Michael (Mike) Panayiotakis is a very famous collector of Game&Watch. He has a large forum and a huge FAQ about Game&Watch. He belongs to a handful of longtime collectors who were the first ones to put a lot of information about Game&Watch online into public. Mike is 37 years old and lives in Greece. We talked about past, present and the future of Game&Watch. Read here the interesting interview with Mike.
Date: February 4th 2010
Interviewer: Patrick Weiss (G&W.ch)
G&W.ch: Hello Mike and thank you very much for taking time for this interview. Please tell us a little bit about yourself, who you are and what you do.
Mike: Hello Patrick, thank you very much for having me. My name is Michael, I live in Athens, Greece and I work as an air traffic controller. I’m happily married and Game&Watch games is one of my passions!
G&W.ch: You are a collector of Game&Watch for a very long time now. Please tell us how and when it all started, you becoming a collector of Game&Watch. Did you possess Game&Watch games in your youth? And what was your first Game&Watch game you bought for your collection and where did you get it from?
Mike: I used to own a few LCD games when I was little but unfortunately only one Game&Watch, the Donkey Kong JR. new wide screen game. They were very expensive at the time. I had forgotten all about this game until about 8 years ago when while I was browsing eBay and searching for other stuff, a DKJR auction came up! Needless to say that I won that auction and the rest is history.
Can’t remember where the seller was located but it was probably Europe because I wouldn’t buy from sellers outside Europe at the time mainly because of the customs fees and excessive shipping costs.
G&W.ch: Why the DKJR game and not another one?
Mike: It was the game I had the fondest memories about since I used to own one when I was little. No other game can even come close.
G&W.ch: Do you have other hobbies that you are accustomed to with the same passion?
Mike: I collect various stuff that I used to own during my childhood and the same passion (and fond memories) that drives me to look for Game&Watch games, the same one drives me to look for all these things that little Michael lost forever. Till now of course!
I like to get involved with my car as well, fixing and tuning stuff and I’m always looking for new information and people with the same passion to talk and share experiences about it. Very much like what we do in my Game&Watch forum.
G&W.ch: What are the other items you collect?
Mike: Well, a lot of stuff, like board games, Lego, Playmobil, Panini stickers, soccer cards, old computer games and consoles. Everything retro that I’m familiar with, basically.
G&W.ch: What do your family, relatives and friends say about your Game&Watch hobby?
Mike: My wife has no problem with it, she used to own a few LCD games when she was young so she can understand it (don’t tell her about the money I’ve paid for them though!!!). She’s very fond of some items as well, notably the Super Mario special game which indeed is an art piece. My friends were amazed the first time they saw my collection and I think they’re a bit jealous!
G&W.ch: Does any of them collect Game&Watch as well?
Mike: No, they’ve got a couple of games from their youth though!
G&W.ch: Do you remember if there was a popularity of Game&Watch in Greece?
Mike: Yes, totally! Back when I was in elementary school we would spend our break time playing with the games various kids used to carry to school. We envied them for owning these games. Everybody’s dream was to receive one as a gift for Christmas back then!!
G&W.ch: Do you remember the original sales prices of the games?
Mike: I can’t remember exactly, the only thing I remember is the price of wide screen games, which was about 10,000 drachma or 30 Euros. Nintendo games used to cost triple the price of other small LCD games and it was very difficult for a small kid to buy one.
G&W.ch: Let’s go back to your collecting passion. What was your main target when you started collecting?
Mike: Well, when I started, my goal was to get the game I used to own as I’ve mentioned already! But when I discovered that other Game&Watch games were available as well, I started getting random loose games, mainly ones that I could recognize. I managed to get a few boxed games and when I discovered how many games were produced, I decided I would collect all of them! It took me about a year to reach that decision!
G&W.ch: There are many other handhelds from the 80’s from various manufacturers such as Bandai, Gakken, Tomy, Tiger etc. What do you think makes Game&Watch so special compared to them?
Mike: Well, where do I start... Nintendo did almost everything right. They created smart games, ones that you would come back to in order to try and beat the high score; they used innovative technologies (color LCDs, transparent screens, etc.) and characters that had already become famous (Donkey Kong, Mario etc). The quality of the productions was top notch and more importantly they managed to make every kid in the 80s drool over toy store Game&Watch display cabinets.
G&W.ch: Did you ever dream about Game&Watch? For example a dream about you entering a toy store and there are lots of Game&Watch games sitting in the shelves just waiting for you? :-)
Mike: Yes, many times. I think it’s common among Game&Watch collectors who become obsessed with this hobby (and you can become obsessed very easily!). Unfortunately it has stayed a dream... Oh well...
G&W.ch: Where do you usually get your games from? Did you ever find Game&Watch games on a flea market or even in a store?
Mike: All my games come from eBay or other collectors. I’ve never found a game in a store. There was a toy store in a nearby town with many old toys and a few Game&Watch games in relatively good condition but unfortunately the owner decided to close it down for good before I got the chance to ask him about the games.
G&W.ch: What was most you spent on a game and what was your best bargain buy?
Mike: The highest amount of money I’ve ever paid for a game was for my boxed Super Mario special game, about $1200. Incredible amount but this game is worth it. I managed to find a lot of bargains during these 8 years but they were not cheap. Still, imho they can be considered bargains because most of them were items that appear for auction once or twice in a lifetime and for a small fraction of the price they usually go for. For example: I paid $300 for a Game&Watch lot which included a pocketsize lifeboat, $150 for a blister pack lifeboat (never seen one for sale in eBay), $400 for a new egg etc.. I’ve found many good deals over the years.
G&W.ch: Which one of your games is your most favorite and why? On the other side: Is there a game you don’t like and why do you dislike it?
Mike: It’s probably obvious but it’s the Super Mario special. Everything in this release looks perfect, from the box that resembles a wrapped gift, to the amazing yellow case and the game, it has a great wow factor even for people that have never seen a Game&Watch game. I don’t like the Micro vs. games at all. I understand why Nintendo released them but to me the game play seems uninspired, rather boring and I could never imagine myself as a kid playing these games with a friend.
G&W.ch: If there would be a time machine and with it you could go back to the 80’s to pick up only one 100% factory mint game. Which one would you choose?
Mike: If I could go back to any country in the world I would probably visit the US and try to find a new pocketsize Rain Shower!! Otherwise I would probably pick a new Flagman mainly because it’s the most difficult boxed game to find in good condition.
G&W.ch: There are 59 official games and the one which was given away on a contest (Super Mario Bros. YM-901). But there are many different country versions as well, such as tricOtronic (Germany), Pocketsize (USA and Canada) and a few more. Was it hard for you to decide which ones to collect and what would you call a complete collection?
Mike: No, it wasn’t difficult. I don’t care about localized versions because I don’t want to own games with instructions I don’t understand however rare they are. The only exception is the Super Mario special you’ve mentioned which comes with Japanese paperwork only so I had no choice. I tried to collect all 59 games with English paperwork and the ym901s. Sometimes I had to get Japanese items and look for English paperwork later on but my main goal was to reach the 60 boxed games mark with as much English paperwork as possible.
When I reached this goal I started collecting pocketsize games because I really liked the box designs and now I’m focusing on blister pack/carded games because they are very rare and the games come sealed and protected in them. In my opinion a complete Game&Watch collection is one with all the different model numbers, which means 60 different games. Some disagree and say that the ym901s shouldn’t be included in the list because it was never released in shops but I think this is wrong because if you collect all 59 games then you have a “complete Game&Watch collection of games that were released in shops” and not a “complete Game&Watch game collection”.
G&W.ch: You did own all 60 games, but then you started to sell them. You said that you will keep and collect the rare and special ones only in the future. Why? And which ones will you keep or even buy in the future? What is now your main target in collecting Game&Watch?
Mike: Well, frankly, I got bored. My interest in the games diminished and needed a new goal for my collection. And what’s the reason of collecting these games if you can’t appreciate them up close or show them to your friends just because you fear they might get damaged and stop being mint? So I decided to get rid of almost all my boxed items and concentrate on sealed items in general (which will remain mint no matter what!) and loose games to show and play with.
G&W.ch: Once you started selling a lot of your games, I suppose many other collectors did worry that you would sell up completely and leave the Game&Watch scene. Would you ever do that and if so, for what reason(s)?
Mike: I can only think of one definite reason: family. I will always be involved but if a baby comes along then I suppose I won’t have so much free time to devote to this hobby. I’d be reluctant to continue collecting if the latest trend of fake products expands to the games themselves as well. I’m very worried about this and let’s hope it won’t happen anytime soon.
G&W.ch: In case you’re going to sell your whole collection one day, would you sell all of your games or would you keep one single game for memories? If you would keep one, which one would it be and why?
Mike: I will always keep my loose Donkey Kong JR game for the reasons I’ve already mentioned. If the need arises I would sell all my other stuff.
G&W.ch: How many games do you own at the present and which ones?
Mike: About 33 different games. Probably about 36-37 by the time your viewers read this interview! LOL! I’ve got all wide screen games except chef, all new wide screen games, all Multi Screen games except Rain Shower, both Super Color games, Super Mario special, Lion and Mario Bombs Away. Maybe I’m forgetting one or two. Oh well I have a dynamic collection after all!
G&W.ch: Do you play any of the Game&Watch games and if so, which ones?
Mike: I like Turtle Bridge a lot and I fire it up from time to time but I don’t really have the time to play with the games very often.
G&W.ch: There are many collectors of Game&Watch around the world. Did you ever meet any of them? Would you join a collectors meeting or visit other collectors, let’s say if you would spend your vacation close to one or more of them?
Mike: I’ve never met anyone up close. Most collector meetings take place in western Europe, which is too far away and during summer, which is a very difficult time for me work-wise. But I would love to meet other collectors and if I can find the time in the future I’ll certainly do it!
G&W.ch: Do you have an idea, how many collectors of Game&Watch are there worldwide? Do you have a rough guess?
Mike: I can’t guess but there are a lot! At one time I thought I could make a list by writing down people who sell and buy stuff in eBay but I lost count after a while. There are just so many people involved in this hobby and I’m not talking just about people that sell the occasional game or two. Pity that we don’t know much about the most of them.
G&W.ch: You started collecting in 2002. What are most changes regarding the Game&Watch scene since then and today in 2010?
Mike: Many things have changed. First of all people don’t trust each other as much as they used to back then and trades don’t take place often nowadays. Secondly, prices have gone up a lot even if we take in consideration the slump we’ve noticed the past two years. You can’t find mint items for decent prices any more.
Thankfully, availability of items has increased tenfold so one can complete a collection easier than before. Lastly, fake boxes and paperwork have created all sorts of problems in the community. For the moment it seems to be contained to certain sellers in eBay who can be easily identified.
G&W.ch: Starting a collection often means starting from scratch. What would you recommend to new collectors of Game&Watch? Do you have any tips and hints for them?
Mike: New collectors shouldn’t start collecting without learning a few things about the games first. This will help them identify rare items and evaluate an item’s value. The urge to get anything that you discover in eBay is great but a collector should be patient and try to look for the perfect opportunity to buy something. Your auctions database could prove very helpful towards identifying bargains. A new collector should study it closely!
G&W.ch: Do you display your games at home? Did you ever think of displaying your collection to the public, besides online? For example in a Museum?
Mike: Yes, I’ve got a small display cabinet. Unfortunately I don’t have the space to install a larger one so this will do for now. I’ve never thought of displaying my collection anywhere else. I suppose if someone asked me to I probably would and if that helps to bring more collectors in the community all the better!
G&W.ch: Let’s talk about your huge FAQ about Game&Watch. What was the reason to write this FAQ and how long did you work on it?
Mike: The reason I started thinking about writing one was that there wasn’t one till then! Collectors couldn’t find information about the games easily. They had to ask other collectors and there were a lot of stuff that nobody had ever thought about researching. While my FAQ isn’t complete I tried to write about the most stuff you’ll ever wonder about as a collector. I’m planning on correcting a few things, adding some new information and expanding it a bit in the near future. I worked on it for about 3 months before releasing it. Since then I’ve updated it two times, mainly adding stuff.
G&W.ch: Was it difficult to get all the information for your FAQ and where did you get it from?
Mike: Yes it was. I had to compile everything from different sources (magazines, web sites, collectors, own observations and research, videos, photos etc.) and some of them were really unreliable. So I had to double check everything and although my FAQ might not be 100% correct, it’s very very close and that’s what matters because you can count on the information contained in it.
G&W.ch: Did you ever contact Nintendo for information and if so, did you get a response?
Mike: I did, several times. The usual response was “we can’t help you with your questions”. Thankfully there are a few Nintendo employees that are still around to offer their knowledge, like the ones Florent contacted in order to write his Nintendo book. But I never had direct contact with them.
G&W.ch: Do you plan to continue or upgrading your FAQ?
Mike: Yes indeed. I have written down a lot of stuff the past couple of years that needs to be added to the FAQ and I’ll probably start updating it soon.
G&W.ch: As you and most collectors know, there are sellers on eBay who sell fake Game&Watch items such as boxes, manuals, paperwork and more. They call it repro or handmade. What’s your opinion about these items and do you think they do stir up or even disturb the Game&Watch market?
Mike: I mentioned this recent phenomenon earlier and I expressed my concern. I think they have created all sorts of problems. Collectors don’t trust sellers selling good stuff any more; they are more reluctant to bid in auctions. Prices have gone down a bit and this has affected the psychology of collectors in general. We’ve done a few things as a community to prevent this phenomenon from expanding by identifying such auctions and giving information on how to identify fake boxes/paperwork. We are prepared to go even further if needed. We pay large sums of money for our hobby and we want to protect it.
G&W.ch: The first game, Ball AC-01, was released on April 28th 1980. So, Game&Watch celebrates its 30th birthday in April this year. Do you think this will have an influence of the Game&Watch market and if so, in which way?
Mike: Well, we will probably see a few console games based on Game&Watch ones I’m sure. The re-release of Ball is also major news and I’m very anxious to see what Nintendo will come up for their Nintendo club.
G&W.ch: Do you think the 30th anniversary of Game&Watch will bring some extra new collectors to the scene as well?
Mike: It’s possible. There are a lot of people who have forgotten all about these games and this anniversary might bring back memories. It’s also very easy to get drawn into Game&Watch collecting if you’re a Nintendo fan and this celebration could bring a few of them in our community as well.
G&W.ch: How do you see the future of Game&Watch in general? Will there be more interest or less in Game&Watch within the next few years? Do you believe the number of collectors will increase or decrease in the future?
Mike: Interestingly there was a discussion a few years ago in the forum about this. Some collectors argued that the interest would diminish over the years. In the 8 years I’m collecting I’ve seen the interest rise!! I think this won’t change any time soon. Nintendo is still making money out of the Game&Watch line (mini classics, console games) and the trend will probably continue for years.
After all, in about 10-20 years these games will be considered vintage and vintage game collectors will probably show interest in these games as well. There will always be people interested in old toys, no matter what.
G&W.ch: Just for curiosity: A look into the news tells us, that Greece is in deep dept. Do you think that the government of Greece should have bought a lot of Game&Watch games earlier, so they could sell them now with profit to get out of dept? :-)
Mike: LOL! We’re talking about politicians here. They don’t have the foresight to see beyond their nose! I think they should have bought Nintendo stocks in the 80s instead. That would have solved the problem for sure!
G&W.ch: Do you have any other interesting information about Game&Watch you would like to share with our readers?
Mike: Hey, did you know that Yokoi who invented the Game&Watch games got the idea about them while traveling on a train and playing with a simple calculator? That’s when it all started!! Thank you for the interview Patrick! I hope your visitors like it!
I hope our readers did have a good time reading this interview and got a lot of interesting information about Game&Watch. Mike, thank you very much again for this interview and I wish you a lot of fun and success in collecting these great handheld games.
Mike’s forum can be found at: http://mpanayiotakis.proboards.com.
Some pictures of Mike's collection:
