Yep, the prices changed in a bad way during the last 5 years.
Mostly, just on the Squaresoft RPGs I've noticed. Any other SNES game I've purchased recently I have gotten for rather cheap. If Square is on it, you can add $20-$30 onto the price tag.
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SNES Game Collecting (Tips, discussion, and info for like minded collectors)
- Thread starter DidntKnowJack
- Start date
Mostly, just on the Squaresoft RPGs I've noticed. Any other SNES game I've purchased recently I have gotten for rather cheap. If Square is on it, you can add $20-$30 onto the price tag.
Zeouterlimits
Member
My small SNES collection:
Check up Mega Man X2 (78$/100$) and X3 (155$/190$) on Ebay, for loose cartridges only! Prices for many games are going up lately, Square games included.
4 years ago, I got X2 for 30$ and X3 for 65$, both on Ebay as well.
Castlevania Dracula X, minimum on Ebay nowadays - 115$
4 years ago - Got it for 75$.
It'll get more and more expensive with time for the newcomers in collecting. :/
EDIT: Holy shit, Mega Man 7 is minimum 130$ today and I got it with the booklet for 45$ back then, wtf.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
Yep, even common games like Super Metroid and Zelda 3 have gone up. You used to be able to buy CIB copies of Super Metroid(non GH) for around 50 bucks about a year ago. Now? 125-150 bucks. Ouch!
I've actually started a while ago and do have many boxed games but I'm missing quite a few that I would like to own such as ChronoTrigger and Secret of Mana. I just don't have the money to spend at the moment so I had to take a break from collecting.
Yeah it sucks. It was about $90 last I checked a few months back. I really want it too =/
No kidding, I didn't even know X3 had gone up so much. I got my copy off eBay in 2005 for $7.50! Gotta wonder how the bell curve on this'll look someday, or if it's just going to keep climbing. Nice to see Demon's Crest getting some love though, I've been touting that thing's genius for years
Unrelated to SNES, but it seems all cartridge games are really going up lately. I saw Super Mario 64 in a store for $35, and MVS games used to be the cheap alternative for those in the know. Seems since ~2010 or so they've skyrocketed.
Edit: The nice thing about all this though is that the price of good reproductions is falling quick. I bought a reproduction Terranigma (unbeknownst to me) from Gamefellas in 2000 for friggin' $140! They told me it was a USA proto and super rare!
Like the hat?
Banned
I really wish Secret of Mana was a bit cheaper. I'd gladly hand over like $25 for it but not $50+
I haven't taught myself to solder, so my piles of dead-battery cart (like 8 or 9 now for the SNES alone... plus two for the NES, 8-10 for the Game Boy and GBC, and 2 N64 Controller Paks...) are just sitting around collecting dust.
I've been modding my carts to have battery holders, so that future battery changes are as simple as popping the old one out and putting a new one in.
I'd be willing to do this for others, if there's a demand, but, I'd have to charge like $7-$8 a game to do so.
That makes my wallet hurt. I want a CIB X2/X3 but its gonna cost me a lot. There's a used game dealer I see at a lot of conventions, so maybe he'll have it for not as expensive. I just have to be patient.
It's really worth investigating some of the prices for the SFC equivalents. Rockman X2, X3, and 7 all go for way less than the US versions.
For some games that aren't text/story heavy, it's definitely worth getting the japanese versions.
entremet
Member
If we would could all talk to our younger selves 20 years from now lol.
I didn't own much games. I rented not having disposable income.
I had:
Super Mario World
Super Mario All Stars. Got the promotional copy with my SNES. Not the pack in. You had to mail in for it.
Yoshi's Island
Star Fox
Super Metroid
Super Mario Kart
DKC1
Super Mario RPG
Mega Man X2
Super Street Fighter II
Super Ghost and Goblins
That was my permanent collection.
I rented and traded in many.
I didn't own much games. I rented not having disposable income.
I had:
Super Mario World
Super Mario All Stars. Got the promotional copy with my SNES. Not the pack in. You had to mail in for it.
Yoshi's Island
Star Fox
Super Metroid
Super Mario Kart
DKC1
Super Mario RPG
Mega Man X2
Super Street Fighter II
Super Ghost and Goblins
That was my permanent collection.
I rented and traded in many.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
Yeah, these prices fucking blow. I think/hope we're at the peak. Surely there is no way pries keep skyrocketing like they have the last yeah or so.
I have three places not too far away that sell things for about half what they go for on ebay. I'm afraid they'll be raising their prices any day now, though.
Today I took a little walk to see what's up in the stores SNES games-wise, found this for 40$ and it's pretty much in perfect shape (the colors seems washed out but it's because of the cam's flash).
I needed this one badly, just forgot about it with time. Already 1 hour in, fuck yeah. I already went through the DS version but now I'm hyped for the real thing.
My local place has a copy of this for $20. It's sticker is pretty messed up, though. They don't change prices based on condition, so I'm hoping they'll get another one at some point in better shape so I can snatch it up for $20.
There are two Pre-Played in Madison Wisconsin, and their prices are pretty shitty. They charge as much as ebay, if not a little more when you throw in taxes. Neither really had shit when I went last week either. When I went before Christmas they had a good amount though, so they may just be wiped out from the holidays. They had a CIB copy of Final Fantasy 2 for $50, but it's gone now.
Thanks! Either they added that within the last few months or I somehow missed it. Likely I somehow missed it.
A Black Falcon
Member
What kind of battery clip do you get that fits? I assume there's something that fits in a SNES cart and comes with the properly sized tabs, or do you need to do some modification?
For N64 controller paks I have an answer -- basically, I mostly buy Performance/Interact ones, because they have battery clips inside them instead of welded batteries (and there's also this one other N64 controller pak I have with a battery clip, too) -- but that doesn't help for games with the batteries inside the carts, of course.
I might be interested. Does the change change how it looks on the outside or just a change on the inside? If it's a change on the outside, can you take a picture?
Type_Raver
Member
I started recollecting my snes library, and some others over a year ago. It seemed to peak last year and its starting to become a little difficult to find great condition complete games.
I like the boxes with sharp corners, complete with all the inserts. Some i had to pay a pretty penny for, but i cant believe that VGA sealed versions are going for sooo much! I only got Spawn this way, but that was cheaper than some CIB versions!
I like to have my games available to be played, not sealed away for eternity.
Lastly, being in Aus, getting pal versions is even more difficult. DKC3 took ages to find a good CIB and it rarely pops up
I like the boxes with sharp corners, complete with all the inserts. Some i had to pay a pretty penny for, but i cant believe that VGA sealed versions are going for sooo much! I only got Spawn this way, but that was cheaper than some CIB versions!
I like to have my games available to be played, not sealed away for eternity.
Lastly, being in Aus, getting pal versions is even more difficult. DKC3 took ages to find a good CIB and it rarely pops up
terrisus
Member
For me with batteries and clips/holders and such, I just got a bunch of a random holder that looked convenient on eBay, and then have just been attaching the battery holder to the contacts with a bit of wire and soldering each end of the wire, and then sticking the holder inside of the cartridge wherever is convenient. There's generally enough room in there (granted, not as much as in NES games, but still), and it's not like they move around a bunch anyway.
And, even with no prior experience with solder, just soldering wire to contacts is a simple enough process, and has worked fine (and of course, as said above, only needs to be done once per game, since then the battery can just be popped out of the holder when it needs to be changed again).
And, even with no prior experience with solder, just soldering wire to contacts is a simple enough process, and has worked fine (and of course, as said above, only needs to be done once per game, since then the battery can just be popped out of the holder when it needs to be changed again).
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
It's easily doable without modifying the outside of the cart. Had to do it on my FF3 and Soul Blazer.
No modification to the cart shell at all. The key is finding a battery holder that has a low profile, as you're limited in the space you have.
Here's a pic of one of the first carts I modded:
In this picture, I didn't put the new battery in yet, but that's the most trivial task (haha). The old battery is sitting on the right side. In the case of this game, the battery was starting to leak.
Also, I must mention, and probably is what would interest people the most, is I have the ability to maintain your save files, (presuming the battery isn't completely dead). I have a retrode, and I can backup the save file (and even email it to you to use in emulators and what not) and restore the save after installing the new battery.
I use this battery holder:
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=S8421-45Rvirtualkey57420000virtualkey855-S8421-45R
It does require some slight modification to use it though. It's a surface mount part, but the battery on the cart is a through hole component. You simply bend down the legs on the battery holder, and they're the perfect width, and you solder them in.
There was a guide somewhere (instructables, I think) that shows this better, but I don't have the link for it right now.
here's my current collection:
I used to have many more game but I was broke for many many years and sold off quite a few. I used to have Mario RPG, FF3, Out of this world complete in box too, but I sold them to buy other games. Now that I have some money I will be buying a few games here and there. Congo's Caper, Kendo Rage and Final Fight 3 were all recent purchases for me.
btw Dragon View is pretty cheap and obscure. It is actually the far far far superior sequel to Drakkhen.
I used to have many more game but I was broke for many many years and sold off quite a few. I used to have Mario RPG, FF3, Out of this world complete in box too, but I sold them to buy other games. Now that I have some money I will be buying a few games here and there. Congo's Caper, Kendo Rage and Final Fight 3 were all recent purchases for me.
btw Dragon View is pretty cheap and obscure. It is actually the far far far superior sequel to Drakkhen.
Ah SNES. Despite hosting some of my most favorite games ever, I never gave it the attention that I did to my Sega Genesis. Back in High School, I would save my lunch money and go to the nearby Blockbuster Video and get used SNES games that way. Kicking myself for not getting Earthbound back then, as they even had it's ridiculously oversized box complete. Among other things (Mega Man 7 & X3 for instance).
My small collection:
I don't even want to know how much the games I'm missing are going for now a days. @_@
Seems scalpers are especially bad this year.
Super Metroid, pre played for 4.99
Wish I could go back and slap my younger self upside the head for trading so many SNES games in for Geoffrey bucks. Damn Toys R Us.
EDIT: I'd like to get Joe & Mac and Congo's Caper as well. Anyone heard good things about Run Saber or Musya (sp)?
Thats like a small investment.
Paid 150$ for it. I have the manual, the map and the little FAQ (says it has the answer for the hardest puzzles of the game) still unopened and sealed.
Oh, thought that was something you had from years back. Still i'm sure it'll be worth much more than that if you ever part with it.
EDIT: Yup much more.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
Super Metroid, pre played for 4.99
Wish I could go back and slap my younger self upside the head for trading so many SNES games in for Geoffrey bucks. Damn Toys R Us.
Seriously. Those price stickers make me weep. I just happily paid $30 for Super Metroid.
My story with everything except my NES (not sure how that escaped upgrade sales) and everything from the PS2/GC/Xbox era onward.
Btw anyone have any obscure/hidden gems as far as Super Famicom goes? I've got Super Bonk 2, SD the Great battle IV, and Go Go Ackman 1 so far.
I know I want SD the great battle 5 (the cowboy one) and Rockman & Forte of course. King of Demons is too expensive atm.
Keep an eye on thrift stores and pawn shops. You never know what you'll come across. Never had luck with garage sales.
What is that Hudson Soft game?
terrisus
Member
Super Momotarou Dentetsu 3
Huh, thought those were only on PC engine.
Lagiacrusty
Neo Member
Hey guys, would you even consider buying a game with a removed label. I have an oppurtunity to buy contra 3 for $5, but I'm not sure if it will be worth it without a label.
Hero_of_the_Day
Member
Yeah. I found my Secret of Mana last month at a used game store. Fantastic condition, only $25 bucks. I feel like I'm really lucky with the places around me and their prices, which makes me afraid at some point they're going to check ebay prices and crank them all up. One local place had three Chrono Triggers for cheap enough that I bought them all, sold two on ebay for enough to cover the cost of all three. So, free Chrono Trigger for me.
I have had some luck with garage sales. Found a Genesis with six or so games for $3 dollars. Pretty crazy. Friend got a fantastic condition SNES (no yellowing) with Super Mario World and a 20-something inch TV for $15 last summer. Someone else on here suggested just flat out telling people who are having garage sales that you were looking for video games. Said they'd had some success. Who knows how many people out there have boxes of old games just sitting in a closet/attic not knowing what they have.
Cover Project has labels? Thought they only did covers? I think most of the hardcore crowd is really against reprinting labels.
Those of you who are looking for Konami and Capcom games should be aware of the Majesco re-releases. They come with black/white manuals and the cart labels are of lower quality. They are indentified by the "Assembled in Mexico" text on the back of box and cart.
Those of you looking into buying a US SNES console should go for the 1CHIP revision of the SNES. They can often be indentified by the serial number on the underside of the console. Serial UN309431*** - UN318299*** should be a 1CHIP, but there is no way to be certain other than to open up the console and check the board. Comparison shots:
Old revision of the SNES with heavy ghosting
I started collecting at the right time. I think it was back in 2004-2005. I remember buying a loose Wild Guns cart fort $25 on ebay. Oh, and in early 2010 i scored big time. An american seller was listing a lot of complete SNES games in mint condition and with $35 buy-it-now prices. I live in Sweden and the time was about 1 PM here so in other words most americans were sleeping. I hit those buy-it-now buttons like a mad man and scored complete games like Mega Man X, Castlevania IV, Zelda, Illusion of Gaia etc. I'm very proud of my small SNES collection and my games are in extremely good condition. None of them are sealed but some of them still have the plastic wrapper around them. Here's some pics (recently i recieved Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel which is not in the pics):
Those of you looking into buying a US SNES console should go for the 1CHIP revision of the SNES. They can often be indentified by the serial number on the underside of the console. Serial UN309431*** - UN318299*** should be a 1CHIP, but there is no way to be certain other than to open up the console and check the board. Comparison shots:
Old revision of the SNES with heavy ghosting
1CHIP revision
I started collecting at the right time. I think it was back in 2004-2005. I remember buying a loose Wild Guns cart fort $25 on ebay. Oh, and in early 2010 i scored big time. An american seller was listing a lot of complete SNES games in mint condition and with $35 buy-it-now prices. I live in Sweden and the time was about 1 PM here so in other words most americans were sleeping. I hit those buy-it-now buttons like a mad man and scored complete games like Mega Man X, Castlevania IV, Zelda, Illusion of Gaia etc. I'm very proud of my small SNES collection and my games are in extremely good condition. None of them are sealed but some of them still have the plastic wrapper around them. Here's some pics (recently i recieved Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel which is not in the pics):
McBradders
NeoGAF: my new HOME
Man, fuck you. XD
Rygar 8 Bit
Jaguar 64-bit
ran out of room to put it all got about 130 snes games
Sometimes. Only a minority of them have a label available. But some do have it. Prob more likely to be the more popular games.
Nice collection! I'm envy of that big lot of games. haha
anotherVegan
Member
I know sealed boxes can sell for a ton, but I've got these, game cart only. I used to have manuals, even boxes, but they've disappeared over the years, since I've moved about.
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2
Super Mario World
Super Mario All Stars
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Game Boy
Zelda: Link to the Past
Super Metroid
Kirby Super Star
Super Punch Out!
Earthbound
Final Fantasy III (USA)
Final Fantasy II (USA)
Secret of Mana
Chrono Trigger
Killer Instinct
Mega Man X2
I know the eBay train is way too expensive. I'll have to go to a flea market or other local place if I want to expand my collection.
What other gems should I get? I used to own a cart of Illusion of Gaia, and I regret giving that to my brother several years ago. I never saw the game again.
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2
Super Mario World
Super Mario All Stars
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Game Boy
Zelda: Link to the Past
Super Metroid
Kirby Super Star
Super Punch Out!
Earthbound
Final Fantasy III (USA)
Final Fantasy II (USA)
Secret of Mana
Chrono Trigger
Killer Instinct
Mega Man X2
I know the eBay train is way too expensive. I'll have to go to a flea market or other local place if I want to expand my collection.
What other gems should I get? I used to own a cart of Illusion of Gaia, and I regret giving that to my brother several years ago. I never saw the game again.
Rygar 8 Bit
Jaguar 64-bit
took out all the manuals and maps and extra stuff to make them lighter its not ideal but itll have to do till i get another book case
My SNES collection is becoming a beast. I only had about 20 games as a kid and now I have hunted for the last four years and am up to nearly 100.
My Rare Highlights (and the prices I paid):
Earthbound ($95 - eBay)
Castlevania Dracula X ($50 I was really lucky, eBay)
Metal Warriors ($70 - eBay)
Wild Guns ($25 - eBay)
Space Megaforce ($10 - eBay)
Sunset Riders ($5 - swap meet find)
Zelda CIB ($5 - swap meet find)
Mario RPG CIB ($10 - swap meet find)
Super Metroid CIB ($20 - eBay)
Currently hunting:
Harvest moon
Hagane ($300 lol)
Aero Fighters ($250 ugh)
EVO
Megaman X3
Ogre Battle
SNES SHMUPS List:
Cheap:
D-Force - $2 NOT Recommended - Worse than you could possibly imagine
Phalanx - $3 - Recommended - Weird but very pretty and good controls. Try to get it with the awesome box art.
Gradius III - $5 - Not Recommended - Game has massive slowdown
HyperZone - $2 - Recommended - Different type of shooter, kinda like REZ
Earth Defense Force - $3 - Recommended - I really like it but it is usually forgotten.
UN Squadron - $10 - Recommended - The hardest shooter.
Thunder Spirits - $5 - Recommended - Theme kinda sucks but controls well.
Bio Metal - $5 - Recommended - Funny soundtrack but the game isn't bad.
Super R Type - $8 - Recommended - Classic R-Type Fun, has bad slowdown.
Darius Twin $5 - NOT Recommended - Shooting robo sharks on a beach, groan.
Super Nova - $5 - NOT Recommended - Similar to Darius Twin. Boring.
Raiden Trad - $5 - Recommended - I like vertical shooters and this one is decent.
Firepower 2000 - $10 - Recommended - fun and frantic.
Medium Price
R-Type 3 - $25 - Very Recommended - Mega improvement over Super R-Type. Game is hard.
Axelay - $15 - Very Recommended - The best shooter. Mix of 2d side and 3d vertical. Music is amazing
Space Mega Force (Super Aleste) - $30 - Very Recommended - Really fun weapon upgrades. HARD to find.
Japanese SHMUPS - If you want to get them and cut up your SNES, they are good. Esp Pop N Twin B and Macross
High Price
Aero Fighters - $250 - ??? - The holy grail of SNES collections. Those that appear on eBay are often counterfeit. I don't have it, yet.
My Rare Highlights (and the prices I paid):
Earthbound ($95 - eBay)
Castlevania Dracula X ($50 I was really lucky, eBay)
Metal Warriors ($70 - eBay)
Wild Guns ($25 - eBay)
Space Megaforce ($10 - eBay)
Sunset Riders ($5 - swap meet find)
Zelda CIB ($5 - swap meet find)
Mario RPG CIB ($10 - swap meet find)
Super Metroid CIB ($20 - eBay)
Currently hunting:
Harvest moon
Hagane ($300 lol)
Aero Fighters ($250 ugh)
EVO
Megaman X3
Ogre Battle
SNES SHMUPS List:
Cheap:
D-Force - $2 NOT Recommended - Worse than you could possibly imagine
Phalanx - $3 - Recommended - Weird but very pretty and good controls. Try to get it with the awesome box art.
Gradius III - $5 - Not Recommended - Game has massive slowdown
HyperZone - $2 - Recommended - Different type of shooter, kinda like REZ
Earth Defense Force - $3 - Recommended - I really like it but it is usually forgotten.
UN Squadron - $10 - Recommended - The hardest shooter.
Thunder Spirits - $5 - Recommended - Theme kinda sucks but controls well.
Bio Metal - $5 - Recommended - Funny soundtrack but the game isn't bad.
Super R Type - $8 - Recommended - Classic R-Type Fun, has bad slowdown.
Darius Twin $5 - NOT Recommended - Shooting robo sharks on a beach, groan.
Super Nova - $5 - NOT Recommended - Similar to Darius Twin. Boring.
Raiden Trad - $5 - Recommended - I like vertical shooters and this one is decent.
Firepower 2000 - $10 - Recommended - fun and frantic.
Medium Price
R-Type 3 - $25 - Very Recommended - Mega improvement over Super R-Type. Game is hard.
Axelay - $15 - Very Recommended - The best shooter. Mix of 2d side and 3d vertical. Music is amazing
Space Mega Force (Super Aleste) - $30 - Very Recommended - Really fun weapon upgrades. HARD to find.
Japanese SHMUPS - If you want to get them and cut up your SNES, they are good. Esp Pop N Twin B and Macross
High Price
Aero Fighters - $250 - ??? - The holy grail of SNES collections. Those that appear on eBay are often counterfeit. I don't have it, yet.
Hmm... You should've made this thread into a general retro game collection thread that covers everything up to say N64/PS1/Saturn instead. I don't believe we have one and we really should. I've been thinking about making one but I've never created a thread before so I'm scared.
Anyway I have around 40 SNES games, 12 of them CIB. So not a ton of them, but I do have most of the games I want for the system. I'm more of an NES and Game Boy collector these days. When I started collecting I did focus more on the SNES than the other systems, but then for some reason I really got into the NES instead and I don't know why but I like collecting NES stuff more than SNES these days. Of course I still love my SNES, but there's just a certain feeling I get with the NES. Hard to explain.
As one other poster stated, I'm kind of happy that I started collecting relatively early (I think it was around 2003). Around that time it was really nice being a collector because it seemed that not a TON of people were into it like today, and so the prices were generally very good. Like I remember buying Earthbound with a "For Display Only" box for like €60 in 2005 or so. I thought that was really expensive at the time (though I had bought FF3 CIB for around €70 or so before that), but today that would be really cheap. I dunno if that box is worth anything but I've only seen it one other time on the internet.
And off topic, but NES games used to be really cheap over here as well until only a few years ago. I recall paying €30 for Mega Man 3 CIB in really great condition around 2004 or so. And that was from an online retro game store! Not from an auction site. So that was pretty much the most expensive they were back then. These days a Scandinavian CIB copy of MM3 in the same condition goes for well over €100 on auction sites. Actually these days it would be hard to find a cartridge of a good NES game on Scandinavian auction sites (tradera.com) and pay less than €10 for it. It's gotten crazy expensive for most NES games lately here in Scandinavia and I don't really have any idea why. TMNT 2? That's like €15 per cartridge. Duck Tales or Chip 'n Dale? Those are starting to reach €20 now for a cartridge sometimes. Mike Tyson's Punch Out!!? That one is usually close to or sometimes even over €30 per cart. Bubble Bobble? Again, around €30 per cart. Shit, Super Mario Bros. 2? I saw it go for like €24 for a cart a little while ago. It's fucking madness! To the point where I started buying Game Boy games and Famicom games more and more because those are still dirt cheap usually. And let's not even start talking about CIB NES games... I mentioned Mega Man 3 above, but that's the way it is with every CIB NES game that is even remotely good nowadays. Provided the box and such is in good condition you'll be looking at €100 or more for most CIB NES games.
Anyway, for SNES I feel like I have most of what I want for that system, but there are some key titles missing. Most of the RPGs for example. I do have Earthbound and FF3 as mentioned, so I have two of the best RPGs on the system at least. But I'd still like a copy of Chrono Trigger as well of course, and Secret of Mana. But those have generally been over €100 for a CIB copy as long as I've collected games. I've been thinking about buying only the cartridge perhaps, but even the cartridge is expensive so why not just save up a little more to get a complete copy. TMNT IV is another one I've been meaning to buy, but the cartridges of that are getting more and more expensive too. It's always been expensive though, but even more so now. Basically everything I want to buy for the SNES now will be pretty expensive for me because I feel like I've already bought all the good cheap games for the system.
If someone wants they could check my SNES game list and perhaps recommend some titles that they think I'm sorely missing? I like all types of games as long as they're good. Here's the list. I haven't been very serious in SNES collecting in a while and so every time I look at SNES games, I can't remember what I want to buy anymore.
Edit:
Shiet. I remember when the Swedish Club Nintendo were selling out their leftover stock of SNES games around 2002. They had sealed copies of Zelda ALTTP for like €15 a piece, and F-Zero for around €5. I bought one of each, but I've always regretted that I didn't get two Zeldas just to save one. Sure they'd be the PAL version but still.
Anyway I have around 40 SNES games, 12 of them CIB. So not a ton of them, but I do have most of the games I want for the system. I'm more of an NES and Game Boy collector these days. When I started collecting I did focus more on the SNES than the other systems, but then for some reason I really got into the NES instead and I don't know why but I like collecting NES stuff more than SNES these days. Of course I still love my SNES, but there's just a certain feeling I get with the NES. Hard to explain.
As one other poster stated, I'm kind of happy that I started collecting relatively early (I think it was around 2003). Around that time it was really nice being a collector because it seemed that not a TON of people were into it like today, and so the prices were generally very good. Like I remember buying Earthbound with a "For Display Only" box for like €60 in 2005 or so. I thought that was really expensive at the time (though I had bought FF3 CIB for around €70 or so before that), but today that would be really cheap. I dunno if that box is worth anything but I've only seen it one other time on the internet.
And off topic, but NES games used to be really cheap over here as well until only a few years ago. I recall paying €30 for Mega Man 3 CIB in really great condition around 2004 or so. And that was from an online retro game store! Not from an auction site. So that was pretty much the most expensive they were back then. These days a Scandinavian CIB copy of MM3 in the same condition goes for well over €100 on auction sites. Actually these days it would be hard to find a cartridge of a good NES game on Scandinavian auction sites (tradera.com) and pay less than €10 for it. It's gotten crazy expensive for most NES games lately here in Scandinavia and I don't really have any idea why. TMNT 2? That's like €15 per cartridge. Duck Tales or Chip 'n Dale? Those are starting to reach €20 now for a cartridge sometimes. Mike Tyson's Punch Out!!? That one is usually close to or sometimes even over €30 per cart. Bubble Bobble? Again, around €30 per cart. Shit, Super Mario Bros. 2? I saw it go for like €24 for a cart a little while ago. It's fucking madness! To the point where I started buying Game Boy games and Famicom games more and more because those are still dirt cheap usually. And let's not even start talking about CIB NES games... I mentioned Mega Man 3 above, but that's the way it is with every CIB NES game that is even remotely good nowadays. Provided the box and such is in good condition you'll be looking at €100 or more for most CIB NES games.
Anyway, for SNES I feel like I have most of what I want for that system, but there are some key titles missing. Most of the RPGs for example. I do have Earthbound and FF3 as mentioned, so I have two of the best RPGs on the system at least. But I'd still like a copy of Chrono Trigger as well of course, and Secret of Mana. But those have generally been over €100 for a CIB copy as long as I've collected games. I've been thinking about buying only the cartridge perhaps, but even the cartridge is expensive so why not just save up a little more to get a complete copy. TMNT IV is another one I've been meaning to buy, but the cartridges of that are getting more and more expensive too. It's always been expensive though, but even more so now. Basically everything I want to buy for the SNES now will be pretty expensive for me because I feel like I've already bought all the good cheap games for the system.
If someone wants they could check my SNES game list and perhaps recommend some titles that they think I'm sorely missing? I like all types of games as long as they're good. Here's the list. I haven't been very serious in SNES collecting in a while and so every time I look at SNES games, I can't remember what I want to buy anymore.
Edit:
Shiet. I remember when the Swedish Club Nintendo were selling out their leftover stock of SNES games around 2002. They had sealed copies of Zelda ALTTP for like €15 a piece, and F-Zero for around €5. I bought one of each, but I've always regretted that I didn't get two Zeldas just to save one. Sure they'd be the PAL version but still.
Chip N Chance
Member
I have an Acclaim version of Toy Story for the Genesis. I only bought it for the box, so i could combine it with mine to make it complete. Upon further inspection the label seemed very cheap and the back of the cartridge had been stamped with Acclaim. It also had the Made In Mexico label on the front, but had a colored instruction manual. It was all very confusing. Apparently its the only Hard Case version for Toy Story, as the rest are cardboard slip boxes.
Also, if anyone is confused about getting a 1Chip SNES, or wants to know which SNES they have, heres a good guide to help you figure all that out. Mines a UN299943***, which i still dont really know what it is. But its probably not the good one.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AvE57-VbN9_HdEpkUUR0U1hzMHFWVWw3VXhORHFIanc&output=html
I officially started collecting retro games last november , and damn the prices are ridiculously high !
So i decided to get a S.Famicom as the price are a little cheaper .
My Collection so far :
Famicom:
Dragon Quest 1 2 3 4 (Famicom version) paid like 10-20 $ each
All Super Famicom:
Chrono Trigger
Ys III AND V CIB
Xardion CIB
King of Dragons CIB (this one go for like 80-150$ CIB for SNES version)
Area 88 CIB
Magic Sword CIB
Pop N Twinbee CIB
Darius Twin CIB
SNES :
Star fox CIB
Super Metroid CIB ( got for like 30$ at a Flea Market 5 years ago)
TLOZ Cart only
Might and magic 3 CIB
FF Mystic Quest (missing map only)
PC Engine Cd
Ys IV CIB
Valis 1 2 3 CIB
So far i have been getting cheap or moderately priced retro games .
I mostly get games from eBay i avoid Flea Market (In Canada) as most of the time the dudes there are just dumbass selling games at outrageous prices in very bad condition .
So i decided to get a S.Famicom as the price are a little cheaper .
My Collection so far :
Famicom:
Dragon Quest 1 2 3 4 (Famicom version) paid like 10-20 $ each
All Super Famicom:
Chrono Trigger
Ys III AND V CIB
Xardion CIB
King of Dragons CIB (this one go for like 80-150$ CIB for SNES version)
Area 88 CIB
Magic Sword CIB
Pop N Twinbee CIB
Darius Twin CIB
SNES :
Star fox CIB
Super Metroid CIB ( got for like 30$ at a Flea Market 5 years ago)
TLOZ Cart only
Might and magic 3 CIB
FF Mystic Quest (missing map only)
PC Engine Cd
Ys IV CIB
Valis 1 2 3 CIB
So far i have been getting cheap or moderately priced retro games .
I mostly get games from eBay i avoid Flea Market (In Canada) as most of the time the dudes there are just dumbass selling games at outrageous prices in very bad condition .
Fine Ham Abounds
Member
Man, this is rough. I'm glad I never sold any of my games, but I'm more sad that I never bought MMX2 and 3.