Hollow Man on 23/3/2009 at 16:16
I'm quite an old tyme PC gamer (parents bought a PC back in 1983), but for whatever reason, I missed the SS2 bandwagon. I saw it everywhere, knew it was good, but always passed it up. Even when it was on the cheap in the value packaging, I passed.
A year or two before BioShock was released I became intrigued by it because a friend of mine mentioned the game and how he wanted to play the mods, but he had given away his copy, and couldn't find it for sale anymore. So I went online and looked, and he was right. For the fun of it I had Ebay send me listings on it, but I never found a copy I was willing to purchase (I like having paper documentation, and people that had it always sold it for more than I felt it was worth). When BioShock hit, I bought and really enjoyed it, so naturally I stepped up my search for SS2, but still couldn't find it cheap.
With the release of BioShock 2 now around the corner, I figure the price will only go up. So I finally said heck with it, threw all rhyme and reason out the window, and paid far too much for an old copy, complete with original large box and all documentation (including the Creative flyer/ad). It wasn't necessarily worth it, but the game's awesome, and I can't say I'm unhappy that my years of searching has finally come to an end.
Question: why is this game so expensive? I used to see it everywhere, so I thought there were tons of copies made. Was Deus Ex, which can still easily be bought new in value packaging for around $10 (never mind on-line via Steam and other services), that much more prolific?
JediKorenchkin on 23/3/2009 at 17:24
Deus Ex was game of the year, I think it sold more copies for being hailed as one of the greatest games ever made. I mean, System Shock 2 was also seen that way, but by considerably fewer people.
It's getting more expensive because copies are simply harder to copy by. Most people who have played it and appreciate it don't want to part with their copies.
We prepared in advance and got 3 copies of both SS1 and SS2. Just in case anything happened to them. :p
Hollow Man on 23/3/2009 at 18:05
I'm not sure Deus Ex is being pressed anymore, but even if it isn't, I suspect that because it's easily and cheaply available via on-line distribution, it keeps the price of any available physical copies low. So weird that I bought Deus Ex at its initial release but not SS2. Wish I could remember what 10 year ago me was thinking!
If only EA would've made SS2 available on-line; I'd have to think it would sell well considering the runaway success of BioShock. It's still(
http://www.gog.com/en/wishlist/) the #1 wanted game on gog.com.
ZylonBane on 23/3/2009 at 18:43
I wouldn't be surprised if demand has been driven up as a direct result of Bioshock. SS2 hasn't been in the press this much since it was first released.
JediKorenchkin on 23/3/2009 at 19:39
Quote Posted by Hollow Man
I'm not sure Deus Ex is being pressed anymore, but even if it isn't, I suspect that because it's easily and cheaply available via on-line distribution
I simply meant that more copies had been made.
Hollow Man on 23/3/2009 at 19:49
Yeah, you're probably right that more copies of Deus Ex were made than SS2. It's just that my memory of it is that I used to see SS2 all the time, so I figured there'd be more up for sale, at cheaper prices, than what I've seen the last few years. But clearly that must be not quite right, considering the current going price.
A side point: getting the huge shiny box in the mail reminds me how much I miss these boxes and the care that went into producing them. The cover art, plus the layout of all the screenshots when you open the inside flap (plus the back) really draws one in.
Volca on 24/3/2009 at 06:35
Try ebay.co.uk(or other regional ebay) instead of the American one. I bought a copy this way some time ago and it cost me about the same money as a new one back then would (postage costs included) - including box in a great shape, manual and the Win95/98 reference guide.
It's getting rare so there is no surprise that the prices go up.
I wonder why there are no "PC Classics" editions of SS2. People from my surroundings would buy such a thing in dozens.
Kyumaru on 24/3/2009 at 08:32
/dons tinfoil hat
EA is keepin' the Shock down because it'd compete with their newest baby IP, Dead Space. Also EA is helmed by transdimensional reptilians.
Pidesco on 24/3/2009 at 10:53
I bought it from ebay for £26, last year so it isn't that expensive.
Hollow Man on 24/3/2009 at 12:41
Volva: there used to be a classics/budget packaging:
(
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51GAFF4V5JL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)
It appears to be rare now too. But as I said earlier, in the end I opted for getting a complete, large box copy. It might've been a bit cheaper to get it overseas, but I suspect with shipping the difference would've only been $10-15 USD, which isn't worth it to me.
Pidesco: last year is different than this year...I've noticed the price keeps getting higher. And while £26 is cheaper than I paid, in my opinion, it's not at all cheap for a used game. Old video games that the general population has no interest in really should be going for no more than $10 USD (especially if they don't have any of the original packaging). Because SS2 appears to be rarer and a little more desirable, I was thinking $20 USD, but as I said, apparently I've been wrong on this.
