Best priced and if the system’s games are going to increase in value any time soon.
I personally don’t think there are really any systems that are super affordable right now that have a high ceiling for value, at least full sets. I'm sure there’s some PS3, 360, and wii games that might go up a little in value but the ones that are harder to find are already somewhat expensive and have already been going up, couple that with the fact that those systems are new enough that a "rare" game could be worthless at any moment because a pallet of overstock shows up. Wii and wiiu are a perfect example of this as there’s been several "rare" games that have tanked with re-releases or with NOS stock turning up. Also with most of the 7th generation and up systems you had games that were produced at a much high number and you've also had collectors keeping sealed stuff in the hopes that they gain value the whole time. How many complete Dino Peaks or Msuha's are there vs how many sealed "insert special edition here" 7th gen games?
The thing about the xbox 360, is that a large majority of games are fps, which is fine if that is what you like. i just personally don't think fps games are THAT collectible, compared to say Kirby's Tilt 'N' Tumble, or Earthbound, or a sealed copy of Legend of Zelda. Playstation hsa SOME variety, but nothing really is going to match Sega or Nintendo. All xbox games look the same to me.
I'm not going to try and predict value increase, but handhelds are always fun. Game Boy is pretty easy, Game Gear is a more challenging, and Vita is and nice middle ground. PSP is great since it's still relatively cheap and easy to find CIB games with manuals, and only a dozen or so games over $50. Plus tons of great RPGs.
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I’d agree with this as well. Sure there are a handful of games that are pricey, but overall there are still tons of DS games that are super cheap. That’s normally the case for most systems though as the top handful of games are normally the first group of games to increase while the majority of the games will take a few years longer before they start increasing significantly.
You can also find DS games in the Wild frequently. I also agree that overall the DS is below what we will end up seeing it at in a couple years from now.
Best priced and if the system’s games are going to increase in value any time soon.
This is ridiculous. This isn't collecting, it's investing. If you are collecting to own it, why do you care whether or not the price will go up in the future?
Also, the boat has sailed. There's no system that's going to see insane growth rates like we saw on all systems during the collector bubble of 2010-2016. The "bubble" has popped, it's just that no one really noticed or cared. We've seen a complete stagnation or dropping of prices across the board. Both VGPC and GameValueNow's charts show this. But, because games weren't super inflated, and we didn't have the "printed collectables" for NES, SNES, N64, etc, its harder to notice the bubble popping.
People are still collecting, but they're being smarter with their wallets, and not just buying high dollar games because tomorrow they'll be double. They're holding out for deals, and thus, prices drop. Sorry, there's no longer a curve to stay ahead of. Collect what you want to collect for, not just because you see dollar signs in the future.
Price-wise? The universal answer to this is "1-2 console generations back". In this case, probably not a bad time to be collecting for Wii, PS3, Xbox/360, etc etc. Stuff that is old enough to be obsolete, but not old enough to be "classic" yet.
One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn't belong, can you find out which one is not like the others by the time I'm finished this song
I'm not going to try and predict value increase, but handhelds are always fun. Game Boy is pretty easy, Game Gear is a more challenging, and Vita is and nice middle ground. PSP is great since it's still relatively cheap and easy to find CIB games with manuals, and only a dozen or so games over $50. Plus tons of great RPGs.
CIB Game Boy is easy?
No, PSP CIB and loose GB is easy. CIB GB is a nightmare, but I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand...
You could probably buy a complete Wii U collection (standard CIB releases) for $1000 to $2000 without too much effort. There are a ton of games that are $10 or less used and even the 1st party games took a massive hit being re-released on the Switch.
The thing about the PS4 is that it has a TON of "limited" games, by small distributors such as LRG. I think it will take time, but eventually some these games (certainly not all, probably not the majority) will be extremely sought after. With the PS5 confirming PS4 backwards compatibility, this will keep PS4 games in the loop for a long time as well.
You could probably buy a complete Wii U collection (standard CIB releases) for $1000 to $2000 without too much effort. There are a ton of games that are $10 or less used and even the 1st party games took a massive hit being re-released on the Switch.
This is also very true. Although I haven't dived into Wii U myself, it looks like a lot of fun both to play and collect. And can't argue with those prices right now either!
Seeing a lot of Wii, PS3, 360, GBA, and DS. The Wii is highly available since everyone has owned a Wii, so I gotta take advantage of that. Is it as easy to get into as it used to be? Like is GameStop still doing those Buy 2 Get 1 free deals with the console?
Seeing a lot of Wii, PS3, 360, GBA, and DS. The Wii is highly available since everyone has owned a Wii, so I gotta take advantage of that. Is it as easy to get into as it used to be? Like is GameStop still doing those Buy 2 Get 1 free deals with the console?
I’m not sure how often GameStop does buy 2 get 1 free but they have Wii games fairly cheap if you can find them complete in good condition.
You can also find Wii games frequently at Pawn Shops, Flea Markets, Yard Sales, etc... and they are typically very affordable. Even on eBay the majority of games are extremely cheap though some are starting to rise.
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I'd agree with this as well. Sure there are a handful of games that are pricey, but overall there are still tons of DS games that are super cheap. That's normally the case for most systems though as the top handful of games are normally the first group of games to increase while the majority of the games will take a few years longer before they start increasing significantly.
You can also find DS games in the Wild frequently. I also agree that overall the DS is below what we will end up seeing it at in a couple years from now.
I got into collecting DS games about 6 years ago, and around that time you could find just about any rare DS game loose at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Prices were also half, a third, heck even a tenth of what they are going for now for most games. Up until like 2 years ago, you could still find most rare DS games at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Now you can't really find anything. I've seen fewer and fewer DS games in general in thrift shops and it's always crap games when you do find them.
The only places that seem to have decent complete or loose DS games are some video game stores (not GameStop). eBay and Amazon are really your only bet for rare and CIB DS games but most sellers have caught up prices and it's harder to find rare DS games.
There are also several CIB DS games that go for over $100 already which tells me the train has left the station. Well that coupled with the other stuff I mentioned. You can still buy most good games CIB for under $50 but you used to be able to get most for $30 or less.
The DS has an incredible library but it's quickly going to cost you a pretty penny to get everything complete. Good luck to all on their DS quest. All hope is not lost, it's just a lot harder than it used to be.
I went after most of the DS stuff I wanted from 2011-2014 or so, which meant JRPGs. Lots of games for $4 that are now $50+. You could still catch non-GameStops selling rarer games for cheap until a couple of years ago. That was when it lost its appeal for me. Definitely a fun system to collect for though.
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I'd agree with this as well. Sure there are a handful of games that are pricey, but overall there are still tons of DS games that are super cheap. That's normally the case for most systems though as the top handful of games are normally the first group of games to increase while the majority of the games will take a few years longer before they start increasing significantly.
You can also find DS games in the Wild frequently. I also agree that overall the DS is below what we will end up seeing it at in a couple years from now.
I got into collecting DS games about 6 years ago, and around that time you could find just about any rare DS game loose at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Prices were also half, a third, heck even a tenth of what they are going for now for most games. Up until like 2 years ago, you could still find most rare DS games at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Now you can't really find anything. I've seen fewer and fewer DS games in general in thrift shops and it's always crap games when you do find them. The only places that seem to have decent complete or loose DS games are some video game stores (not GameStop). eBay and Amazon are really your only bet for rare and CIB DS games but most sellers have caught up prices and it's harder to find rare DS games. There are also several CIB DS games that go for over $100 already which tells me the train has left the station. Well that coupled with the other stuff I mentioned. You can still buy most good games CIB for under $50 but you used to be able to get most for $30 or less. The DS has an incredible library but it's quickly going to cost you a pretty penny to get everything complete. Good luck to all on their DS quest. All hope is not lost, it's just a lot harder than it used to be.
Yea, some have went up but it’s really just starting the climb up. I can’t disagree with most of what you said about it being cheaper a few years ago but there are still a ton of games cheap that will end up increasing significantly in the future. Even the more expensive games can still be found from time to time in the wild. I still find good deals at the Flea Markets, Yard Sales, and Pawn Shops.
The PSP is about where the DS was a few years back. Lots of great games, still relatively cheap prices (many of which have come down from some sort of inflation/bubble a few years ago).
I will say too that the Switch has been fun to collect for. It is the first current system I have had since the DS, and it is easy enough to watch a release, wait for it to drop, and then grab it while it is cheaper. A lot of the limited, indie stuff is not going to turn up in the wild, so shelling out $30 on release is no sweat compared to picking it up down the line. I'm pretty picky with what I like to play, but the ten games that I do have I know I will play and likely enjoy (to one degree or another). A player's collection.
Seeing a lot of Wii, PS3, 360, GBA, and DS. The Wii is highly available since everyone has owned a Wii, so I gotta take advantage of that. Is it as easy to get into as it used to be? Like is GameStop still doing those Buy 2 Get 1 free deals with the console?
The Wii is very similar to the DS for the non shovelware titles. The rarer Wii games are getting more difficult to find CIB and are more expensive than just a few years ago. The main difference from the DS is that you can still find some rarer and better Wii games at GameStop for decent prices. So you still have a way to avoid paying the higher Amazon and eBay prices for some rarer Wii games.
I also think the Wii still has some gems yet to be discovered, whereas I'd venture to say almost all if not all the DS gems have been discovered. The Wii train is leaving the station but hasn't quite left like the DS train did. And GameStop sometimes still does the B2G1 sale for Wii games but good luck finding 3 rare/good Wii games at the same GameStop. You might find Xenoblade and fire emblem at the same GameStop but you won't find say ivy the kiwi or opoona or fritz chess there too.
P.s. pick up Mario strikers charged if you're collecting Wii games. Really solid game that is still cheap.
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I'd agree with this as well. Sure there are a handful of games that are pricey, but overall there are still tons of DS games that are super cheap. That's normally the case for most systems though as the top handful of games are normally the first group of games to increase while the majority of the games will take a few years longer before they start increasing significantly.
You can also find DS games in the Wild frequently. I also agree that overall the DS is below what we will end up seeing it at in a couple years from now.
I got into collecting DS games about 6 years ago, and around that time you could find just about any rare DS game loose at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Prices were also half, a third, heck even a tenth of what they are going for now for most games. Up until like 2 years ago, you could still find most rare DS games at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Now you can't really find anything. I've seen fewer and fewer DS games in general in thrift shops and it's always crap games when you do find them. The only places that seem to have decent complete or loose DS games are some video game stores (not GameStop). eBay and Amazon are really your only bet for rare and CIB DS games but most sellers have caught up prices and it's harder to find rare DS games. There are also several CIB DS games that go for over $100 already which tells me the train has left the station. Well that coupled with the other stuff I mentioned. You can still buy most good games CIB for under $50 but you used to be able to get most for $30 or less. The DS has an incredible library but it's quickly going to cost you a pretty penny to get everything complete. Good luck to all on their DS quest. All hope is not lost, it's just a lot harder than it used to be.
Yea, some have went up but it's really just starting the climb up. I can't disagree with most of what you said about it being cheaper a few years ago but there are still a ton of games cheap that will end up increasing significantly in the future. Even the more expensive games can still be found from time to time in the wild. I still find good deals at the Flea Markets, Yard Sales, and Pawn Shops.
Agreed. There's still stuff like dragon quest monsters joker, rocket slime, geometry wars, megaman battle network 5, and several others which are excellent and still cheap but good luck finding stuff like tingles rosy rupeeland, drone tactics, zombie BBQ, dokapon journey, etc for decent prices. I know you can still find stuff. It's just getting much more difficult than it used to be.
Oh, and I agree with solegoose, PSP has a surprisingly really good library which is all cheap. I actually don't know any CIB PSP game which is above $100. Maybe some sealed ones but last I checked, nothing was over $100 CIB.
The ONLY problems with the PSP library are that you really won't find any in the wild. You pretty much have to buy all your PSP games online. You'll find stuff like final fantasy in the wild but not hexyz force or half minute hero or zhp or a lot of other titles.
And the switch is fun to collect for but holy crap are the a lot of games already. It's hard to sift through all the shovelware. I know I'm missing some gems which bugs me.
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I'd agree with this as well. Sure there are a handful of games that are pricey, but overall there are still tons of DS games that are super cheap. That's normally the case for most systems though as the top handful of games are normally the first group of games to increase while the majority of the games will take a few years longer before they start increasing significantly.
You can also find DS games in the Wild frequently. I also agree that overall the DS is below what we will end up seeing it at in a couple years from now.
I got into collecting DS games about 6 years ago, and around that time you could find just about any rare DS game loose at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Prices were also half, a third, heck even a tenth of what they are going for now for most games. Up until like 2 years ago, you could still find most rare DS games at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Now you can't really find anything. I've seen fewer and fewer DS games in general in thrift shops and it's always crap games when you do find them. The only places that seem to have decent complete or loose DS games are some video game stores (not GameStop). eBay and Amazon are really your only bet for rare and CIB DS games but most sellers have caught up prices and it's harder to find rare DS games. There are also several CIB DS games that go for over $100 already which tells me the train has left the station. Well that coupled with the other stuff I mentioned. You can still buy most good games CIB for under $50 but you used to be able to get most for $30 or less. The DS has an incredible library but it's quickly going to cost you a pretty penny to get everything complete. Good luck to all on their DS quest. All hope is not lost, it's just a lot harder than it used to be.
Yea, some have went up but it's really just starting the climb up. I can't disagree with most of what you said about it being cheaper a few years ago but there are still a ton of games cheap that will end up increasing significantly in the future. Even the more expensive games can still be found from time to time in the wild. I still find good deals at the Flea Markets, Yard Sales, and Pawn Shops.
Agreed. There's still stuff like dragon quest monsters joker, rocket slime, geometry wars, megaman battle network 5, and several others which are excellent and still cheap but good luck finding stuff like tingles rosy rupeeland, drone tactics, zombie BBQ, dokapon journey, etc for decent prices. I know you can still find stuff. It's just getting much more difficult than it used to be. Oh, and I agree with solegoose, PSP has a surprisingly really good library which is all cheap. I actually don't know any CIB PSP game which is above $100. Maybe some sealed ones but last I checked, nothing was over $100 CIB. The ONLY problems with the PSP library are that you really won't find any in the wild. You pretty much have to buy all your PSP games online. You'll find stuff like final fantasy in the wild but not hexyz force or half minute hero or zhp or a lot of other titles. And the switch is fun to collect for but holy crap are the a lot of games already. It's hard to sift through all the shovelware. I know I'm missing some gems which bugs me.
I'm going through a PSP kick right now and have most of the harder to find games (or at least what I believe to be hardest to find just keeping up with eBay listings and how often things pop up). I think the one that's pushing $100 the most is Persona 3 Portable. CIB not sealed is getting there, I just sold my extra for $80 and it was reshelled. Some copies are already selling for $100+. Which is crazy cause up until a few months ago it was pretty consistant at $50. Not sure what changed between now and then.
EDIT: Also this isn't including imports. There are some shooters that are well over $100. I just got back from Japan a couple weeks ago and was hoping to find some deals on those shooters but everything was eBay priced or higher...
Seeing a lot of Wii, PS3, 360, GBA, and DS. The Wii is highly available since everyone has owned a Wii, so I gotta take advantage of that. Is it as easy to get into as it used to be? Like is GameStop still doing those Buy 2 Get 1 free deals with the console?
The Wii is very similar to the DS for the non shovelware titles. The rarer Wii games are getting more difficult to find CIB and are more expensive than just a few years ago. The main difference from the DS is that you can still find some rarer and better Wii games at GameStop for decent prices. So you still have a way to avoid paying the higher Amazon and eBay prices for some rarer Wii games. I also think the Wii still has some gems yet to be discovered, whereas I'd venture to say almost all if not all the DS gems have been discovered. The Wii train is leaving the station but hasn't quite left like the DS train did. And GameStop sometimes still does the B2G1 sale for Wii games but good luck finding 3 rare/good Wii games at the same GameStop. You might find Xenoblade and fire emblem at the same GameStop but you won't find say ivy the kiwi or opoona or fritz chess there too. P.s. pick up Mario strikers charged if you're collecting Wii games. Really solid game that is still cheap.
Honestly wii has been on the down turn for the past year or so. Most of the "rare" games have actually dropped quite a bit. You mention Ivy the Kiwi. At one point it was pushing $100, now complete copies are in the $35 range, same thing with games like America Mensa Academy, Fritz Chess, Cyberbike Cycling Sports, and a ton others. I think we've already seen the peak on wii collecting for quite a long time to come.
Wii - Lots of low-print run obscure titles that are exclusive to the Wii. I picked up a nice collection of Wii games back in 2015/2016 when my local Gamestops were downsizing their Wii shelf space and practically giving them away.
Vita - RPGs tend to appreciate value the most, and the Vita has a large library of Japanese RPGs and visual novels. If you go this route, find a PSTV ASAP. A few, short years ago PSTV consoles were clearanced out of stores for $20-50, now loose/CIB PSTVs sell on eBay for $100-200.
DS/3DS - Just by the way the system is designed, a majority of the games will remain exclusive to these systems forever. The large number of console variations also means there will be hardware completionist collecting demand.
The one thing the above consoles have in common is game exclusivity. I'm bearish on the collecting prospects of the 360/PS3/XB1/PS4 simply because those systems have very few uncommon exclusive titles. The vast majority of those consoles' libraries are available on the competing platform as well as PC.
Seeing a lot of Wii, PS3, 360, GBA, and DS. The Wii is highly available since everyone has owned a Wii, so I gotta take advantage of that. Is it as easy to get into as it used to be? Like is GameStop still doing those Buy 2 Get 1 free deals with the console?
The Wii is very similar to the DS for the non shovelware titles. The rarer Wii games are getting more difficult to find CIB and are more expensive than just a few years ago. The main difference from the DS is that you can still find some rarer and better Wii games at GameStop for decent prices. So you still have a way to avoid paying the higher Amazon and eBay prices for some rarer Wii games. I also think the Wii still has some gems yet to be discovered, whereas I'd venture to say almost all if not all the DS gems have been discovered. The Wii train is leaving the station but hasn't quite left like the DS train did. And GameStop sometimes still does the B2G1 sale for Wii games but good luck finding 3 rare/good Wii games at the same GameStop. You might find Xenoblade and fire emblem at the same GameStop but you won't find say ivy the kiwi or opoona or fritz chess there too. P.s. pick up Mario strikers charged if you're collecting Wii games. Really solid game that is still cheap.
Honestly wii has been on the down turn for the past year or so. Most of the "rare" games have actually dropped quite a bit. You mention Ivy the Kiwi. At one point it was pushing $100, now complete copies are in the $35 range, same thing with games like America Mensa Academy, Fritz Chess, Cyberbike Cycling Sports, and a ton others. I think we've already seen the peak on wii collecting for quite a long time to come.
It has come back down a bit. Ivy the kiwi was never a $100 game. It was around $65-70 at it's absolute peak and was around $50 for most of the time. It's an uncommon game and a good one too. I've only ever seen one loose copy in the wild. The prices will probably go back up in 5-10 years or so. It is only 2 generations back at this point, with new just dance games still being made for it lol. Once people start weeding out all the crap and identifying the gems and nostalgia kicks in for people, I think we'll see prices go back up.
Outside of a handful of games CiB that are priced kinda high I think Gameboy Advance is a good system to collect for CiB. It has a lot of sequels and ports to franchises that were popular on NES, SNES, and Genesis. It was also the last system to use paper packaging, 2D sprite based graphics (mostly), and used true cartridges, instead of cards.
That paper packaging bit is one of my favorite things about the GBA.
Outside of a handful of games CiB that are priced kinda high I think Gameboy Advance is a good system to collect for CiB. It has a lot of sequels and ports to franchises that were popular on NES, SNES, and Genesis. It was also the last system to use paper packaging, 2D sprite based graphics (mostly), and used true cartridges, instead of cards.
That paper packaging bit is one of my favorite things about the GBA.
It really does feel like the last of the retro systems with the paper packaging, real cartridges, focus on 2D sprite gameplay, and 8/16 bit franchises. Those reasons I’ve gravitated towards it and love collecting for it.
Comments
Best priced and if the system’s games are going to increase in value any time soon.
I personally don’t think there are really any systems that are super affordable right now that have a high ceiling for value, at least full sets. I'm sure there’s some PS3, 360, and wii games that might go up a little in value but the ones that are harder to find are already somewhat expensive and have already been going up, couple that with the fact that those systems are new enough that a "rare" game could be worthless at any moment because a pallet of overstock shows up. Wii and wiiu are a perfect example of this as there’s been several "rare" games that have tanked with re-releases or with NOS stock turning up. Also with most of the 7th generation and up systems you had games that were produced at a much high number and you've also had collectors keeping sealed stuff in the hopes that they gain value the whole time. How many complete Dino Peaks or Msuha's are there vs how many sealed "insert special edition here" 7th gen games?
The thing about the xbox 360, is that a large majority of games are fps, which is fine if that is what you like. i just personally don't think fps games are THAT collectible, compared to say Kirby's Tilt 'N' Tumble, or Earthbound, or a sealed copy of Legend of Zelda. Playstation hsa SOME variety, but nothing really is going to match Sega or Nintendo. All xbox games look the same to me.
I'm not going to try and predict value increase, but handhelds are always fun. Game Boy is pretty easy, Game Gear is a more challenging, and Vita is and nice middle ground. PSP is great since it's still relatively cheap and easy to find CIB games with manuals, and only a dozen or so games over $50. Plus tons of great RPGs.
CIB Game Boy is easy?
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I’d agree with this as well. Sure there are a handful of games that are pricey, but overall there are still tons of DS games that are super cheap. That’s normally the case for most systems though as the top handful of games are normally the first group of games to increase while the majority of the games will take a few years longer before they start increasing significantly.
You can also find DS games in the Wild frequently. I also agree that overall the DS is below what we will end up seeing it at in a couple years from now.
GBA is on fire right now. Might be good to get in on the better/rarer titles before they blow up.
Good thing I've been hoarding some sealed games!
Best priced and if the system’s games are going to increase in value any time soon.
This is ridiculous. This isn't collecting, it's investing. If you are collecting to own it, why do you care whether or not the price will go up in the future?
Also, the boat has sailed. There's no system that's going to see insane growth rates like we saw on all systems during the collector bubble of 2010-2016. The "bubble" has popped, it's just that no one really noticed or cared. We've seen a complete stagnation or dropping of prices across the board. Both VGPC and GameValueNow's charts show this. But, because games weren't super inflated, and we didn't have the "printed collectables" for NES, SNES, N64, etc, its harder to notice the bubble popping.
People are still collecting, but they're being smarter with their wallets, and not just buying high dollar games because tomorrow they'll be double. They're holding out for deals, and thus, prices drop. Sorry, there's no longer a curve to stay ahead of. Collect what you want to collect for, not just because you see dollar signs in the future.
Wii U
Xbox
Xbox 360
GBA
PS3
One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn't belong, can you find out which one is not like the others by the time I'm finished this song
I'm not going to try and predict value increase, but handhelds are always fun. Game Boy is pretty easy, Game Gear is a more challenging, and Vita is and nice middle ground. PSP is great since it's still relatively cheap and easy to find CIB games with manuals, and only a dozen or so games over $50. Plus tons of great RPGs.
CIB Game Boy is easy?
No, PSP CIB and loose GB is easy. CIB GB is a nightmare, but I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand...
You could probably buy a complete Wii U collection (standard CIB releases) for $1000 to $2000 without too much effort. There are a ton of games that are $10 or less used and even the 1st party games took a massive hit being re-released on the Switch.
This is also very true. Although I haven't dived into Wii U myself, it looks like a lot of fun both to play and collect. And can't argue with those prices right now either!
Seeing a lot of Wii, PS3, 360, GBA, and DS. The Wii is highly available since everyone has owned a Wii, so I gotta take advantage of that. Is it as easy to get into as it used to be? Like is GameStop still doing those Buy 2 Get 1 free deals with the console?
I’m not sure how often GameStop does buy 2 get 1 free but they have Wii games fairly cheap if you can find them complete in good condition.
You can also find Wii games frequently at Pawn Shops, Flea Markets, Yard Sales, etc... and they are typically very affordable. Even on eBay the majority of games are extremely cheap though some are starting to rise.
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I'd agree with this as well. Sure there are a handful of games that are pricey, but overall there are still tons of DS games that are super cheap. That's normally the case for most systems though as the top handful of games are normally the first group of games to increase while the majority of the games will take a few years longer before they start increasing significantly.
You can also find DS games in the Wild frequently. I also agree that overall the DS is below what we will end up seeing it at in a couple years from now.
I got into collecting DS games about 6 years ago, and around that time you could find just about any rare DS game loose at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Prices were also half, a third, heck even a tenth of what they are going for now for most games. Up until like 2 years ago, you could still find most rare DS games at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Now you can't really find anything. I've seen fewer and fewer DS games in general in thrift shops and it's always crap games when you do find them.
The only places that seem to have decent complete or loose DS games are some video game stores (not GameStop). eBay and Amazon are really your only bet for rare and CIB DS games but most sellers have caught up prices and it's harder to find rare DS games.
There are also several CIB DS games that go for over $100 already which tells me the train has left the station. Well that coupled with the other stuff I mentioned. You can still buy most good games CIB for under $50 but you used to be able to get most for $30 or less.
The DS has an incredible library but it's quickly going to cost you a pretty penny to get everything complete. Good luck to all on their DS quest. All hope is not lost, it's just a lot harder than it used to be.
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I'd agree with this as well. Sure there are a handful of games that are pricey, but overall there are still tons of DS games that are super cheap. That's normally the case for most systems though as the top handful of games are normally the first group of games to increase while the majority of the games will take a few years longer before they start increasing significantly.
You can also find DS games in the Wild frequently. I also agree that overall the DS is below what we will end up seeing it at in a couple years from now.
I got into collecting DS games about 6 years ago, and around that time you could find just about any rare DS game loose at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Prices were also half, a third, heck even a tenth of what they are going for now for most games. Up until like 2 years ago, you could still find most rare DS games at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Now you can't really find anything. I've seen fewer and fewer DS games in general in thrift shops and it's always crap games when you do find them. The only places that seem to have decent complete or loose DS games are some video game stores (not GameStop). eBay and Amazon are really your only bet for rare and CIB DS games but most sellers have caught up prices and it's harder to find rare DS games. There are also several CIB DS games that go for over $100 already which tells me the train has left the station. Well that coupled with the other stuff I mentioned. You can still buy most good games CIB for under $50 but you used to be able to get most for $30 or less. The DS has an incredible library but it's quickly going to cost you a pretty penny to get everything complete. Good luck to all on their DS quest. All hope is not lost, it's just a lot harder than it used to be.
Yea, some have went up but it’s really just starting the climb up. I can’t disagree with most of what you said about it being cheaper a few years ago but there are still a ton of games cheap that will end up increasing significantly in the future. Even the more expensive games can still be found from time to time in the wild. I still find good deals at the Flea Markets, Yard Sales, and Pawn Shops.
Seeing a lot of Wii, PS3, 360, GBA, and DS. The Wii is highly available since everyone has owned a Wii, so I gotta take advantage of that. Is it as easy to get into as it used to be? Like is GameStop still doing those Buy 2 Get 1 free deals with the console?
The Wii is very similar to the DS for the non shovelware titles. The rarer Wii games are getting more difficult to find CIB and are more expensive than just a few years ago. The main difference from the DS is that you can still find some rarer and better Wii games at GameStop for decent prices. So you still have a way to avoid paying the higher Amazon and eBay prices for some rarer Wii games.
I also think the Wii still has some gems yet to be discovered, whereas I'd venture to say almost all if not all the DS gems have been discovered. The Wii train is leaving the station but hasn't quite left like the DS train did. And GameStop sometimes still does the B2G1 sale for Wii games but good luck finding 3 rare/good Wii games at the same GameStop. You might find Xenoblade and fire emblem at the same GameStop but you won't find say ivy the kiwi or opoona or fritz chess there too.
P.s. pick up Mario strikers charged if you're collecting Wii games. Really solid game that is still cheap.
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I'd agree with this as well. Sure there are a handful of games that are pricey, but overall there are still tons of DS games that are super cheap. That's normally the case for most systems though as the top handful of games are normally the first group of games to increase while the majority of the games will take a few years longer before they start increasing significantly.
You can also find DS games in the Wild frequently. I also agree that overall the DS is below what we will end up seeing it at in a couple years from now.
I got into collecting DS games about 6 years ago, and around that time you could find just about any rare DS game loose at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Prices were also half, a third, heck even a tenth of what they are going for now for most games. Up until like 2 years ago, you could still find most rare DS games at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Now you can't really find anything. I've seen fewer and fewer DS games in general in thrift shops and it's always crap games when you do find them. The only places that seem to have decent complete or loose DS games are some video game stores (not GameStop). eBay and Amazon are really your only bet for rare and CIB DS games but most sellers have caught up prices and it's harder to find rare DS games. There are also several CIB DS games that go for over $100 already which tells me the train has left the station. Well that coupled with the other stuff I mentioned. You can still buy most good games CIB for under $50 but you used to be able to get most for $30 or less. The DS has an incredible library but it's quickly going to cost you a pretty penny to get everything complete. Good luck to all on their DS quest. All hope is not lost, it's just a lot harder than it used to be.
Yea, some have went up but it's really just starting the climb up. I can't disagree with most of what you said about it being cheaper a few years ago but there are still a ton of games cheap that will end up increasing significantly in the future. Even the more expensive games can still be found from time to time in the wild. I still find good deals at the Flea Markets, Yard Sales, and Pawn Shops.
Agreed. There's still stuff like dragon quest monsters joker, rocket slime, geometry wars, megaman battle network 5, and several others which are excellent and still cheap but good luck finding stuff like tingles rosy rupeeland, drone tactics, zombie BBQ, dokapon journey, etc for decent prices. I know you can still find stuff. It's just getting much more difficult than it used to be.
Oh, and I agree with solegoose, PSP has a surprisingly really good library which is all cheap. I actually don't know any CIB PSP game which is above $100. Maybe some sealed ones but last I checked, nothing was over $100 CIB.
The ONLY problems with the PSP library are that you really won't find any in the wild. You pretty much have to buy all your PSP games online. You'll find stuff like final fantasy in the wild but not hexyz force or half minute hero or zhp or a lot of other titles.
And the switch is fun to collect for but holy crap are the a lot of games already. It's hard to sift through all the shovelware. I know I'm missing some gems which bugs me.
I would've said DS but you missed the boat on that one by 2 or 3 years. The Wii is probably the best right now but it's getting harder to find the rarer Wii games by the day.
I'm not so sure about this, I think DS is still pretty soft overall and you can still find some absolutely amazing titles to play CIB for a couple of bucks. Of course, if you are only focused on the Nintendo titles and the RPG's or whatever, then the prices on those are quite high. But the DS library is so broad, it's practically what the term "hidden gem" was invented for, SO much good stuff. Plus, it's new enough that you can still get sealed pretty cheap, and people are still in the process of chucking them out, so you can find DS games pretty readily wherever used games are sold.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you know this, I know you are a DS fan from some of your previous posts! But, I reckon the DS market has a long way to go, I'd say it's in its infancy right now. Either way, values or no, great system to play and collect for.
I'd agree with this as well. Sure there are a handful of games that are pricey, but overall there are still tons of DS games that are super cheap. That's normally the case for most systems though as the top handful of games are normally the first group of games to increase while the majority of the games will take a few years longer before they start increasing significantly.
You can also find DS games in the Wild frequently. I also agree that overall the DS is below what we will end up seeing it at in a couple years from now.
I got into collecting DS games about 6 years ago, and around that time you could find just about any rare DS game loose at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Prices were also half, a third, heck even a tenth of what they are going for now for most games. Up until like 2 years ago, you could still find most rare DS games at a GameStop within 100 miles from you. Now you can't really find anything. I've seen fewer and fewer DS games in general in thrift shops and it's always crap games when you do find them. The only places that seem to have decent complete or loose DS games are some video game stores (not GameStop). eBay and Amazon are really your only bet for rare and CIB DS games but most sellers have caught up prices and it's harder to find rare DS games. There are also several CIB DS games that go for over $100 already which tells me the train has left the station. Well that coupled with the other stuff I mentioned. You can still buy most good games CIB for under $50 but you used to be able to get most for $30 or less. The DS has an incredible library but it's quickly going to cost you a pretty penny to get everything complete. Good luck to all on their DS quest. All hope is not lost, it's just a lot harder than it used to be.
Yea, some have went up but it's really just starting the climb up. I can't disagree with most of what you said about it being cheaper a few years ago but there are still a ton of games cheap that will end up increasing significantly in the future. Even the more expensive games can still be found from time to time in the wild. I still find good deals at the Flea Markets, Yard Sales, and Pawn Shops.
Agreed. There's still stuff like dragon quest monsters joker, rocket slime, geometry wars, megaman battle network 5, and several others which are excellent and still cheap but good luck finding stuff like tingles rosy rupeeland, drone tactics, zombie BBQ, dokapon journey, etc for decent prices. I know you can still find stuff. It's just getting much more difficult than it used to be. Oh, and I agree with solegoose, PSP has a surprisingly really good library which is all cheap. I actually don't know any CIB PSP game which is above $100. Maybe some sealed ones but last I checked, nothing was over $100 CIB. The ONLY problems with the PSP library are that you really won't find any in the wild. You pretty much have to buy all your PSP games online. You'll find stuff like final fantasy in the wild but not hexyz force or half minute hero or zhp or a lot of other titles. And the switch is fun to collect for but holy crap are the a lot of games already. It's hard to sift through all the shovelware. I know I'm missing some gems which bugs me.
I'm going through a PSP kick right now and have most of the harder to find games (or at least what I believe to be hardest to find just keeping up with eBay listings and how often things pop up). I think the one that's pushing $100 the most is Persona 3 Portable. CIB not sealed is getting there, I just sold my extra for $80 and it was reshelled. Some copies are already selling for $100+. Which is crazy cause up until a few months ago it was pretty consistant at $50. Not sure what changed between now and then.
EDIT: Also this isn't including imports. There are some shooters that are well over $100. I just got back from Japan a couple weeks ago and was hoping to find some deals on those shooters but everything was eBay priced or higher...
Seeing a lot of Wii, PS3, 360, GBA, and DS. The Wii is highly available since everyone has owned a Wii, so I gotta take advantage of that. Is it as easy to get into as it used to be? Like is GameStop still doing those Buy 2 Get 1 free deals with the console?
The Wii is very similar to the DS for the non shovelware titles. The rarer Wii games are getting more difficult to find CIB and are more expensive than just a few years ago. The main difference from the DS is that you can still find some rarer and better Wii games at GameStop for decent prices. So you still have a way to avoid paying the higher Amazon and eBay prices for some rarer Wii games. I also think the Wii still has some gems yet to be discovered, whereas I'd venture to say almost all if not all the DS gems have been discovered. The Wii train is leaving the station but hasn't quite left like the DS train did. And GameStop sometimes still does the B2G1 sale for Wii games but good luck finding 3 rare/good Wii games at the same GameStop. You might find Xenoblade and fire emblem at the same GameStop but you won't find say ivy the kiwi or opoona or fritz chess there too. P.s. pick up Mario strikers charged if you're collecting Wii games. Really solid game that is still cheap.
Honestly wii has been on the down turn for the past year or so. Most of the "rare" games have actually dropped quite a bit. You mention Ivy the Kiwi. At one point it was pushing $100, now complete copies are in the $35 range, same thing with games like America Mensa Academy, Fritz Chess, Cyberbike Cycling Sports, and a ton others. I think we've already seen the peak on wii collecting for quite a long time to come.
Wii - Lots of low-print run obscure titles that are exclusive to the Wii. I picked up a nice collection of Wii games back in 2015/2016 when my local Gamestops were downsizing their Wii shelf space and practically giving them away.
Vita - RPGs tend to appreciate value the most, and the Vita has a large library of Japanese RPGs and visual novels. If you go this route, find a PSTV ASAP. A few, short years ago PSTV consoles were clearanced out of stores for $20-50, now loose/CIB PSTVs sell on eBay for $100-200.
DS/3DS - Just by the way the system is designed, a majority of the games will remain exclusive to these systems forever. The large number of console variations also means there will be hardware completionist collecting demand.
The one thing the above consoles have in common is game exclusivity. I'm bearish on the collecting prospects of the 360/PS3/XB1/PS4 simply because those systems have very few uncommon exclusive titles. The vast majority of those consoles' libraries are available on the competing platform as well as PC.
Seeing a lot of Wii, PS3, 360, GBA, and DS. The Wii is highly available since everyone has owned a Wii, so I gotta take advantage of that. Is it as easy to get into as it used to be? Like is GameStop still doing those Buy 2 Get 1 free deals with the console?
The Wii is very similar to the DS for the non shovelware titles. The rarer Wii games are getting more difficult to find CIB and are more expensive than just a few years ago. The main difference from the DS is that you can still find some rarer and better Wii games at GameStop for decent prices. So you still have a way to avoid paying the higher Amazon and eBay prices for some rarer Wii games. I also think the Wii still has some gems yet to be discovered, whereas I'd venture to say almost all if not all the DS gems have been discovered. The Wii train is leaving the station but hasn't quite left like the DS train did. And GameStop sometimes still does the B2G1 sale for Wii games but good luck finding 3 rare/good Wii games at the same GameStop. You might find Xenoblade and fire emblem at the same GameStop but you won't find say ivy the kiwi or opoona or fritz chess there too. P.s. pick up Mario strikers charged if you're collecting Wii games. Really solid game that is still cheap.
Honestly wii has been on the down turn for the past year or so. Most of the "rare" games have actually dropped quite a bit. You mention Ivy the Kiwi. At one point it was pushing $100, now complete copies are in the $35 range, same thing with games like America Mensa Academy, Fritz Chess, Cyberbike Cycling Sports, and a ton others. I think we've already seen the peak on wii collecting for quite a long time to come.
It has come back down a bit. Ivy the kiwi was never a $100 game. It was around $65-70 at it's absolute peak and was around $50 for most of the time. It's an uncommon game and a good one too. I've only ever seen one loose copy in the wild. The prices will probably go back up in 5-10 years or so. It is only 2 generations back at this point, with new just dance games still being made for it lol. Once people start weeding out all the crap and identifying the gems and nostalgia kicks in for people, I think we'll see prices go back up.
Outside of a handful of games CiB that are priced kinda high I think Gameboy Advance is a good system to collect for CiB. It has a lot of sequels and ports to franchises that were popular on NES, SNES, and Genesis. It was also the last system to use paper packaging, 2D sprite based graphics (mostly), and used true cartridges, instead of cards.
That paper packaging bit is one of my favorite things about the GBA.
Outside of a handful of games CiB that are priced kinda high I think Gameboy Advance is a good system to collect for CiB. It has a lot of sequels and ports to franchises that were popular on NES, SNES, and Genesis. It was also the last system to use paper packaging, 2D sprite based graphics (mostly), and used true cartridges, instead of cards.
That paper packaging bit is one of my favorite things about the GBA.
It really does feel like the last of the retro systems with the paper packaging, real cartridges, focus on 2D sprite gameplay, and 8/16 bit franchises. Those reasons I’ve gravitated towards it and love collecting for it.