Can We Track Down Every Cart In Our Top 50 Game Boy List In One Week?

So now, in honour of the Sport Boy’s thirty fifth anniversary and as a testomony to my religion in your list-generating prowess, I’m going to arm myself with £100 solely and add as many video games as I can to my assortment in a single week.

One week, £100, 50 video games – a Tal Tal job

Some qualifiers right here – the NL Sport Boy record is a dwelling record, so I froze it earlier than starting this problem. The very last thing I want is for Wonderful Tater to miraculously slide on and bankrupt me.

Additionally, borrowing a sport is ok – if experiencing it as a transient a part of my assortment for now’s the most suitable choice, then that’s what I’ll go together with. Talking of which, although I singled out Catrap and Child Dracula for his or her brilliance, I needed to promote them on after taking part in as they have been so costly to acquire – and sadly which means they don’t rely towards the overall for now (drat…ula). It’s what number of video games are in my possession or ordered as soon as the week is completed. Let’s go!

The record

That is the record (in alphabetical order) because it appeared after I began – something bolded is a sport that’s already a part of my assortment.

10 out of fifty. One fifth. Not a foul start line. And for these , the most recent addition was Kirby’s Dream Land, one I used to be astonished I didn’t personal.

Press begin

So, the place to start? The primary level of name is sounding the alarm with family and friends. I message the next:

“Good day! Does anyone have or know anybody who has a set of authentic Gameboy video games? And know if they might be keen to half with a few of them? Mortgage or promote.”

I put up an analogous message to a couple Discord teams and social media too.

Whereas I anticipate replies I open up eBay. I used to like scouring it for video games in my teenagers. It is a lot tougher to seek out bargains on there today however nonetheless sometimes throws up a gem.

I decide to seek for Mega Man IV and V first – the Blue Bomber is pretty ubiquitous, I sense these will probably be a straightforward discover and comparatively low-cost. I can’t presumably repeat the expletive mixture that fell out of my mouth upon seeing costs for these, however virtually throughout the board they might blow my complete price range. There’s one copy of Mega Man IV that’s £70 and Japanese imports are within the mid-30s. Imports are definitely an possibility however I’d want to know what’s taking place if potential (not that Megaman’s story ever deviates too wildly). I ‘watch’ the £70 Mega Man IV as a result of I’m an fool and backburner this.

Let’s purpose decrease. It’s the legislation for each family within the UK to personal not less than one copy of Tetris, so these different two Tetris video games could maintain some hope. Tetris 2: £7.99 with free delivery. There’s fairly just a few of those, so I watch a pair for now. Tetris Assault: £4.99! Oh, however £3.50 delivery. Smug within the information there’ll be a equally priced one with free delivery, I generously supply £3 and transfer on.

I’m astounded that there are two video games that start with a ‘Q’ on this record and as I had by no means heard of them I brace for a large hit. Each QIX and Quarth vary wildly from £7 to £40ish however delivery eats up the price range as soon as extra. Watch some low-cost ones, transfer on once more.

Obstacles

Now, I’ve a confession. I don’t like Castlevania video games. I’ve tried, I actually have. And I like Metroidvanias! Simply not precise ‘Vania’s, it appears. Once more although – outstanding sequence, in all probability bought effectively, low-cost on the secondhand market, I’d wager. WRONG. One other price range blower. Backburner.

Anxious that I’m making no progress I determine to return and make some bids. I search ‘Tetris Assault’ – it’s gone! Shouldn’t have been stingy, time to seek out one other £4.99 one. No. They’re all double the quantity. One other volley of profanities. I can’t consider I didn’t pounce on it. This isn’t going effectively.

What’s quickly changing into clear to me is that my instincts about this are manner off. Established franchises that I assume would’ve bought tons of copies and subsequently be freely in circulation appear to be actually dear, whereas the extra obscure titles are much less of successful. This scattershot method is doing me no favours and it’s all a bit pricier than I hoped, I’ll barely be capable to double what I’ve acquired if I simply purchase blind. It’s time to drag out the massive weapons. It’s time to make a spreadsheet.

I jot the 40 lacking entries down and search them one after the other, including a median worth for every, making a promise to myself that I’ll solely purchase a sport when it’s beneath that.

I can’t presumably repeat the expletive mixture that fell out of my mouth upon seeing costs

Bids are positioned and my cellphone’s buzzing like a Beedrill as replies begin to materialise. There’s a stunning outpouring of enthusiasm from folks wanting to indicate off their assortment – however many of the people are miles away or, fairly understandably, anxious to half with these little treasures. That’s honest, I do know I might be. However there’s some hope. My brother-in-law Nic’s been in search of an excuse to raid his attic assortment and he is aware of of a superb secondhand store within the space. He additionally mentions the automotive boot gross sales which can be on tomorrow which have served him effectively. We’re going to early chook it – if there’s any Sport Boy video games there, we’ll swoop in earlier than anyone else has an opportunity.

Subsequent is a reply on Twitter from Sean with an INCREDIBLE-looking assortment, I may even see just a few from the record from the image he’s despatched. We get chatting and though we’ve by no means met, it seems he’s, by an insane coincidence, from my neck of the woods. I ask if I can ship an inventory for him to have a look at and he kindly agrees. It’s late now and I’m zero video games up, however the groundwork has been laid.

Daybreak of the second day

6am and raining. Via bleary eyes I clumsily pour tea right into a thermos and query my life decisions. “It’s higher to not rush this,” I inform myself. “You’ll get extra should you’re affected person.”

With a pockets of money and an Excel doc in my pocket, Nic and I enter the boot sale. I don’t know what number of of you’ve got visited a automotive boot sale in England however I discover they’re, typically, one of many oddest experiences you’ll be able to have. Automobiles pitched higgledy-piggledy amongst packing containers and tables, all overflowing with a random assortment of things as folks rifle via them at lightning pace. Need to choose up a classic Energy Rangers doll and an ornate, three-tier, pyramid tiffin field? Nice – they’re inexplicably subsequent to one another on that desk, by the pair of used Crocs.

This apotheosis of hodgepodge is all underscored by a person in a van with a mic informing us repeatedly in regards to the stunning cuts of meat he has on supply. The one Nintendo merchandise we discover is a Mario Kart Carerra Go monitor and the one gaming tools we discover is a Binatone TV Grasp MK 6. No, me neither. It seems to be a enjoyable little jaunt, however after two hours of perambulation we declare it a bust.

Massive break

We transfer onto the excessive avenue. CEX and secondhand retailers throw up the standard suspects, Mario Land, Pokémon, Tetris, Zelda – all at an honest worth, too. It’s heartening that these classics are nonetheless floating round on the market for people to find, however they’re no use to me proper now.

Then we attain ‘Desires’ – an imposing, treasure trove of outdated console video games. There’s a duplicate of Phantasm of Time for the SNES within the window for goodness’ sake – how have I not been right here earlier than? I chat to Jon behind the desk and he passes me the Sport Boy field. Jackpot! Motocross Maniacs, Tiny Toons: Babs’ Massive Break, Donkey Kong Land, Donkey Kong ’94, James Bond 007, Contra Operation C… My coronary heart thumps. Mega Man! But it surely’s the unique, not IV or V. Rattling.

I determine to drag all of the video games from the field one after the other simply in case I missed a title after I really feel one thing bizarre – a considerably weightier cartridge for a Star Trek sport. Jon opens it as much as uncover it’s a pretend! I assume the dearth of ‘Nintendo GAMEBOY’ on the entrance ought to’ve tipped us off. The chip on the board is a behemoth and it fires up simply nice. I’m giddy as I’ve by no means come throughout this earlier than – the curio collector in me is screaming to purchase it for the novelty, however with a frightening sufficient job forward of me, doing so can be illogical, captain.

Operation C is slightly above price range at £20 – though it does common at 30+ on eBay. The Tetris Assault sting remains to be recent however I depart it and go for the opposite 5 – I really feel amount is essential at this juncture. The video games whole £49, a lot lower than the mix of their eBay common, however Jon does me a stable and knocks off a fiver. I’m 5 video games up and if I’ve acquired spare to splurge on the finish, Contra could also be calling – if I haven’t missed out once more.

Harvest boon

Some days and slightly backwards and forwards later the mortgage provides begin to crystalise – Sean, Nic, and some others pitch in to sort out a sizeable chunk of the record: Dr. Mario, Sport & Watch Gallery, Nemesis, Tremendous R.C. Professional-Am, Child Icarus, Operation C (Probotector over right here), Balloon Child, Kirby’s Pinball Land, Batman, Tetris Assault (thank heavens), Donkey Kong Land 2 & 3, Gargoyle’s Quest & Harvest Moon! I’m additionally provided Castlevania II, Mole Mania, and Picross – these final three are Japanese carts however Castlevania has English textual content, Picross has English menus, and I assume I can google translate Mole Mania? I’ve all the time wished to play it so nothing’s going to cease me.

Nic messages once more – “I’ve one other Mega Man sport right here.” Coronary heart stops… “Mega Man III”. Extra swears, although they’re not out loud this time, in order that’s one thing. I’m cursed with that sequence. Nonetheless, that’s a staggering 32 video games whole up from 10 just a few days in the past and I’m left with a price range of £56.

There’s solely a few days left and I’ve known as each retro sport store domestically and past and exhausted the charity retailers and contacts for loans. It’s time to scour eBay. I calculate that if I can common £8 or much less per sport it’ll get me to 40 whole. I do know there’s some actual dear ones left so I’m going to go away these till final and with the others I’ll scroll all the best way down on every search, supply audaciously low after I can (perhaps even message people straight), then simply bid on something beneath common. I get a number of rejection, a number of pushback, flat refusals, and lose out on just a few that weren’t dangerous, however sticking to my weapons does yield some nice outcomes.

Tetris 2 for £5 by way of a direct message and a stunning chat, Qix for £7, Wario Land 2 for £9! I do blow £15 on Ultimate Fantasy Legend however I put that supply in as a cheeky lowball and by no means anticipated it to be accepted – it’s about half what it’s up for in every single place. That’s £20 left and 36 video games in whole. Can I scrape collectively one other 4 at a fiver every?

I completely can’t, however there’s a teeny, tiny probability I can squeeze out three. I’m sat on a £6 supply for Revenge of the Gator, £6 bid for DuckTales, and an £8 supply for Quarth. Gator is available in at £7 and I’m pipped on each Ducktales and Quarth as they go for over the typical quantity. £13 left. I’m going to should accept one if there’s a superb Purchase It Now possibility. Ducktales for a tenner to spherical it out? Bought. Not the rousing ending to this quest I hoped for however I’m pleased with what I’ve picked up.

Picrossing the end line

So what did we study? Properly, I used to be in a position to develop my assortment to a complete of 38 video games from this record (Ducktales and my mortgage of Sport & Watch Gallery are within the put up) – practically quadrupling what I had in a single week, all examined and dealing and able to be adored. I’ll full all of them, return the loanees, and transfer on those that don’t sing to me. This may hopefully fund the remaining 11 which, actually, are luxurious purchases, all averaging over £50 except you’re pleased with a repro cart (and I have to admit there’s a £20 Parodius one from Italy calling to me) or one imported from Japan which are likely to skew 40-60% cheaper.

However greater than that – I realized that after three and a half a long time of life, there’s nonetheless a group whose ardour for this little brick burns brightly. Need a keyring of an obscure Sport Boy title like Catrap? It’s a factor! Need to spend 100+ kilos on a particular version remaster of Avenging Spirit with a glow-in-the-dark cartridge? Go nuts! There are folks making new video games and bodily releases for it as you learn this – I acquired to talk to a few of them just lately and so they’re mad and good. Individuals are eager to indicate off and typically even share their collections. Seeing listings for manuals and tattered packing containers made me so nostalgic for the times when you may pop right into a excessive avenue sport store and there’d be stacks of those little cartridges to seize – all boxed and full.

And although that’s much less of a factor today, rising your assortment with an inexpensive price range is potential – you simply have to be organised, examine on daily basis, and don’t hesitate whenever you see a superb deal. I’ll preserve this record up and likewise watch to see the way you form it sooner or later with eager curiosity.

35 and nonetheless going robust. Lengthy stay Sport Boy.