Stories from the Book of Genesis Vol. 9

[Melf]

It's not easy completing retro gaming collections. Pickings in some areas can be quite slim, and often the internet is the only option to finding what you need. In volume nine (http://www.sega-16.com/forum/../Stories%209.htm) of Stories from the Book of Genesis, contributor Damien Jennison discovers just how to handle eBay and its sometimes cutthroat sellers.

[David J.]

Genesis/Mega Drive game prices aren't that expensive, but some games command daff prices, such as the PAL version of Streets of Rage 3, the game itself isn't rare, but people are willing to pay out the hose for it. If you look around and take some time, you can find what you want at a decent price. I have almost all of the expensive games I want, just missing a few, but I'm sure I'll find them cheap, everything else I want is common and easy to find, just gotta buy it. LOL.

Now not get me started on US Saturn game prices, oh boy.

[j_factor]

Now not get me started on US Saturn game prices, oh boy.

That is always exaggerated. The only expensive games are Guardian Heroes, Dragon Force, Lunacy, Street Fighter Collection, Burning Rangers, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Shining Force 3, Daytona USA C.C.E. Netlink Edition, and Magic Knight Rayearth -- the other 240 games can be found for $20 at most, with the majority being under $10.

Now, you want to talk about expensive to collect for, try Neo Geo. Lately, Turbografx as well -- as I've found out the hard way.

[Obviously]

I agree with the article. The thrill of the hunt is almost as fun as playing the game itself. I always treat eBay as a last resort, there's a few flea markets I frequently stalk where I can find rare or in demand games for a pittance since the people selling them know nothing about them. There's an independent music, videogame, and movie store in my college town that stocks over a hundred Genesis games for a few dollars a piece, both loose and complete games.

I always get more of a rush finding a certain game I'm looking for out in the wild than I do bidding for it online, though I know that's not an option for everyone.

Anyway, my tip for buying on eBay is to buy in lots. Sometimes people won't even label what the games are in lots and people generally don't check to see what's there and very few or no people bid. Sometimes you can get one or more rare games out of it for only a fraction of what you'd pay for the game alone and then you can resell any doubles or games you don't want and remake some of your losses. That strategy works good for me.

[Rayek]

I'm writing a retro console and game buying guide for ebay... There are many things to consider. I feel like I've written a 5 page essay, and I haven't even dipped into how to buy/care for retro consoles yet....

eBay is good for select things... But when someone either doesn't know/care about what they have, or doesn't treat the auction seriously, it's easy to get burned.

This was an excellent topic, I love it, and it has so much to do with how we, as collectors, or just plain gamers, must go through to get peices of history.

I'm now looking for Knuckles' Chaotix... Damn! The prices on that are friggin crazy.

[David J.]

Kunckles Chaotix isn't too hard to find, a fair price for it is kind of rough. I eventually paid $10 for a loose cart.

[Melf]

Yeah, what the hell happened to the price of KC? It shot through the roof like, overnight.

[Obviously]

Knuckles Chaotix seemed to become more popular and more expensive since Sega released the Mega Collection and Gems Collection and still hasn't included it (most likely because they didn't feel like writing a 32X emulator) which I guess gives it a percieved rarity and obscurity.

I was going to buy it but after I tried the ROM I decided against it. I pick up 32X games if I find them in the wild but I usually don't go out of my way to buy them since there's not a one that I really like.

[Rayek]

My guide is done... I exceeded the 20,000 character limit, so I had to cut a lot out. It's too sad, but here it is:

Buying Retro Games and Consoles on eBay (http://reviews.ebay.com/Buying-Retro-Games-and-Consoles-on-eBay_W0QQugidZ10000000000897062)

Well, whaddaya think?

[Drixxel]

It's a very solid guide, Rayek. Were I an eBay newcomer, it would be extremely helpful.

[Melf]

Very helpful! Got my vote!

[Genesis Knight]

"That is always exaggerated. The only expensive games are Guardian Heroes, Dragon Force, Lunacy, Street Fighter Collection, Burning Rangers, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Shining Force 3, Daytona USA C.C.E. Netlink Edition, and Magic Knight Rayearth -- the other 240 games can be found for $20 at most, with the majority being under $10."

Come on...is that really true? I always wanted to get into Saturn, but prices always scared me away.

[ary incorparated]

Got to ctach em all for bargin price,like i do.Magic knight rayheart 20 eruos shining force 3 i dont have it(btw there where 3 scenarios werent there)Dragon force 20 euro,albert odeysy 20 euro.

[j_factor]

"That is always exaggerated. The only expensive games are Guardian Heroes, Dragon Force, Lunacy, Street Fighter Collection, Burning Rangers, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Shining Force 3, Daytona USA C.C.E. Netlink Edition, and Magic Knight Rayearth -- the other 240 games can be found for $20 at most, with the majority being under $10."

Come on...is that really true? I always wanted to get into Saturn, but prices always scared me away.

I might have forgotten one or two... but yes, that's true, as far as US games go. The rest of the expensive Saturn games are mostly Japanese (a few PAL ones though), and mostly shooters and fighters (with a handful of others). For most uninitiated it probably seems like these expensive games are the bulk of what the Saturn library has to offer. But I assure you, there is far more to the system than Radiant Silvergun. I own 80 Saturn games (well, 75 good ones), and like half a dozen were $20 or more.

[ary incorparated]

zweet also radiant silvergun i surpose,im not into saturn either but want to learn about it i love the consoel but its so unfamilair,i want to hear bout shining force 3.its almighty isnt it.Pd saga i know just beatifull.Guardian heroes to badd as good.name a good fighting game for saturn and not in the virtua figher style,harch to say but after playing those to much it bores me having barely specials form 10 or 50 hit,more those fighting games i search and not the capcom ones their al one big pot of the sam but still fun.more like rival school and street fighter ex2,good graphics etc.or a street brawler except for Dynamite deka(already own it)

[ThunderForce]

Radiant Silvergun is the most overrated shooter on the Saturn!

[j_factor]

Radiant Silvergun is just about the only shooter on Saturn that I would call overrated... the rest deserve at least as much accolades as they get. Well, maybe Souky is a little overrated.

[ThunderForce]

Radiant Silvergun is just about the only shooter on Saturn that I would call overrated... the rest deserve at least as much accolades as they get. Well, maybe Souky is a little overrated.

Souky is so not overrated man, it's good.

[j_factor]

Oh yeah, it's definitely good, but not the end-all be-all that it's sometimes made out to be.

[ary incorparated]

radiant silvergun isnt overated man did you see its graphics and unik kind of style.if radiant is overated so is gunstar for probably that reason,same for souky cause the end sucks teh game sucks?gunstar the suck kind of but the game is uber class,radiant silvergun almost never seen a game on saturn that even blows ikaruga away.