Is it just me or have Dreamcast game prices skyrocketed?

[heybtbm]

Is this for real?

I've been slowly amassing my Dreamcast collection piece by piece for the past 11 years. My intention is to have a full US collection at some point (204 games so far). I pick up a game here and there. Maybe once a month or so.

Anyway...Jesus, the games have gotten expensive. I've noticed this trend on Ebay in the past year and now it's manifesting in the mom & pop used game stores in my area. Some of the big Capcom titles are going for $100+ (are they really selling for that much is the question). Fortunately I picked up some of the big ticket games in the 2003-2005 budget clearance era. Some I didn't.

I really don't see myself plunking down $50-$100 for Cannon Spike or Gigawing 2, yet that seems to be the going rate. That's just crazy.

[Steven]

Gee, has it? Hmmm... looks at DC collection...

The ony DC game I always wanted to get but never did, well 2, were Power Stone 2 and Project Justice. How much are those two going for nowadays?

[j1e]

I'm glad I got the 2 games I really ever wanted for the DC. Grandia II and Skies of Arcadia CIB.

[diskoboy]

I'm hoping they are.... I've got 2 sealed copies of Jet Grind Radio I bought when they were $7. :)

Of course, I'd only consider seling them if I was about to become homeless.

But yes, alot of DC games are starting to go up. But most of the ones I'm seeing go up are the more rare games released in the last few months of the DC's life. Games like Ooga Booga, Bomberman Online, Alien Front Online, NFL and NHL 2K2.

Alot of the games that came with the black "Dreamcast" label instead of the white have jumped in price lately - Using MSR as an example..
http://en.wikivisual.com/images/5/5c/Metropolis_street_racer_dc.jpg

[Steve W]

Cannon Spike is a bit of a raw nerve with me. I went to my local Fry's Electronics to buy it, totally forgot what game I had gone to the store to get, and instead bought Charge N' Blast. Blech. Next time I wanted to buy Cannon Spike, they were sold out and I never saw another one until a game convention a couple years ago where they were charging top dollar for it. :(

[cityside75]

Well, here's a $12.99 BIN for a sealed Jet Grind Radio:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Jet-Grind-Radio-Dreamcast-2000-SEALED-/290500021271?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item43a3268c17

Are there specific games? I feel like Dreamcast games have dropped off from a couple years back. We couldn't give away a Soul Calibur and HOTD2 that we were trying to sell recently...

[Kitsune Sniper]

Soul Calibur and HOTD2 were rereleased on modern systems (XBLA and Wii, respectively.) That might explain why their prices haven't really gone up.

[kedawa]

I haven't really noticed, but I rarely see Dreamcast games anymore.

[Oldskool]

I've always told myself that the Dreamcast will be a collectors item much like the Saturn and Turbografx-16 is. The reasons being that they were not at the top of their console generation wars, the games are good, and there is a hardcore following.

[Videogamerdaryll]

I recently dug out my DC games,black box PS,some N64 and some Saturn/Sega CD..



I LOVE the DC....It's one of my collections that I never considered selling..
But if the prices are going up I could really use the cash..


I really need to look into what goes for what ..as I have sealed DC games and.................. imports not shown in my slideshow..

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v21/Chris1/NOV%202010/th_DREAMCAST003.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v21/Chris1/NOV%202010/?action=view&current=c02ebf4b.pbw)

A good game sale or the sale of the collection may pay for a much needed car repair.

[Baloo]

Gee, has it? Hmmm... looks at DC collection...

The ony DC game I always wanted to get but never did, well 2, were Power Stone 2 and Project Justice. How much are those two going for nowadays?

Around $50 each last time I checked.

And truth be told, Capcom games going up in price could be a factor of Street Fighter IV as well, though Capcom games have always been expensive for DC and Saturn, especially fighters. They never really get high print runs and have cult followings. Don't be surprised if you still see Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom going for $50+ in the future.

[norkusa]

Good to hear. I've got about 70 complete DC games and have been wanting to sell them all. Got some good ones too like Gundam, a sealed Giga Wing, and a bunch of Capcom fighters. Haven't checked prices in a while, so I assumed they were low so I keep putting it off.

[Rickstilwell1]

Ahh, I was able to get Power Stone and Power Stone 2 for $2.50 each when Game Crazy liquidated their games. I am glad I kept those. Too bad they were disc only copies. But still, it should be easy to find just the boxes for half their worth.

I remember paying $20 just for the Suikoden II manual on Playstation. I only had the game and jewel case with art.

[Bojay1997]

Generally, DC game prices have actually gone down over the past two years. The Capcom games are just about the only exception to that general rule. Of course, judging by this thread, it looks like almost everything people are looking for are Capcom games which probably explains the higher prices.

[maxlords]

Eh...they yoyo up and down all the time. I've seen both of those go for $30 and both go for $80 in the past.

[Bojay1997]

Eh...they yoyo up and down all the time. I've seen both of those go for $30 and both go for $80 in the past.

I think the point of the OP is that the yo-yo ing has stopped and generally Capcom Dreamcast titles are rising in price both on Ebay and at smaller used retailers. I can only speak for Ebay and Southern California game shops I visit, but I would concur that virtually all the Capcom Dreamcast releases have gone up in price over the past year or so. It's been a decade and the system continues to gain fans, especially with the new consoles being sold by various places including Amazon over the past year. That combined with the fact that people are trying to complete their collections and waiting to get the more expensive titles at the end, almost all of which are Capcom explains the actual rise in prices. Of course, most of the rest of the library has decreased in price in that same period, so it's probably a wash.

[Xexyz]

I'm really glad I got my hands on most of the shooters back when the games were abundant and relatively cheap in 2nd hand stores. I've got the big ticket shooters, Giga Wing 2, Mars Mars Matrix, even border liner Bangai-O, but I'm still missing Cannon Spike *grumble* *grumble*.

[Kiddo]

I don't know how "impressive" I'd consider my Dreamcast collection, but I -do- have the apparently-coveted Cannon Spyke game.

I also got Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise From the Ashes, which I also heard to be fairly rare. As for Capcom fighters, though, the only one I got is Third Strike, and the disc is not much in "Collectible" condition (it's fine to play, though).

[Lasermouse]

I remember when the system was being closed out, a lot of collectors were hoarding games for it. This is probably the system that was easiest to acquire a complete collection for. I personally completed it in less than a month in 2003, with very little effort whatever that means now. Not sure if this was widespread. Many speculators jumped in - so this might not be quite the same as T16 or Saturn ended up. Also, there weren't any super-rare limiteds like Shining Force, HOTD or Panzer Dragoon Saga, so DC will probably end up as a fun system to collect for but something that might not appreciate in value at quite the same rate.

Personally, on visits to local game stores over the past few months I've seen the same selection of DC games sitting on shelves with very little movement. Prices seem to be in the average ballpark for games of that era. Don't think there's that much demand for the console beyond the big ones. My theory is that Sega's continuing drain-circling probably isn't inducing much nostalgia among gamers.

- Lasermouse

[swlovinist]

Is this for real?

I've been slowly amassing my Dreamcast collection piece by piece for the past 11 years. My intention is to have a full US collection at some point (204 games so far). I pick up a game here and there. Maybe once a month or so.

Anyway...Jesus, the games have gotten expensive. I've noticed this trend on Ebay in the past year and now it's manifesting in the mom & pop used game stores in my area. Some of the big Capcom titles are going for $100+ (are they really selling for that much is the question). Fortunately I picked up some of the big ticket games in the 2003-2005 budget clearance era. Some I didn't.

I really don't see myself plunking down $50-$100 for Cannon Spike or Gigawing 2, yet that seems to be the going rate. That's just crazy.

This is pretty much close to where I am at with my dreamcast collection. I have 35 or so to still pick up, and a couple to replace condition wise. I too picked up a ton of them from 02-04(Shopko was awesome for this). Prices for Dreamcast rares are all over the place. Shill sellers will keep the market high, but locally you might find better deals.

The Dreamcast is the next Turbografx for collecting. There are some awesome games on a small US library that did not get large print runs. $50+ for some sought after games is going to be the going rate. It might take you a little longer but just pick them up like you are and you will have your set in a couple of years. I too want to complete a set, and it looks like I am a couple of year away from that as well.

[SpaceHarrier]

I'm surprised both that games such as Cannon Spike and Giga Wing 2 are going up and equally so that Bangai-O has not gone up as much as I thought it would. It's Treasure, after all.

Darn, shoulda picked up Mars Matrix back then.. I remember staring at it at EB Games thinkin, "Do I need another bullet-hell shooter? I already have Giga Wing 2." I wasn't as much into that genre as I am today, so if I have a regret, it's not picking that one up. The price doesn't seem too extreme on that one, but still.. more expensive than I remember seeing in-store back then.

Off-topic, but does anyone else cringe when they see the ebay seller's photo and its got: a jewel case (great), instructions (cool), and then A CD GAME ON THE CARPET?? I don't care how clean that carpet is, thanks to static cling that game is getting all kinds of bits of dust and specs of crap on it. Maybe I'm just being anal, but it kinda makes me mad to see that. Put it on a clean piece of construction paper or something, not a dining room table or welcome mat. Sheesh.

[Graham Mitchell]

I don't know if it commands a huge price, but I got Giga Wing 1 last year at a used record store in Seattle for $3. Darn near the best $3 I ever spent, too.

[Doonzmore]

With the exception of capcom stuff, I haven't really noticed Dreamcast prices going up. The playntrade i go to has a ton of cheap Dreamcast games:

NFL 2k2 - .99
NCCA 2k2 - .99
Ready to Rumble Boxing Round 2 - 2.99
The Grinch - 4.99
Surf Rocket Racers - 4.99 - I've thought about getting this. Is it any good?
Sega Marine - 7.99
Chicken Run - 4.99

I know these are not top tier games but it's a fine starting point for a collection none the less. I also know of a place that has Wacky Races for 7.40. How is that game?

[Emperor Megas]

Off-topic, but does anyone else cringe when they see the ebay seller's photo and its got: a jewel case (great), instructions (cool), and then A CD GAME ON THE CARPET?? I don't care how clean that carpet is, thanks to static cling that game is getting all kinds of bits of dust and specs of crap on it. Maybe I'm just being anal, but it kinda makes me mad to see that. Put it on a clean piece of construction paper or something, not a dining room table or welcome mat. Sheesh.That doesn't bother me at all. What bothers me is when they have the disc on the carpetless floor. I see people putting games discs face down on hardwood and vinyl floors all the time.

Don't get me started on controllers and other things resting on top of the systems. Sometimes there's even other consoles stacked on top on consoles. And they have the nerve to put 'MINT' in the auction description. Yeah, no...it's not anymore, actually. o_0

[Xexyz]

I don't know if it commands a huge price, but I got Giga Wing 1 last year at a used record store in Seattle for $3. Darn near the best $3 I ever spent, too.


That's actually the only domestic release shmup on the system that goes for peanuts. Even Gunbird 2 can go north of $20.

[Aussie2B]

Don't get me started on controllers and other things resting on top of the systems. Sometimes there's even other consoles stacked on top on consoles.

I get the other issue, but I don't get what's so bad about that. I bet most of the collectors around here even do that.

[buzz_n64]

Yeah, I don't like stacking either, I try to avoid it whenever possible, but sometimes limited space leaves me no other option.

[Aussie2B]

In fact, I've even complained about certain systems in the past because they weren't stackable. That's a big plus to me, and it doesn't do any damage for me. The only instance in which it's done any harm is with my US PS1 stacked on my Japanese PS2 because they share the same set of cables, and with all the reaching back there to switch them, the PS1 sometimes slides a little which has resulted in a minor amount of scratching on the top of the PS2. I try to prevent it, but I'm not OCD enough to care to any great degree or to change the set-up. But obviously it's the switching that does the harm, as I'm sure they'd be perfect if I simply stacked them and left them be.

As for stacking controllers on top, I haven't seen any damage to systems or controllers period.