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?
