The One Thing Millennials Did Kill (The Jimquisition)

On the topic of the GBA game prices, I would argue that it's not even millenials that did all that. The prices wouldn't be nearly as high had Nintendo actually kept a consistent online marketplace for its old games instead of forcing you to jump through all of the hoops in the universe just to gain the ability to buy a several decade old game during a very limited timeframe. If you could just buy a digital copy of Pokemon: Emerald or LoZ: Minish Cap at literally any time on Nintendo's digital storefront for...say, $10-15. And, have it transfer to the next console instead of having to buy it all over again? I'm willing to bet cash that these old cartridges wouldn't be nearly as ridiculously priced. Like, yeah. They'd still be pricey. Old stuff that's no longer made...yeah, makes sense. But, not nearly as ridiculous as they are priced now or were priced even five years ago.

Egor A. Palchyk

I very much appreciated that the commercials were low edited on this one, and love skeleton warriors as always. The fast speed makes them bridge a lot better and helps the pacing a ton. This was also a fun video, though I'd argue that people wanting a rare thing aren't ruining the fun for people wanting rare things. Supply and demand, plus ridiculously long copyright laws do that.

Harry Moore

Hey JSS, I've really enjoyed your content for years and saw your numbers declining, and I've never subscribed on patreon before, so hopefully my support goes a little bit towards canceling out the haters' unsubbing. It's not much, but every bit helps, right?

Captain Invictus

Commented on the YouTube video too, but hearing Jim talk about the Pokemon thing just made me think of my own card crack hobby of Magic, where assholes are also pricing people out of the game, and for some reason every business decision Wizarda of the Coast makes regarding distribution seems to benefit the secondary market at their OWN expense. Like, they're doing all sorts of crazy deliberate scarcity bullshit when these products would fly off shelves and make gobs of cash if they just printed more of it.

But You May Call Me... Thrackerzod

I’m broken hearted about all my favorite cartoons being glorified commercials with a slapped on life lesson at the end. BUTT do you think those tacked on life lessons may have actually, accidentally, been one of the biggest pushes for multicultural and different lifestyle acceptance in the last 30 years. Like maybe there really are grown up out there now who aren’t racist as fuck because He-man and the Thunder Cats told them that shit’s stupid.

Jim Lee

I wish I could say I was surprised but I'm not lmao. Also the new outfit is looking great, I love it

GeneralJenny

True and valid - and utterly maddening. All I can say is "Thank god, ennui."

J

We can always blame capitalism and billionaires. But more to the point: another brilliant video James Stephanie. And as a fellow '84 baby, you are exactly right: we've been advertised to for our entire lives and it has messed us up. So well said James Stephanie. (Also that bit right at the beginning got me laughing so hard. And the bit at 12 minutes was beautiful.)

Perpetual Noob

I feel a perverse kind of glee knowing that I could have sold my GBA and GameCube collection for an exorbitant amount of money, but gave it to a friend and their husband for free instead. I wonder if this is the same feeling evangelical nutters talk about when they brag about not having sex until they’re 50…🤔

I wish the next big economic crash would just get here already, the future sucks so much.... smh

kesseldarkfire

This points to late stage capitalism and gig work at its finest. Why are gone men fighting for cards? Because they can sell them for food. They are not fighting for Pokémon. They are fighting because the money they make from this will feed their families. I don't even think this is a quick buck anymore. I think we have reduced Americans to this point where the best way for them to make money is scalping products.

Benedict Holland

I'd say this sort of toy speculation started with Gen X, back in the 80s there were plenty of collectibles (such as Cabbage Patch Kids, Garbage Pail Kids & Cards, Beanie Babies in the 90s and so on) that were often out of stock because adults were trying to get their hands on the 'rare' and 'valuable' items of each range. This sort of gouging affected kids in the 80s and 90s too.

Nki

The problem is looking back for things. Any fool can grasp supply and demand, and most old things aren't getting reissues. 3DS was the high point if you're looking for a gaming wayback machine. I'm so glad I'm much more into modern toys for my surrogate joy sessions. I get to have a cool robot cowboy man tip his hat to me because he's cool.

shadowscribble

“.... people are still buying them.... why, because we’re stupid.” Or impatient.

Dying Breed

This completely applies to video cards, too. Grown-ass adults vastly overpaying for the ability to play video games with higher graphics settings. The only difference is that the scalpers are actually the distributors and retailers. NVidia tells them "sell this for $700" and they go "Okay, we'll sell it for $2,000!" And at $2,000 people are still buying them.... why, because we're stupid.

Warren Rumak