So, everybody knows that the SNES is the quintessential gaming system, classic of classic, and brought out the best in developers, but it suffers from one, big, undeniable flaw.

Why are the games so damn expensive now?!?

You can't get any of the classics, (especially RPGs) for less then 30-40 dollars, even on eBay, and even the lesser known games are not much less. Hell, even Super Mario World can run upward of 20 bucks.                                                                              ^
                                                                           (Not exactly uncommon)

I know classics are the good games that everybody wants, but still.
I'd like to get some use out of my new SNES, but I won't pay 50 bucks just for Super Mario RPG.

I was hoping releases of Final Fantasy II and III on the Game Boy and DS would lower the price, but they're still terrible, so Crono Trigger on the DS and Mario RPG on virtual console probably won't help either.

This post was last modified: 08-06-2008 10:09 PM by Pancakes.

Try a pawn shop? Most games are 10$, 30 if its really good, and reaching as much as 100$ if its a rare low manufactured game in mint condition (See Harvest moon).

This post was last modified: 08-07-2008 12:03 AM by Rawrmander.

theyre expensive because they're not being made anymore, and everybody wants them. so people inflate the prices knowing the demand for them is there, and someone will buy them.

or if you're like me, you could go garage sale hopping on weekends and find games for almost any of the older consoles (and handhelds) cheap because people don't know the value of them.

i never sell any games, simply because i know my luck is terrible, and once i sell a game i'll want to play it again, and have to pay at least twice what i got for selling it. that, and i would never give up my classic games.

The main problem with the SNES was that it was far too awesome.

SNES was indeed awesome.

this was really a rhetorical thread for me to fume and rant.

QFT of the Millennium.

Expensive? I could get an SNES for around 30 USD and games no more than that (excluding Earthbound ;_; ).

/thread

Expensive? I have TWO SNES consoles sitting around at my place.

* Apparently Foxy couldn't add to the conversation

This post was last modified: 08-10-2008 07:10 PM by Foxy.

Yeah, but I only get stuff in good condition. I'm a collector, if a label is torn or wearing out, I won't buy it. If the owner couldn't even keep the label in good condition, that doesn't send me good vibes about the inside of the game.

This post was last modified: 08-10-2008 09:12 PM by Pancakes.

well for a collector this idea won't work but those who just want to play them, what about an emulator? that would work just to experience the games? plus all the games are free.(of course you still do miss the true feeling of the snes)

Besides the legal issues that are involved with emulators and ROMs, its much better to experience the game on the home console it released on.

Let me expand on this as I have a few years experience in collecting. Pawn Shops are a good place to go. The more run down, the better. Don't be afraid to negociate price with the clerks, especially when buying in bulk. I've never been to a pawn shop that differentiated pricing based on game worth. The ones I visited regularly had a flat rate based on consoles, and I was able to talk them down on prices many times. Never paid more than $5 for any pawn shop game.

Also check out salvation armies, goodwills, and other stores that accept all donations. They generally don't price cartridge based games over $5.

Flea markets and garage sales are the gold mines, but they are hit and miss. I've gotten $150+ in video game goods (then ebay value) for $5. Patience is the biggest factor to this approach. In two summers I collected 2 top loading NES's, 5 front loaders, 2 Snes's, 1 model 2 SNES, probably 20-30 SNES games, 150+ NES games (many more including repeats), 2 Atari 2600's, 30+ Atari Games, 1 atari 7200(if memory serves me), 1 commodore vic-20, and all the controllers and accessaries to go with them for a total cost less than 50 dollars. Yes, less than the price of a single new game. Garage sales were the biggest gold mines, but I got lucky in a few second hand stores, flea markets and clearance sales.

I've since cooled off on the hunt, but I still keep an eye open. There are few thrills like finding a top loading NES or FFIII (SNES) in mint condition for $3 (done both).

For the same reason I buy songs on iTunes instead of downloading them. I pay to support the industry.

You're no longer supporting the industry. SNES is no longer a retail product and you can't buy them direct from direct from the company or the main stream retailers, the only way to purchase one is to buy a used one from a person or one from an indie game store (Still used...).

Hate to break it to you but we've had 3 generations of consoles since 1991.

i had lemonade spilt on my first snes,
that was bad,
here's a top tip, don't spill lemonade on your consoles. they break.

You brave, brave man.

If you go to one of those local game stores that sells news and used stuff (not a chain), they'll have some great games mismarked at times. I was able to pick up Final Fantasy 2 (which is technically 4) for $20 under what is was selling for everywhere else, simply because someone made a blunder.

Craigslist has some good deals by me right now on SNES games.