The argument is understandable but to your point it needs to be relative. If you're comparing it to new games $70-$130 for deluxe) it's SUPER CHEAP. But no it's not like 10 years ago where everyone had games at a yard sale and would take 2 bucks for the box 😂
I don't think it's too expensive it is just harder to find where people are just giving them away cause the average person now knows old games have value. Just honestly have to figure out what kind of collector you are and set a realistic bar. This past week or so I have had limited to no internet at my house due to the last hurricane and it is so nice I can go in my game room and pick something off the shelf and play without having to be reliant on internet access.
You can drop $400-$700 and be able to play any gen between 1-5 perfectly. You can get into FPGA or original hardware and flash carts or ODEs. It’s just an upfront cost but it future proofs you.
Child of the 80s. I don't get it, emulation, the stuff coming out on Switch, the whole world of a steamdeck - I've never been happier. Collecting originals? Sure, actual gaming? Hell no.
I agree that there has been a generalization that it is "too expensive" but the reality for me is that it has not been, all things relative. Of course there was a spike the last few years for obvious reasons, but it's starting to recover to those "pre" levels in my experience. Sellers are going to and are starting to realize that honeymoon is over and prices are getting better. And there are always outliers, but it's not as crazy as some may think. The one area I see where retro can be but not always be a little more expensive are shops with a physical locations as they have some overhead. But it can vary depending on the location, item and owner. Those independent owners are more likely to negotiate with me fortunately. Take care!
Everything is expensive now! Not just games. Plus with having the internet in your pocket nowadays most people arent selling games for a dollar like they were 10 to 20 years ago, most people know what stuff is worth. I agree with you guys.
You guys are not wrong. But most of us are past Mario/ jacket / and the 40$ ps2 games. So this is why most people is mad about getting a good snes rpg game for the collection.
Following that thought imagine a library that specialized in lending retro games. Of course with a security deposit before being able to borrow anything. High value item would remain in the building like a library
I've debated myself with that question as well.. since I bought my WiiU couple years ago, I decided that I just wanted to get the games I hadn't the opportunity to play back in the day. Now I'm trying to get only the exclusive games for each console I have. Xbox 360, PS3 and WiiU have an awesome collection of exclusives, and I'm loving it so far! And it was your love for the WiiU that made me go and buy one! Keep up the great work ;)
I think people are too focused on rare stuff that they want rather than finding fun games and playing them. Plus there are tons of ways to play games legitimately these days: Antstream, NSO, Hamster/Arcade Archives, tons of compilations, etc. We're spoiled for choice. And if you ARE willing to get into emulation, well, the world's your oyster.
I find that if a console is getting a lot of attention on the secondary market, I’ll bounce around to a different console. And also trying to keep ahead of trends. Another good tip, new games seem to go out of print physically out of the blue more often so if there’s one you’re interested in, I’d get it within the first year of release. When the price is lower than release or used but not oop. Signalis went oop out of nowhere. VGP is rereleasing it fortunately. There’s also the Final Fantasy 7 intergrade ps5 release that went oop out of nowhere. Always good to keep an eye out for new games you’re interested in too.
It just depends on what stage of life you're in. I'm in my '40s. There's not a lot cheap that I want anymore, but that's just because I got all of that stuff for even cheaper years ago. If I was starting from scratch right now, I could buy loads and loads of games for cheap that are a ton of fun to play. There are still some relatively inexpensive games I can find at times. Overall, when there's not stuff I want in the price range I'm comfortable paying, I switch gears and focus on playing more or investigating import oddities that aren't really documented well yet to try for cheap. It's really whatever you want to make of it.
I collect mostly for OG Xbox and PS3 and I rarely have to pay more than 15€ for a game. The most expensive game I bought for the Xbox is Spikeout for 80€, but that's basically the price of a new game. Except that Spikeout comes completely on disc, no internet required. Outrun 2 Coast to Coast would be another more expensive title. If you pick a console you love and focus on titles you really want to play, it's a lot cheaper than getting the latest stuff. Great discussion guys.
If there was a Power Blade one and two combo on the switch that’d be so great. I know an unofficial third was released but hell I’d drop forty for a limited run or whatever of the first two on the switch.
I completely agree. Retro gaming is a very affordable hobby especially in comparison to alot of other things you can be into. What ive seen with alot of collectors on reddit and maybe one of the reasons why people think its expensive is because they want to have huge collections. So they buy a bunch of crap games every day to get that shopaholic rush, and then they never save up for an actual good game because they have this abritrary notion that old games are supposed to be 5 bucks. I think actual gamers know old games are not expensive, but collectors think theyre way overpriced.
I have a PS 1, 2, and 3 along with a xbox original and 360 but I only have about 30 games in total. They are all games I like to play over and over. I still buy games, I just only keep the ones I really like and sell the others and use the money to buy others.
Everything is getting expensive, its just a matter of choice on what you spend your money on. I can imagine on how many games I could buy if I stopped going to Starbucks.
Right on. Retro gaming pricing is not as expensive as people make it out to be. And regional variance comes into play. EX: US Sega Saturns consoles and Saturn games are more pricey compared to PAL Saturn consoles and Saturn games. Because the Saturn sold a lot less in the US than other regions. Another thing those price complainers forget is that Retro game consoles and retro games are now collectables, sat in the same category as fine win, vintage sports cars, stamps, etc etc. So some things will be expensive and there will be price bumps and drops along the way time wise. Another thing is when these people see youtubers with large retro game collections, they think that the content creator was like one day "Hur diiii duuur, I'm going to spend that 10 million dollars in the piggy bank next to my bed and buy a large retro game collection." When the reality is the collections you see for the most part were built up over years of individual purchases. If you have a minimum wage job, you too, can still build a large retro game collection.
In terms of going for full libraries or going after the rare titles, yes it is too expensive. If you’re looking into retro to enjoy the game play there are thousands of great titles that are super cheap.
Yep, in my 50s now and still have games from when I was a kid. But still picking up games according to my budget. When I don't have much extra still lots of games to pick up under 20$. At over 1000 games about half RPG games and can still find plenty of what I want in an adorable range.
I think it needs to be said that there is a difference between someone who is a "collector" of retro games (the people who devote entire rooms of lined shelves to them like people do with any other kind of art) and someone who just enjoys playing retro games... If you are someone who absolutely must have an entire collection that is complete in box and A+ quality, then yeah you're gonna have a small fortune invested. On the flip side you can play the overwhelming majority of these games for "free" (assuming you already have any ole pc laying around), and for some folks thats just fine to get their retro kick in while playing on a pc via an emulator with whatever random usb controller they've got laying around. Then there are folks like myself who kinda make up the middle ground. I prefer to play on original hardware, Ive got maybe $2500 invested into Everdrives and ODEs for 16 different consoles. Theyre all consoles that Ive aqcuired and enjoyed over the last 30+ years since getting my NES as a child. I'm sure $2500 would be a steep point of entry for some, but its allowed me to have roughly 27,000 different games ready to load up and play at a moments notice. When it comes to justifying the costs of literally anything in life its gonna be a massive revolving door of opinions... To me it seems silly to spend 40 bucks on an NES game when you can buy a basic Everdrive for about the same coin, and download the entire NES rom library in roughly 30 seconds. To others it might seem silly to bother keeping an actual NES and a crt tv around when they can buy any of the preloaded mini consoles or clones and play it on their modern tv. To others yet it probably seems like a total waste to invest in anything to play ancient games when they can just play them on the computer they already have. As long as people are playing games and having them, then to each their own.
Dude I have been collecting video games for 20 years, since the early 2000s. and now, the video game market sucks because of people like scalpers and the pandemic back in 2020. Because people back then were stuck at home with nothing to do. Some people probably lost their jobs or just quit because of keeping themselves safe. But now in this economy, the video game market has not changed at all. I'm just being realistic here. I want to be positive about video game collecting, but the writing is already on the wall. Right now I'm just trying to buy games at a decent price or buying games that might become rare in the near future.
My opinion is physical copies is the only way to go and I don't think any game should be more than 5 dollars. But I'm someone who doesn't see them as an investment or any money related value at all. To me, they are just childhood memories. They're not things like a porcelain doll or anything that you really shouldn't mess around with. That's just my opinion. With all that said, I'm still able to afford what I want. I'm also not someone who goes for a huge collection per console or anything like that.
If you’re just looking to pick up great games and have plenty to play for the rest of your life, it can be super cheap. Look at the PS4 library, it’s ridiculous how cheap everything is. For someone like me who’s trying to get a complete cib set of 32X games, it can get expensive. It’s still fun though.
I’ve been thinking about dipping my toes into retro gaming to play and collect. All of my old consoles were sold long ago and definitely a little regret there. But I also realize I can’t play everything anymore with career, family, etc. Big thing is I think pick a console and generation you love and spread out too much. Get that console and games you really enjoy. I’ve been thinking about a small GBA collection myself because there a lot of nostalgia there for me with that handheld.
For me as well it’s how much do I value my time. Yes I can emulate but set up, finding trustworthy sites finding a good controller for emulation too. OR I can get an original console and my main headache being how to upscale it for a modern TV which isn’t actually that hard anymore. Don’t get me wrong I do emulate but also when you have access to every game you won’t play one, spend $40 on an old game and you will probably play it. And play it 1000s of times more than a modern aaa game. Good to see you guys back and I look forward to more videos. I’d love for you guys to do a collab with an emulation channel (I bet RGT 85 is a fun guy to have a few drinks with ha!) and talk both sides as there are pros and cons and “just emulate” does not fix all issues when you want to play old games. Especially if you’re not technically minded. Thank you both and keep up the good work
100% agree with you guys. This is not a take you hear very often on TH-cam, but I believe it is true. Honestly I don’t even distinguish between retro and modern gaming. I can find lots of fun PS4 games for 10-20 bucks. I can find tons of fun PS2 games for 10-20 bucks. I can find tons of fun NES games for 10-20 bucks. In my mind, if you can find fun games for cheap, the hobby doesn’t have to be very expensive to enjoy.
Finally two people that are tackling this topic using common sense. This is exactly how I feel. There are more games then I can ever play. I don't spend any more on retro games then I would on a modern day game. So my cap is around $70. I figure if I am going over that line then there is something modern I can buy instead to get enjoyment out of. For things that get too expensive I just emulate. I never heard to Little Sampson until I saw people talking about crazy prices. I have no nostalgia for it. I would imagine a lot of people are in the same boat since it wasn't a popular game back in the day. I think some people get caught up on these ultra expensive titles for bragging rights rather then having any sort of nostalgia towards the game itself. And there's nothing brag worthy about shelling out a thousand dollars for an NES game. I just roll my eyes at people like that since it seems so stupid. For me collecting has worked best by buying things to play and adding new games as I beat games I own. Over time this has left me with a smaller collection, but I have played everything and it feels more currated towards me rather then just having tons of plastic on a shelf that was mostly a waste of money.
Personally I collect ROMs (only partially joking there). I have a completionist mentality that makes me want to 'complete' any set I gather for, and that's just not financially feasible for some systems.
It really does depend on what your collecting for I think. But that being said 10+years ago you could get most classics on these old consoles for 10 to 30 dollars where now days good luck finding all the gamecube classics you want without taking out a second mortgage on your house
I agree with your points here. My guideline is to try not to buy retro games that cost more than what new games are at retail (I make some exceptions at times for certain genres I like). One thing I find frustrating about prices is if you search for games at retro stores, prices rarely come down from a game's peak value.
Yes, this is good advice, especially since I've found that patience is key. If you're out looking enough, eventually you'll find what you want at a price you're willing to pay. One thing I found frustrating at the convention in my area this year is a lot of the vendors didn't bring along what I was looking for, like Saturn imports, though I do appreciate being able to haggle, bundle, or trade.
It’s all a matter of perspective. If u own em ull wish they’d go up in price. If u don’t ull wish they’d go down. Everybody wishes they could get stuff for free but then there wouldn’t be any more resources.
if you want your games cib, it can definitely get out of control. but yeah, if you just want the game, there's plenty of cheap stuff out there. and collecting to just collect is crazy.
I am in the UK, and agree the cost to start collecting is low. Last weekend, I purchased 7 games (Road Avenger, Sherlock Holmes on mega cd, Broken Sword, Sam and Max Season 1, A Boy and His Blob on Wii, Burnout Paradise for XBOX 360 and Lemmings on Mega Drive) for 59 pounds.
If you are an old collector and bought games cheap back in the day. See if there is any games in your collection thats now is valuable (and you wouldnt buy for todays price). Sell em off and buy the games you rather would have
No old game should be viewed as valuable would be my argument. Just childhood memories. This will always be my problem with the whole thing. It's not like they're any type of ceramic item or old doll you shouldn't touch.
Theres so many great options to play and enjoy these games today, to preserve the memories. Tracking down old carts and rotting cd's is a bit pointless honestly.
Preach on righteous dudes! This is a hobby and every hobby has associated expenses. People are just salty because they can't buy rare games for a quarter apiece at garage sales anymore. I recently got an N64 and now have about a dozen games for it which were all about 10-15 dollars per title. Most of the PSP library is very affordable as is the PS2 as you both pointed out. Hell even some of the heavy hitter PS3 games can be had for the 40-50 price range!
It’s actually the opposite, retro gaming is an incredibly CHEAP hobby to get into. For every overpriced Little Samson, there are hundreds of phenomenal games you can buy for pocket change. Older collectors are just salty they can’t buy things for a quarter anymore.
It's become prohibitively expensive if you want to go for CIB stuff (especially for the cart stuff), but loose carts? Almost all of them are still pretty reasonable. Especially for things getting on close to 30+ years old. And as you said, outside of outliers most of the best games released on most systems are still easily obtainable. I think it's the folks who seem to think old games should be 2 or 3 bucks because "they're old" that contribute this narrative, as well as the utterly cancerous "investor" types that have plagued the hobby in recent years, pushing prices up.
With any hobby, price can get out of hand. If you just hunt for those grail pieces, it gets expensive. You guys are right though. There are ways to mitigate those fees. Retro gaming isn't too expensive.... if you educate yourself. If you're impatient and just want to consume consume consume, you'll be in debt in no time.
Back in my day, we could buy a game for a $1 at a garage sale and.... and.... walked to school and back home uphill both ways in snow up to our shoulders.
4:53 Yeah, I remember that. The majority were saying : "OMG it’s so over, retrogaming is too expensive and ruined, nobody will be able to play Super Mario!", it was ridiculous. My opinion always stayed the same. If you wanna just play it, focus on the loose carts. Don’t go for the sealed and graded copy of the game dummy! Like, it’s a sealed copy of an extremely loved game, of course it’s gonna be expensive. - Just play on og hardware = Loose game - Want something nice on the self? = Box + Game (The box can be repro if too expensive) - Want a holy grail? = spend big bucks for a sealed one
Also there are still deals out there! I grabbed a saturn with games for $150, a boxed nes for $100, a ps4 that needed a hard drive for $20, a 3ds xl with games for $100 yesterday alone. Don't get discouraged!
IMO retro game collecting is too expensive and IMO not worth it unless you have the means for it. However, retro game playing is not necessarily expensive if you dont mind workarounds, ie Flash carts, "retro" handhelds, which have come a long way, or just straight emulation on a PC. BTW, I dont mind workarounds and have gone from collecting to playing via those workarounds. My wallet is happier for it and my FOMO is gone, as well.
Collecting an entire set for NES, SNES, N64 etc Expensive. Collecting rocking games that are fun to play. Priceless. You dont have to get every freaking game to enjoy the library! Great take guys.
You've made your points here. The 40$ game rule can easily be the number one rules in collecting. A point you didn't brought to the surface is the overdose of collecting, buying too much is the real cost. The Guy Who act like à freak saying i need this, i want That... Personnaly, i select and tend to dig in, watch and read reviews... clearly you save time and money.
I recently got into Space marines 2 and thought I'd check out some Warhammer 40k books and maybe some of the miniatures... I think it's cheaper to have a coke addiction than get into WH40k!!! Retro gaming will be absolutely fine!!
The bar is definitely true and always comes to mind when recommending the first games to get for a system someone wants to try out. Thanks to most of the good games out there being popular there is a large supply and they have always been low to moderately priced. You won’t always get all the essentials but you’re going to dive deeper into those libraries than you think.
I have a few comments today: #1, I have found that i dont need to buy as much and collect. I didnt realize my library online has as many games you can get. Not just the common ones, right now, it is in the thousands. Save so much money in the future.
I don't pay anything for more than 50 bucks . If something is more than that . I find a different way to play it. Some consoles I don't collect for like NES . I went for the SNES . Instead of the Saturn I dove into the Dreamcast. I got lucky with GameCube and got most before it got wild. DEF JAM FOR 20 bucks. I choose the Wii after gc got crazy
Retro gaming is too expensive nowadays....compared to games 15 years ago...we have a whole new industry of retro video game store/resellers and even youtube/social media...its still doable nowadays...you could take 200 dollars and really ball out and get great games....i will say this tho, some of these games are higher than they should be...Sorry not sorry, Earthboud in box is not worth 5k, or Clay Fighters or other ones...I just think capitalism got to retro gaming and now we live in age where game prices adjust vs back in the day when most NES games where definitely under 5-10 bucks
It's only as expensive as people want to make it. If you put the sweat equity in and hit garage sales, thrifts, flea markets, and keep a keen eye on online services such as FB Marketplace, Ebay, and Mercari there are deals to be found. They might not be as numerous as they were in years past but they're out there. I still find games rather cheaply. At the same time I'm willing to spend market value sometimes as well and in that regard the uncommon and rare games can get quite pricey sometimes. But as you said, new games are $60-$70 to start off with. If I know I'll get my fair share of fun and enjoyment out of a game what difference does it make if I spend that money on something old vs something new? I still very much enjoy this hobby in 2024. It isn't prohibitively expensive, that's a myth. Sure there's some ultra rare games that are ridiculous but we see that in other hobbies as well. Rarity and demand will almost always drive up price. That being said there are more than enough affordable retro games and hardware out there to give anyone a lifetime worth of games to play.
I finally found shadow run on the super Nintendo a few months ago and didn't hesitate to pay $60 for it, but it is tough finding some quality games that are way overpriced now. So I kind of feel it both ways, but I still collect when I can
It's not expensive certain games are but there is a ton of cheap games to be had. On some consoles you can even play repros out of the box if there is a game you really want physical but just can't afford a genuine one. Ps PS3 is really cheap in the UK most games no more than 5 pounds
I don’t have the space , four kids wife and a dog … I’m gonna start slowly getting rid of everything and just keep the very sentimental stuff like my original nes and sega and ps2 , everything else just gonna slowly say bye … emulation is always there but my time is thin lol cheers guys
It’s actually pretty amazing how cheap this hobby can be to get started. For less than going to a movie you can acquire a few amazing retro games that you can keep and replay. Yes some of the rare games are expensive, but that tends to be the exception not the rule.
Nah, the ppl that whine about this stuff priorities are trash or spending above their means. And don't know how to save for what you want. Also, to be honest, a lot of ppl lack jobs to pay for their hobbies..
As a game collector, one of the best pieces of advice I can give to new collectors is only focus on 1-2 game consoles and go slowly from there. In my country where a PS5 game is actually the equivalent of $80, you can buy all the PS2 CIB Final Fantasy games for half of that including FF7: Dirge of Cerberus.
I agree with this. It’s cheap to get started and to get a decent collection. Yes some games are expensive but it’s up to you if you want to pay that price. I collect for ps1, ps3, Xbox og and Xbox 360 so I may not technically be retro but I pick and choose the games I buy and if I’m willing to pay the price, save up or just not buy at all.
is retro game collecting about just filling shelfs with game boxes or is it to actually play them?if its just to play them and you have a pc use emulators,free
I love retro gaming, and anyone who says it's too expensive are crazy. You don't even need to collect to enjoy the hobby. Just get Flash Carts. Buy a NES and a flash cart and have literally the whole library. Then just play the games. I have a game room with like 15 consoles all flash carted/hacked to unlock all the libraries. I still keep my collection around because I enjoy having a library of my gaming memories, but I don't *need* them to enjoy the hobby of retro gaming. Also, I'm a big MiSTer fan. My game room started in a tiny cramped room. Then I started hosting a Monthly Retro Game Night with about 7 dudes coming over to drink beers and play for bragging rights. I revamped my garage into a big retro gaming/board gaming zone. While all my original hardware is in the tiny game room, we've been using the MiSTer for our game device in the garage, and everyone loves it! These are all hardcore retro gaming enthusiasts and they love the MiSTer. It never skips a beat. We're not emulation fans... but we all agree the MiSTer hits different. So yeah, coming from an OG hardware lover, and someone who wants to get to experience all the games, you can be hardcore retro gamer for the cost of a 20 dollar CRT, an 80 dollar NES, and a 100 dollar flash cart. Or get a MiSTer for 250 bucks and have every system released before the dreamcast (for the most part) including 80's computers. I use the computer cores a lot in the game garage as well. Another great video guys. Tell the people "be not afraid of retro gaming".
Imo the fucking people who say it's to expensive are rhe ones who called the games trash and why are you playing them and now thag they want to get back into games and have nothing and start from bottom up
I agree that you can find things cheap while also agreeing that things are expensive. I know comparing it to the PS5 Pro it's cheaper, but that thing sucks and is too expensive too 😂. Cheapness depends on the console. You can get some of the best games cheap on NES, Game Gear, Gameboy, PS2, Xbox, Genesis and the Wii. Hell I've gotten so many Game Gear games this year cheap and no one is going after it. However if you care for something like Gamecube then the prices become annoying to look at. I collect disc only at times because it's much cheaper and I can still play the game and beat it and get the case later. That's probably the bullet people are gonna have to bite if you want to collect cheap then you are gonna have lower your condition standards. I've always only had playable and beatable as a standard since that's what matters the most like actually playing the game. Also flipping isn't viable to everyone and is it's own hustle. Some wouldn't make their money back fully. I would just say save money and take your time collecting is a journey not a gold rush.
It all just depends on your priorities and what you're looking for. I no longer collect physical for the older consoles, I have no desire to own very many physical games anymore. So I buy collections on my Series X, and some of the back compat games physical. Its all subjective to what you want. I grew up with the Nintendo's, now I'm off to other pastures. I do buy some collections like the Final Fantasy Pixel remasters recently on the Series X. Its awesome!
If u get dev mode for Xbox series and retro arch it’s a really amazing way to play , I play with my Zip drive in the Xbox and was able to play the old tenchu and disruptor for ps1
Yeah I got tired of the spending I was doing on retro games and just got everdrives and was done with it. At the end of the day all I want is the real system and game on CRT. I don't care about having a shelf of games anymore. I sold off most of my physical collection and paid off debt instead and went everdrive, ODE and modded HDD systems. Full Library on real Hardware.
Retro collecting very not that expensive if you have deep pockets you have the money want pay for games cost 2,500.00 little Samson it’s worth it if you didn’t get it for it like me 10 years ago for 200.00 dollars flea market
It really depends on how you want to play or collect retro games, if its loose games there's a treasure trove of an almost infinite ammount that you can get for cheap on almost any console. Now if we're talking CIB it's going to depend on what console it is. The SNES and NES, those are very expenisve games to get as CIB, but the PS2 and other CD/DVD based games are pretty cheap even as CIB. Now if your going for a full set, which is cool to watch but very dumb in my opinion, your looking at thousands dollars right there. Again it all depends on what you want.
My most valuable retro games are the pokemon games but i had them sense i was a kid or got them 8ish years ago when they were cheaper orher then that my most expensive retro game is worth 70 and it is a loose copy of gunstar heros. You can get great games for cheap. If your trying to go as cheap as possable i sugjest a genisis and getiing the 6 pack. I have arround 500 games and 100 of that are between nintendo switch and ps4
The argument is understandable but to your point it needs to be relative. If you're comparing it to new games $70-$130 for deluxe) it's SUPER CHEAP. But no it's not like 10 years ago where everyone had games at a yard sale and would take 2 bucks for the box 😂
Plenty of games out there for every console from 1980-Now I’m still collecting and playing all these decades later
I don't think it's too expensive it is just harder to find where people are just giving them away cause the average person now knows old games have value. Just honestly have to figure out what kind of collector you are and set a realistic bar. This past week or so I have had limited to no internet at my house due to the last hurricane and it is so nice I can go in my game room and pick something off the shelf and play without having to be reliant on internet access.
You can drop $400-$700 and be able to play any gen between 1-5 perfectly. You can get into FPGA or original hardware and flash carts or ODEs. It’s just an upfront cost but it future proofs you.
Child of the 80s. I don't get it, emulation, the stuff coming out on Switch, the whole world of a steamdeck - I've never been happier. Collecting originals? Sure, actual gaming? Hell no.
Same same same. I've got more games than I'll be able to finish in my lifetime.
You got that right! I never thought I would spend hundreds of dollars on a single game but here I am. Neo Geo & Sega Saturn collecting is a killer.
People who say this.. they want the RARE games they can’t get.. or just lazy and cheap
I agree that there has been a generalization that it is "too expensive" but the reality for me is that it has not been, all things relative. Of course there was a spike the last few years for obvious reasons, but it's starting to recover to those "pre" levels in my experience. Sellers are going to and are starting to realize that honeymoon is over and prices are getting better. And there are always outliers, but it's not as crazy as some may think. The one area I see where retro can be but not always be a little more expensive are shops with a physical locations as they have some overhead. But it can vary depending on the location, item and owner. Those independent owners are more likely to negotiate with me fortunately. Take care!
Everything is expensive now! Not just games. Plus with having the internet in your pocket nowadays most people arent selling games for a dollar like they were 10 to 20 years ago, most people know what stuff is worth. I agree with you guys.
You guys are not wrong. But most of us are past Mario/ jacket / and the 40$ ps2 games.
So this is why most people is mad about getting a good snes rpg game for the collection.
Following that thought imagine a library that specialized in lending retro games. Of course with a security deposit before being able to borrow anything. High value item would remain in the building like a library
I've debated myself with that question as well.. since I bought my WiiU couple years ago, I decided that I just wanted to get the games I hadn't the opportunity to play back in the day. Now I'm trying to get only the exclusive games for each console I have. Xbox 360, PS3 and WiiU have an awesome collection of exclusives, and I'm loving it so far! And it was your love for the WiiU that made me go and buy one! Keep up the great work ;)
I think people are too focused on rare stuff that they want rather than finding fun games and playing them. Plus there are tons of ways to play games legitimately these days: Antstream, NSO, Hamster/Arcade Archives, tons of compilations, etc. We're spoiled for choice.
And if you ARE willing to get into emulation, well, the world's your oyster.
I find that if a console is getting a lot of attention on the secondary market, I’ll bounce around to a different console. And also trying to keep ahead of trends. Another good tip, new games seem to go out of print physically out of the blue more often so if there’s one you’re interested in, I’d get it within the first year of release. When the price is lower than release or used but not oop. Signalis went oop out of nowhere. VGP is rereleasing it fortunately. There’s also the Final Fantasy 7 intergrade ps5 release that went oop out of nowhere. Always good to keep an eye out for new games you’re interested in too.
It just depends on what stage of life you're in. I'm in my '40s. There's not a lot cheap that I want anymore, but that's just because I got all of that stuff for even cheaper years ago. If I was starting from scratch right now, I could buy loads and loads of games for cheap that are a ton of fun to play. There are still some relatively inexpensive games I can find at times. Overall, when there's not stuff I want in the price range I'm comfortable paying, I switch gears and focus on playing more or investigating import oddities that aren't really documented well yet to try for cheap. It's really whatever you want to make of it.
I collect mostly for OG Xbox and PS3 and I rarely have to pay more than 15€ for a game. The most expensive game I bought for the Xbox is Spikeout for 80€, but that's basically the price of a new game. Except that Spikeout comes completely on disc, no internet required. Outrun 2 Coast to Coast would be another more expensive title.
If you pick a console you love and focus on titles you really want to play, it's a lot cheaper than getting the latest stuff. Great discussion guys.
If there was a Power Blade one and two combo on the switch that’d be so great. I know an unofficial third was released but hell I’d drop forty for a limited run or whatever of the first two on the switch.
I completely agree.
Retro gaming is a very affordable hobby especially in comparison to alot of other things you can be into.
What ive seen with alot of collectors on reddit and maybe one of the reasons why people think its expensive is because they want to have huge collections. So they buy a bunch of crap games every day to get that shopaholic rush, and then they never save up for an actual good game because they have this abritrary notion that old games are supposed to be 5 bucks.
I think actual gamers know old games are not expensive, but collectors think theyre way overpriced.
I have a PS 1, 2, and 3 along with a xbox original and 360 but I only have about 30 games in total. They are all games I like to play over and over. I still buy games, I just only keep the ones I really like and sell the others and use the money to buy others.
Everything is getting expensive, its just a matter of choice on what you spend your money on. I can imagine on how many games I could buy if I stopped going to Starbucks.
As a coffee guy, I agree I love my cold brew and dark pike😂
Right on. Retro gaming pricing is not as expensive as people make it out to be. And regional variance comes into play. EX: US Sega Saturns consoles and Saturn games are more pricey compared to PAL Saturn consoles and Saturn games. Because the Saturn sold a lot less in the US than other regions. Another thing those price complainers forget is that Retro game consoles and retro games are now collectables, sat in the same category as fine win, vintage sports cars, stamps, etc etc. So some things will be expensive and there will be price bumps and drops along the way time wise.
Another thing is when these people see youtubers with large retro game collections, they think that the content creator was like one day "Hur diiii duuur, I'm going to spend that 10 million dollars in the piggy bank next to my bed and buy a large retro game collection." When the reality is the collections you see for the most part were built up over years of individual purchases.
If you have a minimum wage job, you too, can still build a large retro game collection.
In terms of going for full libraries or going after the rare titles, yes it is too expensive. If you’re looking into retro to enjoy the game play there are thousands of great titles that are super cheap.
Yep, in my 50s now and still have games from when I was a kid. But still picking up games according to my budget. When I don't have much extra still lots of games to pick up under 20$. At over 1000 games about half RPG games and can still find plenty of what I want in an adorable range.
I think it needs to be said that there is a difference between someone who is a "collector" of retro games (the people who devote entire rooms of lined shelves to them like people do with any other kind of art) and someone who just enjoys playing retro games...
If you are someone who absolutely must have an entire collection that is complete in box and A+ quality, then yeah you're gonna have a small fortune invested. On the flip side you can play the overwhelming majority of these games for "free" (assuming you already have any ole pc laying around), and for some folks thats just fine to get their retro kick in while playing on a pc via an emulator with whatever random usb controller they've got laying around.
Then there are folks like myself who kinda make up the middle ground. I prefer to play on original hardware, Ive got maybe $2500 invested into Everdrives and ODEs for 16 different consoles. Theyre all consoles that Ive aqcuired and enjoyed over the last 30+ years since getting my NES as a child. I'm sure $2500 would be a steep point of entry for some, but its allowed me to have roughly 27,000 different games ready to load up and play at a moments notice.
When it comes to justifying the costs of literally anything in life its gonna be a massive revolving door of opinions... To me it seems silly to spend 40 bucks on an NES game when you can buy a basic Everdrive for about the same coin, and download the entire NES rom library in roughly 30 seconds. To others it might seem silly to bother keeping an actual NES and a crt tv around when they can buy any of the preloaded mini consoles or clones and play it on their modern tv. To others yet it probably seems like a total waste to invest in anything to play ancient games when they can just play them on the computer they already have.
As long as people are playing games and having them, then to each their own.
Dude I have been collecting video games for 20 years, since the early 2000s. and now, the video game market sucks because of people like scalpers and the pandemic back in 2020. Because people back then were stuck at home with nothing to do. Some people probably lost their jobs or just quit because of keeping themselves safe. But now in this economy, the video game market has not changed at all. I'm just being realistic here. I want to be positive about video game collecting, but the writing is already on the wall. Right now I'm just trying to buy games at a decent price or buying games that might become rare in the near future.
My opinion is physical copies is the only way to go and I don't think any game should be more than 5 dollars. But I'm someone who doesn't see them as an investment or any money related value at all. To me, they are just childhood memories. They're not things like a porcelain doll or anything that you really shouldn't mess around with. That's just my opinion. With all that said, I'm still able to afford what I want. I'm also not someone who goes for a huge collection per console or anything like that.
If you’re just looking to pick up great games and have plenty to play for the rest of your life, it can be super cheap. Look at the PS4 library, it’s ridiculous how cheap everything is. For someone like me who’s trying to get a complete cib set of 32X games, it can get expensive. It’s still fun though.
At my Target NO MORE DVD as of last Monday. There a ton of books now.
Dang, R.I.P Physical Media for Target. Guess Wal-mart is next now.
I’ve been thinking about dipping my toes into retro gaming to play and collect. All of my old consoles were sold long ago and definitely a little regret there. But I also realize I can’t play everything anymore with career, family, etc. Big thing is I think pick a console and generation you love and spread out too much. Get that console and games you really enjoy. I’ve been thinking about a small GBA collection myself because there a lot of nostalgia there for me with that handheld.
For me as well it’s how much do I value my time. Yes I can emulate but set up, finding trustworthy sites finding a good controller for emulation too. OR I can get an original console and my main headache being how to upscale it for a modern TV which isn’t actually that hard anymore. Don’t get me wrong I do emulate but also when you have access to every game you won’t play one, spend $40 on an old game and you will probably play it. And play it 1000s of times more than a modern aaa game. Good to see you guys back and I look forward to more videos. I’d love for you guys to do a collab with an emulation channel (I bet RGT 85 is a fun guy to have a few drinks with ha!) and talk both sides as there are pros and cons and “just emulate” does not fix all issues when you want to play old games. Especially if you’re not technically minded. Thank you both and keep up the good work
100% agree with you guys. This is not a take you hear very often on TH-cam, but I believe it is true. Honestly I don’t even distinguish between retro and modern gaming. I can find lots of fun PS4 games for 10-20 bucks. I can find tons of fun PS2 games for 10-20 bucks. I can find tons of fun NES games for 10-20 bucks. In my mind, if you can find fun games for cheap, the hobby doesn’t have to be very expensive to enjoy.
Madden should be you buy it once every year has DLC to get new players
Finally two people that are tackling this topic using common sense. This is exactly how I feel. There are more games then I can ever play. I don't spend any more on retro games then I would on a modern day game. So my cap is around $70. I figure if I am going over that line then there is something modern I can buy instead to get enjoyment out of. For things that get too expensive I just emulate.
I never heard to Little Sampson until I saw people talking about crazy prices. I have no nostalgia for it. I would imagine a lot of people are in the same boat since it wasn't a popular game back in the day. I think some people get caught up on these ultra expensive titles for bragging rights rather then having any sort of nostalgia towards the game itself. And there's nothing brag worthy about shelling out a thousand dollars for an NES game. I just roll my eyes at people like that since it seems so stupid.
For me collecting has worked best by buying things to play and adding new games as I beat games I own. Over time this has left me with a smaller collection, but I have played everything and it feels more currated towards me rather then just having tons of plastic on a shelf that was mostly a waste of money.
Personally I collect ROMs (only partially joking there). I have a completionist mentality that makes me want to 'complete' any set I gather for, and that's just not financially feasible for some systems.
Exactly! People tell me this all the time. It’s wild. Especially when there are still deals and cheap games out there.
It really does depend on what your collecting for I think. But that being said 10+years ago you could get most classics on these old consoles for 10 to 30 dollars where now days good luck finding all the gamecube classics you want without taking out a second mortgage on your house
I agree with your points here. My guideline is to try not to buy retro games that cost more than what new games are at retail (I make some exceptions at times for certain genres I like).
One thing I find frustrating about prices is if you search for games at retro stores, prices rarely come down from a game's peak value.
Your last part is why I try and buy my games at conventions or flea markets. My LGS does not budge from peak prices very often l.
Yes, this is good advice, especially since I've found that patience is key. If you're out looking enough, eventually you'll find what you want at a price you're willing to pay. One thing I found frustrating at the convention in my area this year is a lot of the vendors didn't bring along what I was looking for, like Saturn imports, though I do appreciate being able to haggle, bundle, or trade.
It’s all a matter of perspective. If u own em ull wish they’d go up in price. If u don’t ull wish they’d go down. Everybody wishes they could get stuff for free but then there wouldn’t be any more resources.
if you want your games cib, it can definitely get out of control. but yeah, if you just want the game, there's plenty of cheap stuff out there. and collecting to just collect is crazy.
Too expensive.... If you're buying unopened games lol
I am in the UK, and agree the cost to start collecting is low. Last weekend, I purchased 7 games (Road Avenger, Sherlock Holmes on mega cd, Broken Sword, Sam and Max Season 1, A Boy and His Blob on Wii, Burnout Paradise for XBOX 360 and Lemmings on Mega Drive) for 59 pounds.
If you are an old collector and bought games cheap back in the day. See if there is any games in your collection thats now is valuable (and you wouldnt buy for todays price). Sell em off and buy the games you rather would have
No old game should be viewed as valuable would be my argument. Just childhood memories. This will always be my problem with the whole thing. It's not like they're any type of ceramic item or old doll you shouldn't touch.
Wondering how much your collection on your back wall it’s worth
Theres so many great options to play and enjoy these games today, to preserve the memories. Tracking down old carts and rotting cd's is a bit pointless honestly.
Preach on righteous dudes! This is a hobby and every hobby has associated expenses. People are just salty because they can't buy rare games for a quarter apiece at garage sales anymore.
I recently got an N64 and now have about a dozen games for it which were all about 10-15 dollars per title. Most of the PSP library is very affordable as is the PS2 as you both pointed out. Hell even some of the heavy hitter PS3 games can be had for the 40-50 price range!
It’s actually the opposite, retro gaming is an incredibly CHEAP hobby to get into. For every overpriced Little Samson, there are hundreds of phenomenal games you can buy for pocket change. Older collectors are just salty they can’t buy things for a quarter anymore.
It's become prohibitively expensive if you want to go for CIB stuff (especially for the cart stuff), but loose carts? Almost all of them are still pretty reasonable. Especially for things getting on close to 30+ years old. And as you said, outside of outliers most of the best games released on most systems are still easily obtainable. I think it's the folks who seem to think old games should be 2 or 3 bucks because "they're old" that contribute this narrative, as well as the utterly cancerous "investor" types that have plagued the hobby in recent years, pushing prices up.
With any hobby, price can get out of hand. If you just hunt for those grail pieces, it gets expensive. You guys are right though. There are ways to mitigate those fees. Retro gaming isn't too expensive.... if you educate yourself. If you're impatient and just want to consume consume consume, you'll be in debt in no time.
Back in my day, we could buy a game for a $1 at a garage sale and.... and.... walked to school and back home uphill both ways in snow up to our shoulders.
LMFAO!!! So true :)
I mean... I did walk to school uphill both ways... but I also walked downhill both ways as well
That was nothing compared to what we went through to get condoms..
4:53
Yeah, I remember that. The majority were saying : "OMG it’s so over, retrogaming is too expensive and ruined, nobody will be able to play Super Mario!", it was ridiculous.
My opinion always stayed the same.
If you wanna just play it, focus on the loose carts. Don’t go for the sealed and graded copy of the game dummy!
Like, it’s a sealed copy of an extremely loved game, of course it’s gonna be expensive.
- Just play on og hardware = Loose game
- Want something nice on the self? = Box + Game (The box can be repro if too expensive)
- Want a holy grail? = spend big bucks for a sealed one
Also there are still deals out there! I grabbed a saturn with games for $150, a boxed nes for $100, a ps4 that needed a hard drive for $20, a 3ds xl with games for $100 yesterday alone. Don't get discouraged!
IMO retro game collecting is too expensive and IMO not worth it unless you have the means for it. However, retro game playing is not necessarily expensive if you dont mind workarounds, ie Flash carts, "retro" handhelds, which have come a long way, or just straight emulation on a PC. BTW, I dont mind workarounds and have gone from collecting to playing via those workarounds. My wallet is happier for it and my FOMO is gone, as well.
Collecting an entire set for NES, SNES, N64 etc
Expensive.
Collecting rocking games that are fun to play. Priceless.
You dont have to get every freaking game to enjoy the library! Great take guys.
You've made your points here. The 40$ game rule can easily be the number one rules in collecting.
A point you didn't brought to the surface is the overdose of collecting, buying too much is the real cost. The Guy Who act like à freak saying i need this, i want That...
Personnaly, i select and tend to dig in, watch and read reviews... clearly you save time and money.
I recently got into Space marines 2 and thought I'd check out some Warhammer 40k books and maybe some of the miniatures... I think it's cheaper to have a coke addiction than get into WH40k!!!
Retro gaming will be absolutely fine!!
I collect mostly 6 and 7 generation and its mostly super cheap if you dont count gamecube games
The bar is definitely true and always comes to mind when recommending the first games to get for a system someone wants to try out. Thanks to most of the good games out there being popular there is a large supply and they have always been low to moderately priced. You won’t always get all the essentials but you’re going to dive deeper into those libraries than you think.
I have a few comments today: #1, I have found that i dont need to buy as much and collect. I didnt realize my library online has as many games you can get. Not just the common ones, right now, it is in the thousands. Save so much money in the future.
I don't pay anything for more than 50 bucks . If something is more than that . I find a different way to play it. Some consoles I don't collect for like NES . I went for the SNES . Instead of the Saturn I dove into the Dreamcast. I got lucky with GameCube and got most before it got wild. DEF JAM FOR 20 bucks. I choose the Wii after gc got crazy
Retro gaming is too expensive nowadays....compared to games 15 years ago...we have a whole new industry of retro video game store/resellers and even youtube/social media...its still doable nowadays...you could take 200 dollars and really ball out and get great games....i will say this tho, some of these games are higher than they should be...Sorry not sorry, Earthboud in box is not worth 5k, or Clay Fighters or other ones...I just think capitalism got to retro gaming and now we live in age where game prices adjust vs back in the day when most NES games where definitely under 5-10 bucks
It's only as expensive as people want to make it. If you put the sweat equity in and hit garage sales, thrifts, flea markets, and keep a keen eye on online services such as FB Marketplace, Ebay, and Mercari there are deals to be found. They might not be as numerous as they were in years past but they're out there.
I still find games rather cheaply. At the same time I'm willing to spend market value sometimes as well and in that regard the uncommon and rare games can get quite pricey sometimes. But as you said, new games are $60-$70 to start off with. If I know I'll get my fair share of fun and enjoyment out of a game what difference does it make if I spend that money on something old vs something new?
I still very much enjoy this hobby in 2024. It isn't prohibitively expensive, that's a myth. Sure there's some ultra rare games that are ridiculous but we see that in other hobbies as well. Rarity and demand will almost always drive up price. That being said there are more than enough affordable retro games and hardware out there to give anyone a lifetime worth of games to play.
I finally found shadow run on the super Nintendo a few months ago and didn't hesitate to pay $60 for it, but it is tough finding some quality games that are way overpriced now. So I kind of feel it both ways, but I still collect when I can
You need to collect at the right time for the console. Xbox 360 at the moment.
It's not expensive certain games are but there is a ton of cheap games to be had. On some consoles you can even play repros out of the box if there is a game you really want physical but just can't afford a genuine one. Ps PS3 is really cheap in the UK most games no more than 5 pounds
I don’t have the space , four kids wife and a dog … I’m gonna start slowly getting rid of everything and just keep the very sentimental stuff like my original nes and sega and ps2 , everything else just gonna slowly say bye … emulation is always there but my time is thin lol cheers guys
It’s actually pretty amazing how cheap this hobby can be to get started. For less than going to a movie you can acquire a few amazing retro games that you can keep and replay. Yes some of the rare games are expensive, but that tends to be the exception not the rule.
I like being called a retro freak lol. Yeah games have gone up in value, but I just have to be more picky in what I want to collect
Nah, the ppl that whine about this stuff priorities are trash or spending above their means.
And don't know how to save for what you want. Also, to be honest, a lot of ppl lack jobs to pay for their hobbies..
As a game collector, one of the best pieces of advice I can give to new collectors is only focus on 1-2 game consoles and go slowly from there. In my country where a PS5 game is actually the equivalent of $80, you can buy all the PS2 CIB Final Fantasy games for half of that including FF7: Dirge of Cerberus.
Popular sells better than rare it always does. There's only one person buying a 1 of 1 there is millions buying everything else 😊
GOTG gems under $40 series please
You could play Ultimate Spider Man on the ps2 for under 40 bucks. It’s a great game to play
It's a Expensive Hole!😂🎉🎉
I agree with this. It’s cheap to get started and to get a decent collection. Yes some games are expensive but it’s up to you if you want to pay that price. I collect for ps1, ps3, Xbox og and Xbox 360 so I may not technically be retro but I pick and choose the games I buy and if I’m willing to pay the price, save up or just not buy at all.
Good video/talk guys. Keep up the good work
is retro game collecting about just filling shelfs with game boxes or is it to actually play them?if its just to play them and you have a pc use emulators,free
I love retro gaming its better then new games!
I love retro gaming, and anyone who says it's too expensive are crazy. You don't even need to collect to enjoy the hobby. Just get Flash Carts. Buy a NES and a flash cart and have literally the whole library. Then just play the games. I have a game room with like 15 consoles all flash carted/hacked to unlock all the libraries. I still keep my collection around because I enjoy having a library of my gaming memories, but I don't *need* them to enjoy the hobby of retro gaming.
Also, I'm a big MiSTer fan. My game room started in a tiny cramped room. Then I started hosting a Monthly Retro Game Night with about 7 dudes coming over to drink beers and play for bragging rights. I revamped my garage into a big retro gaming/board gaming zone. While all my original hardware is in the tiny game room, we've been using the MiSTer for our game device in the garage, and everyone loves it! These are all hardcore retro gaming enthusiasts and they love the MiSTer. It never skips a beat. We're not emulation fans... but we all agree the MiSTer hits different.
So yeah, coming from an OG hardware lover, and someone who wants to get to experience all the games, you can be hardcore retro gamer for the cost of a 20 dollar CRT, an 80 dollar NES, and a 100 dollar flash cart. Or get a MiSTer for 250 bucks and have every system released before the dreamcast (for the most part) including 80's computers. I use the computer cores a lot in the game garage as well.
Another great video guys. Tell the people "be not afraid of retro gaming".
Imo the fucking people who say it's to expensive are rhe ones who called the games trash and why are you playing them and now thag they want to get back into games and have nothing and start from bottom up
Basically the people who don't deserve the games in the first plsce
I don't care anymore, but don't know why I still click on videos like this :D
I agree that you can find things cheap while also agreeing that things are expensive. I know comparing it to the PS5 Pro it's cheaper, but that thing sucks and is too expensive too 😂. Cheapness depends on the console. You can get some of the best games cheap on NES, Game Gear, Gameboy, PS2, Xbox, Genesis and the Wii. Hell I've gotten so many Game Gear games this year cheap and no one is going after it. However if you care for something like Gamecube then the prices become annoying to look at. I collect disc only at times because it's much cheaper and I can still play the game and beat it and get the case later. That's probably the bullet people are gonna have to bite if you want to collect cheap then you are gonna have lower your condition standards. I've always only had playable and beatable as a standard since that's what matters the most like actually playing the game. Also flipping isn't viable to everyone and is it's own hustle. Some wouldn't make their money back fully. I would just say save money and take your time collecting is a journey not a gold rush.
It all just depends on your priorities and what you're looking for. I no longer collect physical for the older consoles, I have no desire to own very many physical games anymore. So I buy collections on my Series X, and some of the back compat games physical. Its all subjective to what you want. I grew up with the Nintendo's, now I'm off to other pastures. I do buy some collections like the Final Fantasy Pixel remasters recently on the Series X. Its awesome!
If u get dev mode for Xbox series and retro arch it’s a really amazing way to play , I play with my Zip drive in the Xbox and was able to play the old tenchu and disruptor for ps1
Just started playing Madden 2001 on ps2 and will play this season after season. Much better than recent Madden games and I bought it for $2
I agree 100% fellas
Yeah I got tired of the spending I was doing on retro games and just got everdrives and was done with it.
At the end of the day all I want is the real system and game on CRT. I don't care about having a shelf of games anymore. I sold off most of my physical collection and paid off debt instead and went everdrive, ODE and modded HDD systems. Full Library on real Hardware.
Star Wars games will make you buy the extra stuff on top of the base game too
It's cheaper than most hobbies out there 😅
Retro collecting very not that expensive if you have deep pockets you have the money want pay for games cost 2,500.00 little Samson it’s worth it if you didn’t get it for it like me 10 years ago for 200.00 dollars flea market
I just dont have the room thats why i went for a miyoo mini plus for upto ps1.
It really depends on how you want to play or collect retro games, if its loose games there's a treasure trove of an almost infinite ammount that you can get for cheap on almost any console. Now if we're talking CIB it's going to depend on what console it is. The SNES and NES, those are very expenisve games to get as CIB, but the PS2 and other CD/DVD based games are pretty cheap even as CIB. Now if your going for a full set, which is cool to watch but very dumb in my opinion, your looking at thousands dollars right there. Again it all depends on what you want.
My most valuable retro games are the pokemon games but i had them sense i was a kid or got them 8ish years ago when they were cheaper orher then that my most expensive retro game is worth 70 and it is a loose copy of gunstar heros. You can get great games for cheap. If your trying to go as cheap as possable i sugjest a genisis and getiing the 6 pack. I have arround 500 games and 100 of that are between nintendo switch and ps4
Absolutely agree 👍
Switch games will go that way
Just wait until the next Switch comes out. Those games will probably go up when that new console drops on the market.
Grocery's are expensive, you don't need video games.
First