Collecting on the cheap.

[CD AGES]

How is it not being price jacked, when just a few years back it was 11 bucks, then 14, then steadily just going up up up up over a 2 year period. Its not like anything has happened that would propel the price up by double, so I see no other explanation.

Actually something did happen. A Turtles in Time remake (Re-shelled) was released, wasn't as good as the original SNES port (but was a commercial success mind you), got eventually pulled from digital marketplace due to licencing. Throughout this, it put the SNES version back in the limelight and sparked interest amoung potential buyers.
Also, the TMNT brand is currently relevant so... idk.

[muhanad]

Luke droppin mad knowledge today! Listen up kids!

[ApolloBoy]

Why are so many SNES games SOOOOOO OVERPRICED!?!???

I'm not quite sure about this either, this has been the case for SNES stuff in general for some time now. For a lot of those expensive SNES games you can pick up the Super Famicom versions; they tend to be way cheaper and the language barrier isn't too bad. All you need to do is just a cut a couple tabs off your SNES's cart slot and away you go. I'm taking this route right now for my SNES/SFC collection and it's saved me a lot compared to going SNES-only.

[Snatch1414]

Honestly for every game that makes me go "Hmm" when I see how much it's 'worth' there's about ten that seem just as hard to find but are only worth a few bucks (and they're all good games).

I know about the Genesis most, so here's an example: Ghouls 'n Ghosts is valued at what? $30-40 CIB? I found one CIB, then found a cart only within a month of each other. On the flip side, there are more games than I can even list that are worth far less that I've yet to see anywhere but eBay. A bunch that I've only seen once and snatched up, Chuck Rock II for example. I mean maybe I'm out of line but there are hundreds of games that you can't exactly find at any random flea market yet they're worth $2.

Don't worry about the prices/values of most games. Every time I find something new I'm glad, because if I'm buying it I likely haven't seen it before.

[TheGregzilla]

Well in the case of a game that you never really see and it ends up being cheap, I call that a win. But it baffles me how games that you can find EVERYWHERE can be so expensive when the demand just isnt there. In response to the comment above about the TMNT ReShelled game bringing it back into relevence, that is true, but..

A.) Its been a few years now, enough time for things to have cooled down from that.
B.) I doubt the amount of people actively still playing SNES could have caused a 200% price surge
C.)Im willing to bet 80% of the kids watching this new TMNT show don't play SNES.

It just doesn't add up to me. I could see the price spiking and then dropping back down to a reasonable level, but to me it seems as though it spiked....and then just kept going up up up. Whats to say it will stop here? What stops it from hiking up another 10 bucks next year?

[Retrodude]

Here's an idea: If you really want to game on the cheap, get a modded original Xbox with XBMC and load that sucker up with emulators. Problem solved.

[prfsnl_gmr]

...it baffles me how games that you can find EVERYWHERE can be so expensive when the demand just isnt there.

The supply of SNES carts is fixed; so, demand is the only factor that determines the market price of any particular cart. You are simply speculating with regard to the level of demand for certain games, and as I advised another member, you would do well to educate yourself on basic principles of microeconomics so that you have a better understanding as to how commodities - such as SNES games - are priced in a free market.

Whats to say it will stop here? What stops it from hiking up another 10 bucks next year?

The price may well continue to rise, and there is nothing to stop it from increasing $10, $100, or even $1000 next year. Likewise, the price may fall, and there is nothing to stop the market value of the cart from falling to $0 next year. Some of these outcomes are more likely than others, but noone can predict the future.

On topic...if you want to build a collection without spending much money, then you have to be patient and you have to grab bargains as soon as they become available to you. You are very unlikely to find games priced below market value online; so, you will also have to put in time scouring local Craigslist postings, flea markets, pawn shops, thrfit stores, and yard sales. If you keep at it, you will find yourself with a sizable collection before too long.

Some tips:

* Now is a great time to buy PS2, Wii, and Xbox games.

* If you are working on a budget and you have the choice between a rare game at a good price and a popular game at a good price, purchase the rare game. You are much more likely you encounter the popular game at a good price again.

* Familiarize yourself with valuable games so that you can turn good deals on games that you don't want or already have into goo deals on games that you do want. (The Racketboy B/S/T forums are a great place to do that!)

[Snatch1414]

Well in the case of a game that you never really see and it ends up being cheap, I call that a win. But it baffles me how games that you can find EVERYWHERE can be so expensive when the demand just isnt there. In response to the comment above about the TMNT ReShelled game bringing it back into relevence, that is true, but..

A.) Its been a few years now, enough time for things to have cooled down from that.
B.) I doubt the amount of people actively still playing SNES could have caused a 200% price surge
C.)Im willing to bet 80% of the kids watching this new TMNT show don't play SNES.

It just doesn't add up to me. I could see the price spiking and then dropping back down to a reasonable level, but to me it seems as though it spiked....and then just kept going up up up. Whats to say it will stop here? What stops it from hiking up another 10 bucks next year?

Well as time goes by yeah, the price will probably rise unless all of a sudden the industry collapses and video games just aren't something people do anymore. Barring that.......

I think you might be overcomplicating things too though with all due respect. The reason it's expensive is probably:

Everything has a price these days + TMNT was and still is popular + Nintendo die-hards are crazy and will pay for anything + SNES stuff isn't as plentiful as NES stuff even though the latter is older.

Obviously not a hard and fast formula for every game lol

[TheGregzilla]

I suppose it wouldnt bother me at all if Turtles in Time was considered a 'Rare and Valuable game' but really browsing around the net it doesnt come up much in lists like that. I think there should be a general understanding of 'this is what a game is worth that is pretty common' and 'this (and above depending on rarity and condition) is what a game is worth that is rare'
I know its a bit of a stretch, it just gets frustrating for someone like me. My goals right now are a complete N64 collection (easily doable for a decent price, even Sculptors Cut can be had for a decent price if you check around) and then my 'lists' for NES/SNES/GEN/etc. It just feels so frustrating knowing I could probably finish most of my N64 collection (NA at least) for the same price as it will cost to get the 20 or so SNES games I want.

Either way, I know this has pretty much just turned into me ranting because I don't have all the money I'd like to spend on this hobby Glad to see Im not the only one that thinks the way I do, but I can see where the opposite view is coming from as well.

[ApolloBoy]

If you really want Turtles in Time you can grab the Super Fami version for about $20 (or less if you look around).