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

The Game Boy turns 35 years of ages today, 21st April 2024, and we’ve run a number of functions over the previous couple of days commemorating the system and its video games.

Today, George goes on an impressive mission to see if he can get the 50 finest GB video games– as ranked by you — in physical kind with simply 100 pounds sterling in his pocket …

I’ve been delighting in something of a love affair with the Game Boy just recently– or more particularly, its back brochure of video games. After buying the Analogue Pocket in 2015 I uncovered my Game Boy collection with a strategy to resolve every title I owned. I have an OG DMG Game Boy obviously and made certain to very first fire up the huge young boy for that correct fond memories hit– the amazing little maker is just 2 years my junior and still works perfectly. I want I might state the exact same about my knees.

I am going to equip myself with ₤ 100 just and include as numerous video games as I can to my collection in one week

Scrolling the contrast wheel under my thumb, feeling the ripples of the back case versus my fingertips, moving that satisfyingly chunky power switch; cheerful memories came flooding back with that very first renowned’bing. It seemed like I was last playing it the other day.

Back to its video games. I searched through the cartridges and was enjoyed fill up some old classics. A Pokémon Red file with a Lv.100 Zapdos called ‘Kazooie’ (appeared like an excellent concept at the time), New Ghostbusters II (established by HAL Laboratory and quite a gotten taste), a half-finished effort of Metroid II which immediately killed me once again and once again. Great times.

I did resolve them and was so delighted with their pocket-sized goodness that I’ve been broadening my collection gradually since. This is where I have a thank you to state to the excellent readers of Nintendo Life, due to the fact that it’s the list you’ve curated that I’ve been utilizing as a design template for my collection. And goodness me there are some gems. The fiendishly fantastic Catrap Kid Dracula‘s pint-size excellence– video games I ‘d never ever become aware of that supplied hours of enjoyable. Each up until now has actually been a deserving addition.

Now, in honour of the Game Boy’s 35th anniversary and as a testimony to my faith in your list-generating expertise, I am going to equip myself with ₤ 100 just and include as lots of video games as I can to my collection in one week.

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

Some qualifiers here– the NL Game Boy list is a living list, so I froze it before starting this obstacle. The last thing I require is for Incredible Tater to amazingly move on and bankrupt me.

Obtaining a video game is great– if experiencing it as a short-term part of my collection for now is the finest alternative, then that’s what I’ll go with. Mentioning which, though I singled out Catrap and Kid Dracula for their radiance, I needed to offer them on after playing as they were so pricey to get– and regretfully that implies they do not count towards the overall in the meantime (drat … ula). It’s the number of video games are in my ownership or bought when the week is done. Let’s go!

The list

This is the list (in alphabetical order) as it appeared when I began– anything bolded is a video game that is currently part of my collection.

10 out of 50. One fifth. Not a bad beginning point. And for those interested, the most recent addition was Kirby’s Dream Landone I was amazed I didn’t own.

Press start

Where to start? The very first point of call is sounding the alarm with family and friends. I message the following:

“Hello! Does any person have or understand anybody who has a collection of initial Gameboy video games? And understand if they may want to part with a few of them? Loan or sell.”

I publish a comparable message to a couple of Discord groups and social networks too.

While I wait on replies I open eBay. I utilized to like searching it for video games in my teenagers. It’s much more difficult to discover deals on there nowadays however still sometimes tosses up a gem.

I decide to look for Mega Man IV and V — the Blue Bomber is relatively common, I pick up these will be a simple discover and reasonably inexpensive. I can not potentially duplicate the curse mix that fell out of my mouth upon seeing costs for these, however practically throughout the board they would blow my whole budget plan. There is one copy of Mega Man IV that is ₤ 70 and Japanese imports remain in the mid-30s. Imports are definitely a choice however I ‘d choose to comprehend what’s taking place if possible (not that Megaman’s story ever deviates too hugely). I ‘see’ the ₤ 70 Mega Man IV since I’m a moron and backburner this.

Let’s intend lower. It’s the law for every single home in the UK to own a minimum of one copy of Tetris, so these other 2 Tetris video games might hold some hope. Tetris 2: ₤ 7.99 with totally free shipping. There’s numerous of these, so I enjoy a couple in the meantime. Tetris Attack: ₤ 4.99! Oh, however ₤ 3.50 shipping. Smug in the understanding there’ll be a likewise priced one with complimentary shipping, I kindly use ₤ 3 and carry on.

I am shocked that there are 2 video games that start with a ‘Q’ on this list and as I had actually never ever become aware of them I brace for a huge hit. Both QIX and Quarth variety extremely from ₤ 7 to ₤ 40ish however shipping consumes the spending plan again. See some low-cost ones, carry on once again.

Stumbling blocks

Now, I have a confession. I do not like Castlevania video games. I have actually attempted, I actually have. And I enjoy Metroidvanias! Simply not real ‘Vania’s, it appears. Once again however– popular series, most likely offered well, low-cost on the previously owned market, I ‘d bet. INCORRECT. Another budget plan blower. Backburner.

Anxious that I’m making no development I choose to return and make some quotes. I browse ‘Tetris Attack’– it’s gone! Should not have actually been stingy, time to discover another ₤ 4.99 one. No. They’re all double the quantity. Another volley of obscenities. I can not think I didn’t catch it. This is not working out.

What’s quickly ending up being clear to me is that my impulses about this are method off. Developed franchises that I presume would’ve offered lots of copies and for that reason be easily in flow appear to be actually expensive, whereas the more odd titles are less of a hit. This scattershot technique is doing me no favours and it’s all a bit costlier than I was hoping, I’ll hardly have the ability to double what I’ve got if I simply purchase blind. It’s time to take out the huge weapons. It’s time to make a spreadsheet.

I write the 40 missing out on entries down and browse them one by one, including a typical rate for each, making a guarantee to myself that I will just purchase a video game when it’s listed below that.

I can not potentially duplicate the curse mix that fell out of my mouth upon seeing costs

Quotes are positioned and my phone’s buzzing like a Beedrill as replies begin to materialise. There’s a charming profusion of interest from individuals wishing to flaunt their collection – however the majority of the folks are miles away or, rather not surprisingly, distressed to part with these little treasures. That’s reasonable, I understand I would be. There is some hope. My brother-in-law Nic’s been searching for a reason to rob his attic collection and he understands of an excellent secondhand store in the location. He likewise discusses the vehicle boot sales that are on tomorrow that have actually served him well. We’re going to early riser it– if there’s any Game Boy video games there, we’ll swoop in before anyone else has a possibility.

Next is a reply on Twitter from Sean with an INCREDIBLE-looking collection, I can even see a couple of from the list from the photo he’s sent out. We get talking and although we’ve never ever satisfied, it ends up he is, by an outrageous coincidence, from my neck of the woods. I ask if I can send out a list for him to take a look at and he kindly concurs. It’s late now and I’m no video games up, however the foundation has actually been laid.

Dawn of the 2nd day

6am and drizzling. Through bleary eyes I awkwardly put tea into a thermos and concern my life options. “It’s much better not to hurry this,” I inform myself. “You’ll get more if you’re client.”

With a wallet of money and an Excel doc in my pocket, Nic and I get in the boot sale. I do not understand the number of you have actually checked out an automobile boot sale in England however I discover they are, typically, among the oddest experiences you can have. Cars and trucks pitched higgledy-piggledy among boxes and tables, all overruning with a random selection of products as individuals rifle through them at warp speed. Wish to get a vintage Power Rangers doll and an elaborate, three-tier, pyramid tiffin box? Great– they’re inexplicably beside each other on that table, by the set of utilized Crocs.

This apotheosis of collection is all highlighted by a male in a van with a mic notifying us constantly about the stunning cuts of meat he has on deal. The only Nintendo product we discover is a Mario Kart Carerra Go track and the only video gaming devices we discover is a Binatone Television Master MK 6. No, me neither. It ends up being an enjoyable little jaunt, however after 2 hours of perambulation we state it a bust.

Huge break

We move onto the high street. CEX and previously owned stores toss up the normal suspects, Mario LandPokémon, Tetris, Zelda — all at a good cost, too. It’s heartening that these classics are still drifting around out there for folks to find, however they’re no usage to me today.

We reach ‘Wants’– a magnificent, treasure chest of old console video games. There’s a copy of Impression of Time for the SNES in the window for goodness’ sake – how have I not been here before? I talk to Jon behind the desk and he passes me the Game Boy box. Prize! Motocross Maniacs Tiny Toons: Babs’ Big Break Donkey Kong Land Donkey Kong ’94 James Bond 007 Contra Operation C… My heart thumps. Mega Man! It’s the initial, not IV or V. Damn.

I choose to pull all the video games from package one by one simply in case I missed out on a title when I feel something strange– a considerably weightier cartridge for a Star Trek video game. Jon opens it approximately find it’s a phony! I think the absence of ‘Nintendo GAMEBOY’ on the front must’ve tipped us off. The chip on the board is a leviathan and it fires up simply fine. I’m giddy as I’ve never ever encountered this before – the curio collector in me is yelling to purchase it for the novelty, however with a challenging adequate job ahead of me, doing so would be illogical, captain.

Operation C is a little above spending plan at ₤ 20– although it does typical at 30+ on eBay. The Tetris Attack sting is still fresh however I leave it and select the other 5– I feel amount is crucial at this point. The video games amount to ₤ 49, much less than the mix of their eBay average, however Jon does me a strong and knocks off a fiver. I’m 5 video games up and if I’ve got extra to spend lavishly at the end, Contra might be calling– if I have not lost out once again.

Harvest benefit

Some days and a little backward and forward later on the loan provides start to crystalise– Sean, Nic, and a couple of others pitch in to deal with a significant portion of the list: Dr. Mario Video game & & Watch Gallery Bane Super R.C. Pro-Am Kid IcarusOperation C (Probotector over here), Balloon Kid Kirby’s Pinball Land BatmanTetris Attack (thank paradises), Donkey Kong Land 2 & 3 Gargoyle’s Quest & Harvest MoonI’m likewise provided Castlevania II Mole Maniaand Picross — these last 3 are Japanese carts however Castlevania has English text, Picross has English menus, and I think I can google equate Mole Mania? I’ve constantly wished to play it so absolutely nothing’s going to stop me.

Nic messages once again– “I have another Mega Man video game here.” Heart stops … “Mega Man III”. More swears, though they’re not aloud this time, so that’s something. I’m cursed with that series. Still, that’s an incredible 32 video games amount to up from 10 a couple of days earlier and I’m entrusted to a spending plan of ₤ 56.

There’s just a number of days left and I’ve called every retro video game store in your area and beyond and tired the charity stores and contacts for loans. It’s time to search eBay. I determine that if I can balance ₤ 8 or less per video game it’ll get me to 40 overall. I understand there’s some genuine expensive ones left so I’m going to leave those up until last and with the others I’ll scroll all the method down on each search, deal audaciously low when I can (perhaps even message folks straight), then simply bid on anything second-rate. I get a great deal of rejection, a great deal of pushback, flat rejections, and lose on a couple of that weren’t bad, however staying with my weapons does yield some fantastic outcomes.

Tetris 2 for ₤ 5 by means of a direct message and a charming chat, Qix for ₤ 7, Wario Land 2 for ₤ 9! I do blow ₤ 15 on Last Fantasy Legend I put that deal in as a saucy lowball and never ever anticipated it to be accepted– it’s about half what it’s up for all over. That’s ₤ 20 left and 36 video games in overall. Can I scrape together another 4 at a fiver each?

I definitely can not, however there’s a tiny, small opportunity I can eject 3. I’m rested on a ₤ 6 deal for Vengeance of the Gator₤ 6 quote for DuckTalesand an ₤ 8 deal for Quarth. Gator is available in at ₤ 7 and I’m pipped on both Ducktales and Quarth as they choose over the typical quantity. ₤ 13 left. I’m going to need to choose one if there’s a bargain It Now choice. Ducktales for a tenner to round it out? Offered. Not the rousing ending to this mission I was wishing for however I more than happy with what I’ve gotten.

Picrossing the goal

What did we find out? Well, I had the ability to grow my collection to an overall of 38 video games from this list (Ducktales and my loan of Game & & Watch Gallery remain in the post)– almost quadrupling what I had in one week, all checked and working and all set to be loved. I’ll finish them all, return the loanees, and carry on the ones that do not sing to me. This will ideally money the staying 11 which, actually, are luxury purchases, all balancing over ₤ 50 unless you’re delighted with a repro cart (and I need to confess there is a ₤ 20 Parodius one from Italy contacting us to me) or one imported from Japan which tend to alter 40-60% more affordable.

More than that– I discovered that after 3 and a half years of life, there’s still a neighborhood whose enthusiasm for this little brick burns vibrantly. Desire a keyring of an odd Game Boy title like Catrap? It’s a thing! Wish to invest 100+ pounds on a scandal sheet remaster of Avenging Spirit with a glow-in-the-dark cartridge? Go nuts! There are individuals making brand-new video games and physical releases for it as you read this– I got to speak with a few of them just recently and they’re mad and dazzling. Individuals are eager to display and often even share their collections. Seeing listings for handbooks and scruffy boxes made me so classic for the days when you might pop into a high street video game store and there ‘d be stacks of these little cartridges to get – all boxed and total.

And though that’s less of a thing nowadays, growing your collection with an affordable spending plan is possible– you simply require to be arranged, examine every day, and do not be reluctant when you see a bargain. I’ll keep this list up and likewise enjoy to see how you form it in the future with eager interest.

35 and still going strong. Long live Game Boy.