Speaking of rare & hard to find games...

[disgaeniac]

...Gave me the idea for this topic:

What is (are) the rarest & most expensive game(s) for each system (platform)?!

"Platform" can = Any & all consoles, computers, handhelds, etc. 

Basically, if there's enough games for ____ to have some that stands out as the rarest & most valuable games for the platform...it's fair game   

ALSO - instead of just listing the name of a game & what platform it's on...let's also try to (if we know) say/explain some things about the games; really, you can post whatever you want to about it -but- I was thinking that some *specific* things might be more useful, helpful, and educational to the rest of us gamers & collectors here.

As has been covered & discussed in other topics - most of us that have been around here for a minute & that are at least somewhat active on the forums & involved with the community here, already have a good idea of who has/knows (*"Specializes"*) in different games & systems.

The consoles/platforms that are my favorites and the ones that I focus the most on collecting games for, well, I like to think that I know a good amount about them.

However...none of us (at least *I* don't) know everything about everything.

Point is, that I could be standing there - holding a game in my hand (for certain platforms) that's worth thousands of dollars -and- is priced @ 99 cents...that I put back down & walk out of the store w/o buying it 

So...in the spirit of making this a more interesting & helpful thread - instead of just the name + system (like I said earlier, if you happen to know) any stories, trivia, and/or *WHY* and/or *HOW* did this game become so rare & valuable?

[bikingjahuty]

Probably the rarest thing I have ever wanted is the Elemental Gearbolt Assassin's Briefcase on the PS1. To my understanding there were only 50 ever produced and they were handed out to people at E3 1998 if I am not mistaken. It is a metal briefcase with the Elemental Gearbolt logo engraved on the front, and has the standard print Elemental Gearbolt game in it along with a gold memory card, gold Namco Guncon and a certificate. I know most collectors crave things like NWC or Stadium Events, but this is one item that I would buy if I had the money. They rarely come up for sale though given there super limited numbers, and I think they are worth several thousand for a complete one.

[argyle]

Hrm, so are you asking for the rarest games we own for each system, or just the rarest we know of? 

[foxhack]

One of the rarest games I know of is a PC game called Alice: An Interactive Museum. The English version of the game is incredibly rare, but the Japanese one is a bit more common. Copies of the game used to sell for over a grand six-eight years ago.

[disgaeniac]

Hrm, so are you asking for the rarest games we own for each system, or just the rarest we know of?

You don't have to own (or have ever owned) them...any ones that you know of are fine!

[argyle]

Well, none of these are super-rare, but I was kinda surprised to see they've gone up in value a bit recently:

The Wild Arms games for the PS2 seem to be going up.  Probably the last big-name RPG series I need to get into my PS2 RPG collection (the rest are more niche games).  Sad thing is I had all of these at one time, had bought them all brand-new - now the only one I have left is Wild Arms 3. 

I tend to ignore the value on games I own and don't plan on getting rid of, so I was kinda surprised to learn that the two Powerstone games on the Dreamcast are getting valuable and considered somewhat rare. 

A month or two before I started posting regularly here I came across a thread that had made the front page about how the component cable for the Gamecube had somehow gotten really expensive.  Not a game, but related.  Anyway, whoever that person was I owe you a big "thank you", because I sold mine on ebay the week after reading that poster for about $170.  Which is insane.  Why are they sought after, anyway?  If you wanted to play GC games over component, why not just get a backwards compatible Wii & its component cable, both of which are MUCH easier to come by?  Oh well, I shouldn't ask questions like that.     

[Warmsignal]

Air Raid for the Atari 2600. It was made by a small locally owned and operated toy store somewhere in Cali, and only a dozen or so are known to exist, about 3 complete. You'd know if you saw one, it is shaped like a small shovel and light blue in color, with just a picture for a label and no name on the cart. The toy company was believed to have been a front for a drug business, and it was said that they might have also produced a few other 2600 games that are so rare, none have ever been found.

To me these kinds of rare phenomena are very interesting. Much more so than some championship cartridges, because these were technically games that were available to the general public at some point in time.

[bikingjahuty]

Air Raid for the Atari 2600. It was made by a small locally owned and operated toy store somewhere in Cali, and only a dozen or so are known to exist, about 3 complete. You'd know if you saw one, it is shaped like a small shovel and light blue in color, with just a picture for a label and no name on the cart. The toy company was believed to have been a front for a drug business, and it was said that they might have also produced a few other 2600 games that are so rare, none have ever been found.

To me these kinds of rare phenomena are very interesting. Much more so than some championship cartridges, because these were technically games that were available to the general public at some point in time.

In the video game world there is rare, then there is Atari rare :p. I think pound for pound Atari has more genuinely rare games then console's made by other companies. The crash of 1983 has a lot to do with that as well.

[Warmsignal]

Air Raid for the Atari 2600. It was made by a small locally owned and operated toy store somewhere in Cali, and only a dozen or so are known to exist, about 3 complete. You'd know if you saw one, it is shaped like a small shovel and light blue in color, with just a picture for a label and no name on the cart. The toy company was believed to have been a front for a drug business, and it was said that they might have also produced a few other 2600 games that are so rare, none have ever been found.

To me these kinds of rare phenomena are very interesting. Much more so than some championship cartridges, because these were technically games that were available to the general public at some point in time.

In the video game world there is rare, then there is Atari rare :p. I think pound for pound Atari has more genuinely rare games then console's made by other companies. The crash of 1983 has a lot to do with that as well.

Yeah. I enjoy coming across some of the more uncommon Atari carts myself. Every time I find a stack in the wild, I look through it to see if there is something I've not heard of. If I've not heard of it, I buy it. A couple of years ago I found a stack and to my amazement there was Sword Quest Water World. Snapped that one up for about $3, valued at about $80 to $100!

[bikingjahuty]

Air Raid for the Atari 2600. It was made by a small locally owned and operated toy store somewhere in Cali, and only a dozen or so are known to exist, about 3 complete. You'd know if you saw one, it is shaped like a small shovel and light blue in color, with just a picture for a label and no name on the cart. The toy company was believed to have been a front for a drug business, and it was said that they might have also produced a few other 2600 games that are so rare, none have ever been found.

To me these kinds of rare phenomena are very interesting. Much more so than some championship cartridges, because these were technically games that were available to the general public at some point in time.

In the video game world there is rare, then there is Atari rare :p. I think pound for pound Atari has more genuinely rare games then console's made by other companies. The crash of 1983 has a lot to do with that as well.

Yeah. I enjoy coming across some of the more uncommon Atari carts myself. Every time I find a stack in the wild, I look through it to see if there is something I've not heard of. If I've not heard of it, I buy it. A couple of years ago I found a stack and to my amazement there was Sword Quest Water World. Snapped that one up for about $3, valued at about $80 to $100!

That is the rarest Atari cart I've found as well. I guy on CL had a huge lot of 2600 games, spotted it, asked how much he was asking, $5 per game, SOLD!!! I don't collect for the Atari 2600 so I ended up selling it, I think for $90.

[theflea]

Rare and most valuable don't always go together, and personally I learn about a game that's rare or valuable all the time. Then there are rare/valuable prototypes and promo carts.

These include;
- Nintendo World Championships 1990 (NES)
- Nintendo Campus Challenge (NES & SNES)
- Pepsi Invaders (Coke Wins) (Atari 2600)
- Atlantis II (Atari 2600)
- Test Carts (multiple systems)
- Donkey Kong Country - Competition Cart (SNES)
- Star Fox - Super Weekend (SNES)

Then there's games that become rare and sometimes valuable due to it was pulled from the market. I added why they got pulled.

These Include;
- Stadium Events (NES) - most famous and expensive of the recalled games. recalled due to Bandai trying to release a power pad before Nintendo.
- Tengen Tetris (NES) - Nintendo sued Tengen for selling games unlicensed games and won the rights to Tetris.
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf '99 v1 (PS1) - an episode of South Park can be found on the disc. lol
- 007 Agent Under Fire (XBOX) - Early versions of this game had software hidden on it that could turn your Xbox into a Modded version and play copied games.
- Kakuto Chojin: Back Alley Brutal (XBOX) - Recalled due to material considered offensive to middle eastern Religion.
- The Guy Game (PS2/XBOX) - This game was recalled off the market and is the only banned game in the US. When it was found out one of the Girls that flashed was underage.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas version 1 (PS1/XBOX/PC) - When the PC/Xbox version was released a year after the PS2 version, it was hacked and a Hot Coffee Sex game was found. And players could open it with a hack device. While the PS2 version is common, the Xbox/PC versions are harder to find.
- 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (PS3/XB360) - Early copies had a soccer ball that had symbols that where sacred to Middle East Religions and players where kicking it around. 
- Lego Lord of the Rings (XB360) - Some copies had the disc labeled "Demo Disc" but it was a full copy.
- Too Human (XB360) - Most recent recalled game, was pulled due to developer using another companies Game Engine and not giving them any credit or royalties. 
- X-Men: Distiny (XB360/PS3) - Same reasons as Too Human. (Although I still see this game all the time new) lol

Then there was store exclusive games. These are the Blockbuster Video Ones.
- Hagane (SNES)
- Final Fight Guy (SNES)
- Clay Fighter Tournament Edition (SNES)
- Ren & Stimpy Fire Dogs (SNES)
- Madden Championship Edition (GEN)
- Clay Fighter Sculptor's Cut (N64)
- Stunt Racer (N64)
- Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)
- NFL Blitz Special Edition (N64)
- Razor Freestyle Scooter (N64)
- Freestyle Street Soccer (XBOX & NGC)
- Outlaw Golf and Vollyball mini games (XBOX) - there's 3 total  (another was given away by Toys R Us)

Then there's games that are rare/valuable due to not many copies of the game was released.
Many Atari 2600 games, they include.
- Air Raid
- Red Sea Crossing (only 2 are known to exist today)
- Gamma Attack (again only a couple copies are known to exist)
- Birthday Mania (this was a game mail ordered game that was personalized to a player)
- Video Life (Was mail ordered only)
- Magicard (another Mail ordered game)
- Quadrun & Sword Quest Waterworld (Only bought through atari club)
- Chase the Chuckwagon (only sold with bags of Dog Food)
- Tooth Protectors (only sold as a promotion for Johnson & Johnson)
- Halloween & Texas Chainsaw Massacre (where to violent for the time)
- The Atari Porno games (only available from mail order)

This list would be way to long but here's some other famous rare games.
- Cheetahmen 2 (NES) this game technically was never released, many copies where found in a warehouse and sold off.
- Flintstones Surprise at Dinosaur Peak - Very limited release, most was found as a rental.
- The 3 "Adult" games on NES. Peek-a-Boo Poker, Hot Slots & Bubble Bath Babes
- Little Samson
- Magical Case (T16)
- Several Neo Geo AES games

With the exception of many on first list, some of the Atari Games, Some AES carts and Magical Chase many of these games do appear on Ebay quite often (just pricey). Some are not even that expensive (some recalled and BB exclusive ones) Try finding a game to an extremely rare game console.

Bandai/Apple Pippin US games
Casio PV1000
Funtech A'Can (I found 1 and never seen one again)
Gizmondo
Tomy Tutor (I was lucky and bought a complete collection)

[instantreplay]

Xbox:
Metal Wolf Chaos - It's a japanese game for the original Xbox. It was never released in the United States so not may copies were produced. On top of that, it's an extremely over the top satire of the U.S. In the first minute of the game, the U.S. president jumps out of the oval office while piloting a mech as the oval office explodes behind him. It's a really stupid and funny game that's a cult classic. It sells for over $100 used on ebay.

PS2:
Rule of Rose - It sells for over $200 used. It was met with mixed criticism when it first came out and highly controversial because people claimed it sexualized minors and displayed acts of violence against children. Although many have defended the game on the grounds that the sexualization is a very small and minor part of the game. Most people said the controls were horrible (some called it unplayable), in fact the game has a "59" on metacritic. I've never played it but from I've heard it has a great story and has an amazing atmosphere.

Wii:
Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn - Used it sells for over $60 and new it sells for over $170. I've never played it so I couldn't tell you why it's so valuable.

[instantreplay]

Rare and most valuable don't always go together, and personally I learn about a game that's rare or valuable all the time. Then there are rare/valuable prototypes and promo carts.

These include;
- Nintendo World Championships 1990 (NES)
- Nintendo Campus Challenge (NES & SNES)
- Pepsi Invaders (Coke Wins) (Atari 2600)
- Atlantis II (Atari 2600)
- Test Carts (multiple systems)
- Donkey Kong Country - Competition Cart (SNES)
- Star Fox - Super Weekend (SNES)

Then there's games that become rare and sometimes valuable due to it was pulled from the market. I added why they got pulled.

These Include;
- Stadium Events (NES) - most famous and expensive of the recalled games. recalled due to Bandai trying to release a power pad before Nintendo.
- Tengen Tetris (NES) - Nintendo sued Tengen for selling games unlicensed games and won the rights to Tetris.
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf '99 v1 (PS1) - an episode of South Park can be found on the disc. lol
- 007 Agent Under Fire (XBOX) - Early versions of this game had software hidden on it that could turn your Xbox into a Modded version and play copied games.
- Kakuto Chojin: Back Alley Brutal (XBOX) - Recalled due to material considered offensive to middle eastern Religion.
- The Guy Game (PS2/XBOX) - This game was recalled off the market and is the only banned game in the US. When it was found out one of the Girls that flashed was underage.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas version 1 (PS1/XBOX/PC) - When the PC/Xbox version was released a year after the PS2 version, it was hacked and a Hot Coffee Sex game was found. And players could open it with a hack device. While the PS2 version is common, the Xbox/PC versions are harder to find.
- 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (PS3/XB360) - Early copies had a soccer ball that had symbols that where sacred to Middle East Religions and players where kicking it around. 
- Lego Lord of the Rings (XB360) - Some copies had the disc labeled "Demo Disc" but it was a full copy.
- Too Human (XB360) - Most recent recalled game, was pulled due to developer using another companies Game Engine and not giving them any credit or royalties. 
- X-Men: Distiny (XB360/PS3) - Same reasons as Too Human. (Although I still see this game all the time new) lol

Then there was store exclusive games. These are the Blockbuster Video Ones.
- Hagane (SNES)
- Final Fight Guy (SNES)
- Clay Fighter Tournament Edition (SNES)
- Ren & Stimpy Fire Dogs (SNES)
- Madden Championship Edition (GEN)
- Clay Fighter Sculptor's Cut (N64)
- Stunt Racer (N64)
- Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)
- NFL Blitz Special Edition (N64)
- Razor Freestyle Scooter (N64)
- Freestyle Street Soccer (XBOX & NGC)
- Outlaw Golf and Vollyball mini games (XBOX) - there's 3 total  (another was given away by Toys R Us)

Then there's games that are rare/valuable due to not many copies of the game was released.
Many Atari 2600 games, they include.
- Air Raid
- Red Sea Crossing (only 2 are known to exist today)
- Gamma Attack (again only a couple copies are known to exist)
- Birthday Mania (this was a game mail ordered game that was personalized to a player)
- Video Life (Was mail ordered only)
- Magicard (another Mail ordered game)
- Quadrun & Sword Quest Waterworld (Only bought through atari club)
- Chase the Chuckwagon (only sold with bags of Dog Food)
- Tooth Protectors (only sold as a promotion for Johnson & Johnson)
- Halloween & Texas Chainsaw Massacre (where to violent for the time)
- The Atari Porno games (only available from mail order)

This list would be way to long but here's some other famous rare games.
- Cheetahmen 2 (NES) this game technically was never released, many copies where found in a warehouse and sold off.
- Flintstones Surprise at Dinosaur Peak - Very limited release, most was found as a rental.
- The 3 "Adult" games on NES. Peek-a-Boo Poker, Hot Slots & Bubble Bath Babes
- Little Samson
- Magical Case (T16)
- Several Neo Geo AES games

With the exception of many on first list, some of the Atari Games, Some AES carts and Magical Chase many of these games do appear on Ebay quite often (just pricey). Some are not even that expensive (some recalled and BB exclusive ones) Try finding a game to an extremely rare game console.

Bandai/Apple Pippin US games
Casio PV1000
Funtech A'Can (I found 1 and never seen one again)
Gizmondo
Tomy Tutor (I was lucky and bought a complete collection)

Most of the games that you listed because they were pulled off the market are actually very common and very inexpensive. There are dozens of copies of Too Human for $7 on Ebay.

[tripredacus]

Also, this topic came up on Assembler before and there was agreement that the Blockbuster games aren't really that rare. Either that or people do not care about them as much.

What about what vgcollect's partner, Pricecharting has on their blog?
http://blog.pricecharting.com/

Don't forget about PC games. One I know about is MVP Baseball 2005.

[htimreimer]

the vampire diaries for PC in 1995: this game is based on vampire diaries novels and was massive failure for her interactive also there was probably some other problems behind the scene, what make this intriguing for a collector is that her interactive denies making this game and average price for this game is about $400 to $1200 depending on how complete it is