It seems that the Gameboy and Gameboy Color are largely overlooked by the majority/mainstream collectors. That said, I have to wonder if the Gameboy Advance will continue that trend or change it. It is the last Nintendo system that was mostly 2D sprite based games, it includes a lot of NES/SNES franchises, has cartridges and came with boxes, and the gameplay is closer to console experiences than a lot (not all) of the Gameboy titles.
It seems a shame that a lot of great games on Gameboy and Gameboy Color are largely overlooked by mainstream collectors. I just wonder if it will always be like that for Handhelds or if GBA will finally break the trend.
Nintendo Handheld Gaming Thread (Game Boy to DS)
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flylikeabird
- 16-bit
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2011 7:29 pm
Re: Nintendo Handheld Gaming Thread (Game Boy to DS)
Spidrmnky wrote:It seems that the Gameboy and Gameboy Color are largely overlooked by the majority/mainstream collectors. That said, I have to wonder if the Gameboy Advance will continue that trend or change it. It is the last Nintendo system that was mostly 2D sprite based games, it includes a lot of NES/SNES franchises, has cartridges and came with boxes, and the gameplay is closer to console experiences than a lot (not all) of the Gameboy titles.
It seems a shame that a lot of great games on Gameboy and Gameboy Color are largely overlooked by mainstream collectors. I just wonder if it will always be like that for Handhelds or if GBA will finally break the trend.
I don't know. GBA collecting is pretty damn expensive.
Re: Nintendo Handheld Gaming Thread (Game Boy to DS)
GBA is hardly expensive, just like GB and GBC aren't -- if you stay away from BOXES and paper on the whole. Handheld games to most geniuses are like CDs, you act like a retard and throw away everything but the piece of media and throw it in a sleeve, box, drawer. So for like every 100 games you find (or CDs, DVDs) you find one that's complete and somewhere on the lower half of the middle still with the manual.
Sure you have like 10% of the games, something relatively small, where they go over that original retail price ($30-40) for the game alone, but it's not that many. Annoyingly it's a mix of good stuff and turds, so if you're just in it for good times it's not too awful but if you are a collector it'll suck.
I don't think it will change, handheld games are stuck in a valley of them being so called lesser bite sized halfassed up experiences meant for on the go and not a rich involving thing a console game would be. It's dead wrong in many/most cases, but they, let them think that and you can get goodies. Game Gear falls into this abuse as well even more than the Nintendo stuff. You could count US releases on a hand that go over the original retail for the game alone.
Sure you have like 10% of the games, something relatively small, where they go over that original retail price ($30-40) for the game alone, but it's not that many. Annoyingly it's a mix of good stuff and turds, so if you're just in it for good times it's not too awful but if you are a collector it'll suck.
I don't think it will change, handheld games are stuck in a valley of them being so called lesser bite sized halfassed up experiences meant for on the go and not a rich involving thing a console game would be. It's dead wrong in many/most cases, but they, let them think that and you can get goodies. Game Gear falls into this abuse as well even more than the Nintendo stuff. You could count US releases on a hand that go over the original retail for the game alone.
Re: Nintendo Handheld Gaming Thread (Game Boy to DS)
Spidrmnky wrote:I just wonder if it will always be like that for Handhelds or if GBA will finally break the trend.
A very good point you raised. GBA is still pretty hot in my neck in the woods, because Nintendo took that portable seriously in terms of hardware AND software. Lots of great SNES ports and exclusives you won't find anywhere else, many of those with "Advance" in the title. Of course the more desirable titles will more than likely remain at their current price points, but I don't see anymore on the rise at this point. Just watch out for average prices, many great titles can be had for less than $30. Also watch for the stinkers. I accidentally picked up Quad Desert Fury recently thinking it was like a title that Metal Jesus featured in one of his GBA videos, I lost $6 on that purchase, maybe less since it was a bundle deal, but I'm trading that in to my local game store next time I'm there.
Xeogred wrote:The obvious answer is that it's time for the Dreamcast 2.
Re: Nintendo Handheld Gaming Thread (Game Boy to DS)
I've been picking some of my fav GBA games complete like Metroid, Advanced Wars, Fire Emblem, Castlevania, etc... when I get the chance and they are cheap. For the most part they aren't too expensive.
Re: Nintendo Handheld Gaming Thread (Game Boy to DS)
Spidrmnky wrote:I've been picking some of my fav GBA games complete like Metroid, Advanced Wars, Fire Emblem, Castlevania, etc... when I get the chance and they are cheap. For the most part they aren't too expensive.
That's the best thing to do. I was able to get Metroid Fusion, Advance Wars, Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga for cheaper than average, and my best rock-bottom pickup, River City Ransom EX for $4. Just watch and get them cheap!
Xeogred wrote:The obvious answer is that it's time for the Dreamcast 2.
Re: Nintendo Handheld Gaming Thread (Game Boy to DS)
Annoyingly there are some solid games that have fanboy ties of some sort to them that get some crazy irrational pricing. Take for instance the Technos rooted stuff with River City and Double Dragon, the first one is cheap (overly undervalued cheap >$5) for the game alone, yet look what Double Dragon hits, and even more so when with a manual or worse the box. It's weird. Thankfully it's more isolated cases than across the board ugliness you get with the SNES in comparison.
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casterofdreams
- Next-Gen
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- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:35 am
Re: Nintendo Handheld Gaming Thread (Game Boy to DS)
GBA in my area (greater New York area) is a mixed bag.
You have the usual main series Pokemon games commanding the highest prices. Despite millions sold the prices for cart only can be close to the price it was new at the time of release. Sometimes more. Don't even get me started on complete games. You have to contend with two issues: dead batteries (saves are safe but time based events don't work), and a large number of fakes (highest counterfeit rates of all GBA games ever made).
Nintendo first party titles with Mario or other notable titles like Fire Emblem has a high but stable price.
Some obscure stuff that makes little sense to me can either have a very low price or a ridiculous price. I've been looking for Yggdra Union for awhile but I don't feel the need to spend close to $30 for it.
Either way my rule is to never buy online for GBA games. I can inspect the cart at a store to see if I'm dealing with the real deal or a fake. I've never got burned before and I don't plan on to.
You have the usual main series Pokemon games commanding the highest prices. Despite millions sold the prices for cart only can be close to the price it was new at the time of release. Sometimes more. Don't even get me started on complete games. You have to contend with two issues: dead batteries (saves are safe but time based events don't work), and a large number of fakes (highest counterfeit rates of all GBA games ever made).
Nintendo first party titles with Mario or other notable titles like Fire Emblem has a high but stable price.
Some obscure stuff that makes little sense to me can either have a very low price or a ridiculous price. I've been looking for Yggdra Union for awhile but I don't feel the need to spend close to $30 for it.
Either way my rule is to never buy online for GBA games. I can inspect the cart at a store to see if I'm dealing with the real deal or a fake. I've never got burned before and I don't plan on to.
Re: Nintendo Handheld Gaming Thread (Game Boy to DS)
Pokemon games are going up across the board because Pokemon Go.
RCR EX is still doing brisk business. VGPC averages are $25-$30 for the most part (loose), so I got away with a steal years ago. Double Dragon Advance is a good pairing example there, Tanooki. That's also $25 and up these days loose, and as you said, complete is far more, $50 and up!
I'll agree, my GBA deals have been offline in the real world. I don't do eBay as much as I did early on now that I discovered good local sources for all my games and the prices are almost always much more fair, plus no wait or cost for shipping!
RCR EX is still doing brisk business. VGPC averages are $25-$30 for the most part (loose), so I got away with a steal years ago. Double Dragon Advance is a good pairing example there, Tanooki. That's also $25 and up these days loose, and as you said, complete is far more, $50 and up!
I'll agree, my GBA deals have been offline in the real world. I don't do eBay as much as I did early on now that I discovered good local sources for all my games and the prices are almost always much more fair, plus no wait or cost for shipping!
Xeogred wrote:The obvious answer is that it's time for the Dreamcast 2.
Re: Nintendo Handheld Gaming Thread (Game Boy to DS)
ExedExes wrote:Spidrmnky wrote:I've been picking some of my fav GBA games complete like Metroid, Advanced Wars, Fire Emblem, Castlevania, etc... when I get the chance and they are cheap. For the most part they aren't too expensive.
That's the best thing to do. I was able to get Metroid Fusion, Advance Wars, Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga for cheaper than average, and my best rock-bottom pickup, River City Ransom EX for $4. Just watch and get them cheap!
That's what I try to do and so far I've built a nice little collection that way. It's kinda hard finding CiB copies of a lot of the titles but collecting for a number of systems means I'm almost always finding stuff I'd like to add to my collection
