons to stay on top of the latest and greatest technology. This includes FPGA- and soft-based implementations of various systems, which helps cut down on the clutter, maintenance, and other issues associated with vintage systems, particularly vintage computer systems, that I’d otherwise have in my collection still (e.g., the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga series, where I can replace that functionality with MiSTer and MIST FPGAs; ZX Spectrum, which I replace with the ZX Spectrum Next FPGA; MSX series, which I can replace with MSXVR; ZX81, which I can replace with a kit computer that I can have fun building; modern Altari 8800 pro kit; and so on).

In terms of vintage computers, I’ve kept the following family of physical systems: Adam, Amiga 500, Amstrad CPC, Apple II/IIGS, Aquarius, Atari 8-bit, Atari STe, BBC Micro/Master, C-16/Plus/4, C-64/128, CoCo, CP/M (Bondwell 12, Zorba (broken); others also run), Dragon, Enterprise 64/128, JR-200U, Macintosh (classic), MC-10, PC DOS/Windows, PCjr, Spectravideo (SV-328), Tandy 1000, TI-99/4a, Tomy Tutor, TRS-80, and VIC-20. Most of those actual computers have limited accessories and flash drives (and related) wherever possible. I also have a decent sized boxed vintage computer game collection, but one where I only emphasize either the games that have interesting packaging or the more sophisticated RPGs, strategy games, and text adventures.

In terms of vintage consoles, I’ve kept the following family of physical systems: 3DO, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari Jaguar, Bally Astrocade, CD-i, ColecoVision (and CollectorVision), Intellivision (and ECS), Odyssey2, and Vectrex. Although I wouldn’t exactly call it vintage, I do also have a launch PS3 so I can use real PS1, PS2, and PS3 discs, although like my PS4s, it’s a rather finicky system. This is rather more modest than the vintage computer stuff because most of the consoles run authentically enough via various emulation methods or with various multi-systems (especially when it comes to the rest of the classic 8-, 16-, and 32-bit systems) where bothering to maintain the original hardware is just not worth it. I have a very small selection of boxed games for these consoles, where again, flash carts and related are valued.

I do have various displays, although only one multi-use CRT, my original Commodore 1084S, which is a truly versatile monitor. Otherwise, it’s all modern LCDs/LEDs, typically interfaced via something like an XRGB-mini, RetroTINK 2X Pro, or OSSC.

So, it’s still a decent-sized collection, just nowhere near what I once had. It’s all mostly focused on what still feels best, where using the original hardware is generally preferable for whatever reason to emulation, be it FPGA- or soft-based.

Anyway, here are some photos in slideshow format. Enjoy:

Organization is key and something I failed at in the 1.0 version of my collection. This is the small office basement area where I keep most of my collection. Certain systems, like the pictured TRS-80 Model 4, are available full-time for various reasons. In the case of the TRS-80 Model 4, it not only looks great, but is difficult to move about, so it gets a permanent home on its own desk.
A better look at some of my boxed vintage computer games.
This area houses my SSI and Avalon Hill boxed vintage computer game collection. They had some of my favorite packaging.
This is where most of my vintage consoles reside.
The black desk is one of my main work areas. I can set up most systems rather easily there. The monitor can also display two screens side-by-side rather easily.
I keep a reasonably modern Windows 10 PC there so I can work conveniently when in that room. My main PC is upstairs, but I have various types of PCs scattered throughout the house to work from when needed.
Some of the other Apple and Commodore systems, as well as the stalwart 1084S monitor, ready to go for any RGB, composite, or S-VIDEO connection needed.
This is the room next to our home gym. I often do work-related things here, but it’s a fun rec room and has several modern systems in it.
This is a work area in the unfinished part of our basement. I often solder (not very well) or assemble kits here.
More of the unfinished part of the basement. Photography, 3D printing, video production, VR, etc., are often done here as well.
More DIY and related equipment.
My main workstation and gaming PC in our home office upstairs.
I was doing some soldering practice with my daughters over the weekend, so yeah, I still sometimes take over rooms for brief periods of time. In this case, it’s the dining room.
Apropros of nothing, our main family room. The modern set top boxes and consoles, both here and in other, not shown rooms, will be replaced by the latest and greatest rather than just keeping everything like I used to. The next PlayStation and Xbox will be out later this year, for example.

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Today’s video games need to come with pewter figures, poster maps, and… angry letters?

A brief look at my current video game and computer collection – June 2020