I noticed there was already a topic on this but thought I'd generate some new discussion. For me I look at collecting new/sealed this way:
The feeling you get after waiting for ages for a rare game even in used condition, turns up in new sealed, it is the thrill and excitement in knowing that there may just be a handful of copies out there in the world - and you have one!!
I collect for the Japanese PC Engine. For me the PC Engine was and still is in some respects, well ahead of it's time. On the 30th of this month, it will officially be the 20th anniversary since it's launch. So sometimes obtaining a game that is 20 years old can be very difficult indeed, even if it was very common and popular back then and even more so if the game had a very short print run for example like Magical Chase or Tatsujin. These games can fetch between $100-$150 in used condition alone. Obtaining these games are virtually impossible in new/sealed but if you wait long enough (and that can mean years) and if you are lucky and you pay big, you can get it. There is a great sense of satisfaction in obtaining the seemingly unobtainable.
So for me it is more than an investment - remember up to now, we are only dealing with investment potential. The new/sealed market isn't flourishing yet say as the comic book market where some comics can go for upwards of $100,000. But there is the potential that in the future there will be a "craze" period when retro systems regain popularity and become the must thing to have - that will be the time to cash in!!
So personally, I believe the best investment is having a new/sealed system plus a collection of the most popular games (rare as new/sealed but common in used condition). I don't think collecting an ultra rare game is a good investment if it has bad gameplay or graphics etc. Simply collecting based on rarity is a bad idea. In the future, the majority of people are going to want to play the games that they did when they were younger i.e. ones that they remembered playing in the arcade or on a home system. So I think if you are looking to make a good return in the future, collecting for a popular a system together with a bunch of it's best games probably has a better potential of obtaining a very high premium in the future.
The feeling you get after waiting for ages for a rare game even in used condition, turns up in new sealed, it is the thrill and excitement in knowing that there may just be a handful of copies out there in the world - and you have one!!
I collect for the Japanese PC Engine. For me the PC Engine was and still is in some respects, well ahead of it's time. On the 30th of this month, it will officially be the 20th anniversary since it's launch. So sometimes obtaining a game that is 20 years old can be very difficult indeed, even if it was very common and popular back then and even more so if the game had a very short print run for example like Magical Chase or Tatsujin. These games can fetch between $100-$150 in used condition alone. Obtaining these games are virtually impossible in new/sealed but if you wait long enough (and that can mean years) and if you are lucky and you pay big, you can get it. There is a great sense of satisfaction in obtaining the seemingly unobtainable.
So for me it is more than an investment - remember up to now, we are only dealing with investment potential. The new/sealed market isn't flourishing yet say as the comic book market where some comics can go for upwards of $100,000. But there is the potential that in the future there will be a "craze" period when retro systems regain popularity and become the must thing to have - that will be the time to cash in!!
So personally, I believe the best investment is having a new/sealed system plus a collection of the most popular games (rare as new/sealed but common in used condition). I don't think collecting an ultra rare game is a good investment if it has bad gameplay or graphics etc. Simply collecting based on rarity is a bad idea. In the future, the majority of people are going to want to play the games that they did when they were younger i.e. ones that they remembered playing in the arcade or on a home system. So I think if you are looking to make a good return in the future, collecting for a popular a system together with a bunch of it's best games probably has a better potential of obtaining a very high premium in the future.