SingStar Take That anyone? The strange joy of charity shop video games
A Guardian writer visited around 40 charity shops to see what second-hand video games remain available now that more valuable titles are commonly sold online. The article finds that the appeal lies less in discovering rare collectibles than in the quirky, inexpensive remnants of past gaming trends.
– Old sports games dominate shelves, particularly Xbox 360-era Fifa, Pro Evolution Soccer and Madden titles, often for 50p or less.
– Brain-training and quiz games are common, with the original Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training still recommended but many television quiz adaptations dismissed.
– Music and fitness games such as SingStar and Wii Fit are plentiful, though they are often unusable because microphones, cameras, consoles or balance boards are missing.
– The writer suggests PlayStation 2 SingStar games can still be worthwhile if buyers source compatible microphones and an adaptor separately.
- Charity shops mainly offer cheap, outdated games rather than rare bargains.
- Old sports titles are the most common finds.
- Missing peripherals limit many music and fitness games.
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Charity shops often receive donated video games when people clear out old consoles and collections. As more sought-after games are identified and sold through specialist websites, shop shelves are more likely to hold common titles from previous console generations.
The remaining games can still reflect the ways people played in the past, from annual football releases to quiz, music and exercise games designed for families and groups. Many were made for particular accessories, such as microphones, motion cameras or balance boards, which may not be included with a second-hand disc.
This makes buying old games less straightforward than picking up a film or book, because they may need an older console and compatible equipment. Their low prices and familiar themes can nevertheless make them appealing to people interested in revisiting earlier gaming habits.
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