As someone new to the hobby of video game collecting the issue of retail value versus perceived value regularly comes to mind. Generally this is not a problem as many retro games can be purchased for reasonably low prices. Simulation, sports, and platforming titles are excellent examples of games that may be acquired for a few dollars with the intent to fill those collection holes fairly easily. There are, however, certain games that command excess amounts of money years after their release. These would include games of the Role Playing genre.

A search on Ebay will yield results displaying complete copies of early entires in the Final Fantasy series with three figure price tags. A minimum wage pay cheque is often insufficient to pay for a complete in box EarthBound. Even games of these genres from less popular consoles command relatively high prices. In many cases these Role Playing games have appreciated in value.






The origins of Role Playing games can be traced back to table top board games before they made the digital jump to the computer with games such as Ultima. These were often rudimentary dungeon crawlers which allowed players to battle monsters and upgrade their character's attributes. Eventually Japanese game developers took the RPG to new heights with innovative games like Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior in North America) and Final Fantasy. These games were hugely popular in Japan, but only received a lukewarm reception in the west. This, of course, all changed with Final Fantasy VII's arrival in North America. With fewer games available in North America they would eventually increase in rarity. Despite not being widely popular it is difficult to consider RPGs to be rare; they can be found if one is willing to pay the price.

This is the point at which perceived value becomes a deciding factor in the acquisition of a Role Playing game. Perceived value is often related to a person's willingness to accept a retail price, but more importantly it is the impact the game has on the player. Simply put, RPGs offer great bang for your buck.


A Role Playing game can be compared to a novel, in fact it is very much an interactive story. By following a narrative structure RPGs draw the players in and do not let go until the very end. The games build up to an exciting climax before leading into the resolution of story enabling the player to develop a strong desire to reach the conclusion because of an investment he or she has in the story and its characters. Moreover a Role Playing game will address the themes of the unbreakable bonds of friendship, self identity, or the dangers of greed. These timeless topics allow the player to grow alongside the games antagonist and company. Just like a great book, RPGs engage the player who will become emotionally invested in the story.

Though some Role Playing games can be considered better than others, after witnessing the characters successes and failures a unique bond forms between the player and the game. Spending over forty hours with a story is how one truly gets to learn about its world and mythology and come to accept the games seemingly high price tag.

Permalink | Comments [14] | Digg This Article | Tweet