{"id":416,"date":"2008-01-30T22:00:32","date_gmt":"2008-01-31T03:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/?p=416"},"modified":"2016-08-29T08:49:36","modified_gmt":"2016-08-29T13:49:36","slug":"dissecting-nintendos-virtual-console-service-real-or-virtual-which-is-a-better-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/416\/dissecting-nintendos-virtual-console-service-real-or-virtual-which-is-a-better-deal","title":{"rendered":"Buying Real Copies of Wii Virtual Console Games…Ouch!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Wii[ This is JJ Hendricks’ first contribution to VC&G. He is the author of the Video Game Price Charts Blog<\/a>, which analyzes and charts video game prices. Additional contributions and layout by Benj. ]<\/em><\/p>\n

Since the Nintendo Wii’s release in November 2006, the Virtual Console service has been one of its most popular features. Yet almost instantly after its launch, people began complaining about how much VC games cost. The most common argument against the VC pricing scheme (aside from the illegal emulator option) is the presumed “low price” of the original games if you bought them used. But how much would it really<\/em> cost to buy physical copies of all the Virtual Console games? Is Nintendo’s retro service a good deal, or are you getting ripped off?<\/p>\n

\"NES\"By analyzing the current market prices of every game offered on the Virtual Console service, I’ve come up with an answer. In the charts below, you’ll find an exhaustive price breakdown that compares the current market value of real cartridges to the cost of their VC counterparts. The prices for the cartridges themselves were determined by using the daily updated prices at VideoGamePriceCharts.com<\/a> from January 24th, 2008, which, in turn, are taken from multiple sources, including recent eBay auction results, Amazon.com, and Half.com. All prices are in US Dollars.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Prices<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n

\"NES\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Nintendo Entertainment System<\/strong>
(As of 01\/24\/2008)<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Game Title<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Used Price<\/strong><\/td>\nVC Price<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Adventure Island<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.44<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Adventures of Lolo<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$4.20<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Balloon Fight<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$7.10<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Baseball<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.75<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blades of Steel<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.35<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bubble Bobble<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$20.98<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Castlevania<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$7.54<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$4.00<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Donkey Kong<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$14.99<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Donkey Kong Jr<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$6.12<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Donkey Kong Jr. Math<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$11.00<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Double Dribble<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.59<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elevator Action<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.00<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Excitebike<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$4.39<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Galaga<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.82<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ghosts ‘n Goblins<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.70<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gradius<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.99<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ice Climber<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.99<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ice Hockey<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.82<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kid Icarus<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$13.75<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kirby’s Adventure<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.97<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Legend of Kage<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.82<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Legend of Zelda<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$7.74<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lode Runner<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.06<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lunar Pool<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.99<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mach Rider<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.77<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mario Bros.<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$11.07<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Metroid<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.17<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mighty Bomb Jack<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.12<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Milon’s Secret Castle<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.76<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NES Open Tournament Golf<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.85<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Play Action Football<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.38<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ninja Gaiden<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.55<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.00<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.00<\/td>\n$6*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pac-Man<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$10.00<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pinball<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.60<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Punch-Out!!<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$6.25<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Soccer<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.75<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Solomon’s Key<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.35<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Star Soldier<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.24<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
StarTropics<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.22<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super C<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$9.64<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Mario Bros.<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.93<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Mario Bros. 2<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$9.00<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Mario Bros. 3<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$9.29<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$11.49<\/td>\n$6*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tecmo Bowl<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$8.00<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.25<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tennis<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.75<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Urban Champion<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$4.05<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Volleyball<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.18<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wrecking Crew<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.85<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Xevious<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.12<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yoshi<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.87<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zanac<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.71<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.22<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Totals:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$273.53<\/strong><\/td>\n$288.00<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

* Never released in US, price of Japanese game<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\"SNES\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Super NES<\/strong>
(As of 01\/24\/2008)<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Game Title<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Used Price<\/strong><\/td>\nVC Price<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ActRaiser<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$11.50<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Axelay<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$12.95<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Breath of Fire II<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$29.98<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Contra III: The Alien Wars<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$16.49<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cybernator<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$6.99<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Donkey Kong Country<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$17.01<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$18.40<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$20.84<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Final Fight<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$4.56<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
F-Zero<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.91<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gradius III<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.50<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kirby’s Avalanche<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$4.70<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kirby’s Dream Course<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$9.67<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Legend of the Mystical Ninja<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$8.97<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$15.77<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Metal Marines<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$64.5<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pac-Attack<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.00<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$9.15<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
R-Type III: The Third Lightning<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$19.90<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SimCity<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$6.33<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$12.76<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.68<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Castlevania IV<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$11.26<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$6.45<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Mario World<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$13.18<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Metroid<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$17.69<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vegas Stakes<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.24<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Totals:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$354.38<\/strong><\/td>\n$216.00<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

\"N64\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Nintendo 64<\/strong>
(As of 01\/24\/2008)<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Game Title<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Used Price<\/strong><\/td>\nVC Price<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
F-Zero X<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$4.26<\/td>\n$10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$15.98<\/td>\n$10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mario Kart 64<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$25.90<\/td>\n$10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Paper Mario<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$28.90<\/td>\n$10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pok\u00c3\u00a9mon Snap<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.01<\/td>\n$10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sin and Punishment<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$40.00<\/td>\n$12*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Star Fox 64<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$9.68<\/td>\n$10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Mario 64<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$20.36<\/td>\n$10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wave Race 64<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.99<\/td>\n$10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yoshi’s Story<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$13.34<\/td>\n$10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Totals:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$169.42<\/strong><\/td>\n$102.00<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

* Never released in US, price of Japanese game<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\"Sega<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Sega Genesis<\/strong>
(As of 01\/24\/2008)<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Game Title<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Used Price<\/strong><\/td>\nVC Price<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$4.93<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alien Soldier<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$90.00<\/td>\n$9*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alien Storm<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.75<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Altered Beast<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.93<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Beyond Oasis<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$7.97<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bio-Hazard Battle<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.78<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bonanza Bros.<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.45<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Columns<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.38<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Comix Zone<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$11.75<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.49<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dynamite Headdy<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.19<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ecco Jr.<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.15<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ecco the Dolphin<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.13<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ecco The Tides of Time<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.68<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eternal Champions<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.75<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gain Ground<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$6.30<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ghouls ‘n Ghosts<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.85<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Golden Axe<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$10.48<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Golden Axe II<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$7.15<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Golden Axe III<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$20.00<\/td>\n$9*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gunstar Heroes<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$23.49<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kid Chameleon<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$4.12<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Landstalker Treasures of King Nole<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$9.24<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Light Crusader<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.97<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ristar<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$12.18<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rolling Thunder 2<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$8.48<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shining Force<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$31.99<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shining in the Darkness<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.50<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shinobi III Return of the Ninja Master<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$4.25<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sonic 3D Blast<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.99<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sonic Spinball<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$0.38<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sonic the Hedgehog<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.33<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sonic the Hedgehog 2<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.33<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sonic the Hedgehog 3<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.62<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Space Harrier II<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$3.45<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Streets of Rage<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$9.24<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Streets of Rage 2<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$9.83<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Streets of Rage 3<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$34.23<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Thunder Blade<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.22<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sword of Vermilion<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.62<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ToeJam & Earl<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$29.99<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$9.88<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Virtua Fighter 2<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$2.68<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wonder Boy in Monster World<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$8.47<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Totals:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$406.59<\/strong><\/td>\n$353.00<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

* Never released in US, price of Japanese game<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\"Neo<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Neo Geo<\/strong>
(As of 01\/24\/2008)<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Game Title<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Used Price*<\/strong><\/td>\nVC Price<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Art of Fighting<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$12<\/td>\n$9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Baseball Stars 2<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$30<\/td>\n$9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blue’s Journey<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$13<\/td>\n$9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fatal Fury: King of Fighters<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$12<\/td>\n$9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
King of Fighters ’94<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$7<\/td>\n$9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Magician Lord<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$20<\/td>\n$9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$17<\/td>\n$9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
World Heroes<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$24<\/td>\n$9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Totals:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$135.00<\/strong><\/td>\n$72.00<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

* Not sold often, some prices based upon one or two sales<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\"TG-16\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
TurboGrafx-16<\/strong>
(As of 01\/24\/2008)<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Game Title<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Used Price<\/strong><\/td>\nVC Price<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Air Zonk<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$30.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alien Crush<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$18.45<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Battle Lode Runner<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n???*<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blazing Lazers<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$29.95<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bloody Wolf<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$35.80<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bomberman ’93<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$79.99<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bonk’s Adventure<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$15.35<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bonk’s Revenge<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$23.98<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bonk 3: Bonk’s Big Adventure<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$200.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bravoman<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$29.99<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chew Man Fu<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n???*<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
China Warrior<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cratermaze<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$20.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dead Moon<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$20.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Devil’s Crush<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$27.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Double Dungeons<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$17.95<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dragon Spirit<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$11.10<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dragon’s Curse<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$39.99<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drop Off<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$12.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dungeon Explorer<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$7.95<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dynastic Hero<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n???*<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Galaga ’90<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$29.99<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gate of Thunder<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$40.00<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
J.J. & Jeff<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$11.48<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Legend of Hero Tonma<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$34.99<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Military Madness<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$45.88<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monster Lair<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$14.95<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Moto Roader<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$10.49<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Neutopia<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$15.97<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Neutopia II<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$19.99<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New Adventure Island<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$54.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ninja Spirit<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$9.97<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ordyne<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$27.50<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Power Golf<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$6.03<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Riot Zone<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$24.97<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
R-Type<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$15.00<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Samurai Ghost<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$44.99<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shockman<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$13.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Silent Debuggers<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$19.45<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Soldier Blade<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$30.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Splatterhouse<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$21.23<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n???*<\/td>\n$8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super Star Soldier<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$23.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Victory Run<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$5.32<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vigilante<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$21.48<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
World Class Baseball<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1.49<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
World Sports Competition<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$12.00<\/td>\n$6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Totals:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$1,177.67<\/strong><\/td>\n$294.00<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

* Not sold on eBay in past 30 days<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\"All<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
All Games on All Systems<\/strong>
(As of 01\/24\/2008)<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

System<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Used Price<\/strong><\/td>\nVC Price<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nintendo Entertainment System<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$273.53<\/td>\n$288.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Super NES<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$354.38<\/td>\n$216.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nintendo 64<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$169.42<\/td>\n$102.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sega Genesis<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$406.59<\/td>\n $353.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Neo Geo<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$135.00<\/td>\n$72.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
TurboGrafx-16<\/strong><\/small><\/td>\n$1,177.67<\/td>\n$294.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Totals:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$2516.59<\/strong><\/td>\n$1325.00<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Is Cheaper Really Better?<\/h3>\n

\"Wii<\/a>There are currently 196 games available on the Wii Virtual Console service (as of January 24th, 2008). Buying the Wii version of every single VC game would cost you $1,325.00, while buying every single Virtual Console game as a used cartridge would cost roughly $2,516.59 — a difference of almost $1,200.00.<\/p>\n

The original Nintendo is the only system where buying the cartridges would be cheaper than buying the virtual games because many games for the NES would cost less than a dollar. Every other system, especially the TurboGrafx-16, boasts higher average prices for the cartridges than the Wii’s VC downloads.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are certain benefits to owning the actual used cartridges instead of the Virtual Console games. Cartridges can be resold after you buy them, and they might appreciate in value over time. If you invest $2,500 in cartridges, they will still be worth that much after you buy them. With the Virtual Console, the games are almost worthless after you purchase them: since they are locked to your particular console, you couldn’t sell them individually. You could sell your whole Wii console with the VC games included, but you’d only receive a fraction your VC investment on resale.<\/p>\n

\"NES<\/a>On the other hand, if you buy Virtual Console games, you’ll save hundreds of dollars on the console hardware you’d need to play all of the used games in question (NES, SNES, TG-16 consoles, controllers, attachments, etc.). You’d also save a considerable amount of space in storing those numerous systems, cartridges, and accessories. Then there’s the matter of convenience: with the Wii, you have all your games in one place, easily selectable and able to be played on modern HDTV sets. With the actual vintage hardware, you’d have to set up each system separately to play them all, which can be quite a hassle.<\/p>\n

So which is better? It’s a matter of investment verses convenience. With the real game cartridges, you get the authentic experience of playing them on the original hardware, while preserving their resale value. With the Wii, you’re mostly buying the convenience to play all the same games in one place at lower cost, albeit locked into Nintendo’s proprietary Virtual Console system. In the end, it’s up to the individual gamer’s personal preference. But let it be known that the “high price” argument against Nintendo Virtual Console games — at least versus their used counterparts — no longer holds water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[ This is JJ Hendricks’ first contribution to VC&G. He is the author of the Video Game Price Charts Blog, which analyzes and charts video game prices. Additional contributions and layout by Benj. ] Since the Nintendo Wii’s release in November 2006, the Virtual Console service has been one of its most popular features. Yet […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,11,22,19,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-video-game-design","category-video-game-emulation","category-nes-famicom","category-new-retro-reproductions","category-retrogaming"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/416\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}