Past: Dirt common. Now: OMGWTF TEH SUPERRAER!!ONE!

[Sniderman]

Hey gang,

I find it interesting the growing list of modern-ish games that, at one time, were dirt common Greatest Hits or even Budget titles that are now sought-after rarities. These were the games that were selling used (or even NEW) for just a couple of bucks that are now very expensive collector's games. For example:

PSX Resident Evil games - At one time, RE 1 and 2 were both common as dirt. If you went to Gamestop or other used game store, you can be sure there were a stack of either of these games selling for $4.99. (I don't include RE 3 or Survivor in this, as they weren't really huge sellers, so they never moved into Greatest Hits territory.) But now, both RE 1 and 2 sell for the same as they did brand new.

PSX Silent Hill - This is the one that befuddles me the most. This game sold well enough to go to a Greatest Hits print. At one point, a used copy would go for $7.99 or so. But now, even the Greatest Hits version will go for $30-$40. A new copy of the black label release is astromonical...

Jurassic Park: Project Genesis - Another oddball. I remember that this game NEVER sold well when first released. "Sim JP" is was called. At Christmastime several years ago, this game and games like Ford Racing were in bins at Best Buy on Black Friday selling new for $3.99. They were really trying to move this game. Today? JP: Operation Genesis is a $30-$40 sought-after game...

So, steering clear of games for classic systems, what modern games were sold in mass quantities or were sold for pennies that have recently skyrocketed in cost to secure them?

[AMG]

Hey gang,

PSX Silent Hill - This is the one that befuddles me the most. This game sold well enough to go to a Greatest Hits print. At one point, a used copy would go for $7.99 or so. But now, even the Greatest Hits version will go for $30-$40. A new copy of the black label release is astromonical...


I noticed this one especially. All of a sudden the after market price just jumped. Not even much of a build up either.

[s1lence]

Another would be FFVII , that game was everywhere and for cheap. Now though not exactly rare, the price has sky rocketed to the point that I've seen loose discs sell in upwards of 30 dollars a piece.

[heybtbm]

Another would be FFVII , that game was everywhere and for cheap. Now though not exactly rare, the price has sky rocketed to the point that I've seen loose discs sell in upwards of 30 dollars a piece.

Part of the reason is that FFVII is the only PS FF title not available to buy new on Amazon (or anywhere else for that matter). It's so funny when you think of the millions of copies that were printed and are most likely still out there (how many gamers do you know that don't own FFVII?).

I've noticed the value for Resident Evil 2 skyrocket in the past few months. I'm not talking about the GC version either (which settled down after the reprint). Earlier this week I saw a copy for $24.99 at a local used game store, which is usually very reasonable. I'm blaming ebay hysteria. The Dreamcast version still commands $20-30. Nothing new there.

[Apollo]

Super Smash Bros: Melee

It took me about 4 months to get my hands on it, and had more than a bit of wear. I bought it for $25 and it runs fine.

[Dangerboy]

I can help with this one:

1. Marvel Vs Capcom 2 PS2/XB
When it first hit the newer systems, people were expecting it to have Live / Online play. When it didn't, no one bought it. I still recall $17.99 EB price tags back in the day.

Now? $79.99 used.

2. Silent Hills on Xbox / PS2

Certain ones that were once $12.99 to $17.99 are now in the $24.99 to $30 range...I drives me mad seeing a GH title used for more than $20 >_<

3. Simpsons Games PS2 / Xb / GC d$20 - $24ish used GH games

4. Final Fantasy X
This one was on the down low, now it's hanging steady at $20, even though there's like 20 copies at any store you go to.

5. Resident Evils on the Game Cube
Walk into any EB or Game Stop, you'll see at least one copy of at least 2 or 3, occasionally X...yet they're still $30-40 used. Resident Evil 1 just went up $4 to boot.

This is going to sound weird as hell, but it seems that the more and more gaming goes mainstream, the more the mainstream games are now becoming the hard to find / sought after / high priced ones, and the uncommon ones are now the find 'em anywhere games.

[heybtbm]

Super Smash Bros: Melee

It took me about 4 months to get my hands on it, and had more than a bit of wear. I bought it for $25 and it runs fine.

For $29.99 you could've bought it brand new anywhere.

Anyway, I've always found it interesting that Nintendo never lowered the price of this game past $30. I guess they're not that stupid.

[Spartacus]

Awhile back I used to see copies of the GameCube's Ikaruga for $10 with plenty to choose from. I seldom see any copies anymore and when I do it's for some decent coinage.

[Apollo]

For $29.99 you could've bought it brand new anywhere.

Anyway, I've always found it interesting that Nintendo never lowered the price of this game past $30. I guess they're not that stupid.

I couldn't find it anywhere new or used. This was the first time I'd seen it in the wild in about 6 months or so.

[cyberfluxor]

I believe the demand is due to a stale new release market. Casual and next-system gamers are looking at the better games they didn't really touch and are buying into the high prices. I bet most of those games will be cheaper in a few years once the craze has died down.

[misfits859]

I believe the demand is due to a stale new release market. Casual and next-system gamers are looking at the better games they didn't really touch and are buying into the high prices. I bet most of those games will be cheaper in a few years once the craze has died down.

Perhaps, but with so many new gamers hopping onboard daily, I believe that a gaming "boom" is still to come. It really is a good time to be a gamer with the promise that the next-gen systems hold (inlcude the DS and PSP in there too). I have a feeling we may just be seeing the beginning of what collectors can do to the aftermarket value of games.

[CYRiX]

SSBM is at my bestbuy for 30 new

[j_factor]

I've noticed that Castlevania Chronicles goes for a lot nowadays, when it was a $20 budget release originally.

[PentiumMMX]

The original .hack series (PlayStation 2):
Back around 2005 (Before I got a PS2), it was easy to find any of them (Copies of Volume 1 where everywhere, and you'd occasionally find Volumes 2, 3, and 4). Now it's a pain just to find Volume 1 (Thankfully, I only need the 2nd now...)

[Kid Ice]

I find it interesting the growing list of modern-ish games that, at one time, were dirt common Greatest Hits or even Budget titles that are now sought-after rarities.

They are not rarities. They are common but they are in great demand. This has been the subject of spirited debates in these parts, but my position is our mentality that rarity=value doesn't work anymore.

When we scoff that a Final Fantasy 7 or a Silent Hill goes for more than $50, it is not because the buyers are stupid or that they don't understand how collecting works. It is that WE are applying the same collecting mentality that we were in, say, 1995.

[Kroogah]

A few months before Metroid Prime was released, I sold a complete copy of Super Metroid with the official strategy guide for around $75.

When the Silent Hill movie was released, I noticed a spike in the price of every Silent Hill.

Final Fantasy 7 was calming down, but then FF7 Advent Children and FF7 Dirge Of Cerberus were released.

I'd say the RE spike is due to the huge success of Resident Evil 4.

And of course, Smash Bros. is still expensive because it's been on the best-seller list for the system's entire lifespan.

[-_-Nintendo-_-]

Stupid Crash Bandicoot games for the PS1 (PAL region anyway) million's sold and yet they still bring upwards of 30+ AUD, which is insane considering they sold new for 30 then 20 near the end of the PS1 life span. Oh and FF7, I have 7 copies of that game :S