Retro Gaming Is Too Expensive!!! | My Hobby is Ruined

[@patrickmurphy9470]

Speaking the truth here. $40 is a good price point to start collecting. I would rather spend $40 on games I want to play and own them than $70 on modern games that are incomplete and need patches to run properly and are tied to a server. Can you guys make a video for games $40 and under that are bangers and worth collecting?

[@thekruz]

The $40 rule, is almost how I exclusively look at retro video game collecting

[@soad11dude]

The big distinction. Do you want to collect games... or play games? Because to play games, emulation can be free. If you want to collect... Then be prepared to pay.

[@alaricbarber3680]

games are better on there intended console. if i can notice a difference in resident evil 4 from game cube to ps2........ i can't help but think a poor port on PC will lack the magic. if your hungry forage for mushrooms BUT if you want McDonalds then be prepared to pay. if you want a place to stay find a park bench.......but if you want a roof ....then be prepared to pay. if your cold wear skin's but if you want clothes .....then be prepared to pay. being a retro gamer is not just collections but enjoying great games THAT YOU OWN on there intended platform. and if you want anything "THEN BE PREPARED TO PAY" :side note: most that emulate game's tend to so on a powerful gaming computer that's cost more then a really nice ps2 collection including console.

[@soad11dude]

@@alaricbarber3680 Seems I struck a nerve with this one. I have five gamecubes and a CRT in the room with me. I will never deny there's a special magic to putting the disc in, closing the lid, pressing the power button and watching the gamecube logo fire up. But "games are better on their intended console" is just wrong though. Play an old pokemon game at double or triple speed through emulation and it's almost impossible to go back. Play breath of the wild with mods that make weapons last longer and runs the game at 60fps. Use save states allow you to save the instant you stop playing so you can pick it up at that exact moment, not a checkpoint. I have multiple friends that prefer emulating most of the games they play even though they own original copies. Emulation has its advantages, but if you refuse to acknowledge them, fine, I won't waste my time further. I was talking about certain old games costing over 400$. Yeah. Be prepared to pay for some of those. It's an absurd price for the majority of the world right now. Comparing it to being homeless is derivative. "games THAT YOU OWN" ...even a digital copy of a SNES game on your computer is more ownership than paying nintendo their annual hostage fee to play their games with switch online. You don't need a 3000$ gaming PC for emulation. PS2/GCN and below can be emulated using a mini PC that costs 270$. I'll even throw in 30$ more for the controller you'd need. So you can play the entire PS2/GCN library and below for 300$... or you can spend as much as you want on physical games. I'm not here to tell you how to spend your money. But don't inflate your self worth because you have a physical game collection. I've got well over 100 physical games and I don't pee my pants when people mention the advantages of emulation.

[@jonesy7425]

Having a computer that can run post PlayStation one games can still be expensive.

[@SS-yx5hm]

That’s a very good point! We are a capitalist nation so…

[@walterg74]

​@@alaricbarber3680 Nahhh that's what flashcarts are for. Best of both worlds...

[@AkiraYanky]

To be fair , paying 60 or 70$ for a brand new switch, PS5 or Xbox game sounds more appealing than paying 60 or 70 for a potentially non working slightly scratched up Saturn, GameCube, Dreamcast, sega cd, PS1 or PS2 game . Im a retro collector and gamer myself so I know what to avoid and what to collect and look out for ,but I also can see both sides of the argument .

[@DES-95]

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.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

LMFAO!!! So true :)

[@bananonymouslastname5693]

I mean... I did walk to school uphill both ways... but I also walked downhill both ways as well

[@_mytopfive]

That was nothing compared to what we went through to get condoms..

[@DJ239]

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.

[@Liquidcadmus]

I prefer a PS2 or PS3 over any latest generation console.

[@ED-209UHD]

PS3 is whack 😂

[@ayceod]

In my experience, 10 years ago I started actively building my collection. Back then, the video games shelves at thrift stores were always full. And on certain days of the week, I could get games for multiple different consoles for as low as .60 cents each. I regularly found Gameboys, Nintendo DS's, and countless PS consoles and Xbox's for under $20. That is what a lot of long time collectors are setting their base by, and that is completely nonexistent today. Most of those stores don't even stock video games and systems in their stores anymore because they have online shopping sites now where their prices are significantly higher than they used to be. If you don't think Retro gaming is expensive now, then you weren't a collector in the 2000's to 2010's..

[@alaricbarber3680]

??????????? i was around in the 2000's....................................we did not call Nintendo DS's or xbox's "retro lmao. your story has holes in it. most flee markets that i went too had $5 nes snes and n64 and it was up to you to know what is rare. now the have $5-$20 ps2,xbox,xbox360,ps 3 not much has changed price wise given time. price charting did take out most rare games from the wild sadly but always look at bundles to find hidden rare's often on the cheap even for a profit if you can flip the extras and the price is right.

[@ayceod]

@@alaricbarber3680 I never said anything about Flea Markets. Flea Markets have never been a good place to go for collectors on a budget. I specifically went to THRIFT STORES. My most memorable find at a thrift store was a DS Lite, in a case with with 6 games for TEN DOLLARS. And I used to be able to regularly find deals like that for consoles in thrift stores all the time. And as I mentioned before, I could always find games for as low as 60 cents. 10 to 20 years ago, if you knew where to look, you could regularly find low prices as a video game collector. But that is not the case anymore at all. That's my experience as a collector and that doesn't exist anymore. That's where a lot of people are coming from. Not sure what you mean by holes in my story... Just because you couldn't find video games for less than 5 dollars back then doesn't mean that was the same for everyone else, although that IS the case for everyone today.

[@ippoverse]

@@alaricbarber3680Cope

[@ABD-pc3jf]

Dude, i started in 2017 and the market has gone nuts since then. Im at the point where I I'm just modding stuff now because I refuse to pay hundreds of $ for this stuff that lets face it most of the time is a gamble that I'll actually like.

[@alaricbarber3680]

@@ABD-pc3jf how much is a brand new game on steam or a market place? what is the cost of an uncommon game on the ps2? I.e half life, suffering, gta vice city story's. what is the cost of a premium collectors edition like the the diablo on release? what is the cost of a rare ps2 game like silent hill? you will find the cost is really about the same...................so how is the item out of print for over 20 years over priced? yet the brand new.............."you don't even get a disk!!!!!!!!!!! is not?!?!

[@ridwaankaranie5089]

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.

[@PhillyTJ]

Mario NES $40?!? WTF man that jawn should be $10. Most of these old ass games should depreciate in value. Maybe im cheap ass lol but $40 I'll just buy both madden 25 and NBA 2k25 when they go in sale in 6 months

[@JaymzCampbell]

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.

[@markkilborn512]

Same same same. I've got more games than I'll be able to finish in my lifetime.

[@sloppynyuszi]

Same, I can buy the appeal to FPGAs, Everdrives and ways to replicate some aesthetics and other technicalities of the yester years. But having a room with 100s of cartridges and CDs just doesn’t have a long term appeal to me. I would have to assume looking at the popularity of all these emulation machines coming out every week that emulation is good enough for more than 99% of people. I love the new fad Digital Eclipse started with these documentary style collections. I never liked playing Atari games until I knew the context. Today I think that’s the more enjoyable way to play these old games. Or appreciate modern takes on old games.

[@Retroholics16]

Emulating just isn’t the same period

[@randomname2308]

@@Retroholics16 yes it is, period

[@walterg74]

​@@Retroholics16it's 99% the exact same... only anal-retentive morons who would rather complain than play care...

[@WavesNGames]

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.

[@Teepo_Ryu]

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.

[@lordeowstheking]

As a coffee guy, I agree I love my cold brew and dark pike😂

[@shanenice5380]

😂.

[@kazsassin]

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 😂

[@daver7178]

"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" No products are priced like they were 10 years ago... The world moved forward, but retro game collectors are still living in la la land in the past.

[@DongCorleone]

It makes me wonder if people watch these videos and expect to find expensive games at yard sales or thrift stores, and when they don't "well, everything is just too expensive to buy"

[@otterdonnelly9959]

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.

[@Will-qd2km]

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.

[@Xerxes20xx]

In general retro games are cheap however the certain rare games i think get the most eyes. SH series, fire emblem gamecube, panzaar dragoon saga, hell doom for the Saturn. Retro gaming also has some great prices for most games

[@majorgear1021]

Yep. I rarely find games at garage sales or thrift stores. What I do find is often priced higher than eBay and Pricewatch.

[@b4rs629]

@@Xerxes20xx Agreed. As a nintendo guy. I pretty much only collect switch, 3ds, ds, atm. I never actively collected games before until 2023. I mainly play rpg's so basically everything I'm looking at is generally gonna be more expensive $70-200 dollars a pop. So that adds up pretty damn fast. Dragon quest games on the ds, Fire Emblem games, Gen 5 pokemon + gale of darkness. However, on the other side of the coin.. when I was collecting Xbox one games that got ported from x360... man that shit is dirt cheap $3-10 a pop. 9/10 games are usually under $20. ^ It's one of the best systems to collect for atm including ps4. I compared prices of ps4 and xbox one titles using gamestops website... and xbox one is about 13% cheaper on average across the board when looking at the amount of games vs the ammount of pages that were under $20 compared to ps4. However, ps4 had like 1500 titles vs 1000 something titles on the xbox one.. so the ps4 definitely has more variety of games offers on their platform. I cashed out my childhood nintendo collection in 2020-2021. I noticed gamecube specifically atm... prices have fallen due to switch remasters & some of the games that were in the $10-15 dollar range have gone up a bit in price. I looked at the 5 year period 2019-2024 on price charting. 2020-2021 compared to 2023 & 2024. Most of gamecube's 1st party games have become cheaper across the board now today, but not as cheap in 2019.

[@coopleofnerds]

Collecting anything can be expensive. Work within your budget and everything will work out.

[@RedMillennium777]

I think no matter what games you collect video games are the best thing to collect because not only are they cool in the shelf, you can actually do something with them

[@daysaverproductions]

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

[@majorgear1021]

Also not all games work well on emulators. Some stutter , flash bright squares all over the screen, or just show a black screen when you load them in the emulator.

[@horroRomantic444]

When everyone is after the same things, retro game or not, it will just drive up the prices. If you find something you like that no one seems to be paying attention to, it is your chance to create a collection at reasonable price before the inevitable spike in value. Part of the fun of collecting is not just taking recommendations from others but discovering lesser-known games yourself.

[@kingdza]

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

[@shanenice5380]

I bought repo on sega.i go to Walmart looked for 10 dollar game on ps5.

[@ivibs1984]

Retro gaming is too expensive. Modern gaming is also too expensive. Eating is too expensive. None of these things get a pass just because the others are doing it. Also I just picked up Silent Hill 2 Remake new for PS5. I'd have to pay over $100 for a PS2 scratched disc.

[@TheKalimanMX]

no it isnt, just last week GOG had its big autumn sale and you could buy tons of retro games for less than 5 dollars.

[@ivibs1984]

@@TheKalimanMX dude..... 🤦‍♂️🤦.... do you see the shelves loaded with physical games in the video? When people say "retro gaming is too expensive" nobody is talking about buying digital games during a gog sale.

[@shanenice5380]

​@ivibs1984 I don't want digital lol.

[@TheKalimanMX]

@@ivibs1984 yeah people like him ruined the retro collecting hobby for everyone else, so i hope everyone switches to emulation and GOG and let those overpriced collections rot while they try to sell them off to the next sucker.

[@ippoverse]

@@TheKalimanMX Based

[@AaronH9111]

I got 5 PS3 games from an Ebay seller for $25.00 So if you're buying off of Ebay and they have a lot of games listed just ask them if they'll take a certain amount, or make them an offer and you never know what kinds of deals you can get

[@walterg74]

Nahhh this is nothing new... Even 20 years ago, with prices exponentially lower than today, one could see where this was going and how expensive it could get. That's the reason I stopped cold and sold eveything. Then I discovered flashcarts, and started again. Best of both worlds...

[@KingofBattle8174]

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.

[@richardmacaulay783]

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.

[@Tallpaaaul]

You just have to hunt these days most people aren't prepared to. My threshold is like £100 if something is around that or higher is seriously think do I want to play this, do I need this etc? Two weekends in a row I've spent around £100 and got a big pile of stuff

[@Cristobol]

I am more of a pc gamer myself but I definitely agree with the $40 model. I tend to stick around $40 myself when buying big box games from the 90’s and early 00’s, sometimes even sealed. You just need to be patient when looking for a particular game, it’ll come up. GOG is ok but it’s not the same as having the original software. Not to mention all the cool stuff you would get with the software like keyboard maps and sometimes even overlays.

[@ScottReviews]

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.

[@danield8155]

That’s why I switched to emulating. I held off as long as I could but I got tired of buying the old consoles just to have them stop working in a couple of years. I would still rather play retro games on the native hardware but some things you just have to leave in the past

[@GrahamCox-ci5jz]

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.

[@dklimp]

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 ;)

[@TheDarkVyers]

I'd say it depends on the game. I've had Xenosaga 1 and 2 on the PS2 but never owned 3. I liked the first 2 a lot so I decided I'll finally get the 3rd one. Saw a complete in box near mint copy for a little over $200 and gladly bought it. Game is selling between 200 -300$ in all types of conditions.

[@robart1979]

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

[@daver7178]

If anything is true from this conversation it's that people simply just love to complain online. Additionally, the concept that markets change over time due to supply and demand never seems to resonate with collectors, especially retro game collectors. So many people think they should be paying the same prices from 20 years ago and it's not even worth engaging with that crowd.

[@DongCorleone]

"Find your threshold" "What holds value to you" Perfect way to put it Wes. You guys are preaching to the choir. The alcohol appears to be going down quicker and a little smoother on this episode 😆. Cheers Gentlemen

[@juniorloco101]

I'm in my 20's, I mainly collect PS1. Yes, there are expensive titles from ATLUS, CAPCOM and SQUARE (generally speaking), but there are cheaper alternatives. If Persona is too expensive, get Darkstone or Chrono Cross instead, they are a fraction of what the Persona series on PS1 asks for. And if you really want it, either get a PS3 to buy it digitally, or just emulate it.

[@jc4446]

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

[@Sleepysnorlax1]

The common price for Triple A SNES/Genesis games was $70 at release. With inflation, that would be $145 today. $145 (or even $70) would still buy most of these games today (CIB). It’s not as much about retro games getting expensive as it is about new games are much more affordable. Most retro games are cheaper than they were at release.

[@cotesteph]

Pricecharting is a huge part of the problem for me. Before that, you could find deals, but now 99% of sellers base their prices off Pricecharting. Which doesn't care about condition, shipping prices on eBay sales.

[@davidlloyd1526]

You need to collect at the right time for the console. Xbox 360 at the moment.

[@chronosousa]

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.

[@patrickkapoun468]

Good video/talk guys. Keep up the good work

[@TadashiNazuka]

The only problem that I see with cost is when people buy games just because they are Rare, not because they are interested in playing it or it actually interests them, aside from the rarity. I have been collecting for years and only buy things that actually interest me and/or bring back nostalgia to a good memory. Just my opinion.

[@EdsHead]

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!

[@Lewiiugamepad]

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

[@bobinch4835]

Buying digital is expensive. You could literally spend hundreds of dollars a month on fortnite.

[@marcop0lo20]

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.

[@operoverlord]

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.

[@talkerbot_tjj]

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.

[@pryan609]

I've been ditching my collection. Sold all my cartridges off. Working on selling PS2, PS3, PS4, DS, 3DS, and Gameboy stuff now.

[@crobinson2624]

Any hobby that involves collecting in demand goods is going to be expensive. And it all really is going to depend on what you can afford if you’re goal is to collect every single NES game then that’s going to run you tens of thousands of dollars is that something that you can afford? Or perhaps the more cost-effective solution which just simply be to emulate the games you want and just have a collection of Roms.

[@volvoguy804]

I'm just thankful I'm done collecting the games I wanted for the NES, Saturn, and 3DO. I went the everdrive and ode route for my other consoles.

[@elementogeek]

Have to agree, just pre-ordered Black Ops 6 for my nephew's birthday present and it was 70 bucks. Also bought the original Black Ops 1 for myself on xbox 360 for just 17 bucks... the campaign is still fire, and multiplayer is still pretty active. Not really retro yet , but the 360 console does push into retro territory next year... One thing I might disagree is that you should collect games you will beat. I've learned with time that sometimes letting go and accepting there are games you will never beat make you enjoy the hobby a lot more.

[@DanielClark-ix8bc]

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

[@KingofBattle8174]

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

[@synthoelectro]

it's the cost of shipping that makes me say no. And 40 is pretty high for SNES games.

[@GamingSasquatch334]

I’m with you on this. I been building my collection with games $20 and under unless it’s a game I treasure and then maybe I’ll spend more. I’m about playing the game and having fun! And Tony Hawk games are easily some of the best games of all time! I play Tony Hawk 1 & 2 3-4 times a week. Love it.

[@meatsweat78]

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.

[@MelonGearSolid]

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!!

[@leeartlee915]

You guys raise some good points. But I will say that used games were, historically, being sold WAY under value. I knew even when I was a kid in the 90s that buying a fairly new game for $5 was way out of whack with it’s overall value. Like how does a $60 game that’s new at one point, is still playable and fun, become pennies on the dollar? I think the market just corrected itself. And like y’all said, you can STILL get great deals. Maybe not on RPGs from the 90s but there are tons of great games that are priced cheap. However, I will say one thing that sucks about the modern gaming scene: Used Switch games. That consoles library has held its value at a crazy level. And how in the hell is Nintendo still charging $60 Mario Kart 8, Odyssey, BotW? They are over 7 years old. Hell, Mario Kart 8 is over a decade old. And Nintendo has refused to lower the price of their console. That shit sucks.

[@mattneal4309]

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.

[@SS-yx5hm]

Yes it is but not to get too much politically, we’re a capitalist nation and because of that you get corporate greed! That’s why groceries for example is so expensive because the companies can and do raise prices just because they can and to make their companies, CEOs richer!!! So remember that when you think you are voting for the “right” candidate. Unfortunately republicans often help the rich with BIG tax breaks and loopholes…if you”re a millionaire or billionaire then I get it, but at the same time you need to pay your fair share just like us middle class! Game on! 🕹️

[@Djsonley]

This is the issue. Back 5 years ago people could get steals and have fun sourcing items for cheap. Fantastic hobby. Now the hobby is spending 80 bucks on one game not a collection. The fun is reduced drastically as a collector.

[@stevehalle77]

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.

[@GoddDamn]

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.

[@stevehalle77]

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.

[@markkilborn512]

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.

[@DubsBrown]

It’s expensive for collectors but cheaper than ever for gamers. Do people not remember buying AA batteries for Gameboys or what it cost to buy 3 other first party controllers for split screen? All my original 6th gen consoles needed repairs during the first couple years. You had to buy a game guide in the store and data storage was crazy small. Currently my local library has PS4 switch and Xbox one games that you can check out for free

[@rbatesmotel]

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.

[@josephbradshaw6985]

I'm not much of a collector, I just like to play the old games once in awhile. With an old laptop and USB NES controller I can play all the old games, plus the modern romhacks and what not.

[@deniskenn]

In relation to when I started collecting (1999) it's 1000x more expensive. Nobody wanted nes and snes , genesis games back then. You couldn't give them away. And now it's become about trophies and bragging. Which is fine, if you think it's too expensive then don't participate. I mostly have everything that I want and everything else I can just emulate. But for me it's not worth the prices that people are asking now. I started collecting because it was cheap and I wanted to play all the games I missed out on. And I've pretty much accomplished that. I don't get buying full sets of games that you don't intend to play.

[@pauljacob99]

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.

[@bryancook6345]

Their expensive from scalpers if retail stores had them they would be very cheap like Best Buy would sell you Godzilla for PS4 for $19.99 paying scalpers is a joke any seller you see overprice video games consoles is a scalper be thankful digital is here where you have a chance to play a game that’s being sold by scalpers

[@neurocamelot8893]

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.

[@RyanTheEatingwarrior]

It’s just an excuse to save money. Some people can’t justify spending money on games that they will just collect and probably not play then I get it. But to say it’s too expensive now is wild.

[@orchNEStra]

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.

[@hilariousstuntsinc8827]

The thing is, yes it takes thousands to complete a collection. But your not supposed to buy them all in 6 month's. It takes years.

[@nunyabusiness896]

I don’t think you guys are getting it. When people talk about retro collecting and the way it used to be, games used to be 2 to 3 dollars each all day long and you could buy boxes of games, figure out which ones you already have, then go trade them off to someone else and get more games that you needed. It was an accessible hobby, not a major expense. There’s also the distinction of just playing the games versus collecting them the same way you would trading cards. $40 for a trading card when you’re trying to buy hundreds of them is a bit expensive. if you just wanna play the games, or just a couple of games, maybe these inflated prices are fine, but, emulation being as good as it is today makes a major difference, and in my opinion makes buying a game purely to play it not worth it at all. Even dedicated collectors nowadays tend to have programmable multi carts where they can put ROMs of some kind of flash cart and play it in their original system as if it were the original cartridge or CD. it’s not the same hobby it used to be and in my opinion, totally not worth pursuing anymore. And I say all this is someone that collected about 1000 games back when they were reasonably priced and would absolutely not start doing it today.

[@dustinthomas226]

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

[@b4rs629]

Exactly. I'm really into j-rpgs... so I've been collecting square enix ports on the switch because I'm sure it would cost me more to buy those systems + buy them seperately. I never got to play final fantasy... so I picked up the 1-12 on the switch.. costed me about $220 I now have my eyes on collecting Dragonquest on ds & they aren't exactly cheap either However I do enjoy... Tony hawk pro skater 3, ssx3, ssx tricky... and those games are cheap, fun, & offer lots of replayability. I would like to get back into guitar hero & rockband, but despite the games being cheap... the equipment isn't. This is one of those special case scenarios. The switch remasters, remakes, & new game entries into the older franchises have caused a fair amount of gamecubes & other games from other system that are 1st party have dipped in 2023-2024... looking at price charting. Pikmin 1+2 has dipped though still expensive compared to their switch releases Metroid prime dipped to $25 Mario party 4,5,6, & 7 - Was running around $400 on average for the set... now it's more like $280 Mario Sunhine & galaxy has dipped Mario tennis, golf, soccer titles have dipped Thousand year door has took an absolute nosedive from $140 to $55... ^ it's cheaper now to collect gamecube compared 2020-2021 overall now today for 1st party gamecube games, but not as cheap compared to 2019 or back then. The games that haven't obviously haven't dipped by much are pokemon, zelda, fire emblem, & some other games like f-zero gx, doubledash, or warioworld etc.. continue to maintain their price and are stabilizing. Games like ssx3, ssx tricky, & bloody roar primal fury... are going up in price now.

[@admiralrustyshackleford119]

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.

[@TheTom42781]

Retro Video games are like classic cars now as time goes by. It’s gonna get harder to find and it’s gonna be more expensive to dig up. It’s just goes along with the territory.

[@RetroMoments]

The exact video we needed in these times! Thanks guys!

[@heartofthecards7287]

This is how I look at it and this is not me attacking anyone, it’s just my honest opinion: If a game takes me 10 hours to complete I’m not paying full retail price for it at $60, $70, or even $80. Now, if it’s a JRPG, then yes I’ll pay at least $60 for it since most JRPGs can usually be beat around 60 hours if you do everything in the game. I refuse to spend $300 for Lunar 2: Eternal Blue especially when the Remastered Collection is coming out next year. Price Gouging is definitely starting to ruin gaming for me. However, Whatnot has been a blessing for me. I’ve got some amazing deals like Digital Devil Saga 1 and 2 for $60 and that is factory sealed.

[@littleakibagames]

The big deterrent for me has been disc rot. I do not want to invest huge in a big retro library only to walk right into that investment tanking because the discs aged into defective status just a few years after I got them. Honestly the thought scared me into selling off entirely a couple years ago and just focusing on modern and otherwise cartridge-based.

[@GamingOffTheGrid]

Wild! Maybe Iowa is different but I’m a huge game, dvd, 📀 cd collector and have yet to experience disc rot. To me I’ve always thought disc rot and big foot are figments of the imagination

[@littleakibagames]

@@GamingOffTheGrid GameCube and Dreamcast seem to be the biggest victims. I've also still got an Xbox launch copy of Project Gotham Racing that's starting to pinhole and the sound skips like crazy when I try to play it on my 360.

[@GameReaver85]

Could be an issue with the room they’re being stored in. Humidity plays a big factor when it comes to disc longevity. Personally, I have a large collection of disc based games dating back to the PS1 and including Dreamcast, and I have not had a single disc rot issue. I’ve had some games not load correctly on my consoles, but it’s never had anything to do with the disc - it’s because the laser on the disc reader is dying. I have an Xbox game that my og Xbox won’t play. I put the same game in my 360, and it loads without issue.

[@mikeohland4149]

Im in a weird matrix where iv never really been into collecting games.. I was a Madden/Cod bro for a decade lol ugh.. but now im going HARD into genesis .. the main reason is the boxes and the art.. the boxes hold up, the art is FULLY 90s .. and the games are fun and hard. but the boxes are shaped like a book and display well .. not to mention the wild nature of them not being universal.

[@RetroRockGamer]

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.

[@ryanshinermusic]

It’s compared to what it was. Price Charting keeps track of changes in price over time for almost all retro games and does an average by console. Here’s a change in time for average prices of games by console: N64 May 2009: $6.04 October 2024: $32.44 (and it was over $40 at one point earlier this year) NES May 2009: $6.90 October 2024: $42.29 SNES May 2009: $7.54 October 2024: $36.22 SEGA Genesis May 2009: $4.44 October 2024: $18.66 And keep in mind, these are averages. For games people really want to play like Earthbound or Paper Mario, you’re paying hundreds of dollars. Absolutely nothing about the hardware has changed, 100% of the games are used and the money is just going to resellers. Yeah, inflation exists, but an item costing $6 in 2009 should be $8.82 now, according to Inflation Calculator. It is valid to say the hobby has gotten expensive when the price has increased by four or five times and absolutely nothing about it has changed. I have enough games that I probably don’t need to buy more. People really care about game preservation and in a lot of cases, the only way people will get to play some of these games is through emulation.

[@ThiKu]

You guys hit the nail on the head - I am collecting for Xbox, 360, ps3, and ps4. I emulate for NES, SNES, genesis and 64 (I have the hardware so will grab 5-10 of the best cheap). So my rule is $20 and under. Might stretch it for a really must have game. My collection is rocking - I am so stoked to play every single game to completion. Currently rocking Black on Xbox then gonna play the two Riddick games on ps3! Edit: and not just a $20 rule (Canada) but it’s a curated list I draw from - games I know I will enjoy with some amount of certainty. And if it turns out I don’t as much as I thought it’s no harm no foul.

[@justinmiller9865]

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.

[@jeremygermenis8036]

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.

[@lordeowstheking]

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..

[@randygilbert7286]

I don't think retro gaming has become expensive at all. I generally speaking don't pay more that $20 for any of my games, keep them if I like them, and if I don't, simply resell. There are so many good games left for me to play, it's pretty rare that I need to consider paying more to play great games.

[@sephorafournier]

I collect mostly 6 and 7 generation and its mostly super cheap if you dont count gamecube games

[@soad11dude]

Saw the simpsons hit and run (gamecube version) for 90$ a few weeks ago. Certain games (especially gamecube) have gotten dumb with pricing. But if your priority is to have fun, gears of war, halo, COD, portal, bioshock, fallout and many other big games are pretty cheap on PS3/xbox360.

[@sephorafournier]

@@soad11dude yeah people are always tempted for those games they cant afford while there so many great title really cheap

[@stashmerkin9576]

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!

[@ps3inquisition441]

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.

[@caldwin]

Just got Castlevania IV for $45 including shipping. Never mind that I already have the Konami collections and SNES mini, I still love having this physically.

[@marsbase1357]

Madden should be you buy it once every year has DLC to get new players

[@njones621]

😂 yeah tell EA Sports shareholders that charitable work 😂

[@marsbase1357]

My brother buys all 3 games every year. NFL, NBA, MLB. I told him it's all the same game. He said no there's new players

[@ReinMixTape]

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.

[@spltyx]

Love the content. Can you guys do a video on your updated game libraries for each system.

[@shazmanbound1496]

I already did all of my retro collection before 2020 for Gamecube, PS1, PS2, GBA, etc. For me modern gaming is ridiculous expensive. I think only stupid prices on retro will be something like "Earthbound" for SNES

[@JayWillOnYouTube]

I think the main problem is for the majority of people is disposable income has decreased and collecting prices has increased. People want instant gratification and have it all so quickly and that just isn't how collecting works unless your budget is unlimited. All these youtubers with massive collections put in a lot of effort/time/money to get to where they are and people are not willing to commit to that level. A good collector is always on the prowl for deals and is generally pretty crafty at generating extra funds to afford games. A lot of people are finding deals and not paying price charting value and/or they are flipping. "Too Expensive" is always the scape goat. I am currently a pretty passive collector currently due to my wife and i wanting to move to a bigger house but just this year i found TMNT IV Turtles in time loose for $20 & I found a PS2 Slim with about 20 loose games for like $40 and just the loose copy of GTA Vice City Stories in that bundle is about $40 on price charting. The example of the PS2 collection costing 36K sounds daunting but if you are a real collector and collect the rest of your life that is a fairly realistic goal. I would love to have a complete North American snes collection but that could take 5 years, 10 years, my whole life... who knows? I do plan to make other goals that are less expensive like maybe collect the top 25/50/100 games for all consoles I own since most of the great games don't break the bank. You do not have to have rare/expensive games to be a collector. Long story short you can commit to it or not... but if you don't commit don't whine and complain because people are doing better than you.

[@samuelsmith6892]

In the UK, charity/thrift shops were good hunting grounds for cheap retro games, but more recently they are realising they can command more on price by comparing to 'sold items' on ebay. To your second point, I'm going through Zelda BOTW (late to the party, I know), but once i complete it, I'm likely to never play it again, as it's too big a game. Compare that to a pick up and play game like Castlevania on the snes, I'll keep coming back to that.

[@skepticalbystander]

If our fellow gamers think video games are an expensive hobby, they should look at what musicians have to pay for the good stuff, I know you guys know that life. I'm a gear nut, not only guitars, amps, and recording equipment are in the hundreds and hundred to deep into thousands and thousands, but once you get into guitar effects pedals, you're just sliding down a slippery slope of ever-present expense where ya there are budget 30 and 40 dollar effects pedals almost no one wants, and ya there are hidden gems there too, but typical middle-of-the-road price for a pedal is $150-$200 a pop! $80-$150 is considered a cheap effects pedal! It's my firm belief that a guitar you're gonna want to keep is most likely gonna at least cost you $500, closer to $600 or $700, tack on a few hundo extra to those numbers for the amps and speaker cabinets. I have to regulate my money between both these passions of mine constantly. Do I want Klonoa or SotN on PS1, or do I want a guitar effect that does a specific swoosh-swoosh thing to my sound, it's hard sometimes to make those decisions, they're both addictions. I own 7 guitars, 5 amps, a very barebones home studio setup, and about 70 pedals that have taken me basically just as much time to attain as it's taken me to turn my childhood game collection of maybe 30 or 40 games into over 2,800 physical games, probably over 1,000 digitals, and all the collectibles and such i have too, and two amps and three guitars were gifts, and another amp was a $40 steal when it normally goes for $900 used. It's easier to find the gear i want, but much harder to save up for it. Cables alone cost an arm and a leg for what they are, and power supplies and all the shit you need to not burn your house down when you're running a 300w tube amp and 30-odd pedals at a time :P gaming is easier, i still find sub-$10 bangers often at garage sales and thrift stores. You RARELY ever find worthwhile music gear in the wild like that. I'll run into Little Samson before I run into an legit guitar or amp at a thrift or garage sale, especially at a thrift or garage sale price! Maybe it's just me in my travels, but i never ever see anything more than an off-brand cable here and there at those places. Music gear is like if you could only buy video games from eBay or retro game stores, and everything was sealed or graded bangers, that's how it would have to be to be the equivalent to amassing a substantial music instrument setup.

[@AP-bg3iw]

I think people are feeling FOMO more than anything else. I feel more annoyed at prices being high for events that use to be more affordable. Games will still be there to play in some form thankfully. Retro isn’t going anywhere. I think the bubble will pop. The demand will lower and the supply will be available again. I’ve had my collection for a while and I’m cool with letting things go little by little.