Is it possible to find rare games at Gamestop?

[The 1 2 P]

I have no idea why people are basically paying $20 for a paper insert I could make in Photoshop myself.



If you look at it that way, why are people paying $50-100 for used copies of Final Fantasy 7? The fact that it sold atleast 5 million copies worldwide makes it almost as common as dirt. And yet you still have people getting into bidding wars over it. We could sit here and debate why people collect alot of stuff they do(spine cards, the power glove, etc). But essencially, some games/peripherals are more collectable than others.

My point about the MP/LOZ hybrid was that there are in fact rare(or less common) games that can still be found in Gamestop for affordable prices(based on the return you could get for them). As for your photoshop idea, someone already beat you to that. Theres a guy who sells a self-made "disc jacket" cover for Marvel Vs. Capcom 2. He has several and they actually sell. I'll see if I can find the link.

[TonyTheTiger]

I guess I know "why" in that case. But it's just weirder than the FFVII thing. FFVII is just a really awesome game that despite there being so many copies around, there's just more demand. This WW/MP thing isn't really unique in any way. I'd "get it" more if it were both games on one disc or something. This is more like not so much people paying $50+ for FFVII but rather them normally paying $20 for...say...a complete Super Mario World and an additional $20 more depending on whether or not it has that standard Nintendo Power pamphlet inside. A slightly faulty analogy but you get what I'm saying, right?

The first (and only) time I saw the WW/MP thing in Gamestop I didn't know what it even was. In fact, I thought it was a photoshopped custom cover since I've seen those in stores before. The only reason I picked it up was because it was cheap and I needed Metroid Prime anyway. I'm guessing that the bidding wars that happen on Ebay are kind of a result of the same curiosity. People see something that just looks weird. And since it's Metroid and Zelda figure "why not?" Maybe a lot of the bidders don't even know that the contents aren't special. It took me a while to learn the whole story myself since not much info is on the net.

I'm not taking a dig at anyone for wanting the thing. I think it's a cool package myself. What I'm wondering is if someone put just the insert on Ebay explaining the whole story, would it fetch about $20 or is it only "valuable" if it comes with everything else?

[Captain Wrong]

Anyone who thinks employees don't have a stash of all the good stuff in the back has never worked anywhere that takes in used goods. It's one of the few perks working at a place like that. Anything really good, and I'm not talking NCAA 2K3 which only completists care about, that makes it to the floor is either is less than desirable condition or everyone on the other side of the register who wants a copy, has one.

[ubersaurus]

I've oggten a good number of rarities at Gamestops. Rez, Gradius 3 & 4, MUSHA, R-type 3, Thunderforce 5, Gaiares...

[Slate]

Although I did manage to find a copy of Poy Poy for the Playstation in a EBGames just before I joined DP, I don't think it is so easy anymore. There aren't a lot of rare games coming out these days. Uncommon ones, yes, But not many rares.

[The 1 2 P]

A slightly faulty analogy but you get what I'm saying, right?



I understand what you mean. The complete story of the MP/LOZ origin was explained to me after I had already found my copy at Gamestop for a cheap price. And although it may just be a special cover with the same contents of the regular two games, I'm sure you can imagine that a factory sealed copy of this game has the potential to bring in big bucks, perhaps three figures. I'm actually looking for one of those now, but obviously I won't find it at Gamestop.

[DJ Daishi]

yeah, I've seen a few rare game now and then at GS...more recently I picked up a mint copy of Death Row for the Xbox.

[Deadman]

yeah, I've seen a few rare game now and then at GS...more recently I picked up a mint copy of Death Row for the Xbox.

I didn't realize that Death Row was considered rare, but I see it occasionally at my GameStops. I've been finding a lot of "rare" games for the Xbox at GS lately, and have picked up a few. Here are some of the titles .

Phantom Crash - $2.99
Futurama - $29.99 - that's right, $30!! Yikes!
Sneakers - $2.99
Ratatouille (sp?) - saw it today for $19.99 - passed but might go get it
The Guy Game - saw it today for $12.99
Blackstone - hard to find, but rare? not sure $9.99
Volvo Drive for Life
Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 - both Xbox and PS2 versions!

So, I would say that finding some "rare" last gen games is still possible, unfortunately I don't think we've truly defined what "rare" for the last gen really will be!

[c0ldb33r]

Damn I didn't realize Phanton Crash was rare. I saw a few copies at a local EBGames (local in a grand sense, it was in a different city).

I was going to pick it up but didn't bother :(

[kainemaxwell]

On occasion you can find a rare gem in with all the Maddens and GTA titles. Sometimes you can get it cheap, sometime sit's expensive.

[Deadman]

Damn I didn't realize Phanton Crash was rare. I saw a few copies at a local EBGames (local in a grand sense, it was in a different city).

I was going to pick it up but didn't bother :(

That's why I noted that at this point, no one's real sure what will be "rare" from last gen anyway! I know that Phantom Crash is rare in some areas, but I find it all the time here. I looked for Futurama for a long time before finally getting one, while others are probably sick of looking at it on their shelves....

[MrSparkle]

getting prerarity jitters here! gradius 3 and 4 is considered rare! i bought my copy from a gamestop for like $3 in a clearance bin. overall gamestop is a hard place to find rare games because last gen (ie ps2, xbox, and cube) are not really rare yet for the most part. now that those systems are in full clearance bin mode though its time for us to horde the vast majority of said bins. first one to crush the universe due to concentrating too much mass (ie games) in one location wins!

[c0ldb33r]

...I looked for Futurama for a long time before finally getting one, while others are probably sick of looking at it on their shelves....
I know there's already a thread on rare xbox games, but I'm putting my two cents in about Futurama. I've seen it once, and I bought it that time. :)

[rpgadam07]

I don't know if it's considered rare, but I saw Baldur's Gate 2 at Gamestop once a while back. I wanted to buy it, but I was there with my friend and we didn't have any money (he was my co-op partner for the first one so he was pretty stoked to see it). I can't find the game ANYWHERE now, though. :(

[thegardentool]

one time i found a copy of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 for the Playstation 2, but the price was quite high for it (as in $80.00 USD)

There is one Gamestop and one EB Games in my small town (30,000 people or so) and there are 3 copies of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for PS2 between the two stores. They also had a copy of it for Xbox many months ago before they went "used" on all the Xbox games.

Two of them are complete while the other is disc only. Other than that, I don't see too many rare games...and I've noticed a lot of the games tend to be the Greatest Hits or Platinum Hits of the games. I've passed up buying a lot of games I've wanted because they all are GH.

[sirhansirhan]

I was in the GameStop nearest to my house about two or three weeks ago because I had a good coupon for PS2 games, and much to my surprise, they had all five of the black and white Mega Man games on the original Game Boy. I picked up IV and V for less than $20 total, and when I got home, I haw that V had recently been selling on eBay for $35 +/-, so I decided I'd sell it instead of keeping it, and it wound up selling for $56. I couldn't believe it.

[The 1 2 P]

I've noticed that Gamestop will suddenly jack prices up on certain last gen games like Silent Hill 3, Guilty Gear X and Guilty Gear X2. All were $14.99-19.99 but now are $29.99. Also, as far as Marvel Vs Capcom 2 is concerned for the PS2 and Xbox, I thought it was strange how 6 of my 12 plus Gamestop/EB's magically got used copies in at the same time. Since these stores were all located in very different(see: not close) locations, I'd say some hording was going on.

[PapaStu]

I've noticed that Gamestop will suddenly jack prices up on certain last gen games like Silent Hill 3, Guilty Gear X and Guilty Gear X2. All were $14.99-19.99 but now are $29.99. Also, as far as Marvel Vs Capcom 2 is concerned for the PS2 and Xbox, I thought it was strange how 6 of my 12 plus Gamestop/EB's magically got used copies in at the same time. Since these stores were all located in very different(see: not close) locations, I'd say some hording was going on.


Nope, that means that theres a GQD reprint thats hit the stores. I'd not be surprised considering how many copies i've seen lately myself.

[TonyTheTiger]

How the hell did GQD get the rights to reprint the game if Capcom itself doesn't?

[roushimsx]

How the hell did GQD get the rights to reprint the game if Capcom itself doesn't?

And they still don't have any copies in stock on their site or any minty sealed copies magically popping up on eBay. Even then, the lack of a security strip would be a dead giveaway (like with the Rez rerelease).

[ScourDX]

Anyone who thinks employees don't have a stash of all the good stuff in the back has never worked anywhere that takes in used goods. It's one of the few perks working at a place like that. Anything really good, and I'm not talking NCAA 2K3 which only completists care about, that makes it to the floor is either is less than desirable condition or everyone on the other side of the register who wants a copy, has one.

Very true. Last week I saw one of EB store stash up good PS2 games like

- Ar Tonelico for $19.99
- Zone of Ender 2 for $14.99

I want to purchased them, but the clerk said they are on hold. I suspect they on hold for one of the employee. EB policy usually do not allow to put any game on hold. Anyways I did pick up GCN Phantasy Stars Online 1 & 2 Plus for $25. Funny thing is the original version cost $15 more than the plus.

[TonyTheTiger]

Funny how you can't count on prices these days. Ar Tonelico was going for about $80 on Ebay not too long ago.

[bcks007]

Ar Tonelico got a reprint recently.

[Sabz5150]

I found Mega Man V for the Gameboy at the Stop. 12 bucks. Chop off the 25% for their clearance plus the extra 10% for the discount card and wow... rare game for rare price.

Yeah, you can get some rares at GS. You just need to look around.

[The 1 2 P]

Nope, that means that theres a GQD reprint thats hit the stores. I'd not be surprised considering how many copies i've seen lately myself.

Are you sure GQD got a reprint produced? Because some of the copies I've seen had trashy manuals(an obvious mark of a "real" used game and not a "gutted" used game). Also, if someone really reprinted this game I'm sure they would have made enough supply to satiate demand and kill the ebay overcharge price in the same way that the Gamecube Resident Evil reprints and PS2 Rez reprints killed all their ebay over pricing.

[PapaStu]

Are you sure GQD got a reprint produced? Because some of the copies I've seen had trashy manuals(an obvious mark of a "real" used game and not a "gutted" used game). Also, if someone really reprinted this game I'm sure they would have made enough supply to satiate demand and kill the ebay overcharge price in the same way that the Gamecube Resident Evil reprints and PS2 Rez reprints killed all their ebay over pricing.

I'm not sure that they have, but considering the number of stores i've got around me, and the number of copies i've seen in these stores, coupled with what you said I just took it a step farther and assumed GQD was at it again.
Only other thing I can think of is that I know back in 04 Capcom moved (ie sold off) a big bunch of old stuff to my local Indy game shop (like 2 pallets worth of stuff, with many copies of games like BoF3 and BoF4, Buster Bros Collection for the PS, and all kinds of Saturn,Sega CD and SNES/NES/GB stuff as well) and that was a warehouse cleaning kinda thing. Maybe they did it again with their PS2/XB/GNC stock but sold to GS. They don't normally hoarde stuff out like that, even when it is coming from the DC's, but who knows anymore.

[TonyTheTiger]

Ar Tonelico got a reprint recently.

Yeah, I know. That's what I was shooting at. In the long run, with GQD running around and with online pricing now effectively becoming the benchmark for sellers, buyers, and even publishers, price is not so cut and dry where you can safely assume it'll go up (or at least not drop) if you just sit on it for a while.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who had Dragonball GT: Final Bout and sold it for pennies before DBZ really took off and kicked themselves later. But I'm sure there are also those people who were sitting on a copy for a while, waiting to sell at "just the right time" when all of a sudden Atari re-released it destroying the game's value. They, too, are probably kicking themselves.

[calthaer]

Every time I have found a somewhat rare game at Gamestop or other brick-and-mortar stores, I used their online search to check the store's inventory. Perhaps the low-level drones who man said stores have since gotten wise to this and now nab every Ogre Battle PS1 (or whatever) that comes in - this was a few years ago that I did this to obtain Ogre Battle and some other semi-rare PSX game.

[DJ Daishi]

still waiting for a twin snakes reprint GQ!!!

[Deadman]

Well, I went in today and took advantage of the Xbox B2G1 sale and found a few more obscure titles:

Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure
Final Fight "Streetwise" by Capcom
Pro Cast Sports Fishing Game by Capcom

Also found but didn't buy:
Guy Game
Obscure (trashed box/insert and no manual)
Jurassic Park Operation Genesis (Same as above)
Psychonauts
Dai Senryaku (bad, bad condition)

[DigitalSpace]

Unless it was really beat up or something, you should have bought Psychonauts. Excellent game.

[Deadman]

Unless it was really beat up or something, you should have bought Psychonauts. Excellent game.

I already own one in really nice shape. This one was also complete and in good shape, but I just didn't need it. If someone else does, I can always go back and get it.

[DigitalSpace]

I already own one in really nice shape.

Well then, disregard my previous post. :)