GAME HUNTING TIPS?!?!

[Raijin Z]

I bought my TG-16 at a yard sale about 12 years ago for $10. I got my 32X, boxed, missing only the Genesis 1 adapter cable and the RF shields, for TWO DOLLARS. The last NES I bought was at Goodwill, and it was the system, 3 controllers, 2 zappers, a power pad, and Mario/Duck Hunt/Track Meet for ten bucks. When Gamestop was dumping their fifth gen inventory for pennies on the dollar, I got Mega Man Legends, Mega Man Legends 2, The Misadventures of Tron Bonne, Mischief Makers, and Conker's Bad Fur Day for $12 each or less, at two different stores in the same summer.

Look at the prices for anything I got back then, now, and tell me the market hasn't been ruined. The best thing you can do is get a console, get controllers from Japan (cheaper than getting them domestically in most cases), and get flash carts. Then you can play everything on real hardware, with first-party controllers, and not be tricked into doing dumb stuff like paying half a grand for Magical Chase. Or if you want to do it as cheaply as possible, get a $2 PSX to USB adapter, a Dual Shock 2, and emulate everything. For comedy's sake, do it on an older computer with a video card that can output in s-video or composite, and pipe that out to a CRT, then run the games in fullscreen.

[Team Andromeda]

I’m specifically looking for game hunting tips; whatever tricks and techniques and practices you guys have developed over the years to find retro video games out in the wild.

It depends on the system. If I was going to start collecting I would go for OG Xbox given how cheap the hardware and most of its games are. eBay and the internet has killed the days of getting classic games on the cheap, even one Gran can type a game in and get to see how much it goes for. But you can still get some stuff for a decent price if you look around one game that is Rare in Japan might be quite common in the USA vice versa, so just go for the cheapest, does a game have to be in amazing quality or does a system need to be boxed with instructions and some times look for job lots; in amongst the junk might be a gem of a game or system and also look to mix and match.. Look to get an unboxed version of a 'said' game and then look to see a seller, selling the same said game that's marked/scratched doesn't work, while the box and instructions are in good cond.

And also sometimes its worth remember a lot of the games aren't that much more, than why they 1st came out

[Mad Moham]

I gave up on collecting physical copies years ago. As has already been said, the old methods almost never work now and it just isn't worth it.
I've spoken to collectors of various items (toys, comics, watches, guitars, you name it) and they've all told me that items they once could acquire somewhat easily are now: "SUPER RARE!!!, L@@K!!!, I KNOW WHAT I'VE GOT!!!".
Over the last ten years or so, Ebay has changed from being a helpful tool for collectors to being the bane of every collector's existence.

Sadly, while resellers and ebay chancers have made everything harder for collectors, I think that some collectors have brought the problem on themselves.

[BubsyFan1]

Well, other than responding with "get lucky," I'd have to say that you have to learn your area. Around here, the thrift store chains have been around forever. They constantly have terrible prices these days and are always picked through. Specifically, there is a Goodwill bargain bin, and there is a group of a few people collaborating who are there every single time I am there, and they are always shoving people out of the way to be the first to look through the fresh stock. However, I work in an industrial area of town, and about five years ago, a thrift store opened about two blocks from where I work. It took a while for people to find this, and it isn't nearly as picked through as other places. It has been my go to place, and I go there once or twice a week. A local place also holds warehouse sales regularly, and I go there the first day of the sale to try to scoop up some 50 cent media before it gets thoroughly picked through. The flea markets here are tough. You have to get there right as they're opening or else the resellers there will buy everything the regular people have, and the resellers are either dicks or don't know what they have as they typically sell their games at 3-4 times eBay prices and are unwilling to negotiate. There's one guy who is pretty cool and knows exactly what he has, but his prices are either right at eBay or $5-15 lower depending on what they normally sell for.

So yeah, basically just go out there and figure out a plan based on what happens in your area, be happy with the finds that you do come across, and don't get discouraged too quickly. It's not very good advice, but it's what works for me (to an extent).

[Baloo]

Honestly the smartphone combined with online sales and just a spike in popularity destroyed the affordability of the hobby. I was totally guilty of being one of the people who just scoured flea markets and sold most of my stuff when the prices started to get hot in order to make a quick buck. Probably ended up making $2000-3000 between Amazon and forums and whatnot when I was actively hunting and looking, not chump change but for a guy in college it was pretty solid. I was truly hooked on buying a game at Goodwill for $5-8, and throwing it on Amazon and watching it sell in what felt like 45 minutes for $30+. Anything with Mario on it commanded cold hard cash quick. I had stopped playing games for the most part and just saw the stuff collecting dust on the shelf. When I moved out of my college apartment I basically sold what I had left in bulk for $900 cash. And the prices have even gone up in the years since then. It's truly unbelievable what the smartphone has done for the video game market. Seems like everyone in our generation has a job now and more disposable income than is truly recommended, and people are just paying obscene amounts for these old video games now. I used to find plenty of stuff at the numerous flea markets and thrift stores near me, now people basically just sell the same old PS1 and PS2 junk, or some Xbox 360. My last find in the last year was a cart-only copy of Pokemon Ruby for $5.

I hate to pile on the general consensus as well, but with the amount of ways on the internet people can sell stuff for, it's now become a super side-hustle to buy and sell video games of any kind. My real question is: Who is actually paying these prices to keep this stuff in their house? I'm sticking with the Classic Mini systems and loading everything on there. Just way cheaper, and way less hassle. Everyone is selling something these days. Can't blame them in this economy, and there's a thrill to finding stuff for cheap and flipping it. It almost doesn't even feel like work. But for someone who wants to actually enjoy a hobby on a budget? Forget it.

[needler420]

Honestly the smartphone combined with online sales and just a spike in popularity destroyed the affordability of the hobby. I was totally guilty of being one of the people who just scoured flea markets and sold most of my stuff when the prices started to get hot in order to make a quick buck. Probably ended up making $2000-3000 between Amazon and forums and whatnot when I was actively hunting and looking, not chump change but for a guy in college it was pretty solid. I was truly hooked on buying a game at Goodwill for $5-8, and throwing it on Amazon and watching it sell in what felt like 45 minutes for $30+. Anything with Mario on it commanded cold hard cash quick. I had stopped playing games for the most part and just saw the stuff collecting dust on the shelf. When I moved out of my college apartment I basically sold what I had left in bulk for $900 cash. And the prices have even gone up in the years since then. It's truly unbelievable what the smartphone has done for the video game market. Seems like everyone in our generation has a job now and more disposable income than is truly recommended, and people are just paying obscene amounts for these old video games now. I used to find plenty of stuff at the numerous flea markets and thrift stores near me, now people basically just sell the same old PS1 and PS2 junk, or some Xbox 360. My last find in the last year was a cart-only copy of Pokemon Ruby for $5.

I hate to pile on the general consensus as well, but with the amount of ways on the internet people can sell stuff for, it's now become a super side-hustle to buy and sell video games of any kind. My real question is: Who is actually paying these prices to keep this stuff in their house? I'm sticking with the Classic Mini systems and loading everything on there. Just way cheaper, and way less hassle. Everyone is selling something these days. Can't blame them in this economy, and there's a thrill to finding stuff for cheap and flipping it. It almost doesn't even feel like work. But for someone who wants to actually enjoy a hobby on a budget? Forget it.

It's funny you mention this because I have conversations with resellers about this. I explain to them how they exploit a hobby and ultimately it's people like me that dictate the prices. Collectors like me are the final steps to where something doesn't reenter circulation and it usually determines the demand and market value of something. Otherwise it's passing hands from reseller to reseller. I sell on ebay to many game stores and famous youtubers. A lot of common games are passing through many hands where everyone is trying to make a spread on it before it gets to its forever nesting home.

Over the years seeing my territory get stepped on and invaded I've made it a mission to bleed the resellers dry. The same people are starting to see me everywhere and its like hey I'm here out of passion and hobby, I was doing this before games were popular and I never was a bandwagoner that got back into video games, I always been collecting like Pete Dorr.

When they see me I want them to shake their boots and instill fear like I'm taking food of their table, give up your frivolous disability and get a job and stop being out here nickel and diming my hobby.

That's how it was this morning when I saw a old guy reseller at goodwill who is a reseller to the local flea market. I see the resellers regularly. My knowledge lets me get the best of things but now a days they will just pull anything games to the side and look them up one by one, so it's literally a race. The thing is I don't depend on it to pay bills or put food on the table, when you do depend on it for those things its going to run you off quicker.

[gamevet]

Honestly the smartphone combined with online sales and just a spike in popularity destroyed the affordability of the hobby. I was totally guilty of being one of the people who just scoured flea markets and sold most of my stuff when the prices started to get hot in order to make a quick buck. Probably ended up making $2000-3000 between Amazon and forums and whatnot when I was actively hunting and looking, not chump change but for a guy in college it was pretty solid. I was truly hooked on buying a game at Goodwill for $5-8, and throwing it on Amazon and watching it sell in what felt like 45 minutes for $30+. Anything with Mario on it commanded cold hard cash quick. I had stopped playing games for the most part and just saw the stuff collecting dust on the shelf. When I moved out of my college apartment I basically sold what I had left in bulk for $900 cash. And the prices have even gone up in the years since then. It's truly unbelievable what the smartphone has done for the video game market. Seems like everyone in our generation has a job now and more disposable income than is truly recommended, and people are just paying obscene amounts for these old video games now. I used to find plenty of stuff at the numerous flea markets and thrift stores near me, now people basically just sell the same old PS1 and PS2 junk, or some Xbox 360. My last find in the last year was a cart-only copy of Pokemon Ruby for $5.

I hate to pile on the general consensus as well, but with the amount of ways on the internet people can sell stuff for, it's now become a super side-hustle to buy and sell video games of any kind. My real question is: Who is actually paying these prices to keep this stuff in their house? I'm sticking with the Classic Mini systems and loading everything on there. Just way cheaper, and way less hassle. Everyone is selling something these days. Can't blame them in this economy, and there's a thrill to finding stuff for cheap and flipping it. It almost doesn't even feel like work. But for someone who wants to actually enjoy a hobby on a budget? Forget it.

Remember when everyone on here was bitching about the popularity of Genesis games vs. SNES? Well now they got what they asked for, and the prices have started to climb. 5 or 6 years ago, I was seeing titles like Lunar: The Silver Star Story (Sega CD) selling for under $10 and now the price is pretty insane. You're better off buying stuff for less popular systems like the Atari Lynx, Atari 7800 and Colecovision, but the Colecovision prices are starting to climb. Buying games for the Wii, Wii U, PS3 and 360 right now, are at a great value, but the prices will probably start to climb in the next 5 or 6 years.

[Team Andromeda]

Its not just gaming, Retro is now seen as cool and in vogue, some of the prices of old items of clothing or trainers are amazing. I still I my old Pentium PC with Voodoo 3 card and now see the old 3DFX Voodoo cards are starting to rise in value too

[Raijin Z]

Starting to? Even getting a 1MB ISA SVGA card is a pain. Idiots want a hundred damn dollars for them, with no confirmation of functionality. 3DFX stuff is priced like it's platinum-plated gold.

[ComradeOj]

Its not just gaming, Retro is now seen as cool and in vogue, some of the prices of old items of clothing or trainers are amazing. I still I my old Pentium PC with Voodoo 3 card and now see the old 3DFX Voodoo cards are starting to rise in value too

This was years ago, by a friend of mine had an old Voodoo card. One of those huge dual GPU ones. He ended up pulling all the chips for some art project against my advice. I wonder if he could have just put it on eBay instead.

[Team Andromeda]

This was years ago, by a friend of mine had an old Voodoo card. One of those huge dual GPU ones. He ended up pulling all the chips for some art project against my advice. I wonder if he could have just put it on eBay instead.

I still have my Voodoo 3 2000 boxed. I'm amazed at the prices 3DFX cards are getting these days. But its not just the gaming sector, I know mates in work selling old classic trainers or clothing items for silly money on eBay, more so if its a special sporting top.
It just seems anything Retro is cool now and can make money.

[BonusKun]

I am beyond happy I have a near complete collection of Gamecube games I've wanted over the years. Not a full collection but almost all the games I've ever wanted. The prices now are beyond fucking retarded and I wouldn't pay what my shit seems to be worth these days.

[Obviously]

I unfortunately have to echo what others have been saying, hunting retro games in the wild is mostly a thing of the past. I still take a look if I'm at a flea market or thrift store and can still snag some old PC games that way or some good sports games that have just been forgotten, beyond that though even overpriced consignment shops rarely have anything worth looking at. There will eventually be a time when a lot of these collections are going to end up on the market again, lots of people are already growing sick of having them, so the best thing to do is wait for the market to return though that may not be any time soon. People like me are happy to hold onto their collections and the hunt is largely over for us, but that means that there's a lot less out there to find.

So there really aren't any tips I can give, as all the things that used to work are no longer the case. People are either wise to what games are worth these days or they're collectors who aren't selling. I'm just glad I collected most of my games back when nobody else wanted them.

[sidewinderl]

Its not just gaming, Retro is now seen as cool and in vogue, some of the prices of old items of clothing or trainers are amazing. I still I my old Pentium PC with Voodoo 3 card and now see the old 3DFX Voodoo cards are starting to rise in value too

I'm really kicking myself for not picking up a Quantum3D Obsidian2 several years ago when there was some seller from Canada selling them (with medusa cables) for $100 a pop. I kept putting it off, and then they were gone. Now apparently I can expect to pay over $500. A boxed one apparently sold last month for $700.

Guess I'll have to stick with the pair of Voodoo 2's I already have. At least I got those when they were cheap.

[MrMatthews]

I am beyond happy I have a near complete collection of Gamecube games I've wanted over the years. Not a full collection but almost all the games I've ever wanted. The prices now are beyond fucking retarded and I wouldn't pay what my shit seems to be worth these days.

Yeah, I switched focus a few years back from the 8- and 16-bit consoles to GameCube, PS2, and DS. I have pretty have all the games I want for those systems, and now that those prices are starting to go up, I've been transitioning over to Wii, WiiU, and PS3. There aren't as many games from those later consoles that I want, but the prices are still cheap, so might as well get while the getting is good. I still find decent deals on NES and Genesis games every now and then, though.