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Maybe the market is crashing for games that were selling for four digits and up, but there has been a general tenfold increase in older game and system prices o

Maybe the market is crashing for games that were selling for four digits and up, but there has been a general tenfold increase in older game and system prices over the past 15 years, and it has really discouraged me. I used to lovingly curate a growing collection. I loved to browse flea markets and used game stores and Craigslist. But in the past five years I've probably bought less than ten games from before the year 2005. It's not just games either - it feels like every hobby is becoming more and more expensive as more people with (somehow) more disposable income coalesce around the things that have a clear presence in the public consciousness.

tsunamifury 3y ago
This has happened in everything from cars to watches to video games. Many wealthy people are clamoring for any asset class they can find. There is so much money in so few hands it needs to drive up prices of everything to find a place to go.
- ghusto 3y ago
  I think you're mostly right, but a smaller part of it is the real value older technology has for some people. The recent(-ish) resurgence in music cassettes is of course partially the usual hipster douchery, but it's also to do with how using a walkman makes people feel in control again. The experience of listening on a device that discourages skipping to the next song, switching to an artist that this song reminds you of, checking your notifications, and generally takes choice _out_ of your hands, is both relaxing and at the same time more intense in the ways that matter. This is the same for video games, DVDs, and other physical media. Obviously there's the fact that you actually own the object too, and a streaming service can't take it away from you.
pupppet 3y ago
Years ago I'd walk through pawn shops and chortle to myself seeing their massive collection of old game carts wondering why anyone would want them, jokes on me I guess.
baerrie 3y ago
Yeah goodwill in the past 5 years has been a waste of time. They have become too savvy and I think people are collecting more. In 2016 I could go to the two near me and almost guarantee a decent find. I also think people get rid of this stuff in cycles and perhaps that vein has run dry for the generation of classic video game stuff. The same goes for photography and hifi audio stuff. I do recommend estate/moving sales and regular old garage sales. I have found some pretty solid stuff. The estate/moving sales also have good pictures so you can filter through the bad ones.

tsunamifury 3y ago

This has happened in everything from cars to watches to video games. Many wealthy people are clamoring for any asset class they can find. There is so much money in so few hands it needs to drive up prices of everything to find a place to go.

ghusto 3y ago
I think you're mostly right, but a smaller part of it is the real value older technology has for some people. The recent(-ish) resurgence in music cassettes is of course partially the usual hipster douchery, but it's also to do with how using a walkman makes people feel in control again. The experience of listening on a device that discourages skipping to the next song, switching to an artist that this song reminds you of, checking your notifications, and generally takes choice _out_ of your hands, is both relaxing and at the same time more intense in the ways that matter. This is the same for video games, DVDs, and other physical media. Obviously there's the fact that you actually own the object too, and a streaming service can't take it away from you.

pupppet 3y ago

Years ago I'd walk through pawn shops and chortle to myself seeing their massive collection of old game carts wondering why anyone would want them, jokes on me I guess.

baerrie 3y ago

Yeah goodwill in the past 5 years has been a waste of time. They have become too savvy and I think people are collecting more. In 2016 I could go to the two near me and almost guarantee a decent find. I also think people get rid of this stuff in cycles and perhaps that vein has run dry for the generation of classic video game stuff. The same goes for photography and hifi audio stuff. I do recommend estate/moving sales and regular old garage sales. I have found some pretty solid stuff. The estate/moving sales also have good pictures so you can filter through the bad ones.