Sealed NES Games - Why So Much?

[fergojisan]

I check the eBay Insanity thread every so often, and there is always a crazily priced sealed NES game in there (most often a Black box game). I understand that the first wave of black box games are highly collectible, especially sealed, but am I missing something else? I know about the hangtag on the box itself, but is that it? I looked on ebay for 2600 games in a similar way, but couldn't find any. Would anyone pay the same amount for a never used gatefold boxed Air-Sea Battle or Combat? Is it because the NES were sealed in the first place, and the 2600 games weren't until later? Is it because the NES revitalized the industry? I'm not really into sealed games myself; if I find one, I usually open it. (So it's probably a good thing I didn't buy the sealed Cheetahmen 2 for $10, because I would have opened it despite the stinky game play).

Sorry, got off on a tangent there. Does anyone have any thoughts on this subject? x_x

Thanks!

[kainemaxwell]

I would think since the system the game is for has been dead in the market for x amount of years, finding a game still factory-sealed is llike finding a needle in a haystack, or something like that.

[Bronty-2]

allegedly? :/ ;)

[Emily]

I bought a couple sealed atari 2600 games on Ebay for 99 cents awile back.
Ive gotten sealed intellivision games for $3

[MarioAllStar2600]

Well the system is really popular now. Everybody is collecting it or playing it. Just look at all the kids in high school kids wearing NES shirts and kids of all ages playing NES. It's super popular for one. Another is it's old and was popular, the games sold. Since they sold alot back during the original NES era, the games were opened and played. Boxes of sealed and unsold games never sat in the back of a warehouse. There for its tough for sealed collectors to find sealed games.



Just a guess actually, seemed like a good theory to me.

[fergojisan]

Well the system is really popular now. Everybody is collecting it or playing it. Just look at all the kids in high school kids wearing NES shirts and kids of all ages playing NES. It's super popular for one. Another is it's old and was popular, the games sold. Since they sold alot back during the original NES era, the games were opened and played. Boxes of sealed and unsold games never sat in the back of a warehouse. There for its tough for sealed collectors to find sealed games.



Just a guess actually, seemed like a good theory to me.

You're right Marty, that is a good theory. I hadn't thought of it that way. I guess now would be a good time to try and get some minty 2600 games? :D


allegedly? :/ ;)

Whoops! My bad. I don't know why I typed that, I'll fix it. Bronty2 is referring to this:


Is it because the NES allegedly revitalized the industry?

I think we can all agree that they did do this. Right? ;)

[NintendoMan]

No, those will NEVER sell like the sealed nintendo games! No where even close probably.
(I am talking about getting the sealed atari 2600 games)

[Landon]

The fact that NES was so immensley popular when it came out is now translating into a pretty fierce retro-appreciation, now that it can claim being "20 years old". Compound this by the fact that kids today appreciate NES games, and any given 20-35 year old is now seeking out these childhood toys, these "mint condition" NES games are following the path of other collectables that have blown up in years past.

It's no different than why someone would pay $45,000,000 for what amounts to $5 worth of canvas and oil paint.
It's all in what you dig.

[Emily]

No, those will NEVER sell like the sealed nintendo games! No where even close probably.
(I am talking about getting the sealed atari 2600 games)

I know that...sheesh. I traded them away at GCE2K4 for some intellivision and gameboy games.

[NintendoMan]

No, those will NEVER sell like the sealed nintendo games! No where even close probably.
(I am talking about getting the sealed atari 2600 games)

I know that...sheesh. I traded them away at GCE2K4 for some intellivision and gameboy games.

:)

[shawnbo42]

Funny thing, though. Crack the seal, open it up, and it is STILL the same game...worth $600 sealed, $35 open, same gameplay LOL . Did I miss something here? LOL

[NintendoMan]

Funny thing, though. Crack the seal, open it up, and it is STILL the same game...worth $600 sealed, $35 open, same gameplay LOL . Did I miss something here? LOL

Exactly, just like when you buy a brand new car and the second you drive it off the lot it's already worth thousands less.

[Emily]

I like loose NES games, covered in marker!
I like my games cheap & cleanable.

[drwily008]

I'm going to start buying all the sealed games and opening them. Then I will sell the crumbled up shrinkwrap on EBAY for thousands to people who just don't know any better. I hope my first one is a Stadium Events or a Bubble Bath Babes. I fit doesn't sell I will burn it.

[NintendoMan]

I'm going to start buying all the sealed games and opening them. Then I will sell the crumbled up shrinkwrap on EBAY for thousands to people who just don't know any better. I hope my first one is a Stadium Events or a Bubble Bath Babes. I fit doesn't sell I will burn it.

So anything that you don't feel is worth collecting, MEANS it just is not worth collecting, PERIOD. Just becuase you feel that it is stupid to collect sealed games?
I am sorry but that is really small thinking.

[drwily008]

I'm going to start buying all the sealed games and opening them. Then I will sell the crumbled up shrinkwrap on EBAY for thousands to people who just don't know any better. I hope my first one is a Stadium Events or a Bubble Bath Babes. I fit doesn't sell I will burn it.

So anything that you don't feel is worth collecting, MEANS it just is not worth collecting, PERIOD. Just becuase you feel that it is stupid to collect sealed games?
I am sorry but that is really small thinking.

No, man I'm just being silly. I wouldn't do that. I do however open every single game I get sealed. Even if it is old (not just the new stuff). The only time I would ever leave something sealed is if I already had an opened one to play. Even then I would hold onto it for a while and sell it.

I really don't see the point in collecting sealed games, however if I saw a nice collection that was sealed I would be just as impressed with it as any other member here on DP would be.

[imanerd0011]

I'm going to start buying all the sealed games and opening them. Then I will sell the crumbled up shrinkwrap on EBAY for thousands to people who just don't know any better. I hope my first one is a Stadium Events or a Bubble Bath Babes. I fit doesn't sell I will burn it.

So anything that you don't feel is worth collecting, MEANS it just is not worth collecting, PERIOD. Just becuase you feel that it is stupid to collect sealed games?
I am sorry but that is really small thinking.

No, man I'm just being silly. I wouldn't do that. I do however open every single game I get sealed. Even if it is old (not just the new stuff). The only time I would ever leave something sealed is if I already had an opened one to play. Even then I would hold onto it for a while and sell it.

I really don't see the point in collecting sealed games, however if I saw a nice collection that was sealed I would be just as impressed with it as any other member here on DP would be.


Personally I think collecting sealed games is a good idea in general... if you are going to keep them sealed! Buying sealed games is really an investment, so buying rare sealed games and opening them up is down right stupid. Either buy the game sealed and keep it sealed, or buy a complete copy to play.

[Psyleid]

Everybody is collecting it or playing it. Just look at all the kids in high school kids wearing NES shirts

I know kids that wear the NES shirts... They're "poser" douche bags. It's become cliche and I hope they die.

[Captain Wrong]

I know kids that wear the NES shirts... They're "poser" douche bags. It's become cliche and I hope they die.

Wow.

That's a little extreme, don't you think.

[NintendoMan]

No, man I'm just being silly. I wouldn't do that. I do however open every single game I get sealed. Even if it is old (not just the new stuff). The only time I would ever leave something sealed is if I already had an opened one to play. Even then I would hold onto it for a while and sell it.

Ah, ok. I didn't mean anything by it. I did think you were not joking though.
:)

[InsaneDavid]

Personally I think collecting sealed games is a good idea in general... if you are going to keep them sealed! Buying sealed games is really an investment, so buying rare sealed games and opening them up is down right stupid. Either buy the game sealed and keep it sealed, or buy a complete copy to play.

...you obviously don't know the enjoyment of waking up, getting out of bed in the morning, and smelling the sweet aroma of a freshly opened NES game.

Really though there are some games that should be kept sealed and some retrogaming titles that I don't mind spending a bit more to be the first person to open them. I know I make a lot of people cringe when I say that nearly every TurboDuo game I've ever bought was purchased second hand factory sealed - only so that I could be the first to open it.

NES games were always cool to open though since a lot of them had different goodies packed inside such as posters and pamphlets - each box seemed to hold something a little different. :)

[NintendoMan]

you obviously don't know the enjoyment of waking up, getting out of bed in the morning, and smelling the sweet aroma of a freshly opened NES game.
NES games were always cool to open though since a lot of them had different goodies packed inside such as posters and pamphlets - each box seemed to hold something a little different. :)

So, so true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!