The Business of Reprints

By Spencer . January 16, 2006 . 8:02am

The Business of ReprintsEver wondered how brand new copies of Rez, Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, Gitaroo Man, Persona 2 and Resident Evil 3 for Gamecube just popped up out of nowhere? The story starts with a company called Game Quest Direct. Originally, Game Quest Direct had a chain of video game stores nationwide, but they consolidated their retail locations just in Southern California. Instead of just being another video game store and try to compete with the likes of Best Buy, Gamestop and Walmart Game Quest Direct decided to restructure their company. Aim for the hardcore gamer and use the internet as way to reach them. Their online inventory began with the usual offerings, new copies of Grand Theft Auto and the latest releases at slim discounts.

 

Obviously this wasn’t distinguishing GQD from any other retailer or the hordes of eBay sellers. They had to carve a niche for themselves. While they unloaded some of their inventory over eBay they noticed that eBay prices for hard to find games skyrocketed way over retail value. Resident Evil 2 and 3 for Gamecube were printed in limited quantity, which made the games sought after by collectors. Game Quest Direct decided to capitalize on the opportunity. They directly contacted Capcom and arranged a deal to reprint the games, but Game Quest Direct would have to front all of the money. They paid a lofty sum and took a heavy risk. Each reprint costs Game Quest Direct nearly $100,000 to do. But instead of getting a low profit margin that retail stores struggle with, Game Quest Direct would get 50% of the profits on each sale. The gamble paid off and GQD made a sizeable profit.

 

The Business of ReprintsQuickly after Capcom agreed to do reprints Game Quest Direct was hot on the next set of titles to release and what better place to look than Atlus USA. Atlus titles are known to be “rare” in the world of game collectors. Typically they’re printed in low numbers and don’t have the same store exposure as Super Mario Sunshine. You’re just not going to find a copy of Persona 2 at Wal-Mart. Unlucky gamers who couldn’t score a classic on the first round would be forced to shell out loads of dough to by a used copy on eBay. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness was one of Atlus’ most critically acclaimed titles, but after it was showered with praise it was nowhere to be found. Prices for a used copy could fetch over a hundred dollars for a copy before the reprint. Game Quest Direct reprinted Persona 2, Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure and later on Disgaea: Hour of Darkness in 2005. All of these games sold like hotcakes, even the PS1 titles Persona 2 and Rhapsody. It’s not really a huge surprise since Game Quest Direct was selling new copies of the game way below the price of a used copy.

 

However, hardcore video game collectors were irked. Reprints could not be distinguished from the originals, which brought the value down of their collection. That $85 copy of Persona 2 purchased used, dropped nearly 50% in price. Speculators who snagged up copies of Disgaea couldn’t profit from eBay sales. Especially proud collectors weren’t perturbed by the economics, but more that they lost exclusivity of being the only one on the block with these a rare game. In a way Game Quest Direct angered the audience they were searching for. On the other hand a bunch of gamers were happy with the situation. More gamers got to try out Disgaea and at a reasonable price.

 

The Business of ReprintsIn between these titles Game Quest Direct were hashing out the final details for two major reprints: Gitaroo-Man a quirky Japanese music game created by Inix (who also recently did Ouendan for the Nintendo DS) and the psychedelic music shooter Rez from Sega. Unlike the speedy process with Atlus and Capcom these reprints took months to work out. Negotiating prices, filing paperwork and waiting for Sony to officially press these games was a long waiting process. Like the other reprints each of these cost over a hundred thousand for each and Game Quest Direct had to give all of the finical security to bring these niche titles back into the marketplace. When Gitaroo Man appeared and Rez trickled in, eBay prices bottomed out since new copies could be picked up for a mere $50. Once again successful Game Quest Direct profits from the reprint and a new group of gamers gets to play these rarities.

 

But if Game Quest Direct really is controlling the flow of these imports by acting as a pseudo-publisher how are they appearing at Gamestop? Simple, Game Quest Direct is selling them directly to Gamestop. A representative spokesperson has said that they decided to unload a sizeable amount of inventory to Gamestop at a bulk price. However since Gamestop sells used copies of these games at a higher price they’ve taken the liberty of unsealing and selling the brand new game as a used copy. Game Quest Direct is happy to sell a bulk lot to any distributor or even eBay seller if the price is right. Even though they may be the masterminds behind many reprints gamers shouldn’t be surprised to see copies appear at other video game specialty stores.

 

The Business of ReprintsWhat’s next in 2006 for the publisher/retailer? Recently they purchased the now defunct Working Designs’ remaining inventory. Copies of Growlanser: Generations Deluxe Edition, and Silhouette Mirage can be picked up. What’s really surprising is a number of extremely rare titles like Sega Ages for the Saturn, Exile, and Cosmic Fantasy 2 for Turbo Graphix 16. They’re currently in talks with Square-Enix, Atari and Konami for more reprints. It’s possible that reprints of Valkyrie Profile, Ikaruga and Suikoden II may pop up eventually. Collectors take note, Game Quest Direct said that they would try to reprint any game that goes on eBay for over $100. On the bright side a second chance to check out gaming glory benefits a large number of gamers out there.

 

Do you think Game Quest direct is doing a service or a disservice to the gaming community? Leave your thoughts in a comment.


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  • Ben

    GQD are nothing but crooks. It would be very very very easy to have some sort of mark to tell between a 1st print and 2nd print. It seems most people want this and wouldn’t mind. Since this is just to get the game out for people to play then who cares.

    You know why they won’t?

    BECAUSE THERE WHOLE BUSINESS IS TO TRICK PEOPLE INTO THINKING THEY ARE GETTING A RARE GAME!!! That is how they are making such a profit. Unloading these games to people who think they are getting the original “rare” version. Come to find out a bit later they were nothing but reprints.

    It’s a joke. They aren’t honest at all.

    Look at Rez on their website:

    Limited Time Special my butt. The price has dropped from before. How limited can it be. They are putting that to make you think they only have a small number of copies, thus tricking you into thinking it is still rare. They have tons and so will gamestop and eb soon. IT’s a joke if you think this company is doing it for gamers to play games. They are doing it to make a profit on people who don’t know the truth.

  • while.heaven.wept

    i think GQD is doing an amazing service, and im so glad i found them.
    seeing games im interested in (like suikoden I and II) sell for 100+ (i saw one sell for 400!!!) is obsurd, and it pains me to see people taking advantage of the amazing series like that. i seriously hope GQD re-releases these games in their original prints and sells them for no more than 40 per copy, so everyone will be able to experience these wonderful, timeless classics without having to forkover 3 times the price of the console its played on.

  • Angry

    I think this is cool, and not cool at the same time. After searching for Suikoden 2 for two or so years, going to every game shop, every website, etc. etc. I finally gave up in trying to find it for a reasonable price. I will not download ISOs and emulate or buy pirated copies. So, I saved up my money, grabbed my **** and forked over the cash…a lot of it. I am not a collector, although I have tons of rare RPGs for SNES and PS1. I buy games to play. But having just heard about a reprint of Suikoden 2 makes me sort of sick to my stomach… So I don’t really know if this is a good idea or not. If GQD continues this practice with publishers, they really should, as a service to their customers put a 2nd edition label or something. It would be poor ethic not to.

  • Angry

    I think this is cool, and not cool at the same time. After searching for Suikoden 2 for two or so years, going to every game shop, every website, etc. etc. I finally gave up in trying to find it for a reasonable price. I will not download ISOs and emulate or buy pirated copies. So, I saved up my money, grabbed my **** and forked over the cash…a lot of it. I am not a collector, although I have tons of rare RPGs for SNES and PS1. I buy games to play. But having just heard about a reprint of Suikoden 2 makes me sort of sick to my stomach… So I don’t really know if this is a good idea or not. If GQD continues this practice with publishers, they really should, as a service to their customers put a 2nd edition label or something. It would be poor ethic not to.

  • Angry

    I think this is cool, and not cool at the same time. After searching for Suikoden 2 for two or so years, going to every game shop, every website, etc. etc. I finally gave up in trying to find it for a reasonable price. I will not download ISOs and emulate or buy pirated copies. So, I saved up my money, grabbed my **** and forked over the cash…a lot of it. I am not a collector, although I have tons of rare RPGs for SNES and PS1. I buy games to play. But having just heard about a reprint of Suikoden 2 makes me sort of sick to my stomach… So I don’t really know if this is a good idea or not. If GQD continues this practice with publishers, they really should, as a service to their customers put a 2nd edition label or something. It would be poor ethic not to.

  • Matthew

    lol this is funny.
    People are whining about their “rare” games getting reprinted
    What about EA they just released Command and Conquer the first Decade.

    The gaming community is funny because they think that because they collected and paid daft prices that they have a right to keep the monetary value of a certain game high.

    Some games aren’t even that good yet they fetch substantial amounts of money just because they are rare. Makes me laugh because its another over reaction.

    I’d rather pay for an official copy than have to resort to piracy and I sure is hell won’t be paying silly prices for a gameplay experience that was originally priced at 39.99 besides the people making money these days are just resellers.
    At least now the original developers will make some money from their old works even if it is because they are licencing the reprints

  • Matthew

    lol this is funny.
    People are whining about their “rare” games getting reprinted
    What about EA they just released Command and Conquer the first Decade.

    The gaming community is funny because they think that because they collected and paid daft prices that they have a right to keep the monetary value of a certain game high.

    Some games aren’t even that good yet they fetch substantial amounts of money just because they are rare. Makes me laugh because its another over reaction.

    I’d rather pay for an official copy than have to resort to piracy and I sure is hell won’t be paying silly prices for a gameplay experience that was originally priced at 39.99 besides the people making money these days are just resellers.
    At least now the original developers will make some money from their old works even if it is because they are licencing the reprints

  • Matthew

    lol this is funny.
    People are whining about their “rare” games getting reprinted
    What about EA they just released Command and Conquer the first Decade.

    The gaming community is funny because they think that because they collected and paid daft prices that they have a right to keep the monetary value of a certain game high.

    Some games aren’t even that good yet they fetch substantial amounts of money just because they are rare. Makes me laugh because its another over reaction.

    I’d rather pay for an official copy than have to resort to piracy and I sure is hell won’t be paying silly prices for a gameplay experience that was originally priced at 39.99 besides the people making money these days are just resellers.
    At least now the original developers will make some money from their old works even if it is because they are licencing the reprints

  • Malcolm X

    Well, for one thing, if people don’t know about the reprints (these stores & company are mostly in Southern California), and once the reprints are sold out, I think over time, the games will re-accumulate value. Oh, and I heard that some “reprints” may be sold for just as much as a 1st Edition print, so whether you have a 1st Edition or Reprint, your game would be worth a lot either way, correct? It just would take time, I believe.

    But on the side note, I think adding a Reprint label like “2nd Edition” or “Greatest Hits” (as done for some PS1 games) MUST BE necessary. Remember, the games are being reprinting now in 2006 or whenever, not back then in the 90s. It would be a bit deceptive to keep the old years there. If people just want to play the games, they wouldn’t mind having a reprint, so long as the game is legit and it works, right? Other types of media works the same way.

    Second, do these reprinted games have Game Quest Direct label on them, since they are really re-”published” by Game Quest, kinda like how Working Designs “Republished” games imported from Japan, but only as English Translations (hence why WD put Working Designs labels on the box, and inside had the names of companies that earn credit for making the games in the 1st place).

  • Malcolm X

    Well, for one thing, if people don’t know about the reprints (these stores & company are mostly in Southern California), and once the reprints are sold out, I think over time, the games will re-accumulate value. Oh, and I heard that some “reprints” may be sold for just as much as a 1st Edition print, so whether you have a 1st Edition or Reprint, your game would be worth a lot either way, correct? It just would take time, I believe.

    But on the side note, I think adding a Reprint label like “2nd Edition” or “Greatest Hits” (as done for some PS1 games) MUST BE necessary. Remember, the games are being reprinting now in 2006 or whenever, not back then in the 90s. It would be a bit deceptive to keep the old years there. If people just want to play the games, they wouldn’t mind having a reprint, so long as the game is legit and it works, right? Other types of media works the same way.

    Second, do these reprinted games have Game Quest Direct label on them, since they are really re-”published” by Game Quest, kinda like how Working Designs “Republished” games imported from Japan, but only as English Translations (hence why WD put Working Designs labels on the box, and inside had the names of companies that earn credit for making the games in the 1st place).

  • Malcolm X

    Well, for one thing, if people don’t know about the reprints (these stores & company are mostly in Southern California), and once the reprints are sold out, I think over time, the games will re-accumulate value. Oh, and I heard that some “reprints” may be sold for just as much as a 1st Edition print, so whether you have a 1st Edition or Reprint, your game would be worth a lot either way, correct? It just would take time, I believe.

    But on the side note, I think adding a Reprint label like “2nd Edition” or “Greatest Hits” (as done for some PS1 games) MUST BE necessary. Remember, the games are being reprinting now in 2006 or whenever, not back then in the 90s. It would be a bit deceptive to keep the old years there. If people just want to play the games, they wouldn’t mind having a reprint, so long as the game is legit and it works, right? Other types of media works the same way.

    Second, do these reprinted games have Game Quest Direct label on them, since they are really re-”published” by Game Quest, kinda like how Working Designs “Republished” games imported from Japan, but only as English Translations (hence why WD put Working Designs labels on the box, and inside had the names of companies that earn credit for making the games in the 1st place).

  • Malcolm X

    Oh, and one more thing. concerning the Saturn and systems before them, I don’t think many reprints of Saturn, SNES, N64, Genesis, etc. (games for the Saturn and systems before them) would be reprinted. Not many people have those systems, and it would be a little more difficult to find people to purchase many games for systems that current young gamers don’t have. As for PS1 games (and games for the PS1 to the present day systems), games would be reprinted, as the Playstation family has newer systems that are backwards compatible (same goes with Xbox). Don’t know much about the Game Cube though.

  • Malcolm X

    Oh, and one more thing. concerning the Saturn and systems before them, I don’t think many reprints of Saturn, SNES, N64, Genesis, etc. (games for the Saturn and systems before them) would be reprinted. Not many people have those systems, and it would be a little more difficult to find people to purchase many games for systems that current young gamers don’t have. As for PS1 games (and games for the PS1 to the present day systems), games would be reprinted, as the Playstation family has newer systems that are backwards compatible (same goes with Xbox). Don’t know much about the Game Cube though.

  • Malcolm X

    Oh, and one more thing. concerning the Saturn and systems before them, I don’t think many reprints of Saturn, SNES, N64, Genesis, etc. (games for the Saturn and systems before them) would be reprinted. Not many people have those systems, and it would be a little more difficult to find people to purchase many games for systems that current young gamers don’t have. As for PS1 games (and games for the PS1 to the present day systems), games would be reprinted, as the Playstation family has newer systems that are backwards compatible (same goes with Xbox). Don’t know much about the Game Cube though.

  • gokirokir

    yes

  • gokirokir

    yes

  • gokirokir

    yes

  • Bungiefan

    Remember, the games are being reprinting now in 2006 or whenever, not back then in the 90s. It would be a bit deceptive to keep the old years there.

    The thing is, the date on the games is the copyright year, the year the content was developed and released publicly. If none of the content of the product changes then you can’t update the copyright date (copyrights only last so long and you can’t artificially extend them just by changing the date by making the exact same product again) if you’re selling the same product in the same packaging at a later date. GQD doesn’t technically publish the games, so they don’t have to put their name on the packaging, they just hire the original publisher to republish the game again and sell them every single copy that is republished.

    Notice games with multiple copyright dates? Those different dates are there because different components of the product have different copyright dates, but they won’t specifically tell you which. Look at the PS1 Final Fantasy updates. For 1 and 2, the graphics and music are updated, the basic story is the same but with an updated script, and the FMVs are completely new. For 4, 5, and 6, the music and graphics are the same, and the script, but there are new menus and new FMVs, so those components get the newer copyright, while the old components keep their original copyright date.

    The only way GQD could be justified in putting a modern copyright date on the games is if they actually changed or added content that is new and not in the first run, most likely just changing the disc and case art, and they have no reason to do so.

  • Bungiefan

    Remember, the games are being reprinting now in 2006 or whenever, not back then in the 90s. It would be a bit deceptive to keep the old years there.

    The thing is, the date on the games is the copyright year, the year the content was developed and released publicly. If none of the content of the product changes then you can’t update the copyright date (copyrights only last so long and you can’t artificially extend them just by changing the date by making the exact same product again) if you’re selling the same product in the same packaging at a later date. GQD doesn’t technically publish the games, so they don’t have to put their name on the packaging, they just hire the original publisher to republish the game again and sell them every single copy that is republished.

    Notice games with multiple copyright dates? Those different dates are there because different components of the product have different copyright dates, but they won’t specifically tell you which. Look at the PS1 Final Fantasy updates. For 1 and 2, the graphics and music are updated, the basic story is the same but with an updated script, and the FMVs are completely new. For 4, 5, and 6, the music and graphics are the same, and the script, but there are new menus and new FMVs, so those components get the newer copyright, while the old components keep their original copyright date.

    The only way GQD could be justified in putting a modern copyright date on the games is if they actually changed or added content that is new and not in the first run, most likely just changing the disc and case art, and they have no reason to do so.

  • Bungiefan

    Remember, the games are being reprinting now in 2006 or whenever, not back then in the 90s. It would be a bit deceptive to keep the old years there.

    The thing is, the date on the games is the copyright year, the year the content was developed and released publicly. If none of the content of the product changes then you can’t update the copyright date (copyrights only last so long and you can’t artificially extend them just by changing the date by making the exact same product again) if you’re selling the same product in the same packaging at a later date. GQD doesn’t technically publish the games, so they don’t have to put their name on the packaging, they just hire the original publisher to republish the game again and sell them every single copy that is republished.

    Notice games with multiple copyright dates? Those different dates are there because different components of the product have different copyright dates, but they won’t specifically tell you which. Look at the PS1 Final Fantasy updates. For 1 and 2, the graphics and music are updated, the basic story is the same but with an updated script, and the FMVs are completely new. For 4, 5, and 6, the music and graphics are the same, and the script, but there are new menus and new FMVs, so those components get the newer copyright, while the old components keep their original copyright date.

    The only way GQD could be justified in putting a modern copyright date on the games is if they actually changed or added content that is new and not in the first run, most likely just changing the disc and case art, and they have no reason to do so.

  • mightyquinn

    I just started collecting survival horror games for ps1 and ps2. I buy them on e-bay because i can’t find them anywhere else. I was hoping to possibly profit on my collection in the future. This news bugs me but I am still fond of my collection.

  • mightyquinn

    I just started collecting survival horror games for ps1 and ps2. I buy them on e-bay because i can’t find them anywhere else. I was hoping to possibly profit on my collection in the future. This news bugs me but I am still fond of my collection.

  • mightyquinn

    I just started collecting survival horror games for ps1 and ps2. I buy them on e-bay because i can’t find them anywhere else. I was hoping to possibly profit on my collection in the future. This news bugs me but I am still fond of my collection.

  • Paula

    I will not shed a single tear for eBay price scalpers, and those who use their game collections as ego-boosters. Games are meant to be played, not to be collected to sit on a shelf and wait for prices to go up.

    Game classics deserve to be preserved and played by new people. Imagine if classic movies or books would only have one print run, and then the only people who would be able to own them would be rich collectors. Want to read ‘War and Peace’? Too bad, not available. ‘Gone With the Wind’ on DVD? Sure, if you´ll pay 1.200 bucks for a used copy.

    Doesn´t make any sense!

  • Paula

    I will not shed a single tear for eBay price scalpers, and those who use their game collections as ego-boosters. Games are meant to be played, not to be collected to sit on a shelf and wait for prices to go up.

    Game classics deserve to be preserved and played by new people. Imagine if classic movies or books would only have one print run, and then the only people who would be able to own them would be rich collectors. Want to read ‘War and Peace’? Too bad, not available. ‘Gone With the Wind’ on DVD? Sure, if you´ll pay 1.200 bucks for a used copy.

    Doesn´t make any sense!

  • Paula

    I will not shed a single tear for eBay price scalpers, and those who use their game collections as ego-boosters. Games are meant to be played, not to be collected to sit on a shelf and wait for prices to go up.

    Game classics deserve to be preserved and played by new people. Imagine if classic movies or books would only have one print run, and then the only people who would be able to own them would be rich collectors. Want to read ‘War and Peace’? Too bad, not available. ‘Gone With the Wind’ on DVD? Sure, if you´ll pay 1.200 bucks for a used copy.

    Doesn´t make any sense!

  • Os

    This is both refreshing and disappointing. Recently, I found myself searching for a couple of hard to find games and being infuriated by the prices people were asking. I couldn’t understand how games weren’t being reprinted like this.

    That got me thinking about investing my own savings into doing exactly what Game Quest has done! I found this article by researching the topic.

    On one hand, I’m glad someone is doing these reprints. One the other hand, they beat me to it !

    I own a number of rare titles, two of which GQ has apparently already reprinted (Disgaea, Persona 2) and it doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I might be a little bothered if I’d ever patronized the over-priced resellers but I haven’t and won’t on principle.

  • Os

    This is both refreshing and disappointing. Recently, I found myself searching for a couple of hard to find games and being infuriated by the prices people were asking. I couldn’t understand how games weren’t being reprinted like this.

    That got me thinking about investing my own savings into doing exactly what Game Quest has done! I found this article by researching the topic.

    On one hand, I’m glad someone is doing these reprints. One the other hand, they beat me to it !

    I own a number of rare titles, two of which GQ has apparently already reprinted (Disgaea, Persona 2) and it doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I might be a little bothered if I’d ever patronized the over-priced resellers but I haven’t and won’t on principle.

  • Os

    This is both refreshing and disappointing. Recently, I found myself searching for a couple of hard to find games and being infuriated by the prices people were asking. I couldn’t understand how games weren’t being reprinted like this.

    That got me thinking about investing my own savings into doing exactly what Game Quest has done! I found this article by researching the topic.

    On one hand, I’m glad someone is doing these reprints. One the other hand, they beat me to it !

    I own a number of rare titles, two of which GQ has apparently already reprinted (Disgaea, Persona 2) and it doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I might be a little bothered if I’d ever patronized the over-priced resellers but I haven’t and won’t on principle.

  • America

    People don’t seem to understand that by distinguishing the original from the reprints, the ebay prices will still remain sky high for the original and the reprints won’t sell. I like them being indistinguishable. It keeps me from getting ripped off by the elitist collectors on ebay. Now when are they gonna rerelease some old NES and SNES games?

  • Carmen

    Ok, can we make a distinction? Is GQD actually reprinting these, or is it the original American publisher reprinting that GQD is negotitating with? Obviously if GQD was making the games themselves, that would be bollocks, but if the original publisher is making it, even with GQD’s lobbying, I don’t see the issue as long as the quality of the whole set is as good or better then the original…

  • Carmen

    Ok, can we make a distinction? Is GQD actually reprinting these, or is it the original American publisher reprinting that GQD is negotitating with? Obviously if GQD was making the games themselves, that would be bollocks, but if the original publisher is making it, even with GQD’s lobbying, I don’t see the issue as long as the quality of the whole set is as good or better then the original…

  • Carmen

    Ok, can we make a distinction? Is GQD actually reprinting these, or is it the original American publisher reprinting that GQD is negotitating with? Obviously if GQD was making the games themselves, that would be bollocks, but if the original publisher is making it, even with GQD’s lobbying, I don’t see the issue as long as the quality of the whole set is as good or better then the original…

  • Silent_Edge

    Well… there does appear to be some sort of a difference between the Disgaea Hour of Darkness cover art. One of them has Larharl on the bottom left side corner of the cover, and another has a succubus. Which of these is the original, I don’t know, but a little bit some clarification would help a lot.

  • Silent_Edge

    Well… there does appear to be some sort of a difference between the Disgaea Hour of Darkness cover art. One of them has Larharl on the bottom left side corner of the cover, and another has a succubus. Which of these is the original, I don’t know, but a little bit some clarification would help a lot.

  • Silent_Edge

    Well… there does appear to be some sort of a difference between the Disgaea Hour of Darkness cover art. One of them has Larharl on the bottom left side corner of the cover, and another has a succubus. Which of these is the original, I don’t know, but a little bit some clarification would help a lot.

  • Jobb

    “or someone who just wants to play games, but these people are not real game players.”

    LOL… yeah the real game players are the ones who put their sealed games in a locked box and stare at them. Right

  • Jobb

    “or someone who just wants to play games, but these people are not real game players.”

    LOL… yeah the real game players are the ones who put their sealed games in a locked box and stare at them. Right

  • Jobb

    “or someone who just wants to play games, but these people are not real game players.”

    LOL… yeah the real game players are the ones who put their sealed games in a locked box and stare at them. Right

  • Rich

    This happens with EVERY type of collectible at some point, although generally there is something to differentiate the re-issue. When Uni-Five re-released the Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger Jumbos a few years back they used the original box art, but with a UNI-Five logo. I am fine with that. It made a rare toy available to a wider audience, and didn’t diminish the original value very much.

    GQD selling these on Ebay without stating that it’s a new pressing is shady as hell.

    I’m all for stuff being re-printed, but not in the case where it’s being mis-represented as old store stock or something.

    That said, you take a gamble collecting anything. The value can go up or down, and it’s not any company’s responsibility to make sure your copy of Magik Defenders of Evil 2: The Eviling retains it’s secondary market value.

  • Rich

    This happens with EVERY type of collectible at some point, although generally there is something to differentiate the re-issue. When Uni-Five re-released the Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger Jumbos a few years back they used the original box art, but with a UNI-Five logo. I am fine with that. It made a rare toy available to a wider audience, and didn’t diminish the original value very much.

    GQD selling these on Ebay without stating that it’s a new pressing is shady as hell.

    I’m all for stuff being re-printed, but not in the case where it’s being mis-represented as old store stock or something.

    That said, you take a gamble collecting anything. The value can go up or down, and it’s not any company’s responsibility to make sure your copy of Magik Defenders of Evil 2: The Eviling retains it’s secondary market value.

  • Rich

    This happens with EVERY type of collectible at some point, although generally there is something to differentiate the re-issue. When Uni-Five re-released the Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger Jumbos a few years back they used the original box art, but with a UNI-Five logo. I am fine with that. It made a rare toy available to a wider audience, and didn’t diminish the original value very much.

    GQD selling these on Ebay without stating that it’s a new pressing is shady as hell.

    I’m all for stuff being re-printed, but not in the case where it’s being mis-represented as old store stock or something.

    That said, you take a gamble collecting anything. The value can go up or down, and it’s not any company’s responsibility to make sure your copy of Magik Defenders of Evil 2: The Eviling retains it’s secondary market value.

  • Iori Branford

    If the reprints are identical to the originals, technically they’re just continuing the first printing.

    Besides, these will go out of stock too at some point. You can go back to charging an arm and a left nut then.

  • Iori Branford

    If the reprints are identical to the originals, technically they’re just continuing the first printing.

    Besides, these will go out of stock too at some point. You can go back to charging an arm and a left nut then.

  • Iori Branford

    If the reprints are identical to the originals, technically they’re just continuing the first printing.

    Besides, these will go out of stock too at some point. You can go back to charging an arm and a left nut then.

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