Collecting Can Be Intense

Written by Link on 1st March, 2007

I have such respect for people who collect either Neo Geo AES or Arari 2600 cartridges, with the intention of assembling a complete collection.

I only think it’s possible if you have nerves of steel, intense patience, a blatant disregard for money, and a hefty wallet to boot.

With 2600, the sheer number of cartridges, low print runs of the rarest games, as well as the fact that there are so many that will fetch $100+ a pop, makes it not for the faint of heart. I’ve been told by one 2600 collector, that you will only get one chance during your life at certain games and it’s either break the bank, or go home empty handed.

Case in point, the Video Life cart now on eBay.

Video Life Atari 2600

Granted it’s pretty much new in box, but even if it wasn’t it would still fetch a couple grand.
Only available to customers who purchased the MagiCard (of which less than 150 copies were made) via mail order. According to co-owner of the publisher, Irwin Gaines, “20 or less” were ever created.

How’s that for rare?

Then you have the Pepsi Invaders cart that went for $1500 last week.

How many $1500+ games do NES, SNES, Playstation or any other system collectors have to worry about? Very few.

Neo Geo collectors are a different story entirely, but we’ll save them for next time.

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One Response to “Collecting Can Be Intense”

DreamTR on March 1st, 2007 6:22 pm

Yeah, the ones going after complete 2600 are pretty crazy. I learned a long time ago I am not going to find boxes for Music Machine, Malagai, or Gauntlet, so replicas for those are ok in my book. Magicard and Video Life I don’t even think I would have any interest in because of the type of games they are.

However, the US/Euro Neo Geo stuff, there are too many instances where you are essentially paying $1000-10000 more for inserts and manuals and a sticker on the cart, since the Japanese versions are exactly the same.