I think most gamers are both players and collectors; but to varying degrees. However there are different types of collectors; the hoarders, the investors and the true collector; perhaps there is a bit of each in all of us (I know there is in me).

To become 100% true collector, one must first develop the obsession for buying something simply because one feels the compulsion to possess it. Whether this is because of some desire for completeness (I have all the D&D boxed sets, for example) or uniformity (I tend to buy bookcase-sized games on sight, if reasonably priced).

The true collector will not necessarily be averse to playing the games he/she obtains; this is the territory of the investor-collector. This type will wrap his games in cotton wool, never punch out the counters and will hold onto the game until it is so rare somebody else will part with a week's wages for it. Most gamers are never (not even close) to being 100% investor-collector, as they see the game as something to be used; but in all honesty there have been times I have done this because I managed to get more than one copy of something. I know somebody who does the same thing with comic books, all the time. He has absolutely no interest in reading them, and simply buys first issues, bags them and puts them aside for years until they become much sought-after. This man is, when it comes to comics, 100% investor-collector.

The hoarder is a bit like the investor, but the hoarder hangs on to everything because "it might be worth something", or "it might be of some use", or even "I might want to play it some day". I have more than one copy of some games I just can't get rid of; so I won't. I could take them to my local Oxfam or Red Cross shop, but no - they might be worth something some day; and of course, if I can get a good price I can use the money to expand my collection.

So there is certainly a lot of the collector in me; but I am definitely a gamer first. My collection is not likely to get much bigger than it is, as I am running out of places to hide things.