What's up with prices on Earthbound?

[PsychoCandy]

I just scoped out Ebay to get an idea on the price to sell my loose copy for.

My god, $74 and almost a day left for a loose copy? What happened?

$61 for only the BOX?

[Oobgarm]

The price on the box is not surprising.

[PsychoCandy]

I payed $26.75 for my loose copy a few years ago that's a pretty big bump to me :\

[Oobgarm]

It's been steadily climbing in price over the past couple years. I remember it pushing $34.99 at FuncoLand stores some 6-7 years ago.

[Jorpho]

Could it be that the Mother 3 translation release has bumped up interest? Of course, that release was a few months ago.

If that is the case, then the new Mother 1 GBA hack due out one of these weeks could cause the price to climb further.

[Malon_Forever]

I wish it wasn't so much because I have yet to even play it...

[Mobius]

Earthbound is proving to be one of my better "investments" in gaming. I bought it boxed/complete at Funcoland something like 13 years ago. I think it cost me $30 or something like that. I didn't even really know what it was at the time, I just thought it looked cool, and I overheard another kid saying "Oh, they have Earthbound, we should get that!" so I decided to grab it before he did. :)

[eskobar]

The prince of this crazy game will keep up every year, too many new gamers are better informed and too many older gamers that skipped it in the 90's now are hunting it.

That game is so unique that even paying 250 for a CIB is worth it when you got the box in your hands and play the game :D

[exit]

Glad I got my copy during it's original release, I don't have the guide or box anymore, but I'm proud to say that I still have my original copy.

[Ro-J]

I remember when Chrono Trigger was selling for $70 loose at Gamestop towards the end of when they were carrying SNES games. It's now selling for $45 loose on Amazon.

Earthbound will drop in price when it's re-released, if ever. Or when the video game market collapses....I still remember the insane prices rare baseball cards would command back in the 90's.

[skaar]

Apparently it's down right now, actually. Check Evan's list on SNES Central.

[roushimsx]

I'd sell mine in a heartbeat if it didn't carry so much sentimental value. Dug up my player's guide last week, flipped to the back and saw the scratch and sniff cards for the first time. Never knew they were there before.

Yes, I fail.

[kupomogli]

Earthbound is one of those games that is good because its unique setting. Rarity of the game itself and especially the original packaging makes it a bit higher than your average rare game, but how overrated it is makes the price far higher than what it should be.

[GarrettCRW]

I suspect that part of the price inflation is due to Earthbound being unavailable on the Virtual Console, and being the subject of major discussion because of it.

[Sonicwolf]

I suspect that part of the price inflation is due to Earthbound being unavailable on the Virtual Console, and being the subject of major discussion because of it.

Like any game, once its on the Virtual Console, its physical copy price will begin to collapse. Digital distribution is a good thing when it comes to people wanting to buy real games that are overpriced...

I would wait until it is on Virtual Console to purchase a copy of Earthbound.

[obesolete]

wow, yeah... i think my bf bought my copy for about $100 (local shop and needed it fast)

I remember about 2001 a zellers that was still struggling to get rid of the last of their sports games AND a single copy of earthbound... the thing sat there since day one with a $99.99 price tag and it NEVER went on sale, otherwise i would have bought it.
then one day it was gone and new shelving was installed. I wondered at the time if they just wrote it off and tossed it... what a shame that would have been.

[Cornelius]

Like any game, once its on the Virtual Console, its physical copy price will begin to collapse. Digital distribution is a good thing when it comes to people wanting to buy real games that are overpriced...

I would wait until it is on Virtual Console to purchase a copy of Earthbound.

Is it slated to go on VC? It has been speculated that because of so many product references and various other copyright issues, it would be very difficult (i.e. costly) to release it now.

[Sonicwolf]

Is it slated to go on VC? It has been speculated that because of so many product references and various other copyright issues, it would be very difficult (i.e. costly) to release it now.

I dont know if it will but I think it will eventually. People thought Mario RPG would never be on the VC and it now is so you never know.

[Ze_ro]

That game is so unique that even paying 250 for a CIB is worth it when you got the box in your hands and play the game :D
Damn... I bought Earthbound for $5 at a pawn shop a while back, and I was disappointed with the gameplay even at that price.

--Zero

[eskobar]

Damn... I bought Earthbound for $5 at a pawn shop a while back, and I was disappointed with the gameplay even at that price.

--Zero

Well, there is always statistical extremes :D


Why didn't you like it ?. The game wasn't a technical wonder, but has aged pretty well and the gameplay is very well balanced .... but the real factor that captured me was its bizarre setting :D

[Sonicwolf]

I have yet to even see what Earthbound looks like... LOL

[tofu]

I have yet to even see what Earthbound looks like... LOL

I was going to post a link for you but Earthbound's graphics were never considered amazing or even very good for the time.

The quirky gameplay and storyline is what makes it an all time great. If you want to know why the game is awesome you'll have to pick up a copy.

[FantasiaWHT]

For those of you who balk at the price for buying this game to play... think of it the way I do - Playing this game will very likely only cost you a little bit, possibly nothing at all, and you may even get PAID to play it! Sell it after you play it and you should get somewhere around what you paid for it.

[Baloo]

Nintendo has actually announced that due to the copyrighted parts of the game's music, it will NOT be making it to the Virtual Console most likely. People pretty much ate this up and now want to buy a copy since waiting around for one to come out on VC will be fruitless.

[DDCecil]

As I've said many times before, someone needs to translate Aurora Quest for the PC Engine CD. It seems to be an excellent alternative to Earthbound. Modern setting with wacky situtations? Check. Bizarre enemies? You be the judge:


http://img220.exs.cx/img220/4368/aq112zb.jpg

[Ze_ro]

Why didn't you like it ?. The game wasn't a technical wonder, but has aged pretty well and the gameplay is very well balanced .... but the real factor that captured me was its bizarre setting :D
I found the characters annoying, and the storyline uninteresting. I also didn't care for the humour at all (I *get* the jokes, I just don't find them very funny).

There are so many RPG's on the SNES that are far better than Earthbound. Also note that Evan watched 10 complete copies go through eBay over the last two weeks (http://www.snescentral.com/forum/index.php?topic=100.0). It's not as rare as everyone seems to think it is. Though I guess there are bigger wastes of money out there (http://cgi.ebay.com/Super-Metroid-New-Sealed-VGA-90-SNES-Super-Nintendo_W0QQitemZ330343605807QQcmdZViewItemQQptZV ideo_Games_Games?hash=item4cea03662f&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14).

--Zero

[kupomogli]

If you take away Earthbound's setting, it's is nothing more than a worse version of the Dragon Warrior series. It's unique setting is the only reason to play it because the gameplay isn't really that good in comparison to a Dragon Warrior. The game also starts to drag on way too long during the end of the game.

It's a good game that's worth playing, just extremely overrated. It's not as good as DW3 - DW8.

[fahlim003]

If you take away Earthbound's setting, it's is nothing more than a worse version of the Dragon Warrior series. It's unique setting is the only reason to play it because the gameplay isn't really that good in comparison to a Dragon Warrior. The game also starts to drag on way too long during the end of the game.

Whoa, way off. Dragon Warrior/Quest games have NOTHING on EarthBound. It's most playable game of this style compared to any of the grind fests that are the DW/Q games. It's odd that a game not of the progeneitor series is the best but that's how it is. All the DW/Q games are boring and are all too focused on levelling up. Stories are minimal and until perhaps the latest entry DQ9 hasn't changed the formula much pardon removing the abundance of awful commands. Stairs? Door? Chest?!?

And what the hell is DW8? There is Dragon Quest 8 and only Dragon Quest 8, no matter what region you're from unless you're not of this world.

[Gameguy]

I stupidly passed on a loose copy for $7.99, it was before I really got into collecting and I didn't have an SNES at the time.

[Kid Fenris]

I found the characters annoying, and the storyline uninteresting. I also didn't care for the humour at all (I *get* the jokes, I just don't find them very funny).

--Zero

Congratulations. You're dead inside.

--Zero

[InsaneDavid]

I've sold complete copies here at DP for $180.00 or so years ago a couple times. I tend to own it complete, play it for awhile and finish it, sell it - then buy another complete copy and repeat the cycle. I've never paid more than $90.00 for a complete copy - they can be found online with some patience. Loose (with a bad label at that) the most I've cleared for it has been $74.00. Again, if you have some patience you can find it for $30.00 loose online.

[garagesaleking!!]

I sold a loose copy a few years ago on ebay for $55 buy it now. I found it at a roadside flea market in west virginia on the way home from vacation. The lady had a pile of snes games and said $5 a game. It was one of my better finds.

[Jorpho]

I think the rolling HP counters are a darn nifty alternative to the ol' ATB, and sort of wish more games used a similar mechanic.


As I've said many times before, someone needs to translate Aurora Quest for the PC Engine CD. It seems to be an excellent alternative to Earthbound. Modern setting with wacky situtations? Check. Bizarre enemies? You be the judge:I reckon Far East of Eden will happen first.

[wingzrow]

Not sure if this was mentioned but it's also expensive because it wasn't released in europe, just japan and the united states. So much like terrinigma in the UK, many parts of the world can only get it in english from that one territory.

[TheRedEye]

Nintendo has actually announced that due to the copyrighted parts of the game's music, it will NOT be making it to the Virtual Console most likely.

No, they didn't.

[badinsults]

There are typically 2-7 complete Earthbounds that sell every week. This month, the price has gone down quite a bit, and it now can be had for less than $200. This compares to two months ago, where it was going for $300-$450. It's not that rare of a game, perhaps as common as any of the Squaresoft RPGs, if not moreso.

[aclbandit]

I sold a loose copy a few years ago on ebay for $55 buy it now. I found it at a roadside flea market in west virginia on the way home from vacation. The lady had a pile of snes games and said $5 a game. It was one of my better finds.

I live in West Virginia, and I *never* find anything; most of my purchases have to be from eBay. My local flea markets just carry wood carvings, license plate covers, and bad t-shirts. What part of the state were you in, lol? I have to go there.

[HappehLemons]

I paid +$80 for my copy of earthbound on ebay about 4 months ago and have yet to even get past the beginning. But I don't regret it at all, I don't have many SNES games and having this one makes me feel as I balance it with earthbound.

[exit]

Nintendo has actually announced that due to the copyrighted parts of the game's music, it will NOT be making it to the Virtual Console most likely.

Did they actually announce this? From what I remember Starmen.net had an article on why Nintendo hasn't re-released it (a long with why they didn't release Mother 3 outside Japan), but I don't remember Nintendo actually coming out and saying it.

[Xtincthed]

earthbound is one of the favorite games in my collection

the box and the guide just look so damn awesome! they really worked with love on that guide, which shows

one of my favourite items in my collection, and i haven't even really played it alot yet

[mobiusclimber]

As I've said many times before, someone needs to translate Aurora Quest for the PC Engine CD. It seems to be an excellent alternative to Earthbound. Modern setting with wacky situtations? Check. Bizarre enemies? You be the judge:


http://img220.exs.cx/img220/4368/aq112zb.jpg

Wow, glad to see Aurora Quest getting the love it deserves. I played this game as far as my lack of Japanese would take me (got as far as where you have to disable a bomb using one of the computers and just couldn't get past it). I love the humor and wacky enemies in this game, moreso than Earthbound to tell the truth (I agree w/ the few dissenting voices on here). Wish there was at least a walkthru for Aurora Quest (that wasn't in Japanese)!

[Cauterize]

Nintendo has actually announced that due to the copyrighted parts of the game's music, it will NOT be making it to the Virtual Console most likely. People pretty much ate this up and now want to buy a copy since waiting around for one to come out on VC will be fruitless.

Just to elaborate on your point, this is an interestign read for any Earthbound fans or Virtual Console fans.
http://earthboundcentral.com/2009/02/earthbound-legal-issues/


Just to add in my bit from across the pond. I think what alot of you arent thinking about is the fact that America is the only place to see a English language version.
So not only do you have yourselves to battle for this, but the rest of the world too. There is quite the demand for it here as its quickly gaining cult status.

I am a recent adopter of Earthbound, paying $265 (I know I know...) for a minty copy from a NintendoAge user. However I must add that it was worth every penny paid for it. I played it from start to finish over the last few weeks, enjoying every minute.

Earthbound is one of those games that dared to step outside the generic RPG formula, make fun of it and be great at the same time. Sure, some of the jokes may have dated a little, but its more comedy than all of the Final Fantasies put together.
And the tongue in cheek references to pop-culture thoughout (only just making it free of any copyright infringements, see the linked post above) just make the whole experience so enjoyable.

And to think us Brits and Europeans never got the chance to experience this, blame the current rise in prices on us ;)

[kupomogli]

All the DW/Q games are boring and are all too focused on levelling up. Stories are minimal and until perhaps the latest entry DQ9 hasn't changed the formula much pardon removing the abundance of awful commands. Stairs? Door? Chest?!?

And you say Earthbound has storyline? Earthbound has minimal storyline just like any Dragon Quest game(less than Dragon Warrior 7 and Dragon Quest 8.)

When it comes to storyline and leveling up though, Dragon Warrior 7 is the one with the most storyline by far and probably the least leveling up. Infact, on DW7 the first part that I had to grind on in order to get past was the part with the EvilMech who is a ridiculously hard boss for where you're at. No where else earlier you had to actually grind to get through and I don't think anywhere after except before fighting any of the secret bosses.

On Dragon Quest 8 you don't have to grind at all until you get to Dhoulmagus which is a little over halfway into the game.

There are parts on Earthbound you have to grind. Like the first boss until you atleast get PSI "your favorite hobby(because during that point you'll have enough PP to stay alive,") unless you're loaded up with nothing but Hamburgers or higher when fighting it. Which eventually the enemies get so weak that you can grind just by running into them from the back(which you do have to actually do later in the game with a couple bosses.)

Playing Earthbound is like playing Dragon Quest 2. Your characters have hardly any attacks to utilize and you probably won't use most of them because they're almost completely useless in nearly all situations or take too much PP to really be of any use in comparison to the lower level versions(like Freeze Beta being a far more effective choice in boss battles or even regular battles than Freeze Omega, despite their differences in damage due to the far less amount in PP it uses.)

The later Dragon Warrior titles have a larger skillset so you actually have more of a strategy during each battle. Character support, stat reducing and status effect abilities are ways to actually go through the Dragon Warrior titles without being forced to grind at every point to beat a boss, while powerful physical attack abilities in the later games and also the obvious magic abilities will also help to expand on that to make the games more manageable. Unlike most RPG titles, Death type spells and attacks are usually effective on the type of monsters that are weak against them and on Dragon Warrior 7, there's actually a boss late in the game that's weak against poison.

[Classicgamesdepot]

This is my favorite RPG of all time, if not my favorite game of all time. It really needs to be played all the way through by everyone, at least once.

[retrocollectorguy]

I think its a great game but its gets too much attention and the price of a loose cartridge is very inflated. Id pick a good 5-7 other SNES rpg's over Earthbound any day.

[Emuaust]

Congratulations. You're dead inside.

--Zero

Yeah, FFS Ze_ro, how dare you not like a game someone else likes, must be a sad lonely life you live.

[Sonicwolf]

Yeah, FFS Ze_ro, how dare you not like a game someone else likes, must be a sad lonely life you live.

We had better inform the Reich Chancellery of this idea of differing opinion

[todesengel]

After seeing the ebay prices for Earthbound I feel lucky that a friend just up and gave me his copy with the strategy guide about a year ago.

[Swamperon]

It's the same as Chrono Trigger. Despite now being re-released on the PSX and the DS, the cart prices are as high as ever (last time I checked that is).