Region Price Differences

[ElkinFencer10]

I might be asking a question with an obvious answer, but why do some games cost so much more in one region than in another? Two specific examples come to mind. I recently ordered House of the Dead for Saturn, but I bought the Japanese version for about $15 because the American version would have cost me almost $100. I was idly browsing eBay, and Earthbound for SNES would run me $150, but I could get Mother 2 for Super Famicom for $35. Why are there such huge price differences in some games?

[Menegrothx]

The first thing that comes to mind in this scenario is that the game sold alot more copies in Japan and there are thereby more copies of it available, making it less rare. There could also be the fact that generally only Japanese people are intrested in Japanese games, while many Europeans, South-Americans etc might buy American/English games and therefore they have a lot larger audience and more demand.

What I would really want to know is why new games usually cost as much in euros as they do in dollars, when a dollar is only roughly 0,7 euros? I think even in Steam you pay the same amount in dollars and euros for all games, atleast it used to be like that if I think. Correct me if Im wrong. It would make sense if the same game would cost less in a region that is significantly poorer, but the purchasing power difference between most EU countries and US isnt that significant. Generally American game collectors get everything cheaper.

[BoneSnapDeez]

JRPGs are much more popular in Japan, thus more copies are produced.

Many of the Saturn RPGs that are rare in the US still go for about $3-$5 in Japan. I got a Japanese Panzer Dragoon Saga for 20-something bucks.

[BoringSupreez]

Many of the Saturn RPGs that are rare in the US still go for about $3-$5 in Japan. I got a Japanese Panzer Dragoon Saga for 20-something bucks.

I remember hearing a couple of years ago that Radiant Silvergun could be had for about $25 in Japanese brick-and-mortar game stores.

[foxhound1022]

Many of the Saturn RPGs that are rare in the US still go for about $3-$5 in Japan. I got a Japanese Panzer Dragoon Saga for 20-something bucks.

I remember hearing a couple of years ago that Radiant Silvergun could be had for about $25 in Japanese brick-and-mortar game stores.

I've heard this as well. That's why you see so many coming here from Japanese sellers. IDK if it's true, but I'd deem it plausible.

[Nemoide]

Conversely, I believe there are some games that have smaller fanbases that are willing to pay a lot more for their games. Hence, why some shoot'em-ups and music games cost more than the average game in Japan.

[Erik_Twice]

What I would really want to know is why new games usually cost as much in euros as they do in dollars, when a dollar is only roughly 0,7 euros?

Because they can get away with it. Steam actually had a decent conversion and changed it because everyone else was doing it too.

[Erik_Twice]

The Saturn was only popular in Japan, so US versions are incredibly expensive. Similarly, Earthbound was a flop in the US but more than being rare it has a rabid following with lots of hoarders and collectors wanting a copy.

Note that it's very expensive to collect boxed for cardboard systems because people used to throw away boxes, specially for the SNES, but in Japan games have always been taken with more care than in the west. Tough it may depende on the audience, PC games didn't see so many boxes thrown away even tough they were huge.

[BoringSupreez]

Note that it's very expensive to collect boxed for cardboard systems because people used to throw away boxes, specially for the SNES, but in Japan games have always been taken with more care than in the west.

NES, N64, GB/GBC, and GBA had it just as bad.

Tough it may depend on the audience, PC games didn't see so many boxes thrown away even tough they were huge.

I think audience has everything to do with this. PC gamers tend to be older, on average, than console gamers (meaning they're more likely to take care of their stuff). I come across CIB PC games far more often in thrift stores than I do cartridge games.

[Erik_Twice]

NES, N64, GB/GBC, and GBA had it just as bad.

I think the portables had it easier, as did the NES. But I was mostly refering to price, SNES boxed is automatically expensive while boxed NES or N64 isn't.

I think audience has everything to do with this. PC gamers tend to be older, on average, than console gamers (meaning they're more likely to take care of their stuff). I come across CIB PC games far more often in thrift stores than I do cartridge games.

Agreed.

You are lucky for fiding CIB PC games