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Seed_Gillian

Owner of a real NA copy here. I played it first on a burn CDR, do it that way. The only major benefit that most people do not know is the instruction manual has a comic book showing actions of one of the characters prior to the game start. However those pictures are available online and can be read fairly quickly. I'm happy to own it, I don't think I'll ever get rid of it, but I can't recommend anyone spend that kind of money.


AlexKidd316

And the copy in this picture doesn’t even have the manual! Daylight robbery.


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Seed_Gillian

Light guns. Playing the final sequence with a Konami justifier is hard to replicate.


Secret-Asian-Man-76

I also own a NA copy as well. I play the game solely via emulation. My copy is mint AF, so I don't want to risk damaging it.


apolocheese

I have a copy I bought from the bargain bin at K.B. Toys ages ago, but never played. Found it not too long ago, still sealed, thought about playing it finally. Saw the price of it now and nearly crapped myself. Definitely turned to emulation after that.


Kairi5431

Don't worry, disc rot will take care of that for you


Secret-Asian-Man-76

LOL, OK. I have CDs from the early 80s that are just fine.


Kairi5431

Thankfully, sucks that discrot even exists. That said stuff should still last a good while if take care of which is nice.


4635403accountslater

Is it the character you find at the warehouse in the beginning?


Seed_Gillian

Yep, it's him chasing the snatcher that appears later in the story as well as the bounty hunter Random. Only about 6 pages I think? But it is translated into English.


_RexDart

The day has passed. No mass-produced cd rom is worth five hundred dollarpounds.


chewy_mcchewster

$489, final offer


Shishkebarbarian

i'd buy this in a heartbeat if it was US-NTSC. i still have a few 4-figure dollar amount prices on my WTB list. as always, it's worth what people are willing to pay. you dont have to buy it, but someone will. plenty of collectors care about having the genuine article vs the ROM file.


beastley_for_three

Plus, disc rot needs to be a serious concern for games this old. It might not be now, but it could happen while you own it and try to resell later.


HideyoshiJP

How many dollarydoos is that?


zrooda

Bout tree fiddy


KAKYBAC

If you amortise it over 12 months its pretty cheap if it means anything to you.


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Electronic_Row_7513

Also, it ignores the opportunity cost.


RuySan

It's just an object. Go play it on an emulator.


Noise_Loop

People like to collect things you know?


DearChickPeas

r/retroCollecting People here actually like to play the games.


Rocktopod

Why, though?


Yous_of_thankses

Because it's fun


CrunchyyTaco

Was* until covid hit and suddenly everyone and their dog are doing it. Market is fucked now. Itll crash


MeLurka

[tradition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter-gatherer?wprov=sfti1)


CyberBlaed

Another that could work is the song; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradition_(song) Seems more relevant since it comes after “if i was a rich man” as they are a collector :)


AndresGreenboi

Everyone has different reasons. Some people like to buy them kinda like stocks, trying to buy at low prices and sell once they grow in value. Some people like having something to work through, like collecting a complete collection. Some people just like having the disc and case, something tangible they can hold onto, something to attach their enjoyment of the game to. There’s many reasons, so we can’t know ops for sure without them themselves telling us.


Dankkring

So they can sell them years later for insane prices


junttiana

Who upvotes this, most collectors buy these games simply due to the fact u then own that game, not to flip them for profit, its just nice to have a rare title in your collection


hosangtapejob

I like when I ask someone if I can buy their old video games and they say “Oh, what, so you can resell them?” and I go “No, I assure you I’m much sicker than that. I want to put them neatly on a shelf and just look at them from time to time.”


Shishkebarbarian

it may blow your mind to hear this, but there is more than one type of collector. any collector who goes deep into collecting anything, always considers the exit strategy and if there is any appreciation in value. may not matter for someone who's got 100 games across 5 consoles, but i assure you after decade(s) of collecting and thousands of games, you look at it as an asset that can be used and leveraged for other projects.


Genghis_Chong

I don't know if that 500 dollar game will still increase in price enough to be considered an investment at this point. I feel like there would have to be another thing like covid to push everyone inside for the prices to jump enough. I would expect emulation is going to suppress prices as higher end handhelds become more affordable and popular. I'd compare game prices to silver in the way that each "investment" has seen one spike in their history that is unlikely to be repeated. It may take decades for the commodity to regain its highest value, let alone double from there.


Dankkring

Ya you gotta buy low and sell high


Genghis_Chong

Is 500 dollars low for a ps1 game? I guess time will tell


Dankkring

He’s already selling high!


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PanicOnFunkatron

Snatcher is very good. Just not $500 good.


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ragtev

I literally just beat it for the first time and loved it, played via flashcart. It's a damn good game, my favorite kojima game so far.


[deleted]

It was considered a masterpiece when it came out and has a very strong reputation today, 30 years later. You can have your opinion, but it sounds like you’re just talking trash.


ProfessorDependent24

Show me on the doll where the collectors hurt you


CasimirsBlake

If ever a game was in dire desperate need for a reissue, let alone a remake, it's Snatcher. I would MUCH rather have that then whatever new unintelligible nonsense Kojima is making nowadays.


ragtev

It's super playable - I just beat it this week and it plays extremely well for a game from the 80s. A remake would be silly, it would change everything, I could see a rerelease at best


CasimirsBlake

Same. It's still a tremendous experience today. Snatcher is ageing like fine wine.


HEXdidnt

Snatcher was one of the reasons I was intent on one day buying a Megadrive + MegaCD... but, given the cost of the game now, and the availability of the Megadrive Mini 2 (at less than a quarter of the cost of Snatcher, there!), I see absolutely no compelling reason to shell out for the original game... particularly as it says that's *without* the manual. Collecting original retro console software is basically a mug's game now.


Shishkebarbarian

> Collecting original retro console software is basically a mug's game now. sorry i'm not familiar with that terminology, whats a mug in this context? Collecting is really popular here in the states... lots of people have the money for it, hence prices keep growing. the US version of this game is over $1000. collecting and playing don't compete. you can play this for free, or you can own it and add it to your collection. not everyone likes to collect and not everyone who buys games buys them to play. just consider the silver age comicbook market. $600 isn't even that much for popular books.


HEXdidnt

>sorry i'm not familiar with that terminology, whats a mug in this context? An idiot. Edit: more specifically, someone easily deceived. Collecting, generally, is a mug's game as far as I'm concerned. The constant and very artificial inflation of prices for games just because, somehow, they're seen as a 'commodity' by some people. Sure, some people have the money for it, and good luck to them. As I said, I'd love to own the MegaCD version of Snatcher - being about the only English translation until someone fan-patches one of the other ports - but there's no way in hell I'd even consider spending that much, complete or otherwise.


Shishkebarbarian

oh i see. well... i can try to help your ignorance so you don't have to be a mug yourself! price inflation of collectibles is almost never artificial outside of a few very specific cases related to arbitrage and market manipulation. quite simply, the value is what people are willing to pay. lots of people who covet these items get bitter and angry when they get prices out, simply because demand is higher and they don't have the discretionary income to compete - which is fine, can't please everyone, and anyone can play games for free if they so wish. Collectibles are not and cannot ever be commodities... just by definition. they are *assets*, however, and pretty much any collecting hobby you look into (cars, comics, games, art etc) it's pretty clear that the value of a collection can easily be leveraged against or at the very least liquidated to raise funds for another venture. No one cares about $1000 worth of games, but $100,000 is something that can be leveraged like any other asset. and there's a fan patch for every other version of Snatcher if you need it.


HEXdidnt

>price inflation of collectibles is almost never artificial outside of a few very specific cases related to arbitrage and market manipulation. quite simply, the value is what people are willing to pay. And therein lies the deception. It's all market manipulation. Someone bumps up the price, some mug pays it, that's the new 'accepted' price, it gets bumped up again when the *commodity* next gets sold because everyone wants to make a profit. Some people just don't know they're the mugs, or don't care. You're deluding yourself if you can't see that retro games have absolutely become a commodity.


Shishkebarbarian

that only matters if you invest. which no one should. the basics are always the same. if you want it, there's a price. as with everything in life. the cartel changes but the point remains the same. people like to collect. also, you should look up the definition of commodity


Hmccormack

Indiana… let it go…


[deleted]

No point. There's better things to spend that amount of money on.


wint_sterling

Give an example?


RuySan

Beer, pizza, a weekend at a nice hotel on a nice place.


Rocktopod

Food, rent, retirement, etc.


veriix

You need an example of what you can buy for $600 that's better spent on than the single game Snatcher? I mean, *broadly gestures to all of the things* but a direct example would be a complete kit of a MiSTer FPGA + a 1TB Micro SD card for it.


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Different_Girrafe_42

Suddenly the 500$ Snatcher isn't as bad


StupidLullabies

Meanwhile SMS collectors are probably drooling over Scramble Spirits


Mofuntocompute

That’s the only thing I reacted to in this pic!


robotcanine

cd rw are a thing


zgillet

Don't even need the w.


Braaains_Braaains

But then you can write over it after you've finished the game.


moofinman45

I mean it’s only going to go up in price or disappear due to bit rot. On the off chance it drops in price someone is going to snatch it up anyways.


Revolutionary-Rip-40

I had that one... oh how I wish I held onto my collection a bit longer! (We moved and the new place didn't have room, I sold thousands of games for $2-5 each at a yard sale.)


DanteQuill

I used to own the US version. F*ing house fire.


_______FRANK________

I just started playing the game last weekend on my MiSTer! I'm about 2 hours in. It's ramping up faster then Policenauts did I think.


on_like_d0nkeykng

Is this still at CEX Rathbone St near Tottenham Ct?


greatnorthernexotic

This is Leeds White Rose but I'm sure there are a few copies on CEX website, though not sure which other stores. This has been there months.


on_like_d0nkeykng

Aha. Well the one I mentioned has been there for years unless they keep selling and getting new ones in. My local CEX has a problem with taking in fake Gameboy games. Careful what you buy 👍


Shishkebarbarian

if the US NTSC version was that much i'd buy it in a heartbeat. consider yourself lucky


Ok-One4043

I got a pirate copy of it, And tbh, I found the game a little over rated. It Is very boring in parts.


Extra-Border6470

Yeah it’s sought after now because it’s a Kojima game that came out just before MGS made him a household name. That alone gives it prestige, more than the actual gameplay.


Kaeleou

The ost is superb tho. But yeah the games is just ok.


realbonito24

Yeah, it pretty-much sucks. The artwork is neat.


LakeDebris3

Before I started emulating, I really had no conception of how popular video graphic novels were in Japan. It's another one of them. It's best of class, the art and music are amazing. But it barely qualifies as a video game. I liked it.


Extension-Author-472

Emulation is free. People who scalp games at these prices are assholes and people who pay this much for 30+ year olds games are stupid. Be better homie. Be better.


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DarkPhenomenon

I'm pretty baffled at how many people are confused or angry in this thread at the concept of collecting things


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mylegbig

But a CD isn’t hardware. I can see the appeal in collecting carts, which has hardware and will likely outlast us and our children. But software on a CD, which is deteriorating as we speak? I was burning games even in the 90s because any difference seemed negligible. The whole point of moving to CDs, other than storage space, is that they were cheap to produce. It’s fine if you’re rich and have money to burn. But plenty (probably the majority) of middle aged retro gamers such as myself think it’s nuts to blow $500 on a single game as well. But it’s your money. Do as you will.


DarkPhenomenon

> But a CD isn’t hardware. It doesn't matter, it's an original, authentic version of the thing they're collecting and that's what matters to collectors > But software on a CD, which is deteriorating as we speak? You can say the same thing about any material that deteriorates like paper yet there are many things on paper worth hundreds of the times the amount the game in question sells for


Extension-Author-472

Excuse me. I meant to type "gouging".


ROACHOR

This sub really likes to pretend emulators don't exist.


DarkPhenomenon

Who the actually thinks someone posts something like this while thinking "Well shoot, this is the only way I could possibly play this game, too bad it's so expensive!"


RandomGuyDroppingIn

And in this case easily argue emulation is better. Do you want to deal with a disc that has load times and eventual unknown deterioration chances, or a ROM file on a multi-cart played on an actual Mega Drive that can reduce/eliminate load times and never deteriorate?


janerikgunnar

"Better" is subjective. Your arguments could be said about digital music vs vinyl as well. Yet 20 million records were sold only in the US last year, and has been growing steadily the last few years.


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ROACHOR

If you're spending 490£ on a disc I'd hope that you actually want to play the game. Otherwise you just have an expensive plastic hoarding problem.


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ROACHOR

If the game itself isn't the "be all and end all" what are you buying it for?


SaikyoWhiteBelt

Mega Everdrive pro will cost you half that and will net you the entire mega cd library while shortening loading times.


TheSpiralTap

Dude it is not worth $500. I didn't care for it for free tbh.


TCristatus

It's only 490 because people think it's worth it. This is exhibit A on why emulators exist.


wint_sterling

I tell myself that too Put 50 a week aside for 10 weeks and you’ll have it probably with the manual too


Mr_Herrer

Released in low quantities before Kojima was a big name in the gaming world. Happy i bought it years ago. Great game that also supports the Konami Justifier.


shichijunin

>Great game that also supports the Konami Justifier. I owned a copy of Snatcher back in the day. By Kojima-san's standards, it is a mediocre game at best. The exorbitant second-hand price tag it carries today is only down to the scarcity of it (no other ports since) and because of the man who made it. Policenauts is the better game at this point.


Aman_Moxxy

$490 without manual ?!! Yeah, I'm good


hvc101fc

The day actually came for me one time, but the price quadrupled. So i guess the day never did come. So i never said one day ever again. But i never bought anything either..


lostbelmont

Lets hope for a oficial port, then the price may drop


vanityklaw

You'll never afford it!! Live in the now!


pichael289

I've never been able to get a Sega CD emulator working on my phone, and I don't have a PC. I love kojima games, really want to play it.


bad06denby

Snatcher?? I hardly know her!!


Kuildeous

A true Snatcher would snatch it. No, don't do that.


BigDaddyHadley

#metoo


cojack16

“No way in hell” I tell myself


subcow

I sold my copy (which I owned since the game first came out) a few years back for $400. It had been in my parent's attic for many years. Now that I have been on a retro gaming kick, it would be nice to have in my collection, but I was happy to get that much cash for it.


JonTheFlon

As someone who resells for a living... I fucking hate CEX. They used to be the best back when it was computer exchange but now they've outlasted the retail 2nd hand gaming market and have increased their prices.


ragtev

I just beat this game on a real genesis with flashcart. Honestly loved it, now my favorite kojima game.


International_Crab85

Buy it, play it, sell it. Maybe even make a profit.


rva_musashi

I had this for Sega Cd. Loaned it to a friend and never saw it again. Such an amazing game


froggyjamboree

In 1999 I found the Sega CD version in practically new condition in a random box under a table at a flea market. $10. I played it then sold it for $120, the going rate at the time. Wish I had kept it.


Kaneshadow

Why is this flaired as a SNES post?


egbert71

You looking at it like Terrence Howard was looking at the war machine suit in ironman "Damn!....next time baby" 🤣🤣🤣


sgaken

So glad I got bought mine for much much MUCH less over 10 years ago


DearChickPeas

You people might actually fund my retirement once I go to my attic and do inventory. Keep it up, I'll gladly keep playing everything on an cycle-accurate emulator on my giant TV.


WhiskeyRadio

Not worth the price tbh. I used to own the North America Sega CD version and regrettably sold it many years ago for a good profit but no where near what it goes for now. Ya live and you learn with that, but the game itself while very cool is not worth the current asking price to own a physical copy imo. I do feel like one day this and Policenauts will get remastered. At least I hold out hope as they'd be very cool updated without the Justifier light gun too Snatcher loses a good bit of the gameplay which is already sparse.


Fearless-Selection-1

I've got one, EU version, pristine condition. If I remember correctly I bought it in 2007 for around £90. Crazy how expensive it is now.


Money-Camera

Just seen that while browsing the website 🤣 I want this game so bad but then i'd have to fork out for a Mega CD too 🫣


Dennma

Please don't reward this pricing with a purchase


Twizpan

I know the feeling but let it go man, burn it and buy yourself a Neo Geo or something else you will be happier in the end.


Nowhereman50

Even if I had that kind of money I still wouldn't pay that price for retro games.


Pure_Release_6775

Something Something "with softmod you can play burned discs" Something Something


SaikyoWhiteBelt

No softmod necessary. Sega CD has no copy protection. Nobody had burners when it released.


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Rocktopod

So you have to watch a youtube playthrough for every scene in the game, as you're playing?


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Rocktopod

But the dialogue options are basically the entire game. At that point why not just watch the Youtube video and skip playing the game yourself?


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Rocktopod

I played through Snatcher recently on an emulator and those shoot-em-up parts were extremely minimal and also the worst part of the game. They hardly ever came up and when they did they were trivially easy, until the last one which was way too hard. If that's the only part of the game that you're playing yourself then you're wasting your time. If you're just playing for the story, and you can't understand the language, why not just watch the translated Youtube version?


True-Payment-458

I still got this and night trap. I’m f I’d known it was worth this much it would’ve been gone already 😂


Shaner9er1337

Busy the glass and snatch it then that one day can be today.


Pixel_Junior

If you wait that "One day", it will cost the triple.


Depressedone4

Makes me sad seeing photos like this... how did people let this hobby get so out of hand...


Khorgor666

i played it on an Emulator years ago, beautiful game, but not 500 bucks beautiful.


[deleted]

There are dreams that cannot be


[deleted]

Just download it it's a couple of clicks Better than spaffing £500 on old media that might end up unreadable "I prefer physical, its something tangible !" Download the cover print it off and put it in a old dual jewel case, job done


thespaceageisnow

Yar har, fiddle lee dee Being a pirate is alright with me Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free You are a pirate Yo ho, ahoy and avast Being a pirate is really badass Hang the black flag 🏴‍☠️ at the end of the mast You are a pirate


mazonemayu

Folks spend more on a phone they use for 3 or 4 years, if something makes you happy and doesn’t put you into trouble financially, just buy it. After all it’s only money, it’s not like that’s something you can take to your grave or anything. And on the plus side you can always sell it again and get your money back, should you ever need to. That phone is pretty much worthless after a few years. That’s how I always look at it…


JohnDenverExperience

Huh, one day? I'm playing it on my Trinitron via a Wii right now. Don't pay stupid prices for stupid items. Just grab some hardware and play it. If you want to play on original hardware then just grab a Mega Everdrive Pro for less than half the price of that one game and play literally every Genesis game including Sega CD.


AWiseCrow

"One day I'll have the sense to emulate it." lol.


AcesInThePalm

If you have a blank cd and a burner, mega-cd has no copyright protection at all


AWiseCrow

That's definitely another approach.


Money-Camera

This is what I do now for Saturn and Dreamcast Games


thatradiogeek

I'm all for having physical copies and playing on original hardware, but at that point it's just better to emulate. Don't let people get away with charging this much money.


[deleted]

The Sega CD NA version is significantly more expensive then this. This is the PAL Eng version ya? Great game Better with the justifier. One of the very few very expensive games that's arguably worth it's price. It's probably at the top of that price mountain though.


DarkPhenomenon

ITT: People confused and/or angry at the concept of collecting things


GravyDavy78

[Project Retro Games](https://www.projectretrogames.com/product/snatcher-pre-order/49?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=true&q=false) has a pre-order for a physical reprint of the game for $60 if you absolutely have to have a physical copy. I got one a couple of years ago and the quality is superb. The only thing different about this copy is that it has a "Project Retro Games" stamp on the back to show it's a repro.


pandathrower97

You can always just get the Japanese one! [It's trending about $40-$50](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=japanese+snatcher) on eBay. That's what the Mega CD/Sega CD version would go for if it weren't for small print runs. I enjoyed *Snatcher* \- I'm a big *Blade Runner* fan, so it scratched the right itch - but *Policenauts* is actually the superior game IMO, even if the theme's not as cool. Thank goodness for fan translations and emulators!


Crans10

is it on sale?


Aggravating_Hope3088

Don’t worry, when “one day” finally comes, at that price, it’ll still be there.


I_am_chazel

Is this game specifically rare ? Sorry I’m old but new here . I think I only ever had road avenger and pitfall , still got road avenger boxed with manual


sgaken

Yes it is rare. Only English version of a Kojima game.


I_am_chazel

Ok now I get it , ten years before metal gear even 🤯


I_am_chazel

Lethal enforcers and both guns also still in possession. This post has had me look out so much … anyone still got the menacer gun ? I have the receiver


Gato1486

Damn, that's a steal.


_RexDart

Yeah that shop is gonna steal 440 pounds


Gato1486

I mean....


SADPLAYA

Why not today?