The other day I was looking at collectible NES gear on eBay. I sorted the results by price and noticed a complete original copy of The Legend of Zelda. Eventually the auction closed and the game raked in $AU255 for it's previous owner.
Definitely good news for anyone with a good copy of this title! And perhaps a lesson to those that had it and let it go :O
I captured a screenshot of the closed auction for some evidence, I figured perhaps someone is looking for some sort of appraisal on this particular item so here it is.
Does anyone reading this have something similar? Would you pay that much for a game that's over 20 years old? :)
Well I came on to blog about something else (see next entry) and saw I was hosting an ad for the new Zelda game for the Nintendo Wii. I rented this the game and I really enjoyed it, what I played of it anyhow.
I asked a friend who is into gaming what games he was currently playing, Skyward Sword was one of them although he'd only played through the tutorial so far.
I too only got a little bit into the game (only over night rental and I ended up doing something else other than playing it) although I was impressed with what I experienced.
I hope this game is a success for Nintendo, who I hope have more good products up their sleeves.
It was around this time last year that I finally went out and bought a Wii, I recall Nintendo had just recently released the Mario Anniversary console that was that funny red colour and came with a copy of New Super Mario Bros (??) as well as basically Mario All-Stars and a book.
I couldn't wait though and bought the Motion Plus pack with Sports Resort...I just wanted to get it home and set up - After all, Donkey Kong Country Returns was coming out. That and Goldeneye was an exclusive.
Not 12 months later and the console bundled with Mario Kart is about half the price I paid for my system.
Moving on...I have had Nintendo's for over 20 years - NES, Gameboy, SNES, N64, DS and Wii. I am not overly blown away by the 3DS - In fact considering certain 'Smart' Phones have the same 3D technology integrated, Steve Jobs philosophy of integration of components into ONE unit, perhaps people will no longer want a seperate device for hand held gaming - Android, iOS, Windows Mobile 7 and other mobile OS's will probably swoop in more than they already have - And the SONY PSP best watch out too.
I'm concerned about Nintendo now as they might be heading down the path of SEGA and focusing attention on developing software - Iconic branded games such as Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Metroid, etc for other hardware platforms.
Supposedly this Christmas season the weight of Nintendo's holiday success balances on...the redesign of the Wii (sits down flat and doesn't have backwards Gamecube capability) and the release of the new Zelda game Skyward Sword.
I don't think it's going to be enough personally - The Wii has been out for years, if they are looked after the consoles last for years people already have Wii's - And Zelda? Great games but they don't suit everybody's taste. Perhaps if Nintendo did focus in on game software hings wouldn't be THAT bad...I mean theoretically they'd have more time towards making great games.
It blows my mind when I hear things about a game pulling in $400 million by moving more than 6.5 million units on its first day in North America and the United Kingdom. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 did just that with news reports revealing the details just today - Perhaps more amazingly it broke its own sales records, set and broken in 2009 and again in 2010 (that must be a record in it's own right).
People talk about the video game industry being a billions of dollars per year industry...seems as though it's close to becoming a billions PER DAY industry.
In other news, Steam, the online video game provider/network, has been infiltrated by hackers reportedly leaving 35 million users vulnerable and potentially exposing their credit card details...
Finally recent analysis has shown that Nintendo and Sony's combined portable games revenue has gone from 81% (of all revenue from portable game software) in 2009, to an estimated 42% this year. (Source Macworld Australia/Flurry Analytics). News of this left me wondering what will result from this state of affairs. Steve Jobs of Apple once said something about integrating many functions into one device (i.e. e-books on an iPad rather than having a dedicated e-book reader device). Considering this one must wonder if portable games devices will become a thing of the past. 3D capable smart phones are already on the market...when games are made for them the 3DS is in deep trouble whilst SONY appears to be making a transition already, with their N*Gage-like PSP/Phone hybrid device.
Is it possible that exclusive Nintendo games may one day be affiliated with iOS or perhaps Android will land an exclusive relationship with Nintendo, afterall Google did give an approving nod to Nintendo game Starfox/Lylat Wars by including an Easter Egg associated with the games phrase/internet meme "Do a Barrel Roll"
I've been watching Pawn Stars on television lately, it's one show I'm really enjoying...and I haven't said these words for a quite a long time.
Anyhow I've always been interesting in the business, I mean it's a mix of recycling and business incorporating all sorts of items. Something about eBay or trading games in franchised stores feels as though it really benefits the consumer rather than the person selling a perhaps valued item.
I've been evaluating things around my place wondering what I would be willing to part ways with and for what sort of cash or trade or service.
One thing always immediately springs to mind. A game I bought over a decade ago for my Super Nintendo - A game called Terranigma. To this day I'm not sure why I even bought this game, I was always a fan of Zelda and I had (and still have) Solstice for the NES and this game fits in with the genre so perhaps it's not really that much of a mystery.
A few years ago I must have been valuing my games going off eBay prices and searched for Terranigma...WOW...apparently this game is rare...like really rare. I remember low search results and high price tags. How High? $300.
I've conducted a search just now and 8 results (and 15 international) have been retrieved. The cheapest item is $19. It is for a 'new' box only which, I might add, looks different to the original box that I have. The highest priced item out of the combined results, which also happens to be the only complete set, is priced at $AU212.83 and is located in the United Kingdom and costs 9.99GBP in postage. This appears to be exactly what I possess besides the fact that the box art differs between the sellers version and mine, as well as the fact that my copy is labelled for use in Australia and New Zealand only and has an Australian Rating's Classification label - Curiously rated 'G'
I just thought I'd share this with my loyal followers, potential new followers (hi :) ) and hopefully a collector or someone that can put me in contact with one. I'd love to do a deal. I have plenty of pictures but until/unless there is demand shown, I will be showcasing only one.
It is the rear box art showcasing still in-game still images, general game info, Official Nintendo Seal of Quality, etc
Which reveals that this game was released in PAL format on December 19 1996 and an interesting piece in the 'Reception' section regarding how it measures up with titles Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia.
I just watched an awesome video of an chalk artist doing a nice image of Link on his horse (whats-its-name) using his skills. I'll post it, but first I'll share with you my experiences :P
I have had a NES since just before I was 5 years old. Truth be told when me and my brother got this for Christmas one year I don't think I even knew what it was. I soon found out that it played games on the TV. We recently got a new TV, it was a 68cm color television that had no remote and you had to tune in channels with dials and there was a total of 12 channels that were programmable (this became 11 when button seven got broke...lol).
Anyhow, my dad set it up and fired up the baby. WOW! I was hooked immediately, the first challenge, if you fall down a hole, you lose, but I have a few more chances to do that...it's not game over - A screen which must have come soon afterwards!
The day after Christmas we always visited my Dad's mum. Somehow the NES came with us...I can't remember if me or my brother insisted, or if it was a genius idea from mum or dad to have something for the kids to do....heh heh.
It was just around 6pm when the trouble started - Grandma wanted to watch the news, I think as a team my brother and I had reached the first castle, which I probably figured was the last level of the game back then. An argument ensued :P Ending with my Grandma unplugging the infernal thing and shoving it back in its box and adding something like "it's in the box, and it's to stay in the box. It's doing damage to my TV"
Ahh classic.
Now back to Zelda, my brother and I rented it for $5 for 3 days from the local video library a fair few times. As I recall it, the local toy shop did have the game but it was expensive for young kids to save up for - $80 if I recall correctly. My brother ended up getting it for me as a birthday present one year, and I played it on and off for years until finally finishing it without any cheats, or strategy guidance besides one or two kids who played it talking about it.
Over the years we got Zelda on the Gameboy, and Zelda on N64, and I've played Zelda's on SNES, the DS and Wii and although I no longer play many games, Zelda is one game that stays true to its origins and is truly a great brand and I love that it's still with Nintendo
