Is it Worth Keeping Your Old Gaming Consoles?

The short answer is yes – old gaming consoles are absolutely worth keeping if you have the space. The nostalgia and potential rising value as collectibles outweigh the clutter. Read on as we dive into the details!

Why You Should Keep Your Retro Games and Consoles

Relive Cherished Memories and Experiences

Old consoles let us revisit the magical worlds and characters that shaped our childhoods. Whether it‘s the vast galaxies of Super Metroid, spiny turtles of Mario, or lyrical tunes of Sonic the Hedgehog, nothing else takes us back in time quite like playing those original cartridges on vintage hardware. Each console has its own personality that modern re-releases can‘t quite capture. Simply seeing your childhood NES or SNES boot up sparks joy. For retro game lovers, these consoles are like visiting an old friend.

Possible High Value as Collectibles

That dusty old console and stack of games in your closet could be worth a small fortune to collectors! For example, a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. for the NES sold for a record $660,000 in 2021. Even relatively common first-generation PlayStations and Nintendo 64s in their original boxes can easily fetch $300 to $500 in mint condition.

According to the video game price tracker PriceCharting.com, the average price of a loose NES is $72, while a complete-in-box model sells for $465. The more uncommon TurboGrafx-16 consistently sells for around $330. Below is a table with average resale values for some popular retro consoles and games.

These numbers show there is real money to be made in collecting vintage consoles and games! But do your homework first – values can vary widely for rarer items.

Long-Lasting Durability of Cartridge Systems

Unlike disc-based consoles, vintage cartridge systems like the NES, SNES and Nintendo 64 often keep working reliably for 20-30 years or longer. My own childhood NES still boots up fine after decades of use. With reasonable maintenance and care, these retro consoles can provide many more years of enjoyment before failure. Solid-state cartridges are far more durable than optical discs as well.

Compare that to modern consoles which typically last only 5-7 years before some component like the optical drive or hard disk dies. This planned obsolescence means those newer systems inevitably end up in the trash unless repaired. There‘s just something truly built-to-last about those blocky gray cartridge boxes.

Why You May Not Want to Keep Old Systems Around

Console Failures and Repair Costs

While cart-based systems are durable, they aren‘t bulletproof. Power supplies, chips, connectors and other components can still degrade over time, leading to video or audio glitches. Once issues arise, repair costs may exceed the console‘s value. For example, replacing an original NES‘ 72-pin connector can cost $50-100 including labor – essentially the console‘s current loose value. Proper maintenance helps minimize repairs.

Disc-based consoles have significantly higher failure rates once they reach the 7-10 year mark. Laser assemblies wear out, motors and belts fail, and hard drives eventually die. Replacement parts can be found online, but repairing optical issues requires soldering skills and special tools. For common disc-based consoles like the PlayStation 2 or Xbox 360, repairs rarely warrant the expense versus just buying another used unit.

Large Amounts of Clutter

Let‘s be honest – those boxes and tangled controller cables cluttering up your closet can get out of hand over decades of collecting! Setting up consoles to actually play older games takes effort too. Game collections amassed since childhood may seem overwhelming to manage. But you can take steps to mitigate the chaos.

Be selective about what to keep vs. giving away or selling. Focus on the must-have consoles and games with irreplaceable nostalgic or collecting value. For the rest, consider just keeping the original packaging and manuals for your most prized items. These increase resale value while taking up far less space. Store everything neatly in clear plastic totes with inventories labeling contents.

Increasing Availability of Retro Games Digitally

Modern game re-releases and emulation are making many retro titles easy to buy and play again through legal methods. Nintendo Switch Online includes a Netflix-style library of classic NES and SNES games for just $20/year. Sony and Sega also offer monthly game streaming subscriptions with hundreds of classic titles. Take these into account when weighing whether to keep old consoles.

However, note that emulated games don‘t necessarily recreate the exact look and feel of original hardware. Your childhood SNES may use a distinct pixel filter or custom color palette that feels integral to revisiting classics like Link to the Past or Super Metroid. Just something to consider!

Tips for Maintaining and Storing Your Retro Console Collection

• Use high quality surge protectors when playing or testing old consoles to avoid electrical spikes damaging sensitive components.
• Clean cartridge connectors regularly using isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs to avoid buildup of dust and grime.
• Open up disc-based consoles every 2-3 years to gently clean out accumulated dust bunnies that can cause overheating issues.
• Replace old AAA batteries yearly in cartridges, controllers, and memory cards to prevent leakage and corrosion damage.
• Replace bulging or leaking capacitors on system boards – these indicate capacitors are failing and can destroy the entire board.
• Keep hardware disassembled in marked zip lock bags when possible to avoid scratches and scuffs during storage.
• Store consoles in cool, dry places and avoid direct sunlight exposure over time which can damage plastics and labels.
• Every 5 years, remove cartridge games from boxes and re-insert them to prevent the pins from warping the cardboard.

The Joys of Collecting Retro Consoles

For retro gamers, curating a collection of cherished classic consoles can be extremely rewarding. As an avid collector myself, I love the nostalgia rush of replaying childhood favorites on original hardware. There‘s also great satisfaction in hunting down hard-to-find rarities and seeing your collection slowly grow over the years.

My collection consists of about 20 vintage consoles, hundreds of cartridges and discs, and various accessories that I‘ve accumulated since the 1980s. I keep a detailed inventory of everything in a collector app and store it all neatly labeled in clear plastic totes. Every few months, I‘ll take an afternoon to pick out some classics and reminisce about simpler times of blowing dust out of cartridges!

While collecting can get out of hand, you can keep it a fun and manageable hobby with some organization and restraint. Focus on the consoles and games that truly resonate with you personally rather than blindly accumulating everything. With proper care, your retro systems can provide enjoyment for decades to come. So dig those old consoles out of your parents‘ basement – they deserve another chance to shine!