Are video games becoming more pervasive?

[Anayo]

Lately I went to the flea market with my friend Chris. We went cause we like old junk, including games.

I haven't been to the flea market in a few years, so some of it was familiar and some was new. There were some vendors I recognized, some weren't there anymore.

Before (maybe 2006 or so), it seemed as though there were just a few people with a ton of games concentrated in a select few places.

This time around, however, I noticed almost everyone had a pile of games on their table mixed with everything else. It was mostly Playstation 2 and original XBOX stuff, but there were others, too. At least two folks were trying to sell a used Wii, a couple people had a used XBOX 360.

It just seemed like there were more games. I guess I also noticed some yard sales I hit this morning that even though it was mostly lame clothes from the 70's, there was one XBOX controller and Lion King for the Sega Genesis in another.

I also wonder with stuff like the Nintendo DS, cause it's sort of a demographic-defying phenomenon. Back in 2003 or so it seemed unusual to see someone carrying around a GBA, but now I see DS's in public all the time.

I guess what I'm asking is, are games in general circulating more widely today than they were a couple years ago? What has everyone else observed? I'd also be interested to hear what people outside the USA have to say about their area.

[ZeroAX]

yup but mostly when it comes to Wii DS and Facebook games.

[AppleQueso]

We have an indoor flea market that's open every week, and I've been going there for a long time.

Over many years I watched one vendor go from selling SNES games out of a shoebox for $6 each as only a small part of his booth, to opening a seperate shop next door crammed to the brim with nothing but games for sale, all at insane prices.

[Flake]

Yeah, for some reason people selling SNES and even NES games seem terribly certain that their carts were manufactured with the finest gold and platinum. It's really annoying when you try to haggle with them, too.

More people may be selling video games, but that doesn't mean they have a clue about what they are doing.

[pepharytheworm]

I say no. When hardware stores and grocery stores all stock video games again and I see linked handhelds on the bus then I would say yes. I have purchased NES games at Lowes can you believe it, thay had a small glass spinner with choice selections of video games. Kroger had bins of SNES and Gens games, They even had movie rentals which also rented video games. I would have included Big Lots and convience stores but some carry games again, mostly Wii though.

Only thing I would say is more pervasive about video games is adults are more open about playing video games, its not just a kids toy anymore.