Video Games As Investments

We all know how popular video gaming is but is it profitable? Where do you think the collecting of games and systems is going? We constantly see the demand for quality items on auctions sites, such as ebay, so i'm sure the hobby has a great future. Do you think they make good investments? I think this will be an interesting topic to discuss.

Thanks for your comments.

Lightning...

I see cartcollecting as buying stocks! I mean, in the long term all carts will only gain value. Plus under the time you own the carts you can play them as much as you want. Then when you are 50 you can sell them to a new neofanatic. Maybe the new age gamers will only like 3d and forget 2D. Idonno, maybe the whole neo will be replaced of something else in the future. Like super 2D- console with game-MEGS over 10000 MEGS! All the former SNK people and the masters at Capcom will make games to this new console. It's just a funny thoght. Who knows........ future is unknown..

Robi15

Well most Games loosing value fast here in germany, the only system where really games gain worth is the Neo. Ok some PC Engine games here and some Genesis Games there and sure some SNES Games will gain more value too, but most games will just loss value. Well the only thing is when a sys is not so popular then it gains more value later.....

Neo Geo, Saturn, Some Genesis, and PC Engine games gain value it seems. However I dont recomend you buy PSX and N64 games hoping they will gain any value.

This is a hard question..... Most games seem to lose value in the US game market these days. The Neo Geo, along with some other cartridge systems, seem to thrive though. Things are different here, than in Japan where a game usually does not drop in value.

Neo carts go up in price, 2600 carts go up in price....

Keith

I have pretty much every home system now. (Neo MVS though not the home cart) I really believe that all games will go up in value as there are always people out there that never got to beat that "special" game that they always wanted to. But...you might want to hold on to it anyway

I have quite a bit tied up in my carts, so I watch the neo market just as close as I do the stock market. Some people were projecting interest to die in the neo once SNK started to fall. However, look at the neo pocket. The prices are on a rise even though the pocket’s future is dead. Now the same phenomenon is occurring with the home carts. The future of new home cart releases is looking dismal at best, yet cart prices are on the rise. As the members of the collecting arena mature in age, so will their incomes. Chances are, many more collectors will come out of the woodwork and existing collectors will want that game they never had but always wanted. Even now, the releases of new game systems have little to no effect on the neo market. However, there are always unknown variables like a recession, bear market, or world war III that could turn the whole neo scene into a downward spiral.

Neo Home Carts continue to go up in value (most of them). I have been in the online community for a year now, and prices have only shot up since then. Especially for the more rare items.

Makes me wonder what the prices will be like on the limited run carts like MOTW. On a side note, doesn't NGF sac a MOTW cart for some of their MVS conversions?

I hope NO ONE sacs MOTW! That would be horrible. There are too few of them the way it is!!!!

Of course, you know NGF is the National Golf Federation!

Keith

[This message has been edited by Mouse_Master (edited August 23, 2000).]

In general, I usually buy videogames just to play. The value of the game comes secondary. But, I do own many rare systems and games like many of you guys. I think I will keep most of stuff, though, even if I was offered huge sum of money-like my Turbo Express w/ Tv tuner.

On a side note, I still can't believe that I sold a US version (playstation) of Dragon Ball GT: The Final Bout for $20 at Toy's R' Us! few years back. Admittely, back then I thought I was getting a good deal considering that it was really a horrible game. It's only worth couple hundred dollars ($150-$200), because it's rare. Only 3,000 or 5,000 copies were ever made. It was good thing that the game just sucked, because I would have never forgiven myself if I sold a very rare good game for such a cheap price.

That DBZ game was just horrible.... Someone somehow manuevered the market to create a demand for that game.....

It seems wierd thinking about collecting games....

For cartridge based systems, I collect games for the Neo Geo, the Atari Jaguar, the Sega Master System, andthe Atati Lynx (Guess the NGP should be there too)....

I have a bunch of PlayStration games, but they do not seem like anything special.... I guess my point is that CD games are easily replicated while Cartridge based games are not.... So, cartridges are more desirable....

Keith

Ditto with the marketing on Dragon Ball Gt game. I have a Nov 1997 Game Fan magazine. On the back, there is an ad from Game Cave selling an import version of Dragon Ball Gt w/ a sp music CD for $89.95. Check this out! They quote," Take legends and improve it 10-fold; TRUST US, you have no idea how good the game is!

Isn't this hilraious? HA HA HA!!! I still have NO idea how good this game is! Either they are lying or something is wrong w/ me!

Well here is my personal opinon of the whole Neo collecting thing.

I fell in the long run as with every other video game system the neo will drop in value. The majority of carts now are selling for under thier orginaly price and I doubt you will ever see a Neo home system go for $800 again. Take games like Viewpoint, Kabuki Klash and Sengoku 2 which are rare and sold for the $300-$400 dollar range but now can be had under $150. My personal limit on any one game is $300. Maybe a little more for brand new titles.

If you look historicaly at rare game systems like the vectrex. they usally top out then fall in value.

The whole idea of collecting is to have something that not many people have or can have. With Neo carts however there are many ways to play the same game. Either by owning the homecart version (if there is one) through MVS w/convertor A MVS system by itself or through Neo CD.

My personaly Desire for owning a Metal Slug Home cart is Low since I already have the Neo cd version and the mvs version which I can play with the convertor. Which is why as a buyer I do not value it as highly. When it comes to converted carts I won't even get into how worthless I fell they are.

Now with the neo pocket it is strickly a short term gain. Last minuet rush of everyone trying to buy the last remaining Neo pocket english games before they fade away. The price of Evolution and Fesalie droped quickly once a Easy source was found to purchase the games from.

I will admit their are some people out there willing to pay alot for homecarts. I think some of it is due to New Gamers not knowing about the other ways to play and of course people that have to much money to care about what something costs. Well that's my 2 Cents

It's a tough call with the Neo because of the limited runs. The Neo was NEVER $800, it was $650. And it has been getting fairly clsoe to the same prices even after 10 years.

With the internet bringing NEW Neo fans online everyday, I see the Neo market to keep rising for quite some time.


Dion
www.neogeofreak.com

I agree about the internet factor. Before I got online a couple of years ago, I couldn't find anything I was looking for.

The internet has added to a lot of collectible formats with the flux of people using ebay and the like. Neo*Geo, PC-Engine, Sega Saturn, and other older systems and games are climbing in value every year.

I agree with the internet bringing more interest to the Neo. But With it, there has also spawned a influx of sellers. It use to be hard to track games down. When I First started I would order my games from advertisers in EGM after I bought out the stock from babbages. Then the internet came and Ebay and links. Soon enough I was able to track down most any game I was looking for (With the few exception of course).

And when it comes to the MVS system they are not as updated and present as they used to be. When you Finally do find one they have older games in them. Of course this is from a US perspective, I hear they still do quite well in Asia, not sure about europe.

So what brings new user to the Neo.

I do not see to many coming from wanting to play the same games as seen in the arcades, just because of what I said above. MOTW is the best fighter currently for the Neo, But it is nothing in sales and popularity to the masses as compared to what Samurai Showdown 2 was.

The emulator At least keeps the Neo presence out there but I think as most agree it can have a postive and negative effect.

And the Neo does not get the press it used to either in the gaming mags.

so in five years from Now as some predict when the Neo MVS system is no longer having games made for it (And Homebrews do not count, although they may be a nice option for existing collectors, they are not going to draw in a fan base) where will the neo market be. Trading Metal slug carts Now for $1000+. I kinda doubt it. And as far as a younger fan base joining in, well those numbers are Dwindling. I'm not saying they are not younger fans joining the neo but no where near the early days of the neo and they SS2 days. You will have your 2d hardcores but with the next gen systems and future systems the mark of the wolves today will look like the fatal fury's of yesterday in comparsions. Plus you factor in todays cost of A Neo system with mark of the wolves And not to many younger kids even college students would have the money to spend on the system.

This is why I predict the eventual droping of prices for neo items, I why I personaly do not considered it an investment.

Now with all that said you ask me to sell off all me neo stuff and of course the answer is No But who knows when I'm 65 or so Will I still be playing? hard to say. And if not will I be able to retire off my neo collection?

The Neo is still my pride and joy but consierding it an investment. there are much better options out there for sinking money into.

[This message has been edited by Big Bruno (edited August 28, 2000).]

I do happen to own most of the systems out there, (except for the supergrafx, pc-fx, and FM towns Marty), and have an extensive collection of games for each. The Neo is my newest venture, and i have to admit, there isn't another game market out there quite like the Neo market. One thing that I happen to notice, though, is values of games rarely significantly over time from the MSRP. Sure, there are games out there (Metal Slug, Dracula X PC-Duo, Panzer Saga), but not enough to say that its by any means a safe investment over time. If you compare what games go for on ebay to what they originally sold for in the stores, I think most would be quite suprised how few games (even Neo games) have gained value, no matter how sought after they seem to be. I just thought i'd point this out, since i think of it every time I get ready to buy an old or rare game and think "its an investment".

Check this out, kinda relates to the price guide thread huh?

It's only inevitable for game prices to drop over time. Look at the NES, SNES and Genesis. Just 4 years ago, games went for double what they did now. Since then, prices have plummeted. Neo Geo will be the same over time.

People will grow old, buy houses, raise families, and have less and less time, money, and interest in games. More and more will invest in Cabinets rather than the home system. Prices will drop.

See, I want to invest in a cab, but I'm always moving around in the US. Here, San Jose, DC... I can't just own a cab. Cabs are too heavy and expensive to transport. The neogeo HC system is way easier for me to deal with. Curses!

Originally posted by TonK:
<STRONG>Check this out, kinda relates to the price guide thread huh?</STRONG>

Click to expand...

Tonk, you got me! I thought ghost-dog had returned! Although, I did find him on another MB the other day. <IMG SRC="smilies/eek2.gif" border="0">

I'd Invest in Capcom Stock'.
only the survival horror div though