The Tim Atwood Story

[Megatron]

I don't think anyone is saying that.  But I WOULD like to see it go back to $30 or $40.

[larryinc64]

I think most games go through a phase of New - Old - Retro


They are released new and are MSRP

Price drops as it gets a little older

Next hardware is released - Old hardware's games are at the lowest - Nobody wants them

The available stock of new games dry up in stores

Maybe another new hardware

Prices begin to rise again



Profit? also inflation?

[segamer]

I think most games go through a phase of New - Old - Retro


They are released new and are MSRP

Price drops as it gets a little older

Next hardware is released - Old hardware's games are at the lowest - Nobody wants them

The available stock of new games dry up in stores

Maybe another new hardware

Prices begin to rise again



Profit? also inflation?

Yes, you're correct; that's the cycle.

[PinBiohazard]

It all comes down to this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RC6qGiJXDA

It's funny, you hang on Pat the Punks opinion for everything. He's not an authority; no one is. However, examining other collectibles like stamps, civil war era items, or golden age comics, will people in 100 years desire our game collections? Yes! Working games will be lost to time and therefore, working items will be highly sought after.

No I do not hang on to Pat's opinion for everything, it just parallels my opinion in this case, the way the next and the next generation is raised there will be no need for carts and DVD they will have everything on a silver platter on their TV, that's the point he makes is there will be a market still but not like there is today, there won't be as many collectors out there in 100 years, it's like VHS collectors in a way, the market is very very small but it exists

[palmer6strings]

I really don't see why people are giving in to buying something you don't get to own/make an investment in...
Baffles me truly it does...

I think most games go through a phase of New - Old - Retro


They are released new and are MSRP

Price drops as it gets a little older

Next hardware is released - Old hardware's games are at the lowest - Nobody wants them

The available stock of new games dry up in stores

Maybe another new hardware

Prices begin to rise again



Profit? also inflation?

Yes, you're correct; that's the cycle.

I have to agree and disagree. It really depends on what kind of game it is and how good it actually is.
I mean really, who (now a days) is goin to be like, "Damn, I really need Barbie: Super Model, and I am willing to spend as much money as I can to obtain it!!"
Not me for sure. But I also don't purposefully buy sports games EVER for more than $5.

[larryinc64]

^ True

Also with Nintendo games its

They are released new and are MSRP

Price drops a dollar maybe as it gets a little older

Game is discontinued - Price doubles

Budget version eventually released - Price plummets somewhat

Out of print again - get a third mortgage

Economy collapses - replaced with Mario Kart based currency

[PinBiohazard]

^ True

Also with Nintendo games its

They are released new and are MSRP

Price drops a dollar maybe as it gets a little older

Game is discontinued - Price doubles

Budget version eventually released - Price plummets somewhat

Out of print again - get a third mortgage

Economy collapses - replaced with Mario Kart based currency

Beware of the Banana Peels

[wiggy]

Prices will fall.

ALL collectible commodities gain and lose value, and the faster and larger the gain in value, the harder and faster that they lose value. The bubble will burst.  Find an instance of collectible commodities which hasn't gone through this cycle, I dare ya.

80's Star Wars action figures. At no point in collecting history have the prices fallen, they've only increased. The comparison is similar to the collecting of vintage video games. The initial rise in price started in the early 90's due to nostalgia. 100 of millions of Star Wars action figures were produced.

It's not a bubble. A bubble is a summer of kids collecting Pogs. People have been collecting games since the 80's and 90's. Millennials entered a pre-existing world of video game collecting. Yes, many will sell of their collection and buy a car or something. That's been happening over the last decade. Only a mass exodus would cause prices to fall.

Becuase something hasn't seen a significant decline yet, that doesn't mean that it isn't inevitable.  Comics rode a steady rise in value for 50 years before that bubble burst.

IMO, what you're describing is more of a fad than anything (the pogs). I personally don't feel that something which kids were into for a year or so doesn't really fall into a collectible commodity, just a popular toy at the time.  

Also, the supply of retro games is (relatively) plentiful, unlike some of the exceedingly rare stamps, or baseball cards, etc.  It's entirely possible that a market satiation could happen.

I think most games go through a phase of New - Old - Retro


They are released new and are MSRP

Price drops as it gets a little older

Next hardware is released - Old hardware's games are at the lowest - Nobody wants them

The available stock of new games dry up in stores

Maybe another new hardware

Prices begin to rise again



Profit? also inflation?

But that isn't the case for all retro games. Not at all.  Some are virtually worthless, and there is no singular reason for such.   It can't be boiled down to something so simple.

[segamer]

@Wiggly Because 80's SW action have had zero decline proves that not everything exists in a bubble. It proved my point. Because the have yet decline, doesn't prove your point. Desirable Silver and Golden age comic have yet to decline in value. Pig and beanie babie are examples of collectibles that existed within a bubble as bubble exist for a very short period.

I sold my Video Game shop in 2008. The escalation and demand of retro gaming had long since started. In 2003, I was selling Mike Tysons Punch out, Castlevania, Contra, Mega Man, etc... For $5.  By 2008, I was selling them for $15. So, it's well past the point of calling this a bubble.