Is rare really rare?

[gepeto]

I have been following this particular xbox game spikeout for the past few days on Dp. I must question the true value of this game. Today I have been having to do some inner soul searching. You see I have a real strong weakness when I hear or see in print that this game is rare or there is a limited run. I get real excited and my desire for the game starts getting intense and I feel I have to have it. I have to start using better discretion. Just because someone post a game (that maybe new or not widely availible)on ebay with a 100.00 buy it now and says its rare. is it? Or is it fools gold? One guy had multiple copies for sale. Does that make it rare or is it a souped up version of hellboy? I am not referring to idiot ebay postings ex super mario rare $50.00 BIN. I believe companies are starting to exploit the whole Limited edition, Special edition, limited run terminologies when it comes to games. It seems every new game has a limited edition version. I really believe alot of good rare games (from a collectors point of view) have been ruined with the greatest hits version or rereleases. Can we trust companies? I am starting to feel that games need to earn the right to be called rare. As for spikeout in my heart I not getting the rare vibe or maybe I am starting to get overexposed and I am experiencing the fog of collecting either way I'm gonna pass on this one.

[Doonzmore]

I've thought about this a little myself. I saw a copy of this game at EB today, i passed it up and felt a little regret later but i just found a copy off ebay for 25 bucks. I this game does get a second run i supose i won't feel too bad cause i love beat em ups and i haven't played my xbox in a year. My question now for those who own is is this game worth 25 bucks in terms of entertainment? Can you play up to four players?

[imanerd0011]

I heard that Spikeout is getting a reprint on April 15th, so I wouldn't spend anymore than $30 on it, because that is what it is going to cost when they release it again. I don't think Limited Edition versions of popular games will ever be worth too much. Even a LE version of a game (ex. Halo LE) would have tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of it released.

[GaijinPunch]

Word up. Anyone that looked it up on Amazon last week or month would see that it's going on sale (for real) on 4/15. EB got an advanced sale or something. Too bad for the suckers.

[SoulBlazer]

There ARE still small print runs of games made -- just no one knows about it until it's too late. I've always taken any kind of a 'edition' -- be it Limited, Collectors, Special, etc. -- as meaning there are some bonuses and other stuff included for a little mroe money, NOT that it's rare or could be worth money someday. Sometimes they are -- sometimes not.

[pacmanhat]

I heard that Spikeout is getting a reprint on April 15th, so I wouldn't spend anymore than $30 on it, because that is what it is going to cost when they release it again. I don't think Limited Edition versions of popular games will ever be worth too much. Even a LE version of a game (ex. Halo LE) would have tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of it released.

There's a Halo LE? Or are you referring to Halo 2?

[pacmanhat]

Joy, I have again double posted.

[Flack]

Of course adding the word "rare" to your eBay auction doesn't mean it's rare. Search for anything on eBay under "completed auctions" and you'll notice that every single one sells for a different price. eBay isn't a way to measure prices -- it's a way to measure what one person was willing to pay on one particular day at one particular moment in time.

Anything you think you know about production runs and rarity numbers (especially of items in current production), videogame companies know 10x as much. Numbers can be bumped up to make a company or game look bigge than it really is, or reported low to instill a sense of "urgency" in consumers.

It's so much easier to just buy games you want to play. :)

[Muscelli]

Er is nein sehr rare.... Ich komme aus der stadt... und er ist im EB GAMES

[maxlords]

EB Games bought 3500 copies chainwide to sell. The 3500 number comes from what they bought from Sega, not the full release of the game. It's only the initial print run, and EB scored because of this hype concerning the "rarity". It means that all their copies will sell out, and when the regular release hits shelves everywhere else, no one will buy the game. They managed to turn a poor seller into a smash hit overnight sheerly based on internet hype.

I guarantee you that the print run is MUCH higher than 3500. The only winners here are Sega, who gets high sellthrough on a so-so title, and EB, who gets the same.

[ClubNinja]

The only winners here are Sega, who gets high sellthrough on a so-so title, and EB, who gets the same.

And me, because I wanted to play this game and had mine pre-ordered, pre-hype. Whether there are 5 copies or 5 million, I'm a happy gamer :)

[maxlords]

Well, as long as you like it. What I meant is that most of the people buying it are ONLY buying it because of this net-hype, not because of actual interest.

[Stark]

Even if a game is technically "rare" such as a confirmed low print run it does not mean that it is or will be valuable. Lets say it is a low print run and everyone buys them up right now. When Sega looks at that a second printing might follow which would kill the value of the game. Most games that are considered rare are the ones that nobody notices until collectors go looking for them way after the fact. 8-)

[pookninja]

i dont care if the game is"rare"or not,im glad i preordered it and have a copy.its a very fun game.

[vincewy]

The term "rare" is as credible as people describe, like eBay sellers hording PSPs and claiming "RARE" and "SOLDOUT" everywhere, what kind of blatant and b#%@$%^t lies are they?

With current systems' games, I have hard time thinking any that would be rare, with exceptions of a few low print run Gamecube games, whcih we know will not have another production run.

[bargora]

eBay isn't a way to measure prices -- it's a way to measure what one person was willing to pay on one particular day at one particular moment in time.
Ahem. Two people and/or complete nitwits*. End of nitpick. :P

* leaving aside auctions that sell for the opening bid

[InsaneDavid]

There ARE still small print runs of games made -- just no one knows about it until it's too late.

The US release of Rez on the PS2 is the perfect example, even though it had high industry acclaim and hype right out of the gate, there simply weren't all that many copies mastered. It sparked all kinds of rumors about how Sega was cutting production because of the game inducing seizures and so forth. When really it just had a limited release because it looked as though it would have limited appeal. Turns out they were very wrong.