by J.D. Turbeville
Be privilaged to be reading this as it is my second article for this months paNESian press. Although
it won't be as intriguing as my past articles, I'm sure you'll find some sort of entertainment out of
it. This "bonus" article was developed as a part of my random scan series (which will be
a part of CGC once that place opens) where I take a video game magazine and scan a random page
while making my rants and comments about it. This month I will be dealing with prices of today and
the past of your favorite system, the NES.
Were you around when the NES started in 1985? Do you remember those outrageous prices of paying $200
for the system and $40 for the games? I sure do! When my dad first bought me the Power Set in December
1987, he had spent $149.99 at K-Mart! How much can you get one today? Probably $30 at worst! I remember
when my dad was going to get me SMB2, but it was sold out, so he got me RC Pro AM for $39.95 at the local
store. We later went to Montgomery ward and bought it for the same price, but that was months after the game
was released. I think the most popular game of all time, SMB3, cost my dad around $44.95 when it first came
out! I was an avid player of the past and can give you more of these "When I was your age, I paid $200 for
an 8-bit system ..." stories can go on forever, but I won't bother. Today is the best day to get video games
from the NES and other 80s VG systems because of their ease to attain and their very low price tag. The games
forementioned probably averages around $8 at most! I say you guys are pretty lucky!
Scanned is a 1994 EB magazine where you can see the prices of NES games near the beginning of the systems
demise. Also attached in this article are receipts which prove the price I (and my dad) paid for the NES
at its peak. Laugh at me if you want, but remember who got to be a part of the Powerfest and other NES
events when they were around? Do you see them anywhere now! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
