FROM BIG BOX TO BIG WEBSITE
Meet the collector who shares his collection online
We’ve spoken to many collectors in the past who have used spreadsheets as a way to track their collections, but Benjamin Wimmer has taken things one step further.
“I wanted something visual that would allow me to compare covers and editions more easily,” he tells us. “With that in mind, I started by photographing and then scanning my boxes. As the number of photo albums grew, the idea of presenting them on a website emerged.”
That collection can be found at bigboxcollection.com and it’s filled with incredible scans of Benjamin’s impressive big box collection, as well as the games he has picked up for Wii and Switch (the latter of which is all digital). As you might expect, keeping on top of such a project can be quite time consuming. “There are only a couple of small tasks needed for creating a virtual version: scanning the box, editing the scans, and adding the game’s details to my database,” Benjamin says. “The problem is that my spare time is limited, and side projects like the upcoming bigboxbook.com eat up more hours than anticipated, so there are always a pile of not-yet scanned/ uploaded boxes on my desk.”
Every collection starts somewhere and Benjamin’s began with a copy of Castle Master on the C64, which was acquired in the late-eighties.
“It was my first game packaged in a cardboard box and it felt magical compared to the budget Mastertronic cassette cases that I usually picked up,” Benjamin says. “We were spoiled back then with all the manuals, maps and other extras that were thrown into these big boxes. No other platform matched this level of goodies that made the games spill into the real world during the Nineties.”
Benjamin decided to put his collection into storage in the summer of 2000 due to big box variants disappearing and a general focus on digital games, but a physical release of C64anabalt on C64 in 2012 reignited his interest and he began tracking down the coveted games he never got to play on release. “Long story short, here I am with a shelf of around 700 boxed games for various computer systems released between 1982 to 2021,” he proudly tells us.
When he’s not seeking out big box games to add to his collection, Benjamin also has an interest in Nintendo’s Wii. “It was a true revolution for me,” he tells us.
Never comfortable with the dualstick controllers that so many other consoles used, Benjamin found the Wii’s approach refreshing, saying,
“It allowed for a more comfortable and very precise way of playing.” It also led to Benjamin picking up many games for the system, from Zack & Wiki and Endless Ocean to No More Heroes and Resident Evil 4.
While Benjamin is unsure why the Wii is suddenly becoming popular, “The Wii got a lot of hate during its time and was skipped and belittled by many gamers, developers, as well as the press,” he’s convinced you can still create a great collection if you follow some useful tips. “Patience is key,” he says. “Set yourself a budget per title and/or month and take a break from time to time. Also, share your collection with other retro gamers, like the fantastic Big Box PC Game Collectors group on Facebook.”