Retro gaming is surely getting hype again, maybe because of the nostalgic factor or people getting bored in their houses due to lockdown. Whatever the reason is, we are observing a sudden surge in the demand for retro games in these recent months.
Looking at these circ*mstances, everyone has this one question in mind that are retro games a good investment. In today’s blog we are going to cover why retro games are a viable investment, what are the factors that affect their value, and some other key points. So, stick with us, and we will go through it all.
Investors are Buying Share of Retro Games
For the people who are thinking of investing in retro gaming, here is some surprising news for you. There are some companies that are allowing investors to buy shares of old classic games. The real question is will they increase in value?
The factor of rarity is driving the prices of retro games higher, and getting the attention of the investors. Looking at the speed people are investing in retro games, after some time you won’t be able to find the retro games and gaming consoles on the market. It’s about time you start thinking about investing in them and get in on the hot market.
3 Reasons Why Retro Games Are A Good Investment
Here are three main reasons that will help you decide why are retro games a good investment.
They are Our Cultural Artifacts
Retro games are this unique combination of nostalgia, pop culture, and technological history. They really depict how our taste in gaming has influenced the evolution of gaming technology. That’s the reason they are an important part of our history.
Obviously, investing in these valuable games is not the same as investing in stocks, bonds, or commodities. But the people who have an interest in human history, look at these games as our cultural artifacts.
Must read: 5 best N64 Retro Games to get addicted to.
Collection for the Future
As we can see, how fast our gaming industry is becoming digital. The examples of PlayStation Network and Nintendo Direct are in front of us. Gone were the days when owning a physical game was something to brag about.
So, while many of them still love to play these games, people are looking at these beautiful creations of the past as a collection for the future. From 5 to 10 years from now, the young generation will look at them, and think how far we have come.
Retro Games are Here to Stay
For anyone who is thinking that this rise in demand and prices of retro games is temporary, really needs to think about it again. Even though we have seen a major surge in the sales of retro games in the past 1.5 years, they were in demand before that too.
Investing in video games isn’t like investing in any other product which will have high risks. Retro games will surely hold their value for a long period.
What Defines the Price and Value of Retro Games?
From the number of units produced to the region in which it was most successful to the condition it is available, there are many factors that dictate the value of retro games. But the following are some general factors that are more influential.
The Story and Gameplay
One of the most important factors that determine the success of any retro game is its story and gameplay. This is what attracts the games the most. Games that tell an in-depth story will create a unique bond with its player.
The same goes for the gameplay, games that give their players a novel experience in terms of gameplay, are likely to have a unique emotional attachment with them. So, the value these retro games are going to have in the future highly depends on these two things.
Title and Franchise
It’s been observed that instead of the games with limited production runs, the games with classic titles and from well-known franchises attract the collectors more. This may be because people are more willing to invest in well-known games to appeal to their sense of nostalgia. That’s why you will often hear the names like Pokémon, Super Mario, and The Legend of Zelda from them.
These popular games, from well-established franchises, are also selling at higher prices than any of their counterparts.
Availability
Well, here a simple supply and demand rule can be applied. The lower the availability of the product is in the market, the higher will be its price, and vice versa. As retro games have very limited copies in the market, they tend to fetch high prices. For the people with the question, are vintage games a good investment, it’s time to invest in them immediately before it’s too late.
When you look at the different platforms for gamers, you will see them recommending what games are classics and must-plays. When a whole bunch of gamers considers an old game a must-play, people following them will definitely go for this game. This in return skyrockets the price and value of that game.
How to Buy the Right Retro Games?
Retro game prices are rising already. It is important that you invest in the right type of games. It is not a complicated task, you just have to keep following things in mind.
You should go for the games which you think will have demand in the future.
Game should have a popular title and should be from a well-known franchise.
It should be technically or functionally unique, which will make it the first priority for the collectors.
If the game has a limited supply of hard copies, it can be a big plus for you.
Just keep in mind to buy the original vintage games. We recommend you to buy them from Retro vGames at very reasonable prices.
FAQs— Are Retro Games a Good Investment?
Here are some frequently asked questions about our retro games as a good investment.
Do video games hold their value?
Anyone who is investing in retro games has this question: will retro games increase in value & will they hold their value. Let us tell you something: video games do not decrease their value overnight. You can see its prices skyrocketing in a few days, but you will never see them coming down that quickly. So, yes they hold their value and their value will increase in the future.
Do game collectors play their games?
It’s mostly a matter of preference and varies from collector to collector. Some people consider these retro games untouchable and never let anyone play them. While some collectors enjoy these games and make memories for themselves.
Why are old video games so hard?
People who have played retro games will tell you how hard they were. The simple reason for this was the type of gameplay those games had. The features like single hit death, no progress save, the evil architecture of the game were there to make our life difficult. Not just this, the clunky controls at that time were also playing their part in making the game hard for anyone.
What is the most expensive video game ever sold?
One can not imagine how much a copy of a rare retro game is worth. Not so long ago, we saw record-breaking auctions of these vintage games. In July 2020, an old copy of Super Mario Bros was sold for a whopping $114,000. Another copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 went even further and was sold for $156,000. And they are not stopping here, retro game prices are getting higher day by day.
Conclusion
Many people are wondering: are retro games a good investment, the simple answer is yes. If you have come this far, you will have a good idea of how retro games increase in value.
Even though retro game prices are rising at great speed, you still have time to invest in this hot market. The only thing you need to take care of is to select the right games, which will promise you high benefits in the future.
Must read: 5 retro games like dark souls you will love.
I have never received my refund back from the company. I have sent several emails and they refuse to even answer or acknowledge me any more. This company has the broken console and game that they sold me, and they also have my money. This place is a scam and everyone should beware of this "company".
Nowadays more so than ever, old video games are worth money, with some dedicated fans paying unbelievable sums of money for sealed copies of retro titles. In 2021, it's entirely possible to find video games worth more money than a Rolex watch, a new car, or even a house.
Retro video games are some of the most investible collectibles, with NES cartridges and Super Mario Bros. being particularly valuable. Pinball machines can be a great investment, with the three biggest factors being popularity, condition, and manufacturer.
COVID lockdowns began in the United States in March 2020, and as PriceCharting.com reported in April 2021, the value of retro video games increased 33% on average during that time.
The company values games exceedingly high, and people who want to make a ton of money buy up as many copies as they can and then sell them at prices reflective of WATA's claims. Eventually, that practice drives up the prices for other retro games.
Retro video games are so “expensive” because many people want to experience those games in original condition. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication , and not to forget constant cleaning in order to keep those games mint condition. If it is a popular game such as EarthBound, it will sell for 200 dollars or more.
The only non-Mario game on this list, and for a brief moment in 2021, the most valuable game in existence, comes in the form of a copy of the original The Legend of Zelda game, which kicked off the legendary fantasy franchise with its release on the NES in 1987.
Collectible NFTs, which aren't even a physical thing, are predicted to top $10 billion in 2021 sales. Investment-grade video games are likely to remain a niche mostly for the wealthy, and prices may rise because of genuine scarcity (and possible market manipulation). There is certainly room for the market to grow.
In the context of a stock market, it is where some investors and fund raisers are not able to benefit at the expense of other participants. The market is regulated to avoid abuse, negligence and fraud. It is cheap to carry out transactions and the market provides high liquidity.
The most popular type of game asset is character models or artwork followed by environmental visuals such as backgrounds or interactive objects. Animation is another popular asset (especially true for 3D games) as it can be one of the most time-consuming aspects of game development.
Terraria, Starbound, and Stardew Valley are all modern games that have been designed to look retro by using pixel graphics. These games have over 20,000 people playing per day and that underlines how retro games are making a comeback.
With so many people locked at home these days, it's no surprise that video game sales have increased. What is unexpected, though, is the number of old games that are making a comeback.
Retrogaming has become big business in recent years, with old games being ported to newer consoles, classic devices getting a re-release and social settings bringing back features of the classic arcades of old.
Gameflip is the best way to sell Retro classics games, whether you want to update your collection or just need some cash. You can sell favorite vintage or retro video games for the NES, Dreamcast, or Atari. List it, and you can sell them all on to thousands of Gameflip collectors.
Who has the largest retro game collection? Antonio Romero Monteiro of Richmond was originally awarded the record in December 2021, when his collection totaled 20,139 video games.
The speed, repetitiveness, and upbeat nature of the original soundtracks make them pleasant to listen to. Simply hearing the opening notes can increase the anticipation of playing. Nostalgia probably plays a small part here, but the retro games' soundtracks make the gameplay more fun.
8 and 16-bit game graphics were noticeably better on the old CRT TVs some might have used to game on as a kid in the 1990s or even early 2000s. It's not just nostalgia at play. Older games look better on the screen resolutions they were designed for. Retro games have way fewer pixels than a modern screen can fill.
The increased quality of video games has also raised the likeliness of gamers finding new games. Despite all these factors, the popularity of retro games has remained relatively high and is still heavily loved by gamers. The study showed that most gamers in 2023 still enjoy playing retro games.
The best-selling video game to date is Minecraft, a sandbox game released by Mojang in May 2009 for a wide range of PC, mobile and console platforms, selling more than 238 million copies across all platforms. Grand Theft Auto V and EA's Tetris are the only other known video games to have sold over 100 million copies.
The Oregon Trail is one of the most well-known video game franchises. It's one that most students have probably played in school. Ongoing since 1978, it is officially the oldest game franchise that remains active today.
This is how the list of the 10 best-selling games in history would look like with data updated to December of last year 2022: Tetris (1984), 520 million. Minecraft (2009), 238 million.
But games with physical aspects (cartridges) are eventually no longer manufactured and eventually their first-party sales revenue will dry up. However, it may still be possible to make money on the licensing of the IP or sale of related property, and a company may account that as revenue from from products.
Many factors dictate the value of a video game, from the number of units produced and the region the game was released in, to whether the cartridge comes in its original box with all the manuals intact. The "holy grails" are unopened, shrink-wrapped early editions of iconic titles.
Increased ROI – One of the main benefits of gaming technology is that it can help to increase return on investment (ROI) for businesses. This is due to the fact that games are highly engaging and can help to keep people hooked on a brand for longer periods of time.
At the top of the list was Honor of Kings which earned over $2B from in-app purchases, with PUBG Mobile in the second spot after earning over $1.7B in revenue. According to the data gathered from Statista.com, Honor of Kings was the most profitable mobile video game in 2022.
A game is said to be fair if the expected value (after considering the cost) is 0. If this value is positive, the game is in your favour; and if this value is negative, the game is not in your favour.
Game assets include characters, sound effects, city streets, particle effects, foliage, and other props that complete the gaming experience. Basically, anything you can see and interact with is technically a game asset.
"Objectively-speaking, I would say that 'retro' refers to games made before around 1998," Kratky says. "They are mostly NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis games, though they're not limited to those consoles. They're the early titles that laid down the bones of the games we play today."
Retro gaming, also known as classic gaming and old school gaming, is the playing and collection of obsolete personal computers, consoles, and video games.
Overall, the retro aesthetic is returning because it offers people a sense of nostalgia, creativity, and individuality by decade. It allows us to express ourselves in a way that is bold, unique, and full of personality.
Retro and vintage are making a big comeback in decor, furniture, and design. It makes sense, given people spend more time in their homes and want to feel comfortable and relaxed in their surroundings. Plus, any time you pay homage to the past, it creates a nostalgia that's hard to replace.
In the US, spending on games fell 5% in 2022. Across Europe, game sales are down over 7%. It looks bad, but there was one very big reason for the decline: COVID-19. In 2020, when the lockdowns hit, video game sales surged.
But modern games just aren't quite the same, and probably never will be. Why is retro gaming so popular? Because it offers a unique, nostalgic, comforting, simple, and most importantly, joyous experience that's tough to replicate.
Throughout high school, I played a lot of NES, Game Boy, Atari Lynx, and then SNES. Nostalgia: Same reason retro anything is popular. People want to play the games they grew up with or that resemble/remind them of those games. Simplicity: Modern, full priced games can be overwhelming for less experienced gamers.
The higher-quality materials and craftsmanship of vintage goods may be another reason that people seek them out. In the time before mass-produced fast fashion, and when people and families had less disposable income, clothing, furnishings, and other accessories were crafted to last years and even decades.
Based on 1 customer review from our shopper community, RetroMiMi's overall rating is 5.0 out of 5 stars and 100% of reviewers recommend this brand, which indicates that most consumers are generally satisfied with their purchases.
Cross platform. RetroArch can run on the usual platforms like Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. RetroArch also runs on Apple and Android for tablets and phones, as well as on game consoles like PS3, PSP, PS Vita, Wii, Wii U and more!
Career mode is now free for everyone! Play season after season of club football with no purchases required. Purchasing the Unlimited Version gives you exclusive access to premium features like difficulty, season length, the Hall of Fame, dynamic weather, and the global tournament mode.
The Retromini is a cheap console with a cheap price, and judging it by today's standards, it isn't good enough when there are so many better options out there. Even at the shallow $30/£35 price point, it's just not worth it.
Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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