Why are Game & Watch games so expensive!?

[PukeSter]

In my opinion, LCD games suck, period. They just do. Except for only 60, the Game & Watches by Nintendo. These things are amazing, with addictive gameplay and looking great on a shelf. Too bad they're so fucking expensive! They sold millions worldwide! I mean, Donkey Kong(fantastic adaption) cost me $39!! Plus $15 of course. Do you guys collect Game & Watches? I love them, but I can't have them all.

[HercTNT]

Great question, not sure why its in fighting street though. were you expecting some kinda of backlash?   I have three game watches, and would like to own more, but as you said they are expensive and i have no idea why.

[jlued686]

I really like the Game & Watches, but have never been able to bring myself to actually purchase one. I've got the Club Nintendo one, though. It's pretty awesome.

[PukeSter]

I really like the Game & Watches, but have never been able to bring myself to actually purchase one. I've got the Club Nintendo one, though. It's pretty awesome.

You get addicted to buying them. I already have 3 and I plan to buy more, but they shouldn't cost so much. The real "Ball" is a few hundred dollars, compared to the $40 Club Nintendo version on eBay.

[DildoKKKobold]

The short answer is, they were hellishly expensive back in the day.



Here is Snoopy Tennis. That is in Deutsche Marks, so in 1990 it was about $40 USD. That is $70, after we account for inflation. The double hinge ones were even more expensive. So, the prices reflect the initial high cost. Look at how much cheaper a Duo is now, compared to when it was sold originally. It is much cheaper when you account for the fact that the USD has almost halved since 1990.

My family REFUSED to get me a gameboy, for fear I'd be even more addicted to games, so they got us G&W instead.

Here is my collection.

[PukeSter]

Just bid on Zelda G&W, which I have wanted for years. They are addictive.

Game & Watch are almost as fun as Gameboy. I love discovering these rare sequels to popular Nintendo games, as well as all new games.

[HercTNT]

I have the zelda game watch, Super mario world game watch, and starfox game watch version 2. I also have the zelda game and watch re release and super mario bros mini gameboy.

[PikachuWarrior]

I have the super mario brothers watch. it's nice to look at.

[psychobear]

I have 1 I had since a kid, don't care much for them...

[Arkhan Asylum]

They're just collectible as fuck.

they suck otherwise, like most LED games. 


I had some sweet tiger handhelds back in the day though.

[PukeSter]

They're just collectible as fuck.

they suck otherwise, like most LED games. 


I had some sweet tiger handhelds back in the day though.

I'm sure some suck, but ones like the Donkey Kong games are extremely fun.

Which Tiger games did you have?

[Sparky]

They're just collectible as fuck.

they suck otherwise, like most LED games. 


I had some sweet tiger handhelds back in the day though.

I'm sure some suck, but ones like the Donkey Kong games are extremely fun.

Which Tiger games did you have?

ya i have one game and watch and never play it, and i also have a bunch of tiger handhelds, which i love the look of them but they get boring quick for me.
BUT of all the tiger handhelds i have this one I played the hell out of it. could never reach level 10.

[VestCunt]

Xmas '89 I asked for a NES. With four children, my parents weren't in the habit of buying $150 gifts. They said it was too expensive. So I pleaded for the brand-new, slightly cheaper Gameboy. I even said it would count as my birthday present too (a common tactic that never worked). I got the Zelda Game and Watch. Pretty good, but I was disappointed. Sold it at a garage sale four years later for $5. I miss it. Also had one of these:

[cabbage]

HINT: It's not for the gameplay!
G&Ws are really only valuable to the Nintendo collectors. The gameplay is pretty OK on some of them but, for the most part, you could easily find an equivalent for much cheaper--sans Nintendo logos and characters of course.

BUT of all the tiger handhelds i have this one I played the hell out of it. could never reach level 10.

Hell yes! I had one of those as a kid. Was never a big fan of LCD games back in the day, but that "Karate King" was great fun.

[soop]

I had quite a few of these things.  They were mostly quite cheap, but before the gameboy, they were the only real option for handheld gaming.
Some of them were actually quite fun, and I probably still have one or two knocking about somewhere.

Geeze, I just looked through some images, and they did a great job on the packaging.  Even knowing what I know, Simons Quest still piqued my interest.

But I guess it explains why I have such a soft spot for Double Dragon II, Super RC pro-am and Tetris.  I still consider them good games, but compared to what I was used to...  And gosh, Mega Man.

[PukeSter]

HINT: It's not for the gameplay!
G&Ws are really only valuable to the Nintendo collectors. The gameplay is pretty OK on some of them but, for the most part, you could easily find an equivalent for much cheaper--sans Nintendo logos and characters of course.

The Game & Watch galleries you mean? Yeah, they aren't 100%. I am a collector, but also, LCD games are always simulated, not emulated. So the gameplay and graphics are close, but not perfect. I can say though, DK JR. is absolutely awesome.

[BigusSchmuck]

I had quite a few of these things.  They were mostly quite cheap, but before the gameboy, they were the only real option for handheld gaming.
Some of them were actually quite fun, and I probably still have one or two knocking about somewhere.

Geeze, I just looked through some images, and they did a great job on the packaging.  Even knowing what I know, Simons Quest still piqued my interest.

But I guess it explains why I have such a soft spot for Double Dragon II, Super RC pro-am and Tetris.  I still consider them good games, but compared to what I was used to...  And gosh, Mega Man.

I still have Simons Quest the tiger handheld. That thing is still functioning to this day...

[_Paul]

http://pica-pic.com/#

[Nazi NecroPhile]

In addition to a Super Mario Bros. game & watch, I had one of the Plane & Tanks shown in Paul's link.  I've no idea what happened to 'em.

[CGQuarterly]

I had a Ninja Gaiden Tiger game watch.  But some fucker stole it out of my backpack in junior high.  My best friend had a Legend of Zelda game watch, which looked awesome.  He had a couple of Game & Watch games, but I don't remember what they were.  Currently I have a Donkey Kong Game & Watch that my friend gave me.  I don't play it because it sucks.

Chris

[TheClash603]

http://pica-pic.com/#

I never knew this site existed, damn cool.  I just put up under 500 points in DK my first try.  Not bad, but I used to routinely get triple digits on the handheld.

PS - G&W are awesome.  I own a few and wish I had more.  People are always confused when I pull one out on a plane.

[Tatsujin]

I have about 20 G&W. Greenhouse was my first
i ever got on xmas 1982, and it is still my fav. one.

Very adictive and fast gameplay. The orig. Donkey kong sure is a gem as well.

They are farking expensive here in japan as well and can fetch several 100 till over 1000 bucks.

Most of mine i got back from fleamarkets during the 90s/some early 2k. for usual 5 to 10 bucks per set.
I have also no idea were all my 1st ones all went? Had a lot of em back in the 80s.

[PukeSter]

I just got Donkey Kong II Multiscreen for Christmas, which is a lot of fun. Out of the three Donkey Kong games I have, this one is the best one. Unfortunately, the LCD is faded a little. I'm hoping to now get Super Mario Bros. or Zelda.

[blueraven]

I remember asking my parents for a nintendo and ninja gaiden, and what I got was this:

/Ninja+Gaiden.jpg


I got all the way to the end boss ONCE, which was a total clusterfuck. It got me in trouble in elementary school for playing it in study hall. It still exists somewhere unless I sold it long ago.

[Tatsujin]

lol, what a bummer present, instead of a NES and the real deal

but cool that you still had your fair amount of fun with it

[blueraven]

  Thanks Tats,