What's in what's out right now

[Steven]

What classic systems (or/and games) are "IN" right now? How about "OUT"? How about "neither in or out, but rather in the middle"?

Just curious. I remember when the Saturn scene was IN 2001-ish, particularly the import scene. It actually boomed in like 1998, and in my experience carried through 2003. Those were some fun times. IMO the Saturn is out right now, but I'm no expert.

[nik]

Seems to me the bulk is SNES, NES, and some Genesis.... if it has RPG on it, its wanted

[Bratwurst]

I think interest in NES is petering out from market saturation and demand for boxed Genesis games is rising lazily.

With Hot Topic selling NES themed shirts and Nintendo riding the 20th anniversary wave vicariously through the Gameboy Advance the nostalgia crowd may be getting a little tired of it by now. And at this point how many hard core collectors are missing large chunks of a complete library if that was their goal? Not as many five years ago I will bet good money on that. To an imaginary ghost bookie.. ..with monopoly notes.

The Genesis resurgence seems to pushed by the 'discovery' of awesome titles that were neglected in favor of Sonic and sports games back in the 90s and NES/SNES kids exploring a frontier they never knew. Fan sites like Sega-16.com are popping up and taking off running.

In a more community specific case I have noticed that people are dumping their 32X systems and games like nobody's business lately on Atari Age and Digital Press. Now's the time to grab that if you have any interest.

[staxx]

In my opinion

What's In
Definitely the Castlevania games on all systems
Most Working Design games
Famicom
Nintendo (esp Mario and Zelda)
SNES
Atari's
Many RPG games (SNES, Genesis, Saturn, Game Gear, GB, GBA, PS1, PS2, Dreamcast, NES and so on)
PC Engine (I guess I am biased on this console)

What's Out
Game Dot Com
32X
NES Clones
N64 ( I see many people selling these )

[InsaneDavid]

N64 has always be out unless you get rid of the region tabs in the cartridge slot. Thank god that NES mass interest is slowly dying down, I've seen that too. That means that games will return to reasonable prices.

As for what's down on the ground, Game Gear and US Saturn save for the few ultra expensive titles.

SNES is way up across the board, as PDF said in another thread, that generation is coming into disposable income and going wild.

[Pantechnicon]

I'll cast another vote for SNES being way hot. I sold a couple on Ebay last year in the interest of just trying to thin down my piles of stuff. I was surprised for how much I got in each case for just a base system, a few common non-sports carts, and a Super GameBoy adapter.

Not hot: In my part of the country anyway, there are still piles of *Genesii lying about the shops. Hardware-wise, unless it's some sort of trick piece of hardware like a Genesis 3, CDx or Nomad the systems sit indefintely. Oddly, however, it is very hard to find peripherals: AC adapters, A/V cables...even controllers. Game-wise I see a lot of good deals on everything except RPG's.

I would also say Atari 2600 is petering out. I find the systems and games with diminishing frequency, but this is probably just me feeling sorry for myself. :bawling:

*not a typo

[googlefest1]

this last 6 months i have been out of knowing whats hot - but what i have noticed in CT shops is that snes systems would sell real fast -- most old systems traded in to shops are genesis systems and they would trickle out but eventualy sell off and most genesis games have been selling -- snes games have been selling slower ( i think becasue of the prices)

lately though i havent seen many genesis snes or nes games selling becasue all the shops have a plethora of the same games forsale -- even when they mark them way down - i gues anyone that is interested already has them

some one said that game.com games were out
ive been looking for cheap game.com games and cant find any

ive noticed US saturn games down

[GrandAmChandler]

Count me in for SNES. NES is fading out slowly, and SNES is skyrocketing.

Also for some odd reason, Old school Game Boy games are skyrocketing when found complete. I think this is because some gamestops are starting to phase these out, but I don't have a theory set in stone.

Also, anything that is mentioned in the Nintendo Power "Retro" section also skyrockets quickly.

[KingCobra]

Gameboy/GB Color and GBA games are heating up for sure, it's the handheld craze right now for some reason?

Though, Sega game gear seems to be dead?

NEO*GEO, Dreamcast has been heating up for the rare'er stuff. Same goes for SNES hardware and games.

On the Down side?

NES and PSX games were going bonkers last year, waaaaay... dead right now. I've pick'd up a few PSX rares for chump change in the last few weeks.

Saturn, N64, Jag and Atari 5200 are peter'ing out fast.

[tritium]

Gameboy/GB Color and GBA games are heating up for sure, it's the handheld craze right now for some reason?

Though, Sega game gear seems to be dead?

NEO*GEO, Dreamcast has been heating up for the rare'er stuff. Same goes for SNES hardware and games.

On the Down side?

NES and PSX games were going bonkers last year, waaaaay... dead right now. I've pick'd up a few PSX rares for chump change in the last few weeks.

Saturn, N64, Jag and Atari 5200 are peter'ing out fast.

/cry

that mean's it'll be impossible to finish my dc collection!!!

And that's interesting i was just looking into getting a neo-geo. Bad timing I guess.


Words on Genesis?

[christhegamer]

I think that the NES craze is still holding on, but slowly, very slowly, diminishing; And with the recent income of cheap, boxed Genesis sports titles (at least where I live), It seems almost inevitable that Sega's 16-bit console. It also seems like the N64 is steadily rising up the ladder...

Although interesting, I usually don't try to look for things that are "in style". WCYE [Whatever Catches Your Eye] is my rule when 'on the hunt', all though I may be getting more and more into accessories for some of the later consoles (nothing below SNES).

[Yoshukai]

From the systems that I look at the most, Saturn's going downhill a little ways. I've gotten some good deals on some of the fighters which used to command rediculous prices (SFZ3, for example). Some games are still stupidly priced, but maybe that will calm down as well

[Sailorneorune]

I think it was bad timing on my part to have picked up a Saturn thanks to Working Designs going under... sad to see that company go, but I'm pissed that I'll never get to play Rayearth, Dragon Force, or Albert Odyssey now unless I become fluent in written Japanese.

SNES going up...? That means now is a good time for me to rescue those complete Koei games from the Book Broker. Heh.
Same with the less common complete Genesis games rotting away over there.

That Saturn was so cheap though...

[s1lence]

I've noticed that the NES market is cooling off, which is good for me.

The Dreamcast market is getting hotter as the games aren't commonplace anymore, at least in my region. GB/GBC seem to be getting more popular as well as the genny/snes games.

I too have noticed that the 32x market floping, minus Spider-man which still goes for big bucks.

[swlovinist]

Nes game market is becoming saturated, but dam if some of those boxed games go for a mint still. I agree with Sega Genesis starting to ramp, it is about time. I am glad I am down to 115 games for the set!

[InsaneDavid]

I think it was bad timing on my part to have picked up a Saturn thanks to Working Designs going under... sad to see that company go, but I'm pissed that I'll never get to play Rayearth, Dragon Force, or Albert Odyssey now unless I become fluent in written Japanese.

Uhhh.... Magic Knight Rayearth was localized, last US Saturn game ever released. Also Albert Odyssey and Dragon Force were also localized on the Saturn, all three by Working Designs. The new Dragon Force and Goemon games on the PS2 were what Working Designs was localizing when they kept on running into the Sony bumper and could no longer sustain the company since the games they were localizing wouldn't ever get the green light by SCEA.

Sony of mid 2000's is like Nintendo of the late 1980's concerning release policies.

[diskoboy]

I, too have noticed the Sega market heating up, as of late. Especially the Saturn and Dreamcast.

Finding a place that sells DC games that have any good ones in stock are becoming fewer and farther between. Saturn games, period, in my neck of the woods, are more scarce than hens teeth.

I also sense the NES market fading... and the SNES taking it's place. I also think that after the revolution is released, gamecube games will be the next hot ticket.

(yay - 400th post!)

[boatofcar]

What's hot:

SNES Systems
SNES RPG's
N64 First Party Titles (all the Mario Games, Pilotwings 64, Star Fox 64)
Neo Geo AES (Is it ever not?)

What's not:
Anything 2600-even former rarities like Gas Hog have gone down in value considerably

Most NES titles
Genesis systems
Most Genesis games (I'm not seeing the upswing that some are, though)
PS1 Games with the exception of RPGs and the usual suspects

[snes_collector]

SNES is way up across the board, as PDF said in another thread, that generation is coming into disposable income and going wild.

Heck yeah :rocker:

[InsaneDavid]

What's not:
Genesis systems

I agree, however import modified Genesis systems are skyrocketing. It's a nice little spot in the classic games business right now as I can pick up a Genesis 2 for $5 or less, perform the US/JPN hardmod, widen the cartridge slot, and turn around and sell them for as much as $70. (Although I've been charging much less around here because I don't like gouging the price like that) I have one up for sale right now but it has a crappy paint mod. If anyone is interested in modded Genesis or N64 systems, PM me.

[Xexyz]

If the Genesis scene is heating up, I'm not seeing it in my area. Boxed titles are as cheap, if not cheaper then loose NES titles. I'm glad I got a lot of stuff I want for this system out of the way already.

SNES is definately hot. Weather I visit an overpriced store or a store that generally has good deals, the SNES games always command the highest price out of all the cart based systems (with a few N64 exceptions). Even at the flea market I visit, most vendors are asking for a $5 minimum on loose SNES games...

DC is definately hot too. Ever since I started collecting for it 1 & 1/2 years ago, it's been hard to find good & complete uncommon titles, especially the 4 shmups and the dozen or so 2D fighters. I agree that this will be a tough system to collect for in the future, especially if it continues to gain a cult popularity.

[segarocks30]

this last 6 months i have been out of knowing whats hot - but what i have noticed in CT shops is that snes systems would sell real fast -- most old systems traded in to shops are genesis systems and they would trickle out but eventualy sell off and most genesis games have been selling -- snes games have been selling slower ( i think becasue of the prices)

lately though i havent seen many genesis snes or nes games selling becasue all the shops have a plethora of the same games forsale -- even when they mark them way down - i gues anyone that is interested already has them

some one said that game.com games were out
ive been looking for cheap game.com games and cant find any

ive noticed US saturn games down

Exactly what I have seen because I'm in CT too.

A few months ago, when the NES craze was hot, Final Fantasy 1 LOOSE WAS $19.99!!! I was like, "Damn."

[Sailorneorune]

SCEA needs a swift kick in the butt.

In regards to the games I mentioned, I am aware that those were localized, but the English versions are obscenely expensive. I want to just play these games, but I'm not made of money.

[InsaneDavid]

SCEA needs a swift kick in the butt.

In regards to the games I mentioned, I am aware that those were localized, but the English versions are obscenely expensive. I want to just play these games, but I'm not made of money.

I hear ya, but honestly they're not all that much more than a brand new PS2 game for instance. In regards to the Japanese versions, I still had to shell out quite a bit for my Japanese copy of Magic Knight Rayearth. I got a copy of Dragon Force from a small import store that was going out of business for $1.31 - ending up selling it on the forums for $15.00.

[Ed Oscuro]

SNES is way up across the board, as PDF said in another thread, that generation is coming into disposable income and going wild.
Bane of my existence, can't even get a complete game.

Atari 8-bits and early Sega imports (pre-MD especially) seem out unless the name is Wonderboy (i.e. Adventure Island for SG-1000) or Phantasy Star.

[Sailorneorune]

@ InsaneDavid: I would buy imports, but converters and mods aren't cheap either (though I was offered a mod for my Saturn in exchange for that Zelda CE I found, 5 minutes after I sold it), plus my friends know NO Japanese -- my more responsible friends are allowed limited access to my collection (1 game at a time for one week, while I hold one of their games or DVDs of equal or slightly higher value as collateral).
People in this area are unfortunately starting to get wise to just how valuable their games are... my user title says it all.

@ Ed Oscuro: Complete SNES games pop up in my area from time to time... want me to keep my eyes peeled for some? I intend to pick up a few Koei games that have been sitting around the Broker gathering dust later in the week.

[Ed Oscuro]

@ Ed Oscuro: Complete SNES games pop up in my area from time to time... want me to keep my eyes peeled for some? I intend to pick up a few Koei games that have been sitting around the Broker gathering dust later in the week.
No money at the moment, and if you find any good action games, you can probably get a better deal for them from other folks. Thanks for the offer though!