Hey Linda ! If you see this , I love your collection , Congratulations!

Good for her. I loved reading this. Just made me happy, full stop.

Huh, that’s a blast from the past. I had that exact handheld football game, must have been released around 1980?. I think my dad bought it b/c it was a couple bucks cheaper than the mattel one. However I liked it better the buttons were bigger and the game fit in my hands better.

I have a large collection myself with some rare titles and the reason why I own them is so that I can share them with others. I like being the guy who gives others a chance to enjoy themselves and to try out games they’ve only heard about. It’s why I lend out systems as well for the local fight nights. If I can help…

>> Gaming became a family pastime. The Guillorys surrounded the NES, passing the controller back and forth, encouraging one another, and shouting commands and tips to get past difficult sections.

If only there were more collectors in it for the joy and not solely for money. I’m aware that some collectors enjoy both, but that’s why I said, “…solely…”

What’s incredibly wholesome about this - Ok, not the only thing, but ONE of the things- is that her brain has associated gaming with the joy of family togetherness.  She’s like the Dani Rojas of gaming. Gaming is love! Gaming is life!

Very happy to read a collector story that sounds to be very worth the title! :D

To her, their worth is in the joy they bring, not how much money she can get.

Just to balance things out, thank you for popping down to the comments to share your perspective. The racists are out in force because they can’t bear the celebration of a black woman’s achievements, but that just shows how important this article is.

As a fellow Black woman all I have to say. Is that the article you wrote hear is beautiful. And that I also feel joy when Black people are represented in the gaming community. I hope the bigots in the comments section don’t discourage you from speaking your truth. What you have to say matters.

“I am 33 years old. I know of only one Black woman older than me who plays video games.”

Since the comments keep coming, just want to let you all know that I edited this piece, including the headline. I, like all the others Kotaku editors, are the final call on what gets published, and sometimes we get things wrong. But this is not one of those times.

This is SO DAMN COOL!!! Not only is her collection just amazing and impressive, but the presentation is just so great. I love hearing stories like this, Ash.

Yup. Dodged a bullet there didn’t we.

That lady is wonderful, I wish she was my neighbor. It’s unusual to see someone devote so much time and effort to collecting something, and then be so happy to share their joy by letting people play with it. I did make the mistake of reading some of the comments, and like usual, am dismayed at how quickly people can…

Y’all, let Black women write about Black women the way they want to see Black women be written about. Jesus Christ.

Holy shit Ash I do not know how you have the patience to put up with all the dumb replies here (and presumably, everywhere).

That’s a beautiful and well-curated collection! 🤩 I love that she fixed a game at just eight years old and went on to become an Electrical Engineer. As a life-long tinkerer I appreciate and respect that. 😌

I love her! I love this story. I love love love it all.