How come SNES collecting never took off like the NES?

[VG_Maniac]

Years back, I remember people were saying that SNES collecting would eventually take off just like it did with the NES, once all the gamers who grew up with it got a little older...and that many of those "rare" SNES games that were only selling for $10 to $20 on Ebay would skyrocket in price. Even now in 2011, it still doesn't seem like the SNES is a very popular system to collect for. Most of the rare games for the system that were once said to be the big titles that all the collectors would eventually start going nuts for, still only sell for about $10 to $20, while the rarest games on the system might only fetch around $100.

Is there any particular reason why the SNES never took off as a really popular system to collect for like the NES did? I mean, it's a great system (many people will agree that it's better than the NES), it has a ton of games, and the system is now 20 years old. Yet, people still seem to highly prefer collecting for the NES over the SNES.

[Matt-El]

Well, I believe that it is collectible but it's just marginalized. More people want to get the high in demand games more than having to have that copy of ardy lightfoot. That's not to say that it doesn't have its high prices on some rarities, such as the various competition cartridges.

[Rickstilwell1]

If you ask me, collecting prices did take off for complete in box games. Nobody who is really serious about the SNES wants to collect cart only. SNES instruction manuals were so good compared to other systems of the time as they were in color a lot of the time.

[Informationator]

If you ask me, collecting prices did take off for complete in box games. Nobody who is really serious about the SNES wants to collect cart only. SNES instruction manuals were so good compared to other systems of the time as they were in color a lot of the time.

I'm very serious about my cart-only collection! :D. Over 270 unique games and counting. I have a ton of manuals and would like to fill out that side of my SNES collection, but when it comes to boxes.... Well shoot. To me they're a nice piece of history but danged if I want to empty my wallet and clutter up my house with tons of cardboard boxes. I don't disagree that manuals are very nice to have, and I hang onto every non-duplicate manual I get, but I can't say I agree with you about seriousness being correlated with whether or not one collects manuals/boxes. I collect for the games first and foremost!

[jonebone]

lol? Uh, SNES prices have exploded in the past year. I only collect CIBs though, so I don't deal with the loose carts.

Also, the last MB/SR cart definitely sold for at least $500 or $600. SNES prices have definitely popped a bit.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

Maybe it's because SNES shares the 16-bit resale market with Sega. If someone is a fan of that era, they probably collect for both. If someone's a fan of the 8-bit era, they probably collect NES far more than SMS.

[portnoyd]

lol? Uh, SNES prices have exploded in the past year. I only collect CIBs though, so I don't deal with the loose carts.

This. Check again, SNES is getting retarded and so is N64. Hell, NES has gotten up into borderline psychotic realms. $300 for Contra Force complete? Really?

[Emperor Megas]

If you ask me, collecting prices did take off for complete in box games. Nobody who is really serious about the SNES wants to collect cart only. SNES instruction manuals were so good compared to other systems of the time as they were in color a lot of the time.I figured I was as 'serious' as the next collector, but I really don't care about boxed SNES games. I like to track down the manuals for loose carts, and while I'd certainly appreciate having the boxes, I really don't care all that much if I ever get the them for SNES games.

NES and SNES are the only systems I collect for that I don't really mind not having the boxes for, actually.

[VG_Maniac]

lol? Uh, SNES prices have exploded in the past year. I only collect CIBs though, so I don't deal with the loose carts.

Also, the last MB/SR cart definitely sold for at least $500 or $600. SNES prices have definitely popped a bit.

Prices on the SNES haven't exploded with the games on the system that are considered to be "rare". Most of the games that fetch a really high price on the system are "high demand" games like Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, Mega Man X3, etc. On the NES, you've got really crappy games that sell for a ransom (even when loose) just because they are rare (like Stadium Events, Bubble Bath Babes, and Cheetahmen II)...but on the SNES, most of the high priced games are all pretty common titles...they're just really popular because they are considered "must own" by mainstream gamers.

My point is...the rare and uncommon SNES games that people were speculating several years ago would soon be worth a lot of money once collectors really started focusing on the system, are still worth about the same amount they were 7 or 8 years ago. You don't have people out there trying to go for complete SNES collections like you do on the NES. Sure you've got people who want to own all the must have titles (which is why games like Earthbound and Mega Man X3 sell for so much), but you don't have nearly as many people who want to own every last single SNES game right down to all the crappy ones like you do on the NES.

[Greg2600]

SNES collecting is very strong. Compared to the NES, though, it's not a surprise it's overlooked. The NES had a far larger market share during its time. Heck, it still had a giant share through most of the SNES run. SNES also had to compete with the Genesis, which was on par with it for quite a long time. No 8-bit system ever got in the NES's zip code. That said, nearly every well known NES title that had a sequel on the SNES, the SNES version goes for more money.

[portnoyd]

My point is...the rare and uncommon SNES games that people were speculating several years ago would soon be worth a lot of money once collectors really started focusing on the system, are still worth about the same amount they were 7 or 8 years ago.

So Hagane, 3 Ninjas Kick Back, Incantation and Batman & Robin don't count for anything?

[cheesystick]

If you ask me, collecting prices did take off for complete in box games. Nobody who is really serious about the SNES wants to collect cart only. SNES instruction manuals were so good compared to other systems of the time as they were in color a lot of the time.

Uhh....I'm about 65 games away from a complete US cart-only SNES set. I am a very serious collector and I pretty much only collect cart-only. I wouldn't be able to afford a complete set on one hand, but on the other, I don't really care about the boxes. You can't keep the games in the boxes because you'll destroy them by taking the games in and out. They are also very flimsy. Genesis cases are at least practical. I know it is based on a person-to-person basis, but cardboard boxes don't provide me with any real sense of enjoyment. They just sit there. Besides, SNES carts look great stacked up on the self. Cart-only for life! ('cept Genesis and Master System, obviously.)

As far as the original post goes, I'd just have to straight up disagree. Prices seem to be skyrocketing across the board, both on well-remembered games and forgotten ones. I created a list of what it would cost to buy all of my remaining titles at market price about three years ago. Those prices have risen across the board on almost every game by about 15-20%. Three years ago I could have fetched a Ghoul Patrol off eBay for about $15, now I'd be very lucky to find it under $20, and so on. It isn't like the affinity for Ghoul Patrol has grown any in the last three years, only collecting has.

I'd also guess that the larger majority of people who collect SNES games are people that have a particular nostalgic tie to the system, (i.e. they played it while they were growing up.) Sure there are exceptions, but this puts your average collector in the 20-35 age range. People who collect NES games are perhaps a little older in life, are a little further into the hobby and have WAY more expendable income. A 35 year-old isn't going to scoff too much by paying 70 bones for a Power Blade 2 for NES because maybe they make $20+ an hour. A similar SNES collector might be younger, maybe making a hair above minimum wage as a college grad, (i.e. me), and are having a harder time paying $70 for a Ninja Gaiden Trilogy for SNES, even though the supposed rarity of both games is about the same. Give it a bit of time though, and as those collectors get a bit older and land somewhat better jobs, Ninja Gaiden will average over $100 in 5-7 years no problem.

Even if we throw this guestimated "age" of your average SNES collector out the window, how close one might be to completing a collection also plays a huge factor in how prices will fare. SNES collectors have had less time than NES collectors to complete the set. Far less people are "close" to completing it. As we know, once you are only 20-30 games away from completing a set, you'll find yourself far more willing to fork over the big bucks to get it done. This is why we see so many NES collectors paying around $300 for a bloomin' Flintstones game; it is all a bunch of "close" collectors fighting over the few remaining rare games to complete their collections. They have to fight with their pocketbooks, but they are far more willing to do so because they are so damn close. That collecting "itch" will drive you to do crazy things once you are close to your goal, it it is very hard to shut it up. This is why I was willing to pay 600 bones for a donkey kong competition cart a while back on a minimum wage salary; I'm just too damn close to ignore it, and people will pay out the ass when they're close.

As a similar breed of SNES collectors gets older, more expendable income will be available and more people can blow a bunch of money on collecting games. Evilbay prices are already pretty insane if you ask me, but I don't see them going anywhere but up. It is a very classic and nostalgic system, and in this man's opinion, NES and SNES games will rule collecting-price-absurdity if given enough time. I have no reason to think that SNES collecting won't get just as insane the NES. Now Genesis stuff, on the other hand, while very collectible, will never reach the same level of NES-collectible-insanity in my eyes. That is at least a fair argument, but I'm telling you man, just watch SNES prices get more and more insane as time goes on.

There are far less grails, accessories, and pirate stuff on SNES...I can at least give you that.
Fun discussion,
-Chris

[Casati]

Prices on the SNES haven't exploded with the games on the system that are considered to be "rare". Most of the games that fetch a really high price on the system are "high demand" games like Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, Mega Man X3, etc. On the NES, you've got really crappy games that sell for a ransom (even when loose) just because they are rare (like Stadium Events, Bubble Bath Babes, and Cheetahmen II)...but on the SNES, most of the high priced games are all pretty common titles...they're just really popular because they are considered "must own" by mainstream gamers.

My point is...the rare and uncommon SNES games that people were speculating several years ago would soon be worth a lot of money once collectors really started focusing on the system, are still worth about the same amount they were 7 or 8 years ago. You don't have people out there trying to go for complete SNES collections like you do on the NES. Sure you've got people who want to own all the must have titles (which is why games like Earthbound and Mega Man X3 sell for so much), but you don't have nearly as many people who want to own every last single SNES game right down to all the crappy ones like you do on the NES.


Yes. SNES is difficult for casual gamers, such as myself, who just want the best games and don't care about rounding out their collection, admiring it on a shelf, or using it as an investment portfolio. All the best SNES games such as Earthbound and Chrono Trigger are skyrocketing in price. I was able to get most of the better NES games, many CIB, without spending too much. The NES would still be more difficult for completists though.

[badinsults]

I think there are lots of SNES collectors out there, maybe they just aren't as fanatical about it?

SNES: the console for refined gentlemen and ladies.

[Doonzmore]

I was collecting Snes actively back in 2005 and haven't really gotten into it since. I'm glad to have most of the rare stuff including the big 3 (Aero Fighers, Chavez 2 and Fun n Games) out of the way. I had the chance to buy a complete copy of AF complete for 84 and now a complete copy sells for over 600. I paid 40 for a loose copy and now loose copies average 115 so that's a nice consolation. I even scored a complete Fun n Games off half.com for 27 and a boxed Chavez 2 for 18.

In my travels N64 prices have actually gone down significantly. In the last year or so I've scored the following complete in MINT condition:

Vigilante 8-3
Army Men Sarges Heroes-2
NBA Jam 99-2
Mario Tennis-7
Quake-6
Paper Mario-25

I've also seen complete copies of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Mia Hamm Soccer for 99 cents so I guess it must be a regional thing.

[VG_Maniac]

So Hagane, 3 Ninjas Kick Back, Incantation and Batman & Robin don't count for anything?

With the exception of Hagane, all of those games only sell for around $15 to $30. Than you have games that are equally as uncommon on the NES like Snow Brothers and Little Samson that sell for $100 or more for a loose cart.

I don't even know why Hagane is worth a lot more than most SNES games. According to the DP guide, its rarity is only 4. Meanwhile, you have SNES games with a rarity of 8 like Fun 'N Games and Chavez II that only sell for around $20. Any game that has a rarity 8 on the NES seems to sell for $500 or more.

[Zing]

lol? Uh, SNES prices have exploded in the past year. I only collect CIBs though, so I don't deal with the loose carts.

This is exactly what I thought when reading the OP. I said to myself, "what ebay is he visiting?"

Current SNES collectors know that SNES is at an all time high and rising.

[VG_Maniac]

This is exactly what I thought when reading the OP. I said to myself, "what ebay is he visiting?"

Current SNES collectors know that SNES is at an all time high and rising.

I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say here. Even if SNES game prices in general have gone up, collectors still don't go crazy for rare SNES games like they do for rare NES games. You don't see rare SNES games like Fun 'N Games and Chavez II fetch the kind of insane prices that equally rare NES games fetch. I remember reading on the internet and even in some classic gaming magazines years back that certain SNES games like Ren & Stimpy Fire Dogs, Fun 'N Games, Bebe's Kids, Ardy Lightfoot, Chavez II, etc...could very well become the next Flintstones: Surprise at Dino Peak, Cheetahmen II, or even Stadium Events. That obviously hasn't happened, because you don't have nearly as many people trying to buy up every last SNES game ever made like you do with the NES. That's what I mean when I say "SNES collecting hasn't taken off like NES collecting". I didn't mean that SNES prices in general haven't risen.

[InboRenge]

With the exception of Hagane, all of those games only sell for around $15 to $30. Than you have games that are equally as uncommon on the NES like Snow Brothers and Little Samson that sell for $100 or more for a loose cart.

I don't even know why Hagane is worth a lot more than most SNES games. According to the DP guide, its rarity is only 4. Meanwhile, you have SNES games with a rarity of 8 like Fun 'N Games and Chavez II that only sell for around $20. Any game that has a rarity 8 on the NES seems to sell for $500 or more.

I don't know where to start, with your reliance on the incredibly outdated Digitpress online guide, or that you ignore everything except loose cart sales. All of the games that Port just mentioned easily sell in the 100's of dollars complete. Of course most of the money is in the box/manual, it's like that with NES too. FYI, Hagane was a rental exclusive.

[badinsults]

I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say here. Even if SNES game prices in general have gone up, collectors still don't go crazy for rare SNES games like they do for rare NES games. You don't see rare SNES games like Fun 'N Games and Chavez II fetch the kind of insane prices that equally rare NES games fetch. I remember reading on the internet and even in some classic gaming magazines years back that certain SNES games like Ren & Stimpy Fire Dogs, Fun 'N Games, Bebe's Kids, Ardy Lightfoot, Chavez II, etc...could very well become the next Flintstones: Surprise at Dino Peak, Cheetahmen II, or even Stadium Events. That obviously hasn't happened, because you don't have nearly as many people trying to buy up every last SNES game ever made like you do with the NES. That's what I mean when I say "SNES collecting hasn't taken off like NES collecting". I didn't mean that SNES prices in general haven't risen.

You sound like someone who has invested a lot in these rare games and expecting to see prices rise to profit.

That sir, is the pox that belies our hobby. I know people who have been totally turned off of collecting because of the profiteers, and I for one and glad that there aren't people like that for the snes.

[Atarileaf]

This. Check again, SNES is getting retarded and so is N64.

Yep, I mentioned this in another thread but the SNES and N64 seem to be at the peak of retro collecting right now. All the people who grew up with those systems are now adults with jobs and disposable income and that's what they're after.

I watch a lot of youtube gaming "pick up" videos and the SNES and N64 are some of the most sought after in their collections right now. That wasn't the case even a couple of years ago.

[Baloo]

Yep, I mentioned this in another thread but the SNES and N64 seem to be at the peak of retro collecting right now. All the people who grew up with those systems are now adults with jobs and disposable income and that's what they're after.

This. The college crowd that grew up with the SNES are going to use their expendable income and hunt down the games they wanted to play years ago, and the prices are going to go through the roof! Though this doesn't exactly explain why Genesis games are worth shit, but it works in our favor ;)

Now the real question is, will NES prices trail off like Atari did?

[retroguy]

I'm not really interested in "collecting", I just like to buy games to play. That said, I recently discovered a local retro gaming shop with a decent selection and very reasonable prices. Yay me. One problem I'm discovering when browsing online, though, is that dirt-common games like Mario Kart 64 are starting to go for $25 and up, which makes it hard for folks like me who have bills to pay and not a whole lot of extra cash. It's true that I could simply get flashcarts and play games on those (and I am seriously considering that so I won't have to pay $100+ to play Earthbound), but I like to own the original cart whenever possible. What's a budget gamer to do?

[Zing]

Set up saved searched on ebay and watch for real auctions, not buy-it-nows. Auctions always go for less.

I am a "player" as well. I don't buy any games I am not planning to play. Playable SNES games are definitely the most expensive.

[chrisballer]

It is easy if you think about it. A great deal of people are finishing off their NES collections, and now are moving onto SNES. Or at least have a large NES collection, and don't want to drop the large sums of money on the very pricey games. Most people, when starting a collection go for the most well known titles first or the ones they want to play. This is why the prices are high on these right now. Yes there are many people that have been collecting for the SNES for awhile, but there are many new starting or have started in the last year or so.

If you have been collecting for a long time (at least the last ten years or so) you saw the exact same thing happen to the NES. In my experience they (meaning the rare games) will go up with demand when more people get to that point in their collection.

I remember people paying less than $100 for sealed Cheetahmen II, Action 52, Caltron 6-1 all the time, because I was one of them. I bought all my Panesian games complete for around 200 a game. So what I am getting at is the rare SNES games will get there. I would be buying all of the rare games now, and stop over spending on all the Mario games like a lot of people are.

What I think is kind of funny is it seems like people don't think something is collectable or want it until after the price shoots up.

To answer the OP's first question about why the SNES did not take off like the NES. IMHO I think part of it anyway is that you can't buy large lots of SNES games for $2 or less a game all day long like you could/can with the NES.

[old_skoolin_jim]

I'm very serious about my cart-only collection! :D. Over 270 unique games and counting. I have a ton of manuals and would like to fill out that side of my SNES collection, but when it comes to boxes.... Well shoot. To me they're a nice piece of history but danged if I want to empty my wallet and clutter up my house with tons of cardboard boxes. I don't disagree that manuals are very nice to have, and I hang onto every non-duplicate manual I get, but I can't say I agree with you about seriousness being correlated with whether or not one collects manuals/boxes. I collect for the games first and foremost!

I do what he said. I probably only have around 40 SNES games, most of which are cart-only (I didn't get a SNES of my own until xmas 1997... which coincidentally turned out to be the best possible time to scoop up all its RPGs on the cheap). If I have a box and/or manual, cool, but i didn't see it as a requirement for my copies of Sparkster, Final Fantasy 2, 3, Chrono Trigger, or Earthbound (all of which I snagged for less than $20 each... though EB's book would be nice to have).

The 10 or so games I did get boxes for were ones I either bought from video stores selling off their stock, or the scant 3-4 games I actually bought brand new.

However, almost any cd-based game (extreme rarities excluded) that doesn't have its original case is almost certain to be a dealbreaker, so ya got me there.

[old_skoolin_jim]

Prices on the SNES haven't exploded with the games on the system that are considered to be "rare". Most of the games that fetch a really high price on the system are "high demand" games like Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, Mega Man X3, etc. On the NES, you've got really crappy games that sell for a ransom (even when loose) just because they are rare (like Stadium Events, Bubble Bath Babes, and Cheetahmen II)...but on the SNES, most of the high priced games are all pretty common titles...they're just really popular because they are considered "must own" by mainstream gamers.

My point is...the rare and uncommon SNES games that people were speculating several years ago would soon be worth a lot of money once collectors really started focusing on the system, are still worth about the same amount they were 7 or 8 years ago. You don't have people out there trying to go for complete SNES collections like you do on the NES. Sure you've got people who want to own all the must have titles (which is why games like Earthbound and Mega Man X3 sell for so much), but you don't have nearly as many people who want to own every last single SNES game right down to all the crappy ones like you do on the NES.

Also worth noting, Square has re-released their SNES RPGs in many modern, affordable formats like VC. Even Megaman X3 was re-released on PS2 and GC, so that probably keeps overall demand lower than it used to be.

[Greg2600]

This. The college crowd that grew up with the SNES are going to use their expendable income and hunt down the games they wanted to play years ago, and the prices are going to go through the roof! Though this doesn't exactly explain why Genesis games are worth shit, but it works in our favor ;)

Now the real question is, will NES prices trail off like Atari did?
Are NES prices really that high? Most of the library can be had for a dollar or two or three a game.

[Steven]

I think there are lots of SNES collectors out there, maybe they just aren't as fanatical about it?

SNES: the console for refined gentlemen and ladies.


Heh, I'm guessing you wrote that at least slightly tongue-in-cheek. Along similar lines, i.e. the "just aren't as fanatical about it" part, it might be why you don't see too many SNES websites out there, or a flourishing SNES-exclusive forum, a la Sega-16.

Because we sure know many love SNES. Whenever SNES topics pop up on general retro gaming forums like here on DP, there's always an explosion of activity, but SNES-exclusive forums or fansites... not so much.

It's like one of those things many people love, but you wouldn't know it necessarily until someone makes a topic about it. Sorta? Mmm, hard to describe. It's that tongue-in-cheek refined gentleman and ladies comment, heh.

[spongerob]

I think it's many things, with two of the biggest being 1) Gamers who grew up with the SNES were likely around for the NES, too and it has more initial impact as far as nostalgia goes. The first thing to wow you will always be special to you, possibly even moreso than what was better. That's nostalgia in a nutshell, isn't it? And 2) We're followers, humans. We listen to the group. Numbers comfort us, so we follow the herd. If people are collecting NES, we tend to just follow, especially if we fell into category number 1 and were around for both. May as well, everyone else is, right?

Or maybe people are finishing off NES collections and SNES is going to boom pretty soon. Although you'd think it would've already happened by now. Maybe it's just like games in general-a ton of people start, but only a few finish. This would not only explain the lack of SNES collecting but it'd explain the abundance of NES games available. It's a snowball effect, one affecting the other.

Or maybe it's that SNES collecting is huge, and NES collecting is just bigger. It's a matter of perspective. It's certainly bigger than the SMS or Genesis, or old PC gaming machines.

Personally, it's still my favorite console ever, right beside the PSX. I can't possibly view them both objectively. I grew up with them, and I'll always have the memories of the fun I had etched into my mind. It could just be that NES fanatics are the same way with their favorite system.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Assuming SNES has peaked already? Just saying...

[VG_Maniac]

You sound like someone who has invested a lot in these rare games and expecting to see prices rise to profit.

That sir, is the pox that belies our hobby. I know people who have been totally turned off of collecting because of the profiteers, and I for one and glad that there aren't people like that for the snes.

Nah, I only own 1 or 2 SNES games that would be considered "rare". And I only re-sell something if I'm really strapped for cash and I absolutely have to.

[WesternNYCollector]

Just going by the local retail prices, boxed (although in bad shape) NES games go for $10-$20, plenty of SNES loose carts start at $20 and go up from there. I'm not sure if that's due to overall demand or the NES having a 6 year head start on price decline, but I would imagine it's the former.

[Ze_ro]

Can't we just be happy that SNES isn't completely ridiculous like NES is? We're collectors, aren't we? Aren't low prices a GOOD thing?

--Zero

[badinsults]

Can't we just be happy that SNES isn't completely ridiculous like NES is? We're collectors, aren't we? Aren't low prices a GOOD thing?

--Zero

To some people, it isn't a good thing.

I think those people really need to evaluate why they collect.

[MarioMania]

Why it isn't a good thing??

[BydoEmpire]

Two factors for me, personally, I obviously can't speak for "collectors" en masse. I'd like to pick up more SNES games, but they're just significantly more than NES, SMS or Genny titles. I get most of my NES games for $2 or less, but even loose SNES games tend towards $8 around here. I really loved the SNES back in the day, but I have to focus my small gaming budget and the SNES just isn't practical. Second, I feel like I've already played everything I really wanted to play on it. Sounds weird, but I'm always finding oddball NES, SMS and Genny titles that catch my eye (not to mention pre-crash stuff). Not sure why, but that doesn't seem to happen with the SNES. Obviously there are a ton of great games...

[tom]

At least it's not as crazy as VCS collecting has become.

[tom]

What's all this replying to a quote with 'this', and then answering some more anyway?
Again, one of those internet fads which don't make sense at all.

[WesternNYCollector]

I really loved the SNES back in the day, but I have to focus my small gaming budget and the SNES just isn't practical. Second, I feel like I've already played everything I really wanted to play on it. Sounds weird, but I'm always finding oddball NES, SMS and Genny titles that catch my eye

Doesn't sound weird to me at all. I love the SNES, it's my favorite console, most of my alltime favorite games are on there. I'm a RPG nut too, and yet, despite having played probably less than 10% of the US library, not to mention maybe half of the RPGs, I'm just not motivated to try the rest of them.

It makes me a bit sad to think about, but it gives me plenty of incentive to branch out and discover new things.

[Steven]

What's all this replying to a quote with 'this', and then answering some more anyway?
Again, one of those internet fads which don't make sense at all.

^ This.

Like Tom, I don't get this fad myself either...

Man, some peoples, I tells ya.

[Th3 hoff]

i always find the original gameboy a good exsample.
Older then snes,more games,longer production run of consoles and games...but no collectors scene.(like nes)

[retroguy]

Well, Game Boy games weren't that expensive brand new, so that may be part of the reason they've stayed cheap even now. Same thing with original Game Boy and/or Game Boy Color systems. Relatively cheap back then, still cheap now.

[Th3 hoff]

Well, Game Boy games weren't that expensive brand new, so that may be part of the reason they've stayed cheap even now. Same thing with original Game Boy and/or Game Boy Color systems. Relatively cheap back then, still cheap now.

Good point..but..the gameboy sold more then the nes and lasted longer so...where is the scene?No sites that are really 100% gameboy like nes.

[portnoyd]

Good point..but..the gameboy sold more then the nes and lasted longer so...where is the scene?No sites that are really 100% gameboy like nes.

:(

http://www.gbdb.org/

:(

[Rickstilwell1]

Good point..but..the gameboy sold more then the nes and lasted longer so...where is the scene?No sites that are really 100% gameboy like nes.

I don't know about those people but I love my Game Boy stuff. My favorite way to play is the Super Game Boy, and even though games lack much color even on there, they usually had good controls and fun levels.

If you collect complete in box, some of the popular titles can be like $30-50 a piece.

If I had money to start sites that are searchable and could get public views, I'd have one for a lot of things. But could always create a free "Webs.com" site and post links to forums to get people to see them.

[Ze_ro]

I think a lot of people associate Gameboy with licensed games and kids stuff... None of that really came into being until Gameboy Colour (and especially with the release of Pokemon), but I think it taints people's opinion of the entire line.

--Zero

[Gameguy]

Well, Game Boy games weren't that expensive brand new, so that may be part of the reason they've stayed cheap even now. Same thing with original Game Boy and/or Game Boy Color systems. Relatively cheap back then, still cheap now.
I remember original games being around $40 when new, they weren't that cheap until they were cleared out when the Gameboy Color stuff replaced it. I remember finding used games for $20 and thinking they were a great price, that's how much my used Side Pocket was and I played that game a lot. Around 7-8 years ago you could still get $10 for most used Gameboy games and the system was over 10 years old by that point, only when the GBA came out did the prices really drop to $5 or less. That's my experience with the system anyway.

[retroguy]

Hmmm... Maybe games were less expensive in the US? I certainly don't remember ever paying $40 for one. I don't think handheld games got to that price here until the DS (which is the reason I haven't bought many DS games).

[Doonzmore]

I remember original games being around $40 when new, they weren't that cheap until they were cleared out when the Gameboy Color stuff replaced it. I remember finding used games for $20 and thinking they were a great price, that's how much my used Side Pocket was and I played that game a lot. Around 7-8 years ago you could still get $10 for most used Gameboy games and the system was over 10 years old by that point, only when the GBA came out did the prices really drop to $5 or less. That's my experience with the system anyway.


Hmmm... Maybe games were less expensive in the US? I certainly don't remember ever paying $40 for one. I don't think handheld games got to that price here until the DS (which is the reason I haven't bought many DS games).

In the US I don't remember anything before the GBA costing 40 dollars per game. I know exactly what Gameguy is talking about and whenever I found a GBC game for 20 or less I was all over it, not matter what it was. I just really wanted to build up my collection. It did seem like it took a while for GB and GBC stuff to drop in price, but heck, now you you can get a lot of GBA games for under 5 dollars.

[theclaw]

There's just certain things people inflate to way beyond their real rarity (i.e. Earthbound) or practical usefulness (i.e. Wondermega). You can't stop them. Only hope the mania cools down or collectors run into financial trouble and have to bail out.

[goatdan]

I swear I wrote this yesterday, but it apparently didn't work.

How I took the OP question is why is it that rare SNES games aren't worth a bazillion dollars the way that rare NES games are. To me, it's actually because the best SNES games are worth a bunch of money still.

For example, for a LONG time, you could get Super Mario Bros / Duck Hunt -- two of the best NES titles -- for $0.09 per cart at Funcoland. While the price has gone up somewhat, the fact is many of the best NES carts can be had for $10 or less still. On the flip side, for whatever reason, popular SNES titles seem to demand $10 minimum and often considerably more than that.

If you get a NES, and you buy a bunch of the popular fun titles for cheap, it isn't too much of a stretch to thinking about getting everything, especially because the bad games are worth pennies on the dollar. If you get a SNES, although the bad games are still not really worth much, when you're paying two to ten times more for the best games on average than NES prices, it takes a LOT more time and money to get to that 'critical mass' point where you start collecting more.

I think that when you're talking about spending a ton of money to get just the best games, it makes you as a collector a lot less likely to spend a ton of money to get the rare, crappy titles. I think that is what holds so many of those titles down in price...

[Rickstilwell1]

I swear I wrote this yesterday, but it apparently didn't work.

How I took the OP question is why is it that rare SNES games aren't worth a bazillion dollars the way that rare NES games are. To me, it's actually because the best SNES games are worth a bunch of money still.

For example, for a LONG time, you could get Super Mario Bros / Duck Hunt -- two of the best NES titles -- for $0.09 per cart at Funcoland. While the price has gone up somewhat, the fact is many of the best NES carts can be had for $10 or less still. On the flip side, for whatever reason, popular SNES titles seem to demand $10 minimum and often considerably more than that.

If you get a NES, and you buy a bunch of the popular fun titles for cheap, it isn't too much of a stretch to thinking about getting everything, especially because the bad games are worth pennies on the dollar. If you get a SNES, although the bad games are still not really worth much, when you're paying two to ten times more for the best games on average than NES prices, it takes a LOT more time and money to get to that 'critical mass' point where you start collecting more.

I think that when you're talking about spending a ton of money to get just the best games, it makes you as a collector a lot less likely to spend a ton of money to get the rare, crappy titles. I think that is what holds so many of those titles down in price...

The reasoning I see for this is that there are more people out there who are willing to play SNES for fun than there are those who buy NES games just for fun. I can't count how many of my friends could care less about NES. but love their Super Nintendo still and haven't sold it since they got it. It's in higher demand than good NES games are.

[genesisguy]

Maybe it's because SNES shares the 16-bit resale market with Sega. If someone is a fan of that era, they probably collect for both. If someone's a fan of the 8-bit era, they probably collect NES far more than SMS.


Great point. I grew up with a NES and then a Genesis so I really like collecting for both of those. I didn't get an SNES till years later and although I collect for it I always pick NES and Genesis stuff first.

[OldSkoolBrian]

Years back, I remember people were saying that SNES collecting would eventually take off just like it did with the NES, once all the gamers who grew up with it got a little older...and that many of those "rare" SNES games that were only selling for $10 to $20 on Ebay would skyrocket in price. Even now in 2011, it still doesn't seem like the SNES is a very popular system to collect for. Most of the rare games for the system that were once said to be the big titles that all the collectors would eventually start going nuts for, still only sell for about $10 to $20, while the rarest games on the system might only fetch around $100.

Is there any particular reason why the SNES never took off as a really popular system to collect for like the NES did? I mean, it's a great system (many people will agree that it's better than the NES), it has a ton of games, and the system is now 20 years old. Yet, people still seem to highly prefer collecting for the NES over the SNES.


The rarest SNES game is only worth 100.00? I think your figure may be alittle off unless your talking cart only but even then your still off.