Why Konami Should Re-release Suikoden II

by Cortney Stone

It seems that every once in a while, a game comes along, and after experiencing low initial sales, it suddenly becomes a "cult hit." This is the case with Suikoden II, the second installment of the Suikoden series. I know that many people have this game on their wish lists; some are searching desperately for this suddenly hard-to-find game. A quick check of the internet revealed some dire statistics.

A buyer's best bet may be to check out internet auctions. One notable auction site had numerous used copies up for sale, ranging from $30 for a copy without the instruction manual to $90 for the game with the manual and case. Naturally, these auctioned items already had numerous bids placed on them, which means that a potential buyer would have to join an ongoing bidding war for the game. At that rate, the bids could very well double the final price of the purchase. Of course, there are some savvy sellers who post a price as low as $1, then surprise the potential buyers with an exorbitant reserve price, which is the minimum price for which the person will allow the game to be sold, that rivals the more expensive copies,. More extravagant types might be attracted to the sealed copy that starts at $149, or the sealed copy and strategy guide combo, which sports a hefty price of $210.

Another option is to purchase a copy from a major online retailer. Among major retail websites, new copies are nonexistent. Stores list Suikoden II as "out of stock" or "back ordered." There are a few "like new" and used copies available, however. The "like new" copies are no longer sealed, but they have never been played. A potential buyer can expect to pay about $150 for one of those. Used copies are a little cheaper. For only $99.98, one can purchase a used copy, which is only the disc itself, minus the case and instruction manual.

This is absolutely insane. A new copy of Suikoden II would sell for around $45, according to the major sites where the new copies are currently out of stock. Obviously, there is a major difference between $45 and $152.95! The online sellers are clearly making a profit off a game they originally paid $45 for. Essentially, Konami is missing out on profits, and regular people are making money off products that they did not personally make.

Astute RPGamers will recall a similar incident in game history: the case of Final Fantasy Tactics, a poorly translated game with astounding gameplay that became an overnight hit after all the new copies became extremely scarce. While I somehow managed to purchase a copy for only $16 at a pawn shop, other buyers of the game found that used copies were selling for as much as $110 in online auctions. In this incident, after noticing that others were making money off its linguistically challenged tactical title, Square made a very smart move. Square re-released FFT on Sony's Greatest Hits list, and thus made a great game available and affordable to thousands of eager RPGamers.

Konami would be smart to follow Square's example by re-releasing Suikoden II on Sony's Greatest Hits list. Not only would Konami rake in some decent profits, but it would also make countless Suikoden fans quite happy. Honestly, if Suikoden II was re-released, how many of you would head to your local game retailer and pick up a copy? I know I would, and the Greatest Hits price would certainly make me walk a little faster. If Luca Blight is truly one of the best villains ever, as Jorge Desormeaux and Bobby Skelton claim in their editorials, then RPGamers should not be denied the experience of playing Suikoden II.