So Collectors, What Makes Your Library Special?
View Large ImageBefore I get to the question at hand, a couple points-
Firstly, no, that is not my video game collection. Secondly, all those with only digital collections of games don't count. No, you don't qualify. What you have isn't a collection (no, I'm not bashing digital releases of games; I've got 'em, too, but I'm talking to people who only have little folders on a screen and call it a "library").
Now, for all you gamers out there who are immensely proud of your collections, what makes yours special? Is it just sheer volume? Do you have like a dozen bookcases in your basement that are so jam packed that not a single additional title could squeeze its way on there? Do you have a lot of rare gems that are difficult to find? Do you specialize in old-school, dawn-of-the-industry stuff like arcade cabinets and six thousand Atari games? Okay, maybe they didn't make six thousand Atari games, but you get my point. Or maybe yours is special for a very different and possibly very personal reason.
Me, I don't have a lot. Between Gameboy, SNES, PC, PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP, Vita, Xbox, Xbox 360, I've probably only got about 200 total. But as of the PlayStation era, I started to adopt one philosophy: A game only earns a place in my collection if it's either, A. Absolutely stellar, or B. I just fall in love with it for some reason. Hence, there are probably a few less-than-stellar JRPGs in the library but hey, that was my thing for a while. And there are also games that I think are amazing, but I just never played a lot. They were simply too good to not have in a collection. This obviously means that if a game is great, I will not be getting rid of it. Ever.
So how's about you?
9/28/2012 Ben Dutka
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Comments (54 posts)
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 12:15:53 AM
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 10:39:11 PM
Reply
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 10:52:32 PM
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 10:58:51 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 11:05:14 PM
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Temjin001
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 11:13:13 PM
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ZenChichiri
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 11:24:16 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 11:29:17 PM
@Zen I have to admit the terrible voice acting in Shenmue is part of its charm for me. I literally laugh out loud at it often. "Do you know where I can find some sailors?" or Ryo's classic response after I hear someone's life story "Ummm okay". Hysterical.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 9/28/2012 11:30:04 PM
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ZenChichiri
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 11:40:02 PM
Nozomi: "Ryo. We didn't spend Christmas together..."
Ryo: "...yeah."
Nozomi: "We're both leaving Japan soon."
Ryo: "...yeah."
What a bastard he is!
But I gotta say, when shit goes down in Shenmue 2 in Kowloon, it's nice to have that element of quality. Makes the climax feel more badass if you know what I mean.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 12:09:24 AM
It's never out of the question to have numerous versions. Probably would make it a more realistic experience.
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Ultimadream
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 5:17:25 AM
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xenris
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 8:59:18 AM
Man I really want them to make a 3 good lord the ending for 2 has kept me up some nights >.<
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 12:41:40 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 10:58:14 PM
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Also it is special for being made up largely of games that are not popular but that I really enjoyed; diamonds in the rough imo.
0 up, 1 down
Rogueagent01
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 11:03:30 PM
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I do hope that I can either fund some of my retirement with my collection or at least leave a great historical library of gaming to my grandkids.
Last edited by Rogueagent01 on 9/28/2012 11:04:38 PM
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ZenChichiri
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 11:28:24 PM
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Underdog15
Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 11:29:32 PM
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Only 10 or so would have been full price, too. The cheapest one I bought BRAND NEW was $6.99. So no... you DONT need to buy used to avoid spending a ton of money. :p FFXIII-2 was bought new for something around the $15 mark. (I forget what amount exactly.) And that title came out this year. So...
My video game collection in general is special because I've kept every game that meant a lot to me. I have games across generations from NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, PS1, PS2, and countless different handheld systems. I also have some PC games on my shelf.
Only thing I sold was my XBOX and games in order to buy an engagement ring. I made a wise choice.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 9/28/2012 11:30:51 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 12:11:04 AM
Woman > Xbox
Woman </= PS3
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 9/29/2012 12:11:55 AM
4 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 12:17:12 AM
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For a while, I didn't like having games in my collection I hadn't completed. But with less time, it became impossible to finish them all, and I don't like getting rid of great games.
That being said, I'm proud to say that at least 80 - 85%% of all the games I own have been beaten.
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Qubex
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 7:09:14 AM
It will probably be similar this generation. Actually, if the PS4 is backward compatible I will just sell off the PS3 hardware and keep my original games. However I will keep my 60GB Sony Phatt console as that one has my Linux install on it, but will sell off the other PS3.
I have yet to buy a second-hand game. I have a small collection, but they are the games I spend huge amounts of time, especially games such as Battlefield 3 multi-player. But that is because I enjoy this brainless down time. It's the only way I relax.
Saying that my prized games are Unchartered 2 & 3, Red Dead Redemption, Mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3. I have spent the most time on these...
Looking forward to a few of the up and coming Sony exclusives which will again, add a few top notch titles to my small but growing collection.
Reminds me, I need to pick up "Journey" online soon... in-fact I will do it over the course of the weekend... Also keen on "Dust514".
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Last edited by Qubex on 9/29/2012 7:12:20 AM
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fatelementality
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 11:53:59 AM
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chilker
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 11:57:05 AM
I had it there for a while, but I only have the one PS3, so I had to get rid of my Linux install when the firmware was "updated" removed the ability have other OSes installed. That's not an update. That's a downgrade. But I still love my PS3, I just wish I could still run Linux on it.
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Cideus
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 12:52:22 AM
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A Boy and His Blob, Battletoads, Bionic Commando, all 3 Castlevanias, Both Contra and Super C, all Double Dragons, Dragon Warrior 1&2, Final Fantasy, Mega Man 1-4 and 6,both versions of Punch Out!, Shadowgate & DeJaVu. Thats just to name a few off the top of my head.
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Lawless SXE
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 12:57:41 AM
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homura
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 1:04:07 AM
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My 31 in 1 includes Contra( up up down down left right left right B A B A select start) Super Mario and of course Bomber Man.
1 up, 2 down
Victor321
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 1:12:25 AM
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Mass Effect, Final Fantasy X, Super Smash Bros. (the original on N64!), Onimusha (especially the 3rd!), Metal Gear Solid 4, Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, these are simply just a few that sprung into in my head at this moment.
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Xombito
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 1:16:57 AM
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bigrailer19
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 1:27:03 AM
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So although I have many PS3 games it's not much of a collection of games. But what makes the games I have special is I like them all for one reason or another. I enjoyed playing all of the games I have for reasons specific to each.
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Knightzane
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 1:49:54 AM
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Beamboom
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 2:17:09 AM
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I got quite a lot of games but I consider myself only to be a gamer, not a collector.
Am I a collector just cause I happen to buy a lot of games? I'd say no. I just buy a lot of games... I trade in most of them again to buy new games, and to part with them doesn't hurt me one bit. Generally speaking, after I'm done with it I'm done with it. I only save those who I think I might want to play again, cause they are too good to let go of. Ergo, I am no collector - just a gamer, right?
To be a collector, doesn't one need to obtain the items for the items themselves, not just to use them? So for instance, if you buy a third copy of a game just to get the three variations of the cover of that game, well that sounds like a collector. Or if you exclusively buy the collectors editions. Or every release from a specific publisher, or specific era, or specific platform.
Or are you a collector as soon as you got a collection of something? If so then most of us are collectors of books, plants, shoes, jackets, tables and chairs too. If you catch my drift...
Last edited by Beamboom on 9/29/2012 2:33:04 AM
1 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 10:39:41 AM
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 9/29/2012 10:40:28 AM
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Beamboom
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 12:46:09 PM
But while I'm not a collector there are still some nuggets I will keep for as long as I own games. Or at least for as long as I own the platform they run on.
Last edited by Beamboom on 9/29/2012 1:19:02 PM
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BikerSaint
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 4:06:46 AM
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Then there's also a few gaming collectors like myself who "Slowly" try to obtain every single game put out for every system made, whether we'll ever play them or not.
I myself, have many RPG, RTS, & Sports titles in my collections, that I have never played & don't ever intend on playing either, but I still want in order to fill out all those still missing pieces of my consoles collection, just like in a jigsaw puzzle. And some games are on multiple consoles or handhelds, so then I might wind up needing that very same game 4 times, but in different system versions too.
But I make sure I only buy those games as either bargain bin, B2G1 free used, or during stores stopping support for a particular system. For example, when GameStop was getting rid of all their original xbox games & had consolidated all their regional store's stock to just 1 last store around here, they did a $1.99 to $2.99 "B2,G1F" sale for good, on all their remaining sports titles, so I loaded up on about 40-45 sports games just to fill some of my missing xbox collection.
And another time, I bought the last 300 games(plus signs, posters, and such) that were still left inside my local mom & pop Micro-Play video games store, for just $75 just minutes before they closed their doors for good.
Although my collection stands at around 44 consoles & handhelds(not including my OnLive console), with 2,359 games, I still wouldn't consider my collection anything special, mainly because in my case.... "quantity does trump quality" in my case, LOL. Plus even though my collections are still way too incomplete, they're scattered in different sections of my apt due to lack of space.
I would like to think a few of my Japanese imports for some of my retro machine would have to be my best only because I know there's not many of them here in the states. And I also own a lot of those older retro strategy guides for Genesis, Saturn, & N64, etc too. Plus I have tons of different accessories for each system too.
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Beamboom
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 4:31:18 AM
Let me do a comparison with one of my other hobbies: RC (radio controlled) cars. I've been quite the enthusiast over the years, resulting in a current collection of 12 complete cars and a few incomplete ones, spread across several offroad-classes and ranging from entry-level to professional competition models.
... But am I then a RC-car *collector*? I'd say I'm not, the collection of cars is just a consequence of me being a RC car hobbyist. If I were a RC-car collector I'd hardly use the cars at all, due to the loss of value as a collectors item!
Last edited by Beamboom on 9/29/2012 4:42:23 AM
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BikerSaint
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 5:08:35 AM
Hmmm, that's a very good question & one that I'm not sure I can righty answer.
I guess everyone could define their own collections differently, as to whether it's also a "usable" collection as in video games, or even with your RC's. Or maybe somebody else with a collecting passion who's only geared towards making a high monetary re-sale value to their collection much later on.
Anyways, I consider both my VG's, CD music, DVD/BluRay movies, & numerous biker books as collections, but as "usable" ones.
But I also consider my "untouched" 8,000+ die-cast Harleys, choppers, emergency vehicles, & my Hess Toy Trucks as more of a hands-off collection(that may or may not be sold off in the hopes to make some money later on).
Last edited by BikerSaint on 9/29/2012 5:10:07 AM
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Beamboom
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 6:42:31 AM
To continue my example with RC cars: There are of course RC car collectors out there. But their cars are hardly driven at all, and if so it's just to take a video of it to prove they still work, to brag on forums etc - they are *never* seen in "race like" driving circumstances - not while being collectibles.
I am thinking the same in regards to being a game collector?
I would think that for a true collector, having a game still in the plastic wrapping must make that copy more valuable in the collection than if it's opened and with a disc/cartridge with visible marks of usage.
And a collector could buy a game for a platform he don't (yet?) own, while a gamer would never do that. I think that may be one sign of difference?
Last edited by Beamboom on 9/29/2012 6:51:00 AM
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BikerSaint
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 8:53:45 AM
I think you're absolutely right about HAVING a collection, & of actually BEING a collector.
As for myself, I don't think there's really any difference in value of a game in a collection if the games still in it's wrap or not.
The biggest things I always look for when getting games is...
that the case is there,
the cover art's there,
the manual is there(if it came with one).
And that everything there is in mint condition, including the disc itself.
My only exception to the rule is if I feel the game is way out of print & hard to find, & if felt like I'd be hard-pressed to find another copy.
So I have bought a few games that were slightly scratched at a great price, & I've been able to buff out most of those surface scratches. But if any blemishes still remain, then I'll keep looking for a mint copy to replace it with later.
BTW yes, I have bought games for systems I didn't own yet, either on "can't refuse" prices at flea markets, or a bunch of games thrown into a case lot at a real cheapie price.
Matter of fact, I did that with my Intellivision games. I found a "box lot" deal of 18 mint games & I put in a winning bid of $23 for the whole lot(I was determined to get that Burgertime, Frogger, Stampede, Pitfall, Tron Deadly Discs, & Snafu that were some of the games included in that lot batch).
Then almost a year later I won bids on both, the original Intellivision I console, and then the smaller white Intellivision II.
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Beamboom
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 10:37:33 AM
And this is what differs you from the rest of us, this is what makes you a real collector, while most of us here simply are enthusiastic gamers.
It was a cool read, Biker. Thanks. :)
Last edited by Beamboom on 9/29/2012 10:44:40 AM
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BikerSaint
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 11:54:35 AM
No problem, & you're welcome.
BTW, here's how my console/handheld collection stands so far(w/ the number of games to the right)...
Consoles-20....
IntellivisionI 24
Intellivision II
Snes (packed away)
Jaguar w/ 64 bit CD attachment 34
Panasonic FZ-10 3DO 45
Virtual Boy 1
N-64 79
Genesis 147
Saturn 75
Dreamcast 53
GameCube 76
Wii 20
Xbox 270
360 126
PS1 572
PS1 portable w/flip top screen & case
PS2 a Phat & Slim 486
PS3 a Phat & Slim 199
Handhelds 22....
Sega Game Gear 8
GB Pocket 5
GB Color 2 colors 24
GB Advance-3 colors 13
GB Advance SP
DS (12)
PSP in all 3 models & all different colors 102
PSP Go-one white & one black
Last edited by BikerSaint on 9/29/2012 12:05:24 PM
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BikerSaint
Sunday, September 30, 2012 @ 12:46:38 AM
Oh, I forgot to add that I also have a retro 1970's Telstar Alpha console in my collection too(4 built-in Pong styled games).
And a Zone60 console (60 built-in retro games, using Wii like controllers) .
Last edited by BikerSaint on 9/30/2012 12:48:46 AM
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Ultimadream
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 5:23:14 AM
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I do occassionaly look through my collection and sell some of the ones I don't even have fond memroies of - I have a collection beside me I am waiting to put on Ebay when listing is free.
I like my collection, it is all on one little shelf and is not overbearing. All ordered by console and alphabetically it's a nice and simple collection. It's nice to feel I own all this. With my digital games on the PS3 I just don't have the same feeling towards them.
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fatelementality
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 7:41:05 AM
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Last edited by fatelementality on 9/29/2012 7:48:56 AM
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xenris
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 9:07:40 AM
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On my dreamcast I have shenmue, jet grind radio, bomberman online, pso 1 and 2, powerstone 2, doa2, soul calibur, hydro thunder, star wars episode 1 racer, and again a bunch more I cant remember.
Then I have my ps2 and my ps3 games that I kept because of how high quality they were and how much I loved them when I played them the fist time. On the ps2 I have persona 3, shin megami tensei nocturne, Dragon quest 8, Baldurs gate dark alliance 2, redstar, contra shattered soldier, and a couple more.
On my ps1 I have a bunch of great games like bushido blade and tenchu too as well as about 2 dozen more.
Basically what makes my collection great is the games that I kept were all ones I had great memory with for sleep overs and stuff like that.
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telly
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 11:01:51 AM
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I think it's because the one constant in my life has always been video games. As everything changes, I have always enjoyed them enormously. And my collection of games became almost a journal of life. In fact, since I don't keep a proper journal my collection is the closest thing I have to an ongoing record of my life. They tell the story of the years passing by. And it's a personal story, since the vast majority of these games were played when I was alone, when I was at my most vulnerable and honest.
I think I'm finally ready to trade in a few stinkers from the 360/ps3 era, and I think the psp is getting traded in since I only ever played a few games for it, they're all available for download on vita anyway and I'll be picking one of those up within the next few months. But as a rule, I feel like getting rid of games is like tearing pages out of your journal. I prefer to remember the good and the bad :)
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fatelementality
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 11:55:33 AM
Last edited by fatelementality on 9/29/2012 11:55:49 AM
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Oyashiro
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 5:11:02 PM
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I just ordered the US limited edition of DJMax Technika Tune for Vita. It has a limited printing of 750 copies.
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Lemon_Saint
Saturday, September 29, 2012 @ 10:15:38 PM
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Back in the day I unfortunately traded in systems for pennies on the dollar for a handful of new games, and months later, would regret the decision every time. I told myself, "Never again", and never did.
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BikerSaint
Sunday, September 30, 2012 @ 1:05:27 AM
I'll bet your T.V. Scoreboard is probably just about the same as my 1979 Telstar Alpha(4 Pong styled games, Tennis, Hockey, Jai-Alai, & Handball).
At that time, a whole slew of companies were selling just about the same Pong console, but with just with a few minor tweaks & name changes.
The old Sears & Roebuck stores in 1979 also sold their version of the same console too.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 9/30/2012 1:06:44 AM
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telly
Monday, October 01, 2012 @ 10:52:34 AM
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GamerO1
Tuesday, October 02, 2012 @ 4:52:16 PM
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Playing Borderlands 2 right now, and at level 301 on Rainbow Moon !!!
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Temjin001
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Friday, September 28, 2012 @ 10:37:16 PM
Dang it. I was gonna ask lol
Come on Ben place up a picture of your collectibles