Retrogaming

CEBU, Philippines - Ron didn't mind the dust, the heat and the itchiness.

In that rickety Japanese surplus store one sunny afternoon - wading through piles of dusty stuffed toys and used clothes - Ron was determined to find his new time machine that will take him back to his early days of video gaming.

Some people collect stamps. Some collect Barbie dolls. But for 26-year-old video game fan Roniel Flores, who grew up playing Megaman and Super Mario, he prefers retrogaming.

A niche that has a growing interest throughout the world, retrogaming is a hobby where one would collect old gaming consoles and video games that date back to the early days of virtual games. Also called old-school gaming, retrogamers treat this kind of hobby as preserving something they enjoyed since childhood.

For Flores, whose collection comprises of rare gems such as the PC-FX, a console that only has very few units produced due to its short life span in the market, and a Sega Dreamcast Hello Kitty limited edition, he has loved video games ever since he was a child.

"I was four when our neighbor invited me to play Famicon and Atari games. We played Balloon Fight, and we were laughing and fighting over the controller and enjoying our time," Flores fondly reminisced. Suffice it to say, this triggered his interest on video games.

"I was still in elementary school when I first gathered game cartridges from neighbors," Flores said. He started collecting when he was young, and later took the hobby seriously in 2008 when he saw collectors from around the world sharing their hauls online.

Not only is retrogaming expensive, it also takes dedication. Flores has meticulously made shelves and storage boxes for his collection to stay in good condition and away from dust and heat. An amateur tennis player and former skateboard enthusiast, Flores is also disciplined in his hobby by limiting his purchases and knowing his priorities. "My money isn't just for this hobby," he said.

To find new additions to his collection, Flores has been resourceful. Aside from visiting surplus stores and online sites, he also has his contacts. "I initially got my first cartridges and game discs from friends who would donate or sell it to me after knowing of my collection," he said.

Aside from playing with his retro games, he has also been able to showcase his collection through hobby events here in Cebu. He has been to Hobcon '09, a hobby event in Cebu; the University of the Philippines Cebu's Otakufest V, an annual gathering of hobbyists and Japanese pop culture enthusiasts here in Cebu; toy conventions and more.

Flores recalled that it was great to share his love for retrogaming with other fans and gamers. "It was fun to see people's faces light up when they saw a game they fondly remembered and played during childhood. It was also great to see youngsters enjoy the classic games," he said. It was a delight for Flores to see the old and new generation of gamers connect through his collection.

When asked what he gets from his collection, a smile instantly showed on Flores' face. " I get to save something that I loved since childhood. It's one heck of an experience - It's like a time machine!" (FREEMAN)