Old Console Collection

Yabsley · 15 Feb 2010 at 11:12

Does anyone here collect old consoles or know more about this sort of thing? I've got a load of old stuff which I used to collect and have been considering trying to sell it. I'm looking for some advice on what I should do really because I'm not sure if I should just keep it (currently all stored under my bed) or get rid of it all and make a little bit of money. There is some sentimentality attached to it but at the same time it would be kind of nice to have a clear out. I'm not sure I can be bothered to list it all on an auction site seperately and have wondered about doing it as a job-lot and making it collection only. Trouble is I'm not really sure what the value is of what I've got and the small amount of research I've done thus far hasn't really helped too much.

I need to go through it all at some stage but here is a very rough list of some of the stuff I've got.

Nintendo Game Boy - Boxed - Over a dozen loose games
Nintendo Game Boy Advance - Boxed - Couple of boxed games
Sega Game Gear - Can't remember if this is boxed or loose - Several games
Sega Megadrive - Few games boxed I think
NES system - Loose - Several loose games - duck hunt gun
SNES system - Boxed - Several games boxed
N64 system - Boxed - Several games boxed
Sony Play station - Loose but in a travel case thing
Sony PS2 - Boxed - About 10 games
Xbox - Boxed - Chipped
There is a load of loose attachments and other bits and bobs amongst all this stuff too

Timber · 15 Feb 2010 at 22:47

I'd recommend getting hold of a Retro Gamer (solid and enjoyable read btw), or heading over to their forums at http://www.retrogamer.net/. There is a search engine facility but I've not used it so can't vouch for how useful it might be.

If those are PAL UK Hardware, then each machine on it's own isn't going to be worth a lot. Varying reasons, but include; poor 50hz/bordered games, sometimes censored, often lack of RGB and naff packaging in comparison to other regions. For example a boxed PAL UK MD1 or 2 is going to be £10-25 depending on condition, boxes etc. Where a mint condition Japanese MD1 will go for up to 3 or 4 times that amount.

So it really come down to the region these machines are from and then the games you have with them. Unlike most PAL hardware there are loads of collectable or rarer titles. PAL Castlevania: SOTN or PAL N64 Banjo & Tooie. These will sell for nice amounts on Ebay. You need to check completed auctions on Ebay to really see what things are selling for. Obviously splitting these up will make more money.

And make sure you have no doubts selling anything. Only sell or give away if you're sure. Always costs more to buy back.

Finally if the Xbox 1 is 'chipped' (not soft-modded), has a larger HD in it and you've got a component cable for 720p I'd be inclined to keep it. Although fussier than a PC for emulation they can make a wonderful machine for loads of reasons.

Hope that helps.

daz · 16 Feb 2010 at 09:25

I'm keeping hold of my Nintendo Virtual Boy. Got it boxed with Mario Tennis and Wario Land... paid ~$30 in 1997 for it when Electronic Boutique in the USA were clearing them out...

shorttricky · 16 Feb 2010 at 11:16

As Timber says, Retro Gamer is well worth picking up - they have a (rough) price guide for values of older consoles, and also look at a few auctions every month. Might give you some idea of a price.

Naffa · 16 Feb 2010 at 11:24

daz said:
I'm keeping hold of my Nintendo Virtual Boy. Got it boxed with Mario Tennis and Wario Land... paid ~$30 in 1997 for it when Electronic Boutique in the USA were clearing them out...

$30?!

You got a bargain there!

Yabsley · 16 Feb 2010 at 11:43

Thanks for taking the time to reply guys. I think the first thing I have to do is go through it all, check that it all works and make an inventory of it. I can then start researching prices properly. I have been watching some auctions on ebay but I've found they tend to be quite varied.

Everytime I think about it I decide that it needs to be done, then when I open up the drawer and take a look I get nostalgic and just end up closing it again. I don't use any of it ever though so it's probably best if I get rid of it all.

@Timber the xbox is chipped, has a larger HD (80gb I think but could be 160) but just has the cables that came with it. Don't know what resolution. I don't use it and don't really want to keep hold of it. Do you think I'm likely to run into any problems if I try to sell it?

Sanchez · 16 Feb 2010 at 13:03

The thing with old consoles is that the vanilla versions aren't really worth that much. I picked up a Playstation complete with box, inserts, controllers and in near pristine condition for £7 off eBay.

I prefer to keep them for sentimental value and dig them out every now and then for a blast one something. I'd say keep them rather than selling them.

JaFFa · 16 Feb 2010 at 13:18

It's all about condition of the boxes etc. A mint nes or snes is worth a fair old whack -50-60 quid.

Best way to tell is to just look on ebay for stuff that's similar and watch the auction.

Meatball · 16 Feb 2010 at 16:21

I have a fully booked (including all the plastic wrapping) PAL N64 and 10-15 fully booked mint games. Any places other than fleabay which is good for selling them? Retro Gamer doesn't seem to have a MM equivalent.

Timber · 16 Feb 2010 at 21:19

Yabsley said:
@Timber the xbox is chipped, has a larger HD (80gb I think but could be 160) but just has the cables that came with it. Don't know what resolution. I don't use it and don't really want to keep hold of it. Do you think I'm likely to run into any problems if I try to sell it?

It'll be composite cables, that plug in via Scart or three phono plugs. Pretty much the lowest quality you can connect a console to a TV (ignoring RF/Aerial connection). Better options for a Standard Definition/CRT TV will be S-Video or RGB Scart.

For HDTVs you can buy a component cable (the best is the official Microsoft HD Pack) which tends to sell for £30+ becuase they were never officially realeased in the UK. These enable 480p, 720p or 1080i resolutions.

Tbh if selling the fact it's mod-chipped should add to it's value.

JaFFa · 17 Feb 2010 at 17:30

Meatball said:
I have a fully booked (including all the plastic wrapping) PAL N64 and 10-15 fully booked mint games. Any places other than fleabay which is good for selling them? Retro Gamer doesn't seem to have a MM equivalent.

What games? Some are worth quite a bit, paper mario, Banjo Tooie, Conkers Bad Fur Day spring to mind.

orderoftheflame · 17 Feb 2010 at 17:33

JaFFa said:
It's all about condition of the boxes etc. A mint nes or snes is worth a fair old whack -50-60 quid.

Best way to tell is to just look on ebay for stuff that's similar and watch the auction.

Gotta agree with this. You could argue that the boxes are worth more than the consoles for some of the older machines.

Meatball · 17 Feb 2010 at 17:35

JaFFa said:
What games? Some are worth quite a bit, paper mario, Banjo Tooie, Conkers Bad Fur Day spring to mind.

Conkers Bad Fur - Good
Goldeneye - Mint
Perfect Dark - Mint
Super Smash Bros - Mint
Pokemon Snap - Mint
Pokemon Stadium with transfer packs - Good
V-Rallet edition 99 - mint
Turok - Mint
Doom 64 - Mint
Blast Cops - Good
Turok 3 - Good
Snowboard Kids - Good
Quake - Good
Body Harvest - Mint
2x Blue N64 controllers in boxes with all plastic wrappings - Mint
N64 fully boxed with plastic wrappings - Mint

Parky · 18 Feb 2010 at 02:33

I know Virtual Boy's sell well, my brother sold his not too long ago with a few games, everything in good condition, he came out with a nice sum of money.

i know he also sold a copy of secret of mana on the snes, mint condition with instructions and a map, went on ebay for about £150. The only good deal i've gotten was when i found a sealed copy of shenmue 2 for the dreamcast going for a tenner on the market! sold it for a good £60, i always keep my eyes open for old games in good condition.