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[grandjedi6]

Shadow Hearts was the first one I remember them doing.

It's sad that this is another area where we've started to backslide as an industry: much like we've slipped well below the peak level of Japanese localizations we were seeing in the late PS2/early DS era, we've also slipped quite a bit from the peak reprint era where effectively zero current-gen disc games were selling for over $50.

I think the move of classic JRPGs to handhelds killed reprinting (plus digital distribution). Instead of reprinting, most companies just focus on putting games up for DD. And a lot of the niche reprints were JRPGs, whose reprinting was made 100x harder with the focus on DS/3DS (since all DS card printing occurs in and is controlled heavily by, NoJ).

Anything to hate Gamestop; amirite guys?

I just really can't see how this is a reprint from a logistic point of view. The thread poster jumps to that conclusion, but its more likely that the high trade in price convinced a ton of people to trade in their copies.

 

[Dead]

Eh

I mean.. it is worth $90 without a doubt...

 

[Shadow Hog]

Exactly, but no one noticed my post.

Oh, no, I noticed it; and yes, that's probably exactly what happened. It's not a reprint, it's a last-chance to get it for prices cheaper than eBay's $100+ (albeit $10 cheaper isn't much of a savings).

 

[IntelliHeath]

Oh, no, I noticed it; and yes, that's probably exactly what happened. It's not a reprint, it's a last-chance to get it for prices cheaper than eBay's $100+ (albeit $10 cheaper isn't much of a savings).

Yeah, I'm tempted to pick up Metroid Prime Trilogy. I regretted not getting it for 25 or 30 dollars. At same time, I haven't played Metroid ever since SNES.

 

[chaosblade]

Also, Xenoblade is now listed on Gamestop's front page and they apparently added a lot of new information to the game's product page, including character bios that weren't previously there.

Here's a cached page from July 25th and their current page.

That's a lot of work to update a page for a game that's been out of print for a while now...

If they're making $50 a pop on these and got plenty of trade-ins from their promotion it seems like it would be worth it to advertise the game a bit to get people interested.

 

[Eusis]

Ironically, I also think that the decrease in localizations has also probably contributed to fewer low-print games becoming expensive on the secondary market this generation. Games vanishing from retail and then skyrocketing in price is annoying, but maybe in some way it was a sign of a healthier industry willing to take more risks or cater to smaller quantities of niche consumers when it was happening. This gen, excluding LEs, I can think of, what, three or four games?

There's some that get pricey new or even used on handhelds, Infinite Space most notably. Though checking quickly no, it isn't as common.

Still, I do wonder how much of that has to do with the publishers just being smarter about managing what they own? I was expecting to find Atlus stuff to be pricey, but it isn't really, Radiant Historia's still available at $30, Strange Journey's a bit above new for its primary Amazon fulfilled version and the used ones aren't significantly cheaper but it's also not like one of those PS1 games in price. I think more often they recognize the demand that's there now and print accordingly, usually it's companies that don't as frequently deal with that sort of niche that problems seem to crop up; new copies of Sands of Destruction are going for $60 on Amazon though used is at $20-ish, and I did bring up Infinite Space. I guess in the PS1 days they treated it more as fire-and-forget, online shopping was still infantile, and in general maybe infrastructure for quick and cheap reprints just wasn't there. Nevermind cases like the Saturn with Sega completely throwing in the towel.

 

[grandjedi6]

There needs to be a company dedicated to digital "reprints". That is, getting super-niche games from Japanese publishers onto XBLM / PSN so I can finally play them. I'm looking at you, Aquanaut's Holiday: Hidden Memories.

$200+ for an English copy. The translation isn't even great.

There is: http://monkeypawgames.com/

 

[bigace33]

I dont see a problem. If there are dumbo's put there willing to pay the absurd price point for this game then why wouldn't Gamestop sell it for $90 used? The demand for the game is what's driving the price. Greedy gamers are selling it for much more than that so they are just as bad as Gamestop.

 

[botty]

I'll wait till next gen when Nintendo puts it up on the Wii Z's eshop.

 

[Persona7]

The online stock thing says it is in stock at every single store within 100 miles.

Every single one. I remember seeing a assload of used copies weeks ago. I even posted on gaf about it.

 

[Shadow Hog]

I dont see a problem. If there are dumbo's put there willing to pay the absurd price point for this game then why wouldn't Gamestop sell it for $90 used? The demand for the game is what's driving the price. Greedy gamers are selling it for much more than that so they are just as bad as Gamestop.

So anyone who's willing to shell out the dough for an NTSC-U copy of the game (instead of importing a PAL version, or the "yohoho" option) is a "dumbo"?

 

[Phenomic]

I dont see a problem. If there are dumbo's put there willing to pay the absurd price point for this game then why wouldn't Gamestop sell it for $90 used? The demand for the game is what's driving the price. Greedy gamers are selling it for much more than that so they are just as bad as Gamestop.

I think the argument that could be made here is what they are doing is now trying to create artificial demand by making it seem like the supply is still very limited. When obviously something has happened and that isn't the case any longer. Look at the guys Atlanta map. 5,000 people didn't suddenly have a spike in trading in copies of Xenoblade all across the United States.

Clearly, NOA didn't print up enough copies in the first place because they didn't believe the game had any viability. It took the internet like two or three years, some crazy grassroots campaign and even some struggles after a European release to even get Nintendo to talk about the OP Rainfall games. So while this is another problem in itself separate from the issue, needless to say; people shouldn't be paying more than 50 bucks in the first place for it because scarcity wasn't the best business solution for Nintendo in this case. I'm also assuming Nintendo isn't seeing much of that 90 dollar used price, but I have no clue how the inter workings of this went down.

Also don't get me wrong. I'm all for market driven prices, and I'm not saying they shouldn't be charging whatever they can get for the game, but they certainly shouldn't be doing it in the way they've gone about it.

If I want to buy a new copy of the game. Fine charge me 90 bucks for it, but don't call it USED, gut the copies, open up my shrink wraps and lie to me about what you're doing. That's trashy business through and though.

 

[drtomoe123]

I think the argument that could be made here is what they are doing is now trying to create artificial demand by making it seem like the supply is still very limited. When obviously something has happened and that isn't the case any longer. Look at the guys Atlanta map. 5,000 people didn't suddenly have a spike in trading in copies of Xenoblade all across the United States.

Clearly, NOA didn't print up enough copies in the first place because they didn't believe the game had any viability. It took the internet like two or three years, some crazy grassroots campaign and even some struggles after a European release to even get Nintendo to talk about the OP Rainfall games. So while this is another problem in itself separate from the issue, needless to say; people shouldn't be paying more than 50 bucks in the first place for it because scarcity wasn't the best business solution for Nintendo in this case since I'm assuming they aren't seeing much of that 90 dollar used price.

Also don't get me wrong. I'm all for market driven prices, and I'm not saying they shouldn't be charging whatever they can get for the game, but they certainly shouldn't be doing it in the way they've gone about it.

If I want to buy a new copy of the game. Fine charge me 90 bucks for it, but don't call it USED, gut the copies, open up my shrink wraps and lie to me about what you're doing. That's trashy business through and though.

Exactly.

The fact that Xenoblade is still (presumably) exclusive to Gamestop makes this even worse. When Gamestop did this exact same thing and sold opened copies of new games so that they could sell them at their higher used price (and these were CONFIRMED reprints like Digital Devil Saga, SMT Nocturne, and Fatal Frame) people could at least choose to buy them from other retailers who actually sold the games still shrinkwrapped and listed as new, like Play-Asia and Amazon. As of right now, there is no option with Xenoblade.

 

[GiantBreadbug]

I think the argument that could be made here is what they are doing is now trying to create artificial demand by making it seem like the supply is still very limited. When obviously something has happened and that isn't the case any longer. Look at the guys Atlanta map. 5,000 people didn't suddenly have a spike in trading in copies of Xenoblade all across the United States.

Clearly, NOA didn't print up enough copies in the first place because they didn't believe the game had any viability. It took the internet like two or three years, some crazy grassroots campaign and even some struggles after a European release to even get Nintendo to talk about the OP Rainfall games. So while this is another problem in itself separate from the issue, needless to say; people shouldn't be paying more than 50 bucks in the first place for it because scarcity wasn't the best business solution for Nintendo in this case. I'm also assuming Nintendo isn't seeing much of that 90 dollar used price, but I have no clue how the inter workings of this went down.

Also don't get me wrong. I'm all for market driven prices, and I'm not saying they shouldn't be charging whatever they can get for the game, but they certainly shouldn't be doing it in the way they've gone about it.

If I want to buy a new copy of the game. Fine charge me 90 bucks for it, but don't call it USED, gut the copies, open up my shrink wraps and lie to me about what you're doing. That's trashy business through and though.

I'm pretty sure "Trashy Business Through and Through" is Gamestop's slogan.

 

[Eusis]

There is: http://monkeypawgames.com/

I kinda wish GOG would get in on the console scene, albeit in a capacity more like Monkey Paw and less like what they actually are on a PC (an online store.) They clearly have a passion for getting a lot of great old games back up that simply wouldn't have shown up without their intervention for the most part, I'd like to see those energies put forth on consoles as well. Perhaps even acting as a liaison between first parties and indie developers too.

Come to think of it, GameStop HAS been offering quite a bit of money for anyone trading in Xenoblade, so it has been bugging me at the back of my head that maybe their high number of used copies is in fact people deciding to trade theirs back in to effectively get all their money back then get something else. Should probably examine just how new those games look, the likes of Fatal Frame or Megami Tensei were QUITE readily apparent as being new copies in contrast to other used games there, it should be the same situation here where it looks more like a game someone just opened and not one that's been sitting on a table for awhile or worse.

 

[Malvingt2]

wow @ the amount of data about the game in the page..

 

[Haines]

Last question.

If the game is as good as everyone claims.

And everyone wants it but, doesnt want to pay 90 bucks.

Why doesnt Nintendo just make more? They want money right?

 

[Syril]

Still despicably selling for $90 but you can take off quite a bit with coupons floating around.

Do you know of any? The best I found was a 16% off that takes it down to $75.

 

[Lemstar]

Do you know of any? The best I found was a 16% off that takes it down to $75.

The "birthday coupon" is 20% off and stacks with the 10% preowned discount from PowerUp Pro.

 

[Isaccard]

lol Scumbag Gamestop

 

[Jotamide]

Last question.

If the game is as good as everyone claims.

And everyone wants it but, doesnt want to pay 90 bucks.

Why doesnt Nintendo just make more? They want money right?

Nintendo? To want money? I don't know what you're smoking son.

 

[Syril]

The "birthday coupon" is 20% off and stacks with the 10% preowned discount from PowerUp Pro.

Looks like the birthday coupon expired 7/31 unfortunately. Is there a more current one?

 

[borghe]

I bought one of these this morning. Thoughts and observations:

A. This is way cheaper than I am going to get an NTSC copy for. Amazon and eBay are both at least $115-115 minimum for used copies. And don't go pulling up auctions or some such from today or the last couple of days. I am saying I have bid on auctions at $80-90 and they almost always end above $120. Amazon hasn't had a complete one for under $125 in a couple of months.

B. the quality of these are "suspect". It may be too conspiracy-laden to call it a reprint, but the copy I got was for all intents and purposes a new copy. I mean NOTHING was touched and the Nintendo Club code was valid.

C. I paid $80 for Chrono Trigger cartridge-only back in the early 00s. I paid $200 for Steel Battalion. Whatever I paid for PS2 Guitar Hero and 360 Rock Band etc. one of these days I'll likely pay $150+ for Panzer Dragoon Saga and one of these days will finish out my NES/SNES/Genesis list (i already finished my Master System one) Lets face it. Even if there's an HD remake, or a download, THIS format/version of the game isn't going to get any cheaper. So whatever.

All in all if you want the game this is the cheapest you'll be able to get a complete copy for. If you want to wait and see if Nintendo does a download or HD version that's sensible. Either way, at least we're not left with a $125+ copy as our only option.

I did use PUR so it was $81. From every avenue I've ever looked at a PAL copy would cost around that after shipping. This way I don't hav to throw GeckoOS on my Wii U to play it.

 

[chaosblade]

Used PAL copies seem to go for a fair bit less than NA copies. I really should get around to selling mine since it's redundant with my NA copy sitting alongside it.

 

[Soup Bar]

If these are reprints, wouldn't this piss off Nintendo if Gamestop was selling these way pass MSRP?

 

[plutoknight]

You know Xenoblade might be worth 90 bucks, but it's not worth supporting one of the worst companies in America, and their crappy practices....

......(Funny enough, there are no copies within 30 miles of me. Probably because the Gamestop just down the road is run by a guy who couldn't care any less about his customers. Probably gave them to his employees as bonus rewards or let them buy it for 49.99 new).

 

[Eusis]

You know Xenoblade might be worth 90 bucks, but it's not worth supporting one of the worst companies in America, and their crappy practices....

......(Funny enough, there are no copies within 30 miles of me. Probably because the Gamestop just down the road is run by a guy who couldn't care any less about his customers. Probably gave them to his employees as bonus rewards or let them buy it for 49.99 new).

I wouldn't go so far as to say they're one of the worst unless you can show something very damning, not with some of these banks and companies like Monsanto around; certainly GameStop can't fuck around with our homes or food. Hell, even among retailers I'll take GameStop over Walmart any day.

 

[Zeyphersan]

I think the argument that could be made here is what they are doing is now trying to create artificial demand by making it seem like the supply is still very limited. When obviously something has happened and that isn't the case any longer. Look at the guys Atlanta map. 5,000 people didn't suddenly have a spike in trading in copies of Xenoblade all across the United States.

Clearly, NOA didn't print up enough copies in the first place because they didn't believe the game had any viability. It took the internet like two or three years, some crazy grassroots campaign and even some struggles after a European release to even get Nintendo to talk about the OP Rainfall games. So while this is another problem in itself separate from the issue, needless to say; people shouldn't be paying more than 50 bucks in the first place for it because scarcity wasn't the best business solution for Nintendo in this case. I'm also assuming Nintendo isn't seeing much of that 90 dollar used price, but I have no clue how the inter workings of this went down.

Also don't get me wrong. I'm all for market driven prices, and I'm not saying they shouldn't be charging whatever they can get for the game, but they certainly shouldn't be doing it in the way they've gone about it.

If I want to buy a new copy of the game. Fine charge me 90 bucks for it, but don't call it USED, gut the copies, open up my shrink wraps and lie to me about what you're doing. That's trashy business through and though.

Apparently you missed some posts in this thread. That's fine, easy to do, but they JUST had a big promotion urging people to trade in their used copies of Xenoblade to prepare for exactly this situation, where they can have a lot of stock on hand and fulfill the demand that was created at the price that they want. I truly don't believe there was a reprint and they are opening them, they just stocked up.

 

[Man God]

These aren't reprints, they probably just had all the stores with new copies and used ones that weren't selling ship them to stores where it was doing well. GS closes and opens stores with an alarming rate so them having a glut of copies somewhere in middle America wouldn't shock me at all.

 

[DarkLegion]

Isn't there a birthday coupon or something to get 20% off? Not too sure if that was cancelled though since people abused it.

 

[perorist]

I feel like there's nothing at all to support the TC's theory that these are reprints. The fact that so many copies suddenly popped up is almost certainly from the big $50 trade in promotion for used copies GS had a while ago. Sure conducting that kind of mass buying and scalping of a rare game might seem sketchy but I don't see anything that suggests they got brand new copies and gutted them all to sell new.

 

[Eusis]

These aren't reprints, they probably just had all the stores with new copies and used ones that weren't selling ship them to stores where it was doing well. GS closes and opens stores with an alarming rate so them having a glut of copies somewhere in middle America wouldn't shock me at all.

Probably why they can be cagey on what games to stock, if they had to only worry about, say, the densely populated costal areas I'm sure they'd be much more willing to take on more niche titles on average. Hell, some people have complained about how much trouble it is to get some niche game at launch, while I recall going to them for those games and getting them just fine, even something like Etrian Odyssey at launch. RE4 was when I had trouble and that was the weekend after launch, more than enough time for people to clean house.

But that's sort of veering in a different direction, even if it highlights part of why situations like this crop up in the first place.

 

[Lemstar]

Looks like the birthday coupon expired 7/31 unfortunately. Is there a more current one?

There's one issued at the beginning of every month that functions for two months. Keep looking.

 

[madp]

Apparently you missed some posts in this thread. That's fine, easy to do, but they JUST had a big promotion urging people to trade in their used copies of Xenoblade to prepare for exactly this situation, where they can have a lot of stock on hand and fulfill the demand that was created at the price that they want. I truly don't believe there was a reprint and they are opening them, they just stocked up.

I'm open to any evidence against a reprint, but I still feel a need to mention that if this was a reprint it wouldn't be the first time that they unsealed/gutted new stock and marked the items as used. Gamestop ordered a reprint for Tales of the Abyss a few years ago where they did exactly this; I recall because that's the one Gamestop reprint that I actually did purchase at the time.

 

[drtomoe123]

I feel like there's nothing at all to support the TC's theory that these are reprints. The fact that so many copies suddenly popped up is almost certainly from the big $50 trade in promotion for used copies GS had a while ago. Sure conducting that kind of mass buying and scalping of a rare game might seem sketchy but I don't see anything that suggests they got brand new copies and gutted them all to sell new.

Aside from the fact that they've done this time and time again with other hard to find titles?

This falls in line with every other reprinted title they've sold in the past. Them selling opened new copies of hard to find titles at used prices is no conspiracy theory; they've done it before.

 

[bigace33]

So anyone who's willing to shell out the dough for an NTSC-U copy of the game (instead of importing a PAL version, or the "yohoho" option) is a "dumbo"?

Anyone willing to take it in the rear for the jacked up price point of $90 is a dumbo in my opinion. Unless they are paying $90 to resale it for $100+ to some other dumbo, then I would say its a smart business move. In other words this game is nowhere near worth the current asking price from GS or private sellers.

 

[Zeyphersan]

I'm open to any evidence against a reprint, but I still feel a need to mention that if this was a reprint it wouldn't be the first time that they unsealed/gutted new stock and marked the items as used. Gamestop ordered a reprint for Tales of the Abyss a few years ago where they did exactly this; I recall because that's the one Gamestop reprint that I actually did purchase at the time.

And I'm open to evidence that they are doing this. I guess the next question is: would Nintendo confirm or deny a reprint if someone emailed them asking?

 

[tiggerkiddo]

Just yesterday there were only 2 within a hundred miles that had a copy...and now every single store seems to have them in. Shame about that price though.

 

[Artorias]

Anyone willing to take it in the rear for the jacked up price point of $90 is a dumbo in my opinion. Unless they are paying $90 to resale it for $100+ to some other dumbo, then I would say its a smart business move. In other words this game is nowhere near worth the current asking price from GS or private sellers.

So paying above MSRP for a game makes you a dumbo, but buying the game, finding a seller, and paying for shipping to make $10 before fees is a smart business move.

 

[plutoknight]

I wouldn't go so far as to say they're one of the worst unless you can show something very damning, not with some of these banks and companies like Monsanto around; certainly GameStop can't fuck around with our homes or food. Hell, even among retailers I'll take GameStop over Walmart any day.

Well, let me amend to "Worst Retailer in the Nation." Yes, worse than Walmart, because at least when I walk into a Walmart, the employees don't treat me like I'm some dumbass frat boy.

Sorry, I've had some horrible, horrible experiences with Gamestops in my local area (If I wanted to drive an hour down the road, the Gamestops there are actually fine, but the experiences here have driven me to just avoid the company altogether).

Apparently you missed some posts in this thread. That's fine, easy to do, but they JUST had a big promotion urging people to trade in their used copies of Xenoblade to prepare for exactly this situation, where they can have a lot of stock on hand and fulfill the demand that was created at the price that they want. I truly don't believe there was a reprint and they are opening them, they just stocked up.

Look, that trade-in offer was cool, but I'm going to imagine that the person who bought Xenoblade is PROBABLY cognizant of the rarity of the game, and wouldn't trade-in their copy for $50 bucks. Especially THAT many copies.

Likewise, I'd imagine a large percentage of previous Xenoblade owners would have redeemed their Club Nintendo points.

Couple that with a company that is notorious for doing this, and I think the OP is right on the money. It may not be a reprint, it could just be extra stock they found, too, but it's one or the other. I don't imagine many people traded that game in for $50 bucks....

If Nintendo re-printed it, wouldn't it be on the Nintendo Store as well?

Because it was also sold on the Nintendo store.

Not necessarily. There have been similar Gamestop-exclusive reprints (someone mentioned Tales of the Abyss earlier), plus Gamestop is the sole-distributor of Xenoblade in Brick/Mortar stores. IT's possible they could have opted to just send the copies to stores to drive traffic into Gamestop (very likely).

 

[Eteric Rice]

If Nintendo re-printed it, wouldn't it be on the Nintendo Store as well?

Because it was also sold on the Nintendo store.

 

[bigace33]

So paying above MSRP for a game makes you a dumbo, but buying the game, finding a seller, and paying for shipping to make $10 before fees is a smart business move.

I just used a $100 as an example, I mean I wasn't getting technical and calculating shipping costs and the whole nine, but yes, I think its stupid. Of course its my own opinion which you can either agree with or ignore.

 

[perorist]

Aside from the fact that they've done this time and time again with other hard to find titles?

This falls in line with every other reprinted title they've sold in the past. Them selling opened new copies of hard to find titles at used prices is no conspiracy theory; they've done it before.

Did they also do a mass buy back deal for used copies at near MSRP right before they did it? I'd like to see some actual evidence for even a single one of these "falling in line with every reprinted title they've sold in the past".

Think about it, back when they did the mass trade in deal at $50, their price for used copies wasn't even near $90. That price change happened only very recently. If they really wanted to take advantage of this pricing and were planning it, they would've have held onto all those copies bought at $50, wait until there's sufficient stock/trade-ins slow down, and then up the price to $90 before setting them all out at once for sale (which is most likely what you're seeing here). They wouldn't be buying at $50 and turning around putting them back on shelves at $60 or whatever the previous inflated price was.

Since GS is THE exclusive retailer for this game, Nintendo would be completely aware of this if it as well, wondering why newly shipped copies are still not showing up. An official reprint would most likely see stock coming back on Nintendo's store too.

You're all wearing tin foil hats I swear.

 

[drtomoe123]

And I'm open to evidence that they are doing this. I guess the next question is: would Nintendo confirm or deny a reprint if someone emailed them asking?

The only way that I could see these copies being from that trade-in promotion would be if every single store that had a copy traded-in shipped the game to some central location, where the games were then shipped out to certain stores.

I have never seen something like this happen with Gamestop unless it has to do with the liquidating of outdated systems (Xbox, Gamecube, GBA, etc).

I'm very open to other theories, but I don't put much stock in the trade-in promotion theory. What's happening with Xenoblade is just too similar to what they've done with plenty of other expensive games in the past.

 

[Crash55118]

Thread was retweeted by Bill Trinen, maybe it signifies a real reprint?

 

[CaptainSlow]

I just checked my local stores online and there are 8 GameStops near me that have the game in stock. I check in frequently just to see if any dumb person traded in a copy. I really don't want to pay eBay and Amazon scalping rates. Last month there were zero stores that had one. I highly doubt that that many people are taking the $50 credit, especially when they could sell it online at over $100.

Do we know how many copies were in the original print run?

 

[Riki]

Thread was retweeted by Bill Trinen, maybe it signifies a real reprint?

Obviously a sign they're doing an HD Remaster for WiiU!

No, but really, I'd suggest buying this game. It's spectacular. Easily the best RPG of the last generation.

 

[kswiston]

These aren't reprints, they probably just had all the stores with new copies and used ones that weren't selling ship them to stores where it was doing well. GS closes and opens stores with an alarming rate so them having a glut of copies somewhere in middle America wouldn't shock me at all.

It wouldn't completely surprise me if Gamestop corporate had stores sit on their remaining stock when it became clear last fall/winter that the game's price was going to skyrocket on the secondary market. While most stores were sold out, Xenoblade wasn't too hard to find last summer. I even saw a couple used copies at Best Buy/Future Shop.

 

[Suite Pee]

I'm too poor to play this game I really want to

 

[Eusis]

Well, let me amend to "Worst Retailer in the Nation." Yes, worse than Walmart, because at least when I walk into a Walmart, the employees don't treat me like I'm some dumbass frat boy.

Sorry, I've had some horrible, horrible experiences with Gamestops in my local area (If I wanted to drive an hour down the road, the Gamestops there are actually fine, but the experiences here have driven me to just avoid the company altogether).

Yeah, it's splitting hairs but it definitely sounds more like GameStop's got the worst staff of a retailer in your area rather than actually being THE worst retailer. Walmart's done so much to cheapen goods and treats their own employees like crap that they'll almost always be ahead for me there when it comes to retailers. If you hate things like holes in cases don't forget it's their push for lighter packaging that helped cause that.

Thread was retweeted by Bill Trinen, maybe it signifies a real reprint?

Or he's laughing at us/using it as ammo for a true reprint. I checked the Nintendo online store and it's not there, if it was I'd consider it a done deal.