Thinking of buying retro game consoles? You’ll find plenty available, but are they really what you want?
You need to answer some vital questions. Otherwise, you run the risk of shopping for the wrong device.
Read on to discover those fundamental questions so you can bring home the right console at a fair price.
Questions to Ask When Buying Retro Game Consoles
When you consider buying a retro console, you must first know your objectives. So, grab something to take notes, sit down, and clear your head. Now, answer the following:
Am I a console purist? All varieties of consoles exist, many of which are remakes of classics and all-in-1 consoles. If you’re a purist, you’ll pass these up for an original console, like the first Nintendo console, released in 1985.
Am I only out to beat the games? If you just want some gaming action, you’ll find all the classics have been re-released. You can play them on emulators:
- Raspberry Pi
- 5-in-1 consoles
- Mini arcade systems
- All-in-1 consoles
- Even your laptop
So why would you choose one of these options over a classic console? Well, you can play classic games from all your favorite retro game platforms on a single emulator.
Do you want to play original NES games? Great, you can do that. If you want SEGA, you can do that too.
You can jump from one classic game to another, regardless of which console the game was originally intended for. These emulators also come with up to 100 classic games. They’re included in the price.
If you do it this way, you may not even need to hunt down retro games for sale. Then you can spend all your time gaming.
What kind of hardware do I have at home? Keep in mind that an original Nintendo or Sega system wasn’t built to work on your 65” smart TV.
You may need to buy special wires and other hardware. Even then, marrying some tech just won’t work. For instance, the light gun used to play the original Duck Hunt won’t work on an LCD display.
Fixing a Retro Console
But what if you get hold of a console that doesn’t work? Perhaps you were scammed, or you inherited the device. Can you even buy video game repair parts?
If you want to shop game console parts, you have two options. First, you can pick up your parts online. You’ll pay less than you would for a new retro console, but you’re guaranteed a working part in just a few days.
Your other option is to head to your local thrift stores and flea markets. You’ll find plenty of video games for sale, but you won’t find any spare parts. What you’ll spot instead are more game consoles.
If you find one like yours, you can usually pick it up for under $5. Then you can use it for spare parts.
What’s Next?
Now that you know what you want, it’ll be simple to track down your retro game consoles. Start with your local thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales. They’ll be your least expensive options.
Then, move on to Craigslist and eBay. Be cautious about eBay and other online markets. You’ll find what you want, but you’re more likely to pay top dollar for retro games and consoles.
If you found this article helpful, skip over to our ginormous library full of retro games and action movies. So long and good luck!