Video Games Appreciating in Value.

[Bootaaay]

To further upon the topic are there any games out there that you see being worthwhile investments? While I for the most part collect for the actual enjoyment of playing the games, I'd also like my collection to appreciate in value.

I'd say Limited Edition box-sets are a safe bet - for instance, The BioShock limited edition boxset (with Big Daddy figure) has already increased quite a bit or another example, if you pre-ordered Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin in the US it came in a limited edition boxset to commemorate the series 20th anniversay - smart money says that the price shoud've increased a fair bit in a decade or so (if the Symphony of the Night PSX limited edition with music CD and artbook is anything to go buy). Also, many more Japanese games seem to be released as limited editions - recently I bought the collectors edition of Musou Orochi: Maou Sairin (Warriors Orochi 2) that comes with a binder full of trading cards of all the characters, it wasn't much more expensive than the standard edition, but knowing fanatical Koei fans it should be worth a bit a few years down the line.

Even if the game doesn't end up being that valuable having a complete collecters edition can definetly add to the price - take Purikura Daisakusen for example, not a particularly good or sought after game, but having the full package with the limited edition calendar intact almost doubles the games value.

Normally games that were released towards the end of the consoles life seem to go for more. Seems to be the case with the Saturn and DC at least.

Yeah, I concur - Magic Knight Rayearth on the Saturn seems to derrive most of it's value from the fact that it was the last released SEGA Saturn game in the US and has a foil cover :p

[RackGaki]

Having a "Collector's Edition" doesn't always work if the genre isn't right on. I couldn't sell my Dead or Alive Ultimate Collector's box for $5 brand new, despite the fact that I paid $5 for it. Xbox games are worth **** right now - even rarities like Fatal Frame and Futurama aren't worth as much as they were a few years ago.

My hope is that this will change in a few years. Hopefully games like Painkiller will raise in value when their worth is accepted - maybe not, though.

Shoot 'em ups, Role-playing games, Survival Horror and other niche titles are good bets for increasing or at least stabilizing value. PS2 titles are retaining more value than their Xbox and Gamecube brethren, so that's something to consider when buying for profit.

Actually, the last game I profited on was Skies of Arcadia Legends. Bought it for $15 used, sold it for $29 on eBay the next week. Unfortunately, I just use that money to buy games from other greedy collectors, so it's a viscous cycle.

[peace4myheart]

Need to take into consideration inflation as well, besides supply and demand. 5 dollars 3 years ago is worth much more than 5 dollars now, especially when the US dollars is worth shit these days. As for demand, there is a whole new generation of gamers, plus the older generation, the ones that grew up during the 90's.