Vinyl records
I remember I did a writing about why I prefer Vinyl records over the other music like over a year ago, but I will review it again. First of all I am not dismissing the new technology and its advantages because in some ways it makes things easier, but those same advantages in a way are killing an aesthetic essence of the music taking away a important part of it.
I love Vinyl records because they are a work of art, is not the same downloading a digital album or just selected songs from it, than having the actual album in your hands were you can see all the artwork, its something physical you can see it, have it, feel it and even smell it. In a way, you learn to appreciate the album even more, if is digital you just listen to it (only certain songs) and that’s it.
I remember those days when I used to do mix tapes, I took songs from vinyl, radio and cd (those days CD-R didn’t exist) and made my perfect mix to take everywhere. That same mix tape would deteriorate through the years, making it have a personality like a living thing that aged with you, trust me I appreciate more mix tapes than a folder on my computer with mixed mp3s. It is interesting, when I started recording mix Cds, it was easier to make than mix tapes, but still I didn’t appreciate them as much, but just for couple years later people started getting the IPod or Mp3 Players and everything changed. Like I said, you can buy albums on the internet, and not even that, people sometimes just download couple songs or just the main songs and that’s it. There will be a point were artist won’t bother on making extra music for an album because people think of them as fillers; “if it wasn’t a hit or doesn’t have a video it sucks” they might say. An album is not just songs, it’s a whole piece of artwork that involves planning a theme for it, photo shoot, graphic design, lyrics layout, packaging everything. People are overlooking that now, and a generation is growing up not really appreciating it.
That is why I collect vinyl, every time I put a record I enjoy it, knowing that I had to browse for it from the box, take it out, look at the artwork, carefully slide the record out, put it on the turntable, let it roll then putting the needle on top of it, and hear the audio noise that sound like Rice Krispies, until the music starts… and yes it’s true it sounds better than digital stuff.
Of course I don’t collect any vinyl just because it is vinyl, I mainly collect Hardcore, Punk, Thrash, Crust, extreme music in other words. People might think that vinyl is only for old bands, but most of the vinyl I have comes from current bands that they rather prefer release their material on vinyl instead of CDs. But yes I do some gems likes the Danzig I and II original pressings, along with the 3 SAMHAIN albums original pressings, I know if I sold those records in a bundle I might get couple hundred dollars. Getting vinyl records like that is not easy, sometimes is necessary to invest on the bidding to get what you want, even thou the same music is a download way, is not the same. Actually one of the SAMHAIN records got the guitars redone so is not original, the only original mix was found on the record I managed to get on Ebay, so that is good I guess.
Video games and consoles
Yes, I know the existence of emulators but still…; I say that because that’s the response I give when I tell someone I am trying to get an specific game from a certain console from the past and they just say “Why do that if you can download it?”.
Well again, yes I know I can download emulators and I’ve done it but emulation is not a perfect technology. The pros of playing games using an emulator on the computer for me is: The possibility of Net play, the option of saving game positions, the easy access of most of the games from different consoles, and that you can take it anywhere that there is a computer. The cons for me are the same as the Pros. For an example, saving the game position is an advantage, but takes away the challenge of the game, taking away the use of lives, because if you lose instead of losing a life you just load the saved position and start it again, which makes it easy to beat. Also the graphics, sound might not be the same in many cases. Trust me I do use emulators to this day but I only use 3 of them for the following reasons:
1- MAME because it’s the emulator for arcade games and getting the real arcade card and cabinet is really expensive and needs work too, so is out of the question.
2- Magic Engine (Pc Engine emulator aka Turbo Duo) Most of the actual consoles are over hundred dollars and are from Japan and I usually don’t trust the shipping and the time it takes, also the games for it tend to be very expensive for the short play they have. The only reason that got me close to get one was for the Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, I managed to get a real copy of the game from a friend, (which I played it with the emulator), but since the game was released in the Castlevania Dracula X chronicles wasn’t necessary, also considering the game was almost $300.
3- Neo geo emulator, same as the Pc Engine, but the games are worth it since they are arcade quality. But then again, high price and import from Japan to get the best shipping possible you will need to invest in $70 extra, unless I am rich or a real hardcore collector yeah, but not yet.
For the rest of the video games and its systems I rather get the original stuff, get the console and then hunt for the game, it is actually a fun thing to do. Everything started when I remembered one of the things that motivated me years ago to do extreme inline skating, and that game was Skitchin, then that game triggered many more memories, then I downloaded a Genesis Emulator and the game itself but didn’t work properly so I thought how hard it would be to find the real thing, so I happen to encounter in Ebay a Sega Genesis Bundle that had the console and couple games and among the games was Skitchin and one of my all time favorites Streets of Rage 2 and everything for less than $40, so it was a great deal. After that I started searching for many video game consoles that I always wanted but never had the opportunity to have when I was a kid. Many people will disagree with me saying that still is the same as playing an emulator, but other differences can be pointed like the control pad are designed uniquely for each system, some games can’t be emulated at all so you have to get the real thing, also I spend most of my day working on a computer, and the last thing I want is to get home and entertain myself with my computer, with a TV, at least I can lay on bed and the screen is bigger and less harmful to my eyes and the game resolution and colors are how it meant to be. Again is the same reason in comparing an MP3 with a vinyl record, you are missing the whole experience, and you learn to appreciate the game even more when you know all the hassle you went thru to get it.
Currently this were I spend of my most collecting time into, browsing good deals on Ebay, constantly checking the Play n Trade store for any new/old arrivals to get for the cheapest price possible, its cool because were I live many gamers don’t know the real value of some games, and they just give them away for trade in stores without knowing they could’ve sell that game in Ebay for like hundreds. Sometimes still is hard for me to get some games. Right now I have around 10 video game systems most of them from the last generations (even thou the PS2 and PSP are considered current gen): a Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Atari Jaguar, Panasonic 3D0, Gameboy SP, PS2 and PSP. Most of the games I won on each system are sought by collectors and are rare to find, some day I’ll make lots of money when I happen to sell them. Collecting is addictive indeed, like stripping.
Toys
Well my toy collection is rather poor, but I am concentrating on getting toys from the 80’s and early 90’s I think the most entertaining toys are from that era, I just collecting for nostalgic purposes and use them as decoration. Some people buy paintings or pictures, other sculptures, and other people use modeled figures of characters, I use old toys. My favorite is Captain Power, I liked the show and its action figures resemble the essence of the show. My most precious toy is Steve Irwin Crocodile hunter still brand new on the box. Some day I will start collecting more toys..actually I think I will start now.
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