The prices on both MPT and Xenoblade were lowered recently, probably due to the fact that they weren't selling at such high prices. They are now $70 and $80 respectively. Consequently, I did a little coupon-fu and wound up with a new copy of MPT for $45. PowerUp reward members can get the game for $65 and then there are always crazy coupons floating around on the internet.
Now, notice, that I said a new copy. There is no way that this is not a reprint. In fact, there's a new wrinkle that might explain where some of these games are coming from. The cover is a standard white Wii cover, the manual is brand new and didn't have any crescent-shaped handling marks that you'd usually see on used manuals and the disc itself is shiny and fingerprint-free. No Club Nintendo code this time but I can confirm that the store I bought this copy in also had a copy of Xenoblade Chronicles, also in brand new condition, with a CN code. The interesting thing about this copy of MPT is, after peeling off the GameStop price stickers, I uncovered a label with Previously Owned printed on it. That label however was not sourced from GameStop.
This label is exactly like the label that is all over the all of the cheapie copies of games that are filling dump bins in every retailer in Los Angeles. 360 GTA IV for $10 and Wii X-Men Destiny and a slew of others for 2 for $10. For months, these "Previously Owned" copies have been flooding into Target, Fry's, Best Buy etc. I've purchased a few of these
prior to buying MPT and each time, it is the same situation. The covers, manual and discs all look brand new and I would be hard pressed to see how it could've been used. If I had to guess, I would imagine these are remainder copies and, instead of cutting the covers as was previously done, it's been decided that a sticker on the shrink wrap is an now acceptable way of marking it as a remainder.
These copies of MPT and XC were probably printed to be mixed in with the other Wii titles that are being blown out all over but, somehow, they didn't get there and are now being sold as used and for collector prices. Still, I got a fair price on a copy of a game that has been at the top of my Must Buy list for a while now and it's in new condition to boot. If XC comes down to a saner price, I will probably try to work a similarly discounted sale out for myself.