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For better or worse, the world of game collecting has exploded over the last several years. People who previously had no interest in the hobby have recently discovered the excitement that game hunting can bring. But today, we’re chatting with someone whose affinity with collecting dates back a bit further than that. John Hancock, known in the collector scene as “The Immortal John Hancock” was kind enough to share a few words about his thoughts and experiences as a seasoned game collector. Hope you enjoy!
Tell us about your earliest collecting days and how you first got into it.
I came from a family of hobbyists and collectors. I began at an early age going to flea marts collecting cards, comics, and figures. Eventually it evolved to video games. I have stuck with collecting games ever since.
How many video games do you think you own at this point?
I have not counted in a long time but in the thousands.
You own complete North American libraries for a number of consoles. What are the motivating factors that drive you and other collectors to tackle such a large task?
For me it has always been to represent what was released for many consoles and computers. As I continue to plan and work on my collection being at a public location, I have always been driven to share with others complete game collections of a particular console.
Which aspect of the hobby brings you the most joy? (Scoring deals, finding hidden gems, playing recent acquisitions, etc.)
Recently it has been enjoying playing games the most. I have really tried to play and share with others why the gameplay is so important.
Of all of the game consoles you own, which do you currently spend the most time playing?
I enjoy playing games on the Sega Genesis more than any other console. So many great memories of classics with aftermarket games still coming out today.
As someone who has collected video games for decades, how do you feel about the climate of game collecting in 2023?
Collecting these days is very different. It’s a lot more expensive and harder to locate games. It still can be enjoyable but at the same time saddens me seeing many retro store shut down.
Is there an end in sight for you, or will you continue to collect as long as you can?
Collecting for me is definitely winding down. There are still things I want to pursue, but I really at this point am preparing for my collection to leave my house. This is a multi year process that will hopefully begin at the end of the year.
What types of videos should people expect from your channel?
Videos provided on my channel vary like my collection. I cover everything from Atari to Xbox including some modern releases.
Where can people follow your work online?
Majority of my videos are on YouTube @johnhancockretro but also have a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
Great article that gives an insight on gaming and the collector.