PAL PS2 games likely to become collectable/valuable in the future?

[MattyD]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Gregory Horror Show. It didn't get a US release so the PAL version is the only English language version available. It bombed so badly on release that Game sold all their new and sealed stock off for less than a fiver, which is where mine came from.

I mean, I'm hoarding stuff like XII Stag, Glass Rose, Gunbird: Special Edition...but I've got this dark feeling in my gut...I feel like I'm misguiding myself big time.

I wouldn't bet on XII Stag or Gunbird becoming valuable - XII is widely available and the PAL version of Gunbird is extremely poor due to self-censorship and shoddy conversion.

Contra Shattered Soldiers and maybe
Neo Contra

Just wondering why you think these are rare - I'm assuming they just got small print runs? I have to admit I only ever saw one copy of each of these out in the wild and had to buy mine on this forum.

[Profit]

Contra Shattered was relatively pricy a few years ago ~?20. Maybe it'll go up in value again in several years time. Similar with Neo Contra - decent game, limited print.

I agree with previous comments though; it's extremely rare for a game to fetch more than it's initial retail price. Even at the most pricy, games like ZOE2, Marval Capcom 2 and REZ were around ?30. Even if in 5-10 years, if some rarer PS2 games are being sold for ?20-30 on ebay, they're probably not worth much more than now inflation-adjusted.

There are some other common indicators which will prevents depretiation as much:

- Format exclusivity + Low/Moderate print e.g. Sly Racoons, Ace Combats, Resident Evil Gon2 games. Any game also released on XBOX/GC usually has low value (some exceptions, e.g. Pac Man World, 2, 3).

- JRPG games. These usually have fewer print runs anyway. And dispite the massive print runs for the FF series, PS1 FF games still hold reasonable value.

- Limited Editions. Again, not the multiformat LEs (though some exceptions. I sold a couple of Alien Hominid boxsets for about ?60 each soon after release). But things like the Nippon Ichi/Atlus LEs will probably hold their value or even increase.

[dvdmike]

Any Konami UK title that is not Pro Evo has a stupidly low print run

[ItsThere]

MattyD - I wonder if Gregory Horror PAL will become collectible, I have never met another person (in real life of course) who owns a copy of that game.

Tis awesome as well.

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

How about Ephemeral Fantasia? Hardly ever see it these days and when I do it seems to go quite high.

[Davy Boy]

why forget about we love katmari? thats already selling for a lot on ebay, i have music 3000, dj decks and fx and other hard to find games for the ps2.


oh, and u shouldn't dismiss rule of rose either, the game is so rare u can't even find it on ebay or amazon

???

Rule of Rose impossible to find on ebay??
There's at least 6 pal copies on there at the moment!

[sadat]

I've had a clear-up too over the weekend and have come to the realisation that I have far too much stuff! I really, really don't think it's worth collecting for the sake of having lots of games - and I'm struggling to practice what I preach, but that's the aim. Better off going for one genre or type of game that you like, and putting effort into getting all of what you're after. I've gone great lengths to get every PAL 2D shooter in minty condition, and that's something I'm going to keep hold of. All the other PS2 stuff I've offloaded bit by bit [though I can't explain having three copies of Psyvariar... how did that happen? Sadly, greed is the only answer].

The thing is, that stuff is only worth [1] what it means to you or [2] what someone will pay for it. The thought that all these games will be worth something fiscally will depend on people like us not moving on to other things [which WILL happen to a good proportion of devoted gamesplayers], not many of them being around [rare 2600 games are still available, at a price in some instances but they are about. Why would the same not be the case for PS2 stuff, which is more durable with plastic boxes rather than cardboard?], and the absence of an easy way to get hold of rare things [which VC / online downloads will eventually get rid of].

In other words, I reckon games collections should only hold the games that mean something to you, that you will miss if you lose and you will enjoy coming back to. Go through that collection, and get the 300 down to 100 that you value.

[Family Fry]

The contra's have always had small print runs, great games but psudo 2D on ps2 was just never that mainstream, speaking of that cant believe I missed the fantastic Klonoa 2 from me list.
As dvdmike said Konami games that arnt Pro Evo or Metal Gear Solid usually have small runs, in fact any bloody konami game since 1996 have always had small print runs in europe.
Once picking up PS2 games become impossible you will see prices rise and perhaps stay, then again maybe with the advent of PSN and future consoles we all might be able to download copies of older titles, may eventually de-value the hard copies.
As for having too much stuff man i hold my hand up there, especially with ps1 games i just became obsessed in grabbing them before they became stupidly hard to find, must have about over 200 pal games. PS2 is growing too.

[ItsThere]

I actually don't think downloads will de-value hard copies, there is always something nice about holding the boxart, the medium and all that comes with it!

Oh and looks great on a sheld IMO!

[Profit]

Yes, the fact the platinum versions and those with missing instructions/cover and always sell for less suggest that dl won't devalue games too much. It would probably for the rarest e.g. Suikoden.

[huyi]

I've had a clear-up too over the weekend and have come to the realisation that I have far too much stuff! I really, really don't think it's worth collecting for the sake of having lots of games - and I'm struggling to practice what I preach, but that's the aim. Better off going for one genre or type of game that you like, and putting effort into getting all of what you're after. I've gone great lengths to get every PAL 2D shooter in minty condition, and that's something I'm going to keep hold of. All the other PS2 stuff I've offloaded bit by bit [though I can't explain having three copies of Psyvariar... how did that happen? Sadly, greed is the only answer].

The thing is, that stuff is only worth [1] what it means to you or [2] what someone will pay for it. The thought that all these games will be worth something fiscally will depend on people like us not moving on to other things [which WILL happen to a good proportion of devoted gamesplayers], not many of them being around [rare 2600 games are still available, at a price in some instances but they are about. Why would the same not be the case for PS2 stuff, which is more durable with plastic boxes rather than cardboard?], and the absence of an easy way to get hold of rare things [which VC / online downloads will eventually get rid of].

In other words, I reckon games collections should only hold the games that mean something to you, that you will miss if you lose and you will enjoy coming back to. Go through that collection, and get the 300 down to 100 that you value.

very wise post indeed, out of the 200+ ps2 games i have i'm guess a 1/4 of them are brought because they are rare or will be rare in a few years, other games i have brought over the years i have brought because i like them and enjoy playing them still.

i don't think i will ever stop game collecting though, there are way more games out there to buy so i'm not finished for a few years yet.

Rule of Rose impossible to find on ebay??
There's at least 6 pal copies on there at the moment!

the last time i checked there was only 2 or 3 copies of this game being sold in ebay, it changes all the time.

Yes, the fact the platinum versions and those with missing instructions/cover and always sell for less

gosh, i hate platinum versions of ps2 games and gamecube players choice, the box and disc looks ugly i avoid them as much as i can.

[erhgiez]

I think all the RPGs coming out now are gonna get pretty rare, it seems to be the final push of games on the PS2 atm and they always seem to go for big bucks, so stuff like Persona 3 and Odin Sphere especially are going to sky rocket, also GrimGrimoire is such a nice game and has RARE written all over it and I think I saw it new in a shop once.

[MattyD]

I didn't know Rule of Rose even got released in the end, are those copies on eBay promos or something?

As for downloads devaluing originals, I don't think that will be the case or at least not for the most collectible items like the cardboard SE versions etc. Collectors will always be willing to pay a premium for the physical item, whereas everyone else settles for downloads because they could never afford / don't want the hassle of finding a physical copy. I haven't noticed that the Virtual Console has devalued the most sought-after SNES games for instance even though they are available much cheaper online.

[Wools]

If you're only holding onto these games for collection purposes then don't, it's really not worth it.

Keep the games that mean the most to you or you will play again. Videogame collecting solely for money is almost worthless, prices change all the time and you're only talking ?10 - ?50 here.

[Family Fry]

I didn't know Rule of Rose even got released in the end, are those copies on eBay promos or something?

It got banned in UK and released in Europe for a change, always thought it would drip into UK market but never did.