Comments on: The Business of Reprints http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/ Import video games, entertainment news from around the world and the latest in anime are right here. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:27:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Iori Branford http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-413945 Iori Branford Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:38:10 +0000 http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-413945 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. 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.

]]> By: Rich http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-349311 Rich Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:47:33 +0000 http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-349311 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. 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.

]]> By: Jobb http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-55136 Jobb Fri, 09 Mar 2007 03:57:41 +0000 http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-55136 "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 “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

]]> By: Silent_Edge http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-46369 Silent_Edge Wed, 07 Feb 2007 21:16:26 +0000 http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-46369 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. 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.

]]> By: Carmen http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-16711 Carmen Sat, 14 Oct 2006 23:37:32 +0000 http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-16711 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... 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…

]]> By: America http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-16628 America Sat, 14 Oct 2006 02:12:42 +0000 http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-16628 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? 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?

]]> By: Os http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-14558 Os Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:08:33 +0000 http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-14558 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. 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.

]]> By: Paula http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-10581 Paula Wed, 30 Aug 2006 11:57:51 +0000 http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-10581 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 youŽll pay 1.200 bucks for a used copy. DoesnŽt make any sense! 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 youŽll pay 1.200 bucks for a used copy.

DoesnŽt make any sense!

]]> By: mightyquinn http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-9561 mightyquinn Fri, 18 Aug 2006 03:56:19 +0000 http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-9561 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. 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.

]]> By: Bungiefan http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-6807 Bungiefan Sat, 01 Jul 2006 19:31:13 +0000 http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/#comment-6807 <i>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.</i> 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. 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.

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