Console Games (Nintendo, Sony etc.) and Arcade Games/Selling...?

Advertisement

Expert: gameusurper - 4/4/2009


Question
QUESTION: So I'm really excited about a new computer game coming out,
so I want to sell my OLD, original DS and some games to get
some money to buy it. My old DS is dark blue and is in
perfect condition except it's missing the pen. I have like,
2-3 games I wanna sell, and I wanna have at least 50
dollars. Do you think I can make it?

ANSWER: Well Maddie, the stylus, or 'pen' as you put it, is kind of an important part of the system as many games have rather precise touch controls that are much easier to use with it, than without it. If you bought your DS new then it should have came with a spare one. If not and you want to get the best price for it, I would suggest shelling out to get a replacement one.

Whoever would buy it from you is going to want a stylus. And any money a prospective buyer has to shell out for additional stuff is money you won't see. If you don't get a replacement, for sure make sure they know it came with one and that they will want to get a replacement stylus. This is especially nice if the person buying it doesn't know much about games. You will be helping them out some this way. It will lessen their frustration when they find they can't play very sensitive games cause their fingers are too big:)

Anyway, I think that it is totally reasonable to get at least 50 bucks for a DS with 2-3 games. Heck, depending on the games and whether they have the books and cases or not, you could get that much for just the games by themselves.

You might consider doing a split deal where someone could buy the games and the system separate if they wanted to, but offer a package discount if they wanted to buy them together. DS games are reasonable at $10 and sometimes more by themselves I think (again this depends on the game), and you should ask bare minimum $30 for the system. Anything less and you're cheating yourself. They go for $130 new.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: First off, thanks a ton. But do you know how much a
stylus(Yay:D) would cost? I'm like, broke, but I bet I can do
some chores to get it. Thanks again!

Answer
Here is a link to amazon.com with some search results for DS stylus'. Be aware that there is shipping generally in addition to these prices if you go this route. This can give you an idea of how much the stylus' are. If you want to avoid shipping, I would recommend seeing if one of your local game stores has any. You would pay more, but you'd have them now and not waste money on just shipping them. There may be some that have free shipping though so look around.

Ofcourse you always have the option of just selling the system without a stylus. That wouldn't cost you anything. Just be an honest seller and let the buying party know it is missing and that they will probably want to get one for themselves.

And sorry I didn't know you were a child or teenager living at home still and that you might not have immediate funds for that sort of thing. It's easy to forget when you have been working as long as I have...oops:)

Console Games (Nintendo, Sony etc.) and Arcade Games

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

gameusurper

Expertise

TOPICS I can answer questions about: Game Strategy, Recommendations (based on age or genre preference), History of a game, Recalling a game you played, Game music, Company or Creator info, and some simple system troubleshooting GENRES: My specialties are Adventure, RPG, Survival Horror, Action, and a small amount of Strategy and Puzzle. I avoid sports games like the plague, and have little interest in any racing games save for a few, F-Zero, Mario Kart and Wipeout being the main ones. Nor do I know many fighting games, mainly Bushido Blade and a few others. I am not much of a fan of First Person Shooters either. I am especially well versed in RPGs, particularly Final Fantasy and most of SquareEnix's other titles. GAMES: Not limited to the following. These games are series, and I know them all. There are MANY other individual ones. Feel free to ask and I will let you know if I can help you. Actraiser, Alundra, Breath of Fire, Bushido Blade, Castlevania, Chrono Trigger/Cross, Donkey Kong, Dragon Warrior/Quest, Drakkhen/Dragon View, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, King's Field, Legacy of Kain/Soul Reaver, Mana, Mario, Mega Man, Metal Gear Solid, Ninja Gaiden, Metroid, Parasite Eve, Resident Evil, Rygar, Silent Hill, Spyro, Star Fox, Suikoden, Tomb Raider, TMNT, Wild Arms, Xenogears/Xenosaga, Zelda, and Zone of the Enders SYSTEMS: NES, Super NES, N64, Gamecube, Wii, Gameboy Color, GBA, DS, PS1, PS2, PS3 and PSP plus computer, but I'm not really a big computer gamer. Systems I plan on getting in the future are XBOX 360 and Wii U. I am also a big fan of emulators on the PC. I have many of the old 8-bit and 16-bit systems and ROMS for my computer and know a lot about them. These include NES, Super NES, Genesis, Turbografx, MSX, Gameboy, Gameboy Color, and GBA.

Experience

I have been a video gamer for over 20 years. I started with the original NES way back in 1988 and have owned or played nearly every popular console since then. I have completed hundreds of games and played thousands. I have a large file cabinet filled with hundreds of hand-made maps, lists, and various strategies for many of the games I have conquered in the past two decades. I subscribe to 5 different game magazines to keep up to date on the newest stuff out there. I would officially call myself an expert on the subject of videogames. And if I don't know the answer, I can find out about it and direct you to someplace that does.

Publications
I have had three things published in Nintendo Power magazine as well as a piece of artwork. I also participate regularly on the GameFAQs forums. I am wanting to write FAQs for GameFAQs as well. I would also like to write columns for other video game magazines.

Education/Credentials
Experience with games baby, and lots of it. On the academic side, I am currently attending ITT Tech and am two quarters into an Associate's in Visual Communications. I will then be continuing for a Bachelor's in Video Game Design.

Awards and Honors
These are not academic awards. I am still working on those. These are video game related things of note about me. I do consider them honors as they are the most secret things in each of their respective games, and I am very proud of having found them. I am the discoverer of the Ryu Fireball in Megaman X, the Dragon Punch in Megaman X2, and the Golden Armor in Megaman X3. All three of those discoveries have appeared in Nintendo Power magazine. I have also broken the password systems for Megaman 4 and Megaman 5.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.