Is Gamestop Evil? The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

[Daria]

Hell if there were a legit company officially reprinting some of the more sought after disc based games for the Dreamcast, PS1, Sega CD, and etc. I'd be all over them even if they were asking $40-60 msrp.

Would give me a reason to pick up a Sega CD, Saturn, and etc. Would get them now but with the lack of any games locally and the risks of faulty discs I've just never pulled the trigger on one.

For sure. And with the exception of systems that use weird formats like DC, GCN, and PSP, there's really no reason they couldn't from a technical perspective.

As long as the reprinter didn't release too many games at once, and made sure to build up some hype beforehand, I bet it'd be profitable. Just create some big hubbub online about how Suikoden II or Mega Man Legends is going to be available again a few months in advance, and then be sure to sell it through popular websites like Amazon.

I asked about this over on the Gaijinworks forum not too long ago, and Vic Ireland said that the factories used to print PS1 (and even PS2) games have all closed up. You can't physically get the disks printed anymore, even if the market is there. Same for Dreamcast BTW.

[bmoc]

I asked about this over on the Gaijinworks forum not too long ago, and Vic Ireland said that the factories used to print PS1 (and even PS2) games have all closed up. You can't physically get the disks printed anymore, even if the market is there. Same for Dreamcast BTW.

This can't be true. SquareEnix is still printing some of their PS1 lineup and Atlus occasionally reprints things. Heck, you can still buy Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne brand new for under $20. I'm almost positive that it is still being printed. It would be very unlikely that they are still selling old stock on a 12 year old game.

[TEKTORO]

I asked about this over on the Gaijinworks forum not too long ago, and Vic Ireland said that the factories used to print PS1 (and even PS2) games have all closed up. You can't physically get the disks printed anymore, even if the market is there. Same for Dreamcast BTW.

This can't be true. SquareEnix is still printing some of their PS1 lineup and Atlus occasionally reprints things. Heck, you can still buy Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne brand new for under $20. I'm almost positive that it is still being printed. It would be very unlikely that they are still selling old stock on a 12 year old game.

Just to clarify there are no reprints being made for PS1, PS2, DC games. Retail often buys bulk of said games, it is now their inventory. If the inventory is not selling and there is no demand, it is best to write off the items and store or destroy. It actually cost more money to have it take up space of selling items as well as the employees who have to get paid to keep track and count it year after year for no reason.

-Square PS1 games if your referring to the Final Fantasy games that are still easy to find and sealed. There were tons of these games produced.. Millions!

-PS2 games were still being produced in 2014, Some Atlus games demanded the reprints, most likely the extras are still floating around.

-Dreamcast did not sell well very possible for many sealed or opened new games floating around as well in retail warehouse that have not destroyed them.

It's not profitable for any games to be reprinted especially in a day where compilations and HD remakes can gather much more profits than reproducing an older product. Not to say the machinery doesn't exist, but it's definitely much easier to rehash things with today's technology.

Rare Replay is a good example, the games are sought after on the compilation but which is cheaper. To reproduce all those Carts and hope they sell at a higher price or make a compilation on disc, give it all at a value and cover more sales?

It's a gamble to reprint unless its current market and in demand while the prints are easily accessible. Plus don't forget licensing fees, which are covered once anew but to go back an obtain maybe costly or not possible.

[bmoc]

-Square PS1 games if your referring to the Final Fantasy games that are still easy to find and sealed. There were tons of these games produced.. Millions!

-PS2 games were still being produced in 2014, Some Atlus games demanded the reprints, most likely the extras are still floating around.

You maybe correct that they haven't been reprinted recently. But is certainly possible and PS1 reprints have happened as late as 2008 that I am aware of. With some limited Googling, I count not find a definitive source to say how late Square PS1 games were being printed. Only anecdotal stuff like this.

-Dreamcast did not sell well very possible for many sealed or opened new games floating around as well in retail warehouse that have not destroyed them.

It is likely difficult/expensive to source GD-ROMs since the medium was not very popular. But if the game fits on a CD, then it should be possible reprint it. There are a few homebrew Dreamcast games that see physical releases. (Let's not talk about Pier Solar though )

It's not profitable for any games to be reprinted especially in a day where compilations and HD remakes can gather much more profits than reproducing an older product. Not to say the machinery doesn't exist, but it's definitely much easier to rehash things with today's technology.

Agreed. And digital re-releases are also to blame.

But my point is, and I think you would agree, that it is very possible to reprint disc based games (though not necessarily profitable as you said).

[BoringSupreez]

Hell if there were a legit company officially reprinting some of the more sought after disc based games for the Dreamcast, PS1, Sega CD, and etc. I'd be all over them even if they were asking $40-60 msrp.

Would give me a reason to pick up a Sega CD, Saturn, and etc. Would get them now but with the lack of any games locally and the risks of faulty discs I've just never pulled the trigger on one.

For sure. And with the exception of systems that use weird formats like DC, GCN, and PSP, there's really no reason they couldn't from a technical perspective.

As long as the reprinter didn't release too many games at once, and made sure to build up some hype beforehand, I bet it'd be profitable. Just create some big hubbub online about how Suikoden II or Mega Man Legends is going to be available again a few months in advance, and then be sure to sell it through popular websites like Amazon.

I asked about this over on the Gaijinworks forum not too long ago, and Vic Ireland said that the factories used to print PS1 (and even PS2) games have all closed up. You can't physically get the disks printed anymore, even if the market is there. Same for Dreamcast BTW.

I'm not exactly sure how the factories being closed would be an issue? Square was reprinting PS1 games on regular silver CDs; my copy of FFIX is one of them. I don't understand why the factories being closed would prevent a PS1 reprint any more than it would hamper the reprinting of an old PC game or music CD, which both happen all the time. You can still get Age of Empires 2 and Diablo 2 at Walmart, and I bought a new copy of Depeche Mode's Violator at the mall last year, and they're all freaking ancient.

In the case of Dreamcast stuff, I can totally see how this would be a problem. Proprietary formats suck like that. But the black PS1 discs were primarily cosmetic; they were still just CDs. And the boxes were completely generic jewel cases that are still in production.

[noiseredux]

Violator is a great album.

[Fragems]

That is the thing I was considering is most systems can run CD-R back ups so CD based reprints wouldn't be an insane idea.

Although I'm all for more companies releasing physical compilations love my Rare Replay, and Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. Not so much a fan of lazy digital re-releases, but at least they are a step in the right direction.

[TEKTORO]

Good points guys!

You know another thing too, ISO's a lot of this stuff is rampant. So that also hurts things as well

[mas]

Man am I pissed off. I got a package from GameStop today. In it I got these games.
Castlevania sympathy of the night
Marvel vs capcom
Marvel vs street fighter
Marvel super heroes
Except for marvel vs capcom, every other game was disc only and all scratched to hell. I'm so pissed off and I can't get a hold of them what so ever. I am calling tomorrow to either get my money back or get games complete that has no scratches.

Everyone else that has been getting packages like Dreamcast has been complete and the disc looks great. Man this sucks

[TEKTORO]

Man am I pissed off. I got a package from GameStop today. In it I got these games.
Castlevania sympathy of the night
Marvel vs capcom
Marvel vs street fighter
Marvel super heroes
Except for marvel vs capcom, every other game was disc only and all scratched to hell. I'm so pissed off and I can't get a hold of them what so ever. I am calling tomorrow to either get my money back or get games complete that has no scratches.

Everyone else that has been getting packages like Dreamcast has been complete and the disc looks great. Man this sucks

Bummer, did you keep the return label. I think that's the only way to return them can't go to the store.