The "rare" Super NES games.

[-SuperYoshi-]

You know what I'm talking about. The types of games that seem rare but really aren't. Games like Final Fantasy II, III, Chrono Trigger, Mega Man VII, X2, X3, etc. I've always wondered how exactly these games' value skyrocketed in the past few years, and it's a pain trying to get these off eBay.

Then again, I'm no expert, in all honesty, but I'm sure a game such as Chrono Trigger sold well enough to not be worth $40 for a loose copy.

So can anyone explain why these games tend to get so pricey these days?

[Hammy]

it's demand, not the rareness factor. a lot of the games in demand are common(ish), but more people are after them becasue they are more collectable. i have no idea why tho, rpg games have never been my cup o' tea and it's mostly rpg stuff that is in demand for some reason.

[smokehouse]

Hammy hit it on the head. It’s often demand, not production numbers that drive a game’s value. Look at Dracula X on the Turbo CD, it’s not a rare game but it goes for huge dollars.

I look at it like this, go an eBay, if there’s 60 copies of a game for sale, it’s not rare. There are some truly rare games that you never see for sale, FF II and FF III aren’t two of them.

[CastNoShadow]

Is there a SNES rarity guide?

[GrandAmChandler]

Is there a SNES rarity guide?

yup, at the top of any page "Online Rarity Guide"

[c0ldb33r]

There's a store near me that is selling Final Fantasy III and Super Mario RPG for $99.99 (loose).

It's amazing what some people think these games are worth. They turn up pretty frequently at yard sales. Well, FF3 does, it was mad popular. Super Mario RPG not so much, but it's still not worth $100!

The quality of the games also enter into the picture because people want to hold on to the games they loved. No one is going to keep "No Escape" (SNES) based on beloved memories. It's not going to happen. It sucked. But someone that plugged 80 hours into a role playing game just might. (Although it's probably the average Joe that decides based on this, not collectors).

[kentuckyfried]

RPG games traditionally age better over time than other genres, and the SNES had many, many, great RPG's.
This adds to the collectibility factor too.

[DreamTR]

The rare:

Pieces
Mountain Bike Rally/Speed Racer
Fun N Games
Aero Fighters

[soundwave]

yeah I remember buying FF3 at a yard sale for $5.00 (best purchase ever) but I guess despite the fact that it isn't really a rare game it is a very fun one and people are willing to pay in order to get a game they know they are going to enjoy. Would I pay $100 for it? no. but there are people out there who do.

[Steven]

The rare:

Pieces
Mountain Bike Rally/Speed Racer
Fun N Games
Aero Fighters

Pieces is hard to find, but does not belong in the same breath as those 3 games.

It's more along in the pile alongside No Escape IMHO.

As for SNES prices, yeah, the common-ish games can go for 40-ish, just because it's in high demand as others have said. The nostalgic factor comes in play too.

I know, since coming back to the SNES scene in mid January, that a lot of it stemmed from wanting to relive the glory of the past, and play classics I skipped back in the day.

[Kitsune Sniper]

The rare:

Pieces
Mountain Bike Rally/Speed Racer
Fun N Games
Aero Fighters

What about the Mexican games? :D

International Super Star Soccer Deluxe
Chavez II

[Austin]

The games are all ones people tend to hold onto. I've had Chrono Trigger and FF3 practically since they were new, and I don't really plan on letting them go. Why? Because I loved them.

I figure a lot of people are like this.

[boatofcar]

The games are all ones people tend to hold onto. I've had Chrono Trigger and FF3 practically since they were new, and I don't really plan on letting them go. Why? Because I loved them.

I figure a lot of people are like this.


Exactly right. Most people who get these games don't want to part with them. When you put 100 hours into a good RPG, you don't want to get rid of it even after you finish it.

[esquire]

RPGs also tend to go for more because they are harder to find complete with the maps and reference cards.

[scorch56]

No one is going to keep "No Escape" (SNES) based on beloved memories. It's not going to happen. It sucked.

Hey!.. I enjoyed that game! In fact.. I have complete mint copies of BOTH the SNES AND Genny versions of that game!

Ah well.. to each his own.. I guess. ;)

[Steven]

^ There was a recent discussion of NO ESCAPE (SNES) you may want to search and check it out. It was b/c of that topic that I finally popped it in, and although initially disliking it, it has grown on me a decent amount.

It's not a bad game... but not great by any means.

Worth $5 though I say.

[Snapple]

Do not necessarily always associate price with rarity.

I own Chavez II (R8), and I only spent about ten bucks for it on ebay, not including shipping.

[DreamTR]

Steven: Pieces is just as underproduced. It's an ATLUS Game. Also, considering i live in SOuthern California where both Atlus and McOriver were, I have seen a sealed Aero Fighters here, and four loose ones, and have seen ONE PIeces. I have never seen the box for it in the wild.

Chavez II is rare, but overrated rare...ISS Soccer is crazy rare, but more common in Mexico.

No Escape? No. I have seen that game all over the place in my hunts...

[zektor]

Alot of the rares (r7+) are not only uncommon, but seemingly unwanted. I grabbed Pieces and Fun N Games for a few bucks, but Ninja Gaiden Trilogy (less rare) ran me much more. But again, I paid that amount because I wanted the trilogy, I love the games, and I play them.

I think the collecting aspect of the SNES is still at this stage. People are paying top dollar for games that are GOOD, not that they are necessarily rare....most likely because they want to play them.

Although, I do have to say that my wife absolutely LOVES Pieces! :)

[Steven]

Steven: Pieces is just as underproduced. It's an ATLUS Game. Also, considering i live in SOuthern California where both Atlus and McOriver were, I have seen a sealed Aero Fighters here, and four loose ones, and have seen ONE PIeces. I have never seen the box for it in the wild.

Chavez II is rare, but overrated rare...ISS Soccer is crazy rare, but more common in Mexico.

No Escape? No. I have seen that game all over the place in my hunts...

No problem... everyone in different regions will have different opinions of what is rare. A guy in Southern Cali may find No Escape but no Pieces, but a guy in Florida may find vice versa.

Pieces pop up on eBay from time to time. I haven't see Aero Fighters on eBay much. I am not saying Pieces isn't hard to find, I just don't consider it on the level of AF and such, but that's just my opinion, not fact.

Zektor you are right, there are some HTF games on SNES that go for 10 bucks and under, but many common ones torching 25+... up to 50 or 60. SNES buyers don't go for games that are just rare, but quality.

Being a former Saturn diehard, I can't say the same for those buyers. They will drop 70-100 on ho-hum games because it's simply "rare." (i.e. Crows The Battle Action)

[Kitsune Sniper]

Hey!.. I enjoyed that game! In fact.. I have complete mint copies of BOTH the SNES AND Genny versions of that game!

Ah well.. to each his own.. I guess. ;)

Sorry for taking this offtopic, but dude, what the hell? Why is LANCE HENRIKSEN IN THE GAME?!

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/2148/noescapeu00009qc.png (http://imageshack.us)

Also, the game is hard as hell. The crappy collision detection while attacking enemies is what gives me a hard time but the rest of the game doesn't seem that bad... and the music is decent...

[staxx]

A rare SNES game that I found hard to find but it isn't really that costly is Space Megaforce (Super Aleste). This took me a while to find, even on Ebay.

[scorch56]

Kitsune..

He's in the game because he's IN the movie! He played "father". Maybe that's why I liked the game because I always thought the movie wasn't half bad.. but what do I know.. I never saw much wrong with Waterworld or The Postman either.

Truthfully though.. I got my complete SNES copy long before I even found this forum or knew it was somewhat rare. I'd rented it back in the days when VHS stores rented out 16-bit games and enjoyed it. Later I bought it. I have many games I've bought because I remember only renting them when I was younger and enjoying them.. only to find they're rare, HTF or just "the craze" now. Lotta' my stuff is just flotsam.. nothing truly unique.

I am proud of my copies of Rock N' Roll Racing, Metal Warriors, Metal Marines, Biker Mice, Shadowrun and my Mechwarrior is my prized posession. If it wasn't for Mechwarrior(on the PC).. I may never have been a gamer.

Where I live.. literally ALL SNES & Genesis games are hard to find complete. My areas been picked clean of "finds" for years. We don't have any more "mom & pop" shops and haven't for years and up until recently had no major game chains and those now here don't carry that stuff.

I live in the 1800's :/ . I mean seriously.. how many of you still have a Software Etc in your town? :embarrassed:

[Steven]

I live in the 1800's :/ . I mean seriously.. how many of you still have a Software Etc in your town? :embarrassed:

WOW. And hey, that could be something to be proud of! I still remember the enticing sizzlin' blue glow of Software Etc in the early 90s at the local mall .... ahhhhhh.

[Spartacus]

I haven't seen an Aero Fighters around my area, even a loose one. But Sonic Wings is extremely easy to find cheap. It's funny how rares are different between Japan and the US. I doubt anyone would have much trouble picking up a cheap copy of R-Type III in the US, but I had to search a loooong time to get a reasonably priced Japanese copy.

I don't like to take loose games, but if I saw a Dracula X or Ninja Gaiden Trilogy cart somewhere I probably wouldn't hesitate to pick either up. Can't find those for the life of me! But Chavez II carts turn up in my local EB games every once in awhile and I found a flea market trying to dump an Exertainment Mountain Bike Rally cart for $3.

RPG's, no matter the system, always seem to fetch top dollar. But considering the game hours they provide per dollar spent, it's really not that unreasonable. I buy shooters that can get pricey too, and those games are usually short. So the value of the price spent per hours played makes RPG collectors seem a bit smarter than shmup collectors, even though I personaly think those folks are CRAZY! LOL

I was watching an Ebay auction just recently for a complete Rendering Ranger. It started of fairly cheaply and I was considering how high a bid I would be willing to snipe for it. I think I had talked myself into going as high as $200. Damned if that thing didn't sell for well over $300! WAY too rich for me!!!! :(

[snes_collector]

I live in the 1800's :/ . I mean seriously.. how many of you still have a Software Etc in your town? :embarrassed:

WOW. And hey, that could be something to be proud of! I still remember the enticing sizzlin' blue glow of Software Etc in the early 90s at the local mall .... ahhhhhh.

Actually the mall I go to the most(about an hour away) still has a Software Etc still in it.

A game that insn't isn't as rare but I cannot find in wild is TinStar. In my 3 years of collecting I haven't saw ONE copy, but I've saw multiple copies of Hurricanies and others. Regional thing I guess.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Kitsune..

He's in the game because he's IN the movie! He played "father". Maybe that's why I liked the game because I always thought the movie wasn't half bad.. but what do I know.. I never saw much wrong with Waterworld or The Postman either.

There's a movie?! X_x Shows what I know.

[Dire 51]

It's still bothering me that I can't find a copy of Castlevania Dracula X for under $50. And that's just for a loose cart.

[Steven]

It's still bothering me that I can't find a copy of Castlevania Dracula X for under $50. And that's just for a loose cart.

Keep probing around man, you can do it.

My copy just came in the mail today.

My goal was reached -- I paid exactly $40.00$ for it. Don't give up. It's all about being at the right place at the right time! 8-) ;)

But you're right, Drac X usually hits 50+... freaking insane.

[Teknik_SE-R]

Kitsune..

He's in the game because he's IN the movie! He played "father". Maybe that's why I liked the game because I always thought the movie wasn't half bad.. but what do I know.. I never saw much wrong with Waterworld or The Postman either.

Where I live.. literally ALL SNES & Genesis games are hard to find complete. My areas been picked clean of "finds" for years. We don't have any more "mom & pop" shops and haven't for years and up until recently had no major game chains and those now here don't carry that stuff.

I live in the 1800's :/ . I mean seriously.. how many of you still have a Software Etc in your town? :embarrassed:

I liked those movies too. and afaik there are some software etc stores in my neck of the woods. every time i talk to an oregonian, it blows me away how similar the states are. Stuck a decade behind every other state, yes. Stuck in the 1800's? no!

anything mario goes for outrageous prices, except for smb, smw, and sm64. All the sequels to smb and smw go for $10 minimum in my area. and I bought mario sunshine loose for $15 bucks. the only copy of the game in my area at the time.

[Arthur-Otaku]

The best rarity is an game with high demand (expensive) and very hard to find, like some japanese titles, this is an nice challenge for collector

[Dire 51]

It's still bothering me that I can't find a copy of Castlevania Dracula X for under $50. And that's just for a loose cart.

Keep probing around man, you can do it.

My copy just came in the mail today.

My goal was reached -- I paid exactly $40.00$ for it. Don't give up. It's all about being at the right place at the right time! 8-) ;)

But you're right, Drac X usually hits 50+... freaking insane.

I'm sure I'll track it down eventually for a decent price, but hopefully sooner than later. It's the lone SNES game that I need to complete my collection at this stage (no, not a complete SNES collection, just a personal favorites thing).

[The Shawn]

I have to throw this in, About a week ago a buddy of mine came over and I haven't seen him in a while. (he's an avid game player,not collector though) and he was all happy cause as he said "I finally got my hands on a copy of FF2 to complete the series" I congragulated him and asked him hom much he paid. "Only $65"was his responce. Unknowing to him I had picked up a copy for his B-day complete for $3.99 at a local Goodwill! and then I showed him the 3 copy's I have That I picked up on the cheap over the years.(He paid that price and it wasn't even in a box.)
So I say to you:It's all about what it's worth to the individual

He was awful pissed!

[The Shawn]

Bump

[Moo Cow]

I have a fairly rare game (Mr. Nutz for the SNES)
It's a fun game, though it's not worth much.
Somewhere I have the original Final Fantasy, but as of yet can only find the manual for it :bad-words:
It's a fun game, though I wish it had the autotarget after you kill something.
Also, though not an SNES game, I bought a new version of Suikoden 2 for 40 bucks when it came out on a gamble. I was bored and needed a new RPG, I'm not shocked to learn it's selling for more used then when I bought it new.
A lot of games are rare based on how many were made, and a lot of games are expensive just because of how fun they were.