Why are used RPG's so expensive?

jjgames

jjgames

CAGiversary!
I have noticed this for quite some time. Of all the expensive used games out there RPG's seem to be the lion's share. I did some research into it (here) and RPG's only dropped in price 7% on average this year while all other games dropped about 25%.

Why is that? The only theories I could come up with were companies not making many copies to begin with or the amount of time RPG's take to finish.

Why are RPG's the most expensive used games?
 
The damand doesn't drop as fast. Also most rpgs don't sell that well. If there are fewer games that are sold, there are fewer on a secondary market. If there isn't many you can buy used the price is going to stay closer to retail. It is just supply and demand.
 
Yeah like he said, fewer sold, fewer produced. Though I do not believe that the only factor. While the fanbase for RPGs is smaller it is pretty dedicated. I would also bet the average RPG gamer is less affected by the trendy game of the week or graphics and thus more likely to want an old game.
 
Why don't the publishers make more of the games to begin with? I know RPG fans are pretty hard core of the most part, but it always seems like people are searching for their Persona or Disagea fixes.
 
I don't think anyone's going to be too shocked by this result, although the data are interesting to look at. This is one of the reasons I don't mind buying RPGs on a whim.

BTW, I thought your previous article on average prices over the span of the year was informative, and will be sure to bookmark your blog.
 
RPGs typically last longer too. The investment into the character development likely plays a role in people not wanting to give up the emotional attachments... resulting in fewer used copies available.
 
[quote name='jjgames']Why don't the publishers make more of the games to begin with? I know RPG fans are pretty hard core of the most part, but it always seems like people are searching for their Persona or Disagea fixes.[/QUOTE]

Because there's no telling how well an RPG will sell (unless it has the words 'final' and 'fantasy' in it, in which case it'll sell millions!). Look at DQVIII, even with all the hype and positive feedback around it it didn't sell nearly as well as FFXII.

Sports games on the other hand sell in the multi-millions and basically become obsolete to most people after the first 6 months.

Most RPGs that retain their value are from smaller publishers who cannot afford to take risks so fewer copies are produced. And the collector market isn't large enough for them to warrant reprints in most cases.

Plus, average Joe would rather be known as playing Halo or Madden than Shadow Hearts. Hell, even I hide my RPG playing from my friends from time to time so that I don't have to bother trying to explain it.
 
[quote name='Vinny']Because there's no telling how well an RPG will sell (unless it has the words 'final' and 'fantasy' in it, in which case it'll sell millions!). Look at DQVIII, even with all the hype and positive feedback around it it didn't sell nearly as well as FFXII.

Sports games on the other hand sell in the multi-millions and basically become obsolete to most people after the first 6 months.

Most RPGs that retain their value are from smaller publishers who cannot afford to take risks so fewer copies are produced. And the collector market isn't large enough for them to warrant reprints in most cases.

Plus, average Joe would rather be known as playing Halo or Madden than Shadow Hearts. Hell, even I hide my RPG playing from my friends from time to time so that I don't have to bother trying to explain it.[/QUOTE]
LOL, you just reminded me of how whenever my friends ask me what game I'm playing now, I say something like Suikoden or Shin Megami Tensei and they're like, " What the fuck is that" ?
 
All of these posts are reasons why RPG's do not drop in price as much, I remember when I had to explain what Shin Megami Tensei was to the Ebgames clerks!
 
The big publishers do print a lot of copies. Consider the recent Tales games or the Xenosaga Series or anything by Square-Enix in the recent era.

The Atlus business model is based on carefully deciding how many to print, and keeping values high. Its also loosely based off the Nintendo model of getting your customers to buy New and early.
 
To discuss the other games researched, FPS and racing games become repetitive after a while. I can only shoot the same zombie so many times, and can only race around the same track so many times before it gets boring. Besides, those games are always more fun with more than one person. The older consoles you pretty much still have to have another person in the room to make those games enjoyable.

I don't know why fighting games are ranked so high though... but, I have never sold/traded any of my Street Fighter or Tekken games before either... lol
 
[quote name='tyhana']To discuss the other games researched, FPS and racing games become repetitive after a while. I can only shoot the same zombie so many times, and can only race around the same track so many times before it gets boring. Besides, those games are always more fun with more than one person. The older consoles you pretty much still have to have another person in the room to make those games enjoyable.

I don't know why fighting games are ranked so high though... but, I have never sold/traded any of my Street Fighter or Tekken games before either... lol[/quote]

I think you hit on something good there with the fighting games. Maybe with those and RPG's people want to keep them to replay over and over. So there aren't as many used copies out there. While other genre's people sell off after they played it for a while.
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']The big publishers do print a lot of copies. Consider the recent Tales games or the Xenosaga Series or anything by Square-Enix in the recent era.

The Atlus business model is based on carefully deciding how many to print, and keeping values high. Its also loosely based off the Nintendo model of getting your customers to buy New and early.[/quote]

I think someone else suggested this to me once, but this reminded me of it. I should research the prices of games based upon publisher. I bet Atlus has the highest used prices of any publisher. And EA is probably the lowest. That would be interesting to see.
 
Luckily I live in an area with a large, gaming-oriented Asian population that actually respects...and in some cases is jealous of...my RPGs. Back when I lived in Wisconsin there was exactly ONE guy I knew who was into those same RPGs. That said, RPGs are one genre I really don't hesitate to buy at a premium, simply because I know that I'll be able to recoup most of my purchase price when I resell AND because I'll get tons of bang for my buck.
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']The big publishers do print a lot of copies. Consider the recent Tales games or the Xenosaga Series or anything by Square-Enix in the recent era.

The Atlus business model is based on carefully deciding how many to print, and keeping values high. Its also loosely based off the Nintendo model of getting your customers to buy New and early.[/QUOTE]


I hate Atlus. They bring a good rpg to the states and put extra stuff with it. Then only make so many and expect me to pre order it, track it down with in a few months or spend lots on E-bay. They usually or did in the past have some extras with the games that were really cool.
 
To be fair, the last thing Atlus has printed to significantly exceed retail is the original Digital Devil Saga in 2005.

Most of everything else is merely uncommon at best.
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']To be fair, the last thing Atlus has printed to significantly exceed retail is the original Digital Devil Saga in 2005.

Most of everything else is merely uncommon at best.[/QUOTE]

I gather that will change come Growlanser in Sep, but who knows.
 
[quote name='Calamityuponthee']I gather that will change come Growlanser in Sep, but who knows.[/QUOTE]
I wonder why you say that? Growlanser Generations is pretty easy to find for a reasonable price so maybe Growlanser games aren't too sought after. I mean that even if Heritage of War doesn't do well and Atlus does a limited run, I think it will be easier to find than say a Shin Megami Tensei game which are very high in demand.
 
[quote name='mxpowar']I wonder why you say that? Growlanser Generations is pretty easy to find for a reasonable price so maybe Growlanser games aren't too sought after. I mean that even if Heritage of War doesn't do well and Atlus does a limited run, I think it will be easier to find than say a Shin Megami Tensei game which are very high in demand.[/QUOTE]

Just a bold prediction is all. If it gets a really limited run, say.. pre-orders only I bet it will be pretty rare. Valuable? Doubtful, guess we'll have to wait and see.
 
growlanser generations isnt considered sought after or rare. it is though, harder to find in stores. that could change when the new one comes out. the GL Deluxe sets are more rare these days.
 
Supply and demand usually affects prices most, and a number of explanations for low supply were already put forth: smaller print runs, "attached" fans being unwilling to part with their copies, etc.

Also, on the demand side: RPGs tend to age better, with fans who are less concerned with cutting-edge graphics, and less need for raw computing power.
 
[quote name='Vinny']
Plus, average Joe would rather be known as playing Halo or Madden than Shadow Hearts. Hell, even I hide my RPG playing from my friends from time to time so that I don't have to bother trying to explain it.[/quote]

Hell, I'm just the opposite. I'd be embarrased to admit to buying the latest sports game. I only buy one of each (football, basketball, etc) per generation. I mean is there really that much of difference from year to year? Hell, my newest sports game is Madden 2005 for the Gamecube. I guess I'll pick-up Madden 2008 for the X360 used after Madden 2009 comes out. There should be enough of a difference by then.
 
The poster is complaining about the used ones being so expensive but that is only if you wait and wait to get it and miss the usual price dip they take.

look at Suikoden V for example.. Used it is right around retail now but stores have pretty much Clearanced it out new months ago.

Bestbuy- $2
TRU- $10
CC- With all the $16 ones

Your better off watching the forums here to see price cuts and then getting up and finding one asap because for the most part that is going to be the cheapest your going to get it and the best over all condition. Instead of waiting to get it used so then it goes up in used value when people on Ebay start buying it for big bucks. Even EBgames cashes in on people who are flocking out to those B1G1 sales not knowing half the time they raise the prices on used games specifically for the sales...

I don't know either buy them on release or watch for clearances at stores.. if you wait and wait well then suffer the inflated used prices at used game stores..
 
Are there any screenshots out for Heritage of War? I haven't played Growlanser since the Genesis, and I'm interested in picking this one up, but I can't really find jack about it. That alone kind of tells me it'll be rare.
 
Both Growlanser and Persona 3 have huge limited edition packs with them, and it should be quite awesome. I am not sure if you have to buy at gamestop to get the limited edition stuff or not though. Its not hard to get a copy of these games if you want them and are willing to pay full retail, all you have to do is preorder at gamestop and you will get one. Even as ebay values rise, most of the time you can find at least ONE online store that has the game factory sealed and at retail price, ebay is full of morons who think its already out of stock and rare because everyone is putting in their description that its rare and out of print, when if you do a bit of hunting around you can probably find the game for less than ebay price.

It depends on your area, NO ONE buys RPG's here, except maybe gamestop employees, whom are the only ones who have expressed interest in RPG's to me before, and they buy on release day cause they work there. If you are buying RPG's though you have to hope a store is stocking them, as most stores here just stock the most popular sports and movie games and any other game geared towards kids. Most kids here just buy sports and movie games, and are more apt to buy the latest 50$ sports game or movie game each year and they completely ignore any other genre besides FPS, Sports and movie games.
 
[quote name='red flare graf']Are there any screenshots out for Heritage of War? I haven't played Growlanser since the Genesis, and I'm interested in picking this one up, but I can't really find jack about it. That alone kind of tells me it'll be rare.[/quote]
Better than screenshots, here's a link to a youtube video of actual gameplay from the japanese version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BB5_7eOGvY
 
RPGs are probably the most likely genre to see an increase in demand for old games vs. other genres, too, which keeps prices up with a decidedly limited (and not expanding) supply.

Once a new RPG fan is born, they'll not only look forward to what new games are coming out, but they'll turn their head back to see what came out before. I remember distinctly, when RPGs became my favorite genre, that I checked out forums, reviews, everything, to see which games I missed.

For instance, I bought a Sega Saturn at that point just to play Panzer Dragoon Saga. Of course I got Shining Force 3 as well, but the point is -- here we are with 360s and PS3s, and we're delving into back catalogues. I went out and grabbed nearly every RPG I want to play ... and am playing them one at a time, only selling them after each is done in turn. So ... not sure if other RPG people do the same thing, but certainly that'll keep some supply out of the chain as demand no doubt increases.
 
[quote name='red flare graf']What the hell am I thinking of.. Was it Langrisser?[/QUOTE]
Yea, but it was called Langrisser in Japan, I think and Warsong here in America.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top