How do you justify spending $150+ on a single game?

I just recently got into Neo scene, buying an AES and 4 games over the last 3 weeks, totaling up to about $550. My bro looks at me in shock and says I could have 2 PS2s and money for games. Whatever, I got a Neo Geo because I like and want it, not PS2.

Anyways I knew going into to this it is a costly hobby (AES anyways), but how do you justify spending $150+ on a single game. I mean I love KOF02, but $250+? ROTD and Matrimelee 350+? Even some are willing to spend $500+ on Neo Turfmasters or MOTW. That has to be a tough pill to sollow. I understand some of you are hardcore collectors and you truly value the gaming goodness of neo geo, but still that is not chump change. I think my friends and family would flip if I dropped that kind of money on game. I'll probably get a Phantom-1 (or a cab once I get settled) for the MVS games and save some cash. I'm more gamer than collector. %70 gamer and %30 collector I would say. Maybe once I get that degree and the job that pulls down 6 figures, then I can go hog wild on Neo I should also consider just going into sports

So how do you justify it?

i'm a big tymer

Big Shady:
I just recently got into Neo scene, buying an AES and 4 games over the last 3 weeks, totaling up to about $550. My bro looks at me in shock and says I could have 2 PS2s and money for games. Whatever, I got a Neo Geo because I like and want it, not PS2.

Anyways I knew going into to this it is a costly hobby (AES anyways), but how do you justify spending $150+ on a single game. I mean I love KOF02, but $250+? ROTD and Matrimelee 350+? Even some are willing to spend $500+ on Neo Turfmasters or MOTW. That has to be a tough pill to sollow. I understand some of you are hardcore collectors and you truly value the gaming goodness of neo geo, but still that is not chump change. I think my friends and family would flip if I dropped that kind of money on game. I'll probably get a Phantom-1 (or a cab once I get settled) for the MVS games and save some cash. I'm more gamer than collector. %70 gamer and %30 collector I would say. Maybe once I get that degree and the job that pulls down 6 figures, then I can go hog wild on Neo I should also consider just going into sports

So how do you justify it?

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Tell him this.. (A VERY good justification piece here)...
Your 2 Ps2's will devalue till they are worthless.... this keeps its value... depreciates very little. (depending on how much you spent for it).

and when you cannot get $80 for your stuff.. I'll at least get $450 for mine.

Plus ps2 games suck... these games are the best! (roxors... or whatever works)

†B†V†

There's a variety of different reasons for it, actually. It really depends on different factors. Some for the true arcade-perfect method of actually having the game running on the original machine hardware. But as for justification, in some cases it is justified by how much they really get into the game. In some cases it is like a once in a lifetime chance (or something that never happens at home, and is and probably will be a rare occurrence for some time to come.) One case is A GOOD arcade rendition of Samurai Shodown 1. Another, for consoles maybe, would be the investment people originally made in Dance Dance Revolution games. Virtual On/VOOT. Steel Battalion. Samba de Amigo, Guitar Freaks, etc. All of them in just one purchase requires a good $150 or more to pay for 1 game. And in a lot of cases, still the same deal. (Even good (non-cheap)DDR pads still go for quite a buck)

How is it justified? Just one example are people who buy it knowing that those games will definitely get their money's worth in play. If I spent $200 on KOF 95, I'm still happy with the knowledge that if I played the game at the arcade as many times as my own copy, I'd spent nearly 5 times that amount. A few thousand times through a KOF game wasn't exactly what I call something unusual for me, for quite some time. Though I can say I haven't played my most recent ones that many times yet (but only because I haven't had them long enough, give it time). So, for some people, they get a neo geo game and put more time into than people put into several RPGs put together(which would total around the same amount of dollars). Not to mention, nothing draws a party quite like a good Neo geo get together with arcade sticks in check.

It all depends on how you put your priorities and balance your gaming. Many people spent a lot of money on games and generally people buy in excess. So some will lay off buying games (because they really do have enough) to get that new Neo geo game. It can be somewhat beneficial because it not only gives you time to play through your games, but it also guarrantees you get your money's worth.

Of course, this doesn't talk about the collection aspect. Some Neo Geo games have great collection value, something that could be cherished for years. But I wont get into that.

Another person made a good point. Certain Neo Geo carts actually increase in value over time. And often it happens when something about it (gameplay, quirkiness, something unusual) catches on, and the demand rises after the stuff starts disappearing. Kind of a reason why, when you see a Neo cart for cheap, it's almost a super wise decision to buy it.

<small>[ May 13, 2003, 03:18 PM: Message edited by: Kirk Foiden ]</small>

here's how I justify it (actually, I never justify it, but I will here for argument's sake)

you can buy 6 new PS2 releases that no one will care about in 6 months

Or put that money toward a $300 Neo Geo game that you'll play for a lot longer over time.

I can't justify the price for every game available. But there are a few that definitely make up for the price in terms of quality.

<small>[ May 13, 2003, 03:33 PM: Message edited by: EvilWasabi ]</small>

Fun, and good people who share the same idea of fun.

because if you owned mvs new games would cost 500-700. sure they come down eventually but right away it's a better bargain. besides would you rather play on a mod-friendly system, or an overly techincal system prone to mechanical failure. In about 5 years no working ps2 systems will exist.

if you are married, forget about trying to justify it, it will loose. neo geo compared to another priority like "the american dream", owning a home, very hard to compete with to justify a neo geo purchase of $150.00. hell, $50.00 a pop is hard enough...


me? i end up "camouflaging" the purchase of neo geo $150.00 or over... oh_no

So I guess Neo is like cars. The classics are cherished for years (I love driving my uncle's vintage '64 Corvette and I never tire of any of the SamSho's) and the rare ones really jump in value (like a Shebly GTS is comparable to MOTW). It makes much more sense now. Now I just have to enjoy my Neo games for now and look forward to making that next big purchase. Maybe little SvC?

i justify it but not telling the wife what i buy

EvilWasabi:
here's how I justify it (actually, I never justify it, but I will here for argument's sake)

you can buy 6 new PS2 releases that no one will care about in 6 months

Or put that money toward a $300 Neo Geo game that you'll play for a lot longer over time.

I can't justify the price for every game available. But there are a few that definitely make up for the price in terms of quality.

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I say the exact same thing. I've bought, sold off tons XBOX, PS2 games etc... Net loss, I have no idea. But I keep my Neo games around, probably until they die.

Depends

PS2 still has a lot of good titles like Shin Contra, Rygar, R-type final, underwater units, etc..

If you wait a bit longer then price will drop from $49 to $29 or lower.

Neo game is good for "collecting purpose".
Personally I stop buying Neo AES game because my monthly budget is really tight....too many bills to pay frown

Bluevoodu:

and when you cannot get $80 for your stuff.. I'll at least get $450 for mine.

Plus ps2 games suck... these games are the best! (roxors... or whatever works)

†B†V†

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i felt the same way when looking over my ps game collection of imports.
i got some good ones, but mostly ones that i like
and if i ever tried to resell most of them i wouldnt
get 1/3 my investment back.
or even a quarter.
but how i justify things is that it is games that i like
i dont buy games just because theyre cheap or anything
every game in my collection except for a scant few
are games i got because i value them highly.

I don't justify anything, I love the Neo as a whole and all of the games are awesome and worth their price tags in my eyes.

My wife doesn't really care as long as she gets what she wants wink

Thank You,

Jorge

I have the money, I spend as I see fit.

Here's another way to justify those expensive purchases. How many new Neo titles come out a year? 3-4? I usually buy at least 2 PS2 games a month. Easily a grand a year. 4 Neo carts or 24 PS2 games? It's quality over quantity.

It's also nice to be playing over 10 year's worth of games on the same hardware. When I think of how much money I have spent on various consoles and their successors over the last decade, thousands of dollars come to mind.

Quite a few members here buy and play Neo only. It's really not that expensive when you put it in perspective with other game purchases.

If I think it's worth it, that is all that matters to me! I don't have to justify anything either....

although my girl thinks I am NUTS!

I'm an MVS/Super Gun bitch, but I still spent $320 on KOF '01, $300 on '02 and $200 on ROTD. How can I justify spending that much money on a game? 'Cause they're GOOD, not something I can say about most games today.

It's a hobbie and if I had to spend $300 on the GREAT ps2 and Gamecube games I would. Something like Dynasty Warriors 4 or GGXX.

Also I feel that if I spend more time playing a game than I spent making the money it cost to buy it then it was worth the purchase. I average over $15 an hour after taxes I say average cause I wait tables. I spent ~240 on my SSIV homecart and I've sure as hell put more than 14 hours into SSIV.

then there's those freaks that buy PCB kits as they come out for around $1,000 - $2,000/each.

what in the hell is wrong with those people!?

::goes back to playing his Soul Calibur 2 PCB kit::

^__^

You're an adult. You shouldn't have to "justify" anything to anyone.

If someone gives you the third degree about Neo Geo games, just look them in the eye and say:

"At least I'm not gay"

Then play Top Hunter some more.

That's like asking why would you spend money on a hot chick, you do it cause you want something good in return correct

But unlike the hot chick the Neo is more willing to put out

<small>[ May 13, 2003, 09:00 PM: Message edited by: Yung Burnout ]</small>

Daisuke Jigen:
You're an adult. You shouldn't have to "justify" anything to anyone.

If someone gives you the third degree about Neo Geo games, just look them in the eye and say:

"At least I'm not gay"

Then play Top Hunter some more.

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lol lol
Well I'm not a total adult yet, only 20. My parents do pay the tution, which I am very thankful for. Now only if I had Top Hunter.

Yung Burnout
That's like asking why would you spend money on a hot chick, you do it cause you want something good in return correct

But unlike the hot chick the Neo is more willing to put out

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lol lol lol
Another hilarious analogy. I also could use a hot chick.

<small>[ May 13, 2003, 09:59 PM: Message edited by: Big Shady ]</small>

Big Shady:
lol lol lol
Another hilarious analogy. I also could use a hot chick.

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I'm going to let you in on a little Neo-Geo secret... The larger your Neo collection, the more chicks like you. When they see that wall covered in big homecarts and cool KOF posters, you're as good as laid.

I couldn't justify it! I bought a home cart system last year having wanted one since I was a kid. I had to sell it because I just couldn't afford the habit. However, I missed my Neo so I got into MVS. I now have a MV-1FZ with a Supergun and a nice collection of Carts:

Waku Waku 7
Mark of the Wolves
Samurai Showdown 2
Rage of the Dragons
Street Hoops
Wind Jammers
Metal Slug 4
Soccer Brawl
Burning Fight
Last Blade 2

Regards,