Ocarina of Time 3D rumored not to be in print now

[Tanooki]

Has anyone actually confirmed this from a US site or NOA themselves? I've been trying to find this game and it's become a damned headache. Yes I can buy it off ebay, but people are ginning up this story to screw people out of twice the retail price which isn't happening. This thing was at various places around Christmas for the normal $40 retail price so this just seems screwy for it to play the 8/16bit Nintendo predator game in barely over a month. At most I'd pop for the original price, shipping and stuff as any rational person should (that or trade something of equal value.)


I got impatient and called. The NOA rep said and I quote: "It is both widely available at both retail and on the eshop."

What the F! Goddamn rumors causing people to scoop the stuff up potentially here.

[Daria]

Maybe the Majora's Mask release has people scrambling to pick up Ocarina?

[Tupin]

I think Nintendo wants people to buy older games like that off of the eShop. It wouldn't surprise me if physical copies of Nintendo games in general get smaller and smaller print runs in the future.

[kai123]

Maybe the Majora's Mask release has people scrambling to pick up Ocarina?


That would make more sense to me. I can't imagine the shelves were over flowing with Ocarina in the first place.

[Leo_A]

Hopefully they finally do a proper rerelease program once again, and get this one back out there along with some other in-demand projects that are getting scarce these days.

[Tanooki]

I agree that Majora may be a bit of a factor, but if you check it out, around a month or so ago PlayAsia put this bs story out that Nintendo supposedly told them it wasn't being printed anymore on their site. Some US gaming media picked up on it and started spreading the story, some listing it as a story and others legitimately as a rumor. Either way, you can actually track the date of that story against the ebay sales and see that thing go from like $30-40 up to $80-100. That's what has me bugged. I wish people would just think before they act instead of letting people take advantage of them like that when a simple call to NOA would have had those asinine stories amended and shot down to cut these resellers off.

I was holding out getting this thing back to play it properly in 3D with that New3DS, and it just figures about a month before the N3DS hits that story blows things up.

It's right up there with the Amiibo pilfering going on keeping about 1/2 the lineup off most store shelves so they can up sold online. I'd really like to get Fox and especially Shulk for when Xenoblade drops and that is becoming a headache. I was happily surprised when I found Mega Man and Toon Link this week, the first two I've picked up. I have no interest in getting them all, but certain ones I grew up with I would + Shulk. Go look up something like Little Mac, Captain Falcon and Pit from the older stuff it's annoying, and if you get into the realm of single store release stuff or the unpopular until it was expensive Villager and Trainer - ugh (glad I don't want them.)

[kai123]

I have three Amiibos sitting in front of me. I swore I wouldn't buy any and I got three for Christmas. I got Little Mac, Fox, and Link. When I opened them the first thing I asked was where they got them. Luckily they found them in store so they didn't get hosed on ebay. I opened them up and they are in front of my TV now. I didn't realize the Amiibo was just a CPU character you "trained". I used it once and I haven't put in on the Wii U since. They are nice figures if you can get them for retail but nothing I would actively seek out.

I can't tell if Nintendo is brilliant or not when it comes to their retail supply chain.

[Leo_A]

I wish people would just think before they act instead of letting people take advantage of them like that when a simple call to NOA would have had those asinine stories amended and shot down to cut these resellers off.

I don't understand the problem. You're mad that reports are circulating that this game has fallen out of print, with new stock all but dried up in recent months, because someone at Nintendo replied to your email saying otherwise?

If you have that much faith in that email, I don't get it. If it's accurate, they're going to restock retailers and you'll be able to order a new copy at MSRP. All you're out is perhaps two or three weeks of waiting.

Unfortunately, the evidence says otherwise and I doubt the Nintendo rep that replied to you had that type of information available to them. So I think you're either going to have to aim for a used copy, settle for a download, or cross your fingers that it's eventually rereleased as a budget title.

[Tanooki]

I didn't email Nintendo as I don't trust to ever get a human on that so I called their main line and the guy took a serious look into the computer, had went through a few systems and had me on hold for a moment with it. He said it's in production so I'd believe him over a stock email. He said he wasn't thrilled with people who are doing that because even as an employee he had to go through retail to try and get a majora's mask new 3ds xl and he missed out so he understood the frustration with the situation.

I'm mad people are taking a shit rumor from an Asian website and using it to screw people and pick off all the copies from retail chain stores that'll ship to home or closest retail shop to throw that shit up on ebay for 2x or more the price as it's disgusting. Had that rumor never got started a little over a month ago I could have freely walked into probably 10 different stores in a 5mi radius and would be playing it now. So yeah, I'm peeved about it.

[Daria]

The amiibo craze is actually pretty funny. It's becoming a self-fullfilling prophecy as speculators try and guess the rare preorders and then whip everyone up into depleting the supply.

[kai123]

The amiibo craze is actually pretty funny. It's becoming a self-fullfilling prophecy as speculators try and guess the rare preorders and then whip everyone up into depleting the supply.

I go on slickdeals a lot and that is so true. They are constantly posting threads for preorders.

[Tanooki]

Well said, that is a far greater issue than the lie around OOT 3D. I've just got Mega Man and Toon Link, was lucky when I found them due to the supply problem. I went around the other day looking to see if I could find Shulk for when Xenoblade pops up and no gamestops have it, one did earlier that day and it was gone, and no one anywhere has Fox which is weird. I did find at Meijer they were picked clean on one horizontal row of them and that's all, but it was the only store I saw DeDeDe and Ike along with one other at anywhere. It's like some vicious circle of devouring where anything that starts to trickle out off the boat all get poached and thrown online for 2x the price, and then the stuff that's single store based gets even worse. The annoyance there is that they're only bad if you buy online, find one in the store and it's retail, so it's not even a dead limited market item like old Nintendo systems cartridges.

I won't buy them online, love to have them, but it can wait for sanity or a local find but I want some 8/16bit era characters for my desk like Little Mac, Captain Falcon, and Fox to name a few along with the overly common stuff you can get anywhere anytime like Mario.

[Jorpho]

Wasn't there some rumor about a labor dispute in west coast shipping ports causing supply shortages?

[Tanooki]

Actually that was true. It's also why during the first days of the New3DS being on the shelf it was harder to come by, but now you can find it in various stores much easier. The Amiibos are a victim of it as well. Nintendo said something to the effect that small thin items that ship in small boxes (games, very small accessories) they fly in because it's faster and cheaper due to the size, but larger bulk items like the Amiibo, systems, large accessories and other junk come in on a boat. There was a strike with the unions for the docks on the west coast and they screwed a lot of people over tying down freight at the docks and not allowing it to leave the grounds. I personally could never fathom an union getting away with that since it's other peoples property, it's technically defacto theft, a kidnapping of product that had nothing to do with the dispute. It was resolved fairly recently and since that time I've seen more Amiibo and systems on the shelf in the Nintendo area at various stores.

[FieryReign]

I noticed the price rise of Ocarina right before Majoras Mask dropped and secured me a copy. Just the sleazy resellers snatching up all the copies because of the recent interest in Zelda. I seen quite a few copies being sold from Canada, that's where I picked mine up for retail price(playable in French).

Is the same thing happening to A Link Between Worlds? The price is up to 50 bucks on Amazon, yet I see plenty of copies in stores for 40? It's getting ridiculous

[Tanooki]

Maybe a Canada thing? I just checked the first page of 'sold' on that one and it's a range of $30-40 (CIB to new) on it, so it hasn't spiked, but it's also a couple years newer. I guess it's not just a US thing if you're seeing the Canadians trying to screw their own as well on the game. I'm going to ride it out, do want to play it, but it's not vital as it's not like I haven't finished it before on N64. I'm only I think around 25% through shin megami tensei 4 anyway.

[Leo_A]

By then, the economics will surely have sorted themselves out if it's truly still in print.

[Tanooki]

It may, but also knowing what I do about Nintendo and older games they keep in print, they don't keep them in large print. I imagine it'll bottom out probably above the original retail but not well over like $50~ which is what Gamestop sells it for now as they end to be some weird barmometer for the stuff.

I was able to track the game down also out of town here a moment ago for a fair price, when I'm off work in a bit I'm driving to get it. I'd have the mail it, but my wife needs to go out that way anyway so mini-road trip. Scalpers be damned.

[jonebone]

You won't find it for MSRP again unless Gamestop does a reprint. Which ironically enough, they actually may with how expensive it has gotten.

No internet article it to blame, it is simply a post Xmas spike lined up with the re-release of Majora's Mask. Price starting trickling up rapidly after the beginning of the year with all of this hype.

The Zelda 25th Anniversary bundle (that came with OOT) actually stayed pretty flat as a CIB during this time period though. So I just caved and bought the entire bundle around $225 shipped (waited for an auction) and that satisfies the collector in me. You could quite literally buy one, then part out the bundle (sell game and the system separately) and turn a profit without even trying.

[Leo_A]

It may, but also knowing what I do about Nintendo and older games they keep in print, they don't keep them in large print. I imagine it'll bottom out probably above the original retail but not well over like $50~ which is what Gamestop sells it for now as they end to be some weird barmometer for the stuff.


If it's still in print, it's going to be sold at MSRP at retailers like Wal-Mart.

They're not going to be shipping these direct to the small scale scalpers that are always on the watch for the next thing to grab in the hope of selling it to someone else at a profit.

If you don't see these reappear at MSRP at such a retailer, there's a reason for it and that's because it has gone out of print and they're not being restocked, as the situation appears to be the case here until proven otherwise.

[kai123]

Is Nintendo the only company that does this in the video game world? I seem to be able to find almost any game for other current systems even the PS3 without much trouble. I am only talking about normal copies not collector's editions.

[Guntz]

In case you guys haven't noticed, Nintendo has never put a Wii U game under the Nintendo Selects label (formerly Player's Choice). I think there's one or two old 3DS games in red re-release cases, but none of the newer games have. I think it's very clear what is happening, Nintendo has replaced reprints and budget labels with digital eShop downloads.

[Tupin]

In case you guys haven't noticed, Nintendo has never put a Wii U game under the Nintendo Selects label (formerly Player's Choice). I think there's one or two old 3DS games in red re-release cases, but none of the newer games have. I think it's very clear what is happening, Nintendo has replaced reprints and budget labels with digital eShop downloads.
...which they never lower the price of. Great.

[Guntz]

Yeah, it's a great business model in theory. I only hope that eShop sales are so slow they force Nintendo to either lower the prices or send out Nintendo Selects re-releases.

[Tanooki]

Leo I had a few stores mention they've had it, but it's stuff I'm betting thrown into a larger box of just a few here, few there type things and people just can snap it up first. I don't put much value playing hookie from work to make calls at 9 or 10am to beg every day if something came in to hold it so I can drive over and get it. Either way I ended up bagging a copy of it, a video game collector cashed out at a Gamestop in Frankfort and we had to drive out there anyway today so I went and snapped it up. My b'day is around a week out so my wife got me it as a gift and the copy is immaculate, and as a bonus, the dude 100% finished the game and unlocked master quest. I moved his save over to slot 3 and started my own. :D I don't the heart to erase something that nice, plus like me the dude seems to name his characters after the character (it has Link, I've always done that as I don't like seeing some named character with mine on it.)


Jonebone you're probably right more or less, but still that rumor from PlayAsia for sure didn't help things either. I pity anyone paying $70-80 for it complete and used.

kai: The game came out mid 2011 if I remember right, but it was (and supposedly in some fashion) is still distributed today so says NOA on the phone. But Nintendo did change gears on the 3DS vs the DS. On DS they mass printed games, some to a fault they couldn't even clear then out at like $5-10 at the end (True Swing Golf and Elite Beat Agents) no matter how good they may have been. This time with a real network finally they decided to limit the runs they do on physical games to feature digital as the primary way to get it, even where they will get added coin points on the Club of theirs or giving discounts or other freebie incentives over physical. I really hate it, but I can't blame them as a download on a server is cheaper than a copy in my hand.

Guntz is correct, they don't do full blown reprints but rarely on the 3DS and DS too, and they had red cases (for the Mario games.) There was New Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart DS, Mario Party, Mario vs DK, Mario & Luigi, and Super Mario 64 DS. The 3DS though I know of two -- Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land. Picture here: http://i.imgur.com/vwowFKQ.jpg What also stings is that even when they reprint these games (either system) they don't lower the price like they did in the past with Player's Choice/Select games.

[theclaw]

I believe Mario Power Tennis is the last disc-based game Nintendo reduced to $20. Pikmin 2 debuted as Nintendo Selects.

Wii Mini was humorous to see. It included $50 Mario Kart Wii, $40 Wii Remote Plus, and $20 Nunchuk.

[Guntz]

Guntz is correct, they don't do full blown reprints but rarely on the 3DS and DS too, and they had red cases (for the Mario games.) There was New Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart DS, Mario Party, Mario vs DK, Mario & Luigi, and Super Mario 64 DS. The 3DS though I know of two -- Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land. Picture here: http://i.imgur.com/vwowFKQ.jpg What also stings is that even when they reprint these games (either system) they don't lower the price like they did in the past with Player's Choice/Select games.

Yeah you've got a point there, it seems only Mario games ever get the red cases I think. Since they're not price reduced, I'm not sure whether red cased DS/3DS games are budget re-releases or additional standard print runs. Has there ever been Player's Choice for DS? I'm thinking no.

Basically the future is looking very grim here. Nintendo seems to be banking on eShop sales for the longterm, leaving physical copies a special one-time print run kind of thing. Now there's even more incentive to buy Nintendo games at regular MSRP before you have to brave the used market prices, which going by Ocarina of Time 3D and Pikmin 3 isn't looking good. Seems like a genius plan on Nintendo's part, sucks for us gamers though.

[Leo_A]

Leo I had a few stores mention they've had it, but it's stuff I'm betting thrown into a larger box of just a few here, few there type things and people just can snap it up first. I don't put much value playing hookie from work to make calls at 9 or 10am to beg every day if something came in to hold it so I can drive over and get it.

You still don't get what I'm saying. If this in-demand 3DS game is reprinted, it's again going to be available for $39.99 at retailers once more stock arrives. Why do you think, for instance, that it won't ever be sold directly from Amazon again, for example?

You're so sure it's not out of print, yet in the same breath, you're upset that it will forever into the future be all but impossible to find a brand new copy at MSRP.

Those two things don't go together. How you expect distribution to circumvent all the mainstream retailers of North America that deal in 3DS software while pricing it at MSRP, and jump immediately to the reseller? It's going to either be one or the other. It will either only become tougher to find since this really was it, or the next shipment to retailers will squash this rush in no time and everything will normalize as it once again pops up as available everywhere at MSRP once again.

[theclaw]

Yeah you've got a point there, it seems only Mario games ever get the red cases I think. Since they're not price reduced, I'm not sure whether red cased DS/3DS games are budget re-releases or additional standard print runs. Has there ever been Player's Choice for DS? I'm thinking no.

Basically the future is looking very grim here. Nintendo seems to be banking on eShop sales for the longterm, leaving physical copies a special one-time print run kind of thing. Now there's even more incentive to buy Nintendo games at regular MSRP before you have to brave the used market prices, which going by Ocarina of Time 3D and Pikmin 3 isn't looking good. Seems like a genius plan on Nintendo's part, sucks for us gamers though.

Nonetheless 3DS games have received price drops their DS direct predecessors didn't. Nintendo lowered Mario Kart 7 to $30, unlike Mario Kart DS

[Leo_A]

Problem is that with at least one of these price drops in recent years, Super Mario Galaxy 2, they didn't even reprint it at the same time and it was already out of stock at most retailers when it happened (Same time that the white case variant of NSMBWii appeared when that one also saw its price dropped to $29.99).

Still wondering what the point of that one was. Only Nintendo would publicize a price drop on a game that was already out of stock at mainstream retailers, which they weren't restocking.

[Tanooki]

Uhh you're misreading me. I never said Nintendo would sell it higher or retail for that matter. I'm saying the jackasses who pulled this current stunt would try and maintain their profits by picking off stuff as it goes up for sale so they can sell it at a profit. If a bunch came to amazon or whatever at $40, many of those same clowns who grabbed up the current stock would make a pass for those too, and at local joints individuals would see a profit margin too. If you can grab the game or two that arrives here and there for $40, toss it sealed/new on ebay for $80+ and easily sell that to double your dough, you damn well know they'll do it. Who wouldn't?

I see it as a mirror of the current Amiibo situation. Have you watched how that has eroded into madness and pissed off people just giving in and overpaying? Gold mario Walmart Amiibo $13 -- ebay $80~. Shulk from Gamestop $13 -- ebay $40 or so. ...same with Toys R Us with Lucario and Target with Rosalina. Then of course you have people selectively picking off certain figures who are actively sold like Little Mac, Captain Falcon, Pit, and the Fire Emblem peeps and selling those at like 2-4x retail. All commercially avaiable(other than the gold mario pre-sells) but hard as nails to come by unless you stand at the store the day they happen to luckily come in and grab it, or you sit there refreshing the crap out of their website and clicking to pay fast if it shows as up for sale and not out of stock. The Gold Mario when Walmart opens it up has lasted usually between like 1-15minutes and it's gone, gone right to ebay as a pre-sell. That's what I'm getting at, people are assholes, even when stock is being pumped out. Clearly people are consciously actively indirectly colluding with each other, but it's the herd mentality to fleece those who can't get there first repeatedly.

[retroguy]

So the moral of the story is I should forget about getting a 3DS or WiiU unless I want to either pay scalpers for the privilege or else pirate everything to save my sanity? That's real nice. What the hell kind of choice is that?

[Tanooki]

The choice of a flip of a coin, a coin made out of a shiny polished turd so no matter what comes up, you get shit. :D

Seriously though, the idea is that if you want a Nintendo something, and in particular a Wii U and an amiibo even more than the 3DS (it's select few games for this one so far) if you don't buy the stuff right away, and if it's branded "limited" "collectors" or "X store exclusive" you pre buy it or you'll have to get lucky or take it in the ass by a scalper. If it's a game and non-limited, just get it within the first year of being around I'd think before they run out because Nintendo would rather sell a full price download as it makes more money for them.

Basically all the abuse of the NES that creeped forward shortly into the SNES, then the N64 and GC kept moving up the line until it caught up with the current generation. So if you want Nintendo, watch out, be prepared, or get screwed (or don't bother at all.) You don't see this really with Sony or MS stuff, just Nintendo of the three.

I found an update about the Amiibo though. Supposedly they were done by a third party vendor who couldn't keep up. Nintendo and retailers are fed up with the shortages so Nintendo supposedly is taking over making them so they'll come out in mass sooner or later and put an end hopefully to much of this crap.

[Leo_A]

I'm saying the jackasses who pulled this current stunt would try and maintain their profits by picking off stuff as it goes up for sale so they can sell it at a profit.

While I respect your opinion, I don't see how this stunt will work for long if it's not out of print. Much more than just a single chain of retailers that's receiving very limited stock will soon be getting Ocarina of Time 3D back in, if your contact was right about its status.

Ebay scalpers can't permanently raise the MSRP of a game that's remaining in print, lol.

[Tanooki]

Because it's in lower print from the look of it, not out of print. It's widely available, but not widely in quantity in each store. It's not hard to pull it when you get a game or two in a box here and there, not stacks of them. They can't permanently raise it, but they can manipulate it. Gamestop like it or not is a key player in price, and as long as they're asking $50 or more for the game used, that'll keep the drive on the price of the game up so buying a new one if you can find it for $40 means you already came out ahead.

[BlastProcessing402]

These OOT out of print worries have been around for over a year. It's just an older game that not all retailers are worried about keeping in stock.

I even had trouble finding it back over two+ years ago. Most of the games I wanted I could find cheaply, even then fairly new games like NSMB2 and Sticker Star, yet OOT I couldn't find anywhere but Walmart, where it was full price.

You just have to look around and be patient. It's still out there, somewhere.

[Leo_A]

Read an older thread at AtariAge about the short lived Nintendo Selects program, and it reminded me that this is nothing new here.

They were doing this years ago when there wasn't a digital option. So I don't believe that a title such as Ocarina of Time 3D going out of print is merely an attempt to push digital distribution of older software.


So the moral of the story is I should forget about getting a 3DS or WiiU unless I want to either pay scalpers for the privilege or else pirate everything to save my sanity? That's real nice. What the hell kind of choice is that?

Thankfully most titles remain reasonable and easily can be found new at fair prices.

That the occasional 1st party release is starting to become scarce and climb in price is nothing new for 2000's Nintendo. So don't let the odd title or two discourage you from these two game systems.


Because it's in lower print from the look of it, not out of print. It's widely available, but not widely in quantity in each store. It's not hard to pull it when you get a game or two in a box here and there, not stacks of them.

There's no evidence of the title returning to stock, however briefly.

[Rickstilwell1]

In 2012 Nintendo was getting bashed for rehashes, and now they're all the rage! lol. Glad I bought this game in 2011 before it was cool to buy a rehash.

[kai123]

In 2012 Nintendo was getting bashed for rehashes, and now they're all the rage! lol. Glad I bought this game in 2011 before it was cool to buy a rehash.

That is true. I wonder why the sudden change of heart from people? Have the nostalgia boners started to take viagra?

[Tanooki]

I think it's a mix of a lot of things combining into one.

You have the re-interest in the Zelda franchise because they've early blown out their annoyingly open world Zelda game coming on WiiU. You have the MM game and the New3DS launch branded system as well. And then there's the fact while in production, it's not in mass production, a 4 year old upgrade of the one video game on the market that supposedly is the highest rated game of all time, Ocarina of Time. You have this trifecta of garbage colliding to cause this one to go nuts.

If you then factor in the whole market where people are holding onto their last gen systems over buying new still (with no help from game/system makers to force the ugprade like every other generation) and all the indie and so on style stuff these days looking backward instead of forward for many of reasons it plays into why rehash does well. If you get a rehashed game you may have already played it, but if not, you can look into years of commentary and review to know honestly if it's crap or not, modern games cover the bs with smoke and mirrors and you're left playing vegas tables with your games and money.

[Rickstilwell1]

Maybe it just took 3 years for people to realize it. I thought these kinds of games were fun because I already replay the same old games over and over again anyway. Sometimes I like it when they give it a graphical boost or throw in a few extra areas. But what I prefer even more is when they make more actual sequels that are similar. Sometimes being too different can turn me off from a series.

New Mario games always get me to buy Nintendo systems, but Zelda is a different story because I've never beaten any non-remake Zeldas after Majora's Mask. The Oracles of Ages and Seasons seemed kind of strange to me and didn't quite attract me to them like Link's Awakening did. Toon Link's goofy looking character design made me not appreciate The Wind Waker as much. And so every entry after that went on the back burner. I might try to pick up where I left off next time I cycle back through and finish Majora's Mask again though. It's time I finally gave at least some of the in between newer Zeldas a chance. A Link Between Worlds did look good to me. It looked like it might finally be the one that looks right to me.

[Tanooki]

Maybe it just took 3 years for people to realize it. I thought these kinds of games were fun because I already replay the same old games over and over again anyway. Sometimes I like it when they give it a graphical boost or throw in a few extra areas. But what I prefer even more is when they make more actual sequels that are similar. Sometimes being too different can turn me off from a series.

That's why I'm 100% not interested in the Zelda game on the WiiU and was a nice deciding factor in me selling the hardware because as bad as I'd like to play Starfox, keeping the system for one game wasn't wise. I have Link to the Past's sequel on 3DS and I can not enjoy it as is without a guide. I'm tempted to buy the guide and just use it to do the dungeons in order because it's too open world of me to enjoy as I just go in circles and achieve nothing of value in the time I can apply myself. Nintendo has been tweaking a few of their franchises, Zelda the most, to where I don't want to deal with it anymore. Mario Kart and Brawl are more or less on that same track making online the bread and butter of it and I prefer single player (and for kart to have skill, not just be mario party on wheels.)



New Mario games always get me to buy Nintendo systems, but Zelda is a different story because I've never beaten any non-remake Zeldas after Majora's Mask. The Oracles of Ages and Seasons seemed kind of strange to me and didn't quite attract me to them like Link's Awakening did. Toon Link's goofy looking character design made me not appreciate The Wind Waker as much. And so every entry after that went on the back burner. I might try to pick up where I left off next time I cycle back through and finish Majora's Mask again though. It's time I finally gave at least some of the in between newer Zeldas a chance. A Link Between Worlds did look good to me. It looked like it might finally be the one that looks right to me.

Me too. Thae SMB U was so amazing, the only 'new' style game I really truly and greatly enjoyed as it so tried to be Super Mario World dumping some of the boring stage designs and wonky gimmicks and physics of the previous titles and I will miss it. Those two Oracle games I never finishde, really disliked them because they didn't feel right, which I guess makes sense since Capcom made them as Flagship. They were so linear it was a choking snore and the dungeons I did bother with before selling them were backtrack hell. Wind Waker though is my favorite 3D Zelda of the lot, the animation was amazing, story was fairly unique with ties ot Ocarina and before, and the play control and stage designs were awesome and it bothers me the game series slid so bad after that point. I'm considering despite my dislike o the n64 release due to the choking time design and things maybe giving majora a try on 3DS due to the updates and changes.

[RP2A03]

I have Link to the Past's sequel on 3DS and I can not enjoy it as is without a guide. I'm tempted to buy the guide and just use it to do the dungeons in order because it's too open world of me to enjoy as I just go in circles and achieve nothing of value in the time I can apply myself.

There is no set order to the dungeons. Just go with the flow and do whatever seems reasonable. A Link Between Worlds is really more of a return to the franchise's roots. The world is opened up similarly to how the first game was and you are not given much direction on what to do next. Once you relearn how to be self-reliant in unfamiliar situations, the game will become much more fun and you will have a greater sense of accomplishment.

[Tanooki]

I found the Prima guide for $7 used when I was out earlier. I'll look into picking it back up. I'll just follow however it has the areas laid out in there, but I'll still work to solve the dungeons on my own as it's not really a hard game from what I have played of it.

[kai123]

My only problem with A link between worlds was how easy it was. I think I died 3 times. I didn't struggle at all with the title. I don't need it to be like Dark Souls or anything but some challenge would have been nice.

[Tanooki]

I have to agree with that. I only took down 2 dungeons and went around some places before I stopped as I didn't bump into any more dungeons, but i never died being serious about it. The only time I ever ate it was in that part up in the mountains where you have these 3D drops into some platforms over lava for a heart piece and the depth of it just kept screwing with me and I can't physically handle it. That was about the last time I played it too I think.

[ZeroCool]

Are you all still having trouble finding this game? Or did they restock the shelves?

[Tanooki]

Did you come across it new out there or just asking?

I've got it thankfully as I think I said earlier this year in this thread. I also brought up that link between worlds, I said I'd pick it back up and I still haven't. Thinking about it though I realize it has been too long, so when I do I'll erase the save and start over because it's bad trying to remember what you did especially in an open game like that so much later.

[The 1 2 P]

Ocarina of Time 3D is definitely not restocked in stores new but I have started to see used copies at Gamestop for a trillion dollars. I passed on those but ironically I bought a used copy(along with Pokemon Omega Ruby and New Super Mario Bros DS) yesterday for $45 total off of craigs list. I don't think Nintendo has any interest in making another print of this game, especially when they can continue charging the full price for the e-shop version.

[ZeroCool]

Did you come across it new out there or just asking?

I've got it thankfully as I think I said earlier this year in this thread. I also brought up that link between worlds, I said I'd pick it back up and I still haven't. Thinking about it though I realize it has been too long, so when I do I'll erase the save and start over because it's bad trying to remember what you did especially in an open game like that so much later.

I saw it in a Best Buy a while back. there were maybe 4 or 5. I was shocked since I hadn't seen it anywhere for some time.

[Leo_A]

Not sure when this happened, but I see that this was finally reprinted and is easy to find at Best Buy locations in recent days. :)

http://i.imgur.com/SmJu4Ip.jpg

It's also only $20 used online at Best Buy and is getting prices down elsewhere as well. Amazon is down to $45 for new copies for example. I don't see any new stock at GameStop or Wal-Mart, but hopefully they're ordering some as well so that it's more readily available.

Alas, it's not the budget rerelease that it deserves, but at least one can buy it new for MSRP once again.

[Niku-Sama]

we get them from time to time at work (wally) usually about $40 as well

[Tanooki]

Wow cool picture. I was wondering why this old topic got dusted off. It never really was out of print, just out of larger print and that appears to have been cured seeing a stack like that at a best buy. If enough are coming out it's dropping even the scalpers on amazon to take $45 (if that if they're still just sitting on them) then Nintendo finally got wise and upped the stock because demand is there. I did find it odd this wouldn't have happened earlier like when that mediocre sequel popped up on 3DS months ago as it would have been a great opportunity to have a big stack of ocarina side by side. One would easily help sell the other.

[FieryReign]

I love seeing scalpers take one in the ole poopchute. Now, where's all those copies of Starfox64 and Kid Icarus? Or Nintendo purposefully makes limited runs to force you into their eshop.

[Tanooki]

I think they do actually just that. They'd rather have you buy something you don't own they totally control locked onto your hardware you best hope never breaks irreparably or is stolen or you can just buy it again.

[Leo_A]

I love seeing scalpers take one in the ole poopchute. Now, where's all those copies of Starfox64 and Kid Icarus? Or Nintendo purposefully makes limited runs to force you into their eshop.

They do it more so I think to force prices to stay high. They don't want customers to think that they can just wait for a 1st party release to be discounted.

They were doing this years ago well before retail releases could also be bought digitally.

[Dashopepper]

Do the Nintendo conspiracies ever get old? Of course Nintendo wants stock on the shelf. The 3ds especially sells more hard copies then digital due to its demographic. A reasonable theory is that Nintendo underestimated the sales and assumed A Link Between Worlds was going to stunt them even more making another run unnecessary. But apparently Oot had legs and ALBW didn't which really stumps me (its an amazing game) and apparently Nintendo.

[FieryReign]

Steel Diver, Tetris Axis, and New Super Mario2 say otherwise. There are so many copies of that junk floating around everywhere. Conspiracy theory? It's a wellknown fact game companies want to go all digital. How do you explain Starfox64 and Kid Icarus?

[SparTonberry]

I love seeing scalpers take one in the ole poopchute. Now, where's all those copies of Starfox64 and Kid Icarus? Or Nintendo purposefully makes limited runs to force you into their eshop.

It sounds like it was decently in stock, until the scalpers heard a rumor it was going out of print, and then proceeded to horde them all.
(I mean how else do you explain the average ebay price literally doubling IN ONE DAY?)

[FieryReign]

Nintendo ain't seein that money when scalpers buy them up and resell them at higher marks. They make no money when it gets resold multiple times through hellholes like Gamestop. Why would they keep stocking shelves and running more prints when it's not worth it? They want you to pay full retail for a digital download even if the game is 5 years old and sitting in bargain bins. Don't see any conspiracie theorie accusations like the fanboys like to scream all the time.

[theclaw]

On the other hand, that could be a sign digital versions consistently can and do sell at full price. Even long after physical copies go into bargain bins.

[FieryReign]

Because people are lazy and saves gas and whatnot. And the kids of today think digital downloads are awesome and physicals are relics. I've seen so many forums topics come up about the lack of physical releases. Bombarded with replies like "what are you like 80?" And "I'll only play a game til it's finished, done with it forever, so I don't care."

[The 1 2 P]

Not sure when this happened, but I see that this was finally reprinted and is easy to find at Best Buy locations in recent days. :)

http://i.imgur.com/SmJu4Ip.jpg

It's also only $20 used online at Best Buy and is getting prices down elsewhere as well. Amazon is down to $45 for new copies for example. I don't see any new stock at GameStop or Wal-Mart, but hopefully they're ordering some as well so that it's more readily available.

Maybe in your Best Buy but not any of the ones around here and I work in two of them so I would have noticed. But they are at least available on Best Buy's website so that's better than nothing. In the mean time though I'll keep an eye out for them.

[Tanooki]

Do the Nintendo conspiracies ever get old? Of course Nintendo wants stock on the shelf. The 3ds especially sells more hard copies then digital due to its demographic. A reasonable theory is that Nintendo underestimated the sales and assumed A Link Between Worlds was going to stunt them even more making another run unnecessary. But apparently Oot had legs and ALBW didn't which really stumps me (its an amazing game) and apparently Nintendo.

I don't think it's a conspiracy, look what year it came out. Nintendo also has not restocked Kid Icarus or Starfox on 3DS in a long while now, yet you can find an over flooding of the Mario titles Fiery pointed out. Some things they'll reprint, some they don't, and some they keep out in a slow irregular trickle which is where Ocarina was and now it appears to have stepped up. I think the problem with ALBW is that people went into it of an older group thinking SNES game sequel, but instead they got an overly unbalanced and easy open world game that didn't sit so well and the legs kind of got bruised shins if not a cracked bone. Ocarina though was just so well made in story and places within the world it has the balance to replay or play for a first time on a 3DS coat of paint and not realize it's far older fare from the 90s as is still stands tall. I think with the love over the Zelda 3DS's and Majora being begged for then selling as it has so far got them to ramp up more production of Ocarina to make some more bucks. But don't think Nintendo wouldn't stop making games if they could push digital, they cut NO breaks and no price difference with a real game and a real rental of sorts stuck on your system as they cost the game to me and you but a crapload less to them as a server time value download. Fiery is also right part of the problem is the younger kids who have no respect for what goes into a game and holds no value with physical property because money grows on trees and you can just dump or erase crap when you're done with it because the next cheap (or not) digital high is a click of the button away. Some may realize in time they're pissing heaps of cash on nothing but a moment, they'll regret it, and others won't.

[PizzaKat]

If anyone needfs one I'll get you one for retail.

[The 1 2 P]

If anyone needfs one I'll get you one for retail.

They can get them for retail on BestBuy.com and if they are a Gamer's Club Unlocked rewards member like me they will only pay $32 before taxes because of the 20% discount.

[SparTonberry]

Canadian retailer claims new wave of Nintendo Selects reprints coming, including everyone's favorite not-rare "OMG RARE" 3DS game.
For Wii, Wii U and 3DS, Donkey Kong returns on all of them, Super Mario All-Stars also (knowing Nintendo, its probably just the game without the extras of the original print, for the same price)
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/02/new_north_american_nintendo_selects_range_emerges_ in_retailer_listings

[ScourDX]

Nintendo is releasing players choice March 11. This include Zelda Oot 3ds

http://nintendoeverything.com/retailer-says-new-nintendo-selects-are-coming-on-march-11/

This is good to screw scalper and give to people who really want it

[Tanooki]

Totally agreed. I saw a stash of them at Best Buy too all during the holiday season side by side with Majora, and even after the slots in the cardboard kiosk displays still had them so it wasn't just a Christmas thing looking at it.

It's a nitpick but I hate they call the stuff Nintendo Selects, but I guess it's more accurate. The old Player's Choice was their choice, million+ sellers all, and this time around with Nintendo and their problems moving stuff some are just Nintendo Select(ed) to be part of a re-release lot in a cheaper packaging. It gets more product on the shelf that's more guaranteed to move while filling holes in a launch quarter until more product of quality arrives.

[Leo_A]

:)

http://www.nintendo.com/images/page/nintendoselects/zelda-ocarina/game.png

[Tanooki]

Who needs words when you got a picture like that right? I wonder, will the scalpers now try and play the 'OG' release tactic to get a few extra bucks or finally give up. :D