Guy buys Neo Geo Pocket at Gamestop

[ookitarepanda]

http://kotaku.com/5420285/buying-a-neo-geo-pocket-from-gamestop-in-2009

It's not every day that you're able to walk into a 21st-century GameStop, hand over $50 and walk home with a Neo Geo Pocket Color, almost ten years after SNK stopped making the thing.

But that's exactly what happened to reader Steven this past week, a casual conversation with some friends at a local GameStop leading to a search of the nationwide retailers database for, of all things, a Neo Geo Pocket Color. Turns out it pays to search for obscure consoles, because instead of being told there were "0" in stock, as you'd expect, the search actually discovered there was "1" in stock (pre-owned, of course). And not just "1", but five games to boot.

So orders were placed, and whaddya know, the system wasn't lying; Steven swung by the GameStop on Saturday to pick up his order, which consisted not only of a working Neo Geo Pocket Color, but Pac-Man, Fatal Fury: First Contact, Samurai Shodown 2, Metal Slug: 1st Mission, and Neo Turf Masters.

That's pretty hilarious on the receipt that they tried to offer him the warranty on it. I didn't think Gamestop was allowed to keep a lot of old systems that are traded in, that they just got rid of 'em.

 

[Xian Xi]

Ya, from what the guy told me anything older than PS1 or so is turned away.

 

[SSS]

didn't they have a bunch of these for sale like 3 years ago? They found some old stock somewhere and packaged a bunch of bare carts with the system in a clear plastic case.

 

[MilkManX]

I love that thing. I still have one with Snk VS Capcom MOTM. The card battle game was addicting too! They should port that to the iPhone/iPod Touch...

 

[Xian Xi]

They should port that to the iPhone/iPod Touch...

That is a good idea.

 

[Average Joe]

I make it a point to play through Card Fighters once every 3-4 months.

This thread reminded me that I need a new NGPC.

I don't know how but I managed to put a nice scratch across a good portion of my screen.

EDIT: Bought that system on Day 1 of its US launch.

Definitely one of the more nostalgic of consoles I still currently own.

 

[RocketLawnChair]

didn't they have a bunch of these for sale like 3 years ago? They found some old stock somewhere and packaged a bunch of bare carts with the system in a clear plastic case.

Yeah, I remember that. Surprised the hell out of me at the time.

 

[Darren870]

didn't they have a bunch of these for sale like 3 years ago? They found some old stock somewhere and packaged a bunch of bare carts with the system in a clear plastic case.

Yes and it was marked as a used system in the register. So really this is just a left over from that lot that probably sat in the back somewhere.

 

[BigTinz]

Are there any Gamestops that still sell SNES/PS1 games?

None of the stores in Alabama do.

 

[rarehero]

I like how the article mentions that the pocket was working.
like for some reason it wouldn't, maybe if the battery leaked.
But whatever.

Great system. It would be swell if it was ported over to the iphone or android.

 

[AppleiDog]

didn't they have a bunch of these for sale like 3 years ago? They found some old stock somewhere and packaged a bunch of bare carts with the system in a clear plastic case.

I was thinking the very same, most likly was that same package which makes the story alot less interesting

 

[DanAdamKOF]

I was thinking the very same, most likly was that same package which makes the story alot less interesting

Yeah ditto. These aren't hard to find at all.

Now if he was searching for the last boxed/new US unit that was still on a shelf for sale, that'd be different. That's what I thought it'd be at first.

 

[Comrade Porn King Mikhail]

It was funny that the guy was looking for this in the first place. It would have been a cooler score had it been a Nomad or a Lynx.

 

[OrochiEddie]

I remember maybe 5-6 years ago you could find these in Gamestops suddenly. My local GS had these pre packed bundles out of the blue come into the store and I snagged one. I love the NGPC, its such a fun little system. What makes it great though is that it really reminds you of what handheld games should be, quick fun for while you are traveling.

 

[ki_atsushi]

Ya, from what the guy told me anything older than PS1 or so is turned away.

Actually, they don't even buy PS1, N64, Dreamcast, or even original Xbox at all anymore, and They're even going to be phasing out PS2 and Gamecube games soon. I hear they only give $0.50 for trade-in of PS2 games now.

 

[Tacitus]

I'll have to check if it still exists, but if the EB/Gamestop in the Franklin Mills mall is still around, you all have to make a pilgrimige there.

It's filled to the ceilings with classic games, consoles..etc. It's their outlet store and some of the stuff that makes its way through there is amazing. It's like what GS would be if they cared and didn't suck.

I haven't been up there in a few years, so I don't know. But you could walk in one day and they'd have sealed NES, 2600 or other vintage games. They still had boxed consoles from generations ago in the store..

I'm going to have to run up there this weekend and see if it's the same.

 

[abasuto]

I got mine at Gamestop a few year back. They had the pack with 5 games for 50 bucks.