WTF is up with GameCube games?

[Revolver Ocelot]

While being hip to the latest gaming trends seems to becoming a more financially trying task every day, for those of us still catching up on the offerings of the last generation, we live in a time of plenty. In the past few years, non-collectors have dumped their previous gen games into GameStops and secondhand stores by the truckload so they can by their shiny new 360s, Wiis and PS3s, leaving a veritable treasure trove for the procrastinating collector.

Or at least, that's how things should be. I can walk into a GameStop right now and buy an entire library of games for about $30 (with your average XBox game ranging from $10 to as little as $2). And I'm not talking crap, either. We're talking really good games here, like Ninja Gaiden Black, Kingdom Under Fire, Otogi, Jet Set Radio Future, and tons of others. The PS2 situation is similar but a bit more complicated due to the fact that the system is still active and has a more recently updated library of games.

GameCube, however, is a different and much more annoying story. For whatever reason, GameCube games are still really fucking expensive. GameStop PO racks are populated with games like Mario Kart Double Dash ($30 preowned), Mario Sunshine ($17 preowned), Paper Mario 2 ($20 preowned), Animal Crossing ($25 preowned), Pikmin ($25 preowned) and many other titles. And it's not like they're rare; all of my local GameStops are bursting at the seams with these particular titles.

Now, while you may put forth the argument that these are big-name, first party titles, that's not exclusively the case. Even 3rd games like Spartan: Total Warrior boast hefty $15 price tags. And in almost every case, games that are multi-platform are usually $5-$10 more expensive on GameCube.

Seriously, what's up with this shit? Why is buying used GC games such a huge pain in the ass and does anyone know where I might find them for less than cut-throat prices?

[neomerge]

I agree with you a 100%. The Resident Evil games are way too pricey as well. Every store I go to has like 2-4 copies of RE2 & 3. Those games aren't rare and no where near worth the price they're asking.

[kitten]

You've seriously got a point here, I've wondered this, too.

[kimimi]

It's the same here in the UK too, and with the same games.

[tearsofash]

When I used to work retail, I noticed that a lot of the used PS2 and Xbox games would move a lot of units in and out of the stores. While gamecube games simply wouldn't sell very much. I assert that possibly the prices remain high for these games because these gamecube games don't leave the store, they just sit there. While the games aren't "worth" that much, they don't lower the prices because they'd have to make their money back.

Grubbers.

[Shellshock]

In my opinion, a fraction of the Game Cube library has the reputation of being sought after by hardcore gamers even though it didn't do well as a mainstream machine. Gamestop knows this and will sell top ranked first-party titles (Mario titles, Metroid, Smash Bros., etc.) and niche exclusives (shoot'em-ups, Skies Of Arcadia, etc.) accordingly. The rest of the library gets marked up by association.

[YourAverageJoe]

Because the Wii plays GameCube games, and Wii users are widely believed not to know dick about gaming.

[MRSKELETON]

My gamestop has had the same copy of cubivore on it's shelf right next to odama and beyond good and evil for the last three years, each priced at 50$