Bubble Bobble For NES Cheap

There are a handful of original Nintendo games that are overpriced for reasons I'll never understand.  Contra and Bubble Bobble always come to mind.  As of this post there are over 100 copies of Bubble Bobble available on eBay and the same goes for Contra as well.  Bubble Bobble is averaging about $17, with contra just a few cents under $17.  I've seen both of these games easily go for $20 in game stores.

This is where http://www.videogamepriceguides.com/ has proven to come in handy.  Just browsing through the list I saw a BuyItNow Bubble Bobble for less than $12 with free shipping.  I bought it.  Why wouldn't I?

The same evening I bought Bubble Bobble, I saw a copy of Terra Cresta (BuyItNow), for $2 (it's currently around $16).  There was also a copy of Lolo for $2 as well (http://cgi.ebay.com/Adventures-of-Lolo-1-Nintendo-NES-Game_W0QQitemZ200385170261QQcategoryZ139973QQcmdZViewItem)  This is currently averaging $14.  I have too many games pending right now to buy it, but it makes me wonder why some games are so inflated.  I can kinda understand Terra Cresta...  there were only 8 copies available, so the supply might be what's increased it's value.  But this doesn't explain Bubble Bobble or Contra.  Were these great games?  Absolutely.  But doubtfully worth $15+

Red Or Blue

If you could pinpoint the most significant contribution the Nintendo Entertainment System had done for the video game industry it was clearly the influence of color and style in the characters you played. Especially if it was a two player game. For instance....


POW: Prisoners of War. Two players. Two Bandanas. One wears Red, the other wears Blue...



The Ikari Warriors. Two players. Two Bandanas. One wears Red, the other wears Blue...



Guerrilla War. Two players. No Bandanas. One wears Red, the other wears Blue...



POW: Prisoners of War. Two players (VS Mode). Two Bandanas (on the box art only). One wears Red, the other wears Blue...



Contra. Two Bandanas. One wears Red, the other wears Blue...



And on a completely unrelated topic, I knew the boxart to Contra (and well, part of the story of the game) was loosely based on Predator, but in looking at the game and the poster the only difference is the face. However the face on the dude on the Contra box looks more fitting for a Kool, New Port, or some other fruity cigarette brand's ad as featured in Better Homes and Gardens.