8 Bit: A Nintendo Collector’s
Odyssey ------------------------------------------------
The year was 1990. I was a fine young child of four. When
I was not playing, eating, sleeping, or going to pre-school,
the Nintendo Entertainment System was my life. How I loved
the beepy noises and clacky buttons that the video games made.
I loved the gratifying "click" that the unit made
when turned on. I loved the feeling of getting a game to play
after blowing the cartridge out. Life was good.
Time went on, and I grew larger. My
mind went outside the boundary of 8-bit blocky graphics. The
Nintendo was buried in my closet. For ten years it sat untouched
and alone. Until one triumphant day...
My mother forced me six months ago
to clean out my closet. The task was not easy, and I was regretting
not doing it sooner. I opened the wooden door and was stormed
with a massive heap of cheap toys and old magazines. Many
hours later, I discovered a brown box labelled "Nintendo
& 11 games". A flood of nostalgia hit me head on.
I forgot the task at hand and opened the dilapidated box.
It was like greeting a long lost friend after numerous years
of darkness.
It was at that moment I realised I
wanted them all: Every game, every controller, every accessory
ever built for the gray box. The job would not be easy. Numerous
hours of research later, I learned there was over 800 games
produced for Nintendo's first attempt. I battled with myself
to recognize this mission would be impossible. My brain was
too stubborn to listen. The first step was finding a supplier.
I searched pawn shops, thrift shops, and any other kind of
shop thrown at me. My search seemed fruitless, and my tiny
collection stood still. One month later I gave it another
try and was rewarded for my efforts. I received four games
with titles ranging from Bionic Commando to XEXYZ. ( I have
yet to pronounce this correctly). My gallant attempt was now
in full swing. Friends were questioned, stores were looted,
and not a box was left unturned. Soon after, a new median
of collecting was discovered: The Internet. I was not alone!
There were thousands of other people just like me wanting
to swap games on-line. My collection exceeded the once thought
large box that my NES was stored in. I then converted my closet
into a total entertainment centre.
Now I have over 110 games stored in
my closet. I still have a long way to reach my goal but with
persistence I will complete my mission.
