Hunting for rare albums resumed.

Idolores wrote:

Thanks for reminding me to revisit Powerdolls.

Rarest albums I own are Baroque OST (for the original game) and Racing Lagoon.

You're welcome. So, all this time, you've known about Power Dolls and never told me?

The difference between your rare albums and mine is that you probably purchased them before they became rare. If you tried to buy Racing Lagoon now, it would be slightly painful. I'm not happy about the high prices I pay, but if there were another way, then I would do it. I trade and share often, but there are quite a few albums that I have to (or want to) get as a physical release. I would've loved to save the money I spent on Shin MD and traded instead, but no one (I know of) has it. Every other album I have acquired recently, with the exception of Gungriffon, has been less than 7,000 yen. Several albums that I thought would be financially disastrous were the equivalent of pocket change.

I've been interested in getting Racing Lagoon for many years now (since 2004 maybe?). Due to the game's lack of success and Japan-only residence, I estimate Square Enix's label has not seen it fit to reprint it like almost every other DigiCube release. It's sad. This soundtrack is a true gem, nearly impossible to find on the resell market and of utmost value, a defining reflection of Eguchi/Matsueda's talent.

I always hoped for a smooth jazz-fusion arrangement since they teased us with the few live tracks on the discs. Oh, the lost potential...

Pedrith wrote:

I'm trying to find the Mermaid Scar soundtrack at a reasonable price but with no luck.  Does anybody have any leads?  Please note I do speak or read Japanese.

Thanks,

David

Best bet is to regularly patrol Yahoo Japan Auctions and get a Shopping Mall Japan account. Since eBay is laden with bootlegs and unreasonable buy-it-nows, you'll never come across anything without non-negotiable greed heads (like champs_des_pins) In recent years, YJA has become the same bastion for auctions that won't move for prices asked.

SMJ will typically ride your price up to nearly double with fees and shipping, but if you're looking for rarities, it's the proven way and still beats eBay. I recently reactivated my account and found something I let slip over a year ago but for everything I own(ed) that's rare, it's typically been from keeping bookmarks of things you want from YJA and checking often.

Holy Jesus, I had no idea Racing Lagoon had become so rare.

I sold that album to ... I think Dragon God? A long long time ago. For a cheap price, I think. And then he gifted it back to me during one of his first VGM reductions. Which was very kind of him.

And now I'm like ... whoa. I can't believe that.

It's certainly a good album, arguably Matsueda's best work. But those Amazon JP prices are INSANE.

Guess I'll be holding on to that. I assume the price will go down if S-E does a reprint.

As for rare-album hunting on my part, I'm nearing the end of a "complete Cave" collection. I have a very specific purpose in mind for it. Other than educating myself on this great collection of soundtracks, that is. You'll all hear about it in a few months.

The albums I'm still missing are Akai Katana OST and "Shin Arrange" albums, 2 of the 3 iPhone soundtracks (Deathsmiles and Dodonpachi), Muchimuchipork, and Muchimuchipork/PinkSweets W. And friggin' "Mushihimesama 1.5 Cave Festival" album. That thing is annoyingly hard to find.

Jodo -- glad you discovered Power Doll. That's fun music right there. Saitoh-san does good work.

avatar! wrote:

People are entitled to ask whatever price they want for a soundtrack. If it's out of print, and very hard to find, I don't see why people bitch when the price is high. If you feel it's too high, just don't purchase it! If there are a number of these soundtracks available, then clearly the overpriced ones will not sell. On the other hand, if it's a soundtrack that almost never shows up, a "high price" may be legitimate. I don't purchase that many rare soundtracks, but I have in the past, and I paid a premium because they are super hard to find. I feel that people are often cheap, and frankly you get what you pay for. That said, I'm not saying there are no "rip-offs" on ebay, since there are plenty, but again I don't feel that applies to very rare soundtracks, especially when there's only one available. Also, as I noted, I've purchased from champs_des_pins a number of times and have always been happy.

People are also entitled to judge the market realistically and champs's prices are consistently among the worst around. I have seen him constantly throw $50-$60 pricetags on CD's that you can't give away on these boards. VGM albums by nature are rare and it is like he just arbitrarily throws insane prices on everything he sells (offhand, I can't think of a super-rare album he has sold, as I haven't looked in awhile). The sad thing is, he's one of the only consistent sellers of VGM on ebay. In most cases, I'm perfectly content living without knowing what is on a CD with a jacked up price. Unless I know it's either the quality of a Phantasy Star Collection or Game Music Graffiti or even Estpolis Biographies (three of the more traditional high-pricetag albums), it's best just to move on.

But yeah...champ and his prices can go suck the big one.

vert1 wrote:

I am gonna have to add some of these albums to the rarest and most expensive vgmdb thread. I knew about Power Dolls way before I started collecting vgm through Secret Squirrels' Slightlydark website. Never did get around to listening to the third ost though.

For those hunting for the rare Fuujin Ryouiki Eretzvaju Original Soundtrack it is now available for quite cheap on Amazon Japan.

I'm hunting for Sweet Home soundtrack and Overblood soundtrack.

I remember purchasing Sweet Home before 2005. The price wasn't that bad, perhaps $40. But now.

Ramza wrote:

And friggin' "Mushihimesama 1.5 Cave Festival" album. That thing is annoyingly hard to find.

Jodo -- glad you discovered Power Doll. That's fun music right there. Saitoh-san does good work.

You're right. I just checked YJA, AMZ JP, and Suruga-ya for that Festival album, with no luck. I found large amounts of the Mushihimesama Double Arrange album, though. I had no idea it was that common and cheap. I don't need the original, but it would sure look cool on display.

The song "Alternative Walls" from Power Dolls is one of those deeply penetrating songs. I feel like it has become a part of my brain.

As I said, if Champs overcharges for all his items, no one will purchase. Clearly, people are purchasing. Maybe not a lot, but then again video game soundtracks have always been a niche market. If you consider his prices too high, just don't bid. I don't think however it's fair to say this his prices are ridiculous. That's my opinion. What I consider ridiculous is $20,000 for Zelda Twilight Symphony:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Legend-of-Zelda … 0833195459

By the way, check out the seller's other items. Not surprisingly, it doesn't appear that he/she has sold a single item...

Champ's prices are a premium on those too lazy to search elsewhere or who are too new to the community to have learned all the tricks others use for getting a good deal. I too call BS because most of his prices are inflated to include the ebay, paypal, and exchange rate variation so that he doesn't lose money and still makes a large profit. Also, I've seen albums sit for months at a relatively fair price and the moment the album becomes out of print he doubles the price on its next relisting. His prices on doujin items are the only fair listings as they are as expensive as any other method usable to buy them.

On the flipside, sometimes he sits on albums for so long that he forgets to keep up with the market rate and that's how I was able to obtain Live Music by Piano and Strings: Sekaiju no MeiQ I & II Super Arrange Version for $40 well after being OOP and reaching $100+ listing prices everywhere else. So it can also be a matter of timing.

GoldfishX wrote:

People are also entitled to judge the market realistically and champs's prices are consistently among the worst around. I have seen him constantly throw $50-$60 pricetags on CD's that you can't give away on these boards. VGM albums by nature are rare and it is like he just arbitrarily throws insane prices on everything he sells (offhand, I can't think of a super-rare album he has sold, as I haven't looked in awhile). The sad thing is, he's one of the only consistent sellers of VGM on ebay. In most cases, I'm perfectly content living without knowing what is on a CD with a jacked up price. Unless I know it's either the quality of a Phantasy Star Collection or Game Music Graffiti or even Estpolis Biographies (three of the more traditional high-pricetag albums), it's best just to move on.

But yeah...champ and his prices can go suck the big one.

It's because of this post that Soundtrack Central needs a "Like" button.

I remember seeing the Gradius Gaiden soundtrack on his eBay page for like $249...Yeah f'n right...! It's rare but hardly a quote/unquote collector's item. You might as well buy The Gradius Ultimate Collection. At least then, you'll have everything, including Gaiden.

nothing beats the time a decade ago that Jodo & I mutually agreed not to get into an ebay bidding war over the Lagoon ost.
we would have easily sent in into the 100s, but we just agreed to send the other person a copy,, and i got it for $35

now ebay blocks bidder names to prevent communication. eat balls ebay

VGM albums by nature are rare and it is like he just arbitrarily throws insane prices on everything he sells.