1994 NES Releases And Their Rarity

bootloadbootload
in Collector's Corner
Here are the 1994 North American Releases for NES:

- Alfred Chicken

- Bonk's Adventure

- Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers 2

- Disney's The Jungle Book

- The Flintstones: Surprise At Dinosaur Peak

- The Incredible Crash Dummies

- Mario's Time Machine

- Mega Man 6

- Mickey's Adventure In Numberland

- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters

- Wario's Woods

- Zoda's Revenge: Startropics II



Why are some of these less common than others? Some of them like Flintstones, Bonk's Adventure and Rescue Rangers 2 are obvious, they came out late so fewer copies of the game were sold which made them less common today. Others like Alfred Chicken, Jungle Book and Crash Dummies are equally as uncommon but for some reason don't sell for as much, why is that? Are people just not aware of how uncommon they are because nobody talks about these?



What about Startropics II and Mega Man 6? Why are these so much more common than the others if they came out in the same month as many of the others? I can see Mega Man being hyped just because of it being 6th in the series but what about Mickey's Adventre In Numberland? Wario's Woods? Why are these games so much cheaper? Did they sell that many more copies? Were they just advertised more or something?



I also have another strange question, how come some of the other games were released so late in Europe according to Wikipedia? These other games were released in 1994 in Europe:

- Ninja Gaiden II (4 years after us)

- Captain Skyhawk (4 years after us)

- Double Dragon (6 years after us and they got Double Dragon III the same day)

- Goal! (5 years after us and 2 years after they got the sequel)

- Racket Attack (6 years after us)



Last question, why is Panic Restaurant so uncommon if it came out in 1992? It had over 2 years of NES advertising to sell and you can't say it's because the SNES came out that year, many other NES games that came out in 1992 sold just fine.

Comments

  • GuntzGuntz
    Star Tropics II, Mega Man 6 and Wario's Woods were all published by Nintendo in far greater quantities than games like Flintstones 2, Rescue Rangers 2 and Bonk's Adventure which were all "published" by third party companies. In this context, Capcom, Hudson Soft and Taito paid Nintendo to make cartridges for them. Nintendo had a vested interest in selling the NES Top Loader which launched the previous year, so it makes sense they would want to print a sufficient quantity of each of their own titles for 1994.
  • Trj22487Trj22487
    Incredible Crash Dummies definitely came out in Summer of 1993.



    Mega Man 6, Zoda's Revenge, and Wario's Woods are the games in this list that had a television commercial, they were produced the most, they are the most common. Wario's Woods came out way after everything else. It is the only NES game that was part of the "Play it Loud" campaign, and it has an ESRB rating.
  • guitarzombieguitarzombie

    Originally posted by: Trj22487



    Incredible Crash Dummies definitely came out in Summer of 1993.



    Mega Man 6, Zoda's Revenge, and Wario's Woods are the games in this list that had a television commercial, they were produced the most, they are the most common. Wario's Woods came out way after everything else. It is the only NES game that was part of the "Play it Loud" campaign, and it has an ESRB rating.



    Yeah, I did some research on release dates and chip dates.  In fact, I think Flintstones came out in Jan of 94, not August.



    Also is there definite proof of Namcos PacMan and Mrs. PacMan coming out in 93?  All the chip dates I found indicate that it came out March and May of 94.  I haven't found a copy whos chip was printed in 93.
  • guitarzombieguitarzombie
    Oh as far as things like Panic Restaurant, its purely because Taito was probably winding down their production for NES and concentrating on SNES, Genesis, Turbo16 and even Arcade games.



    If you look at the last few games they released from 91 are:



    Qix, Indiana Jones, Kiwi Kraze, Power Blade, Rainbow Islands, Flintstones Hoppy, Toki, Kick Master, Panic Restaurant, Power Blade 2, Samson, Jetsons, Bubble Bobble, Dino Peak





    As you can see the games start going for uncommon to super rare. And they were never reprinted. Like Sqoon or DK Math Jr, if you didnt get em when they came out in 86, if its 91, you're not getting them in a store.
  • Kobun HeatKobun Heat
    When a publisher wanted to publish a Nintendo game, they had to order some very large minimum number of copies from Nintendo, like 50,000, which were then shipped to them, and then they sold them on their own.



    Once they ran out, they faced the question: Do we spend another half million dollars ordering another 50,000 copies, which won't arrive off the cargo ship from Japan for another 6 months? Or do we move on to our next game?



    So even if there was still some amount of demand left for a game, it was still a risky proposition to do another massive order of them, by which time people might no longer be interested in it.



    Note that this doesn't really apply to Nintendo first party, which took on far less risk at all stages of this process.
  • TulpaTulpa
    Originally posted by: bootload

    Some of them like Flintstones, Bonk's Adventure and Rescue Rangers 2 are obvious, they came out late so fewer copies of the game were sold which made them less common today. Others like Alfred Chicken, Jungle Book and Crash Dummies are equally as uncommon but for some reason don't sell for as much, why is that? Are people just not aware of how uncommon they are because nobody talks about these?

     

    Rarity often has nothing to do with a game's current cost.



    Flintstones is the only one that might have a correlation between its cost and rarity, plus the Taito name, and once the hype train on that took off, it was the hype that shot it up. Bonk has the TG-16/Hudson connection, and RR2 has the Capcom/Disney desirability attached. Jungle Book is a Disney property, but it's a Virgin game, not a name that stands up high with Capcom in the NES era. Alfred Chicken and Crash Dummies are hobbled with similar less desirable publishers.



     
  • NESfiendNESfiend
    Originally posted by: bootload



    Why are some of these less common than others? Some of them like Flintstones, Bonk's Adventure and Rescue Rangers 2 are obvious, they came out late so fewer copies of the game were sold which made them less common today. Others like Alfred Chicken, Jungle Book and Crash Dummies are equally as uncommon but for some reason don't sell for as much, why is that? Are people just not aware of how uncommon they are because nobody talks about these?



    Last question, why is Panic Restaurant so uncommon if it came out in 1992? It had over 2 years of NES advertising to sell and you can't say it's because the SNES came out that year, many other NES games that came out in 1992 sold just fine.

    I don't disagree with most of the above posts, but a couple things came to mind that haven't been brought up. Sometimes uncommon games stay under the radar - as it relates to your above post, jungle book is a game that I have been expecting a big price jump as full set collectors look to complete their collections. You just don't see it much, and while disney isn't taito or capcom, it is obviously iconic. 



    Panic - unlike some other higher end titles where hype has a lot to do with it, I think with panic it really is very uncommon, or rare, depending on your definition of those terms. You just don't see many copies come up for sale, which is crazy considering the price has been high for a long time. I have always attitubed that to the concept - how many kids wanted a video game wherein you the gameplay involves running a restaurant? Maybe in 2017 that type of concept could take off (my nephew plays a game on his ipad where you play a diner cook trying to fill orders - it baffles me). The 90s was a different time. We had TMNT, double dragon, etc and kids wanted to fight, shoot, play sports, etc. I bet Panic didn't sell much and thats why its so hard to come by. 



     
  • quest4nesquest4nes
    Originally posted by: bootload



    Here are the 1994 North American Releases for NES:

    - Alfred Chicken

    - Bonk's Adventure

    - Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers 2

    - Disney's The Jungle Book

    - The Flintstones: Surprise At Dinosaur Peak

    - The Incredible Crash Dummies

    - Mario's Time Machine

    - Mega Man 6

    - Mickey's Adventure In Numberland

    - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters

    - Wario's Woods

    - Zoda's Revenge: Startropics II



    Why are some of these less common than others? Some of them like Flintstones, Bonk's Adventure and Rescue Rangers 2 are obvious, they came out late so fewer copies of the game were sold which made them less common today. Others like Alfred Chicken, Jungle Book and Crash Dummies are equally as uncommon but for some reason don't sell for as much, why is that? Are people just not aware of how uncommon they are because nobody talks about these?



    What about Startropics II and Mega Man 6? Why are these so much more common than the others if they came out in the same month as many of the others? I can see Mega Man being hyped just because of it being 6th in the series but what about Mickey's Adventre In Numberland? Wario's Woods? Why are these games so much cheaper? Did they sell that many more copies? Were they just advertised more or something?



    I also have another strange question, how come some of the other games were released so late in Europe according to Wikipedia? These other games were released in 1994 in Europe:

    - Ninja Gaiden II (4 years after us)

    - Captain Skyhawk (4 years after us)

    - Double Dragon (6 years after us and they got Double Dragon III the same day)

    - Goal! (5 years after us and 2 years after they got the sequel)

    - Racket Attack (6 years after us)



    Last question, why is Panic Restaurant so uncommon if it came out in 1992? It had over 2 years of NES advertising to sell and you can't say it's because the SNES came out that year, many other NES games that came out in 1992 sold just fine.





    I dont agree with alfred chicken , crash dummies, and jungle book being equally as uncommon. I know I see them more than the ones that sell for more from that year. Im pretty positive most of us do, if you remotely hunt and go to game stores over the years. Cant even tell you how much Ive seen Jungle book
  • GuntzGuntz
    The truth is most NES games aren't even remotely rare, they're only expensive and sought after because hundreds (or even thousands) of people are constantly after them online and sometimes offline. The overall supply likely hasn't changed much over the years, only the demand. Supply can really only go down if copies are destroyed or never re-enter the open market which doesn't happen that often.
  • NESfiendNESfiend
    Originally posted by: NESfiend

     
    Originally posted by: bootload



    Why are some of these less common than others? Some of them like Flintstones, Bonk's Adventure and Rescue Rangers 2 are obvious, they came out late so fewer copies of the game were sold which made them less common today. Others like Alfred Chicken, Jungle Book and Crash Dummies are equally as uncommon but for some reason don't sell for as much, why is that? Are people just not aware of how uncommon they are because nobody talks about these?



    Last question, why is Panic Restaurant so uncommon if it came out in 1992? It had over 2 years of NES advertising to sell and you can't say it's because the SNES came out that year, many other NES games that came out in 1992 sold just fine.

    I don't disagree with most of the above posts, but a couple things came to mind that haven't been brought up. Sometimes uncommon games stay under the radar - as it relates to your above post, jungle book is a game that I have been expecting a big price jump as full set collectors look to complete their collections. You just don't see it much, and while disney isn't taito or capcom, it is obviously iconic. 



    Panic - unlike some other higher end titles where hype has a lot to do with it, I think with panic it really is very uncommon, or rare, depending on your definition of those terms. You just don't see many copies come up for sale, which is crazy considering the price has been high for a long time. I have always attitubed that to the concept - how many kids wanted a video game wherein you the gameplay involves running a restaurant? Maybe in 2017 that type of concept could take off (my nephew plays a game on his ipad where you play a diner cook trying to fill orders - it baffles me). The 90s was a different time. We had TMNT, double dragon, etc and kids wanted to fight, shoot, play sports, etc. I bet Panic didn't sell much and thats why its so hard to come by. 



     



    I've never quoted myself before, but I went and checked the jungle book price since it had been a while. It appears my prediction was not off base - I thought the game went for around 25-30 dollars, but it looks like its up to 40. I'd been thinking it wouldn't be long before it crossed the 50 line and it looks like its not far off. Only 2 copies on ebay now - one for 40, one at 64 or make offer. I have one copy that I don't plan on selling, so this isn't a sales pitch. Just saying I think this game is on the rise.



    Edit: My search was too quick - there are actually four copies. In addition to the two I mentioned, there is one with a stock photto for 70 or best offer and another for 54 dollars that looks to be in great condition.
  • CZroeCZroe
    I can tell you that I saw Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II brand new in stores for several years past that date and assumed way back then that it would always be super-easy to find sealed.



    I'm also going to guess that more stores were willing to stock Nintendo-published titles that late in the NES' life cycle.
  • TulpaTulpa
    Yeah, you could find Zoda's Revenge in stores as late as the early 2000s. Heck, the NES Advantage was found new in box as late as 2006.
  • scaryicescaryice
    Originally posted by: bootload



    Others like Alfred Chicken, Jungle Book and Crash Dummies are equally as uncommon but for some reason don't sell for as much, why is that? Are people just not aware of how uncommon they are because nobody talks about these?



    Those three games are all inferior ports of SNES games released at the same time. That's probably more likely of a reason why they're less expensive, not  because they weren't published by Capcom or Taito.
  • serene.velocityserene.velocity
    Originally posted by: scaryice

     
    Originally posted by: bootload



    Others like Alfred Chicken, Jungle Book and Crash Dummies are equally as uncommon but for some reason don't sell for as much, why is that? Are people just not aware of how uncommon they are because nobody talks about these?



    Those three games are all inferior ports of SNES games released at the same time. That's probably more likely of a reason why they're less expensive, not  because they weren't published by Capcom or Taito.



    I thought this as soon as I read the first post!

     
  • Trj22487Trj22487

    Originally posted by: serene.velocity




    Originally posted by: scaryice

     

    Originally posted by: bootload



    Others like Alfred Chicken, Jungle Book and Crash Dummies are equally as uncommon but for some reason don't sell for as much, why is that? Are people just not aware of how uncommon they are because nobody talks about these?



    Those three games are all inferior ports of SNES games released at the same time. That's probably more likely of a reason why they're less expensive, not  because they weren't published by Capcom or Taito.



    I thought this as soon as I read the first post!

     

    The NES version of Incredible Crash Dummies is a 100% different game than the SNES/Genesis games.




  • ruudosruudos
    "I also have another strange question, how come some of the other games were released so late in Europe according to Wikipedia? These other games were released in 1994 in Europe"



    That was common practice back in the day.

    Although Captain Skyhawk was released well before 1994 here. Same goes for Goal! and Double Dragon (on the cover of Club Nintendo Issue 6 from 1990).



    Keep in mind though that there is no such thing as an all-European release date.

    I still remember a kid who bought Mega Man 3 in Germany (NOE-region) during holiday while it wasn't out in The Netherlands yet (FRA-region).



    I believe 1994 for Double Dragon is the SCN-release date.
  • serene.velocityserene.velocity

    Originally posted by: Trj22487




    Originally posted by: serene.velocity




    Originally posted by: scaryice

     

    Originally posted by: bootload



    Others like Alfred Chicken, Jungle Book and Crash Dummies are equally as uncommon but for some reason don't sell for as much, why is that? Are people just not aware of how uncommon they are because nobody talks about these?



    Those three games are all inferior ports of SNES games released at the same time. That's probably more likely of a reason why they're less expensive, not  because they weren't published by Capcom or Taito.



    I thought this as soon as I read the first post!

     

    The NES version of Incredible Crash Dummies is a 100% different game than the SNES/Genesis games.



     

    Ah sorry. I'm not really familar with either of them. Just checked and the SNES version even came out the previous year!
  • Trj22487Trj22487

    Originally posted by: serene.velocity




    Originally posted by: Trj22487




    Originally posted by: serene.velocity




    Originally posted by: scaryice

     

    Originally posted by: bootload



    Others like Alfred Chicken, Jungle Book and Crash Dummies are equally as uncommon but for some reason don't sell for as much, why is that? Are people just not aware of how uncommon they are because nobody talks about these?



    Those three games are all inferior ports of SNES games released at the same time. That's probably more likely of a reason why they're less expensive, not  because they weren't published by Capcom or Taito.



    I thought this as soon as I read the first post!

     

    The NES version of Incredible Crash Dummies is a 100% different game than the SNES/Genesis games.



     

    Ah sorry. I'm not really familar with either of them. Just checked and the SNES version even came out the previous year!

    I don't know what the case was in other regions, but in North America the Game Gear, Game Boy, & NES versions came out first, in Summer 1993

    The NES game is not the same game as the Game Gear and Game Boy games either.









    The SNES & Genesis versions came out later in Fall 1993 with Genesis version published under the Flying Edge label







    In Europe there was a Master System version that North America didn't get (I think it's the same as the Game Gear game)
  • KeenBladeKeenBlade
    Well, I'm certainly glad Zoda's Revenge wasn't rare. It was a really solid game. It makes for a great comparison with the first Star Tropics. It's amazing how far they could push the system by the end.
  • tordurtordur
    Originally posted by: bootload

    ...



    I also have another strange question, how come some of the other games were released so late in Europe according to Wikipedia? These other games were released in 1994 in Europe:

    - Ninja Gaiden II (4 years after us)

    - Captain Skyhawk (4 years after us)

    - Double Dragon (6 years after us and they got Double Dragon III the same day)

    - Goal! (5 years after us and 2 years after they got the sequel)

    - Racket Attack (6 years after us)



    I'm not sure when the above mentioned games got their first release in Europe, but all of those were released in 1994 in the Scandinavian countries, but as ESP-region games (Not the normal SCN region), presumably since the Scandinavian distributor (Bergsala) at the time either couldn't fill an entire minimum-order with Nintendo but still needed some games to sell, or since the Spanish distributor (Spaco) had leftover stock, which was sold to Bergsala for cheap.



    I'm guessing whichever Wikipedia entry you've been reading, has gotten the release date from one of the very extensive Swedish databases that are on the net, and is not representative for entire Europe.
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