Retro video games have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, leading to an increase in demand for vintage consoles and games, particularly in Japan where many of these products were originally released. However, there is a growing concern that the supply of these retro games may be depleted due to the increasing popularity of online auctions and the use of proxy services by foreign collectors. Is retro game stock depleting in Japan?
Online auction sites like Yahoo! Auctions Japan have made it easier for collectors to bid on and purchase rare and hard-to-find items from anywhere in the world, leading to a surge in demand for retro games and consoles, particularly from foreign collectors raising the question is retro game stock depleting in Japan? This trend is exacerbated by the use of proxy services, which allow foreign collectors to purchase items from online auctions and other retailers in Japan, even if they do not have a Japanese shipping address.
The depletion of retro game stock in Japan is a concern not only for collectors, but also for the preservation of video game history. Many of these vintage games and consoles are no longer being produced, making them irreplaceable once they are gone.
Japanese collectors in Japan also have their own set of concerns regarding the depletion of retro game stock. The increasing competition for these items from foreign collectors may make it more difficult and costly for them to obtain the games and consoles they are seeking. In addition, the use of proxy services by foreign collectors may make it harder for Japanese collectors to gauge the true value of an item, as the prices paid by foreign collectors may be artificially inflated due to the additional cost of using a proxy service.
In conclusion, the demand for retro games and consoles in Japan is being strained by the rising popularity of online auctions and the usage of proxy services by international collectors. Japanese collectors in the nation are concerned about this tendency because it could affect the preservation of video game history.