ThinkGeek Video Game Controller Ornaments

ThinkGeek has successfully become one of the places that for a while now, has beat my checking account to a pulp. But in recent months, I'd become a bit more discerning in things I picked up, trying to stay to either only Star Wars or Sega related sort of items.

This particular set was literally one where I saw it at the last minute and just had enough extra cash to get it as well, since I wanted to deck out a mini christmas tree perhaps next year at work in my cubicle. So miniature video game controllers seemed like a perfect idea. I'm glad I ordered it when I did as literally the next week, the listing for this item was GONE. You can still find the link on google, but the page has been deleted, and according to the help line, this set was discontinued and will not be made again. I don't believe it was on the site for very long, but it seems to have become pretty rare pretty quickly. As of 12:12 AM Dec 21, there are about five active auctions for this set all around the $20 range. So if you missed this set, that's the only route you have now to get them.

The packaging is nice enough, but the plastic box seems to have a heck of a lot of shelf wear on it. Not a deal breaker, but one reason why I don't like clear plastic boxes on items I collect.

Back of box.

(Top) Both sides of box have the controllers in black and white. (Bottom) The bottom of the box.

The internal plastic bubble area can be used as a repeat storage box, as it's sturdy enough, and the ornaments all fit back in fairly snug.

I never owned a PSOne. But just about everyone else I knew did, including my brother and sister. That's about the only memory I have of this system. Otherwise, I could have taken or left this particular ornament.

I think I was the only kid on my block that owned a Sega Master System, not an NES growing up. So while cool, this one did not that much for me.

The Sega Genesis one looks quite accurate and is probably the cleanest/sharpest paint job out of the set.

The Atari controller color is hard to mess up. Seriously. It's all black with an orange/red button on it.

The form factor of all of the controllers are very accurate to the real things, but are actually a bit heavier because of them being made of polystone.

Scale wise, they were larger than I thought they would be, just a bit smaller than your average round ornament. (Inset: The Genesis controller ornament in comparison to an actual game pad, the retro-bit Genesis controller)

Overall, with the exception of there being no logos on them (which, I mean if you are handy with paint pens and maybe even getting some vinyl block out sticker masks, you could easily put the logos on these), this set is pretty cool. I've not always been one to seek out ornaments. I have a few that are Star Wars related, and I think an Elsa one would be cool, but these were the first ones that I was super excited to get. I am pretty happy with the look, feel, and finish.

Until next time, cherish the good things in life, keep your hobbies and interests alive, and be kind to your fellow beings. - Mario, the Rogue Hobbyist.
 

Stats	Rating/Information
Item	Video Game Controller Ornaments
Made by	ThinkGeek
Rarity	Uncommon - Has been discontinued.
Classification	Modern - Released in 2014
Condition	Excellent - Box has some shelf wear.
Procured	Online from ThinkGeek
Worth	$20 (starting to rise on the secondary market now)
Investment	$14
Further Research	N/A
Trivia & Fun Facts	The controllers in this set represent the systems that reigned as the top contenders of their time, which of course were the Nintendo Entertainment System (8 bit era), the Sega Genesis (16 bit era), the Sony Playstation (32 bit era), and the Atari 2600 (pre 8 bit era).

Sega Genesis 16 bit game "CLUE"

The board game.

 Clue is a murder mystery game for three to six players, devised by Anthony E. Pratt from Birmingham, England and currently published by the United States game and toy company Hasbro. The object of the game is to determine who murdered the game's victim ("Dr. Black" in the UK version and "Mr. Boddy" in North American versions), where the crime took place, and which weapon was used. Each player assumes the role of one of the six suspects, and attempts to deduce the correct answer by strategically moving around a game board representing the rooms of a mansion and collecting clues about the circumstances of the murder from the other players.

Numerous games, books, and a film have been released as part of the Cluedo franchise. Several spinoffs have been released featuring various extra characters, weapons and rooms, or different game play. The original game is marketed as the "Classic Detective Game", while the various spinoffs are all distinguished by different slogans. - Wikipedia

I'll be honest. This is one game that I own two versions of, the board game variant, and the Sega Genesis version... and I've never played either. Now, that may sound so bizarre, but in the case of the board game, it had been one of those things where I every intention of playing the game, but just never got around to it. But I collected board games so it seemed like one of the games that I should probably own (I'll review that version later...)

But this version I'm covering today is the one for the Sega Genesis game system. It was released in 1992 in a standard plastic case version with a pack in poster, and was re-released later in a card-stock variant (towards the end of the Genesis' life cycle).

The card stock packaged version. It also did not come with the fold out poster/advert of Monopoly/Clue.

One of the things to remember about the Genesis, is that the hardware and so many of its games are over thirty years old now. With each decade, with each passing year, like anything now out of production, items become more and more rare. Even games or peripherals that might have been manufactured in mass amounts at one point start to become more uncommon because of factors like:

1. Time
2. Wear and tear
3. Disposal
4. Stored and forgotten
5. Recall because of low sales or manufacturing issues

All of those make finding complete games a huge part of the fun and challenge for someone like me, but also allow for there to be levels of re-completing games or systems in a piece meal collecting style (So you got the game cartridge, and maybe the game manual, but not the case, for instance). It creates an incredible secondary market that manifests both online on marketplaces like ebay or on fan forums that often have trading/selling areas, and in a fair amount of brick and mortar stores that deal in retro collectables.

I really lucked out on this gem, as the outer label and case were in immaculate condition and color, and the plastic case had the coveted tab (which was used in store peg hanging) still intact.

Pardon the glare on this, I have a much nicer camera area set up that I will be using to replace these photos and use for all future posts.

Internally the cartridge had no scuffs and had it's graphics in stellar condition as well.

Not even a slight scuff on this cartridge or its label.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the manual was there, which had a bit of damage in the form of some corner folds on the lower corner, but had no writing, marks or tears anywhere on it. An added bonus was the presence of the pack in poster which featured advert posters for Clue on one side, and Monopoly on the other. That as well showed a little worn sort of "shelf storage".

The interior elements were all in place.

It really seemed like this might have been a game that was purchased and maybe played once or twice, put away, and then later sold. I tell you, these are the kinds of finds that I enjoy because the worth and quality is rarer than the actual game is.

The two sided poster featuring artwork from the physical board game versions used to promote the video game versions. The game manual had no signs or markings of ever being used.

I plan on later making a comparison between the play in this version and the actual board game at a later date (and I'll have some screenshots of the game of course to see and compare with).

Thanks for reading! Take care of the things in your life, promote the well being of history, never forget the Library of Alexandria, and I'll see you next time!

-Mario, the Rogue Hobbyist  

 

Stats	Rating/Information
Item	Sega Genesis 16 bit game "CLUE"
Made by	Parker Bros./Waddingtons Games Ltd.
Rarity	Common - Cartridge only. Uncommon - Package complete or in "Card Stock" variation.
Classification	Retro - Released in 1992
Condition	Excellent - Colors are bright, slight corner bends on manual pages.
Procured	Warrensburg, Missouri
Worth	$15
Investment	$3
Further Research	-n/a-
Trivia & Fun Facts	In keeping with the nature of the board game, in theatrical release the movie was shown with one of three possible endings, with different theaters receiving each ending. In the film's home video release, all three endings were included.