Why are used Game Boy games priced so high?

[downfall]

Seriously? Around here, I can get 5 NES games, or 3/4 SNES games, or 2 N64 games for the same price that I can get one really crappy used Game Boy game (like Bo Jackson's Baseball) or whatever.

Is it because Game Boy games can be played on the GBA? And so people think they're more popular than the others? Or what? I don't figure it's rarity so much, because the Gameboy (and it's iterations) are the highest selling game systems in history. (Or at least it has been that way right?)

It just bugs me, because I'd like to expand my original Game Boy collection, as I have a grand total of 5 or 6 games for it (Mario's Picross, Metroid II, Kirby's Dream Land, Tetris, and something else I can't think of), but I can't see myself shelling out $10 (that I already can't afford) for a monochromatic game that probably has a better version on NES/SNES that I could get for one fifth of the price. I'm fine with paying that much for any good game.. I paid the $10 for Metroid II, because it's a good game. But there's no way I'm going to spend a ten on Bo Jackson's Baseball just to build up my collection when 9 times out of 10, Game Boy games just aren't as good as other games.

Is that just me though? And I'm not talking Gamestop either. I'm talking pawn shops, thrift stores, and the like, and it's not isolated. Every single one of them has that pricing scheme.

So what gives?

[Sniderman]

Is it because Game Boy games can be played on the GBA? And so people think they're more popular than the others? Or what? I don't figure it's rarity so much, because the Gameboy (and it's iterations) are the highest selling game systems in history. (Or at least it has been that way right?) I've noticed that myself and I've just assumed that it's the backwards compatability factor. Every GB game ever made works on every consecutively released GB system. (Just not in "reverse.") So there is no chance of a cart becoming obsolete.

Hell, Tetris, the original grey cart pack-in game, works just fine on my brand-new GBA-SP.

[Nature Boy]

I've always figured it was a combination of two things:

(a) The Game Boy has no competition, so the retail prices in general are higher than they would be otherwise. And if the retail prices are higher, the used prices stay higher.

(I realize that new Game Boy games aren't for sale anymore, but this relates to the fact that it's backwards compatible I suppose).

(b) Supply and demand. Do you ever see a retailer with loads and loads of Game Boy games? I don't. People just don't trade 'em in as often. And they sell fairly well too.

[norkusa]

I don't think it's because of backwards compatibility. Used Gameboy carts have always been expensive. I've got an old Funcoland price list from '98 somewhere, and I remember an incredibly high percentage of GB titles listed (around 95% or higher) were $10 and above. At the same time, most of the NES games were listed at $4 and below. Just doesn't make any sense to me. Must be high demand.

[Mr. Smashy]

I sure love to speculate on these things.

I would imagine that the Game Boy is still considered a current generation system and since it has a huge user base, the odds of getting a sale on an overpriced game are pretty good.

[Ed Oscuro]

If you think used GB games are expensive, try new/unopened GB games...$80 for Metroid II, yep.

[Oobgarm]

It's because of these 2 reasons:

1. Used game stores know that folks will still pay money for GB games since their kids have a GBA. They're cheaper than most GBA games, though not by much. Therefore, it's a cheaper alternative.

2. They really aren't traded in as often as you think. The marquee titles like Tetris, Mario, Pokemon, and other games based on popular characters see a decent amount of trade in, but stuff like Fish Dude, Race Days, Panel Action Bingo, and Great Greed don't see much. Probably cause not many people bought them to begin with.

Some original GB games are in fact cheap, like Nemesis, which is like $2.99 IIRC.

[Cmosfm]

*didnt read over entire thread*

There expensive for the same reason NES game would be expensive if the Gamecube had an NES cartridge slot.

They can still be used by a machine that is currently on the market. Some games are shitty though, so you do come across cheap ones, but for the most part they are 10.00 and up because the GBA can still play them. As long as the games are still useable in the current game market they will run a little higher than games on a defunct system.

[QBert]

Is it because Game Boy games can be played on the GBA?


Bah? how is this done? I havent even thought of that and am at work right now(no access to games). Do you need an adapter? Arent the GBA games larger?
Im freaking out now! X_x This is cool news!


QBert

[Atari7800]

Is it because Game Boy games can be played on the GBA?


Bah? how is this done? I havent even thought of that and am at work right now(no access to games). Do you need an adapter? Arent the GBA games larger?
Im freaking out now! X_x This is cool news!


QBert

Yo, Qbert... get with the program! They have always been compatible! That's the beauty and the genius of it! Just plug a game on in! No adaptor needed...

[Oobgarm]

Is it because Game Boy games can be played on the GBA?


Bah? how is this done? I havent even thought of that and am at work right now(no access to games). Do you need an adapter? Arent the GBA games larger?
Im freaking out now! X_x This is cool news!


QBert

:hmm:

Just insert the cart and the GBA boots the game, easy as pie.

You really didn't know that? I figured it was common knowledge by now. :D

[QBert]

Is it because Game Boy games can be played on the GBA?


Bah? how is this done? I havent even thought of that and am at work right now(no access to games). Do you need an adapter? Arent the GBA games larger?
Im freaking out now! X_x This is cool news!


QBert

:hmm:

Just insert the cart and the GBA boots the game, easy as pie.

You really didn't know that? I figured it was common knowledge by now. :D

Nope, I was outta the GB loop for a while, and just got an advance not too long ago, shit Im super happy now! Thanks.


QBert

[nothingisttrue]

i was in eb games once and the guy at the counter was taking a guys tradein and he had a shit load of gb and gba advance games and the employee said that these are the best things to trade in you get more then anything else and their worth the same with or without a case. also supposedly a gba will play even virtual boy games. so you can make your self have a seizure and have your head explode. haha if you want to know where nintendo got the idea for a virtual boy goto the video store and rent videodrome

[downfall]

Glad to see that I was on the right track.

As far as not seeing many GB games traded in, I think every pawn shop I've been in around here has them, and they're usually pretty decent titles, but they're always Kirby's Dream Land, Tetris, or are things I'm not interested in, even though they are decent titles.

And a sealed GB game for $80, while pretty far up there, is still cheaper than a lot of sealed NES games are going for. (Sealed SMB for around $200 recently I think?) I'd assume that was a higher end GB title going for $80, but that's just my opinion from observation. I really know nothing about it, which is why I started this topic.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies.

[norkusa]

also supposedly a gba will play even virtual boy games.

A GBA can't play Virtual Boy games.

[Push Upstairs]

I have never seen a GB game for less than $10 at stores in my area.

Most titles go for $14.99 and $17.99 with very few (only some Pokemon games) dipping down to the $10 mark.

[Atari7800]

i was in eb games once and the guy at the counter was taking a guys tradein and he had a shit load of gb and gba advance games and the employee said that these are the best things to trade in you get more then anything else and their worth the same with or without a case. also supposedly a gba will play even virtual boy games. so you can make your self have a seizure and have your head explode. haha if you want to know where nintendo got the idea for a virtual boy goto the video store and rent videodrome

I wonder why Nintendo didn't make the GBA compatible with VB games? I mean, the VB was very sucessful and lasted a long time, plus a GBA would have no problem duplicating the VB's 3-D effect as it has the special secret reflective mirrors and inflatable headset.

then again, his name is "nothingistrue"...

<sarcasm off>

:D

[ubersaurus]

The simple fact is as long as GB games remain commercially vable (which will be as long as the gb is backwards compatible), you can expect to pay relatively high prices for titles.

[redcurrie]

I have a video game store that I hit every once in a while and while they don't usually have tons of GB games, the ones that they do have are cheap ($4.99-$7.99 usually). If there is a specific title (or titles) you are looking for, let me know. Last time I looked, they had Kwirk for I think $6.99 which is a ton cheaper than I paid after hunting for a long time... :)

[Ze_ro]

I blame backwards compatibility as well. I'm hoping that the next incarnation of the Gameboy drops support for B&W Gameboy and Gameboy Color games, since hopefully that would eventually cause the market prices to drop.

There are a whole bunch of old school Gameboy games that I've been wanting to get for a LONG time now, like Mercenary Force, Trax, Nail 'n' Scale, Dexterity, Burgertime, Lock 'n' Chase and many others... but even though I really like these games, I'm certainly not paying $15 or $20 for them. Hell, I bought F-Zero X just the other day for $10 and P.N.03 for $20.

I find that Game Gear games often sell for somewhat high prices too... at least in my area, I think the lowest I've seen a Game Gear game sell for is $7 (not counting Sega's baseball games). It's lower than most Gameboy games at least, but still seems higher than it should be to me.

--Zero

[kevincure]

I'm unconvinced by the "GB can be played on GBA" argument. Look at Playstation games, for example.

I think the bigger reason is that people just think of both GB greyscale games and GBA games as "Gameboy games" - they don't think of the games as "last generation" or old or anything like that. Another reason is that GB games hold up quite well - people tend to pay more for cartridges than for CDs for some reason.

[NintendoMan]

They have high resale value obviously, I think because the backwards combatible thing as well.
Hopefully, the gamecube will do this from know on with their games, then they will take over more of the market.
Then, nintendo takes over the world!! :evil:

[link1110]

I noticed that common used GB games are priced high, while rares are priced low. I got Sword of Hope 1&2 and Milon's secret castle last week for about the same price I could've gotten Super Mario Land for.

[Push Upstairs]

I find that Game Gear games often sell for somewhat high prices too... at least in my area, I think the lowest I've seen a Game Gear game sell for is $7 (not counting Sega's baseball games). It's lower than most Gameboy games at least, but still seems higher than it should be to me.

Another store in my area has a ton of Game Gear games and most (at least the ones i took interest in) were around $4.99-9.99. I've been meaning to pick up a "Streets of Rage" game but i forgot which one had the horrible control.

I'm still waiting for "Super Mario Land 2" to go down in price...i really miss that game :(

[Blackjax]

personally I would murder for Final Fantasy Legends 1 and 3

but i'm broke.... anyone wanna trade? :-P

[Classicgamesdepot]

This is a definitly a potable thing, Game gear games are also very high at swap meets, hard to get them under 5.00 some times but I've had my share of some deals. GB games are indeed very expensive everywhere. I was shocked last week when I got Double dragon GB and Simpsons gBC both for 5.00

[godsey1]

The reason that I have started to collect the Gameboy games is because I can play them on my Gamecube, with the Gameboy player. These games are a whole new world on your TV.
Tony

[redcurrie]

I can play them on my Gamecube, with the Gameboy player.

That's the one reason I've considered getting a Gamecube but I haven't been able to justify spending the $ yet! Closer to Christmas, I'm going to e-bay my entire trade bin so we'll see what that nets.

[redcurrie]

I can play them on my Gamecube, with the Gameboy player.

That's the one reason I've considered getting a Gamecube but I haven't been able to justify spending the $ yet! Closer to Christmas, I'm going to e-bay my entire trade bin so we'll see what that nets.

[godsey1]

I think that I got lucky with my Gamecube and player. I got the Cube at a flea market with 2 games(the K-Mart exclusives: Metroid Prime and Zelda Wind Waker), and got my complete player off E-Bay for #35.00 shipped. It is a great set up, and the games are alot more enjoyable :D
Tony

[mills]

man are you kidding I recently picked up final fantasy adventure, final fantasy legend 2 and legend 3, castlevania adventure, and bubble bobble part 2 for gameboy all for 5-7 each max.

[sharp]

I just started collecting game boy as my TV broke down and I felt I didn't miss it that much as most programs are really crap. I still want to buy an XRGB2+ for games though. So currently I'm more into handhelds. Also I like to collect them as it's quite hard to find complete versions.

[downfall]

man are you kidding I recently picked up final fantasy adventure, final fantasy legend 2 and legend 3, castlevania adventure, and bubble bobble part 2 for gameboy all for 5-7 each max.

You do realize this thread is like a year and a half old right? ;)

In that year though, I've noticed an overall drop in GB prices since I started this thread, but I've also noticed an overall drop in prices of just about all systems (at least at all the regular places here), so the ratio still applies. NES games are more like 2-3 instead of 3-5, and GB games are more like 5-7 instead of 10+.

[tornadostormxl]

gb games and gba games dont get rerelease or greatest hit or what ever

[Aussie2B]

Although, now that the DS, which doesn't support the pre-GBA games, has been out for awhile, it could be possible that that is a factor in the price drop.

[Aussie2B]

gb games and gba games dont get rerelease or greatest hit or what ever

GB games did get Player's Choice releases just like the home consoles. That's what my Link's Awakening is. And sometimes other companies would feel like reprinting some titles for whatever reason, like Sunsoft reprinting all of the Final Fantasy GB games.

Has GBA gotten any Player's Choice releases or such? I haven't been keeping up with it.

[Bluteg]

Has GBA gotten any Player's Choice releases or such? I haven't been keeping up with it.

No, the Game Boy Color never recieved any Player's Choice treatment either. Its all supply and demand as Nintendo now understands that the handheld market is not a "fast" market with very few price drops compared to the console market. People are still paying $30 for a portable version of Super Mario World.

[hezeuschrist]

man are you kidding I recently picked up final fantasy adventure, final fantasy legend 2 and legend 3, castlevania adventure, and bubble bobble part 2 for gameboy all for 5-7 each max.

You do realize this thread is like a year and a half old right? ;)

In that year though, I've noticed an overall drop in GB prices since I started this thread, but I've also noticed an overall drop in prices of just about all systems (at least at all the regular places here), so the ratio still applies. NES games are more like 2-3 instead of 3-5, and GB games are more like 5-7 instead of 10+.

Don't worry, the Virtual Boy is now the official "Holy shit thats overpriced to hell and back" item of the season.

If you have one, I suggest you toss it on the bay. This is absolutely insane.

What the crap (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=8223577692&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT)

Out of hand (http://cgi.ebay.com/NINTENDO-VIRTUAL-BOY-SYSTEM-W-BOX-HOOKUPS-MARIO-CLASH_W0QQitemZ8224443368QQcategoryZ62054QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem)

Someone Sell me one cheaper than this :( (http://cgi.ebay.com/Nintendo-Virtual-Boy-Very-good-condition-w-2-games_W0QQitemZ8223892053QQcategoryZ62054QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem)

[godsey1]

I didn't realize how old this post was :embarrassed: I was searching for Gameboy topics, and this one was interesting :D
Tony

[mikeetler]

Has GBA gotten any Player's Choice releases or such? I haven't been keeping up with it.

No, the Game Boy Color never recieved any Player's Choice treatment either. Its all supply and demand as Nintendo now understands that the handheld market is not a "fast" market with very few price drops compared to the console market. People are still paying $30 for a portable version of Super Mario World.

From a first party POV that's correct but for third party games the PC line reduces royalties on catalog titles that reach certain sales milestones. Very few third pary GBC and GBA games were produced in quantites that would make a PC line justified and there are a number of GBA games that have been re-issued at a $14.99 price over the last few years.

[poopnes]

I love when old topics pop up and then someone points out how old they are...if someone wouldn't do that I would never know. For some reason I never look at the dates on message boards.

Anyway, I was for some reason pondering this today after reading it last night. And I realized that everytime I see a young child with a GBA they always have a big ol classic GB cart sticking out. Obviously the market's is still there.

[Contrabassoon86]

Everyone is talking about playing GB games on the their GBA's and GameCubes. I play all my GB games on my Game Boy Pocket. The battery life doesn't suck since I have switched to lithium batteries. And yes I play my GB color games on my GameBoy Color as well.