RF Generation Message Board

I'm usually not on the right side of this equation but for once, for once I got it while the getting was good.

-JRPG
-Console at the end of its cycle
-Gamestop exclusive

Honestly it seems that this is just a surge of FOMOs trying to get their hands on a copy now that gamestop has basically run dry.

http://www.ebay.com/csc/Video-Games-/139973/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=xenoblade+chronicles&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc

My copy was purchased pre-owned but is in perfect shape.

So basically this thread is to gloat about having Xenoblade Chronicles. I'm think it'll cool off eventually (probably sooner rather than later).

Did you get one? If you bought it new are you going to open it? Did you buy more than one and flip a few?

Any predictions on where the value will go from here?

I have one and I'm not sure what the value's gonna do in the future.

It could go even higher since a sequel was announced and interest in the first one might come storming back as Project X nears release. Short of some miracle Chronicles will not see a reprint even in small numbers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnpR6S4iKXY

Holy crap... didn't realize the price skyrocketed
I have 20 copies near me. ;D

Time to get flippin' eh?

I picked one up on launch and when I noticed the price wasn't dropping back in December-ish, I picked up the last two sealed copies near me to hold onto.

I don't think the price will go down much, if at all.  The print run was likely incredibly small, and the game has also been very well received.  I also do not think that GameStop/Nintendo will bother with another print run considering the WiiU is Nintendo's main focus now.

I've been watching the game's value, and it really only shot up within the past few months, despite being available at pretty much every GameStop up until that point.  That being said, if you can still find used copies at GameStop (for $10 more than MSRP!) pick them up.  Even disc-only copies bring ~$100.

You guys have changed my mind from my initial theories, good info.

Xenoblade Chronicles is the Suikoden II of this generation  ;D

If that is true, will Pandora's Tower be the Magic Knight Rayearth?

I was hoping The Last Story would be when I grabbed an extra copy. So far it hasn't happened but time will tell.

I may grab two Pandora's Towers but I agree with you Duke, this hobby is not an investment.

The Last Story had at least two print runs.  It will likely increase in value (especially the version with soundtrack) after the second run sells out, but I highly doubt it will rise to Xenoblade levels of craziness.

Pandora's Tower is an interesting case.  Considering it is launching at $40, and after the Wii's successor has been launched, I suspect that XSEED isn't predicting a large amount of sales.  Frankly, I'm surprised that XSEED would even consider bringing it over here because I can't see it selling more copies than TLS, which at least had some fanfare when it came out.  By now, a lot the Xenoblade Chronicles and TLS hype has pretty much died down (Operation Rainfall, lol).  I would definitely keep an eye of Pandora's Tower, but I have little to no doubt that the title will drop in MSRP at least once, like TLS has done.

Wow, I REALLY  want to find a used copy now to play so that I don't get tempted to open my sealed one up.

This is actually a bit of a problem for me. When Wii came out I wasn't interested in it because it seemed like a lot of games were kiddy games. I also thought the motion control was gimmicky. I ended up succumbing to peer pressure and bought a 360 (when the base model dropped to $120).

Now I look at the Wii's library of pretty great looking games and I'm kicking myself. At least Wii U is backward compatible.

Wow, I had no idea. I picked up a new copy on launch. Never found much time to play it. Maybe I have more of a reason to try it out now.

Great game- possibly the best RPG of that generation (haven't played TLS or Pandora's Tower yet).

I doubt it.

I saw this guy mention there were 20copies in his area... Might be worth touching base with him.

There has been a guy listing pretty regularly on CL looking for one. He put a listing up either today or yesterday to let everyone on CL know he is on a waiting list at GS now.

I have one, still playing it.  It seems odd that it's going for so much with so many copies available.

^All GameStops around me have been sold out for about a month or two now.

I was referring to Ray's comment about 20 copies available local to him, the 45 available on eBay now and the ~200 listed on eBay since the beginning of Feb.

Not common by any stretch but that seems like a fair amount of stock for the price to shoot up he way it has.  Whenever a game joins the conversation of "will this awesome and limited game be hard to find soon" the price has a tendency to go up.  I'm curious to see if its a bubble or if it will hold its value.

This gen I bought Xenoblade/PAL/US The Last Story PAL/US Pandoras Tower PAL/US Ni no Kuni WE. All bought new launch day. Now they have all skyrocketed in price.

Wow why you pre order JRPG's

I don't bother, as they tend to stay put in my area. Sure, there's a high demand, but there's always a high supply around me to counteract it.
If anyone wants a copy, let me know...

How much?

i might be interested too depending on price

Salt lake City is a desert for collectors and good game stores. I feel fortunate for the two I have. Everything else is Gamestop.
So for me it's even more rare here than it really is. In some cases I dare say I am one of the few who has a handful in my whole city.

I've been thinking about adding a sealed copy of Xenoblade to my collection. Can you find them for retail?

Looks like a lot of people missed out on this game. I've held out this long so I can until the bubble bursts.

C'mon Crabby you know you want to tear into that celophane.

I really do, especially if that mysterious Wii U game turns out to be a sequel.

When this thread popped up I checked Gamestop to see how many where around me there were about 15 and priced at like 29.99 and now looking a week later there’s only one and it’s priced at 59.99.

Are you sure they were $30?  AFAIK, the used price went from $44.99 to $60.

I may have to keep my eyes peeled for a copy of this on the cheap.  Just looked at Amazon, good lord the price hikes.

Yea I don't remember the price out right but it was within a price that I would be willing to pay so $30 to $40 maybe it was $34.99? I don’t think I would have even paid it much mind if it was $44.99 but it might have been and I was looking at an after discount price.

Looks like it is trending back to 100$s and less.
Anyone make quick money reselling or did everyone just lose money buying?

http://www.ebay.com/csc/Video-Games-/139973/i.html?_dcat=139973&LH_ItemCondition=1000&LH_Sold=1&_from=R40&LH_Complete=1&Region%2520Code=NTSC%252DU%252FC%2520%2528US%252FCanada%2529&_nkw=xenoblade+chronicles&_sop=13

New copies still go for $150+.  I sold a new copy for $185 a few weeks ago.

I feel like a reprint of this is inevitable. They reprint everything now. Just a matter of when...

I've had mine for sale for over a week at $110 and no bites yet...

i never managed to find a copy anywhere locally

Don't bet on it. Nintendo is done with Wii. They never had faith in XB in the first place

Wouldn't a reprint be up to the publisher, XSeed?

Wait, sorry, Xseed didn't do Xenoblade.  I was thinking of all the other Rainfall games.

Nintendo owns all 3 IP's

Nintendo owns Monolith who developed Xenoblade. They own the IP to The Last Story and own the IP to Pandoras Tower. Just NA did not want to publish them so they let Xseed publish the last two in the US.

Well this is interesting:

http://kotaku.com/extreme-gamestop-pricing-leaves-some-fans-calling-scam-1108627828

Fwiw it is now available at pretty much every store around me, and it had been pretty scarce for months now.

Update:No surprise, this was the plan all along. More titles will be handled this way (including Metroid Prime Trilogy).

http://kotaku.com/gamestop-90-xenoblade-is-based-on-current-market-val-1123377091

So, back to the original topic of this old thread, I wonder how this will affect the value of the game. I'm guessing not much actually. It may even increase the value, again from FOMOs when this round sells out.

if they were legitimately used copies, i would actually be ok with this, because it is the market value (even under it somewhat). but to just print new copies, and sell them as used to get the extra profit is not cool.

It's the same concept as NOS (New Old Stock) - Atari did it late in the Jaguar/Lynx lifecycle, as well as the 2600 and 7800. It's a common practice, but GameStop is attempting to pawn it off at market price instead of purchase price. In this instance, since GameStop is the distributor, they can set the price. Just an odd circumstance, since the distributor is selling it directly for once.

I don't see a problem with it, as the market will determine whether or not they're willing to keep purchasing them at the current cost.

I wouldn't have a problem with Gamestop producing more in the shrink wrap and selling them new for $90.  If they really are producing them NEW and not shrink wrapping them and selling them as pre-owned, I have a problem with that. 

The only reason they would do that is to hide the fact that they are the ones producing more copies.

They're selling them as pre-owned since they're not shrink-wrapped.'
...suddenly, people have a problem with GameStop properly selling an opened product as USED? :P

The statement about Metroid Prime Trilogy really makes me wonder. Have they been taking in copies from customers and waiting to release a bunch at once, or are they getting "new used ones" the same way they seemingly did with Xenoblade?

I'm so glad I got both of these when they were new...what a mess.

It's a newly manufactured game, doesn't matter to me if the case has been opened or not but that's just me. 

If they shrink wrapped it and sold it NEW for $89.99, everyone would know that they are the ones setting the price.  By not shrink wrapping them and marking them Pre-Owned for $89.99, they are trying to hide the fact that they just printed these games because the demand is high.

You want to print these games and mark them at $99, I'm totally fine with it, you signed a deal with Nintendo for exclusive retail rights, just don't mark them all pre-owned to make it look like you aren't trying to make a buck.

Really interesting business decision, but GameStop has always had a anti-consumer attitude. Nothing new to see here.

While this could certainly impact used prices, I wonder what this will do to truly new, shrink-wrapped copies.

I hope flooding the market will drive the price down.  I (relucantly) sold my copy very high and I'd love to pick it up again and keep playing it.

Wonder if the new copy at my local GameStop is still $40...
Also, EVERY GAMESTOP IN THE AREA HAS COPIES NOW.

I'd gladly pay $40.  Maybe we can grab some copies before they change the price tag...

if your gamestop still has copies for $40, buy a few and we'll take them off your hands :) i wouldn't mind a copy but i really don't want to pay $90+ for one

I'm still glad I paid the $50 when it first launched. I will not be able to say that often.

I have 2 Xenoblades. But yeah as someone said Gamestop is anti customers and anti employee friendly. Tho out of the many things that bugs me about them is those gutted new games can be rented by an employee for a couple days and becomes used but they still sell it as new...when I was there I never did as I just didn't feel right doing it.

I second that. If your local Game Stop has copies available, I'll gladly pay you back.


That could explain my Fire Emblem: Awakening not having its Club Nintendo code inside. Darn! I wanted those points!

All stores near me suddenly had a few copies pop up a couple of weeks ago, so there has definitely been a reprint.  But selling them as used is pretty odd.  Seems like they should have sold them as new and for a higher price.

I wonder how they'd be able to reprint Metroid Prime Trilogy considering it wasn't a joint venture like Xenoblade was.

Selling reprints as used is normal for Gamestop. They did it for Resident Evil 2 (GCN), Cubivore (GCN), Rez (PS2), and Zone of Enders 2 (PS2) just to name a few. Do a search for Game Quest Direct and you'll find more:

http://www.nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=5&threadid=94233

http://www.siliconera.com/2006/01/16/the-business-of-reprints/ - This article has the we will reprint anything that goes for over $100 on EBAY qoute.

From the same article:

"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." As Michael Pachter would say its a profit deal.  8)

Addicted, thanks so much for posting that Siliconera article. I think that is the most informative article I've read regarding video games in a long time. I feel like I actually learned something about a topic that fascinates the hell out of me. It demystifies the sudden price drops that I have literally seen happen right before my eyes (and discussed on these forums: http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=11520.0 ).

I know this won't be a popular opinion, but I would love to see reprints of Valkyrie Profile, Suikoden II and the like. I know some people here have grabbed some of the Working Designs stuff mentioned in the article in the past. 

You're welcome. I'd love to see a Suikoden 2 reprint as well but I doubt it will happen.

i have no problem with reprints, only a problem with them lying to the customers for the sole purpose of jacking up the price.

Manager: "Hey Rick, I want you to take the plastic off these Xenoblade games."
Rick: "Uhh... OK, but why?"
Manager: "We're selling these new games as used copies because there's a sucker for everything."

ebgames.ca is still listing the game as 50 new and 45$ used, but there isn't any stock near me. Maybe the prices didn't go up yet in Canada ?

Why you always pre order JRPG's these days. Shit get's messed up. Prices go way up or a company flubbed the shipping so many lose CE's (I got mine thank god) or small print number...yadda yadda.

I don't really think you have to always pre-order a JRPG to avoid limited print runs or shortages of special editions. So much comes into play like how much the game is being hyped by fans and review sites, and even area demographics or genre preferences.

Looks like Metroid Prime Trilogy is already out in the world too. Available online and at every single store around me at least. Only 85 bucks!  ::)

http://www.gamestop.com/wii/games/metroid-prime-trilogy/74982?loc=preowned

i checked my EB Games last week and didn't see any copies of xenoblade, does anyone know for sure if this is happening in canada or not?

Gee whiz, we don't even get the controversies up here now!!!!

If I were to guess I'd say the reprints haven't appeared in Canada as it would require a french or french/english reprint instead of a standard english reprint.

I'm sure most of the members here have noticed but for those who haven't the price was dropped on both titles:

Xenoblade: $79.99

http://www.ebgames.com/wii/games/xenoblade-chronicles-gamestop-exclusive/98535

Metroid Prime Trilogy: $69.99

http://www.ebgames.com/wii/games/metroid-prime-trilogy/74982

It is worth noting that the reprint of Metroid Prime Trilogy has a different SKU and does not come in a steelbook.

Definitely interesting to note that one, Addicted.

Is the price of the EU release still really low compared to NA? Like $20-30 range? Wiis are region free...

Dropped yet again, I saw a Xenoblade Chronicles for $69.99 at my local GameStop last weekend.  $62.99 if you have their save-y save card.

yay hopefully the bubble bursts quick so i can maybe complete my operation rainfall set

Might not be a bad idea to buy the sleeve.

http://operationrainfall.com/additional-donation-cases-now-available/

If you still don't have a copy:

http://mynintendonews.com/2013/10/18/xenoblade-metroid-trilogy-will-be-reduced-at-gamestop-for-black-friday/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

And if you don't have one by Black Friday, Gamestop has it (as well as Metroid Prime Trilogy) for $39.99 if this ad is real.

http://bfads.net/Black-Friday/GameStop/Ad?page=11

I need the Metroid Prime Trilogy. I could do $40 for it. Never got to finish the first one

damn you american only sale days

I'm glad Gamestop's doing that deal. I can totally set aside 80 bucks for November. I'll be F5ing their site minutes before it begins in anticipation.

I have an open copy. I pre-ordered it. It's made by one of my favorite game developers, Monolith Soft, so it was impossible for me to pass this one up.

Is there any way to tell the difference between the new Xenoblades and the first run? I know the packaging on MPT is different, but I haven't heard anything to that effect with Xenoblade Chronicles.

^Nothing I've heard/seen.  However, I'm fairly certain the second print run wasn't sealed, so a sealed copy will be a first print run.

The actual case is different, but it would be easy to swap out. From what I can tell nobody has been able to discern any kind of difference in the disc/manual/artwork.

The rumor I've heard going around the internet is that one run is in cases with "Wii" embossed on the inside of the case above the disc, while the other has "Nintendo". I just went to check which my original had, but then I found that it was still shrinkwrapped. Whoops.

don't know anything about black fridays but here it is online if you don't wanna fight over it
http://www.gamestop.com/wii/games/xenoblade-chronicles-gamestop-exclusive/98535

Sold out but it looks like Metroid Prime is still available online.

http://www.gamestop.com/wii/games/metroid-prime-trilogy/74982