Game availability

[◘Ins0mnIac◘]

So I've been wondering this for a while, and I'm hoping someone knows the answer. If you go to look for an older pokemon game on say, amazon, you'll find them at rather absurd prices. FR is going for 109 I think? A couple are at 60? It's very unusual.

So for how long does nintendo make a Pokemon game? Until the next one is released? or a certain amount of time? or do the just make less and up the price?

I've noticed this for a while but I've never thought to bring it up.

 

[Penguinist Trainer]

well unfortunately when people sell something, they can charge whatever they want to. but 109 dollars for Fire Red is a little ridiculous. the game stop down the street from my house is still selling the GBA carts for $29- $35 each, and the primary reason is due to its popularity and the fact the GBA games can still be utilized in conjunction with DPPt due to the Pal Park and the cartridge specific pokemon when in the GBA slot.

I'm sure though that once HG/SS is released, FR/LG would probably drop in price due to many people not wanting to buy a Kanto game twice.

But as I said, when someone is selling something, it all comes down to supply and demand. if i had to come up with a theory on how nintendo releases pokemon games, then it would be as follows.

1st we get the new generation games. While we are all playing, they begin the speculation and design process of the next generation lineup. After they have a good grasp on what they want for the next generation, they release a remade version of a prior generation. this will give the fans a bit of updated nostalgia, while giving the developers more time to work on the next generation.

Personally i think all pokemon games are released at set intervals to give them time to perfect their product.

but since i don't work for game freak or nintendo, all of this is pure speculation.

 

[Aquadon]

So I've been wondering this for a while, and I'm hoping someone knows the answer. If you go to look for an older pokemon game on say, amazon, you'll find them at rather absurd prices. FR is going for 109 I think? A couple are at 60? It's very unusual.

Amazon's been nutty about their videogames recently. I went to look at Prince of Persia: Sands of Time and it ends up being over $100 as well! Someone needs to seriously look into that.

Otherwise, you can get it for about $20 at any GameStop/Best Buy.

 

[BCVM22]

Amazon's been nutty about their videogames recently.

With Sands of Time being a 6-year-old title, I have to imagine Amazon proper isn't being nutty at all. Don't neglect to make the distinction between items that Amazon themselves sells and those sold by their extensive network of third-party merchants, whose prices they have no ability to desire to control.

 

[Rhyperior vs. Sharpedo]

Guys, If we're gonna discuss amazon prices, could we at least do it in Misc. Discussion? and I got Sapphire for fifteen dollars on eBay.

 

[randomspot555]

$25-35 is normal for a used Pokemon GBA game of the main series. Mainly because Pokemon is the second most popular video game franchise, used video games can get a huge profit margin, and they know they can sell a used game for pretty much the same price as if it was new.

Now, if you were paying $60+, then either there is some outrageous shipping, it's an import, it's one of those hack services where they pre-hack the game (yes, they hack the game for you, some people will buy anything), or it's still in the shring-wrap meaning it has the manual, an stuff like that.

But even assuming those, I wouldn't pay any more than $60 or so for a shring wrapped GBA game.

Also, it's always best to buy Pokemon games at a real store, or at least an online store with real locations. There are lots of fake carts out there and with a brick and mortar store, at least you'll have the ability of returning it.

 

[~Spacial_Rendation~]

As once as the Console/Cart/Disc is over 2 console gens or 6 Years old, They usually bump up the price. Bonus dollers put on if said game is Mint and pratically untouched or Rare, especially if it's both.

I'm trying to find a Copy of Poketto Monsutā Midori (Pokemon Green version) unused for under 70 bucks. Not going very well as USED copies of the game are hard to find itself.

 

[Stardustz6]

i'm looking for pokemon battle revolution on the Wii, on amazonn it was something like
£40-£50, and a platinum edition was something like £70, weird, i can't remember when battle revolution was released but i think it was something like 3 years ago... anybody got anyideas where to get it for uder £30???

 

[randomspot555]

i'm looking for pokemon battle revolution on the Wii, on amazonn it was something like
£40-£50, and a platinum edition was something like £70, weird, i can't remember when battle revolution was released but i think it was something like 3 years ago... anybody got anyideas where to get it for uder £30???

Pokemon Games do not lower their prices, ever.

 

[WynautQueen]

Online marketplaces like Amazon are rather infamous for this. Users can charge whatever they want, so the responsibility falls on your shoulders to know if you're getting a good deal. Pokemon GBA carts shouldn't cost more than $35, and even that is overcharging a bit.

They're not hard to find at your average video game shop that sells used games. The original GB games are a bit rarer, but I still see them quite often when browsing the shops. However, they're always the cartridge only-- no box or book.

 

[Zazie]

Pokemon Games do not lower their prices, ever.

Firered and Leafgreen did when they became greatest hits titles.

The reason that it's 109 is because it's actually a 3rd party seller. Amazon always picks the 3rd party seller willing to sell at the highest price to be featured as the official price listed on their site. Why? I don't know (possibly Amazon is getting a cut of the profits) it seems suspicious, I am wary of Amazon 3rd party sellers in general as I have purchased bootleg CD's and books with pages missing in the past. If you want the games just get them from Gamestop or another trustworthy used video game store.

 

[WynautQueen]

E-Starland is a good site for used games. It's a legitimate game buy-and-trade site, and their prices are comparable to those you'd find anywhere else.

 

[randomspot555]

Firered and Leafgreen did when they became greatest hits titles.

A couple people have told me they say the Greatest Hits editions of FR/LG sold at the regular GBA price at the time of it's release. Take it with a grain of salt since I wasn't buying Pokemon games at the time.

 

[chosen_one386]

I can imagine as time goes on and major retailers (Wal-mart, Target, Best Buy, major game stores) stop selling a Pokemon game, it's price could go up in smaller stores or online. I've actually seen copies of Pokemon Yellow being sold, though, in game stores at my local mall for the same price I bought it at nearly 11 years ago. It just depends on where you're looking for it. I agree that you are best off looking in concrete stores and not on-line stores with no live locations. Who knows what you're getting when you buy it online?

 

[Mr.Nightmare]

"FR is going for 109 I think? A couple are at 60? It's very unusual." "I went to look at Prince of Persia: Sands of Time and it ends up being over $100 as well! Someone needs to seriously look into that". The reason why these prices are extremely high is because the games are BRAND NEW(Sealed) and OUT OF PRINT. Look at Amzon's prices and then look at the market place prices. Pokemon games rarely decrease in value, if anything they go up in value. Look at Emerald version at game stop, it costs more than Platinum...tragic tragic. The series is extraordinarily popular and are best sellers, and merchants know that they will sell no matter what. That's why the prices are so high for Pokemon games. It's like Mario games, they are over priced no matter what. Because it's highly popular and super in demand.

 

[mrfatcat]

It's how popular the series is, and the pokemon. Some pokemon cannot be found period without some games, so emerald still goes 40$ USED at gamestop, even with the likely-hood of being hacked so much it's broken.

 

[randomspot555]

It's how popular the series is, and the pokemon. Some pokemon cannot be found period without some games, so emerald still goes 40$ USED at gamestop, even with the likely-hood of being hacked so much it's broken.

You can always re-set the game. And if it's broken for any reason, return it.

 

[WynautQueen]

Well, given dying memory batteries, there's a good reason for the older games to be expensive. It goes without saying that as time goes by it'll be progressively more difficult to find a game whose battery still works-- since you CAN replace a Pokemon game's battery, but it's not an easy process.

 

[Jb]

With Sands of Time being a 6-year-old title, I have to imagine Amazon proper isn't being nutty at all. Don't neglect to make the distinction between items that Amazon themselves sells and those sold by their extensive network of third-party merchants, whose prices they have no ability to desire to control.

Seems like you always post just to correct someone....


Anyways since the games are still compatible with D/P/PT the price will stay high because there still in demaned and they know (pogeyman fans) will pay the same price for the same game as seen when the third version of the paired games come out.

 

[Grass Guardian]

Also, it's always best to buy Pokemon games at a real store, or at least an online store with real locations. There are lots of fake carts out there and with a brick and mortar store, at least you'll have the ability of returning it.

I just wanted to quote this because I've experienced accidentally buying one of those fake carts on Ebay. I bought pokemon emerald for about $40 and when I got it delivered to me, I found it was a very crappy bootleg. It deletes itself right after I defeat the pokemon league every time, except for one time it stayed active long enough for me to breed and level to 100, a 31/28 S.atk and speed Kingdra, a 31 IV attack Marowak, and 31 attack Dodrio that got me two gold medals and two silvers in the BF before it crapped out on me. Oh yeah, and after I captured a shiny Aipom in the Safari Zone. Needless to say, I was pretty bummed. Now I'm really hesitant about buying unsealed games. That's just me though.