Best places to find rare/classic games

[Viraneth]

Where can I find classic and rare games, in good to near perfect quality, for a good price?

For example, someone found me Persona 2 for $75. Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of money to spare on games. Right now I'm looking for Playstation One and Sega Dreamcast games and systems, and I would love help building my collection.

Also, does anyone know where, other than ebay, to get a Dreamcast?

[Coldguy]

*points to the top of the screen* they are a good place to go :D

Game Trader is tricky, they have a TERRIABLE selection but insane prices if you know which ones to look for.

[cosmicpsycho]

Your best bet is to hit thrift shops and flea markets, also the buying/selling forum here.

[Viraneth]

Only problems with your suggestions: I'm a Floridian. I can't move all the way back to Connecticut just to make a few trips back to Jersey.

The only flea market near here is the Opa Locka flea, yeah, not really many games there. The only games there are all bought or stolen rentals from Blockbuster. :\

[Daria]

Only problems with your suggestions: I'm a Floridian. I can't move all the way back to Connecticut just to make a few trips back to Jersey.

The only flea market near here is the Opa Locka flea, yeah, not really many games there. The only games there are all bought or stolen rentals from Blockbuster. :\


Where in Florida are you from?

The only classic gamestore I know of in the state is CGX at the Wellington Green Mall. They sell at ebay prices, but they'd probably carry a dreamcast (or PSOne.) Just don't expect them to sell you any obscure systems, even if they do carry them behind the counter. :P

[carlcarlson]

Lots of people here might hate this fact, but ebay is THE best place to go. I don't care what you want, ebay will have it at some point. Many will argue that ebay prices are way too high, and it's true that in general they are. But if you're patient/creative it's very easy to score good deals. I've got almost every game I have for next to nothing by buying in lots and then selling what I don't want.

[Maxx]

Lots of people here might hate this fact, but ebay is THE best place to go. I don't care what you want, ebay will have it at some point. Many will argue that ebay prices are way too high, and it's true that in general they are. But if you're patient/creative it's very easy to score good deals. I've got almost every game I have for next to nothing by buying in lots and then selling what I don't want.

True statement. I've been picking up factory sealed xbox games from $4 shipped. All you have to do is be patient.

[Viraneth]

Daria, I'm in Miami-Dade.

And yes, Ebay and Half are great places to get good deals, I got two dreamcast games in perfect condition for $10 but I can't shop online too often.

[nestlekwik]

I've always found trade shows, flea markets, garage sales and record stores/pawn shops to be the best. While you don't always find rare games, I have found it most worthwhile to find items at those places. The last flea market I went to nabbed me a complete Mega Man for NES for only $5 (I loved being able to read the instructions and have that fugly box art to look at) and at one of the last garage sales I went to I picked up a loose Chrono Trigger cart for $2.

If you're looking for specific items though, I would have to echo what others have said about eBay though, especially the ideals of buying en lot and selling what you don't want. There's a reason why people make livings off the service. If you know what you are doing, you can easily turn "junk" into something you want.

[Daria]

Daria, I'm in Miami-Dade.

And yes, Ebay and Half are great places to get good deals, I got two dreamcast games in perfect condition for $10 but I can't shop online too often.

Well then CGX is like what... 2 hours out of your way? :P

[Viraneth]

Well then CGX is like what... 2 hours out of your way? :P

-_- I'm not going that far. That's gotta either be in North Palm Beach or South Monroe County.

I'm probably picking up a PSOne at the Play n Trade that opened near my home.

[Daria]

-_- I'm not going that far. That's gotta either be in North Palm Beach or South Monroe County.

I'm probably picking up a PSOne at the Play n Trade that opened near my home.

West Palm actually.

[Viraneth]

I'm not rich. Gas ain't cheap this time a year if you haven't noticed.


West Palm = faaaaar
XD

[Daria]

There's always Tri-rail. I used to ride it down to Fort Lauderdale and take the bus around, wasn't exactly the fastest way to travel but it works.

Anyways, what's Play N Trade? Is it a gamestore or a pawn shop?

The Fleamarket suggestion wasn't bad, you can't predict whether or not a flea is going to carry games. It's all a matter of waking up at the crack of dawn and being consistent about checking week after week. You're going to spend gas though, so you'd probably save money in the long run by buying specific games on Ebay. Same goes for yard sales.

But hey, it's the fun in looking right?

You could always try craigslist too, I know a lot of games get listed in the Miami area that I'd like to check into but it's just too far away. At least you're a lot closer.

[Viraneth]

Play N Trade is a gamestore.

And Craiglist... I wanna have that as a last resort, ya know?

[digitalpress]

I'm not rich. Gas ain't cheap this time a year if you haven't noticed.


West Palm = faaaaar
XD

And yet you're asking for places to find rare games "in good to near perfect quality". Do you think these will be any cheaper than gasoline?

Maybe your post should read "Best places to find stupid game shop owners".

[Viraneth]

I sold of my copy of tetris plus (GB) for $8.

Would that count in the stupid owners category?

[James8BitStar]

Your best bet is to hit thrift shops and flea markets, also the buying/selling forum here.

True.

Searching on Ebay I saw the Interplay 10th Anniversary collection going for $20. Today I found it in a thrift shop for two bucks, and it was complete too.

[PapaStu]

Ya know, I keep walking into the grocery store and going up to the lottery ticket counter and asking for winning tickets when I give them my money... they just laugh at me.

[Bluteg]

I once found a NWC gold cart on the beach. It was being smuggled to Cuba but unfortunately the salt water eroded the gold paint and turned it white. Now I have some sort of ghost cart. $10,000 any takers?

[Sniderman]

-_- I'm not going that far. That's gotta either be in North Palm Beach or South Monroe County.

I am also looking for good game stores with rare games and cheap prices. But they must be within walking distance of my house - preferably within one or two blocks. I live at 126 Asshat Avenue. Where are the good places to go within a 500 yard radius? kthxbye

[The Shawn]

lol....Asshat Avenue, makes for a good Title deed for a make-your-own-opoly set, no?

[Sniderman]

lol....Asshat Avenue, makes for a good Title deed for a make-your-own-opoly set, no?

What's so funny? So I live at the corner of Asshat Avenue and Douchebag Drive. Does that strike you as amusing?

[The Shawn]

What's so funny? So I live at the corner of Asshat Avenue and Douchebag Drive. Does that strike you as amusing?

should be at least an EB in the middle then.

ouch...

[Bluteg]

17 fucking Gamestops

[8-bitNesMan]

Where can I find classic and rare games, in good to near perfect quality, for a good price?


And yes, Ebay and Half are great places to get good deals, I got two dreamcast games in perfect condition for $10 but I can't shop online too often.


-_- I'm not going that far. That's gotta either be in North Palm Beach or South Monroe County.


I'm not rich. Gas ain't cheap this time a year if you haven't noticed. West Palm = faaaaar
XD


Play N Trade is a gamestore. And Craiglist... I wanna have that as a last resort, ya know?

Dude, seriously??? You can't shop online, 2 hours is too far a drive, etc. I mean this in the nicest possible way, but with your attitude you **might** want to consider another hobby...

[Bluteg]

I'm not rich. Gas ain't cheap this time a year if you haven't noticed.


West Palm = faaaaar
XD

It's YOUR lucky day!!! I have a cheap RA3R game delivery company. Called "RA3R GAMES TO GO". We deliver from India via airplane drop parcels in a 100 yard radius of your location. Sealed FFVII's are $20 today only. What is your bank account and routing number so YOU can acquire your rarities as soon as possible!!!

[SpasticFuctard]

http://www.fortawesome.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/youre-doing-it-wrong.jpg

[Coleman]

Dude, seriously??? I mean this in the nicest possible way, but with your attitude you **might** want to consider another hobby...
Um yeah.. I would consider investing your time and money in collecting something like newspaper clippings - after all there cheap - interesting - occasionaly ammusing -& you can get them delivered right to your door!

[Bluteg]

Um yeah.. I would consider investing your time and money in collecting something like newspaper clippings - after all there cheap - interesting - occasionaly ammusing -& you can get them delivered right to your door!

Also when the police come after you, you can always plead insanity.

[SpasticFuctard]

I found this rare, i can haz 30$ for it?

http://www.vgboxart.com/boxes/DS/3960-orig.jpg

[Bluteg]

I found this rare, i can haz 30$ for it?

http://www.vgboxart.com/boxes/DS/3960-orig.jpg

$2 shipped?

[Viraneth]

I don't have a car or a creidt card, which is why those two aren't good options.
I do what I can with what I've got. I got just got a PSone for $20

[Bluteg]

I don't have a car or a creidt card, which is why those two aren't good options.
I do what I can with what I've got. I got just got a PSone for $20

So your a cheap ass who lives in Miami? I'm quite sure there are no parent's basements in Miami so I call your bluff.

[smork]

I don't have a car or a creidt card, which is why those two aren't good options.
I do what I can with what I've got. I got just got a PSone for $20


I'll presume you're a kid, then, which means you don't have any other options than Craig's List, garage sales, and wherever your parents want to take you.

Unfortunately, that's the reality of being a kid, and you'll just have to wait until you are older, get transport and your own money, and can do these things on your own. That's not so bad; we all were broke, no-transportation-having kids once...

[Iron Draggon]

go to sleep and dream about it... in dreamland, all rarities are plentiful, easy to find, dirt cheap, and all you have to do is figure out how to bring them all back with you when you wake up... watch the movie "A Nightmare On Elm Street" to learn how it's done... I obtained my entire collection that way... then I sold it all and bought a time machine, so I could do it in a different way, just for fun... and now I have every game ever made, for every console ever made, past, present, and future... I just go to ebay to fuck it all up for everyone else now... and to sell off all the duplicate copies that I'm hoarding

[DefaultGen]

.....

[snes_collector]

I'll presume you're a kid, then, which means you don't have any other options than Craig's List, garage sales, and wherever your parents want to take you.

Truth ftw. I've have been collecting since I was twelve, and now 3+ years later I've amassed 700+ games and I still don't have my license. You can find stuff but the honest fact is there is no way to find easy cheap rare stuff easily it's usually just a matter of luck. Patience and consistency is the key to find what you want in the world of video game collecting.

[Daria]

I don't have a car or a creidt card, which is why those two aren't good options.
I do what I can with what I've got. I got just got a PSone for $20

Try Gametz.com I started using it when I was 14, perfect for a kid with out transportation or a credit card. Since you can't sign up for paypal, you can send cash and the way the trade system works will help protect you from getting screwed. If you have any games you don't care about keeping you can also trade those for games you want to play.

[Rarehunter]

Places?

I know a few around San Jose that I highly recommend and the prices are very affordable.

Gamers in Control: The owner is very friendly and has alot of rare games in his arsenal. I myself found Bust a Groove there and hes my main source for rare games.

Streetlight Records: These guys have lots of rare games on good days, but mostly it's on a random basis. One of em is a retro gamer that knows where to find good things. There are a few Streetlights around the bay area.

Space Cat: It's a comic/rare game/small importer. They have lots of rare games, but they are way too high especially since they follow ebay and amazon's prices.

Planet Mix: Located in Redwood City, these guys have a few rare games and they can help you pick up stuff from online.

Cheap thrills/Captain Nemo: In the college town of San Luis Obispo, theres a place where you can find great games and accessories. Most of their games are loose however, if your interested in having complete copies. They also specialize in music and comics. Kinda like an all in one store for all your needs or something.

Oldschoolgamez: The guy that owns it is a fledgling rare game hunter who opened his store in in Santa Cruz 2 months ago. He has a few diamonds in the rough so to speak. And he can help you find some good stuff.

Alameda Video Game Exchange: Located in the small island/town of alameda near Oakland, CA, it's a mom and pop shop that specializes in all kinds of games that you can think of. I found Lunar for the Sega CD there. The only thing I warn you about is they have some slightly high prices for the rarest of the rare.

Farouttoys: The owner is part importer, maid cafe owner. A maid cafe in CA? It's unheard of. He has some good games and mostly imported games like some kinda Type-Moon game on the PSP. He also specializes in collectable toys and is a certified Sanrio retailer. If your in Japantown in downtown San Jose, check out the maid cafe on Saturdays.

San Jose Game Exchange: Excatly like Alameda Video Game Exchange, except in San Jose. They are a mixed bag. They have mostly uncommon games, movies, and a couple of rare ones. But avoid the ipods and phones they got over there. Those might be DOA. They are good otherwise... if you can speak spanish or farsi.

Unknown: Hes an ebay seller that lives out of the home. He has some complete games and some really hard to find stuff like a pocket station. Boxed Sega CD games? no problem. I think I'll call him an antique dealer.

There used to be a Music for A Song in Gilroy that had a couple of rare games at affordable prices, but they're dead. The only ones left are somewhere in the LA area. Alpine for one.

Rarefindit: I'm mostly the unofficial middleman that delivers the rare games to you, but I also have a few rare games like the aformentioned Bust A Groove. I can get in contact with these people listed above and see if they have it. If they do, I'll get it, and send it off to you.

Thats all I know.