Collecting Old Games to play now, then sell later at a profit. My Argument

[Bojay1997]

100% agree.

It seems to me like this is a troll post, honestly. The OP might not mean for it to be, but crapping on people's sound advice because THEIR idea is so awesome and THEIR idea is going to make them money is nothing but a huge waste of people's time and effort in trying to offer some kind of rational thought to the proceedings.

Isn't it time to say "alright dude, whatever?"

Strongly agree. There really is no point in continuing to debate this. The OP has offered zero factual basis for his position, so at this point it's just a battle of his opinion versus a combination of opinions and facts from everyone else and frankly, there really is no point to the debate at all since nothing anyone says will change his mind.

[98PaceCar]

Strongly agree. There really is no point in continuing to debate this. The OP has offered zero factual basis for his position, so at this point it's just a battle of his opinion versus a combination of opinions and facts from everyone else and frankly, there really is no point to the debate at all since nothing anyone says will change his mind.

QFT.

It's just too bad the OP isn't willing to open his viewpoint as some of the most knowledgable collectors around have weighed in here, all with the same opinion and many with actual experience to back their position.

Enjoy what you have and if you can make some money in the future, that's great. If not, at least you enjoyed your games. If you are really wanting something that will bring you a return in the next 15 years, look somewhere besides games.

(Though I know my wife would be ecstatic if your idea of what game values will do actually happens. But her experience in real investments and securities tells her otherwise so I'll just have to keep telling her I buy them for fun and not profit.)

[staxx]

QFT.

It's just too bad the OP isn't willing to open his viewpoint as some of the most knowledgable collectors around have weighed in here, all with the same opinion and many with actual experience to back their position.

Enjoy what you have and if you can make some money in the future, that's great. If not, at least you enjoyed your games. If you are really wanting something that will bring you a return in the next 15 years, look somewhere besides games.

(Though I know my wife would be ecstatic if your idea of what game values will do actually happens. But her experience in real investments and securities tells her otherwise so I'll just have to keep telling her I buy them for fun and not profit.)

Wow I would honestly love to convince my wife that my game collection will go up and that is the reason as to why a) I keep buying games, b) sometimes go out of my way to drive somewhere far for a game. Then convince her that the Dooney handbags that I buy for here will go down in value; therefore it makes perfect sense for me to buy more games.......sigh if I only wish.

[98PaceCar]

Wow I would honestly love to convince my wife that my game collection will go up and that is the reason as to why a) I keep buying games, b) sometimes go out of my way to drive somewhere far for a game. Then convince her that the Dooney handbags that I buy for here will go down in value; therefore it makes perfect sense for me to buy more games.......sigh if I only wish.

You and me both! My wife is great about it though and lets me get what I want as long as I don't go too crazy. She's even the one that encouraged me to buy some of the pricier items I've found over the years.

Of course, that may have something to do with her own Dooney habit, harder for me to say something when I spend the same amount or more on games!! ;)

[TonyTheTiger]

This is a good point. I'd be interested, however, to see how a blended portfolio would perform over ~15 years. Maybe I should do this as an MBA project :-P

Facetious or not, I would love to see the straight dope on the subject. A genuine academic study on video games as an investment. Admittedly, I want to see it because I think the results will support my position. But it definitely would be an interesting read.

[jonebone]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the ability to find "deals" on videogames, which do not exist in the stock market / gold / silver / metals, etc.

In those commodities, you are guaranteed to pay today's market value if you make a purchase. Or even slightly above the "market price" if you are forced to buy at the seller's ask price, and there is a gap between the market bid and seller ask price (for those with stock knowledge.)

However, maybe there's a $50 game you want. If you are patient and watch enough auctions, there are great odds that you can find it for maybe $35-$40, possibly lower if poorly listed.

In that case, even if the value does not change at all, you'd still profit 20% ($10 on $40 invested). Of course you have to account for devaluation of money, selling fees, inflation / etc., but you see the idea. However, those same factors exist in stocks / metals as well, so you can't just cite those as an argument against video games.

I've collected through reselling and thrifty buys, so I estimate that I've probably only spent 25-30% of what my collection is worth. So if I sell in 10 years and it didn't change in value at all, I'd still profit.

Of course I have no intentions of selling because I'm in it for the love of the hobby.

[FxMercenary]

Thank you for the good points and arguments guys, hearing from the vets on this issue was invaluable. I will continue to collect only the games that I like, to play.

I am looking for something if anyone has this for sale. a CIB Earthbound. There were plenty of them a year ago on ebay, but now i cannot find a single boxed Earthbound anywhere.

2 weeks ago I was watching an auction for just the box, because I have the cart and guide, but it ended at $280.00, JUST FOR THE BOX...

If anyone has a mint or near min Earthbound box, I'll throw you $150 for it.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I just wanted to check in... What a thread! My style of Econ Kung-Fu is not required here though. FXMerc: Have you priced your current games collection in silver? Or have you evaluated the opportunity cost of buying games vs putting those funds into silver and seen in black and white which path comes out ahead? That will probably shock you straight.

Edit: Doh! They turned you already! LOL NM.

[tubeway]

2 weeks ago I was watching an auction for just the box, because I have the cart and guide, but it ended at $280.00, JUST FOR THE BOX...

If anyone has a mint or near min Earthbound box, I'll throw you $150 for it.

Sure, I'll sell you a box valued around 280 on the current market for 150. Because we're such great friends, right?

Oh wait, nevermind. I just realized Earthbound is a game I am playing now so I can sell it later at a profit.

[Swamperon]

Sure, I'll sell you a box valued around 280 on the current market for 150. Because we're such great friends, right?

Oh wait, nevermind. I just realized Earthbound is a game I am playing now so I can sell it later at a profit.

Going by TC's logic, in about 15 years you'll be sell that Earthbound for at least $1000. You lucky thing you!

[FxMercenary]

Sure, I'll sell you a box valued around 280 on the current market for 150. Because we're such great friends, right?

Oh wait, nevermind. I just realized Earthbound is a game I am playing now so I can sell it later at a profit.

Thanks for validating my original post!

[tubeway]

Thanks for validating my original post!

Nah, I don't even own Earthbound. I was poking fun at the notion someone would give you such a deep discount on a forum.

[tubeway]

Accidental double-post.

[Casati]

Over the long-term, most video games accrue value, but short-term, maybe up to 3-5 years, not enough to flip for a profit, especially if you buy them online. Even though I've viewed completed listings and sorted by price for buying, it's not usually possible to break-even when I sell them due to Ebay, Paypal, Amazon and postage fees, and because apparently most people comparison shop. It's usually the "middle-men" that profit from hobby collecting. The main exception is if you watch carefully for bargains on rares then flip them so you can purchase games you're interested in playing.

[jrokshady]

A sound strategy for making a profit is not to buy something at the current price and then hope or expect that price to increase. Instead a sound strategy is to buy something at less than the current price and sell it for profit before the price can decrease. Of course there is the occasional limited print, prototype, etc. Those are the exception not the rule.

[porlino87]

All you need to do is have fun, and enjoy the games, may it be games 10 years ago, or games now. Your collection has to be personal. You don't want to own random games you don't care about just because they increased in rarity and/or value.

I grew up playing NES and SNES, however, I have no desire to own these systems or all the original cartridges. For me, the gameplay is most important. I have no interest in Atari, or early Sega systems...I'm sure they were great, but I never played them!

My rule of thumb goes like this:

If you enjoy it, buy it, play it, keep it in good shape. Don't get wrapped up in questions such as "Will this gain value?"

[kafa111]

Strongly agree. There really is no point in continuing to debate this. The OP has offered zero factual basis for his position
I can offer some factual basis. When kids grow up in about 20 years they will feel cool to have a system thats older then them. They check craigslist. I over price my NES by more then $100 and sell it
i win
(idc if its not a fact, i like my thinking :D)