Will Virtual Console hurt the NES market?




Posted by Proto Man

In addition to being a collector, I also sell NES systems and games.

Now with the advent of the virtual console though, you will be able to get a great deal of the original NES games all on one system. What I am worried about though is how is this going to affect NES collection scene? Will there still be a market for NES sytems?

I really hope it doesn't hurt the market, but then again on the flipside if it does, this means those of us who still want the real thing can grab up games at good prices.




Posted by Vampiro V. Empire

People buy that **** because they want the original copy, otherwise they would grab an emulator and download whatever they want.




Posted by rivercitytecmo

personally, i would love it if it hurt the demand for old stuff. i only buy nes stuff; i can't remember the last time i sold something nes-related. to me, the more crap like virtual consoles and knock-off toploaders there are, the better.

that said, i'm with vamp. i don't think it'll hurt the demand at all. if anything, it could possibly even drive the price for nes games up. before the huge influx of the third-party toploaders, nes toploaders were down to around $40-50 on ebay. now, they're back up to $60-70.




Posted by neofreak91

I think only hurt the seller the is good now I get better price for original copy nes games




Posted by Fei-on Castor

I don't think many people buy an NES and games because they're casual players. Collectors will still collect, and casual players will now have a way to play as well, without having to deal with the frustrations of finding what you're looking for.

I'm looking forward to this virtual console. I'll keep all of my NES carts and systems, though. I just may not play them much anymore. Playing my NES is quite frustrating, due to the older technology not cooperating. The game will freeze often, and it's usually tough get a game going at all, even with a new 72-pin connector.

And if I do decide it's time to get rid of my NES collection, I'll definitely let Bazariah know.




Posted by Proto Man

Well yeah I guess collectors will always collect, but I guess I am more afraid of losing the casual gamer who will see an auction and think "OH YEAH I REMEMBER MY OLD NES, I THINK I WILL BUY THIS".

And really it's not JUST about money either. I am a big promoter of the original NES, it's a part of culture that shouldn't die.


Quoting Fei-on Castor: The game will freeze often, and it's usually tough get a game going at all, even with a new 72-pin connector.


Then it's on the game, not the system. Since I have replaced my pin connector about 5 years ago, I've never had a problem with games. Only when the game is dirty that is, and if it is the game I clean it. *shrugs*



Posted by ZEN

The Virtual Console will create more interest in NES gaming, but I would think that most of the newer/casual gamers would be satisfied with downloading them (if they are not completely ignorant of emulation).

Unlike emulation though, the VC has the advantage of being promoted and not "frowned upon".
As stated earlier, the NES market is mainly a market for collectors.

As for the price of NES carts, it seems to be regulated by rarity and the prestige of the game franchise. This explains why 'Final Fantasy' and 'Legend of Zelda' (gold cart) still sell for more than $25 USD at used stores.

Of course, collectors won't be deterred.




Posted by Fei-on Castor

The way I see it, games like Final Fantasy and The Legend of Zelda aren't expensive because of their rarity, but rather, because every who has them doesn't wanna give them up, so if you wanna get your hands on someone else's copy you're gonna have to make it worth it to them. I know there are a few places that still sell used cartridges, and the reason they charge so much isn't because the game is rare, as in hard to come by, but they charge a lot because it's a good game and people are willing to pay that much for it.

"Zelda" and "Final Fantasy", specifically, were two of the most popular NES games, which would lead me to believe many copies were printed, and a lot of them are still in circulationk, which makes them anything but "rare" by definition.

The rare games are the unliscened demos and such. Those games are the ones to get a hold of.

G*d, I can ramble on about almost anything... Jesus.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, and sorry if I come off that way, but in my experience the gold Zelda is more common than the grey one. I've been collecting NES games for several, several years now, and I've had 4 or 5 different gold carts in my possesion. I've only SEEN one grey cart, and the guy wouldn't sell or trade it to me.




Posted by rivercitytecmo

i've been attempting to get back into buying nes stuff on ebay over the last few weeks (partially with sinister re-sell motives) and i can say for a fact--based on my extensive combing of completed and running nes auctions--that there's still a huge market for nes stuff. in fact, i'd actually say that people are spending more money on even basic nes games than they ever have*. i used to buy nes stuff off ebay all the time (about 4-6 years ago) and almost everything is around the same price as it used to be, maybe even a little more expensive.

ex: a major example of this are the "TMNT trilogy" or "ninja gaiden trilogy" lots that sell for obscene amounts like $30. it seems that you can take pretty much any popular nes game (like punch-out!!! or bubble bobble), slap a huge buy it now price on it, and some retard will buy it.




Posted by Proto Man


Quoting rivercitytecmo: in fact, i'd actually say that people are spending more money on even basic nes games than they ever have*.


Ain't it the truth... it's hard to get Super Mario Brothers 3 under $10 anymore.



Posted by Fei-on Castor


Quoting Proto Man: Ain't it the truth... it's hard to get Super Mario Brothers 3 under $10 anymore.

Good thing I already have 3 copies.



Posted by Proto Man

Really? I might buy one off of you sometime if your willing to sell.




Posted by rivercitytecmo

i could just send you a copy if you want.




Posted by Fei-on Castor

I'll let rivercitytecmo handle that. I have 3 copies for a reason. I also have 2 Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt, and I recently got my hands on a third one that has World Class Track Meet. The guy who gave it to me even through in a power pad!




Posted by Tyler Durden

[quote=Proto Man]In addition to being a collector, I also sell NES systems and games.

Now with the advent of the virtual console though, you will be able to get a great deal of the original NES games all on one system. What I am worried about though is how is this going to affect NES collection scene? Will there still be a market for NES sytems?

I really hope it doesn't hurt the market, but then again on the flipside if it does, this means those of us who still want the real thing can grab up games at good prices.

I think the Virtual Console has good potential, but I also foresee it fading away like the SNES/Genesis X-Band Game modem. Just not anytime soon, or as quickly. It's good for amusing your friends and family, aswell as yourself with easy access to a bit of nostalgia, such as VC. But, can you seriously see people still shelling out a budget to grab these titles from a network, ten years down the road? What am I saying, hopefully they do keep this trend up. Making demand for classic console games plummet so's I can reap on the benefits of lone-hunting. The waters need to thin out a little, some dickhole bought out an entire store this week, in my town. Spent $700-$800 on just old school games and accessories alone, completely cleaning them out. Selfish twat.. =]




Posted by Proto Man

You know what Sadistic? You just put a new perspective on this... we DON'T know where the VC will end up 10 years down the road. I mean look at other stuff that even Nintendo has come out with in the past, like the e-Reader, or even that Bandai Satellaview. All those are by the wayside. So now that I think about it, I really doubt that Nintendo is going to keep a server with all those games ready for download 10 years from now. Unless they make the next system all back compatible with that network.... who knows.

What we DO know though is that NES, SNES, etc... is concrete, and will still be here for many many years to come. So, I guess that guy who bought all that stuff isn't that far off. He will probably be able to sell that stuff for high prices come 10 years. So the moral of the story is... BUY NES STUFF NOW WHILE YOU CAN!




Posted by Tyler Durden

[quote=Proto Man]BUY NES STUFF NOW WHILE YOU CAN!

I'll do the best I can, to make sure that NES survives for the future generations. Without allowing it to fall into the clutches of the crazed mass-consumer. I bet the guy doesn't even know two sh!ts about video games, just blows his budget on them to hike up the prices and throw them out in his own brand of seedy second-hand market. :cool: I despise non-fan collectors, just about as much as I loathe computer fanatics.




Posted by Sean Fury

What the **** are you on Proto? Since when is there still an NES market?

eB/GameStop won't even accept anything older than last-gen (PS2, Xbox, Cube) and their supply of NES games is very limited. Nintendo makes absolutely no money off those games and they no longer produce them, THEREFORE THERE IS NO MARKET.

If by market you mean kids with NES games that are like "llo wutz these? i tink ill sell thems on eBayz llooooo" than who the **** even cares?




Posted by Tyler Durden

[quote=Sean Fury]If by market you mean kids with NES games that are like "llo wutz these? i tink ill sell thems on eBayz llooooo" than who the **** even cares?

Maybe we care, as gamers, we should care to preserve our roots. There may no longer be a recognizable market out there in the world. But, there resides one within the hearts of every true Nintendo [and/or Sega] fan. Every true Nintendo [and/or Sega] collector that has spent numerous hours scouting the local flea markets, thrift stores, and pawn shops in search for old console carts, [NES, Sega, SNES, Atari]. The sense of nostalgia, of waking up early on a Saturday [when you don't have to work]. Plugging up your old dusty Super Nintendo, or NES. Slapping in either Zoda's Revenge, or say, even The Illusion of Gaia [SNES]. Then playing through for hours on end, just as you did when you were younger. Walking back through old memories; yet creating newer, fresher ones. No one cares that the market is based on "old junk", we like collecting video games, because they restore something to us as gamers. They tell of a history between man and machine, a technology not used to prevent peace or end war. But, a means of entertainment that has survived the ages because we're willing to never forget about it.. :cool:




Posted by Sean Fury

There's no reason to have an original cartridge that cost you 100 dollars because you can't find it anymore. That's only folding into the demands of some sadistic sonofa***** whose looking for some easy money from a bunch of nerdy retards. Nintendo is jumping them and willing to give us the games directly through the Wii and this is bad? You're all a bunch of ****ing idiots than.




Posted by Tyler Durden

Maybe some of us prefer the original, over some shoddy digital redux? What do you think would happen if your Wii possibly either shorted out or burned up because you left it running during a thunderstorm? Power strips and wall outlets aren't as safe as the average ape understands them to be. Neither are the relays that line your breaker box. Me personally, I hate emulation. And I choose to support Nintendo by collecting their older games, not by shelling out a budget on these dupe game-images. I can't stand playing a classic through some new, more conventional means. But, THAT is only my opinion, and I'm entitled to it just as you are to your own. So drop this Socialist attitude, please? Besides, it's already evident that VC will not offer every single classic title in the NES [or SNES, etc] library.. :cool:




Posted by Sean Fury

You aren't supporting Nintendo AT ALL by buying old games they don't produce or make money from anymore. Supporting Nintendo would mean you buy the Wii and download their games like a good little gamer monkey. It's not that complex of a situation, Grin, geez.

Besides, even if the Wii did short out, I'm fairly certain Nintendo aren't that big of *******s to let you lose all that data and money and have the information backed up online for you (since you know, that's where your account and stuff is).




Posted by Proto Man


Quoting Sean Fury: What the **** are you on Proto? Since when is there still an NES market?

eB/GameStop won't even accept anything older than last-gen (PS2, Xbox, Cube) and their supply of NES games is very limited. Nintendo makes absolutely no money off those games and they no longer produce them, THEREFORE THERE IS NO MARKET.

If by market you mean kids with NES games that are like "llo wutz these? i tink ill sell thems on eBayz llooooo" than who the **** even cares?


Holy cow Sean, CALM DOWN! Looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the bed or something.

Open your eyes, eB/GameStop isn't the world. Just because THEY don't have it doesn't mean there isn't a market. You may not notice, but there IS a market for this stuff. Not just for "collectors" either. There are people out there who, like Sadistic said, want to re-experience what they did in the days of old. There are some people who have NEVER experienced playing the original 8 bit Super Mario Brothers 3, Final Fantasy, Duck Hunt, etc...

Yes, there IS the VC, but like I said, how long will that be around? I also don't think it would give the same experience either. Then there are games that have never even been re-released PERIOD! Star Tropics, Skate or Die 2, Metal Gear, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and countless others. Sure SOME of them may be put on the VC, but not ALL. Heck, they don't even know if they are going to be able to put Goldeneye for N64 on the VC.


Quoted post: You aren't supporting Nintendo AT ALL by buying old games they don't produce or make money from anymore.


Well to me, this is bigger than just "supporting Nintendo". To me this is keeping a legacy alive that should never die. It's keeping alive the idea that there can be GOOD games without all the fluff there is today in the industry.

Like I said before, I don't necessarily knock the VC, it's good for getting people interested in the classics again. I just don't see it as a replacement though for what's already there. Or a very good one at least.

I too do not like emulation. To this day I haven't played a perfectly emulated game. These ROMS that circulate on the net, it's just not the same as the real thing to me. Give me the original game on the original system any day!



Posted by rivercitytecmo

hey sean: it's called a "hobby", you retard.




Posted by Proto Man

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1547688/20061211/index.jhtml




Posted by Tyler Durden

[quote=Proto Man]MTVcrappywebjunksomethinganother.

I collect with the same attitude as Nick Morgan, except I could care less about going through the extra hassle of finding every box. Allthough manuals are nice, I'd read them if I came across a game I'd purchased with one. I just collect the games that stick out to me, that fit my personality best. Games that hold concepts and images that peak my interests on the radar.


I do have a complete version of Impossible Mission II, signed by the designers. Made in small production here in my home town. And I only paid $1 for it.. :cool:

Every nerd down the block from me, and a few friends of mine are jealous. So I guess that's something nice to be proud of?




Posted by Tyler Durden

[quote=Sean Fury]You aren't supporting Nintendo AT ALL by buying old games they don't produce or make money from anymore. Supporting Nintendo would mean you buy the Wii and download their games like a good little gamer monkey. It's not that complex of a situation, Grin, geez.

Besides, even if the Wii did short out, I'm fairly certain Nintendo aren't that big of *******s to let you lose all that data and money and have the information backed up online for you (since you know, that's where your account and stuff is).

Haha.. Good little gamer monkey? You have a point Sean, the only thing rescessed within your Wii would be the actual game images you downloaded. That's what would fall under harms way if something were to happen to the console. As for the online activity, yes they would keep a record of your personal Wii account, aswell as any items and games you may have purchased or downloaded through them. Some companies do this to keep up with current trends and fluctuations in sales. Others tend to use it for a more helpful purpose, as backup in the process of a troubleshoot. Sorry about the typical third-degree, man.. Peace?




Posted by Sean Fury

And so everyone, what happens when your NES breaks down or your century old NES games stop working, only because of time? What are you going to do then? You aren't getting new parts for them anytime soon.




Posted by Proto Man


Quoting Sean Fury: And so everyone, what happens when your NES breaks down or your century old NES games stop working, only because of time? What are you going to do then? You aren't getting new parts for them anytime soon.


And why not? It's an easy thing to do! :cool:



Posted by Sean Fury

Since when is collecting parts for ancient systems an easy task? Unless you're planning on importing the pieces, I'm fairly certain most people aren't going to part with their parts for cheap prices.




Posted by Proto Man


Quoting Sean Fury: Since when is collecting parts for ancient systems an easy task? Unless you're planning on importing the pieces, I'm fairly certain most people aren't going to part with their parts for cheap prices.


And I am 100% certain that you don't know what you are talking about. 72 pin connectors (which is what needs fixed 99% of the time) are a cheap and easy product to aquire as they are still in production. I just bought a dozen of them (all brand new) last month.



Posted by Tyler Durden

[quote=Sean Fury]And so everyone, what happens when your NES breaks down or your century old NES games stop working, only because of time? What are you going to do then? You aren't getting new parts for them anytime soon.

[URL="http://www.gaminggraveyard.com"]www.gaminggraveyard.com[/URL] has backup/repair parts [aswell as any tools of implementation] for sell, Sean. Both sides have their own equally valid points. And, who's going to live for a century, just to play the NES. That's just crazy-talk..




Posted by Tyler Durden

[quote=Proto Man]72 pin connectors (which is what needs fixed 99% of the time) are a cheap and easy product to aquire as they are still in production. I just bought a dozen of them (all brand new) last month.

Two components that should be of use:

[URL="http://www.gaminggraveyard.com/classic_gaming/nintendo-entertainment-system/nes-72-pin-replacement-connector/prod_8398.html"]http://www.gaminggraveyard.com/classic_gaming/nintendo-entertainment-system/nes-72-pin-replacement-connector/prod_8398.html[/URL]

[URL="http://www.playmessiah.com/products/cleaner.htm"]http://www.playmessiah.com/products/cleaner.htm[/URL]




Posted by Sean Fury

Copy and paste from my conversation with Protoman.

SeanWantsRevenge: I know what I'm talking about and I know that Nintendo makes absolutely no money off systems and cartridges they stopped producing and manufacturing years ago. If there exists, somewhere in a mythical half-verse dimension, a pre-Gamecube store that sells unused N64, SNES, and NES games, I guess I'd be the last person who knows about it than.
Pr0todude: That's not the point
SeanWantsRevenge: It was my entire point to begin with.
SeanWantsRevenge: I wasn't saying that people don't want to play NES anymore, I wasn't even trying to say it wasn't good anymore, I was trying to say that supporting Nintendo would be buying a Wii and downloading the games that they made and that buying NES games and such from people who already have them is a completely pointless thing to do and a waste of money considering how old everything is and how easy the stuff would break, should you choose to keep and use them. Collectors are exempt from this.
Pr0todude: regular people are exempt too
Pr0todude: It's NOT pointless
Pr0todude: is MY point
Pr0todude: and I've already proved that
SeanWantsRevenge: No, they aren't, because they're trying to buy old-*** games that are not in production anymore only to play them which would be pointless when they could actually support Nintendo by buying a Wii and downloading the games like Nintendo wants everyone to do in the first place so they don't have to go back to square one by buying an NES and games and having to waste more money fixing them and etc.




Posted by Tyler Durden

[quote=Sean Fury]Copy and paste from my conversation with Protoman.

Blah blah blah blah.. etc.

Seriously, chill out. If my NES breaks down anytime soon. I'll just retire it to the closet for good, and break out my Messiah NEX [NES clone]. It works doubly-good over the original NES, anyways. I understand where you're coming from, I would more than likely be willing to support Nintendo further, by purchasing SOME of the game-images they host on VC. But, only time will tell, as I have yet to see any titles of interest. So until then, I'll stick with the plastic-problems of the past.




Posted by Proto Man


Quoting Sadistic Grin: It works doubly-good over the original NES, anyways.


I actually SORELY disagree witht that, but that's another argument entirely.

Sean, it is not POINTLESS, and I've already explained why! People want the original thing. Nothing beats it! I've also said there is nothing wrong with the VC. READ MY POSTS! :)


Quoted post: [23:43] SeanWantsRevenge: Of course there is, but you act like there's still thousands of NESes out there that people are willing to sell and that the system isn't basically on the brink of extinction. You know how many people I've met, in my life of moving through five different houses, that have/had an NES? Two. And that includes myself.


That's you though, where I live, I've seen countless systems and games at garage sales, and auctions. You can also walk into Microplay and buy them as well. The NES is far from extinction, and eBay is proof of it!



Posted by rivercitytecmo

it's pretty **** obvious that sean has no idea what he's talking about. it's hard to find nes parts and systems? they sold [url=http://www.nintendo.com/systemsclassic?type=nes]60 million of them[/url], you retard. "ancient"? they only stopped being produced 13 years ago!

please, stop posting in this thread, sean. you don't know anything about classic systems or the hobby of video game collecting. please stop embarrassing yourself in this thread.

by the way, i'd like to point out that in 17+ years of nes gaming, i've only had two or three games and two controllers break on me. my toploader has been in operation for 10+ years and works just fine. stop acting like nes' were made of eggshells and porcelain or whatever and just stfu.




Posted by Tyler Durden

[quote=rivercitytecmo][URL="http://www.nintendo.com/systemsclassic?type=nes"]60 million of them[/URL], and stuff..

Right [the ****] on! I've been a gamer for about 19 years now, and neither my toaster nore my top loader have failed me. It has normally been a likely event of faulty adapter trouble, or flawed RF switches and dirty cart-connectors. The only reason I feel a need to even purchase a NES clone, is to allow my licensed consoles a little break time. I still clean all my games thoroughly atleast once a month, and I disassemble my NES' to troubleshoot and cleanse them aswell. To assure that they remain in tip/top shape. Same routine check-ups go for my SNES and the Sega collections I have. And I store them neatly away in durable stackable, hard plastic crate/bins [not those lattice looking pos]. :cool:




Posted by ccrocker58


Quoting Sean Fury:
Besides, even if the Wii did short out, I'm fairly certain Nintendo aren't that big of *******s to let you lose all that data and money and have the information backed up online for you (since you know, that's where your account and stuff is).


Like Microsoft was when my comp got a virus and I had to wipe my hard drive of everything including MS Office?



Posted by ccrocker58


Quoting Sadistic Grin: Right [the ****] on! I've been a gamer for about 19 years now, and neither my toaster nore my top loader have failed me. It has normally been a likely event of faulty adapter trouble, or flawed RF switches and dirty cart-connectors. The only reason I feel a need to even purchase a NES clone, is to allow my licensed consoles a little break time. I still clean all my games thoroughly atleast once a month, and I disassemble my NES' to troubleshoot and cleanse them aswell. To assure that they remain in tip/top shape. Same routine check-ups go for my SNES and the Sega collections I have. And I store them neatly away in durable stackable, hard plastic crate/bins [not those lattice looking pos]. :cool:


Even with no maintanence, my NES has worked flawlessly since we got it the day it came out in the US.



Posted by Tyler Durden

[quote=ccrocker58]Even with no maintanence, my NES has worked flawlessly since we got it the day it came out in the US.

Not to sound like a dick, or sarcastically inclined, but: Good for you. I just like to treat my games better than I treat my humans. I'd rub their feet, and give them a sponge bath. If that was possible with video games. :cookie:




Posted by EvilDeadGamer

I think that VC wont hurt the NES market, a lot off people buy the old stuff for bragin rights. you cant brag that u have a LoZ emulator or VC game. So, the value of NES games will either stay the same, or go up.




Posted by Fei-on Castor


Quoting Proto Man: Then it's on the game, not the system. Since I have replaced my pin connector about 5 years ago, I've never had a problem with games. Only when the game is dirty that is, and if it is the game I clean it. *shrugs*


Do you have an actual cleaning system, or do you just Q-tips and stuff?

I dont' have any cleaning system, and I'm wondering how I can clean my games so they'll work better. I just put a new 72-pin Connector in the system, so I know it's in good shape.