We had the great opportunity to talk with Matt McClellan, head video game grader at CGC, about the newest addition to their grading services. We asked some questions - he answered... So let's see what he had to say!

Matt's Origin Story

As announced in August of this year, Matt was officially hired as the Senior Video Game Grading Finalizer and is expected to lead their charge into a new collectible industry. So why Matt? Well, I got the opportunity to talk with him recently, and here's his background.

While enjoying video games his entire life, things really got kicked into high gear when he opened an independent video game shop nearly a decade ago. This took his passion into a career and from there took him to many interesting places.

“I would travel across the country going to all these conventions and meeting all these collectors and getting to look at their collections and seeing lots and lots of video games."

This led to a lot of experience for the shop owner and provided him a wider range of knowledge from other collectors. All of this put together led CGC to see the importance of his knowledge from handling, understanding of the games, and respect for the industry that is so loved by so many.

Why Video Games?

So why did CGC decide to jump into the deep end of video game grading? That may be a bit obvious as more and more headlines are being made in the video game collecting industry.

“The potential of the collectible video game market is significant. It is the newest pop culture collectible category, and comics is the first, with CGC being the definitive leader in comic book certification worldwide. So, it's a natural progression."

While the video game market has had its fair share of controversy, there is no denying that the industry is booming. Whether you are on the side of grading or preservation, there is a joy that many are reliving as their childhood games are back on the market and making headlines. There have been many conversations that I have even been a part of where I've heard people say things like, "I had that game! I can't believe it's worth that much and I let my mom give it away!" I hear those kinds of things in relation to trading cards as well; CGC also launched a grading service for trading cards in the summer of 2020.

Who Should Collect Video Games?

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I asked this question, but Matt gave one of my favorite responses.

I think anyone who is passionate about video games should be interested in collecting video games. The hobby shouldn't be limited to a particular type of collector, it should include a wide range of enthusiasts."

Personally, I was not a big video game person growing up. We had a Playstation and I played Crash Bandicoot and Frogger. That was about it. That I remember, of course. However, there is a massive kick of nostalgia that I get when I look those games up on the Price Guide. Punts me back to the 90s where life was so different than the mask-covered present.

Nostalgia is something that most collectors know and understand. You may not like the collectible that someone else does, but you might understand more about the person through what they collect. So, while I may not have a game room or a wall of carts, I still appreciate collecting. If I were to find a good condition game that I used to play, I would be more willing to purchase at the right price and have it as a keepsake from my past.

How will CGC Compete in the Current Market?

CGC has become a well-respected resource to many collectors, specifically of comics, from the transparency of population reports to the level of care they put into the information on labels. And while Matt wasn't ready to reveal what the grading will look like, he did have this to say. 

“We are extremely passionate about understanding the collectible before entering that space. We wouldn't want to jump in without knowing every angle of the collectible. ... We are going to be taking the best elements and use them. We want to document everything properly."

They are also "very interested" in the modern market. As some of you may know, there is a wide selection of games that the current head grading company won't grade. Matt, being a big Halo fan, looks forward to being able to reign in the modern market to include those that are being left out of the grading ring. This is exciting to me, as modern age comics tend to be the more affordable collector's items compared to that of the Golden/Silver age. These modern games give a wider range of prices to the video game market that I can appreciate.

Will CGC Release A Population Report for Video Games?

When asked about the population report for Video Games, which has been a hot topic of debate among game collectors, Matt was clear that they have every intention of doing so, just as they do with comics.

At CGC, we are extremely passionate about completely understanding the collectible before entering the space. We wouldn't jump in without knowing every facet of the collectible first ... We are going to take the best aspects of current video game grading, and improve what needs to be improved. It is also very important to us to document everything properly.”

We totally get tech being a challenge. When our team was developing the video game price guide, just trying to get the variations of every game proved to be a challenge. It's not just variants; there are a lot more complications with video games, so I look forward to seeing how Matt & CGC will tackle this challenge.

How Does One Become a Grader?

Apply! While Matt was lucky enough to be sought out, if grading is something you think you would like to do - it's a little harder. Not only do you have to have the knowledge of the games, but also of the production, conditions, cartridges, boxes, and manuals. Something that I love that is included in their list of requirements for a grading position is "The highest level of integrity".  If you think you fit the bill you can head over here.

Was there anything that you were wanting to ask CGC about the Video Game extension? Let us know and we can try to get those answers for you.