Dumb Buyers

[TheAlphaOmegaX3]

I'm all for new guys getting involved and excited about Turbobs.  It's the f*cktards that just want to buy shit so they can make unboxing videos that suck; anyone that doesn't want to actually play the games (and I mean play 'em, not just boot the game and watch the title sequence to make sure it's functional) can get f*cked.

lol I hear ya. Also wanted to mention: When a game gets to a price thats well out of range, I myself have no problem paying for a high quality reproduction hu-card that plays perfect on real hardware and comes in a case that looks and protects just as good as the original for a fraction of the cost. Of course the everdrive was already mentioned which is great for test driving a game before you buy or playing them insane price games exclusively.

[StarDust4Ever]

lol I hear ya. Also wanted to mention: When a game gets to a price thats well out of range, I myself have no problem paying for a high quality reproduction hu-card that plays perfect on real hardware and comes in a case that looks and protects just as good as the original for a fraction of the cost. Of course the everdrive was already mentioned which is great for test driving a game before you buy or playing them insane price games exclusively.

The value of Everdrive for playing Turbografx / PC Engine cannot be stated enough. It was my first purchase after getting my Turbografx. That said, there is something deeply satisfying about inserting a card, cart, disc, whatever and having the game boot immediately without navigating a menu. But definitely use a flash card or emulator to "try before you buy" so you don't get burned on expensive purchase.

[rxmage]

While the high price of software sucks, it does have a positive side.  If it wasn't for the high priced software, we wouldn't have the likes of the Turbo Everdrive or the reproduction Hu Cards.  It simply wouldn't be economical to produce those items with out the existing inflated prices.

[neopolss]

I'm all for new guys getting involved and excited about Turbobs.  It's the f*cktards that just want to buy shit so they can make unboxing videos that suck; anyone that doesn't want to actually play the games (and I mean play 'em, not just boot the game and watch the title sequence to make sure it's functional) can get f*cked.

Spoken with class.  Points to you good sir.

[Gredler]

While the high price of software sucks, it does have a positive side.  If it wasn't for the high priced software, we wouldn't have the likes of the Turbo Everdrive or the reproduction Hu Cards.  It simply wouldn't be economical to produce those items with out the existing inflated prices.

This is very arguable. Even if every pce and Turbob gMe was $0.50 USD it would be cheaper to get a Ted.

Also, the main reason I and many others purchase flash drives is for the functionality of testing and playing homebrews.

Also, it's a huge space saver, one would argue that if the games were completely devalued the physical space would not be justified.

Everdrive are the best option for someone who just wants to enjoy the software and doesn't care about any packaging or collecting.

[SignOfZeta]

Flash carts and other sorts of copying devices existed before games were collectable so I think that sorta pops that theory. It's only logical that someone really into a game system would want the ability to run unlicensed code. Most consoles are unnatural in that they don't normally allow this. Flash carts fix that problem regardless of ones motivations, cheapness, OCD, homebrew, translations, whatever.

The fact that they cost so much less than they used to is right in line with pretty much anything in popular electronics costing way less than it used to.

[rxmage]

This is very arguable. Even if every pce and Turbob gMe was $0.50 USD it would be cheaper to get a Ted.

Also, the main reason I and many others purchase flash drives is for the functionality of testing and playing homebrews.

Also, it's a huge space saver, one would argue that if the games were completely devalued the physical space would not be justified.

Everdrive are the best option for someone who just wants to enjoy the software and doesn't care about any packaging or collecting.

Sure, I will give you that on the TED.  I wouldn't say that the development and release of the TED is exclusively based on high prices of software.  However, the high prices are driven mostly by recent popularity vs rarity (sure a few titles have limited runs).  Popularity drives much of the development of multi-carts beyond the scope of homebrew devices. 

[StarDust4Ever]

While the high price of software sucks, it does have a positive side.  If it wasn't for the high priced software, we wouldn't have the likes of the Turbo Everdrive or the reproduction Hu Cards.  It simply wouldn't be economical to produce those items with out the existing inflated prices.

This is very arguable. Even if every pce and Turbob gMe was $0.50 USD it would be cheaper to get a Ted.

Also, the main reason I and many others purchase flash drives is for the functionality of testing and playing homebrews.

Also, it's a huge space saver, one would argue that if the games were completely devalued the physical space would not be justified.

Everdrive are the best option for someone who just wants to enjoy the software and doesn't care about any packaging or collecting.

I agree with this statement. Take a look at NES collecting for instance. Despite the recent inflation of NES game prices in the past five years, there are two options available (NES and PowerPak) for those people who want to play 98% of licensed and unlicensed games all on one cart. Sure you could spend $1000 buying up 200 of the crappiest games on the system as shelf filler, but why when over half of the library sucks? Popular games have gone up, as have rares, but still there's plenty of uncommons left that are quite affordable due to low desirability. Aside from the expensive "Unicorns" that most people can't afford anyway, anyone could stock their shelves with 700 boring gray carts.

I 100% agree that the value in flash carts is not in the cost of the games it replaces, but in the space it frees up. Still though, if I enjoy playing a game enough, I will seek ownership of that title because it deserves a space in my gaming library. If it's something I'll cram in the system for 5 minutes before getting bored with it, then it's just shelf fodder with no real purpose in a gamer's collection. Worse if said title cost three figures or more... 

[SignOfZeta]

Having a game that sucks and you'll never play is pointless. You make it seem like the (very modern, totally manufactured) "burden" of collecting a complete set is reduced if it's all on a flash cart. The key to reducing that burden is to get ahold of yourself. You don't need Platoon for NES. Even if it's free and consumes zero space. It's still just more dumb crap that you feel you need for but a ROM in list of shit you'll never click on has the same meaningless place in your life.

"Thank god I can not waste any more time with Master Blaster and RC Pro Am. Now I can play all the Color Dreams releases." - said someone who's severe depression is still fully in place.

When you have an infinate omnivorous thirst for more and more shit, new shit delivery systems aren't the solution.

[StarDust4Ever]

Having a game that sucks and you'll never play is pointless. You make it seem like the (very modern, totally manufactured) "burden" of collecting a complete set is reduced if it's all on a flash cart. The key to reducing that burden is to get ahold of yourself. You don't need Platoon for NES. Even if it's free and consumes zero space. It's still just more dumb crap that you feel you need for but a ROM in list of shit you'll never click on has the same meaningless place in your life.

"Thank god I can not waste any more time with Master Blaster and RC Pro Am. Now I can play all the Color Dreams releases." - said someone who's severe depression is still fully in place.

When you have an infinate omnivorous thirst for more and more shit, new shit delivery systems aren't the solution.

Quoted for truth.

Full disclosure: I have full No_Intro ROM sets on all my flash carts.

[neopolss]

Well, back when NES stuff was dirt cheap, I didnt have to worry about shelves of games.  The ones I didnt like I would trade or just plain give away.  The low value on many of the games meant that it was common to simply give away a box of games with a system.  Good fun for cheap.  Did retailers trash them?  Not that I saw.  The game stores near me constantly rotated games with frequent trades.  I would argue that collections hurt the entire system.  It makes the market a niche and shrinks the base of buyers.  N64 is a prime example.  In our store, I have LOTS of systems from trade, many of the customers citing that the reason is that it is not affordable to play many of the games on the system now.  Collectors are pricing out the casual players who make up the largest base of the consumer group.

[Black Tiger]

Lol, Nintendo 64 collecting.

It's too bad that the Everdrive requires a sacrificed chip to be installed and doesn't work straight out of the box. The hacks to turn off "anti aliasing" make most games playable, so the Everdrive 64 is a must-own for everyone interested in playing the games and make the physical copies dust collectors.

[SignOfZeta]

The reason your store has a ton of N64 systems is because its a store. I worked in game retail when N64 was still supported and it was that way then. It was also that way with GC, and with WiiU.

[neopolss]

The reason your store has a ton of N64 systems is because its a store. I worked in game retail when N64 was still supported and it was that way then. It was also that way with GC, and with WiiU.

Errr, no.  N64 was actually quite difficult to keep in stock for about two years while the retro craze really ramped up.  It is only when the prices of the games started pushing up that many of my customers began to sell.  Many specifically stated that the reason was game cost.  As for the GC, we dont normally buy very many, but the backwards wii hurt that one.  The wii u, despite being less popular than the other big two, is very difficult to keep in stock.  Even harder is getting the games sold back to us.  People really like the system once they try it, and the games seem to stay in their collections.  Ps4 and x1 stuff floods in daily, but not so much on the wii u.

[StarDust4Ever]

The reason your store has a ton of N64 systems is because its a store. I worked in game retail when N64 was still supported and it was that way then. It was also that way with GC, and with WiiU.

Errr, no.  N64 was actually quite difficult to keep in stock for about two years while the retro craze really ramped up.  It is only when the prices of the games started pushing up that many of my customers began to sell.  Many specifically stated that the reason was game cost.  As for the GC, we dont normally buy very many, but the backwards wii hurt that one.  The wii u, despite being less popular than the other big two, is very difficult to keep in stock.  Even harder is getting the games sold back to us.  People really like the system once they try it, and the games seem to stay in their collections.  Ps4 and x1 stuff floods in daily, but not so much on the wii u.

Somebody said in another forum they would wait it out and buy a Wii-U cheaply after the NX drops. As a Wii-U owner, I can say that is unlikely. It is a fantastic system, and it's status as an underdog system with fantastic library assures it will remain desirable long after discontinuation. I don't imagine it will ever be possible to pick a complete system (Wii-U plus Gamepad plus hookups and accessories) for under $100.