My primary occupation is managing a buy/sell used/new video game store that is part of a chain known as FuncoLand. Yes, I have a dream job... playing and selling video games, and making a living at the same time. I interact with gamers of all kinds every day, and I have made a fascinating observation: the NES is coming back in popularity! That's right, gamers from 6-60 are looking for NES systems and games, and at a high rate! Gamers have even gone so far as to trade in their PlayStations and N64s for an NES and a library of games, citing the fact that gameplay is not what it used to be.

Used NES systems sell for between $15-$20, and the games sell for as little as 50 cents! To use myself as an example, I started collecting NES games in November 1998. I now own almost 220 NES titles, 2 NES systems (1 top-loading NES and 1 side-loading NES), 6 controllers, 2 light guns, 2 NES MAX controllers, an NES Advantage, and an original NES game organizer. I spend about $30 a week on average, and it has returned a wealth of NES items.

I am not the only one who is bringing back the NES. I get about 5-10 requests every day for NES systems. That's every day! My store alone sells about 30-50 NES games per week. It's an impressive figure, no doubt. Along with the requests for NES systems come the complaints about the price of gaming and the lack of originality and gameplay in today's gaming marketplace. For the average price of a PlayStation title ($40), gamers can get anywhere from 4-40 NES titles! Three months could get you an entire library! With this reasoning, gamers are turning their attention towards the NES.

There are some drawbacks to purchasing previously played games and systems, especially NES systems, due to their age. Be sure that if you do purchase a system to have the dealer test it out first to be sure that it works. Also ask the dealer to clean the system and any games that you buy. You should also
invest in a system cleaner for the system and the games to remove any residue and allow the game cartridge to be read with interference. Lastly, you must also exercise some patience, especially with the early side-loading models of the NES. It may take some shifting of the cartridge in the deck before a solid connection is made.

The Nintendo Entertainment System will be 15 years old next year, as hard to believe as that may sound. From the looks of present trends in the used gaming marketplace, the NES seems to be getting a much-deserved new lease on life. So, break out Mario, Link, Samus Aran, and the rest of the gang... NES fever
is coming back!