Chrono Trigger Price Study
This study is twofold: it is intended to gauge the price of Chrono Trigger on Ebay.com, where it is frequently sold, and valuate the "rarity" of the game, as it is frequently described as being hard to find. It was held during June 19 to June 25, 2006. For the price portion, the study documented the selling price of all items listed and ending before June 25, 2006. Additional items were counted in the rarity portion, which noted how many games were for sale at certain points in time. The Rarity Check only included North American versions of the games, and not Japanese / PAL versions or other merchandise (including sales of more than one game). Chrono Trigger was compared with other SNES game auctions for rarity; the games were selected to for varied genres and popularity. They include Final Fantasy 6 (another popular RPG), Mario Kart (a popular racing game), U.N. Squadron, Aerobiz, Breath of Fire (a popular RPG), Earthbound (a popular RPG), Madden Football '95, Super Empire Strikes Back, SimCity, and Sid Meier's Civilization (both popular strategy games). Each check was performed at 7:30 PM CST, and prices were recorded for these games (though not individually displayed) and averaged at the end of the study to compare with Chrono Trigger. Please note that in addition to these listings, many more informal retailers sold these games as Ebay sellers.
Rarity Checks
- June 19
- Chrono Trigger: 28 Listings (14 listed as rare, 50%)
- June 20
By Listings
- Mario Kart: 47 listings (5 listed as rare, 11%)
- Chrono Trigger: 30 listings (15 listed as rare, 50%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 21 listings (4 listed as rare, 19%)
- Breath of Fire: 20 listings (5 listed as rare, 25%)
- Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
- Earthbound: 17 listings (10 listed as rare, 59%)
- SimCity: 7 listings
- U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
- Aerobiz: 1 listing
- Madden '95: 1 listing
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
By Rarity Labels
- Earthbound: 17 listings (10 listed as rare, 59%)
- Chrono Trigger: 30 listings (15 listed as rare, 50%)
- Breath of Fire: 20 listings (5 listed as rare, 25%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 21 listings (4 listed as rare, 19%)
- Mario Kart: 47 listings (5 listed as rare, 11%)
- Aerobiz: 1 listing
- Madden '95: 1 listing
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
- SimCity: 7 listings
- Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
- U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
- June 21
By Listings
- Mario Kart: 44 listings (2 listed as rare, 5%)
- Chrono Trigger: 36 listings (15 listed as rare, 42%)
- Breath of Fire: 21 listings (7 listed as rare, 33%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 21 listings (2 listed as rare, 10%)
- Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
- Earthbound: 15 listings (10 listed as rare, 67%)
- U.N. Squadron: 8 listings
- SimCity: 7 listings
- Madden '95: 3 listings
- Aerobiz: 1 listing
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
By Rarity Labels
- Earthbound: 15 listings (10 listed as rare, 67%)
- Chrono Trigger: 36 listings (15 listed as rare, 42%)
- Breath of Fire: 21 listings (7 listed as rare, 33%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 21 listings (2 listed as rare, 10%)
- Mario Kart: 44 listings (2 listed as rare, 5%)
- Madden '95: 3 listings
- Aerobiz: 1 listing
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
- SimCity: 7 listings
- Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
- U.N. Squadron: 8 listings
- June 22
By Listings
- Mario Kart: 44 listings (3 listed as rare, 7%)
- Chrono Trigger: 36 listings (15 listed as rare, 42%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 22 listings (3 listed as rare, 14%)
- Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
- Breath of Fire: 17 listings (5 listed as rare, 29%)
- Earthbound: 14 listings (9 listed as rare, 64%)
- SimCity: 10 listings (1 listed as rare, 10%)
- U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
- Madden '95: 2 listings
- Aerobiz: 1 listing
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
By Rarity Labels
- Earthbound: 14 listings (9 listed as rare, 64%)
- Chrono Trigger: 36 listings (15 listed as rare, 42%)
- Breath of Fire: 17 listings (5 listed as rare, 29%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 22 listings (3 listed as rare, 14%)
- SimCity: 10 listings (1 listed as rare, 10%)
- Mario Kart: 44 listings (3 listed as rare, 7%)
- Madden '95: 2 listings
- Aerobiz: 1 listing
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
- Super Empire Strikes back: 19 listings
- U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
- June 23
By Listings
- Mario Kart: 44 listings (2 listed as rare, 5%)
- Chrono Trigger: 37 listings (17 listed as rare, 46%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 24 listings (5 listed as rare, 21%)
- Super Empire Strikes back: 18 listings
- Breath of Fire: 20 listings (4 listed as rare, 20%)
- Earthbound: 16 listings (9 listed as rare, 56%)
- SimCity: 10 listings (1 listed as rare, 10%)
- U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
- Madden '95: 2 listings
- Aerobiz: 0 listings
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
By Rarity Labels
- Earthbound: 16 listings (9 listed as rare, 56%)
- Chrono Trigger: 37 listings (17 listed as rare, 46%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 24 listings (5 listed as rare, 21%)
- Breath of Fire: 20 listings (4 listed as rare, 20%)
- SimCity: 10 listings (1 listed as rare, 10%)
- Mario Kart: 44 listings (2 listed as rare, 5%)
- Aerobiz: 0 listings
- Madden '95: 2 listings
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 1 listing
- Super Empire Strikes back: 18 listings
- U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
- June 24
By Listings
- Mario Kart: 43 listings (1 listed as rare, 2%)
- Chrono Trigger: 35 listings (12 listed as rare, 34%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 26 listings (6 listed as rare, 23%)
- Breath of Fire: 22 listings (5 listed as rare, 23%)
- Earthbound: 18 listings (9 listed as rare, 50%)
- Super Empire Strikes back: 17 listings
- SimCity: 11 listings (1 listed as rare, 9%)
- U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 3 listings (2 listed as rare, 67%)
- Aerobiz: 2 listing (2 listed as rare, 100%)
- Madden '95: 2 listings
By Rarity Labels
- Aerobiz: 2 listing (2 listed as rare, 100%)
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 3 listings (2 listed as rare, 67%)
- Earthbound: 18 listings (9 listed as rare, 50%)
- Chrono Trigger: 35 listings (12 listed as rare, 34%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 26 listings (6 listed as rare, 23%)
- Breath of Fire: 22 listings (5 listed as rare, 23%)
- SimCity: 11 listings (1 listed as rare, 9%)
- Mario Kart: 43 listings (1 listed as rare, 2%)
- Madden '95: 2 listings
- Super Empire Strikes back: 17 listings
- U.N. Squadron: 7 listings
- June 25
By Listings
- Mario Kart: 46 listings (2 listed as rare, 4%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 33 listings (8 listed as rare, 24%)
- Chrono Trigger: 24 listings (9 listed as rare, 37%)
- Breath of Fire: 20 listings (5 listed as rare, 25%)
- Super Empire Strikes back: 15 listings (1 listed as rare, 7%)
- Earthbound: 13 listings (5 listed as rare, 38%)
- SimCity: 7 listings
- U.N. Squadron: 6 listings (1 listed as rare, 17%)
- Aerobiz: 4 listings (3 listed as rare, 75%)
- Madden '95: 3 listings
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 2 listings (2 listed as rare, 100%)
By Rarity
- Sid Meier's Civilization: 2 listings (2 listed as rare, 100%)
- Aerobiz: 4 listings (3 listed as rare, 75%)
- Earthbound: 13 listings (5 listed as rare, 38%)
- Chrono Trigger: 24 listings (9 listed as rare, 37%)
- Breath of Fire: 20 listings (5 listed as rare, 25%)
- Final Fantasy 6: 33 listings (8 listed as rare, 24%)
- U.N. Squadron: 6 listings (1 listed as rare, 17%)
- Super Empire Strikes back: 15 listings (1 listed as rare, 7%)
- Mario Kart: 46 listings (2 listed as rare, 4%)
- Madden '95: 3 listings
- SimCity: 7 listings
Prices
Chrono Trigger
- June 19
~
- Box Only: $49.99 (keep in mind, dumb buyers are prone to buying boxes without games or systems)
- Japanese Cartridge Only: Did not sell; relisted.
- June 20
~
- Box Only: $17.51
- June 21
- June 22
- Cartridge, Maps, Manual / Marked Rare: $45.00
~
- June 23
- June 24
- Cartridge Only: $51.00, $41.00, $39.99, $29.99, $29.99, Did not sell (listed for $0.99)
- Cartridge Only / Marked Rare: $54.00, $37.77, $33.99
- Cartridge, Box, Manual: $132.20, $57.00
- Full Game / Factory Sealed: $599.00
~
- Box Only: $9.50
- Manual and Maps Only: $31.50
- Japanese Full Game: $45.59
- Japanese V-Jump Guide: $21.88
- Nintendo Power Guide: Did not sell, listed for $19.99
- June 25
Games Total (Averaged)
- Aerobiz: $34.58
- Civilization: $8.50
- Earthbound (Cartridge): $56.55
- Earthbound (Full Game): $152.50
- Final Fantasy 6 (Cartridge): $26.49
- Final Fantasy 6 (Full Game): $73.00
- Final Fantasy 6 (Full Game / Factory Sealed): $555.99
- Madden: Did not sell
- SimCity: $3.66
- Super Empire Strikes Back: $2.70
- U.N. Squadron: $9.32
Conclusion
Compared to other games, Chrono Trigger is sold very often and is available to anyone with around thirty dollars. While the price is comparatively high, this is a reflection of the quality of the game. Rarity is defined as "difficult to acquire," and Chrono Trigger most certainly is not hard to find. Factory sealed games are understandably difficult to find, but are available. Certainly, the most rare Chrono Trigger item is the Prerelease, and even it appears on the auction list from time to time (often not selling, only to be relisted a month later). Chrono Trigger is not a rare game, and the cartridge alone can be bought for twenty bucks with a watchful eye and patience. The labeling of the game as rare may simply be a ploy to attract more buyers and increase the perceived value of the game. As the rarity check displays, the most popular games of the lot were usually the only ones listed as rare, despite being numerically superior in purchase opportunities. Chrono Trigger, despite being sold more often than all its peers except Mario Kart, was even listed as rare almost half the time. Even Mario Kart, which averaged the most listings, was still sometimes described as rare. By the numbers, Chrono Trigger is a fairly common game, and those wishing to buy it should exercise the same competitive thrift that would be given to other common items.
From: Games
