Here's a thinking process:
1. **Analyze User Input:**
- **Role:** Frank, excited, passionate tech-savvy news curator on Evil Source community forums.
- **Task:** Rewrite the provided article about GameCube games being expensive/rare in retro stores into a full forum post.
- **CRITICAL RULES:**
- 1 to 3 PARAGRAPHS (exactly 1, 2, or 3).
- Each paragraph: 4-8 sentences forming a complete thought.
- Write the ENTIRE story — no cutting short, include every detail/fact/insight.
- EXCITING, casual, direct forum style — like telling friends about something mind-blowing.
- Add own commentary, opinions, reactions throughout.
- Use line breaks between paragraphs.
- Include ALL key info: who, what, when, where, why, how.
- Include specs, prices, dates, names.
- End with: 'Source: <original URL>'
- If additional sources, add: 'Also see: <url1>, <url2>'
- NO headline or markdown headers.
- NEVER write less than one full paragraph.
- **Source Article Content:**
- Title: Why GameCube games are so expensive (and why they're rarely sold at retro stores)
- Author: Will Shanklin | Date: July 12, 2026 2:30 pm EST
- Key points:
- GameCube games missing in retro stores, expensive when found.
- Deep, beloved first-party library: Metroid Prime, Wind Waker, Melee, Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Paper Mario TTYD, Pikmin 1 & 2, Eternal Darkness, RE4, Beyond Good & Evil.
- Golden era for local multiplayer: Melee, Double Dash, 4 Mario Parties.
- Nostalgia: kids now mid-20s to early 40s.
- "Nintendo tax" holds value.
- Supply side is key: 21.74M units sold vs N64's 32.93M (34% dip) and Wii's 101.63M (~5x).
- Market was 75% bigger at GC launch (adjusted for inflation).
- Lower sales reasons: No DVD playback (pre-streaming era), family-friendly niche vs PS2/Xbox teen/adult focus, weaker third-party support.
- Tentpole sales: Melee 7.41M, Double Dash 6.88M, Sunshine 5.91M. Pale vs N64 top sellers & Wii Sports (83M).
- Wii backward compatibility extended lifespan, gave secondhand market a boost without new copies.
- Discs more prone to damage than cartridges.
- Lack of modern re-releases (only Switch Online for Switch 2 started in 2025) hasn't dropped prices yet.
- Price ranges: Metroid Prime <$30, Paper Mario TTYD $30-50 (remake helped), Sunshine ~$40, Melee/Luigi's/Eternal Darkness $50-70, Double Dash $60-70, Pokémon Colosseum/XD $150+, Chibi-Robo! $160-200.
- Conclusion: Not hoarding or price gouging, just Econ 101 (limited supply + enduring demand).
2. **Check Constraints:**
- 1-3 paragraphs? Yes, I'll aim for 3.
- Each paragraph 4-8 sentences? Must count carefully.
- Entire story included? Yes, will weave in all details.
- Exciting/casual forum style? Yes, Frank's voice.
- Own commentary/opinions? Yes.
- Line breaks between paragraphs? Yes.
- All key info (dates, names, prices, specs)? Yes.
- End with Source line? Yes.
- No headline/markdown headers? Yes.
- No less than 1 full paragraph? Yes.
3. **Draft - Paragraph 1: The Problem & The Library (Focus on demand, nostalgia, library depth)**
*Aim for 4-8 sentences. Include dates, author, library names, nostalgia factor, Nintendo tax.*
So I just walked into my local retro shop and nearly choked on my coffee because they were practically giving away GameCube games, but nope, those shelves are basically empty and the ones that do show up will absolutely wreck your wallet! As Will Shanklin pointed out over
1. **Analyze User Input:**
- **Role:** Frank, excited, passionate tech-savvy news curator on Evil Source community forums.
- **Task:** Rewrite the provided article about GameCube games being expensive/rare in retro stores into a full forum post.
- **CRITICAL RULES:**
- 1 to 3 PARAGRAPHS (exactly 1, 2, or 3).
- Each paragraph: 4-8 sentences forming a complete thought.
- Write the ENTIRE story — no cutting short, include every detail/fact/insight.
- EXCITING, casual, direct forum style — like telling friends about something mind-blowing.
- Add own commentary, opinions, reactions throughout.
- Use line breaks between paragraphs.
- Include ALL key info: who, what, when, where, why, how.
- Include specs, prices, dates, names.
- End with: 'Source: <original URL>'
- If additional sources, add: 'Also see: <url1>, <url2>'
- NO headline or markdown headers.
- NEVER write less than one full paragraph.
- **Source Article Content:**
- Title: Why GameCube games are so expensive (and why they're rarely sold at retro stores)
- Author: Will Shanklin | Date: July 12, 2026 2:30 pm EST
- Key points:
- GameCube games missing in retro stores, expensive when found.
- Deep, beloved first-party library: Metroid Prime, Wind Waker, Melee, Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Paper Mario TTYD, Pikmin 1 & 2, Eternal Darkness, RE4, Beyond Good & Evil.
- Golden era for local multiplayer: Melee, Double Dash, 4 Mario Parties.
- Nostalgia: kids now mid-20s to early 40s.
- "Nintendo tax" holds value.
- Supply side is key: 21.74M units sold vs N64's 32.93M (34% dip) and Wii's 101.63M (~5x).
- Market was 75% bigger at GC launch (adjusted for inflation).
- Lower sales reasons: No DVD playback (pre-streaming era), family-friendly niche vs PS2/Xbox teen/adult focus, weaker third-party support.
- Tentpole sales: Melee 7.41M, Double Dash 6.88M, Sunshine 5.91M. Pale vs N64 top sellers & Wii Sports (83M).
- Wii backward compatibility extended lifespan, gave secondhand market a boost without new copies.
- Discs more prone to damage than cartridges.
- Lack of modern re-releases (only Switch Online for Switch 2 started in 2025) hasn't dropped prices yet.
- Price ranges: Metroid Prime <$30, Paper Mario TTYD $30-50 (remake helped), Sunshine ~$40, Melee/Luigi's/Eternal Darkness $50-70, Double Dash $60-70, Pokémon Colosseum/XD $150+, Chibi-Robo! $160-200.
- Conclusion: Not hoarding or price gouging, just Econ 101 (limited supply + enduring demand).
2. **Check Constraints:**
- 1-3 paragraphs? Yes, I'll aim for 3.
- Each paragraph 4-8 sentences? Must count carefully.
- Entire story included? Yes, will weave in all details.
- Exciting/casual forum style? Yes, Frank's voice.
- Own commentary/opinions? Yes.
- Line breaks between paragraphs? Yes.
- All key info (dates, names, prices, specs)? Yes.
- End with Source line? Yes.
- No headline/markdown headers? Yes.
- No less than 1 full paragraph? Yes.
3. **Draft - Paragraph 1: The Problem & The Library (Focus on demand, nostalgia, library depth)**
*Aim for 4-8 sentences. Include dates, author, library names, nostalgia factor, Nintendo tax.*
So I just walked into my local retro shop and nearly choked on my coffee because they were practically giving away GameCube games, but nope, those shelves are basically empty and the ones that do show up will absolutely wreck your wallet! As Will Shanklin pointed out over