AUGUSTA,
Ga. – If you were conscious during the late 1980s, Nintendo is likely a
household name in your memory. You may even own an original NES stored away
somewhere, collecting dust. But if you're one of the many who were looking
forward to the recently discontinued NES Classic Edition, you might have
grievances with Nintendo.
The
NES Classic Edition, released Nov. 10, 2016, was a game console by Nintendo,
created in the image and spirit of the original Nintendo Entertainment System.
According to the console's official
website, the system comes packed with 30 digital, original NES
titles and has peripherals compatible with other Nintendo systems, such as the
Wii U. The console's run lasted from November of 2016 to April 13, 2017, a
lifespan of only six months. According to IGN, Nintendo had never initially
planned for the product to be "long-term." As a result, fans of the
system are surprised.
"It
was a good thing to have," said Atari gamer Blake Jeffcoat, "You
could show the new generation what we used to play on." A notable
advantage of the NES Classic Edition was that it was compatible with modern TV
sets, which is a growing problem with retro gaming consoles. The low price of
$60 also attracted many gamers on a budget. Super Mario Bros. 3 and The Legend
of Zelda are just two of the 30 titles that were well received and sought out
by gamers who wanted to purchase the system.
"It's
just not fair," gamer Natasha Fletcher said, "At this point it's a
lot easier just to preinstall the emulators on your own system that's not
Nintendo." Fletcher, a Nintendo and Xbox fan, was referring to video game emulation; a
way to play classic games through digital piracy and custom software. Due to
the advents of the Internet and computer technology, video games can easily be
converted to files on a desktop or laptop and played this way. Some gamers may
resort to this method if they cannot find the games they are looking for in a
store. Not all gamers, however, enjoy the experience of emulation. Some, in
fact, enjoy the authenticity of the real thing. "I just really like the
like idea of just like going to my TV and turning on like a system and like
playing the game rather than like pulling it up on my laptop," local
gaming enthusiast and artist Shea Minor said, "It just feels more genuine to
me."
Shea Minor, a Nintendo loyalist, prefers “genuine” gaming instead of emulation.
Jamie
Lopez, a gamer and computer systems analyst, owns a NES Classic Edition. Being
one of the lucky few to buy one when it was in limited supply, he enjoys
playing Super Mario Bros. and Tecmo Bowl in his free time. “I’ve been playing
classic games pretty much my whole life,” said Lopez, “I had those little
arcade boxes. You know, Galaga, the original Donkey Kong games. I used to play
those all the time.”
Lopez
enjoys his NES Classic Edition, but does not know anyone else who owns the
system besides himself. “It’s kind of the nature of Nintendo, not wanting to
stock the NES Classic very well,” explained Lopez, “There’s a lot of people
that I know who wanted to buy one that aren’t going to get a chance to have one
… but Nintendo did state that these were limited supply.”
Sadly,
due to the nature of the market, the rarity of the NES Classic Edition made it
a great target for price scalping. During its run, the console was notorious
for being low in supply and expensive online. This trend continues today, and
people refer to this practice as scalping.
"I
really do not like scalpers," said Minor, "With some of these
scalpers, sometimes you don't even know if, like, you're going to get the
product you're going to get." Since the console has been discontinued, the
only way for consumers to buy one is through a scalper or online sales. As
reported by Slashgear.com, prices for an NES Classic Edition online can range
from four
to nearly seven times the retail price. "You're looking at
people who are trying to deal with artificial scarcity," computer-based
Steam gamer Tom Elbon explained, "Order in bulk and sell it later for a
profit. That happens in almost every industry and unfortunately Nintendo's
promoting it."
So
what now? What can disappointed gamers turn to if they can't afford a NES
Classic Edition from a scalper? Apparently, they can turn to the next retro
console in line, or the rumored 'SNES Classic'. According to Eurogamer,
Nintendo has planned to release a successor
to the NES Classic Edition, this time focusing on the Super
Nintendo, or SNES. This new console will be made available around the holiday
season; the same time of year that the NES Classic Edition was advertised.
Alternatively, gamers seeking to play all the classics (meaning not just
Nintendo) can also look forward to the Dreamcade Replay, an
all-systems-in-one console in the works by DreamArcades. The console is funded
through Kickstarter, focuses on retro game emulation and is set to relaunch
funding starting in August. Lastly, console gamers can always turn to the RetroN 5 to make use of their
old Sega, Nintendo and Game Boy cartridges.
Even
if the rumored SNES Classic falls to the same fate as its predecessor, classic
gaming will continue to thrive. There will always be an alternative available,
be it another company’s product, digital downloads or emulation. The consistent
desire for classic games will keep a constant flow of new outlets for gamers
and remind companies of what consumers want.
Bravo! 🙌
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