The Wonderful World of Computer Game Collectables

Computer and video games are one of the most popular forms of entertainment today, especially for the generations who have grown up with them since the late 1970s. Reflecting their popularity, computer game collectibles have become much sought after goods, with everything from rare editions of games to action figures commanding high prices among collectors. Games themselves have even tried to get in on the craze, offering achievements and trophies to separate the dedicated gamer from the casual player.

Since computer games began to feature recognisable characters, merchandise has been available for fans to collect and enjoy. Early games such as PacMan made the crossover from pixel to plastic and spawned a wave of merchandise that remains popular to this day. Nintendo and Sega mascots Mario and Sonic were similarly successful and had an enormous impact on the popular culture of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Today gaming collectibles can command nearly the same following as those for comic books or cult TV series. Action figures based on characters from major games franchises including Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, Street Fighter and World of Warcraft are sold alongside those from Star Wars and X-Men while Halo's Master Chief or God of War's Kratos often adorn t-shirts. From key rings to costumes, thousands of pieces of collectable merchandise are now available.

Many games have tried to tap into the player's desire to discover every secret and collect every goodie since the very early days of gaming but this has really come into its own in recent years thanks to achievement and trophy systems. These reward players for completing certain actions within a game - finishing a level or winning a certain number of matches, for example - with an achievement, which can be viewed by friends to see how their records match up. Many gamers do not see a game as fully complete until they have collected all available achievements and compete with friends online to accumulate the most.

Of course, today many computer games themselves are seeking to become collectibles through the release of special collector's editions. These are enhanced versions of the game that come in special packaging and often feature rare merchandise that ranges from art books and soundtrack CDs to action figure and character busts. In one memorable case, a very limited edition version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 shipped with a pair of working night vision goggles. Other games offer in-game bonuses to entice players, such as the recent Epic Edition of the game Bulletstorm, which allowed access to the highly anticipated mutliplayer beta test for Gears of War 3.

With such a dedicated fan base, it is no surprise that computer game collectables have taken off in such a big way. And with gaming going from strength to strength, the trend seems set to continue for many years yet.

Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.