The Gamecube game that doesn't exist - Rave Master

[Eternal Tune]

Tuesday morning I got a newsletter email from Nintendo about Zelda wallpapers. Being at work and pretty sick of the current wallpaper on one of the computers there, I decided to check it out. Upon clicking the link I saw a description of an apparent Rave Master game aka Groove Adventure Rave. Being a big fan of the anime, before the dub was shown on Cartoon Network and they released edited dub only DVDs, I lusted after it. I've seen the GBA version around at various gaming chains and I was aware of a PS2 version from E3 ads I was given. However, I had no clue there was a four player fighting game for the Cube. I googled it online to learn it was released earlier this month thanks to Konami. So from there I went to gamestop.com, ebgames.com, and gamecrazy's website. Nothing. No listing what so ever. Double checked at Konami.com and sure enough they showed it shipped on March 8 or something like that. After work I went to Gamestop, EB, Biggs, ToysRus, ect. Called a shitload of places and other retail chains. They had no clue what I was talking about.

Finally I broke down and purchased a copy of Rave Master for the Gamecube from Amazon.com fearing that they would send me the GBA version, since they share the same name. A day after they shipped it, I now hold in my hands the game all the stores kept telling me didn't exist.

http://kthxstfu.com/Eternaltune/capture_0001.jpg
Forgive the shitty Eyetoy pic.

[Videogamerdaryll]

Awesome!! Congrats..


A day after they shipped it, I now hold in my hands the game all the stores kept telling me didn't exist.

I'd take to to those stores especially the stores that Specifically sell games like EB and show them..just to shove it in their faces..(depends on the situation.)

I've been in some heated arguements with know it all employess at game stores who say something doesn't exist yet I'll bring it in to show them.....then they :embarrassed:

[MegaDrive20XX]

Awesome!! Congrats..


A day after they shipped it, I now hold in my hands the game all the stores kept telling me didn't exist.

I'd take to to those stores especially the stores that Specifically sell games like EB and show them..just to shove it in their faces..(depends on the situation.)

I've been in some heated arguements with know it all employess at game stores who say something doesn't exist yet I'll bring it in to show them.....then they :embarrassed:

Don't you love that feeling? pwnd feeling you just gave them? :) makes my day

[youruglyclone]

eh it's not that surprise there's tons of stuff the "major" retailers don't acknowledge as existing...cause we all know their catalogues are the library of congress for gaming

seriously you'll never be able to buy castle of shikigami at those stores cause it's not on their "computers" but yet k- mart had it

[izret101]

Very cool.
Congrats on the purchase.
I never heard of the game before (not surprised though)

[Mayhem]

It's been out for a while in Japan and yet I can't find many copies of that around either, even through the big Asian retailers.

Still, I definitely see your point Betty. Off to Amazon I go LOL

[joshnickerson]

Only caught the show a couple of times on CN, but it looked interesting nonetheless. Upon first hearing the title, I thought it would be about nightclub raves *L*.
The Amazon.com description is interesting, with a "Story Edit mode". Definately let us know how the game is. Especially since Konami actually released a *gasp* Gamecube exclusive that actually might not suck.

[Needle]

It's a well known fact that game chains like EB and Gamestop don't carry every single game that comes out. This is almost always delegated to budget titles. I can't necessarily explain what the reasoning is behind it besides the perception of sales.

Right off the top of my head, I know Gamestop didn't carry Virtua Quest for Gamecube, and won't carry Phantasy Star Collection for PS2 either. *shrug*

[LAGO]

eh it's not that surprise there's tons of stuff the "major" retailers don't acknowledge as existing...cause we all know their catalogues are the library of congress for gaming

seriously you'll never be able to buy castle of shikigami at those stores cause it's not on their "computers" but yet k- mart had it

is it castle of shikigami 1 or 2 ... i looked for it and only found the 2nd ... was the first released in the US?

[Lemmy Kilmister]

was the first released in the US?

Yeah, but it's called "Mobile light Force 2". x_x

[Algol]

Woah! Never heard of a game not being carried by any retailers before. This just may be one of the titles that we have a reason to call a "future rare."

[GrandAmChandler]

I love it when that happens, I had the same problem with Blowout for GameCube when it first came out. Retailers swore up and down that it was PS2 & XB only for the longest time... x_x

[Crush Crawfish]

Man, I thought this one got canceled since it dropped off of EB's release list a while back....So, how does it play? Is it worth the trouble of tracking it down?

[James]

Only caught the show a couple of times on CN, but it looked interesting nonetheless. Upon first hearing the title, I thought it would be about nightclub raves *L*.
The Amazon.com description is interesting, with a "Story Edit mode". Definately let us know how the game is. Especially since Konami actually released a *gasp* Gamecube exclusive that actually might not suck.

Metal Gear Solid the Twin Sankes was really good. Although that is a remake and was a joint effort by Konami and Silicon Knights and some Nintendo input as well. Well that's the only big name title I can think of. Oh and Ikaruga is really fun as well for this generation of course that was originally an arcade title as well as a Dreamcast title. Well I can't think of any Gamecube exclusive titles by Konami that aren't remakes, well except for this game Rave Master which looks really good.

A better image of Rave Master is here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0007ULFTS/ref=dp_product-image-only_0/103-4603902-2933443?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=507846&s=videogames

[James]

Here's a fair review of the game:

http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=478849

[Zadoc]

Woah! Never heard of a game not being carried by any retailers before. This just may be one of the titles that we have a reason to call a "future rare."

Having worked for Gamestop for a few years, I can tell you that they don't carry certian games that they perceive as potential failures, (thought hey lost millions on WWF Smackdown 2... hahaha). Two games that I can specifically cite that they didn't carry for Dreamcast were Aerowings 2 and Spirit of Speed 19...whatever.

If they don't have a "new" SKU for a specific US release they will usually have a "pre-owned" SKU in their system. Just because they won't carry it new doesn't mean that they won't take trade-ins.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Awesome!! Congrats..


A day after they shipped it, I now hold in my hands the game all the stores kept telling me didn't exist.

I'd take to to those stores especially the stores that Specifically sell games like EB and show them..just to shove it in their faces.

Yes, you do that!

I had a similar situation regarding Suikoden IV and Metal Gear Solid III (PAL versions). everywhere I went they told me that Konami DO NOT seal their PS2 games...


Well, I searched long and hard, and finally managed to track down a sealed MGS III and took it into each and every game store in my town to rub it in their faces!

I just wish I had bought a sealed MGS III Metal Edition (Which I have also got pictures of sealed) - That would have shut them up!


And as an encore, I also took along a bunch of my other sealed Konami games to show them. Some PS2, but also took my sealed Suikoden I and Vandal Hearts II.


So, if you want to prove your superiority, i'd say take that game down to those shops, ask them if they have it (Again) and when they tell you no such game exists, whip it out and show them.


But in my experience - People who work in game shops are dumb asses and don't know what the hell they are talking about. The manager of my local GAME has never even heard of a game called "Steel Battalion" and just because that particular shop never stocked it, it apparently doesn't exist... Hmmm...

[Avenger]

i saw this game at EB a few days ago...had never seen it before :D

[FurinkanianFrood]

I personally found the game to be enjoyable, though I haven't played it for a couple years. I'll probably buy it very soon now that I know the US release exists. 8-)

[maxlords]

I saw that Rave Master game at Wal-Mart a week or two ago. I also saw Virtua Quest for GC and Castle Shikigami 2 at the same Wal-Mart, along with It's Mr. Pants. I'm sure they have all of those games still in stock too.

I didn't buy any of em tho...none of em looked interesting.

[rbudrick]

Wow, there's only one on ebay right now.

-Rob

[Mayhem]

And more expensive that Amazon, which is why I went there for my copy.

[TurboGenesis]

After seeing this post I went to GameCrazy and picked both Rave Master and Virtua Quest for 29.99 each. The guy didn't even know of these games and had to dig for them after he saw that they were in stock in the computer. He was like "I never heard of these games?!?!". I had been looking for Virtua Quest for a while even though the reviewers in Game Informer and the Detroit News/Free Press slammed it. I'm going to get started on it this weekend.

Also of note they were the only copies they had.

[maxlords]

Heh, my Wal-Mart still has like 5-7 of each.

[Bluteg]

My Wal-Mart has Mad Maestro for $49.96 everyday low prices my ass.

This looking very interesting and may be a potiential rarity on a console with allready low print runs compared to PS2.

[KJN]

After seeing this post I went to GameCrazy and picked both Rave Master and Virtua Quest for 29.99 each. The guy didn't even know of these games and had to dig for them after he saw that they were in stock in the computer. He was like "I never heard of these games?!?!". I had been looking for Virtua Quest for a while even though the reviewers in Game Informer and the Detroit News/Free Press slammed it. I'm going to get started on it this weekend.

Also of note they were the only copies they had.

Looking at the NPD numbers Virtua Quest hasnt exactly done to well:

Gamecube version:
JAN GCN VIRTUA QUEST - 321 / $12,714
FEB GCN VIRTUA QUEST - 712 / $28,473

Barely over 1000 copies in two months and that's actually the best selling version, the PS2 version is doing even worse:

PS2 version:
JAN PS2 VIRTUA QUEST - 258 / $10,272
FEB PS2 VIRTUA QUEST - 478 / $19,087

736 copies in two months, ouch.

[Berty]

where are you getting those figures from?

[KJN]

NPD numbers usually gets leaked to various game related forums and news groups every month.

[dbiersdorf]

[quote=joshnickerson]Metal Gear Solid the Twin Sankes was really good. Although that is a remake and was a joint effort by Konami and Silicon Knights and some Nintendo input as well. Well that's the only big name title I can think of. Oh and Ikaruga is really fun as well for this generation of course that was originally an arcade title as well as a Dreamcast title. Well I can't think of any Gamecube exclusive titles by Konami that aren't remakes, well except for this game Rave Master which looks really good.

Ikaruga was published by Atari, not Konami.

Even though Konami hasn't had the best support for the GameCube they have had their fair share of exclusives for them.

- Disney Sports Basketball
- Disney Sports Football
- Disney Sports Skateboarding
- Disney Sports Soccer
- Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
- WTA Tour Tennis
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Falsebound Kingdom