Speaking of rare & hard to find games...

[Warmsignal]

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.

RoR is up to $200? I'm so glad I jumped on one last November. $75. That game is going to be the holy grail of costly PS2 games in the future.

[Warmsignal]

This thread made me think of a certain PS1 game that isn't really rare. Probably 5 years ago or more, I was browsing a PS1 collecting site and there were several collectors going crazy over a game called Easter Bunny's Big Day just because it was one of the last games ever released. They were buying up every copy of the game they could get a hold of as in investment. Yeah, I don't think obscure and end of life cycle automatically means rare, or valuable. That game is still worth as much as it was 5 years ago, almost nothing.

[bikingjahuty]

This thread made me think of a certain PS1 game that isn't really rare. Probably 5 years ago or more, I was browsing a PS1 collecting site and there were several collectors going crazy over a game called Easter Bunny's Big Day just because it was one of the last games ever released. They were buying up every copy of the game they could get a hold of as in investment. Yeah, I don't think obscure and end of life cycle automatically means rare, or valuable. That game is still worth as much as it was 5 years ago, almost nothing.

This is why game prospecting is so foolish. Even some games that seem like they'd be really valuable some day based on rarity, when they were released, or genre, end up being worth less then their lowest retail price. On the flip side certain games that people would never expect to get valuable completely skyrocket in price. Just because it was a late release game certainly is no reason to assume that it's going to be ultra valuable some day.

[Warmsignal]

This thread made me think of a certain PS1 game that isn't really rare. Probably 5 years ago or more, I was browsing a PS1 collecting site and there were several collectors going crazy over a game called Easter Bunny's Big Day just because it was one of the last games ever released. They were buying up every copy of the game they could get a hold of as in investment. Yeah, I don't think obscure and end of life cycle automatically means rare, or valuable. That game is still worth as much as it was 5 years ago, almost nothing.

This is why game prospecting is so foolish. Even some games that seem like they'd be really valuable some day based on rarity, when they were released, or genre, end up being worth less then their lowest retail price. On the flip side certain games that people would never expect to get valuable completely skyrocket in price. Just because it was a late release game certainly is no reason to assume that it's going to be ultra valuable some day.

At the end of the day, the only kind of prostpecting I do, is whether or not I have time to wait for a game I actually want. Sometimes I think I'll get around to it. Then when I decide to go ahead a grab it, there has been a spike in price for whatever reason. Doesn't seem to matter if it's new, old, early release, late release, common, rare, it happens to any type of game if there is a desire for it. Look at Earthbound. Not rare, not obscure, not really late, but super desirable.

[argyle]

This thread made me think of a certain PS1 game that isn't really rare. Probably 5 years ago or more, I was browsing a PS1 collecting site and there were several collectors going crazy over a game called Easter Bunny's Big Day just because it was one of the last games ever released. They were buying up every copy of the game they could get a hold of as in investment. Yeah, I don't think obscure and end of life cycle automatically means rare, or valuable. That game is still worth as much as it was 5 years ago, almost nothing.

This is why game prospecting is so foolish. Even some games that seem like they'd be really valuable some day based on rarity, when they were released, or genre, end up being worth less then their lowest retail price. On the flip side certain games that people would never expect to get valuable completely skyrocket in price. Just because it was a late release game certainly is no reason to assume that it's going to be ultra valuable some day.

Well that's why this thread isn't about seeing which games might net you the biggest return on investment if you buy them now - that's silly, even if we could determine that you'd be better off investing your money in something other than games if you're just looking for profit.  This is just about trying to see what games that you might want to actually own/play have a good chance of being hard to find and/or expensive in the future. 

At least, that was my understanding of what we were talking about. 

[bikingjahuty]

This thread made me think of a certain PS1 game that isn't really rare. Probably 5 years ago or more, I was browsing a PS1 collecting site and there were several collectors going crazy over a game called Easter Bunny's Big Day just because it was one of the last games ever released. They were buying up every copy of the game they could get a hold of as in investment. Yeah, I don't think obscure and end of life cycle automatically means rare, or valuable. That game is still worth as much as it was 5 years ago, almost nothing.

This is why game prospecting is so foolish. Even some games that seem like they'd be really valuable some day based on rarity, when they were released, or genre, end up being worth less then their lowest retail price. On the flip side certain games that people would never expect to get valuable completely skyrocket in price. Just because it was a late release game certainly is no reason to assume that it's going to be ultra valuable some day.

Well that's why this thread isn't about seeing which games might net you the biggest return on investment if you buy them now - that's silly, even if we could determine that you'd be better off investing your money in something other than games if you're just looking for profit.  This is just about trying to see what games that you might want to actually own/play have a good chance of being hard to find and/or expensive in the future. 

At least, that was my understanding of what we were talking about.

I agree, but I was referring to the people Warmsignal knew that were buying up all those copies of Eater Bunny's Big Day. Obviously their intention wasn't to collect 15-copies of it. They were hoping that it would spike in price some day because it was an obscure, late release game and then cash in on Ebay. Much is the same way people buy certain stocks with the hope that certain market trends will cause them to spike someday and they will be able to get 300% returns on a stocks they paid very little for. I know that the purpose of this thread isn't to find out what cheap PS2 game is suddenly going to be going for $50+ in a few years so we can buy them all up now and sell them later; I know it is to get the Tron Bonnes and the Demon's Crests before they eventually hit the crazy prices these once cheap games used to go for so we can have them for our collections.

I know some game prospectors and I always wonder why they just don't play the stock market, lol it's probably a safer bet anyways.

[teck]

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.

I've got a sealed copy of this at my store....  Part of me wants to keep it and play it....  But....  Sealed.... 

[disgaeniac]

This is why game prospecting is so foolish.

I disagree!

I also think that's a pretty generic & blanket kind of statement to make 

I'll get just a little bit personal & use myself as an example; 'cuz there's no shame in my game 

I'm disabled.

More specifically, due to Dr. & hospital negligence + incompetence...I lost my left hand several years ago to an amputation.

Yeah, I sued their asses -and- yeah, I "won" (if you can put a price tag on one of your hands, that is) 

So, here I am...unable to work - while at the same time, being pretty comfortable financially.

I do "game prospecting"     

And, I see absolutely nothing wrong in using my knowledge & past experiences to pick & choose items that (IMO), have a good likelihood of being sold a year or 2 later for significantly more $ than I bought them for.

I mean...it *CAN'T* hurt the business/industry because my goal/accomplishment is to buy any & every damn thing that's gaming-related that I want...w/ the profits I make from my 'prospecting' = all of the money is put back into the industry; while it costs me none (of my own) money to buy and/or play anything that I want...kinda' like "playing with house money", I suppose.

Well that's why this thread isn't about seeing which games might net you the biggest return on investment if you buy them now - that's silly, even if we could determine that you'd be better off investing your money in something other than games if you're just looking for profit.  This is just about trying to see what games that you might want to actually own/play have a good chance of being hard to find and/or expensive in the future. 

At least, that was my understanding of what we were talking about.

Thank you, Argyle ==> for saving me the time + keystrokes!   

[bikingjahuty]

This is why game prospecting is so foolish.

I disagree!

I also think that's a pretty generic & blanket kind of statement to make 

I'll get just a little bit personal & use myself as an example; 'cuz there's no shame in my game 

I'm disabled.

More specifically, due to Dr. & hospital negligence + incompetence...I lost my left hand several years ago to an amputation.

Yeah, I sued their asses -and- yeah, I "won" (if you can put a price tag on one of your hands, that is) 

So, here I am...unable to work - while at the same time, being pretty comfortable financially.

I do "game prospecting"     

And, I see absolutely nothing wrong in using my knowledge & past experiences to pick & choose items that (IMO), have a good likelihood of being sold a year or 2 later for significantly more $ than I bought them for.

I mean...it *CAN'T* hurt the business/industry because my goal/accomplishment is to buy any & every damn thing that's gaming-related that I want...w/ the profits I make from my 'prospecting' = all of the money is put back into the industry; while it costs me none (of my own) money to buy and/or play anything that I want...kinda' like "playing with house money", I suppose.

Well that's why this thread isn't about seeing which games might net you the biggest return on investment if you buy them now - that's silly, even if we could determine that you'd be better off investing your money in something other than games if you're just looking for profit.  This is just about trying to see what games that you might want to actually own/play have a good chance of being hard to find and/or expensive in the future. 

At least, that was my understanding of what we were talking about.

Thank you, Argyle ==> for saving me the time + keystrokes!   

First off I am sorry to hear about that :/. I can't imagine having to lose a body part, especially as a result of someone's mistake.

But most games, will not net you a profit if you buy them retail and try selling them years later. Look at something like Arc the Lad Collection on PS1; the game was releaased nearly 2-year after the PS2 came out, sold in relatively low numbers, and definitely is unique (cool Working Designs item) as well as a good game. It has all the makings of a really valuable game right? It currently sells complete for about what it retailed for. And this is one of the more lucrative examples. The vast majority of games never come close to what they retailed for years down the road, even when sealed. Sure, there are definitely exceptions where a game that was once a bargain title is now worth way more (late release Capcom Dreamcast titles for example), but my point is that the majority of games, even ones that intuitively seem like they'd be worth a ton some day, seldom actually live up to their future perceived value. That is why I said it was foolish.

And my comment that I made before this one says that I realize what the purpose of this thread is. I was addressing Warmsignal's comment about how he knew people trying to buy up every copy they could of that Easter Bunny game (currently charts for under $10) because they all though it's be worth a ton some day because it has "all the signs." We'd all like to find those games that someday will go up dramatically in value before they potentially do so, and being collectors and long time gamers, we are all aware of what types of games typically do this, but these games seldom live up to the high prices we all expect them to go for some day.

Sure there is money to be made with games, I don't argue against that at all either, I just think going out and buying several copies of a certain game new because you think you're going to have a big return on it someday is not the way to go. To one his/her own though.

[disgaeniac]

@bikingjahuty -

You make some good & true points -and- if I came across as insulting, nasty, or an ass-hole (despite being all of the above; at times:) ==> I didn't mean to 

I actually agree with you on your point about (probably) at least 99% of games being "go no-where's".

I guess that I should have been more specific:

I almost never do this w/ vanilla games.

I only do it with LE/CE's that I'm planning on keeping and/or re-selling as still sealed; like

- The Tales of Symphonia LE is out of a run of only 18,000 (w/ each one individually numbered) + it comes jam-packed full of *GOOD* swag &

- The Drakengard III LE (which, if one Argyle didn't help me out & save my ass here)...I would certainly have missed out on & been too late for is, similarly to the above, out of a run of only 5,000.

There's no doubt in my mind that (keeping in mind what some 'lesser' equipped LE's w/ larger print runs (Looking @ the 2 LUNAR CE's here) still sell for); that it would be even possible to *lose* money, unlikely to only double the original cost, unsurprising to triple it, etc, etc...

As another example - for (at least) the last 3 gens, I've bought multiple copies of EVERY single NISA LE (that was released on any of the Playstations, PSP, DS, and/or Vita) -and- (again, still talking only sealed LE's here); not only have I Never lost any $ on a single one of them (the "quality" of the games actually is seemingly irrelevant:) -but- I've doubled, tripled, quadrupled, and beyond...on certainly > 75% of them.

That aside...if the absolute very worst that I've ever done is to break even ==> well then...just like when I leave the casinos = I'm a happy -n- smiling man 

[Warmsignal]

I'll just say the people who buy up Easter Bunny's Big Day are the wacky kind of prospectors. The only people they could hope to corner in the future would be completionist collectors when they suddenly realize they've got every PS1 game on their shelf but EBBD and there are none to buy anywhere. 99% of collectors out there can sleep peacefully knowing they'll never own a game like that. If you're going to scarf up games, you need to make wiser choices than EBBD.