RCA Studio II game prices

[FOX2600]

After thinking about purchasing the console for a long time, I managed to finally get one on eBay recently, which led to my next observation:

 

Have Studio 2 game gone up in price in the last year or so? It seems not that long ago you could find most game on eBay for reasonable prices, and as of today there's few listings and they're all pretty "high". I did manage to purchase a CIB copy of tennis for only $12.50 though, but it seems like more of the games were around that price not long ago.

 

Also do homebrew Studio 2 games ever pop up in the AA store or anywhere else online? I remember someone on here was selling an awesome multicart, John Hancock showcased it on his YouTube channel. Thanks everyone

[FOX2600]

I remember someone on here was selling an awesome multicart, John Hancock showcased it on his YouTube channel. Thanks everyone

I found the thread Nevermind!

[BassGuitari]

Every Studio II cartridge except Gunfighter/Moonship Battle and Speedway/Tag should be obtainable for $10-15 each, even CIB. Those other two are the only real rare ones, and those will probably run $75+ CIB, maybe even more now (I think someone on here was trying to sell a CIB Gunfighter/Moonship for $125 recently, which felt high to me), what with all the recent buzz around the system.

[Atari_Bill]

Every Studio II cartridge except Gunfighter/Moonship Battle and Speedway/Tag should be obtainable for $10-15 each, even CIB. Those other two are the only real rare ones, and those will probably run $75+ CIB, maybe even more now (I think someone on here was trying to sell a CIB Gunfighter/Moonship for $125 recently, which felt high to me), what with all the recent buzz around the system.

Biorhythm will also run some $$ but not as much as these 2. Still looking for a Speedway Tag to complete my collection. They just never pop up for sale.

[carlsson]

A number of years ago, someone here at AA wanted to buy my copy of Biorhythm, but they really lowballed their bid so the trade never happened.

[Blazing Lazers]

No, Studio II prices haven't increased all that much, and especially not compared to other systems. There was only a slight rise in prices over the last year or so because of the renewed interest that was driven by the multicart and the copy of Bingo and the Demonstration Cartridges that turned up. Don't bother yourself about those two carts though- they're not part of the actual retail set, simply bonus items. Studio II remains the easiest and most affordable US system to get a full retail set for, even CIB. Assuming that you're buying in lots, the total cost of a loose system and all 10 games CIB should only be about $300. Or, as BassGuitari correctly noted, every single game, minus three, can be had individually CIB for under $20. You just have to wait for the right listings to show up on Ebay (disregard the delusional BIN's- they don't reflect reality). Check Craigslist often, too- Studio II stuff does show up there from time to time.

 

The three that you might have to wait around a bit on to be able to add to your collection are Biorhythm, Gunfighter/Moonship Battle, and Speedway/Tag. Biorhythm is not as rare as a lot of online sources make it out to be- and is only moderately more uncommon than most of the library. A fair forum price would be around $50, and should not be much more on Ebay. I just had a CIB copy on Ebay at a $75 BIN with free shipping for a month and it did not move at all- didn't even get any watchers. Speedway/Tag and Gunfighter/Moonship/Battle are the only truly rare games for the system, and even they show up several times a year, either by themselves or in lots. Each by itself should not go for more than $100 or so unless they're really in good shape and shipping is included in the price. I was the guy mentioned above who had the spare Gunfighter copy for $125- and actually got that via an Ebay BIN after fees and shipping (which was included) were factored in. That can be considered a ceiling in terms of price.

 

As an amusing aside, all the games originally retailed for $14.95 back in '77, with TV Schoolhouse I at $19.95 due to the extra materials included. When you consider that most all of the Studio II games can still be had around those prices even 40 years later, while at the same time inflation has turned $15 in 1977 money into around $60 in today's money (via quick Googling of inflation rates), the relative prices of Studio II games are much lower than they ever were during the retail life of the system. They've actually gotten more affordable over time! This is also true for games on other platforms, but it's really notable on the Studio II. A complete set is cheaper now than it was back then!

Edited June 12, 2017 by Blazing Lazers

[BassGuitari]

Luckily for me, my copy of Biorhythm was sneaked into a lot of four CIB games, for which I paid less than $30 shipped. Patience and diligence, friends--deals are out there.

In the absence of under-the-radar deals like that, I probably wouldn't pay more than about $45 tops for a CIB Biorhythm, and even then it would be slightly begrudgingly, but that's me. It's just not that rare a cart IMO, even CIB. I'm not denying that Biorhythm sells for more, just saying it's not worth it to me. If my apparent cheapness would mean simply not having Biorhythm--one of the most pointless software genres of all time--for the RCA Studio II--one of the most pointless game consoles of all time (I know we're fans here, but let's be real )--then that's something I would have just continued living with.

 

I was the guy mentioned above who had the spare Gunfighter copy for $125- and actually got that via an Ebay BIN after fees and shipping (which was included) were factored in. That can be considered a ceiling in terms of price.

 

I'm happy for you that you got your money, but chances are slim you'd get it from me. Other people want it more badly than I do, and that's cool too. I'll just wait for those people to finish overpaying, and I'll swoop in when sellers can't move them at $125 anymore.

And yeah, Bingo and Demo Cart don't count. Forget about them.

[carlsson]

6 years ago I was willing to sell Biorhythm CIB including overseas shipping for $23 (trade that never took place), but nowadays I'm glad I kept it.