Virtual Console Round Table - Do you think it will hurt used game sales?

With the release of the Virtual Console games... and the chance for more to be added... (and yes, I know we've talked about this before)... do you think that there is a chance for used game sales to be hurt?

As more and more games are added to the virtual consoles (via the Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3)... what would be the purpose for people to get a different copy on another system? I mean... everything on 1 system is a good idea... so-to-speak... but it may not be good for those (and the shops) that have businesses around used games (such as Game Addiction).

I am curious to see what you all think... post it & poll it up.


†B†V† :hat

Honestly, yeah. I mean, I consider myself a collector. I like having the complete copies of games, especially rpgs. You know, box, instructions, unscratched discs, the whole deal.

But even that being the case, I love the convenience of having those games on one console. That way I don't have to say, bring my Genesis out of the garage and hook it up just to play Golden Axe. Or my NES out of the garage to play Zelda.

I'm also looking forward to playing games such as Earthbound on a Nintendo console (at least then Nintendo is getting some royalties for it, unlike emulators, which I refuse to use). I've looked for years for that game and only saw it once. I couldn't afford it then, and I haven't seen it since then. In which case, the $8 to buy it on the VC isn't a bad price.

So yeah, I can see it hurting used sales. But then again, even if say, I had Earthbound on the VC, and I actually saw it again for the SNES, I would probably buy it again. So maybe it won't be that bad.

Definately, but I'm not sure how much. Like Mai, I love to collect video games. But usually I don't have money for some rarer games or can even find games all that often. It's fun once in a while to dig out an old system and play the old cartridge every now and then (dug out the SNES for the past couple weeks just now), but it is so much easier to have them not only for one console, but not dealing with cartridges and stuff.

Now, it might hurt sales because of this. But since the creation of the internet, haven't these shops been losing money to emulators? I have to admit I have used them before, but would rather have a controller and the big screen to play on. Anyway, I think sales wil only go down because the honest people will now buy for the virtual console versus from the shop.

And even worse than that, I expect there to be some people out there who crack the virtual console and rip games from it and circulate them around.

It's sort of a harsh reality, but what do you do? Dedicate a server for Nintendo to use?

No, speaking from a Used game store employee that still sells everything. I still get the demand for the original games, because customers think it's a cheaper means of having the original. However, what they don't realize is they are spending more than usual on common stuff we'd find.

For example, Super Mario 1, 2 and 3 on NES. Easy stuff right? Well people will pay you $40 for all three now, on Ebay and even in stores/flea markets/yard sales.

Zelda 1 and 2 NES? We sell for $12.95 a pop and people still dive right for it.

Contra NES. $24.99. People still agree to this price.

I must confess, I sold a Super NES system on Ebay for $60 straight up (before shipping cost). Normal price is estimated between $40-50. I thought it was pretty funny that it was a slight boost in profit.

Plus, don't forget not every game will make it to Virtual Console, due to liscensing issues. (Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Willow NES, Crystalis NES, Any Spider-Man game from previous consoles, etc.) So many customers will turn to the original in a heart beat.

Yet, the only problem I see, is major retailers (GameStop and GameCrazy) trying to trash the classics by transferring them out to other stores or throwing them back to their warehouses to rott.

Now small businesses like mine, snatch up these lost games, and gain the upper advantage. My only question now, is how long will it last? Will there be an uprise to support the classics or a dwindling of the demand?

Keep in mind that only certain games are offered on the VC. People who want any game for the classic system will still have to get it through ebay or a used games store. Also, emulation is good, but never perfect. There will always be collectors.

Looking back on my previous post, it kinda paints a picture of dooms day for used game shops. I still think sales will go down, but not so drastically. Those who will cheat the system any way they can will probably have already done so, thus avoiding used game shops and probably avoiding paying on the virtual console. Its tough to say if there will be a micro percentage or something more considerable of people who will only go for the VC games.

Keep in mind that only certain games are offered on the VC.

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That is a good point. We also have to remember that Nintendo is the only one doing this (or did BV say the PS3 will have something similar?)

Anyway, used game shops will need to keep supplies of used games that are current. Otherwise, they will become nothing more than antique shops for serious collectors. Granted, with the VC, I would think there is a slight possibility in people thinking the real games are more valuable or something. Or, depending on pricing for VC games, it might be cheaper for some originals to be bought.

X360 has arcade games such as Street Fighter, Smash TV, Mortal kombat 3, Joust, Dig Dug, etc. No console games though.

rossdh said:

Keep in mind that only certain games are offered on the VC. People who want any game for the classic system will still have to get it through ebay or a used games store. Also, emulation is good, but never perfect. There will always be collectors.

Click to expand...

well... as time goes along... tons more would be added.

Just think.. they could even offer Neo Geo games on it...

I am still divided on this issue.... I am not sure... but I see it having the potential to hurt used game stores that are not able to keep up with current gen games / systems / accessories..etc. Keep up... meaning carry ALL the newest releases all the time.

Bv :hat