The price of gasoline and retro games, they just keep on rising...

[WarmSignal]

I've always been a huge cheap ass ever since I started buying games a few years back. If I couldn't get them for a steal, then I could live without them. So obviously, I never bought much online. I always turned my nose up at the prices they asked for most of the good ones... the games often priced at $60 to roughly $90 a pop. Well, I've had a change of heart lately, and decided what the hell, I might as well spend big on some of these so I can finally get them. I'm getting so tired of chasing things, and the luck of the draw. So I made up my mind, I was finally going to pop on a few and drop $80 or $90 here and there. Hopped on eBay, and holy crap! Some of these very same games have almost doubled since 2010 - 2011.

Since when did Popful Mail go for $140? Last time I checked it was going for about $80. When did the Saturn version of Magic Knight hit $170? That game was $90 at the very most last time I checked. And Guardian Heroes now exceeding $100? This is just the beginning of a long list of games that spiked lately. Looks like I missed the boat on a ton of games that were maybe expensive a few years ago, but not insane. Now they're insane. I'm really surprised that PSX hasn't gone nutty like SNES and Saturn. So I think that's what I'll focus on in the immediate future, PSX games seem dirt cheap with their near MSRP price tags. Tale of Destiny seems to be the only two loosing grip of sanity. Oh and even PS2... Rule of Rose? I wanted to get that one for a long time, I think it's like $200 now. FML.

I hate being priced out of ever buying certain games, but damn. Once you reach over the $100 mark I find it extremely difficult to justify. I just can't do it. I guess much like our current use of gasoline, the prices will continue to rise until there is no more left, or until people just can't afford it anymore and we're force to go with an alternative or do without. I can see it now, $500 games will be the norm in a few years. They're merely collector's pieces, not games. If you're one of those heathens who actually intends to put their greasy fingers on the case and disc, you're better off emulating. People have tuition to pay, ya know.

[Metalwario64]

They're merely collector's pieces, not games. If you're one of those heathens who actually intends to put their greasy fingers on the case and disc, you're better off emulating. People have tuition to pay, ya know.

Yep, pretty much. :/

[zetastrike]

It might have helped if Working Designs made more than 50 copies of each game they released. Same thing with SOA and a lot of the late Saturn games.

[Lync]

I've always been a huge cheap ass ever since I started buying games a few years back. If I couldn't get them for a steal, then I could live without them. So obviously, I never bought much online. I always turned my nose up at the prices they asked for most of the good ones... the games often priced at $60 to roughly $90 a pop. Well, I've had a change of heart lately, and decided what the hell, I might as well spend big on some of these so I can finally get them. I'm getting so tired of chasing things, and the luck of the draw. So I made up my mind, I was finally going to pop on a few and drop $80 or $90 here and there. Hopped on eBay, and holy crap! Some of these very same games have almost doubled since 2010 - 2011.

Unfortunately it's a scenario of "pay now or pay later;" and in having broader console interests, the more expensive it will be to stay dedicated to each collection.

[Greg2600]

Prices have gone up, mainly due to demand. I feel there's never been more interest and persons involved in retro gaming than now.

[Lan Di]

Prices have gone up, mainly due to demand. I feel there's never been more interest and persons involved in retro gaming than now.

That's because retro gaming is currently linked with social media and the tech community. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have propelled awareness of rare, highly rated and valuable classic games. People who never even experienced the 8-bit,16-bit and 32-bit era are eager to start collecting, old and young. The same cannot be said for postage stamps and comic books. Only coin collecting (gold and silver) can claim the same demand.

[WarmSignal]

That's because retro gaming is currently linked with social media and the tech community. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have propelled awareness of rare, highly rated and valuable classic games. People who never even experienced the 8-bit,16-bit and 32-bit era are eager to start collecting, old and young. The same cannot be said for postage stamps and comic books. Only coin collecting (gold and silver) can claim the same demand.

People are just bored to death these days with the no-age we live in, the only thing they can think to do is relive and revisit old things, because the past is way more interesting than the present. It's the reason why everything, not just games have become collectable, valuable and sought after. Everything is a "vintage" item nowadays, that you've gotta have. Every TV network has at least three shows about picking, flea marketing, pawn shops, or restoration of old stuff.

[Lan Di]

People are just bored to death these days with the no-age we live in, the only thing they can think to do is relive and revisit old things, because the past is way more interesting than the present. It's the reason why everything, not just games have become collectable, valuable and sought after. Everything is a "vintage" item nowadays, that you've gotta have. Every TV network has at least three shows about picking, flea marketing, pawn shops, or restoration of old stuff.

I understand what you are stating. People are bored with that the current society has to offer and they pick and choose what floats their nostalgic boat. American Pickers is a modern day "Sanford and Son". Buyers of mostly junk are hard to come by, the thing with those guys they know where the market is for all that junk. I watch Pawn Stars and Storage Wars all the time. The problem is that the games they find are mostly common stuff like Apple Computers, Atari 2600s N64s and OG Xbox systems and an occasional arcade cabinet and those usually are sold less than $500.00, the comparable Craig's list asking price. I have yet to see stuff like a Magnovox Odyssey 2 or a Panzer Dragoon Saga. Stuff like that just don't get exposure on shows like that.

[WarmSignal]

I understand what you are stating. People are bored with that the current society has to offer and they pick and choose what floats their nostalgic boat. American Pickers is a modern day "Sanford and Son". Buyers of mostly junk are hard to come by, the thing with those guys they know where the market is for all that junk. I watch Pawn Stars and Storage Wars all the time. The problem is that the games they find are mostly common stuff like Apple Computers, Atari 2600s N64s and OG Xbox systems and an occasional arcade cabinet and those usually are sold less than $500.00, the comparable Craig's list asking price. I have yet to see stuff like a Magnovox Odyssey 2 or a Panzer Dragoon Saga. Stuff like that just don't get exposure on shows like that.

Stuff like that will sometimes allow me to day dream... what if? What if there were actually still some copies of games like PDS, just collecting dust somewhere, forgotten and not "in circulation" so to speak? Do they still exist? It's possible, but so incredibly unlikely. The Saturn was such a flop, and who was there at the last minute buying the third Panzer Dragoon release? It's odd how the "turn around" for the Saturn came years after it's demise. No one gave a crap then, now everyone wants to see what they missed.

[tz101]

Ironic that you mention game and gasoline prices in the thread title, because I have felt for some time that the increasing gasoline prices are actually driving the increase in game prices. Where I used to drive all over to thrifts and pawn shops several times a week and built a substantial collection, I am more prone to stay home and just order from Amazon or ebay these days. My thinking is that by the time I factor in transportation costs, those online auctions begin to look more attractive, especially the lower priced ones.

[Baloo]

It's been like this for a year now. The unbelievable prices have pretty much made me sell off all of my more expensive games. When I can get away with selling stuff like Winter Heat for Sega Saturn CIB on Amazon for $30 bucks, or Burning Rangers for $150, it's just not worth it to keep the games around. Would rather spend the money on something else, hahaha. Popful Mail 3 years ago was like a $30 game, it's insane that it goes for $150 now. And how about John Madden Football CE '93? Crazy, crazy stuff. I really wonder when/if prices will go down, and if they'll go down slowly or drastically.

Stuff like that will sometimes allow me to day dream... what if? What if there were actually still some copies of games like PDS, just collecting dust somewhere, forgotten and not "in circulation" so to speak? Do they still exist? It's possible, but so incredibly unlikely. The Saturn was such a flop, and who was there at the last minute buying the third Panzer Dragoon release? It's odd how the "turn around" for the Saturn came years after it's demise. No one gave a crap then, now everyone wants to see what they missed.

Definitely possible. A friend of mine who owns a video game store just got a trade in a month ago of about 35 CIB NES games from someone who's grandmother owned a VHS and video game rental place back in the 80s. Nothing overtly rare (Except for one game whose name I cannot think of off of the top of my head) but even still, unlikelier things have happened. Even remember a few years back on Digital Press forums a guy found and bought a bunch of boxes of Sega 32x games sealed in shrinkwrap from a warehouse or something like that, we're talking like a couple hundred games or so.

[Da_Shocker]

29.99 for my CIB copy of MKR that I got in the summer of 98. Man oh man those were the days. I can't find shit in my city though outside of Game Trader and Great Escape (comic book store) every Goodwill I go to doesn't have much that interests me. CL I can find some good deals on it about every few weeks or so. I did snag that Virtual Boy for 40 when a pawn shop was selling one with a few more games for like 299.99.

[Rusty Venture]

I paid $50 for a sealed MKR in 2003-2004. Yes I did open it. I'm a gamer, not a game hoarder.

I do own some games that are considered rare (MKR, Guardian Heroes), but I'm glad I did my buying of those stuff 10 years ago. Back then everyone was a goddamn expert on somethings value because "that's what it goes for online" (aka Ebay), sounds like that remains the same.

[Bottino]

People are just bored to death these days with the no-age we live in, the only thing they can think to do is relive and revisit old things, because the past is way more interesting than the present. It's the reason why everything, not just games have become collectable, valuable and sought after. Everything is a "vintage" item nowadays, that you've gotta have. Every TV network has at least three shows about picking, flea marketing, pawn shops, or restoration of old stuff.

I counldn't have placed the words better.

For me, buying games for the Dreamcast is a real pain here. I have two choices:buying on Ebay and pay a truckload of taxes or pay to some smart ass who thinks that Skies of Arcadia is worth R$ 329,00 or Sonic Adventure 2 R$ 219,00.And sure, a complete package is nice , but if i can get just the disc or cart that's fine.
I just want to play the game.

[JCU]

That's because retro gaming is currently linked with social media and the tech community. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have propelled awareness of rare, highly rated and valuable classic games. People who never even experienced the 8-bit,16-bit and 32-bit era are eager to start collecting, old and young. The same cannot be said for postage stamps and comic books. Only coin collecting (gold and silver) can claim the same demand.

Much of this new found demand can be attributed to the internet and the ability of communicating with people world wide. People now realize they should have kept their toys or games instead of tossing them in the trash or selling them for cents on the dollar at a yard sale or flea market. Lets also remember most of us here are quite a few systems removed from the first we either played or owned. Perhaps the value was not recognized during the first or second system we used but now that we are on the 8th generation (is it?) that sense of nostalgia is rekindled.