Game collecting is not what it once was

[dsheinem]

Recently we had a member put this one up, for example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161571945334?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

That sold for about $120 shipped, and there is easily $200-$250 worth of stuff there for someone to sell if it was parted out.

This is not true. As with many good ebay deals nowadays - that package didn't get shipped.

Yeah, I know he ended up selling some stuff from it here since something happened with the buyer...I guess? The point is that it was bid up for much less than the sum of its parts.

[Gunstar Green]

I'm pretty satisfied about where my collection is at this point. There are consoles I would have loved to add and never got around to but I'm content enough to say I'm generally done with any big additions.

If I were just starting today, I probably wouldn't. I'd go for flash carts or some emulation route using replica USB controllers.

People can blame all sorts of causes for the price increase but it's really simple. People from the generations who grew up playing these games are now adults who are able to buy the things they wanted from their past. Games are just like any other nostalgic collectible that came before them.

[PinkPanzer]

Its really all relative. Like some posters have said, those who are now adults with good paying jobs can fork out 80-150 on a game no problem if they really want a copy of it, a lot also depends where you live. I live in Toronto and there are quite a few retro videogame stores and a wide variety of posts daily. I began collecting again about 3 years ago and my collection is very impressive (more quality over quantity), I am happy to have the likes of earthbound, panzer dragoon saga, misadventures of tronbonne, shining force 3, conkers bad fur day (CIB), bangai-o, fire emblem path of radiance among other expensive games I have. You can't blame people for saying "x or y game for sale for 200$" because in reality, that's just how much some people are willing to pay, if you don't like it, play the ROM, if it's not the same..then too bad so sad

[J T]

Wow. Today I was at a Half Priced Books and I saw Haunting Ground (PS2) for $100 bucks! I bought that games for $5 about 5 years ago. I checked on Amazon and it ranges from $110-$300!

[joehero]

Its tough because like the sport card era or the comic book era before that, the average person with an item seems to think they are holding something rare and valuable. And now it seems second hand stores are jumping on board.

My advice would be enjoy the hunt, sometimes the longer time before finds the more exciting it is when you do find something in the wild. Also garage sales seem to be a great way to find deals.

[J T]

I don't want to sound too morbid or opportunistic, but some of the most amazing game deals I have heard of have come from estate sales after some long time gamer has died and his family didn't know what to do with all the games. I've never bought one of these lots, but maybe, check for these from guys who died in their 30s?

[dsheinem]

I don't want to sound too morbid or opportunistic, but some of the most amazing game deals I have heard of have come from estate sales after some long time gamer has died and his family didn't know what to do with all the games. I've never bought one of these lots, but maybe, check for these from guys who died in their 30s?

I've seriously considered leaving my collection to a university library. Depends on my son's interest as he ages...

[casterofdreams]

I feel as many have stated that a hell of a lot more people have entered the market to buy older games.

I blame the Wii.

I blame the Wii because of the large amount of people who were introduced or re-introduced to gaming after not touching it since the NES or SNES days. They discovered how great gaming is and want to recapture that "fun" they've had when they were younger. So they start doing research and go hunting for those games paying what ever price they want to have "fun" again.

Sorta like drugs and being high. Or not. I don't really know.

Even if what I just typed is a bunch of bullshit, it sounded good in my head.

Meh...

[Exhuminator]

I blame the Wii.

Well in theory if it brought older people back to gaming, and then maybe the Virtual Console rekindled further their love of yestergames... and then they harkened for the real thing. I mean, there's a tangible possibility here.

Personally I blame Youtube and all the retro gaming shows there though.

[BoneSnapDeez]

The Wii got me back into gaming. Seriously.

I went from the SNES to Wii without buying a console in between. Then I had to play catch-up.