Too early to start talking about rare/valuable Wii games?

[Purkeynator]

Did anyone ever come up with a good reason as to why MPT was suddenly and without explanation out of print? It was a popular game that was stll selling well at the time, as I recall, not a niche outing like Xenoblade.

It reminds me of the time Nintendo released The Lost Levels on Virtual Console for like a week only.

Did they have some problem with making money?

I don't know for sure but it seems like the only reason it blew up like it did was because they actually announced they were ceasing production, unlike 99% of their other games where they just quietly stop manufacturing them. So everyone pushes the panic button and ebay prices start going out of control. The real reason is probably that they were not making much (if any) money off of manufacturing a steelbook and the artbook to go in a $50 game. Once they saw there was still demand, they happily reprinted the game with a normal case and without the artbook and probably enjoyed a much larger profit margin than the collector's edition. When in doubt, follow the money and you'll find your answer.

[Betagam7]

Did anyone ever come up with a good reason as to why MPT was suddenly and without explanation out of print? It was a popular game that was stll selling well at the time, as I recall, not a niche outing like Xenoblade.

It reminds me of the time Nintendo released The Lost Levels on Virtual Console for like a week only.

Did they have some problem with making money?

I don't know for sure but it seems like the only reason it blew up like it did was because they actually announced they were ceasing production, unlike 99% of their other games where they just quietly stop manufacturing them. So everyone pushes the panic button and ebay prices start going out of control. The real reason is probably that they were not making much (if any) money off of manufacturing a steelbook and the artbook to go in a $50 game. Once they saw there was still demand, they happily reprinted the game with a normal case and without the artbook and probably enjoyed a much larger profit margin than the collector's edition. When in doubt, follow the money and you'll find your answer.

Thing is, the PAL version didn't have a steelbook yet it also got taken out of production and there hasn't been any reprint.

Nintendo sure does make some odd decisions at times.

[CRTGAMER]

Did anyone ever come up with a good reason as to why MPT was suddenly and without explanation out of print? It was a popular game that was stll selling well at the time, as I recall, not a niche outing like Xenoblade.

It reminds me of the time Nintendo released The Lost Levels on Virtual Console for like a week only.

Did they have some problem with making money?

I don't know for sure but it seems like the only reason it blew up like it did was because they actually announced they were ceasing production, unlike 99% of their other games where they just quietly stop manufacturing them. So everyone pushes the panic button and ebay prices start going out of control. The real reason is probably that they were not making much (if any) money off of manufacturing a steelbook and the artbook to go in a $50 game.

Thing is, the PAL version didn't have a steelbook yet it also got taken out of production and there hasn't been any reprint.

Nintendo sure does make some odd decisions at times.

I posted about the one time printing back in November 2011. I saw this at the Nintendo Video Reviews site, the developer Retro Studios during an earlier interview stated that Metroid Trilogy will only have one limited print run. Even Nintendo confirmed the one time only printing.

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 09#p513209

http://gamerlimit.com/2010/01/metroid-p ... rs-edition

After releasing less than five months ago, MetaCritic’s highest-rated Wii game of 2009, Metroid Prime Trilogy, has stopped being published and shipped.

“Unfortunately, Metroid Prime Trilogy is no longer being shipped. Having said that, you may be able to find what you seek through the secondhand video game market,” says Nintendo, in an email response to Coffee with Games inquiry as to why the game was no longer available on Amazon.

Did you pick up your copy of an actual Collector’s Edition game yet? Better get on that. They’re going, going… gone.

New cases, crisp manuals and the quantities reported do lead to very likely a reprint. A question on if it really happened and by whom?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroid_Pr ... gy#Release

Metroid Prime: Trilogy was released in North America on August 24, 2009, packaged in a steel-book case, along with an art booklet. The European release in the following month maintained the booklet, while the Australian release in October only had a metallic cardboard slip cover. On January 8, 2010, it was reported that Nintendo of America was no longer producing or shipping Metroid Prime: Trilogy, and stated that players may still be able to find second-hand copies of Trilogy via video game stores. On January 11, 2010, it was reported that Nintendo Australia had also discontinued the game. Following Nintendo of America's announcement, Nintendo of Europe assured that the game was not discontinued in their region. Although, the game had since been out of stock at most retailers.

In August 2013, U.S.-based retailer GameStop announced they acquired a significant stock of pre-owned copies of Metroid Prime: Trilogy, along with Xenoblade Chronicles, another game that Nintendo published with a limited print cycle. GameStop stated that the game is available for purchase exclusively via their website as a "vintage" title (despite being released merely four years prior) for $84.99, and "with no shrink wrap", suggesting their pre-owned copies is slightly or never used, including intact Club Nintendo redeeming codes. Whilst the price is high for a pre-owned game, it relatively much cheaper than other copies of the game being offered by other resellers via trade sites such as eBay, as demand remains high for Metroid Prime: Trilogy against the low supply.

Oh gee, Gamestop reported a significant USED stock found AFTER they did the EMail Buyback campaign.

I checked a few Gamestops, most did have the R stamp on the back sticker that indicated the game went thru the Gamestop Refurbish Center. I did see one copy of Metroid Trilogy with a white case DID NOT have the R sticker, but a recent trade in.

Gamestop Refurbish Sticker on a used PS2 Gradius game:


Reprint or Tradein? A shame so many copies lost the Steel Book.

[isiolia]

Oh gee, Gamestop reported a significant USED stock found AFTER they did the EMail Buyback campaign.

Could depend on the source. Gamestop's official response to Kotaku was that they were able to "source a limited number of copies", not that they had an overwhelming response to a particular trade-in ad.

[mjmjr25]

Hold the phone:

including intact Club Nintendo redeeming codes

How is it possible the codes were ALL turned in during the buy-back?
How is it possible NONE were used by the original purchaser?
How is it possible they KNOW the ones they "bought back" were unused?

After reading that post CRT, i'm not only more certain there was a re-print, i'm also leaning very heavily that GS advertently was dishonest about it and there own statement is what trips them up.

[prfsnl_gmr]

At this point, I think that the "mystery of the reprinted Wii games" is so thick that we are going to have to call in Hercule Poirot to gather everyone in a room sort it all out.

[mjmjr25]

I'm partial to DCI Tom Barnaby or heck, DCI John Luther, but yeah - we need SOMEONE!

[CRTGAMER]

Hold the phone:

including intact Club Nintendo redeeming codes

How is it possible the codes were ALL turned in during the buy-back?
How is it possible NONE were used by the original purchaser?
How is it possible they KNOW the ones they "bought back" were unused?

After reading that post CRT, i'm not only more certain there was a re-print, i'm also leaning very heavily that GS advertently was dishonest about it and there own statement is what trips them up.

Many of my used games purchased from Gamestop still have unused codes in them. As discovered in the past at Gamestop, the games could have been new games rettaged as used. On the other hand, some tradeins are from customers that do not bother to enter the codes. Are there official reports from customers that bought the later round that every code worked?

It really is a mystery concerning the source and yes I agree Gamestop is doing a coverup as well.

I still am curious what people have found on Wii Xeonoblade and Metroid Trilogy concerning that R sticker mentioned earlier. Not just one store, but how many have and don't have the sticker?

At this point, I think that the "mystery of the reprinted Wii games" is so thick that we are going to have to call in Hercule Poirot to gather everyone in a room sort it all out.

I'm partial to DCI Tom Barnaby or heck, DCI John Luther, but yeah - we need SOMEONE!

Call in Columbo, certainly just might need a silly detective to sort it out. He might even know and "just one more thing sir" keep pestering Gamestop and Nintendo to come clean.

[mjmjr25]

I still am curious what people have found on Wii Xeonoblade and Metroid Trilogy concerning that R sticker mentioned earlier. Not just one store, but how many have and don't have the sticker?

I can only speak to the 2 copies I had. I just checked my personal copy and there isn't a sticker of any kind.

The other copy I sold and I specifically recall how nice it was when he handed me the copies from the cabinet - there were ZERO stickers on them - nada / nil / nothing. I received 2 copies from the cabinet w/no identifying marks - as he was checking me out another guy took the copy I had brought to the counter back out to the floor. I can only assume every copy in that cabinet is sticker free.

We are a retro video game site - do none of us work for Gamestop and can speak to this? Have you all been sworn to silence! Soylent Green!1!!1!

[ninjainspandex]

At this point, I think that the "mystery of the reprinted Wii games" is so thick that we are going to have to call in Hercule Poirot to gather everyone in a room sort it all out.

Holy shit I fucking love Poirot! +1 to you good sir seriously thought I was the only one who loved that show, it is one of the few shows my parents love to watch with me, that and Monk.



Oui monsieur