What happened with Rhapsody and Persona 2 on ebay?

[Sinteres]

I noticed theres a ton of them, many listed as new if not even sealed, for 30-40 dollars BIN.

Last time I went checking for those, as I've needed them for ages until a lucky find in a game store today, they went for 80-100 for a perfect copy of Rhapsody, and a decent chunk of change for Persona 2 in a similar condition.

Did someone find some lost warehouse or something?

[PS1Expert]

Atlus made a bunch more. There was a post somewhere about it. In fact, your local GameStop sells them too (but they say they're used when they really are new.... their computer systems don't allow new PS1 games so they have to mark them used).

[philosophyst]

Here is the Rhapsody / Persona 2 Thread (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68016&highlight=persona+rhapsody)

:)

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Still begs the question: If you are a collector, which version would you go for? The original with the white spine label, or the new version without it?


Is there still a demand for the original version, and does it still go for more than the new ones, or has it dropped?

Ie, if Square done the same with something like Einhander, would it affect the original versions?


After all, we all know that when a gam gets released as a Greatest Hits version, that affects the original black label version none, and the black labels still demand a hiher price than their green / red covered counterparts.


From my personal perspective, I would prefer the original version of Persona II and Rhapsody. As I already have a sealed Persona II, I only need Rhapsody, but will always look for the one with the white label, and would be willing to pay more for it too.


I am still baffled to why Atlus would choose to rerelease only Persona II and Rhapsody??? Why not Persona I or Ogre Battle or something like that?

Are they trying to affect the resale market? Or ar ethey trying to maintain the copyright on the games by expanding its "expiry date"? Does this also mean we should expect more games to be rereleased in the near future???

[Griking]

I am still baffled to why Atlus would choose to rerelease only Persona II and Rhapsody??? Why not Persona I or Ogre Battle or something like that?

Are they trying to affect the resale market? Or ar ethey trying to maintain the copyright on the games by expanding its "expiry date"? Does this also mean we should expect more games to be rereleased in the near future???


Atlus and Konomi (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=55396) have teamed up together for the purpose of devestating the value of your game collection. :D

[PapaStu]

Still begs the question: If you are a collector, which version would you go for? The original with the white spine label, or the new version without it? In this PS collectors personal thoughts. Pay for the one with the white spine. Its the only 'new' release that this game ever had, all those other copies (the 're-print') have NO mention of a 2005 copywrite on them, infact because.... they wernt new, just a re-release of old stock.



Ie, if Square done the same with something like Einhander, would it affect the original versions? Of course that would affect the market.
When they did that to FF Tactics over here the formerly OMG $80+ that it was going for immedately dropped down to a much more manageable 30ish.


After all, we all know that when a gam gets released as a Greatest Hits version, that affects the original black label version none, and the black labels still demand a hiher price than their green / red covered counterparts. So you made the point about Einhander why? Square has never done that, and you already knew the answer. Any time they 're-release' a game and more copies get into the market, the higher end crashes. Look at the US releases of DragonBall GT Final Bout, FF Tactics, these two games, Super Puzzle Fighter 2, all commanded higher prices, and once more stock came out (FF Tactics as a GH, DBGT as a TRUE re-release with new artwork, and the other three were backstock send outs) all their prices came crashing down.



From my personal perspective, I would prefer the original version of Persona II and Rhapsody. As I already have a sealed Persona II, I only need Rhapsody, but will always look for the one with the white label, and would be willing to pay more for it too. As would anyone who really hunted sealed PS games. The original release would demand more, its usually like that for most collectables.



I am still baffled to why Atlus would choose to rerelease only Persona II and Rhapsody??? Why not Persona I or Ogre Battle or something like that? I suggest that you read the thread thats in Buy/Sell thats about this. This wasnt a true re-release. This was old stock that was re-shrunk and sold to them as a new release. As far as the website knew, or was concerned this was 'new' factory sealed product being sold to them by the publisher of said game. Its legit beacuse it was sealed, but I can bet a decent amount that no real re-pressing happened. This was either old stock that was returned, or stuff that had been recently found, and it was sealed in accordance with Sony's new sealing policys (no white labels needed) and sent out. However I bet if I do a little digging that there was no new notice given to Sony about any reprinting and payment of licensing fees over this 're-release' and that this happened because they had already paid the fees for these units years ago. When they first came out, because, these are the same games.


Are they trying to affect the resale market? Or ar ethey trying to maintain the copyright on the games by expanding its "expiry date"? Does this also mean we should expect more games to be rereleased in the near future??? This was them pushing out their back stock. This stuff is only a few years old and since there looks to be no sequels on the imminent horizion, I doubt that this was a copywrite saving measure for the games.

[Daria]

Not to mention the sequal theory is just silly regarding Persona 2. We've been seeing MegaTen releases all over the place lately with Nocturne and the Digital Devil Saga.

[SoulBlazer]

No really seems to know what the right answer is. Atlus themselves are claiming that they did a NEW limited run on JUST these two games for ONE company only. However, there seems to be evidence that the 'new' copies are original games resealed by Atlus, as some people here have allready said. And a lot of other places seem to have these 'new' copies now also. In any event, the prices for both of these games has dropped down into a more resonable range. Watch what happens to Suikoden II if the PSP port gets released over here! :D

[Sinteres]

Thanks for the link to the other thread.

Also, as a collector who collects to play and enjoy, I'm happy I got mine, as it was it was from gamestop and in the condition others had found them. Go figure.

I'm not interested in profit though, so I was glad to get such nice copies so "cheap" compared to their historical ebay values over the last couple years (aka rocketing upwards) I will have a lot of fun playing these as the fall nights turn chilly and I become a troll, playing games late into the dark as I stay warm and snug.