Heroes of Time: Meet Claudio Bassanelli

Hello everyone, I’m Claudio, I was born in ’88 and in life I work as a tiler, which is the foundation that allows me to finance all my passions: fishing, cosplay, manga, the mountains, photography, my car (an old 106 that is always in need of maintenance), and a very important piece is the world of video games.

My passion for the latter was born around 98/99 when my cousin was given a second-hand Super Nintendo with various cartridges, including Super Metroid, which was the beginning of my downfall. 

I still remember the hours spent watching my cousin play it and racking our brains to figure out how to complete the game, because we were at a dead end and, for those who played it, it was simply that we couldn’t find the room above Kraid and unlock the super missiles so we could complete the game.

Other aspects of the world of videogames are the memories of when I used to go to the old village bar to play, still with the 100-lira coins, on Friday mornings when I went to the market with my mom… another memory was when I used to visit some friends who had a PC with Tomb Raider installed, and we would have fun locking the butler in the walk-in freezer... 

The years go by, you grow up, and when I was 14, having just gotten a moped, I started hanging around the shop in my city, which is Bergamo, and it was Ambogiochi. There I met many people who guided me in the purchase of my first console, the Nintendo GameCube, which is currently, in my opinion, my favorite console, and from there I was able to start venturing into many worlds, confirming that I am a fan of the big N, and although the years go by, this passion has remained with me and I believe it will never fade 

Being a collector means maintaining a deep connection with our past and the games we have loved. What are your favorite titles of all time? In your own words, allow us to “see” your shelves and the collection, or collections, that represent you. 

I could already start by saying that I have practically almost everything linked to Nintendo, in fact my collection is mainly based on it, with titles to which I’m attached for every console, but above all Metroid reigns for me, dominating my shelves, followed by Baten Kaitos, Hollow Knight and Eternal Darkness. 

Of course I also have some favorite consoles: the GameCube, the Switch, and the SNES.

By grading your title, you made an important choice, and from now on it has become something more, not just in terms of collectible value. How did you get to know the world of grading? Have you already had similar experiences with other collections of yours, even different from your video game ones?

I became acquainted with the world of grading some time ago thanks to a friend who dealt in cards and would of course have the rarest ones graded and kept safe; I had always been rather reluctant to have my own items graded because unfortunately I used to read, and still do read, about major mishaps and losses of various pieces by couriers. Then, browsing through social media, I discovered that it could also be done safely by using your service, and I decided to entrust my items to your hands with a peaceful mind, and I can say that my first official experience is with you.

What were the main reasons why you wanted to grade the title you brought us? Beyond the nostalgic aspects tied to the game, are there other motivations behind your decision to trust TGM’s grading procedure?

The main reason why I entrusted my favorite pieces to TGM grading service was to preserve their integrity and ensure they would not suffer further damage; therefore, sentimental and preservation reasons prevailed over commercial ones, which require excellent conditions from the outset in order to achieve a high grade.

So I have titles with low scores, but now I’m sure they’ll be protected… Obviously it’s even more rewarding if they come back to me with high scores, but that’s a bonus!

When I was young, I thought about playing the new title without valuing it in order to preserve it... Now, with experience, I pay a lot of attention to it; in fact, before grading my purchases, both new and old, I always make sure to buy an additional copy so I can have one for collection and one for battle. 

I am attached to everything I buy, even outside of gaming, so mine is an emotional and protective grading.

Every game has its own story, just like its owner, and the bond that is formed goes far beyond the simple owner-object relationship. When the game was finally returned to you graded, what did you feel?

My first grading was Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, which let’s say served as a guinea pig... On the return, it was satisfying, but being a new game it didn’t affect me much; the biggest impact was the second round... seeing my copies of Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2, Baten Kaitos, and Eternal Darkness, which are the games I’m most attached to, brought tears to my eyes....

To conclude, we can only ask you the classic ritual question: what aspects of our service did you like the most? Thank you not only for giving us your time, but also for choosing to place your trust in us!

In my opinion, the friendliness.. even if I don't know you in person, the passion you have and the respect you give to our little gems can be felt.... 

I thank you all because, beyond a service that for some people can also be economical and a safeguard for the future sale of their pieces, for people like me you give us a big hand in preserving our memories in the best possible way!