Another epic videogame collection from the US, I think my jaw literally dropped when I saw Lonzia’s  game room. Lonzia has a passion for gaming which is reflected in this; a collection of epic proportions. All eras of video gaming catered for here and it definitely ticks all the boxes when it comes to completeness. And check out the size of those TVs!

This is a large collection so be sure to scroll to the end of the article to read the interview we gave Lonzia.

With no further ado, enjoy…

The collection

Click on pictures to enlarge

 

Q and A with Lonzia Shay

When did you become interested in video games and what was the first video game you played?

Lonzia: In the 80’s video game commercials were so epic! There would be a kid jumping around holding a controller, explosions, stuff flying out of the kids tv… It was amazing! I wanted to be like the kids in the commercials. When I was around 5 years old, for months I would rush down stairs when I heard my dad come home from work hoping that he brought home an Atari or a NES. I mean EVERY night. Then one day it finally happened. He brought home a Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Mario Brothers and Rad Racer. But being the youngest of three, I ended up just watching my older brother and sister play. But It was still amazing to watch. It was so exciting!. But one day, I finally had the NES to my self and popped in Super Mario Brothers. It was love at first sight.

What was the first games console or computer you owned and how old were you?

Lonzia: Well, the NES was the first console that I ever got but I shared it with my siblings. I was around 5. But the first one that was all mine was the Super Nintendo and I was about 9. Even as an adult I can’t think of one thing that I’ve  ever wanted as bad as the SNES. I wanted it so bad I felt sick. When I finally got one for christmas I don’t think I left my room for over a week.

What got you into collecting videogames, computers and consoles?

Lonzia: By the time I graduated from High school, all of my old video games were long gone. After moving a few times and becoming fascinated by things other than video games I kinda lost track of what happened to them. I wasn’t playing video games as much anymore. That was until Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It was like I was 8 years old all over again. That game completely blew me away and re-ignited my passion for gaming. Shortly after graduating I got my first job and one of my co-workers was a fellow gamer. He ended up joining the army but before leaving, he gave me his old NES and about 10 games. It was like a time machine for me. Playing those games on the actual console and not with an emulator took me back to my childhood. The feeling of nostalgia was so strong. From that point I had to have all of the old games I grew up with or didn’t get a chance to play in my childhood and I began collecting.

Where do you source most of your retro purchases from (ebay, flea markets etc) ?

Lonzia: Early on, I used to go to pawn shops, yard sales and flea markets but now I mainly just use ebay. I also get a lot of my import games from japangamestock.com. I miss the excitement of finding a hidden gem after hours of searching but ebay is just so convenient. More expensive, but much more convenient.

What is your most prized retrogaming possession and how much did it cost you?

Lonzia: Thats a really difficult question! I’d have to say my Neo Geo 4 slot MVS. Growing up, I couldn’t think of anything cooler than having my own arcade machine. One day I started searching the web and found a Neo Geo MVS being sold. The seller ran a company thats been distributing arcade cabinets all over southern California since the 70’s. He turned out to be really cool guy and sold me the Neo Geo MVS and 4 games for only $650! The day it was delivered to my house was one of the happiest days of my life. It really was a dream come true for me. I ended up buying three more cabs the same week. But the MVS is my favorite because of all the amazing snk games available for it.

What is your favourite hardware manufacturer (Sega, Nintendo, Atari Commodore etc.) ?

Lonzia: Nintendo of course! They single handedly resurrected gaming after the crash of 83′. From the D-pad, analog  stick, force feedback (rumble) and motion controls, Nintendo has continued to set standards in gaming since the introduction of the NES. Not to mention they created some of the most beloved franchises in gaming history.

What is your favourite console or computer?

Lonzia: Without a doubt, the Super Nintendo. At the time it seemed like such a huge leap over it’s predecessor. All my favorite games from the NES had incredible sequels on the SNES. Contra, Metroid, Zelda, Castlevania and most of all Mario just to name a few. A lot of series had their best entries on the SNES. It was also the first time arcade games like final fight and street fighter 2 had home versions that were comparable in graphics and sound to the arcade originals. Speaking of sound, some of gamings most revered soundtracks were on the SNES. Games like Chrono Trigger, Zombies ate my neighbors and Super Metroid have soundtracks that are still being discussed to this day.

The burning house scenario: which collection would you save first?

Lonzia: Yikes… I’d probably be too busy screaming like a girl to think…  I guess I’d have to grab my NES games. They hold the most sentimental value. They are what got me into gaming as a child, and got me into collecting as an adult.

The desert island scenario: which one console and game would you take?

Lonzia: By far the most difficult gaming related question I’ve ever had to answer. I guess I’ll have to first narrow it down to my favorite console which is the Super Nintendo. Now, a game that is time consuming, immersive, fun to play, has an awesome soundtrack and has a high replay value… Well, that didn’t help. I can easily name 10 games on the snes that have all of those qualities (Final Fantasy II & III, Earth Bound, Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: a link to the past, Chrono Trigger, Actraiser, Super Mario RPG, The Secret of Mana, Yoshi’s Island). Well… I’ll have to go with Super Mario World. Yeah yeah, I know that’s the easy way to answer the question but I feel that that game has the perfect balance of everything that makes a good game. It was also the game that first showcased the capabilities of the SNES… And how can you have a Nintendo system without a Mario game?

Where do you want to go now with the collection?

Lonzia: For that past 6 or seven years that I have been collecting I’ve mainly searched for games that were either ones I grew up playing or games that were significant to history of gaming. For example, Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City for the SNES is definitely not on anyones “holy grail” list but it was the first game Amy Hennig (creative director for Naughty Dog’s Uncharted series) worked on as lead designer. Another example is the Famicom game The Portopia Serial Murder Case. This game inspired Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima to enter the video game industry. At least 75% of my games have some type of cool story or facts about them. I still find facts like these to be more important than a game being just rare but eventually I would like to start completing some collections.

Have you any tips for budding retro games collectors?

Lonzia: Learn the history of gaming. There are so many fascinating stories to these consoles and games that we know and love. You’ll have much more of an appreciation for them when you know their background. I think there is much more to collecting then checking off a list or spending ridiculous amounts of money on a terrible game only because a few are in circulation. Also, Play your games! I understand being careful and taking care of them but not playing them is just absurd to me. Not only does it defeat the purpose of a video game but playing these games lets you appreciate how far the medium has come. It will make you appreciate all the new games much more.

 

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