Pinobee for PS - A future rarity?

[Iron Draggon]

I predict that this game will eventually become known as an R7 around here, just like Punky Skunk is now, and here's why: First of all, the obvious reasons and the obvious similarities. It's a 2D platformer, made by Konami, released near the end of the PlayStation's life. That sentence alone should explain it. But I will elaborate. We know that typically, Konami games are produced in very small quantities. We also know that typically, 2D games on the PS are very few and far between, and with the exception of arcade compilations and sequels of well known established franchises, they don't sell very well. And we know that when games don't sell very well, their production runs tend to get cut very short, especially if they're released near the end of a console's life. So it seems to me that Pinobee has all the ingredients of a future rarity written all over it, if you're wise enough to notice these facts.

Now let's look at the similarities between Pinobee and Punky Skunk for some further elaboration. Both games are 2D platformers. Both games were very easy to find when they were first released, as most future rarities usually are. The simple facts are there are very few true rarities that are truly rare and very obviously truly rare when they're first released. So surely at some point, Punky Skunk was only known as an R3 around here, just as Pinobee is now. It was only until later, after it was too late for most people to start snatching it up, that it became known that Punky Skunk was actually an R7 game. And I believe that the exact same thing will happen with Pinobee too. It hasn't gotten glowing reviews. The general consensus of the gaming majority, the casual gaming masses, is who cares? They see it as just some lame 2D game.

Yes, I know that there are a couple of Pinobee games for the GBA as well, with a third one in the works. And I know that obviously those games are doing very well on the GBA. But I'm talking about the one for the PS, the one that will probably never get a sequel on the PS, or even on the PS2. It's just out there, lurking, waiting to be discovered for what it really is. That's why I just ordered a copy of it for my own collection, for a measly $10 plus shipping. Which brings me to yet another reason why I believe that it will become a rarity someday. It's budget priced, and it's still not flying off the shelves. You can still find it easily enough, but it's mostly just gathering dust. Only one seller on ebay is selling new copies of it at this time, and only a few sellers on Amazon are selling new copies of it. Amazon themselves no longer stock it, and most major online retailers no longer stock it either, or they've had it on backorder for 6 months to a year. Which should be an indicator that either these stores aren't ordering it anymore, or Konami isn't shipping it anymore. All of which lends a great deal of support to my rarity theories.

Now I don't know how readily available it is in the pysical world, at all the major brick and mortar retail outlets, but I assume that the situation in the physical world closely mimics the situation in the online world. So if I were you, and I didn't have this game in my collection yet, I'd go find it ASAP and snatch it up. I haven't had a chance to play it yet, because I just now found out about it and ordered it. But I can tell just by looking at the screenshots that it's an absolutely beautiful game. It's simply gorgeous. Very reminiscent of Astal on the Saturn, and even more reminiscent of Kolibri on the 32X. It looks every bit as stunning as Astal to me, and it has so much in common with Kolibri that it borders on being a clone of it. And yet it's all original. Well, almost all original. The story is actually a modern retelling of the Pinocchio tale, hence the name Pinobee. I don't think that his nose grows whenever he tells a lie though. But his creators proudly admit their inspiration for him.

So, with all that said, let's hear your thoughts on my opinions of this game. I'm a proud owner of Punky Skunk, ever since it was first released, but I got that game just because it looked like a cool 2D platformer. Potential rarity was never part of my buying decisions back in those days. I simply bought what I liked, or thought I would like, and whatever else interested me. And yet, throughout the years, somehow I ended up with a ton of R7's that way, especially for the PS. Even after I sold off half of my PS collection in a mad fit of temporary insanity and a desperate need for cash, somehow I still managed to keep almost all of the R7's that I had bought, as well as almost all of the R6's too. In fact, I have almost all of the R7's for the PS, or at least about half of them. I have more R7's for the PS than I have for any other system I collect for. And I have more R6's for the PS than I have for any other system I collect for too. Seriously, most of my entire PS collection is R6's and R7's. So I believe that I have an unconscious knack for picking out the rarities, and now that I'm actively seeking them out consciously, I believe that I know a likely suspect when I see it. And as I've already said, I believe that Pinobee for the PS has potential rarity written all over it. Do you agree?

Discuss! And feel free to talk about all the Pinobee games for the GBA here too. I'd love to hear about them, since I know nothing about them yet, and I've fallen in love with this character ever since I first saw him. He's just as cute as he can "bee", and absolutely adorable. And his PS game looks like it's gonna "bee" alot of fun too. I don't believe that I have any other games where you play as a bee, although I do have several games where you play as an insect. So I know that I'm gonna enjoy it, whether it ever becomes a rarity or not. Its rarity is really of little importance to me, as I'm still mostly only buying what I like, or think I'll like, and whatever else interests me. And this game looks like a very cool 2D platformer. But I thought that it would be cool to discuss its potential rarity here, since it seems to be a likely suspect. Oh and if you already own this game, or you've played it, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it here too. Especially if you happen to own or have played Punky Skunk as well. I'd like to know how the two compare, and I'm anxious to compare them. I'm really glad to see another good 2D platformer on the PS myself, and I'm really looking forward to playing this game alot real soon!

[PapaStu]

Yes the game was released towards the end of the PS life, however its a game that I can walk into almost any store still selling PS stuff, and see it on the shelf. Its pretty common, and not uber rare, not at all like Punky Skunk in that matter. Yes the games might be similar, but that doesnt mean that the production runs or even the popularity of them (or lack of) is enough to spike this game to an R7.

[Dangerboy]

We begin the dismemberment:


First of all, the obvious reasons and the obvious similarities. It's a 2D platformer, made by Konami

Except neither of them were made by Konami. One was from Jaleco, one was from Artoon released through Hudson. It was one of the errors in the Guide that need to be fixed. If you had owned the game, or even researched it like I just did for this post, you would know that.


released near the end of the PlayStation's life. That sentence alone should explain it.

Except one was released during the PlayStation's most lucrative time, and one was released during the system's fizzle out period. Yep, very much the same.


But I will elaborate. We know that typically, Konami games are produced in very small quantities.

Damn dude, seriously? You mean all these new Greatest Hit copies of Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and other games I have been tripping over at Blockbuster when I try and grab a game are a small print run? SWEET.


We also know that typically, 2D games on the PS are very few and far between, and with the exception of arcade compilations and sequels of well known established franchises, they don't sell very well.

Ah yup...they don't sell well...I guess that's why Castlevania: SOTN is a Greatest Hit, and, gee...that Castlevania Chronicles game you keep dying for sold so poorly that you only claimed it to be the the next Radiant Silvergun....


And we know that when games don't sell very well, their production runs tend to get cut very short, especially if they're released near the end of a console's life.

Yep. Just look at E.T. 2600.


Both games were very easy to find when they were first released, as most future rarities usually are.

By that definiton EVERY GAME EVER COMMERCIALLY RELEASED just became a future rarity.


The simple facts are there are very few true rarities that are truly rare and very obviously truly rare when they're first released.

I don't even know if that sentence can be graphed.

(cuts out entirely useless parapgraph #1)


It's just out there, lurking, waiting to be discovered for what it really is. That's why I just ordered a copy of it for my own collection, for a measly $10 plus shipping.

And there we have it. Basically what the last several novels you have posted have all been about:

You trying to hype up your own purchase so you can make yourself feel like you have some sort of holy grail or rare treasure, because gosh gee golly whiz, there are too many people other than you succeeding in finding the real grails, or at least the established grails.



Konami isn't shipping it anymore. All of which lends a great deal of support to my rarity theories.

It's especially rare..so rare it doesn't exists in Konami's warehouse.


Now I don't know how readily available it is in the pysical world,


Which, you know, kind of helps the argument and also helsp prove you're also not too privy of the world outside your own.


I haven't had a chance to play it yet, because I just now found out about it and ordered it. But I can tell just by looking at the screenshots that it's an absolutely beautiful game. It's simply gorgeous. Very reminiscent of Astal on the Saturn, and even more reminiscent of Kolibri on the 32X.

Not even close. Not even close.

(deletes next paragraph as it is a review of a game you haven't played)


So, with all that said, let's hear your thoughts on my opinions of this game.

Slight bit of an ego there, bro.


Seriously, most of my entire PS collection is R6's and R7's. So I believe that I have an unconscious knack for picking out the rarities

Yes, you have a great knack for knowing what anyone with half a gaming brain cell could figure out.

Here's the $15 Turbo Duo CD I bought 10 years ago cuz I liked the cover and had never seen it before, and now it's a $150 rarity. Must have been your unconsciousness talking to me.

It's becoming rather obvious that your temper and your ego are genetically fused to your opinion, and should you wish to remain posting here, you should have them seperated at the hip.

Now bee-have.

[Saabmeister]

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

This is the funniest topic I think I have ever seen.

I don't think I'll ever believe anything Iron Draggon says again.

[Iron Draggon]

You know Dangerboy, for somebody who's been trying his best to dissect every single one of my posts in an obvious attempt to make me look like an ass lately, you sure aren't making yourself look like any better of a person. Not to single you out, but there's a small gang of people like you on my ass recently, and all only because of my posts in Buying & Selling regarding the cheapness of most people here. So again I say, if the shoe fits, wear it. My comments in that thread only offended those who it applies to, and their efforts to attack me in every other non-related thread here only reinforce that my statements about those people are entirely true. If you're one of the cheap bastards here, you know you're one of the cheap bastards here, and that's the only reason why you're pissed off at me for calling you on it.

Or perhaps this attack is based on my opinions of the Lightspan games, and the people who collect that sort of thing. So by all means, let's take this perfectly benign topic and turn it into a flame war so it has to be locked too. I'm sure that the entire DP community needs to have every single one of my posts in every single thread here dissected and overanalyzed from now on. How much time do you waste picking my posts apart anyway? I'm not even gonna get into a quote war with you over this. There's no point in it at all. If you wanna talk about the game, great. If you wanna talk about me, I have a PM box for that, and even an email address. Links to both appear in every ingle one of my posts. So no need to drag everyone else here through it. This topic is supposed to be about Pinobee, not yet another Draggon bash.

[Kroogah]

Oh for fuck's sake.