Greetings From The Used Marketplace

I have a couple of more structured posts in the oven right now. I wanted to finish one and get it posted before the end of May, but that is not going to happen. Instead, this more informal post has conjured itself into existence. This is my experience with today’s used video games market.

The used video game market is nuts right now. Last year, a copy of Super Mario Bros. for the original Nintendo sold for $2 million. In general, used video game prices are too high. I think there are a few reasons for it being so crazy. The first, rich assholes are promoting new ways to get richer during the pandemic. Some of them are using video games to do it; it has been happening with other collectibles. The other reason is because people my age who grew up with video games want their old video games back. We have disposable income, and we are okay with paying a little extra to collect. Mind you, not $2 million for a mass produced game, but we are willing to drop a few bills.

I honestly did not know how insane the used game market truly is until recently. I bought a Nintendo 3DS in 2017, which was late into the console’s life. I bought a few games, but, at the time, I thought I would buy some games when they were Nintendo Selects, or just cheaper. I did not pay attention, and before I knew it, they stopped making games for the 3DS. The list of games I wanted was short: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, New Super Mario Bros. 2, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. I could buy them on the Nintendo eShop (which is closing next year), but I like owning physical games for handhelds. I am not sure why, but that is how I feel. So, I checked the used market for the games.

I stopped by a local used game store, Rock 30 Games. I wanted to spend around $20 per game. I kept to that price for A Link Between Worlds, but Mario was $24 and Majora’s Mask 3D was $27. Majora’s Mask 3D was not in the original case, nor did it have the manual. I thought it was not too bad for what I got.

After getting home, I thought about what other games I missed owning. Immediately, I thought about Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow for the Gameboy Advance, and Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow for the Nintendo DS. I played both games in high school. I borrowed them from a friend, but never owned them. I liked them, and like the Millennial I am I wanted to own them now. So, I scoped out a copy of each on eBay. A week later, I had them in my possession, but they did not come with cases.

I stopped by Rock 30 and they gave me an extra blank DS case for Dawn of Sorrow. I printed out the cover for the game, and placed it in the case sleeve. For the price of “free” it looks decent, and I am happy with the results. I needed something for the GBA game. There are a few places online, and I ended up ordering a case from Custom Game Cases. It took awhile to get here, but it is a very nice case.

Those were the only two games I wanted from the Nintendo DS and Gameboy Advance consoles. I decided to go back further. I was curious if I still had my old Gameboy games, and I dug into my storage. My brother and I owned an original Gameboy, Game Gear, and Gameboy Color; I found them in a box. I also found The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, Game & Watch Gallery, Jurassic Park, and Super Off Road.

Seeing the Gameboy Color, I was reminded of the three Gameboy Color games I have played multiple times in an emulator, but have never owned: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages. These games are a lot more expensive than the newer games I had just bought used. I ended up snagging Oracle of Ages for $55, and Link’s Awakening DX for $45. The games are the cartridge only, and the labels on the cartridges are a little rough. I am still holding out for Oracle of Seasons; eBay has a few, but they are nearing $100.

I am looking at buying game cases for all the games mentioned. I am either going to use Custom Game Cases or try Gaming Relics. I will need to compare prices and shipping costs. Also, I might replace the labels on some of the games with labels from Retro Game Cases. To fully restore them to their glory, I might replace the batteries in the cartridges, or ask Rock 30 to do it for me; I like giving them business.

With my childhood handheld gaming library restored, I can finally play these games as an adult. However, the experience is not great using the original hardware. The Gameboy screen is impossible to see on. I have to switch between the highest contrast, and the lowest contrast to make certain things out. The Gameboy Color screen has a big scratch on it. The Game Gear powers on, but the screen is unable to display anything.

So, I ordered an Anologue Pocket. The reviews from Arstechnica and Digital Foundry are overwhelmingly positive. I am looking forward to using it sometime in 2023… I did not know that when I dropped over $200 on it. There was no indications during checkout that it was not in stock. Looking at it now, I do notice the big “pre-order” button on the information page. So, buyer be warned.

There are a few more retro games I might be buying soon. When in high school, I foolishly sold our Super Nintendo and all of our games. I might rebuild my old library for it. Maybe the used games market will return to normal, and I won’t have to spend so much. A man in his thirties can dream, right?