The “shady” part of reselling is that some resellers buy up the entire stock to where people just want the product has no choice but to either pay aftermarket value or not be able to enjoy it at all. (A lot of times, it’s resellers who don’t even play video games.) This and the predatory act of hiking up the price because some resellers know that people’s desire to enjoy the product outweighs the decision to save their money.
When Retro Rick moved to Little Rock, he single handedly cleaned out local thrift stores here with his $10 video game collection series. He was in the stores multiple times a day. I couldn’t find anything until he got his own game store and didn’t have as much time to hunt. I was so happy when I found a bunch of Xbox 360 games at a local Goodwill once, and while I was waiting in the checkout line, he walked in. SATISFACTION. So yes, there has been/is an affect.
great story nick, and yes these guys make money from their videos so they don't really mind to buy/sell it as much as they do the content. They can afford to buy it from the money they make on views alone.
and I get how you feel, the stuff I go after resellers end up with it over 50 percent of the time, you either get the price pushed up higher on you cause of said reseller or you lose it cause of the reseller.
It's a little of both. The hobby has grown thanks to RUclipsrs (which is great) but the prices have also gone up to all the people joining the hobby (which isn't so great)
This is such a bad argument. There are resellers in literally any market. Reselling is nothing new. As games get older - nostalgia builds - and people will pay a premium price for games that they loved playing during their childhood. Whether you’re a collector, a reseller, or just a casual gamer, the market would have been manipulated regardless.
@@imajogger What??? How is it a bad argument? It still ruined retro collecting. How am I supposed to enjoy retro collecting when I can't even afford it?
@@JokerX350 problem is, a huge amount of the popular games that have tens of millions of copies on the streets are getting priced unrealistically. Not even rare games. Black ops 1&2 combo pack on 360 is $30+ on eBay. So I look up the games individually, it’d cost me even more to get them individually. Makes no sense because nobody would stfu about those games when they came out. Goes without saying buying again means no DLC, since Xbox 360 marketplace is shutting down. Those games separately should be AS common out in the field as like… halo 3, but somehow assassins creed revelations is $3 and not nearly as many people bought that. Not similar games but tell me how a game that sold 30 million copies costs more now than a game that only sold 7 million?
The problem with reselling is that it is making it much harder to find things at a reasonable price. I have no problem with someone buying a lot, picking the games they want from it, and reselling the rest. The games are going to someone who wants them. I have a bit of a problem with the ones who get a good deal, and then immediately try to profit off of that. Or someone who will always clear the shelves (just to resell) and give no one else a chance at it. As a kid, I relied on used stores with good prices. Yard sales and thrift stores were a way to get some games you couldn't normally afford and sometimes you can find something cool if you were lucky. If you don't plan on playing something, maybe leave it for the next person who might love it and enjoy it. Unfortunately, the next person now is probably a reseller. I think it sucks that everyone is trying to squeeze every last penny out of everything rather than just passing on that enjoyment reasonably. I like watching game-hunting videos generally, but there was one that really left a bad taste in my mouth. He would get a lot of games for really good prices from his friends, people he knew at shops, and probably viewers (it was a while back, I don't remember all of it). But once he was done with his list he sold a lot of them off. I don't know what things were sold for, I stopped watching at that point. If that were my friend, I would have felt like I had been taken advantage of. People buy and sell all the time, it's good to let go of things that you are done with. I think that the hustle it's been becoming is the thing that frustrates me.
I was collecting before RUclips and continue to collect. Nobody has influenced me on what to purchase or collect. I watch channels to just feel part of a community and chat about games. I never felt envious of another person's collection or looked at my collection and said "I wonder how much I can get out of my collection." My collection will be going to my son when I'm gone. It's up to him on what he wants to do with it. RUclips hasn't ruined anything, if anything it allows us to connect better talking about video games. Growing up, for me at least, talking openly about gaming was not a "cool" thing to do. I'm glad we're at where we are now. Great video guys!
the question isn't does youtube affect you personally, but if you want certain games and certain condition yes it will affect you. Just read the comments on a pheonix resale video. It isn't a question if, it does affect people becoming resellers thus effecting prices as they buy them up.
@Jackie Fhan I get that but I can only speak from a personal perspective because it's my hobby I focus on. Games fluctuate in price from expensive to cheap over time and vice-versa. I've never personally been effected by RUclips or anyone on RUclips when I'm looking for games.
The main problem i find with RUclipsrs is that they influence some people to start a collection but now out of passion for the Hobby its just because it looks cool, i work at a game store and i see 10 year olds that say they are starting a game collection begging their parents to get all these games, just to sell them when the next Fortnite battle pass goes up, i see people buying all the shitty crappy games just to fill shelves because it looks cool, a quick example Cold Winter for Ps2 great game was like 2 bucks after MetalJesus included it in a video all copies dissapeared and the game was like 15 bucks for like 2 months now its 2 bucks again because people went crazy bought it and now are dumping because the hype is gone....
IF the hobby is being ruined, it's people's own impatience that is ruining it. So many people want to have the hidden gem or obscure game they discovered right effing now. But the hobby rewards patience and knowledge-and some luck-when building a collection. Playing the long game, the planning, and the ongoing hunt are big parts of the draw for me.
You got that right! We live in the spoiled little brat era! Everyone's gotta want what they want, and they want it now! Then turn around and get MAD after they've spent $100 dollars on a copy of The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess.. When they could've been patient, took some time to think , and purchased the Wii version for cheaper... Like Robert said; I'll never understand...
Very true. I think a big part of it is people being worried if they dont buy it now as opposed to waiting for a deal the price is just going to get more and more expensive.
@@Euruk1 That's a great point... The problem is what reason are you collecting for? If it's to play the games, there are plenty of ways to play using emulation... If it's for a physical collection, then you're going to have to bite the bullet, and suck it up buttercup🤣 Gotta pay the cost to be the boss...
@@ShadyPlatinum777 Seems like your one of the smart ones brother!🤣 My problem was chasing women, and not putting value in my collection... I pretty much junked my Genesis, Saturn, NES, SNES, N64, and Dreamcast, collections!!!🤣🤣🤣 But, we live, we learn... OOOHHHH the games I had😭😭😭😭😫
It does go up and down. Some titles have dropped in price since covid. At least the market is moving to more recent retro consoles and older games are dropping in price.
I also attribute the current era of the Internet. I don't remember where I heard it but it is something along the lines of "eBay is now just a tons of companies selling China's electronics rather than individuals selling their stuff to each other."
I think the problem is not so much RUclipsrs, but Reseller Collectors vs Collectors. People who don't like resellers, it is due to the reseller getting a really good deal then flipping for a high inflated ebay price.
Yeah reselling as a side hustle is way too common now. It’s not collecting. Everyone no matter their age is going for the same games, mostly NES up through Xbox/GC/PS2. And it’s going to stay that way, because 360/PS3 onward isn’t ever gonna hold the same value.
Before youtubers got so heavy into reselling I could actually go in stores and buy things, such as toys. Now when I am in the toys section, leaving heading to another area of toys I have people running past me to make sure they get there before me. Keep in mine I am just looking to see if something is there for my collection but the mindset of resellers isn't like this and there are more resellers of toys than their are local buyers now. Mostly cause the buyers can't find them. If you collect things like Sonic or some other toys like wrestling, you know exactly what I am talking about. RUclips plays a part in this.
Anyone who collects, begins to know the value of things. If you're hunting and find cheap games you already own, you're probably going to pick them up and sell them at value to fund your collections. A lot of popular gaming RUclips channels publish big scores and cheap finds because it's exciting and those videos get big views. It's all sort of the natural progression of the game collecting hobby/ content creation.
That's why I still I don't like them (reseller). My principles would be stink and old fassion but i have my integrity and honor. Ex. I already have Contra NES. If I find a Contra for $5, i would hope that other would get to enjoy them. I wouldn't buy it again just to make a profit. I would like the game to be introduce to newer gamers to enjoy. That was me in 2010 and still think that way.
I gave some of my games (retro too) to my grand nephew and grand niece. I wont sell it to them. I also introduce Duck Hunt to a 3 year old boy and he find it exciting shooting those ducks down. That is like looking at me at that age playing those games in the past. Pure enjoyment for me and possibly for younger audiences as well. It's not a 1 player game but multiple gamers.
The Game Chasers back in 2013-2014 got me into collecting video games. I was already doing vinyl records at the time and I would play retro on emulators but I quickly got the bug to get the actual games.
Awesome video guys. I actually got BACK into collecting because of RUclips. I believe social media has opened up a huge nostalgia pit for everyone to dive into. Amazing job guys!
RUclipsrs are in part why retro games are popular and are still definitely bring more people into the hobby. When I was a teen in the late 2000s, channels like AVGN, Pete Dorr, ClanOfTheGrayWolf, etc. all introduced me to the idea of appreciating older games and collecting them. Naturally, if more people are interested in a finite, out-of-print resource like physical games and consoles, prices go up to account for the demand. When I first started collecting, I chose to collect games for older consoles like NES/SNES/Genesis instead of the new ones because they were a lot CHEAPER! It's sad that a lot of these older consoles are out of reach for so many people, especially younger collectors without much disposable income. I think retro gaming will always be an active hobby as there are many options to play games that don't require owning the actual game (such as emulation, homebrew, or flashcarts) but collecting may very well die out if the prices never come down. I don't foresee the current and last generations of consoles being very sought after in the future due to games getting ported to the current generation or PC with better performance/graphics and the requirement of connecting to the internet to download patches to get the game working properly. Maybe I'm wrong, but with services like Xbox Game Pass, and Playstation Plus and the popularity of buying games digitally, I expect physical games to become obsolete in a way that DVDs/Blurays have been replaced by streaming services and online rentals. Sure, they still print DVDs and Blurays but I know almost no one that collects them in the same way video games are currently being collected.
I think it's similar to if you bought a white jeep Cherokee and then suddenly you see white jeep Cherokees everywhere. They were there before and suddenly you have an awareness of them. Without awareness we wouldn't know how many fun games we would have missed out on.
What really stinks is that retro game prices were coming back down to reasonable prices years ago but then Covid hit the world and they went shooting back up. 😵💫
Too true. "Pre-Covid Prices" is actually a real phrase people use. I do recall hitting up retro gaming stores between 2018-2019 and got some really good deals. Came back to them when they reopened after being closed due to Covid and was stunned at the price differences. I didn't complain. I completely understood, but the sticker shock was real.
So true there's a store I found and started going to during the beginning of the pandemic called backstage games. They had great prices bought alot of games from them then I just went back to their store around Feburary and now their prices are all what games are going for on the internet and more recently now they've pulled out the more sought after games put them into dispaly cases with no prices so they can look them up when you get to the counter and ask about it sad...... :( if I wanted to pay online prices I would have bought it online it'd save me time gas and money being the place is an little over an hour drive from where I live its literally the closest retro game store to me. So as for local hunting resellers have to a point ruined the place I was going to.
Very true, and right now I’m having a blast collecting. There are youtubers out there exploiting their fans and flipping things they get from people who think they’re collecting it for themselves and that I can’t stand that.
RUclipsrs documenting what they are collecting is perfect. The creators who are buying low and reselling, showing profits, and hoarding are the issue. I have no issue with reselling, but channels that do this are inflating value
People like Metal Jesus Rocks fucked it for everyone. They use their clout and followers to raise prices of games they own. Same with comic book channels. They make spec videos that raise the prices of the comics and they already own those books, thus making their collections more valuable.
Did youtubers and only youtubers ruin the hobby? No Do youtubers have a huge influence on the hobby? Yes Do youtubers make videos about retro for clicks and money solely cause they know its a pretty big audience? Yes Do "some" retro youtuber channels focus more on the value of retro games then anything else? Yes I mean Ive seen instances were youtubers contrived and fabricated to all do similar content at the same time. And then denied it or pretended like it was natural. When money is involved its a whole new ball game with these people. A video response is one thing as people are doing now with this particular topic on youtube. Homeboy on the right thinks that some of us who realize a lot of the above and tries to twist it thinking we think "OH some guy made a youtube video about nintendo now that prevents me from driving to go to the local gamestore and buy super nintendo games ITS STOPPING ME IN MY TRACKS" NO LOL geeze hes really trying to short count some people with that statement. It could though in a scenario of someone who shall remain nameless that goes to local stores to buy stuff to resell on amazon. Maybe they go in and buys a bunch of games then a game you wanted is no longer there. In theory that "prevented" you from buying a game cause that youtuber wanted to film a video picking up scratch for a imaginary game collection of theirs. Also now I dont even bother to ask for games at yard sales cause ill get "OH your the 7th person who asked me" unless its at a sale way off the beaten path.
I understand Content Creators feel the need in defending RUclipsrs, cus they feel subconsciously attacked. When said claim gets tossed. However let's not act like people shopping Swap meets, Thrift stores, Conventions, Gamestops, Best Buys, Target, Goodwills, and Yard Sales using a phone like some wanna be stockbroker conducting business. Came out of some random forum thread. People saw content creators doing it, and mass echoed the incentive(in today's algorithm). Trying to chase this lazy "get rich quick" scheme under a Collecting/Gaming Trojan horse. There never used to be abundance shopping for games, and now every week! You'll notice Collector's feel the need in picking up anything they'll brag could mean "something" down the line(potential value). It used to be I'd see RUclipsrs shop for a specific few titles/w genuine interest in mind. In opposed to now! Were they'll just snatch a whole box/crate of games low balling a person. Who just wants to rid themselves of space. A pretty stale Reseller excuse I've heard. Also I'm not talking about those who ask a Yard seller for prices and said previous owner offers a digit(for them to agree on). I'm talking about clowns forcing deals on shit, that's already a known steal! Because they're so self-conditioned at saving every penny to milk profit. Not to mention these weekly "Hidden gem" videos. Trying to artificially create overhyped inflation for cookie cutter titles I see constantly on PSN/eShop sales(the common generic stuff). Collector's aren't creating a "collection" now. Just hoarding junk, and using "I wanna go for a complete ___(console) set" as a deflection. Hey! It's your money not mine, but I'd appreciate people stop artificially inflating everyone's FOMO. By getting games just for the sake of value chasing. Let someone who actually wants those games have a shot, cus casual GameStop visits these days have been relegated to a hogging crouching toxic guy scanning every pre-owned Switch title. And it's getting pretty annoying now. Due to them acting like they own said store, and gatekeep others from said section. Who are just there to explore or catch a neat price drop on Wishlists.. I'm also sick of seeing new games get heavily scalped and tossed up on Ebay with a double price tag everyone echoes for greed. On the same fucken week it came out! Along with Companies preying on this FOMO craze reReleasing games, cus companies saw people focus on getting particular old IPs(Fucken Altus/w Etrian Odyssey Collection near the eShop closure month). What's a word resellers hate these days tho? Reprints
Game Chasers clearing places out for content was commonly heard of back in the day and I believe MJR has falsely driven some prices up; however, it was more a sign of the times. The age of nostalgia hit a lot of us in our 30's, so it was just the perfect storm of all of these factors. There's also the content creators that would post their collection videos of even new games which has driven people to wanting more, more, more, but some are now realizing they are surrounded in plastic and we're starting to see some of these youtubers sell their collections (RGT 85, Ian from the the CUPodcast). The above didn't even ruin it though -- it created more passion for those who were on the bubble, or already in. It's the resellers and those trying to make grading a thing that really ruined the prices. I love seeing the rare gems, and the best of videos of the old games. Does that mean I need to own them all? No, but maybe it does for some. :)
@Német Attila Not really there are games Distributed by limited run gains of indie titles that literally nobody was interested when they were digital only. Axiom verge on wii U is one thing but are people really clamoring for foxy land or night Trap HD?
@@nattila7713 And demand increased because RUclipsrs told their millions and millions of followers to go out and buy XYZ. They definitely ruined prices.
This is why a lot of people should not be allowed on RUclips not because I say so it's because when they make videos they cause things to be ruined for a lot of other people because RUclipsrs that have a massive following have followers that are like a flock of sheep they follow almost anyting that RUclipsrs say and most of the time it causes whatever they're talking about to have the price go up on it because their idiot followers are running to get it and they caused the price to go right through the roof and or stay expensive much longer.
It's weird because I did collect retro games back around 2000, "before it was cool" and it wasn't great. As you mentioned, there was no community and I just felt like I was weird, so I ended up selling almost everything.
RUclipsrs were a catalyst, but it would have been this way regardless. If you are a collector you have to adapt, it’s like this for every hobby. Here’s an example: NeoGeo prices are too high if you buy the MVS carts. But there are many different ways to be able to legally obtain these games. I would much rather spend the $40 on humble bundle and have the actual roms and be able to play them on a MiSTer, retroarch, Original hardware via flash cart, & fightcade. You just have to adapt as a collector and broaden your horizons.
One side that people miss out on is that companies that own the rights pay attention to these things also. And then re-release the game for modern systems at more affordable prices and extra content. Some examples are Genesis Aladdin/Lion King, powerslave/exhumed (Saturn/ps1), the Sega Genesis collection, not to mention the mini consoles. Getting the SNES mini saved me hundreds of dollars over getting the original games. I know this is all emulated but I’m good with that.
I've been watching RUclipsrs talk about gaming since classic game room. And guys like you and metal Jesus, radical Reggie etc that bring awareness to games I wouldn't have known about. So it's all positive on my end. The youtubers that like to feed into the toxic part of this community I don't give my time to. It's bad, but nobody has "ruined "collecting 😅
I absolutely think so. Compare the dates to Metal Jesus hidden gems videos to price charting. That same week those games that were featured in that video went up.
Good point consumers also set the market! People say prices are high but if you go to sold listing on ebays those prices are selling on things everyday multiple copies! Cheers!
@@GamingOffTheGrid it’s actually why I stopped buying physical copies of video games. From here on out, I’ll just stick with emulation. It’s far cheaper.
I'd never blame someone for raising the price of a game just because they were passionate about it and wanted to talk about it, but they also happened to be a big RUclipsr. There's hundreds of games that I never would've known about, and if I have to pay a bit more to experience them as a side effect, that's entirely fine. On the complete other side of things, resellers are inflating the prices of games by only caring about making a profit, but that's the same with retro video game stores which, trust me when I say I've seen some of the same outrageous listing prices on eBay in actual brick and mortar stores, if not worse. Unfortunately, people have to make money to live, and if someone's going to sell video games as their job, they can't be doing it at-cost, especially if they have a physical location where they need to keep the lights on. As long as you're not intentionally inflating the price of a game by selling it at, let's say more than 140-150% of its actual value, (I've easily seen 200% or more both on eBay and in actual retro gaming stores) then you're fine. Basically, it's okay to make money, just don't be an asshole, and it's our job as consumers to give money to the people that actually deserve it. If a reseller or ma and pa store has inflated prices, don't buy from them anymore, they know what they're doing, they'll get the hint. I've been to every retro gaming store in Colorado but there's only 3 or 4 that I've ever gone back to. Same with eBay sellers. Be a discerning buyer, only support the people who do right by you, and don't overpay for games, because that's the other half of the problem: scalpers wouldn't exist if people didn't buy the shit. Thanks for the video, guys. Also, Wes, you're never gonna live that La Croix down. XD
If the definition of "ruining the hobby" is the fact that prices are way higher now, then I blame all of us on RUclips, Reddit, Instagram, and any other social media outlet where collectors advertise their massive collections, hidden gems, and full console set collections. It's a strategic mistake. All that does is increase the demand and give others the idea that the can do the same, hence why I've completely stopped posting ANYTHING from my collection for everyone to see. All it does is continue to make things more difficult for everyone.
But to these clowns it's about chasing clout and if they can't circlejerk showing everyone their overpriced plastic then they won't be able to one up the guy they're comparing e-peen with.
A RUclipsr has never effected my ability to drive out and buy a video game..and I have Super, N64, PS 1 2 3 4 5 and PSP. I economy has changed and more people play games now more than ever. Which as great for the industry. Love the channel. Keep it up!
If you collected for the Vita,Saturn or GameCube you wouldn't be saying that LMAO. You chose to collect for cheap systems. What Panzer Dragoon Saga went for 20 years ago is considered a steal now. 😂
I don't know that I agree on the "ruined" part. Even if the prices went up, those vids did lead to me finding many games I would have passed on otherwise. Also in general, they opened my eyes to trying more obscure stuff. I guess for me the discovery of some of the so called "hidden gems" was worth whatever impact in my mind. Just my 2 cents.
I sold my collection back in 2017 and I haven't looked back. Between the market being untrustworthy, outside of buying in person, and getting into emulation i realized i care more about playing the games and not really about putting another game on the shelf. The collector scene atleast with NES games is super cutthroat and there is a lot of ppl in cahoots working together to keep the price of rare graded games high. They buy up any copies that hit the market to keep just 1 option available.
The real enemy is the ebay warriors who don't even play , they see the you tube video pushing said game they snag as many as they can and just flip them
Awareness is a very good point. On the rare occasion an online ad has me interested in buying something, it’s usually marked up but after that point I will be aware of what that product actually is and be able to look up the normal priced version from that time on. That means the initial marked up price is a kind of payment for learning that that kind of thing even existing in the first place!
Nostalgia for video games has grown because we want to remember a time when things were better. Our country is at its latest stage and most people arent doing well. We are on the precipice of complete destruction and most people dont want to think about it. So getting lost in a part of their childhood is a nice break from the reality of our situation. Our country is politically, financially and morally bankrupt.
I'm 62 have been buying games and systems since 1978 everything changes you just need to adapt as it does. You two make a good point I'm always watching hidden gems videos and found a lot of great titles I would have never played. I wished I would have had a clue and wouldn't have sold off the majority of what I had collected over the last 45 or so years a decade or so to soon. I love your channel you guys have some interesting videos thanks.
@Gracekim24 Thanks I appreciate it. Really helps keep my mind staya sharp. I have had a lot of hobbies and such come and go playing video games has always been a consistent part of my life I just love it.
I said this 15 years ago when the first cell phones were coming out and people started pricing things according to Ebay. Pretty much since 2010/2011 everythings been scam prices.
RUclipsrs haven’t ruined video game collecting, but speculators have. They’ve made it more annoying and pricey for the true collectors who actually want to enjoy the games.. There’s a big difference between natural growth in vintage items vs what is happening right now in the retro video game market, which is artificial growth based upon speculation.. a lot of “collectors” from other markets like comics and sports cards have entered the market that have no interest on wether the game is fun to play, but rather how rare the item is and if they can sell for a profit in the future.. it’s pretty apparent, most people I hear talk about retro games nowadays talk about how much they paid vs what it’s worth instead of talking about how fun the game is… it’s truly sad, and it makes video game collecting for the true collectors like myself less enjoyable.
RUclipsrs got me into looking in thrift stores for video games. I at least got to do it a while before a certain chain of thrift stores began grabbing them off of the donation piles and selling online. Super Monkey Ball 2 for GameCube + two DVD movies for 99 cents? yes it totally happened once, grandkids.
Pretty well said. No one is forcing anyone to pay for any game. The people involved in the transaction can say no at any time. Is it great getting some stuff for cheap? yes. Does it happen less often now? yes. It can make the finds that much sweeter though.
I don’t think I would have figured out how to get involved with retro gaming without RUclipsrs sharing the hobby. I agree with you that access to information is awesome, even if it does make collecting more competitive.
Great video!! I been collecting over 48 years starting with comic books, sport cards, & toys! Started collecting video games over 45 years ago! I still own the basically all my items still. At 12 years old I would order comic book price guides, and later sport guide price guides just for joy of knowing the value of my items, and keeping them in mint condition, still to this day! I'm a stubborn collector (not selling or trading), and people have to learn to think for themselves, and not do things on impulse, or feel pressured to make moves! Everyone has a nitch, and bring value to hobbies! Just know, and live true to yours! I love watching videos knowing about people who share the same interest! Going to comic/sport card conventions & comic book stores back in the 70s, 80's & 90's brought the same joy!! Now it's all on my phone with typing witb my fingertips!! I'm 55, and started to collecting when I was 7, buying both comic books & baseball cards at 35 cents each! Mattel handheld sport games and PONG were our introduction to video games in the mid 70's.
That's why I switched from GameCube to Xbox ...like you guys said we have to adapt...reselling is great because you are helping to put the media In the hands of people who truly desire them..another bangers Wes and Robert ...cheers
@JCS BINGO 100%!!!! thats one of the obvious problem that they did not mention. These days a lot of ''gamers'' just buy old games not to play but to collect and since they know its rare they're like ''Oh I have 3 copies of Conker bad fur day, do you know how much they worth?'' etc. Just to brag about it. Same thing with the people who collects consoles. There's a dude on amazon who proudly shared his collection of Nintendo Switch consoles edition in the reviews section of the Pokemon limited edition one. They just feel great about the fact they owned something rare but they do not necessary enjoy the games which is sad/exasperating imo because video games are not meant to be collected and placed on shelves just to be admire like a painting on the wall while collecting dust forever... But at the end of the day people do what they want with their money.
Problem is, if resellers clean out all of the thrift store/garage sales, the normal collector doesn't have the chance to buy the games at bargain prices and are forced to buy at re-seller prices.
I think this point highlights the frustration some hobbyists/collectors may have with RUclipsrs. You tube videos create more awareness, which creates more competition, and it is difficult for hobbyists to compete with someone carving out a career for themselves hunting and vlogging about collecting/reselling. That is not say you tube has ruined the hobby, but the game has changed. I’ve been thrifting and collecting various things most of my life. The internet has changed everything and it is not going away. I suppose the retro video game collecting hobby reaching mainstream, in addition to the resale market has caused a “Moneyball” situation (adapt or die, or expect to pay up) - not wholly terrible, but different. In conclusion - No, I don’t think you tubers have ruined anything because I enjoy this channel and others and the online community, but I can see the argument for the other side. Also, I collect at the rate that I play, but perhaps you tube creates a fomo situation for having walls of games. I don’t know man.
I think you are spot on with your opinions - I started my own little gaming hobby in the early 2000's picking up 'old games +systems' for very cheap and having a great time, when you tube came along it was a great way to find out about games I had never heard of, and games that were usa only. (I'm from the UK) I must admit there was a period in time were once you had watched a you tube video and then looked for a game it could be got for not too much money at all, but as the years have passed and 'my secret hobby' has become retro gaming and extremely popular the prices have been going up and up! but, I still buy games now and you just need to find a way that works for you that allows you to buy and enjoy the games your after! 👍🎮📺
It depends. First what are "retro games"?, (or at least what gaming gens are "antique" now etc.) Clearly not the start of the HD age (Ps3/360/Wii-Wii U/3DS etc.) No. With the exception of the Dreamcast, (which I'll make an exception for the Dreamcast, as the console has a rocky history/circumstance) I don't really consider the 3D age, late 90s/early 2000s gen (N64/Ps1 and 2/Sega CD-Saturn/Xbox original, PSP, GCN/GBA/DS etc.) retro just quite yet; But if you do smh, some stuff is getting pretty pricey. Anything under 20 bucks, either has no case/box or has no disc, and that's not including if it's an auction item, so the price could rise up. You have to be lucky, but you can get fair prices from non gougers. However, what I consider retro, is the 8/16/32 bit territory (Atari, Intellivision/Family Computer/SG1000/Master System/Genesis/Mega Drive, NES/SNES, Original gameboy, Game gear, Neo Geo/SNK handheld, and also any 90s PC game) people know what they have, and prices for these things are very expensive into the hundreds. So if you're an 8 bit/16bit/32 bit collector, oh man. Smh. I was born in 91, so I think I know what I'm talking about. HD remasters/DLC download/on demand editions of older games/reissues influence prices on physical things. And yes, youtubers when they make videos on certain titles. Raises the price. How to X did a good video of this. This is only my opinion, thank you. :)
It has ruined it in a Sence that.. some ppl are waiting on a few ppl say the words" Gem,Rare or obscure" so they hear that and they buy a lot to re-sale. I've seen this with a couple stores near where I live. A game might be at one price and as soon as a game if mentioned by a very popular RUclipsr.. they actually raise the price and put on the game " as seen or mentioned by" .. so yeah I'm done ... Emulation from now on.
There are games that people infamously didn't give a damn about until a RUclipsr talked about it. If I had a time machine I would have went to my local stores and bought all the copies of the 3DS game Codename STEAM When they were selling them for $4 brand new. That game is infamous for selling so badly that within a week after it released It Already joined f zero and star tropics for dead nintendo franchises.
RUclipsrs have not ruined the hobby at all. Like you say, it's raised awareness and that has boosted values. I've been a collector since the late 90s when I was in school. Consistently prices would drop every spring when garage sale and Flea Market season came around. Prices would go back up when the holidays were comming. I noticed about 2014 or 2015 the prices stopped dropping as much in the summer. I suspect the change in ebay fees was a big part of that. All games sold on ebay had a 15% fee plus shipping and tax, inflated prices. Last weekend at a Punk Rock Flea Market I got a 5 screw Mario and a gold Zelda II link for $20! That was a deal 10 years ago. I also got a boxed Sears Video Arcade II for $130 including shipping and 10 games. As for "resellers"... I built my big collection by buying lots, keeping what I wanted and selling off the rest. I have also been repairing systems like sega cds for years, flipping them fixed for a profit.
I like the fact that with more information there are many different types of collectors with different goals. I do feel sympathy to the hardcore collector who wants to collect full sets however as it is much harder to find bargains when everyone knows the values of everything.
I suspect many people that have that belief either ironically started collecting due to RUclipsrs in the first place, or are at the very least inspired by them. Also I strongly feel many games and consoles would have remained buried in the back of attics or even thrown away, of it wasn't for the increased awareness of their worth and hype, even outside the collecting community. This whole collecting hobby feels so much better, knowing you're pary of a community of like-minded people and sharing it. I was a (retro) gamer and a casual collector prior, but if I wasn't inspired by youtubers, I don't know if I'd be this involved today or even have an actual gameroom. And I agree with your statements in this video. Keep doing what you're doing guys.
It does make me nervous about the supply in circulation when I see RUclipsrs do mystery unboxings on some 100+ game lot they've purchased online somewhere each month. Makes me think if they're recirculating the games they don't want/need or they're being horded in some storage unit.
RUclipsrs like yall HELP the hobby. Love the hunting videos and I frequent local flea markets and garage sales. Just got two NES, a Sega model 1, 2 copies of SMB2 plus Maniac Mansion for 100 bucks. Deals exist when you put the time in
RUclipsrs have killed the market and resellers. Kill it for the normal person People watch videos and they see a game they wanted to sell for 10$ now they want 500$
I think there's pros and cons for both sides of the argument. If there's more awareness to obscure games that I never knew existed from RUclips I win, then lose because I now want to buy an expensive game... But now I have the game I want...but my wallets empty...ah fuck it, I just wanna game! Cheers boys, great topic to discuss 🍻
I think people are mistaking reselling for scalping. If you’re buying something for cheap and flipping it then that’s fine. But buying up stock of something and marking it up past retail price because there’s too much demand that places don’t have enough is the scummy part. These things are cheap for a reason for the most part and it certainly isn’t because people are buying up stock. Scalping is scummy because you’re actively lessening the amount of product out there for everyone and reselling it for more. Reselling isn’t a problem but scalping is.
Theres some contradiction in this video but I get what you guys are trying to say. yeah youtubers hurt the hobby for sure, Im lucky I got my big grails before the pandemic but look at what happened with Phantom Dust, I think you guys even did a video on that where you said "we don't know why this game is spiking." There are some youtubers that drop a video on a game and it will spike right after. Yes there are cheap fun games but most of us have already played uncharted, last of us, and halo. Those other titles like Skygunner, R.A.D, Puppeteer, dragon ball advanced, Blood will tell, and most gamecube games are hard to attain. I listed all these because I got them in 2018-2019 for less then $30 each. But all of these had videos on them and now they are all in the $100+ range. Theres a different between people like Collectorluck, retrorick and then someone like Phoenix. Others sell to put back into their collection as you said, and then others do it just for profit, its the ones that have the audience that wants to make money and not fuel their collection that are running out and selling games at high prices just to fill their pockets. not tryna sound like a hater but just giving my perspective.
I have been seriously collecting since 1994. The thing that ruined the hobby was the internet on the cell phone. When people had the ability to look up a price on the spot caused the prices to inflate at flea markets, pawn shops, and yard sales. RUclips is downhill from the internet on the phone issue. If RUclips existed without having the internet on a phone, the hobby would look much different. I miss collecting in the 90's when I would go to a Funcoland , get one of those price newspapers on the counter and pick out games to buy for $0.50- $2.00. Those days of collecting died decades ago.
Here is my two cents - It's a double edged sword. The internet has brought awareness, and exposure opportunities to gamers. People are seeing youtubers make money doing this stuff. In return it dampened the hobby for me when it comes to finding anything out here where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I would call myself a normal gamer of all consoles - I just buy games that make me happy, and I enjoy and keep them. I think the hobby itself has become kind of an unstoppable nostalgia chasing monster with FOMO where people my age (33) Miss the good ol days but everywhere is being picked to the bone or ebay priced out. Then there are resellers, and those guys are just trying to make a buck. All of these games are in limited supply and will only decrease in availability so it's only going to get worse. Yes we have endless amounts of information, and more light shined on hidden gems but at the cost of what was one of my favorite parts about gaming which was going to second hand stores, and garage sales and finding good deals on older games we didn't have time to play back when it came out. Or a game we remembered loving as a kid. It was a nice hobby spending $5 and scoring a great title. Now I see Windwaker for Gamecube being sold for $80 and it's just not the same anymore. Of Course that goes for more than just gaming. I'm just saying how I feel here but a lot of youtube modern game collecting seems to have become this massive hoarding contest with gargantuan Shrines, and storage rooms bigger than my Apartment with just so many games, consoles, and accessories collecting dust. I miss when people only collected what they connected with. Of course it's just the internet in general to blame for ruining basically everything if you think about it. Instead of worrying about all these games you don't have time to play you would live in the moment and play the games that you knew ere good. There are some very good gaming channels like this where It's not about waving your dick around and showing off collections and all about the games and those i treasure. RIP To old games hunt man...Covid also ruined it 100%
That in my opinion is scalping. Very different. That’s buying something at market value and marking it up vs finding something on the low and selling it for what it’s worth. Cheers 🍻
Many many years ago I worked at a game store that's sold a lot of these now Priceless artifacts for next to nothing. I was fortunate that I was able to test a lot of these in shop to see if I would actually want them as a lot of them didn't have much documentation on RUclips. Nowadays, it's easy to see I missed a lot of PlayStation 1 and 2 games that I could have gotten for what would now be pennies considering their current value. I don't recommend anyone getting into Retro collecting if they're starting today just on prices and scarcity alone. However, if they are willing to emulate or purchase modern remakes or digital downloads a lot of these classic titles, I would say now would be one of the best times gaming has ever had
Thank you for this video. RUclipsrs and the internet haven't ruined the hobby they grew it. It's individuals greed and people trying to treat games as a 401K portfolio that have given the hobby a bad taste to people. I own and operate a small retro game shop and the only customers I have any problem with are the ones who have wata discount membership cards and the ones who can quote Price Charting on every game but can not tell you a thing about any game other than its price. They are strictly there for the money. I honestly try to deal with them as little as possible. Everyone but them tell me how cheap my prices are except the "retirement fund" fake collectors. It's funny I watch them and it takes them 25 minutes to decide to buy a game or not cause they are on their phone the whole time, not watching game play, but researching Price Charting, Ebay, Google, calling their high school friend for his opinion, or whatever else source of financial advice they get. Then ask for a price reduction cause they found the game on the internet cheaper. I'm like yeah it's cheaper, it doesn't have a label and even says non-working. I find it funny but annoying. I don't think I ever even sell a game at my posted price except to those two "customers". It's honestly like a game to me know and entertainment. I love watching them get all upset cause I don't cater to them. I for real give away more games and accessories to kids then they spend in a month. They are games to be enjoyed and played, not argued and coveted over by middle age wierdos.weirdos. I sell a $100 game to a 14 year old for $40 before I would sell it to an "investor" for $85. Maybe I'm wierd myself or wrong, but I support the hobby not the exploitation. I'm happier spreading happiness than making money. Rob and Wes thanks again for your content and awareness. Continued success in all your ventures.
From my experience and what I've seen others say in Facebook groups, its not the act of reselling itself that people have a problem with, but more how these resellers go about doing it. Like you said, most people if given the chance would buy 10 games at a garage sale, sell 3 they don't want to finance the purchase of the other 7. However, when people go into stores and buy all of a certain title or they video themselves only offering someone 20% of Pricecharting to turn around and sell it for 5 times profit that people get mad about. And when resellers say that anyone can do it and then go to their friend's stores and get 40% off sticker price irks people.
Get what your saying! So idk if you seen any of our hunting videos we will negotiate the price if we bundle at garage sales and we look for quick flips! Not big profits but items that will make us some profit but items people look for! We do it all to buy more games vhs dvds vinyls etc. 🍻
@GamingOffTheGrid I haven't caught those yet, but I feel like most people would be okay with that. I personally have no issues with it, especially because you guys actually enjoy the games you get. One annoying thing is seeing videos where people are only happy if they find expensive games for dirt cheap and don't care if the games are good or not.
RUclips not really the problem imo. I think the pandemic caused the giant up tic in the game collecting hobby. Lots of people got into reselling which has created way more competition at the local yard sales, fleas, etc. But like you guys I am happy with where the hobby is and you tube has opened my eyes to a lot of cool stuff and it motivates me. I'm getting old now so I don't have any friends that's into games like I am. But the only thing I think is hurting game collecting now is the scalpers. It's the stuff where people buy up the the limited collector's stuff then mark it up hundreds of dollars. My latest example would be the RE4 remake collector's edition. My wife really wanted it and I think they went on sale like 3am my time. So by the time I get up and I am at GameStop when it opens it's already sold out. $250 was already a rip off but that's what it is. But immediately you could go to ebay and they were dozens of them for like $450. I get the hustle but this is what hurts the collecting community. Just my opinion though.
That is a wild statement to make I agree. Anyone who really truly thinks that YTers are the main reason that classic gaming stuff has skyrocketed is lacking an understanding of the whole picture. It's just one of many contributing factors, there's no one "smoking gun" reason the market is the way it is now. Interestingly, I do have a similar situation that this can be compared to: cars. There's a narrative much like with video games that car YTers have drastically brought up the prices for certain cars because they've been featured in videos. In reality, the extra exposure might have sped up the depreciation/appreciation over the past decade but it's all just the natural progression of things. Take for example an r32 Skyline GTR, back in 2015 importing one of those might've been around 30-40k but these days it's more like 60k+. A newer r34 GTR might've cost you like 60-80k a few years ago but now they're all around 120k-250k depending on the rarity. What was once somewhat attainable is now priced out for most people, I've already come to terms with the fact that I'm probably not getting my r32 GTR any time soon... An even better example is Toyota's JZX 90 & 100 chassis. Unlike the Skyline that everyone knows, these 4 doors were once relatively slept on and could be had for relatively cheap. They're big unassuming sedans that are basically 4 door Supras and great for drifting. Back in the day you could probably import one for like 10k. After YTers brought exposure to them and they became the new hot thing, good luck getting one for less than 30k. Ultimately it's supply & demand at the end of the day. We want old shit that exists in limited quantities, as more people enter the hobby with disposable income, demand increases. Certain people are willing to pay more to get what they want, they then set the market price doing so & piss off everyone else. In the car example, there is a caveat... price fixing by the selling parties. There's plenty of evidence to suggest auctioneers & dealers are engaging in price fixing, selling cars back & forth to each other to drive the market. This is probably true for the video game market too.
I'm still finding awesome deals. Just this week i found Lotus II for genesis for only $4 at a game store discount bin and an untested PS4 at an old lady style thrift shop for only fifteen bucks!
Imagine if there was no internet ...game collecting probably wouldn't even exist......it would be like if a tree falls in the forest and there's nobody around to hear it.....
I don't exactly agree with the entire "pick your battles" idea -- you're gonna want what you want and what you're feeling nostalgic for. You shouldn't settle. However, people need to come to terms with the fact that the prices are what they are right now. Retro gaming is huge and it's here to stay. Everyone is collecting, and keeping the prices where they are at the moment. Everyone can access RUclips and see what games are fun and what content creators are going for. Everyone can check prices on eBay AND the platform is what controls the prices right now. So better to keep that in mind and do whatever it takes to get yours (reselling, trades). Or emulate if you can't handle it. So happy you guys made this video -- it mirrors my thoughts 100%. And it's very hard for collectors to stomach.
Good point! We were just trying to tell people there is absolute gems out there that are affordable! But your right if you really want something you should go get it! 🍻
Yall are youtubers too though... if you really feel like that take your games and go to a secluded mountain or something. Dont be part of the "problem" then cry about it
Simple supply and demand. Plus most people don’t care to want things until they’re worth a lot. I’m very much enjoying gaming right now and I don’t let other people ruin that for me.
Many people that aren't gamers are in retro gaming to gather every crumb and resell it. Plus you can't even imagine how it feels like collecting in foreign countries nowadays. Getting a physical game for $10 is nothing but an utopia if you're not in USA, Japan, etc.
If anything RUclipsrs are helping the retro scene by showing us good retro games and collections and ifs inspiring a lot of people to get into retro and build collections. Metal Jesus for example has inspired me to build a collection as well as many other RUclipsrs. Scalpers may bring the price up but I don’t believe RUclipsrs do and things go up in price also because they are appreciated. Great channel btw keep up the great videos
RUclipsr's have brought in a lot awareness to oldschool video games, which is great. The ones that have ruined the hobby in terms of pricing are the collector's themselves. Because they we're the first ones to pay what ever the reseller was asking for that game and that's what's influenced the market resale value. At the end of the day just get the games that your truly interested in playing, unless your a shelve collector, focus on consoles that are not expensive to collect for and while your doing that prices will go down. In fact there's a lot of games from the SNES era that are now worth pre-covid prices. If half of us are willing to be patient and be smart about it, prices will continue to go down.
RUclipsrs educate and entertain us in something we all love, if your hobby feels ruined to you, maybe you yourself lost the passion for it. Don’t blame the tubers ❤ much love to these two guys here
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The “shady” part of reselling is that some resellers buy up the entire stock to where people just want the product has no choice but to either pay aftermarket value or not be able to enjoy it at all. (A lot of times, it’s resellers who don’t even play video games.) This and the predatory act of hiking up the price because some resellers know that people’s desire to enjoy the product outweighs the decision to save their money.
Yeah its unfortunate all markets have these people! We see it everything we collect! Cheers!
When Retro Rick moved to Little Rock, he single handedly cleaned out local thrift stores here with his $10 video game collection series. He was in the stores multiple times a day. I couldn’t find anything until he got his own game store and didn’t have as much time to hunt. I was so happy when I found a bunch of Xbox 360 games at a local Goodwill once, and while I was waiting in the checkout line, he walked in. SATISFACTION. So yes, there has been/is an affect.
great story nick, and yes these guys make money from their videos so they don't really mind to buy/sell it as much as they do the content. They can afford to buy it from the money they make on views alone.
and I get how you feel, the stuff I go after resellers end up with it over 50 percent of the time, you either get the price pushed up higher on you cause of said reseller or you lose it cause of the reseller.
@@Jackie_Fhan resellers are just a plague on every community they touch
That guy sux
I really miss the $10 Game Collection... happy for Rick with having his own game store and all, but now his videos are just about the store.
It's a little of both. The hobby has grown thanks to RUclipsrs (which is great) but the prices have also gone up to all the people joining the hobby (which isn't so great)
Resellers buying anything cheap is driving up prices stop buying from resellers.
People aren't joining the hobby, most collectors of old are still the highest bidders but resellers just bid stuff up to sell it again.
@@fullspectrumdominanc I think I'll stop watching these guys, they are part of the issue and don't even go for great stuff anyways.
Ye, it's why i stopped collecting gamecube games and switched over to og xbox... got to get them b4 they raise in price 😅
It's not just RUclips. A lot of people got back into gaming during covid.
Resellers have definitely ruined game collecting if you’re looking for any game worth more than $10.
This is such a bad argument. There are resellers in literally any market. Reselling is nothing new. As games get older - nostalgia builds - and people will pay a premium price for games that they loved playing during their childhood. Whether you’re a collector, a reseller, or just a casual gamer, the market would have been manipulated regardless.
@@imajogger What??? How is it a bad argument? It still ruined retro collecting. How am I supposed to enjoy retro collecting when I can't even afford it?
@@JokerX350 problem is, a huge amount of the popular games that have tens of millions of copies on the streets are getting priced unrealistically. Not even rare games. Black ops 1&2 combo pack on 360 is $30+ on eBay. So I look up the games individually, it’d cost me even more to get them individually. Makes no sense because nobody would stfu about those games when they came out. Goes without saying buying again means no DLC, since Xbox 360 marketplace is shutting down. Those games separately should be AS common out in the field as like… halo 3, but somehow assassins creed revelations is $3 and not nearly as many people bought that. Not similar games but tell me how a game that sold 30 million copies costs more now than a game that only sold 7 million?
@@JokerX350 okay, fair enough, player engagement contributing to that makes a lot of sense
@@imajogger only the desperate pay premium prices
The problem with reselling is that it is making it much harder to find things at a reasonable price. I have no problem with someone buying a lot, picking the games they want from it, and reselling the rest. The games are going to someone who wants them. I have a bit of a problem with the ones who get a good deal, and then immediately try to profit off of that. Or someone who will always clear the shelves (just to resell) and give no one else a chance at it. As a kid, I relied on used stores with good prices. Yard sales and thrift stores were a way to get some games you couldn't normally afford and sometimes you can find something cool if you were lucky. If you don't plan on playing something, maybe leave it for the next person who might love it and enjoy it. Unfortunately, the next person now is probably a reseller. I think it sucks that everyone is trying to squeeze every last penny out of everything rather than just passing on that enjoyment reasonably.
I like watching game-hunting videos generally, but there was one that really left a bad taste in my mouth. He would get a lot of games for really good prices from his friends, people he knew at shops, and probably viewers (it was a while back, I don't remember all of it). But once he was done with his list he sold a lot of them off. I don't know what things were sold for, I stopped watching at that point. If that were my friend, I would have felt like I had been taken advantage of.
People buy and sell all the time, it's good to let go of things that you are done with. I think that the hustle it's been becoming is the thing that frustrates me.
I was collecting before RUclips and continue to collect. Nobody has influenced me on what to purchase or collect. I watch channels to just feel part of a community and chat about games. I never felt envious of another person's collection or looked at my collection and said "I wonder how much I can get out of my collection." My collection will be going to my son when I'm gone. It's up to him on what he wants to do with it. RUclips hasn't ruined anything, if anything it allows us to connect better talking about video games. Growing up, for me at least, talking openly about gaming was not a "cool" thing to do. I'm glad we're at where we are now. Great video guys!
I get what you mean, but it has in the sense where prices have gone up, more people know about "HIDDEN GEMS", etc.
the question isn't does youtube affect you personally, but if you want certain games and certain condition yes it will affect you. Just read the comments on a pheonix resale video. It isn't a question if, it does affect people becoming resellers thus effecting prices as they buy them up.
@Jackie Fhan I get that but I can only speak from a personal perspective because it's my hobby I focus on. Games fluctuate in price from expensive to cheap over time and vice-versa. I've never personally been effected by RUclips or anyone on RUclips when I'm looking for games.
Well said.
@@Jackie_Fhan thought you were leaving this channel?
The main problem i find with RUclipsrs is that they influence some people to start a collection but now out of passion for the Hobby its just because it looks cool, i work at a game store and i see 10 year olds that say they are starting a game collection begging their parents to get all these games, just to sell them when the next Fortnite battle pass goes up, i see people buying all the shitty crappy games just to fill shelves because it looks cool, a quick example Cold Winter for Ps2 great game was like 2 bucks after MetalJesus included it in a video all copies dissapeared and the game was like 15 bucks for like 2 months now its 2 bucks again because people went crazy bought it and now are dumping because the hype is gone....
They’re not wrong RUclipsrs literally ruined game collecting
Your allowed to feel how you want! Cheers!
IF the hobby is being ruined, it's people's own impatience that is ruining it. So many people want to have the hidden gem or obscure game they discovered right effing now. But the hobby rewards patience and knowledge-and some luck-when building a collection. Playing the long game, the planning, and the ongoing hunt are big parts of the draw for me.
You got that right! We live in the spoiled little brat era! Everyone's gotta want what they want, and they want it now! Then turn around and get MAD after they've spent $100 dollars on a copy of The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess.. When they could've been patient, took some time to think , and purchased the Wii version for cheaper... Like Robert said; I'll never understand...
@@apocalypticminister1369 I bought Zelda TP for £30 back in the day.
Very true. I think a big part of it is people being worried if they dont buy it now as opposed to waiting for a deal the price is just going to get more and more expensive.
@@Euruk1 That's a great point... The problem is what reason are you collecting for? If it's to play the games, there are plenty of ways to play using emulation... If it's for a physical collection, then you're going to have to bite the bullet, and suck it up buttercup🤣 Gotta pay the cost to be the boss...
@@ShadyPlatinum777 Seems like your one of the smart ones brother!🤣 My problem was chasing women, and not putting value in my collection... I pretty much junked my Genesis, Saturn, NES, SNES, N64, and Dreamcast, collections!!!🤣🤣🤣 But, we live, we learn... OOOHHHH the games I had😭😭😭😭😫
RUclipsrs have made me love the hobby more personally. Seeing people’s enthusiasm for collecting got me back into it. Prices fluctuate it’s a cycle.
Yes it is! That's how all markets work! Cheers!
It does go up and down. Some titles have dropped in price since covid. At least the market is moving to more recent retro consoles and older games are dropping in price.
I also attribute the current era of the Internet. I don't remember where I heard it but it is something along the lines of "eBay is now just a tons of companies selling China's electronics rather than individuals selling their stuff to each other."
Havent actually heard that! But could believe it for sure! Cheers!
I think the problem is not so much RUclipsrs, but Reseller Collectors vs Collectors. People who don't like resellers, it is due to the reseller getting a really good deal then flipping for a high inflated ebay price.
Yeah reselling as a side hustle is way too common now. It’s not collecting. Everyone no matter their age is going for the same games, mostly NES up through Xbox/GC/PS2. And it’s going to stay that way, because 360/PS3 onward isn’t ever gonna hold the same value.
Before youtubers got so heavy into reselling I could actually go in stores and buy things, such as toys. Now when I am in the toys section, leaving heading to another area of toys I have people running past me to make sure they get there before me. Keep in mine I am just looking to see if something is there for my collection but the mindset of resellers isn't like this and there are more resellers of toys than their are local buyers now. Mostly cause the buyers can't find them. If you collect things like Sonic or some other toys like wrestling, you know exactly what I am talking about. RUclips plays a part in this.
Anyone who collects, begins to know the value of things. If you're hunting and find cheap games you already own, you're probably going to pick them up and sell them at value to fund your collections. A lot of popular gaming RUclips channels publish big scores and cheap finds because it's exciting and those videos get big views. It's all sort of the natural progression of the game collecting hobby/ content creation.
That's why I still I don't like them (reseller). My principles would be stink and old fassion but i have my integrity and honor. Ex. I already have Contra NES. If I find a Contra for $5, i would hope that other would get to enjoy them. I wouldn't buy it again just to make a profit. I would like the game to be introduce to newer gamers to enjoy. That was me in 2010 and still think that way.
I gave some of my games (retro too) to my grand nephew and grand niece. I wont sell it to them. I also introduce Duck Hunt to a 3 year old boy and he find it exciting shooting those ducks down.
That is like looking at me at that age playing those games in the past. Pure enjoyment for me and possibly for younger audiences as well. It's not a 1 player game but multiple gamers.
RUclipsrs have absolutely led to raised prices. There is no argument to be had there. I don’t think it’s ruined the hobby though!
Its one factor not the only one we think! Inflation is another! Supply and demand also! Cheers!
I've been collecting games for over 30 years and yes RUclipsrs did destroy it
We understand why you feel that way! Cheers!
The Game Chasers back in 2013-2014 got me into collecting video games. I was already doing vinyl records at the time and I would play retro on emulators but I quickly got the bug to get the actual games.
Awesome video guys. I actually got BACK into collecting because of RUclips. I believe social media has opened up a huge nostalgia pit for everyone to dive into. Amazing job guys!
Thanks!
RUclipsrs are in part why retro games are popular and are still definitely bring more people into the hobby. When I was a teen in the late 2000s, channels like AVGN, Pete Dorr, ClanOfTheGrayWolf, etc. all introduced me to the idea of appreciating older games and collecting them. Naturally, if more people are interested in a finite, out-of-print resource like physical games and consoles, prices go up to account for the demand. When I first started collecting, I chose to collect games for older consoles like NES/SNES/Genesis instead of the new ones because they were a lot CHEAPER! It's sad that a lot of these older consoles are out of reach for so many people, especially younger collectors without much disposable income. I think retro gaming will always be an active hobby as there are many options to play games that don't require owning the actual game (such as emulation, homebrew, or flashcarts) but collecting may very well die out if the prices never come down.
I don't foresee the current and last generations of consoles being very sought after in the future due to games getting ported to the current generation or PC with better performance/graphics and the requirement of connecting to the internet to download patches to get the game working properly. Maybe I'm wrong, but with services like Xbox Game Pass, and Playstation Plus and the popularity of buying games digitally, I expect physical games to become obsolete in a way that DVDs/Blurays have been replaced by streaming services and online rentals. Sure, they still print DVDs and Blurays but I know almost no one that collects them in the same way video games are currently being collected.
I think it's similar to if you bought a white jeep Cherokee and then suddenly you see white jeep Cherokees everywhere.
They were there before and suddenly you have an awareness of them.
Without awareness we wouldn't know how many fun games we would have missed out on.
Spot on man! It changes the game! 🍻
RUclipsrs trying to explain how RUclipsrs didn’t ruin the hobby. Lol (this is a joke)
😂! Sorry you feel that way! Cheers!
@@GamingOffTheGrid I don't know if it came across but I mean, my comment is a joke.
Oh and those collectors that wants to go for FULL collections...that's really insane because many will pay whatever $ to complete it.
What really stinks is that retro game prices were coming back down to reasonable prices years ago but then Covid hit the world and they went shooting back up. 😵💫
True! One thing alot of people dont consider also is inflation! What aspect of anything hasnt gone up since covid?! Cheers!
Too true. "Pre-Covid Prices" is actually a real phrase people use. I do recall hitting up retro gaming stores between 2018-2019 and got some really good deals. Came back to them when they reopened after being closed due to Covid and was stunned at the price differences. I didn't complain. I completely understood, but the sticker shock was real.
Certain games, not all games, are slowly dropping the absurd prices. Again, depends where you go, where you find them.
So true there's a store I found and started going to during the beginning of the pandemic called backstage games. They had great prices bought alot of games from them then I just went back to their store around Feburary and now their prices are all what games are going for on the internet and more recently now they've pulled out the more sought after games put them into dispaly cases with no prices so they can look them up when you get to the counter and ask about it sad......
:( if I wanted to pay online prices I would have bought it online it'd save me time gas and money being the place is an little over an hour drive from where I live its literally the closest retro game store to me.
So as for local hunting resellers have to a point ruined the place I was going to.
Very true, and right now I’m having a blast collecting. There are youtubers out there exploiting their fans and flipping things they get from people who think they’re collecting it for themselves and that I can’t stand that.
“I traded a subcriber a new switch for his whole game collection!”
That shit urks me
I am going to guess you’re talking about Phoenix Resale lol
yeah he can SMD
RUclipsrs documenting what they are collecting is perfect. The creators who are buying low and reselling, showing profits, and hoarding are the issue. I have no issue with reselling, but channels that do this are inflating value
I blame myself for selling my collection to game-stop, I thought I would be able to pick up classics for cheap forever.
@Rein absolutely. Best not to dwell in the past or I'd be be kicking my own butt.
People like Metal Jesus Rocks fucked it for everyone. They use their clout and followers to raise prices of games they own. Same with comic book channels. They make spec videos that raise the prices of the comics and they already own those books, thus making their collections more valuable.
Did youtubers and only youtubers ruin the hobby? No
Do youtubers have a huge influence on the hobby? Yes
Do youtubers make videos about retro for clicks and money solely cause they know its a pretty big audience? Yes
Do "some" retro youtuber channels focus more on the value of retro games then anything else? Yes
I mean Ive seen instances were youtubers contrived and fabricated to all do similar content at the same time. And then denied it or pretended like it was natural. When money is involved its a whole new ball game with these people. A video response is one thing as people are doing now with this particular topic on youtube.
Homeboy on the right thinks that some of us who realize a lot of the above and tries to twist it thinking we think "OH some guy made a youtube video about nintendo now that prevents me from driving to go to the local gamestore and buy super nintendo games ITS STOPPING ME IN MY TRACKS" NO LOL geeze hes really trying to short count some people with that statement.
It could though in a scenario of someone who shall remain nameless that goes to local stores to buy stuff to resell on amazon. Maybe they go in and buys a bunch of games then a game you wanted is no longer there. In theory that "prevented" you from buying a game cause that youtuber wanted to film a video picking up scratch for a imaginary game collection of theirs.
Also now I dont even bother to ask for games at yard sales cause ill get "OH your the 7th person who asked me" unless its at a sale way off the beaten path.
I understand Content Creators feel the need in defending RUclipsrs, cus they feel subconsciously attacked. When said claim gets tossed. However let's not act like people shopping Swap meets, Thrift stores, Conventions, Gamestops, Best Buys, Target, Goodwills, and Yard Sales using a phone like some wanna be stockbroker conducting business. Came out of some random forum thread. People saw content creators doing it, and mass echoed the incentive(in today's algorithm). Trying to chase this lazy "get rich quick" scheme under a Collecting/Gaming Trojan horse. There never used to be abundance shopping for games, and now every week! You'll notice Collector's feel the need in picking up anything they'll brag could mean "something" down the line(potential value). It used to be I'd see RUclipsrs shop for a specific few titles/w genuine interest in mind. In opposed to now! Were they'll just snatch a whole box/crate of games low balling a person. Who just wants to rid themselves of space. A pretty stale Reseller excuse I've heard. Also I'm not talking about those who ask a Yard seller for prices and said previous owner offers a digit(for them to agree on). I'm talking about clowns forcing deals on shit, that's already a known steal! Because they're so self-conditioned at saving every penny to milk profit. Not to mention these weekly "Hidden gem" videos. Trying to artificially create overhyped inflation for cookie cutter titles I see constantly on PSN/eShop sales(the common generic stuff). Collector's aren't creating a "collection" now. Just hoarding junk, and using "I wanna go for a complete ___(console) set" as a deflection. Hey! It's your money not mine, but I'd appreciate people stop artificially inflating everyone's FOMO. By getting games just for the sake of value chasing. Let someone who actually wants those games have a shot, cus casual GameStop visits these days have been relegated to a hogging crouching toxic guy scanning every pre-owned Switch title. And it's getting pretty annoying now. Due to them acting like they own said store, and gatekeep others from said section. Who are just there to explore or catch a neat price drop on Wishlists.. I'm also sick of seeing new games get heavily scalped and tossed up on Ebay with a double price tag everyone echoes for greed. On the same fucken week it came out! Along with Companies preying on this FOMO craze reReleasing games, cus companies saw people focus on getting particular old IPs(Fucken Altus/w Etrian Odyssey Collection near the eShop closure month).
What's a word resellers hate these days tho? Reprints
Game Chasers clearing places out for content was commonly heard of back in the day and I believe MJR has falsely driven some prices up; however, it was more a sign of the times. The age of nostalgia hit a lot of us in our 30's, so it was just the perfect storm of all of these factors.
There's also the content creators that would post their collection videos of even new games which has driven people to wanting more, more, more, but some are now realizing they are surrounded in plastic and we're starting to see some of these youtubers sell their collections (RGT 85, Ian from the the CUPodcast).
The above didn't even ruin it though -- it created more passion for those who were on the bubble, or already in. It's the resellers and those trying to make grading a thing that really ruined the prices.
I love seeing the rare gems, and the best of videos of the old games. Does that mean I need to own them all? No, but maybe it does for some. :)
My problem is, I don't flip games. I pick stuff up cheap, then just throw it in the closet or garage.
Nothing wrong with that! Cheers!
They ruined prices but they did help me discover games I wouldn’t have otherwise
prices went up due to demand. not youtubers buy all those games....
@Német Attila Not really there are games Distributed by limited run gains of indie titles that literally nobody was interested when they were digital only. Axiom verge on wii U is one thing but are people really clamoring for foxy land or night Trap HD?
@@nattila7713 And demand increased because RUclipsrs told their millions and millions of followers to go out and buy XYZ. They definitely ruined prices.
@@nattila7713 prices went up due to demand. But RUclipsrs spiked up the demand.
This is why a lot of people should not be allowed on RUclips not because I say so it's because when they make videos they cause things to be ruined for a lot of other people because RUclipsrs that have a massive following have followers that are like a flock of sheep they follow almost anyting that RUclipsrs say and most of the time it causes whatever they're talking about to have the price go up on it because their idiot followers are running to get it and they caused the price to go right through the roof and or stay expensive much longer.
It's weird because I did collect retro games back around 2000, "before it was cool" and it wasn't great. As you mentioned, there was no community and I just felt like I was weird, so I ended up selling almost everything.
Understandable! If you dont feel comfortable might as well get out! Cheers!
WATA is what is hurting the hobby.
They are a factor! Cheers!
Internet ruined everything , we are robots.
RUclipsrs were a catalyst, but it would have been this way regardless. If you are a collector you have to adapt, it’s like this for every hobby.
Here’s an example:
NeoGeo prices are too high if you buy the MVS carts. But there are many different ways to be able to legally obtain these games. I would much rather spend the $40 on humble bundle and have the actual roms and be able to play them on a MiSTer, retroarch, Original hardware via flash cart, & fightcade. You just have to adapt as a collector and broaden your horizons.
One side that people miss out on is that companies that own the rights pay attention to these things also. And then re-release the game for modern systems at more affordable prices and extra content. Some examples are Genesis Aladdin/Lion King, powerslave/exhumed (Saturn/ps1), the Sega Genesis collection, not to mention the mini consoles. Getting the SNES mini saved me hundreds of dollars over getting the original games. I know this is all emulated but I’m good with that.
I've been watching RUclipsrs talk about gaming since classic game room. And guys like you and metal Jesus, radical Reggie etc that bring awareness to games I wouldn't have known about. So it's all positive on my end. The youtubers that like to feed into the toxic part of this community I don't give my time to. It's bad, but nobody has "ruined "collecting 😅
I absolutely think so. Compare the dates to Metal Jesus hidden gems videos to price charting. That same week those games that were featured in that video went up.
I think resellers have ruined the hobby. The high prices and people who are also willing to pay the high prices are also to blame.
Good point consumers also set the market! People say prices are high but if you go to sold listing on ebays those prices are selling on things everyday multiple copies! Cheers!
@@GamingOffTheGrid it’s actually why I stopped buying physical copies of video games. From here on out, I’ll just stick with emulation. It’s far cheaper.
I'd never blame someone for raising the price of a game just because they were passionate about it and wanted to talk about it, but they also happened to be a big RUclipsr. There's hundreds of games that I never would've known about, and if I have to pay a bit more to experience them as a side effect, that's entirely fine. On the complete other side of things, resellers are inflating the prices of games by only caring about making a profit, but that's the same with retro video game stores which, trust me when I say I've seen some of the same outrageous listing prices on eBay in actual brick and mortar stores, if not worse. Unfortunately, people have to make money to live, and if someone's going to sell video games as their job, they can't be doing it at-cost, especially if they have a physical location where they need to keep the lights on. As long as you're not intentionally inflating the price of a game by selling it at, let's say more than 140-150% of its actual value, (I've easily seen 200% or more both on eBay and in actual retro gaming stores) then you're fine. Basically, it's okay to make money, just don't be an asshole, and it's our job as consumers to give money to the people that actually deserve it. If a reseller or ma and pa store has inflated prices, don't buy from them anymore, they know what they're doing, they'll get the hint. I've been to every retro gaming store in Colorado but there's only 3 or 4 that I've ever gone back to. Same with eBay sellers. Be a discerning buyer, only support the people who do right by you, and don't overpay for games, because that's the other half of the problem: scalpers wouldn't exist if people didn't buy the shit. Thanks for the video, guys. Also, Wes, you're never gonna live that La Croix down. XD
Agreed cant gouch people! Buying things and reselling for a fair price is just how things operate in any hobby! Yeah i know i wont 😂! Cheers!
The publicity of the hobby turned too many shit games into 'holy grails' and created scarcity out of million selling 'hidden gems'
Appreciate y’all listening to the podcast! ❤ Ok about to watch this video 🤌🏻🎙️
Anytime brothas! Much love! Cheers!
RUclipsrs didn’t just get me into collecting videogames but movies and books too.
Thats awesome! All great hobbies! Cheers!
So nice to hear a balanced, positive take on the matter. Negativity is exhausting.
For sure man. We don’t get the hate that’s out there. Hope all is well man.
If the definition of "ruining the hobby" is the fact that prices are way higher now, then I blame all of us on RUclips, Reddit, Instagram, and any other social media outlet where collectors advertise their massive collections, hidden gems, and full console set collections. It's a strategic mistake. All that does is increase the demand and give others the idea that the can do the same, hence why I've completely stopped posting ANYTHING from my collection for everyone to see. All it does is continue to make things more difficult for everyone.
Exactly
But to these clowns it's about chasing clout and if they can't circlejerk showing everyone their overpriced plastic then they won't be able to one up the guy they're comparing e-peen with.
A RUclipsr has never effected my ability to drive out and buy a video game..and I have Super, N64, PS 1 2 3 4 5 and PSP. I economy has changed and more people play games now more than ever. Which as great for the industry.
Love the channel. Keep it up!
If you collected for the Vita,Saturn or GameCube you wouldn't be saying that LMAO. You chose to collect for cheap systems. What Panzer Dragoon Saga went for 20 years ago is considered a steal now. 😂
@@Chelaxim 🤣🤣🤣 OK buddy 🤣🤣🤣
MJR’s hidden gems videos ruined the hobby, artificial inflation - yup, I said it!
I don't know that I agree on the "ruined" part. Even if the prices went up, those vids did lead to me finding many games I would have passed on otherwise. Also in general, they opened my eyes to trying more obscure stuff. I guess for me the discovery of some of the so called "hidden gems" was worth whatever impact in my mind. Just my 2 cents.
"RUclipsrs haven't ruined video game collecting!" ... Said the Youtbers in front of a wall with literal Thousands of dollars in video games.
Theres numerous people we know with bigger collections than us not on youtube! 🍻
It’s not ruining it per say but it is pricing certain people out of the hobby of collecting.
For sure! We understand why it could do that! Cheers!
I sold my collection back in 2017 and I haven't looked back. Between the market being untrustworthy, outside of buying in person, and getting into emulation i realized i care more about playing the games and not really about putting another game on the shelf. The collector scene atleast with NES games is super cutthroat and there is a lot of ppl in cahoots working together to keep the price of rare graded games high. They buy up any copies that hit the market to keep just 1 option available.
Definitely understandable! The most important part is enjoying the games however it happens! Cheers!
The real enemy is the ebay warriors who don't even play , they see the you tube video pushing said game they snag as many as they can and just flip them
Yeah its an unfortunate part of all markets anymore! Cheers
Awareness is a very good point. On the rare occasion an online ad has me interested in buying something, it’s usually marked up but after that point I will be aware of what that product actually is and be able to look up the normal priced version from that time on. That means the initial marked up price is a kind of payment for learning that that kind of thing even existing in the first place!
I'm gonna be real with you, I'm tired of people sharing my interests.
Thats understandable! Cheers!
Nostalgia for video games has grown because we want to remember a time when things were better. Our country is at its latest stage and most people arent doing well. We are on the precipice of complete destruction and most people dont want to think about it. So getting lost in a part of their childhood is a nice break from the reality of our situation. Our country is politically, financially and morally bankrupt.
I'm 62 have been buying games and systems since 1978 everything changes you just need to adapt as it does. You two make a good point I'm always watching hidden gems videos and found a lot of great titles I would have never played. I wished I would have had a clue and wouldn't have sold off the majority of what I had collected over the last 45 or so years a decade or so to soon. I love your channel you guys have some interesting videos thanks.
if you want to just play them you just emulate everything and you'll find those games.
@Jackie Fhan That's all part of adapting I have a nice ds and 3ds collection that curbs that physical collection need as well as Wiiu.
@@PongbyAtari I gotta admit knowing you’re into gaming makes me feel a lot better about getting older so um thanks for that 🙂
@Gracekim24 Thanks I appreciate it. Really helps keep my mind staya sharp. I have had a lot of hobbies and such come and go playing video games has always been a consistent part of my life I just love it.
I said this 15 years ago when the first cell phones were coming out and people
started pricing things according to Ebay. Pretty much since 2010/2011 everythings been scam prices.
In my opinion I thank RUclipsrs for making us aware of the good info for us the collectors, Cheers! Guy’s.
Thanks man!
RUclipsrs haven’t ruined video game collecting, but speculators have. They’ve made it more annoying and pricey for the true collectors who actually want to enjoy the games..
There’s a big difference between natural growth in vintage items vs what is happening right now in the retro video game market, which is artificial growth based upon speculation.. a lot of “collectors” from other markets like comics and sports cards have entered the market that have no interest on wether the game is fun to play, but rather how rare the item is and if they can sell for a profit in the future.. it’s pretty apparent, most people I hear talk about retro games nowadays talk about how much they paid vs what it’s worth instead of talking about how fun the game is… it’s truly sad, and it makes video game collecting for the true collectors like myself less enjoyable.
We agree! Theres alot of those people in the market! We see it in all our hobbies! Its an unfortunate part of it!
RUclipsrs got me into looking in thrift stores for video games. I at least got to do it a while before a certain chain of thrift stores began grabbing them off of the donation piles and selling online. Super Monkey Ball 2 for GameCube + two DVD movies for 99 cents? yes it totally happened once, grandkids.
Gaming RUclipsrs are kind of like the modern version of gaming magazines back in the day.
Great way to look at it! Cheers!
Part of the hobby for me is watching people on RUclips talk about it. So you tube IS the hobby for me
Great way to put it! Cheers!
Pretty well said.
No one is forcing anyone to pay for any game. The people involved in the transaction can say no at any time.
Is it great getting some stuff for cheap? yes. Does it happen less often now? yes.
It can make the finds that much sweeter though.
I don’t think I would have figured out how to get involved with retro gaming without RUclipsrs sharing the hobby. I agree with you that access to information is awesome, even if it does make collecting more competitive.
Great video!! I been collecting over 48 years starting with comic books, sport cards, & toys! Started collecting video games over 45 years ago! I still own the basically all my items still. At 12 years old I would order comic book price guides, and later sport guide price guides just for joy of knowing the value of my items, and keeping them in mint condition, still to this day! I'm a stubborn collector (not selling or trading), and people have to learn to think for themselves, and not do things on impulse, or feel pressured to make moves! Everyone has a nitch, and bring value to hobbies! Just know, and live true to yours! I love watching videos knowing about people who share the same interest! Going to comic/sport card conventions & comic book stores back in the 70s, 80's & 90's brought the same joy!! Now it's all on my phone with typing witb my fingertips!! I'm 55, and started to collecting when I was 7, buying both comic books & baseball cards at 35 cents each! Mattel handheld sport games and PONG were our introduction to video games in the mid 70's.
Whoa 😮
That's why I switched from GameCube to Xbox ...like you guys said we have to adapt...reselling is great because you are helping to put the media In the hands of people who truly desire them..another bangers Wes and Robert ...cheers
Sounds like someone trying to validate the thing they do to me
@JCS BINGO 100%!!!! thats one of the obvious problem that they did not mention. These days a lot of ''gamers'' just buy old games not to play but to collect and since they know its rare they're like ''Oh I have 3 copies of Conker bad fur day, do you know how much they worth?'' etc. Just to brag about it.
Same thing with the people who collects consoles. There's a dude on amazon who proudly shared his collection of Nintendo Switch consoles edition in the reviews section of the Pokemon limited edition one. They just feel great about the fact they owned something rare but they do not necessary enjoy the games which is sad/exasperating imo because video games are not meant to be collected and placed on shelves just to be admire like a painting on the wall while collecting dust forever...
But at the end of the day people do what they want with their money.
Problem is, if resellers clean out all of the thrift store/garage sales, the normal collector doesn't have the chance to buy the games at bargain prices and are forced to buy at re-seller prices.
Thats a good point! We go to thrift stores everyday! I find cheap games dvds etx. When i flip its always at market value or just below! Cheers!
I think this point highlights the frustration some hobbyists/collectors may have with RUclipsrs. You tube videos create more awareness, which creates more competition, and it is difficult for hobbyists to compete with someone carving out a career for themselves hunting and vlogging about collecting/reselling. That is not say you tube has ruined the hobby, but the game has changed. I’ve been thrifting and collecting various things most of my life. The internet has changed everything and it is not going away. I suppose the retro video game collecting hobby reaching mainstream, in addition to the resale market has caused a “Moneyball” situation (adapt or die, or expect to pay up) - not wholly terrible, but different. In conclusion - No, I don’t think you tubers have ruined anything because I enjoy this channel and others and the online community, but I can see the argument for the other side. Also, I collect at the rate that I play, but perhaps you tube creates a fomo situation for having walls of games. I don’t know man.
I think you are spot on with your opinions - I started my own little gaming hobby in the early 2000's picking up 'old games +systems' for very cheap and having a great time, when you tube came along it was a great way to find out about games I had never heard of, and games that were usa only. (I'm from the UK)
I must admit there was a period in time were once you had watched a you tube video and then looked for a game it could be got for not too much money at all, but as the years have passed and 'my secret hobby' has become retro gaming and extremely popular the prices have been going up and up! but, I still buy games now and you just need to find a way that works for you that allows you to buy and enjoy the games your after!
👍🎮📺
It depends. First what are "retro games"?, (or at least what gaming gens are "antique" now etc.) Clearly not the start of the HD age (Ps3/360/Wii-Wii U/3DS etc.) No. With the exception of the Dreamcast, (which I'll make an exception for the Dreamcast, as the console has a rocky history/circumstance) I don't really consider the 3D age, late 90s/early 2000s gen (N64/Ps1 and 2/Sega CD-Saturn/Xbox original, PSP, GCN/GBA/DS etc.) retro just quite yet; But if you do smh, some stuff is getting pretty pricey. Anything under 20 bucks, either has no case/box or has no disc, and that's not including if it's an auction item, so the price could rise up. You have to be lucky, but you can get fair prices from non gougers. However, what I consider retro, is the 8/16/32 bit territory (Atari, Intellivision/Family Computer/SG1000/Master System/Genesis/Mega Drive, NES/SNES, Original gameboy, Game gear, Neo Geo/SNK handheld, and also any 90s PC game) people know what they have, and prices for these things are very expensive into the hundreds. So if you're an 8 bit/16bit/32 bit collector, oh man. Smh. I was born in 91, so I think I know what I'm talking about. HD remasters/DLC download/on demand editions of older games/reissues influence prices on physical things. And yes, youtubers when they make videos on certain titles. Raises the price. How to X did a good video of this. This is only my opinion, thank you. :)
It has ruined it in a Sence that.. some ppl are waiting on a few ppl say the words" Gem,Rare or obscure" so they hear that and they buy a lot to re-sale. I've seen this with a couple stores near where I live. A game might be at one price and as soon as a game if mentioned by a very popular RUclipsr.. they actually raise the price and put on the game " as seen or mentioned by" .. so yeah I'm done ... Emulation from now on.
There are games that people infamously didn't give a damn about until a RUclipsr talked about it. If I had a time machine I would have went to my local stores and bought all the copies of the 3DS game Codename STEAM When they were selling them for $4 brand new. That game is infamous for selling so badly that within a week after it released It Already joined f zero and star tropics for dead nintendo franchises.
Funny how emulation was frowned upon till folks couldn't afford physical games 😂.
RUclipsrs have not ruined the hobby at all. Like you say, it's raised awareness and that has boosted values. I've been a collector since the late 90s when I was in school. Consistently prices would drop every spring when garage sale and Flea Market season came around. Prices would go back up when the holidays were comming.
I noticed about 2014 or 2015 the prices stopped dropping as much in the summer. I suspect the change in ebay fees was a big part of that. All games sold on ebay had a 15% fee plus shipping and tax, inflated prices.
Last weekend at a Punk Rock Flea Market I got a 5 screw Mario and a gold Zelda II link for $20! That was a deal 10 years ago. I also got a boxed Sears Video Arcade II for $130 including shipping and 10 games.
As for "resellers"... I built my big collection by buying lots, keeping what I wanted and selling off the rest. I have also been repairing systems like sega cds for years, flipping them fixed for a profit.
I like the fact that with more information there are many different types of collectors with different goals. I do feel sympathy to the hardcore collector who wants to collect full sets however as it is much harder to find bargains when everyone knows the values of everything.
Agreed plenty of plus and minuses but lots of people are finding joy they didnt know they would from youtubers! Cheers!
I suspect many people that have that belief either ironically started collecting due to RUclipsrs in the first place, or are at the very least inspired by them.
Also I strongly feel many games and consoles would have remained buried in the back of attics or even thrown away, of it wasn't for the increased awareness of their worth and hype, even outside the collecting community.
This whole collecting hobby feels so much better, knowing you're pary of a community of like-minded people and sharing it.
I was a (retro) gamer and a casual collector prior, but if I wasn't inspired by youtubers, I don't know if I'd be this involved today or even have an actual gameroom.
And I agree with your statements in this video. Keep doing what you're doing guys.
It sucks the pricing go up but I'll take the entertainment that I get watching people like you guys sharing pickups and videos.
Thanks man! Awareness has its pros and cons! Cheers!
It does make me nervous about the supply in circulation when I see RUclipsrs do mystery unboxings on some 100+ game lot they've purchased online somewhere each month. Makes me think if they're recirculating the games they don't want/need or they're being horded in some storage unit.
Definitely understandable! There probably is people doing that! Its happening in all hobbies! Cheers!
RUclipsrs like yall HELP the hobby. Love the hunting videos and I frequent local flea markets and garage sales. Just got two NES, a Sega model 1, 2 copies of SMB2 plus Maniac Mansion for 100 bucks. Deals exist when you put the time in
RUclipsrs have killed the market and resellers. Kill it for the normal person
People watch videos and they see a game they wanted to sell for 10$ now they want 500$
And then the game never sells. People blame sellers for high prices but ignore that those games never sell
I think there's pros and cons for both sides of the argument. If there's more awareness to obscure games that I never knew existed from RUclips I win, then lose because I now want to buy an expensive game... But now I have the game I want...but my wallets empty...ah fuck it, I just wanna game! Cheers boys, great topic to discuss 🍻
We agree! You only live once! So yes there is more pros than cons in our opinions ! 🍻
But you wouldn't know about that obscure game eithout internet...
I think people are mistaking reselling for scalping. If you’re buying something for cheap and flipping it then that’s fine. But buying up stock of something and marking it up past retail price because there’s too much demand that places don’t have enough is the scummy part. These things are cheap for a reason for the most part and it certainly isn’t because people are buying up stock. Scalping is scummy because you’re actively lessening the amount of product out there for everyone and reselling it for more. Reselling isn’t a problem but scalping is.
Good way to explain it! You are right alot of people think they are the same things and they aren't! Cheers!
Theres some contradiction in this video but I get what you guys are trying to say.
yeah youtubers hurt the hobby for sure, Im lucky I got my big grails before the pandemic but look at what happened with Phantom Dust, I think you guys even did a video on that where you said "we don't know why this game is spiking." There are some youtubers that drop a video on a game and it will spike right after. Yes there are cheap fun games but most of us have already played uncharted, last of us, and halo. Those other titles like Skygunner, R.A.D, Puppeteer, dragon ball advanced, Blood will tell, and most gamecube games are hard to attain. I listed all these because I got them in 2018-2019 for less then $30 each. But all of these had videos on them and now they are all in the $100+ range.
Theres a different between people like Collectorluck, retrorick and then someone like Phoenix. Others sell to put back into their collection as you said, and then others do it just for profit, its the ones that have the audience that wants to make money and not fuel their collection that are running out and selling games at high prices just to fill their pockets.
not tryna sound like a hater but just giving my perspective.
I have been seriously collecting since 1994. The thing that ruined the hobby was the internet on the cell phone. When people had the ability to look up a price on the spot caused the prices to inflate at flea markets, pawn shops, and yard sales. RUclips is downhill from the internet on the phone issue. If RUclips existed without having the internet on a phone, the hobby would look much different. I miss collecting in the 90's when I would go to a Funcoland , get one of those price newspapers on the counter and pick out games to buy for $0.50- $2.00. Those days of collecting died decades ago.
Yeah the landscape has completely changed! You make great points! Cheers!
Here is my two cents - It's a double edged sword. The internet has brought awareness, and exposure opportunities to gamers. People are seeing youtubers make money doing this stuff. In return it dampened the hobby for me when it comes to finding anything out here where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I would call myself a normal gamer of all consoles - I just buy games that make me happy, and I enjoy and keep them. I think the hobby itself has become kind of an unstoppable nostalgia chasing monster with FOMO where people my age (33) Miss the good ol days but everywhere is being picked to the bone or ebay priced out. Then there are resellers, and those guys are just trying to make a buck. All of these games are in limited supply and will only decrease in availability so it's only going to get worse. Yes we have endless amounts of information, and more light shined on hidden gems but at the cost of what was one of my favorite parts about gaming which was going to second hand stores, and garage sales and finding good deals on older games we didn't have time to play back when it came out. Or a game we remembered loving as a kid. It was a nice hobby spending $5 and scoring a great title. Now I see Windwaker for Gamecube being sold for $80 and it's just not the same anymore. Of Course that goes for more than just gaming.
I'm just saying how I feel here but a lot of youtube modern game collecting seems to have become this massive hoarding contest with gargantuan Shrines, and storage rooms bigger than my Apartment with just so many games, consoles, and accessories collecting dust. I miss when people only collected what they connected with. Of course it's just the internet in general to blame for ruining basically everything if you think about it. Instead of worrying about all these games you don't have time to play you would live in the moment and play the games that you knew ere good. There are some very good gaming channels like this where It's not about waving your dick around and showing off collections and all about the games and those i treasure.
RIP To old games hunt man...Covid also ruined it 100%
Yeah you make tons of good points! Scalpers are the worst! 🍻
RUclips is one of the best tools to generate interest in a topic, that’s it.
Completely agree! Its helping collecting become more mainstream! Cheers!
What about resellers who sold the ps5?
That in my opinion is scalping. Very different. That’s buying something at market value and marking it up vs finding something on the low and selling it for what it’s worth. Cheers 🍻
@@GamingOffTheGrid damn I don’t want to agree with you! But you’re right! Lol
Thanks man!
Many many years ago I worked at a game store that's sold a lot of these now Priceless artifacts for next to nothing. I was fortunate that I was able to test a lot of these in shop to see if I would actually want them as a lot of them didn't have much documentation on RUclips. Nowadays, it's easy to see I missed a lot of PlayStation 1 and 2 games that I could have gotten for what would now be pennies considering their current value.
I don't recommend anyone getting into Retro collecting if they're starting today just on prices and scarcity alone. However, if they are willing to emulate or purchase modern remakes or digital downloads a lot of these classic titles, I would say now would be one of the best times gaming has ever had
Thank you for this video. RUclipsrs and the internet haven't ruined the hobby they grew it. It's individuals greed and people trying to treat games as a 401K portfolio that have given the hobby a bad taste to people. I own and operate a small retro game shop and the only customers I have any problem with are the ones who have wata discount membership cards and the ones who can quote Price Charting on every game but can not tell you a thing about any game other than its price. They are strictly there for the money. I honestly try to deal with them as little as possible. Everyone but them tell me how cheap my prices are except the "retirement fund" fake collectors. It's funny I watch them and it takes them 25 minutes to decide to buy a game or not cause they are on their phone the whole time, not watching game play, but researching Price Charting, Ebay, Google, calling their high school friend for his opinion, or whatever else source of financial advice they get. Then ask for a price reduction cause they found the game on the internet cheaper. I'm like yeah it's cheaper, it doesn't have a label and even says non-working. I find it funny but annoying. I don't think I ever even sell a game at my posted price except to those two "customers". It's honestly like a game to me know and entertainment. I love watching them get all upset cause I don't cater to them. I for real give away more games and accessories to kids then they spend in a month. They are games to be enjoyed and played, not argued and coveted over by middle age wierdos.weirdos. I sell a $100 game to a 14 year old for $40 before I would sell it to an "investor" for $85. Maybe I'm wierd myself or wrong, but I support the hobby not the exploitation. I'm happier spreading happiness than making money.
Rob and Wes thanks again for your content and awareness. Continued success in all your ventures.
From my experience and what I've seen others say in Facebook groups, its not the act of reselling itself that people have a problem with, but more how these resellers go about doing it. Like you said, most people if given the chance would buy 10 games at a garage sale, sell 3 they don't want to finance the purchase of the other 7. However, when people go into stores and buy all of a certain title or they video themselves only offering someone 20% of Pricecharting to turn around and sell it for 5 times profit that people get mad about. And when resellers say that anyone can do it and then go to their friend's stores and get 40% off sticker price irks people.
Get what your saying! So idk if you seen any of our hunting videos we will negotiate the price if we bundle at garage sales and we look for quick flips! Not big profits but items that will make us some profit but items people look for! We do it all to buy more games vhs dvds vinyls etc. 🍻
@GamingOffTheGrid I haven't caught those yet, but I feel like most people would be okay with that. I personally have no issues with it, especially because you guys actually enjoy the games you get. One annoying thing is seeing videos where people are only happy if they find expensive games for dirt cheap and don't care if the games are good or not.
RUclips not really the problem imo. I think the pandemic caused the giant up tic in the game collecting hobby. Lots of people got into reselling which has created way more competition at the local yard sales, fleas, etc. But like you guys I am happy with where the hobby is and you tube has opened my eyes to a lot of cool stuff and it motivates me. I'm getting old now so I don't have any friends that's into games like I am.
But the only thing I think is hurting game collecting now is the scalpers. It's the stuff where people buy up the the limited collector's stuff then mark it up hundreds of dollars. My latest example would be the RE4 remake collector's edition. My wife really wanted it and I think they went on sale like 3am my time. So by the time I get up and I am at GameStop when it opens it's already sold out. $250 was already a rip off but that's what it is. But immediately you could go to ebay and they were dozens of them for like $450. I get the hustle but this is what hurts the collecting community. Just my opinion though.
Also if I pre ordered at the store I would not have gotten one anyways cause game stop screwed that up.
That is a wild statement to make I agree. Anyone who really truly thinks that YTers are the main reason that classic gaming stuff has skyrocketed is lacking an understanding of the whole picture. It's just one of many contributing factors, there's no one "smoking gun" reason the market is the way it is now.
Interestingly, I do have a similar situation that this can be compared to: cars. There's a narrative much like with video games that car YTers have drastically brought up the prices for certain cars because they've been featured in videos. In reality, the extra exposure might have sped up the depreciation/appreciation over the past decade but it's all just the natural progression of things.
Take for example an r32 Skyline GTR, back in 2015 importing one of those might've been around 30-40k but these days it's more like 60k+. A newer r34 GTR might've cost you like 60-80k a few years ago but now they're all around 120k-250k depending on the rarity. What was once somewhat attainable is now priced out for most people, I've already come to terms with the fact that I'm probably not getting my r32 GTR any time soon...
An even better example is Toyota's JZX 90 & 100 chassis. Unlike the Skyline that everyone knows, these 4 doors were once relatively slept on and could be had for relatively cheap. They're big unassuming sedans that are basically 4 door Supras and great for drifting. Back in the day you could probably import one for like 10k. After YTers brought exposure to them and they became the new hot thing, good luck getting one for less than 30k.
Ultimately it's supply & demand at the end of the day. We want old shit that exists in limited quantities, as more people enter the hobby with disposable income, demand increases. Certain people are willing to pay more to get what they want, they then set the market price doing so & piss off everyone else. In the car example, there is a caveat... price fixing by the selling parties. There's plenty of evidence to suggest auctioneers & dealers are engaging in price fixing, selling cars back & forth to each other to drive the market. This is probably true for the video game market too.
RUclipsrs made it better but the prices did go up that’s life though enjoy your week guys another great topic of discussion
Thanks man! Cheers!
I'm still finding awesome deals. Just this week i found Lotus II for genesis for only $4 at a game store discount bin and an untested PS4 at an old lady style thrift shop for only fifteen bucks!
Agreed! Plenty of low hanging fruit still out there! Cheers!
Imagine if there was no internet ...game collecting probably wouldn't even exist......it would be like if a tree falls in the forest and there's nobody around to hear it.....
Love this comment!
I don't exactly agree with the entire "pick your battles" idea -- you're gonna want what you want and what you're feeling nostalgic for. You shouldn't settle. However, people need to come to terms with the fact that the prices are what they are right now. Retro gaming is huge and it's here to stay. Everyone is collecting, and keeping the prices where they are at the moment. Everyone can access RUclips and see what games are fun and what content creators are going for. Everyone can check prices on eBay AND the platform is what controls the prices right now.
So better to keep that in mind and do whatever it takes to get yours (reselling, trades). Or emulate if you can't handle it. So happy you guys made this video -- it mirrors my thoughts 100%. And it's very hard for collectors to stomach.
Good point! We were just trying to tell people there is absolute gems out there that are affordable! But your right if you really want something you should go get it! 🍻
Yall are youtubers too though... if you really feel like that take your games and go to a secluded mountain or something. Dont be part of the "problem" then cry about it
😂
Simple supply and demand. Plus most people don’t care to want things until they’re worth a lot. I’m very much enjoying gaming right now and I don’t let other people ruin that for me.
RUclipsrs like yourselves give me the motivation to go out and buy games. The majority of games are still very affordable.
Glad we can do that for you! Cheers!
Many people that aren't gamers are in retro gaming to gather every crumb and resell it. Plus you can't even imagine how it feels like collecting in foreign countries nowadays. Getting a physical game for $10 is nothing but an utopia if you're not in USA, Japan, etc.
If anything RUclipsrs are helping the retro scene by showing us good retro games and collections and ifs inspiring a lot of people to get into retro and build collections. Metal Jesus for example has inspired me to build a collection as well as many other RUclipsrs. Scalpers may bring the price up but I don’t believe RUclipsrs do and things go up in price also because they are appreciated. Great channel btw keep up the great videos
RUclipsr's have brought in a lot awareness to oldschool video games, which is great. The ones that have ruined the hobby in terms of pricing are the collector's themselves. Because they we're the first ones to pay what ever the reseller was asking for that game and that's what's influenced the market resale value. At the end of the day just get the games that your truly interested in playing, unless your a shelve collector, focus on consoles that are not expensive to collect for and while your doing that prices will go down. In fact there's a lot of games from the SNES era that are now worth pre-covid prices. If half of us are willing to be patient and be smart about it, prices will continue to go down.
RUclipsrs educate and entertain us in something we all love, if your hobby feels ruined to you, maybe you yourself lost the passion for it. Don’t blame the tubers ❤ much love to these two guys here
ABSOLUTELY