Game Quest Direct and the secret of rare-game reprints
by Dan Choi 
{ Jan 17th 2006 at 10:30PM }
Siliconera provides a great read on how Game Quest Direct grew from a relatively obscure retail chain to
the star of sanctioned rare-game reprints.The secret to GQD's success is their official arrangement with each game's original publisher to reprint the games at GQD's expense. Discs get pressed, gamers get to play new copies of Rez and Gitaroo Man, GQD gets 50% of the profits, and everyone wins (except rare-game resellers, of course).
Sure, you're playing full retail prices for old games, but at least those are a far cry from full eBay prices. GQD's reprint strategy? "[T]ry to reprint any game that goes on eBay for over $100." Talks are underway with Square Enix, Atari, and Konami for more reprints -- such as possibly Valkyrie Profile, Ikaruga, and Suikoden II -- and picking up Working Designs' remaining inventory will only help matters for sensible game collectors. What game would you like reprinted?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JodyAnthony @ Jan 17th 2006 10:36PM
I would personally fellate everyone in the company if there was a rerelease of suikoden 2. my copy was stolen a few years ago and i really cant afford to pay $100+ on ebay.
JodyAnthony @ Jan 17th 2006 10:41PM
comment 2: electric boogaloo
looks like they have some other hard to find psone games that i had stolen from me. Let me tell you, it sucks the big one when games are stolen. They even have like some SNES stuff. Cool.
Devilmachine @ Jan 17th 2006 10:45PM
I too would would love to get my hands on a reprint of Suikoden 1 & 2.
Terry @ Jan 17th 2006 11:21PM
I can only see a few reprints on the site .The rest are bargain bin items that most brick and mortar stores carry and regular releases ,There'slot is Majesco crap that's been liquidated.It would be better if they had a section of re:released games and not just put them in with general releases.
p-diddy @ Jan 17th 2006 11:34PM
Hmmm, and here I have suikodens I & II sitting on my shelf, never played. Valkyrie Profile too. That was back when I would buy everything the day it came out and never got around to playing any of them. Maybe I should sell this stuff....
-p-
word. @ Jan 17th 2006 11:35PM
The rare Virtual Boy games.
Seriously. I've been collecting the cheaper stuff. Some have gone for close to $1000
Coolest system ever...[until Rev, maybe]
Aaron @ Jan 17th 2006 11:57PM
Great idea... I have REZ for the Dreamcast and it's a blast. Everyone should get a shot at playing it.
Sergio @ Jan 18th 2006 1:32AM
I have Suikoden I & II and Valkyrie Profile, along with other "rarities" on my shelf. And Fry's has copies of Guitaroo Man for $39.99. I've considered picking it up, but I think Guitar Hero has spoiled me.
Sergio @ Jan 18th 2006 1:40AM
Disgaea's on the list. Yay!
Martez @ Jan 18th 2006 4:02AM
R-Type Delta.
Sense @ Jan 18th 2006 8:52AM
Panzer Dragoon Saga please.
fwacce @ Jan 18th 2006 11:05AM
Before anyone here even thinks that GQD is a good company for doing this, you should read the thread over at CAG:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75380&page=5&pp=50
The whole thread is a great read, but scroll down to CheapyD's comments on that page for the truth on these guys.
They have an extensive history of getting these reprints done, and then trying to flood online sites to sell them at $100 before anyone catches on. Once people find it was a reprint, then they just drop the price to where it should be and they still make money. They also have a history of actually ripping people off who ordered from them and never got billed properly. They also don't know how to package these new games they sell. They think it's okay to just ship a double jewel case sealed game with no bubble wrap or any protection at all. Why is this important? Because it shows how much they don't care about the customers who support their business. The list goes on and on. Is it nice to see games get reprinted? Yes, of course. However gamers should petition game companies to do it themselves rather than give the profits to an underhanded organization like GQD. They are only in it for the money. They don't care about gamers at all.
Dan Choi @ Jan 18th 2006 7:43PM
The story did briefly mention some inventory unloading on eBay and selling to an eBay seller "if the price is right," but the bad side of the company wasn't explored thoroughly in the original article. That said, thanks for the info, fwacce; hopefully GQD won't have to resort to shady practices to make back its $100,000 reprint investments in the future.
Momus @ Jan 18th 2006 10:04PM
Somebody's been listening to Minus The Bear.
Rez, Rez, Rez. It's what's for dinner. But have any of you checked Amazon recently?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/B00005ULXM/all/ref=dp_pb_a/102-2288764-4140118?s=videogames
Tsk, tsk.