One of the really wonderful things about handheld gaming is the tangible connection the player makes with the console. Sure, home systems have iconic controllers we learn to love, but with a handheld, the entire system is in the palm of your hand – and the fact you can take it with you everywhere only serves to strengthen the bond between you and the hardware.
Letting go of that hardware – especially if you've owned it since you were a kid – isn't an easy process, but it's something that Zelda fan Janie experienced when she sold her beloved Nintendo DS recently.
The Zelda-themed gold console had been with her for over a decade – she got it when she was 10 – and she decided to include a note to the new owner to make them aware of how special it had been to her.
That person – reddit user acollier25 – decided that this good deed was worth celebrating:
Have you ever purchased a second-hand console or game and found a message inside from the previous owner? Let us know with a comment below.
[source reddit.com, via dailystar.co.uk]
Comments (50)
This was originally posted in r/gamecollecting. I saw it when scrolling through that sub not to long ago. I’m an active poster there.
That's actually really wholesome and kind of hard to do honestly. I'd never willingly sell any of my consoles, especially my handhelds I still have like my beloved PSP 3000, Vita 2000 or my New 3DS XL.
EDIT: Looking at the people who replied to me makes me feel even younger. It's kind of funny seeing people talk about hoarding their SUPER NINTENDOS and Game Boy Colors when I didn't even grow up in that generation at all
I’d immediately throw Phantom Hourglass into the trash
This is a really sweet story. Thank you for sharing.
This is why buying used products makes me uncomfortable. I’m taking something away from someone else just for money. If I got a letter like that after buying something, I would probably never buy a used product again.
That’s really sweet. I don’t think I could part with my DSi. It’s a shame my 3DS died and I got a New 3DS XL to replace it, I probably spent more hours on my launch model 3DS than any other console.
I actually do miss my black DSLite that I traded in for a DSi. I'm probably gonna see if I can buy a used one since they don't go for too expensive.
@darkswabber Yeah, a day ago.
@TheFrenchiestFry Same here, I just can't seem to part with my consoles either. I still regret trading in certain games from years ago.
@Damo wasn’t sure wether it was monday ot tuesday so I just said some time ago. Which is correct, yesterday was “some” time ago.
@TheFrenchiestFry I cannot sell my dsi xl. First game ever was 64 ds. I mean how can I throw away something I spent so much time on? I only had lego star wars, 64 ds/kart, and pearl. I eventually got black and black 2 but that was when the 3ds was a thing. All four were gifts from family and friends and some have passed away making them even more special. I beat pokemon pearl 4 times. It just feels right to me to sit down and play a game on the thing. I've actually sold my 3ds and kept that because I want it to be the first game my children play to pass on. Mario 64/kart pokemon and lego star wars are great ways to make the jump into gaming as a kid. This thing literally has been with me through the years sitting at my bedside. When I am stressed, I know I can just go back to my ds and lose myself in my childhood. I know I can go back to a simpler time just by picking up this red brick i played mariokart on and that is special. Also I kept my vita because that thing will get pricey in a few years lol.
@SalvorHardin um why? It's my least favorite zelda even including mobile ones but still good. Spirit tracks was essentially the perfection of it and I'd say it stands with other zelda this one is a bit worse that that but id say it's still a fine ds game and worth playing.
I know want a Zelda Ds!
This is great. No question about it.
Reality is though, that I would never buy a used handheld, because apparently everybody uses them in the bathroom.
@TheFrenchiestFry they're gonna have to pry my DS and my 3DS's (all 5 of them) from my cold, dead hands LOL
@TheFrenchiestFry
Yep, i'm never going to sell them.
I love my Super Nintendo, even bought a second one this year for the worst Case that somethings happening with my original one^^...
I'm mad
I don’t mind those that keep their consoles, however that isn’t for everyone. I like that people sell their stuff that they don’t use and give it more life for others to enjoy. 😊
I bought my first DS Lite in the summer of 2006 from the Nintendo store in NYC while I was on holiday. My first time in the US. I loved it and played it probably more than any other handheld (save for OG gameboy). In the end it sort of became unplayable when the touchscreen permanently lost calibration and where I touched the stylus was nowhere near where it thought I touched. I tried going back to my OG DS but I simply couldn't. Then I replaced it with a DSi XL but I played that very little.
@Yanina I might even be replying to you seated on my Throne of a Thousand Stenches. I'm not, but knowing that many people only take some time for themselves there, and the time they do take for "themselves" goes to social media, chances are high some of us here in the comments are dropping more than comments at that exact moment.
I wonder if I sold my xbox one for cash and then included a note that if anybody finds this console that's it's stolen and to contact me and please return it. I wonder if I would keep getting people to return it to me. Hehe
@TheFrenchiestFry Yup, I'm a fellow hoarder, it's hard to let them go! Oh, the memories of long car drives in fantasy worlds.
Still got my Gameboy Colour, gold Zelda 3DS (which is a beaut), Vita 1000, N64, GameCube & Wii. Gutted I let go of my NES SP and PSP 1000, too young, too naïve XD
Is this even real? I can't believe someone at 23 would cross out a spelling error instead of simply going over the second L and the E a few times to merge them?!
Meh maybe I'm too cynical!
My friend bought a Sega CD game once, and when he took the manual out he found plans for making a bomb. So not as sweet as the DS story. Lol
Neat, wholesome story. I've only ever let go of one handheld system (my phat DS), and that was because it was borderline impossible to play anymore due to an unfortunate accident (some drivers are jerks) that caused the upper screen's slow decline over time. The center of the touch screen admittedly wasn't in the best shape either thanks to the Guitar Hero: On Tour series.
Phantom Hourglass is one of the weaker Zelda entries IMO as it's a little too touchscreen-happy (And the Temple of the Ocean King gets old fast), but is still definitely worth experiencing. I slightly prefer Spirit Tracks thanks to its QoL improvements.
My first DS I bought used and had someone's initials literally carved into them, but no note.
@nocdaes LOL, nah I'm thinking the same thing. Anyone can post anything on reddit, make a story, for easy hits and exposure. Not saying this is, but that it's very easy.
@Tandy255 I'm with you on that. I used to have a real hard time letting go of old consoles/games. All it does is create a massive video game graveyard that just sits for years and sits for more years after it does that. I traded in my Wii, New 3DS XL, PS 2 Slim, random extra controllers and accessories, all games etc. towards the Switch. It shaved off a huge chunk of money for the Switch and also space. All that stuff was just sitting (with the exception of my 3DS I played it regularly). Firing any of it up for a hour or so a couple of times a year (if that) doesn't do it for me. Makes me happy to think someone else is enjoying and making memories with my old stuff.
Ouff. I would never be able to part with my precious gaming consoles. I think a piece of me would die if I sold my GameCube, especially the memory card.
@Shambo "dropping more than comments"
😂
I've still got that console new in box. The price is creeping up there...I think it last sold around $600.
If it was that important she wouldn’t have sold it.
Still have my NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Gameboy color, advance, and original Xbox.
Very touching but watch it get lost on the buyer being a mass reseller.
It sucks for folks that have to off load their systems due to economic uncertainty. Childhood memories or a roof over your head. Still I'm happy she got to make solid memories with that system. I still have most of my systems (sold my NES as a child, and gave my mom my first 3ds) including that same zelda dslite but I had almost considered offloading something (would have been my newer systems) after Covid19 hit me with a lay off.
Aw, that's awesome. 😄
What an absolutely lovely story. Really what gaming is about in away
I would never sell my DS! I have a lime green DS lite in like-new condition and play it all the time.
My friend once bought Rouge Squadron 3 pre-owned, and it came with a note from someones girlfriend/wife wishing them a happy anniversary
@TheFrenchiestFry Hoarding their super nintendos? Children! I have my NES, 2600, and DMG Game Boy still!
I love seeing stories behind my secondhand games and systems. The Game Boy Camera I bought for use with my father’s old GBA actually had pictures from the previous owner(s). That feels incredibly special to me.
@SalvorHardin Agreed, Phantom Hourglass was absolutely the worst game in the Zelda series (besides Tri-force heroes, but that one isn't even really a game).
I definitely wouldn't have sold it if it meant that much to her. I don't ever sell my systems due to the great memories I made playing them. I also have a thing about not trusting other people to take care of them as well. I will never sell my Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Nintendo 3DS XL. I couldn't even fathom it.
@ALinkttPresent true, but at the same time, in most cases the seller is willing to; also PSA; NOBODY BUY A ***** GAME CONSOLE BEING SOLD BECAUSE RHE KID "MISBEHAVED" THEY PROB DID, BUT DON'T SELL THEIR CONSOLE UNLESS U GIVE THEM THE MONEY KT COST THEM AND LWT THEM BUY A NEW ONE OR U FULLY PAYED FOR IT BUT EVEN THEN HOLY *****
@TheFrenchiestFry I really wish I held on to my PSP 2000, DS and Monster Hunter N3DSXL. My old red GBASP is a nice memento that I enjoy booting up, just to hear FFTA and Ruby intro's for the nostalgia. Wish I still had my PSP to boot up MHFU, Kingdom Hearts and FF7Crisis Core.
The closest thing I have to a story about finding something interesting like that second hand is... A friend of mine had their house broken into and their entire handheld game collection was stolen. A couple of years later, I was at a big new game trading store. The place is like a warehouse with aisle after aisle of used games. I was picking up some games to take a look at them, took the cases to the front to ask them to show to me if they worked.. and two of the games I'd grabbed were games my friend had owned.
I recognized the names on his save files right away and checked the parties (one was an Etrian Odyssey game, the other was another RPG.. can't remember which), so I called him and let him know to see if he could get them back for free, but they wouldn't do that even with a copy of the police report. Alas. He bought them back so that was better than nothing.
I have the same Zelda DS, but I would never sell it tho, it's still in near mint condition 👍👍👍
I'm wondering how much it's worth now 🤔🤔🤔
@Ulysses The PSP holds a lot of sentimental and nostalgic value for me because it was basically how I was introduced to a lot of series I'm now a full fledged fan of like Final Fantasy, SMT, Kingdom Hearts and Metal Gear
I'm not gonna cry... I'm not gonna... 😭
@Deltath I'm not sure what country you're living in but handling stolen goods is a pretty serious offense here in the UK (carries a sentence of up to 14 years), I would have called the police right there and then and reported the shop for handling stolen goods. Any money that they make from selling the goods in question would also be considered the proceeds of crime, but that's a different story. I glad your friend was able recover some of their possessions though.
I saw a listing for a aqua and white 2ds with Mario sticker star (cartridge) for 40 bucks. The pics had Luigis mansion Dark Moon and Mario kart seven installed. I thought 40 bucks was a steal and I ordered it. When it arrived it had been wiped clean and the paper Mario game inside...... I thought well it was never advertised to have those games so I wasn't too bummed. When I hooked it to the eshop I noticed it had 8 bucks left on it so I guess the previous account was still on it. So I re-downloaded Dark Moon and MK7 and purchased both the Game Boy Mario Games for 8 bucks..... (was that wrong?)
In 2006/7 I was making good money, tons of overtime. I started collecting everything I ever wanted in terms of consoles and the games. I wanted all the limited edition/Japan only consoles. Well, I found a black japanese only GBA. I ordered it and started searching for games. About 2 days before receiving it in the mail I remembered the back light mod that was on playasia.com but it was sold out, sadly. This know where I'm going with this. I know you do. I get it. It's not only still in the box with all instructions, it came with a special leather case AND the back light installed. None of that was in the listing. Furthermore, it also included the famicom disk series gba copy of Super Mario Bros 2, still on the package. I remember, it was 79 bucks, shipped from Japan and it only took around 3 weeks to get it. That's fast asf. I miss it and my massive collection. I had to start selling everything when the housing market crashed thanks to Osama,I mean Obama. Same thing.
Tap here to load 50 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...