Update: Just as a quick reminder, pre-orders for the physical edition of Bridge Constructor Portal are now open. You can grab a copy here if you're interested.
Original Article (Thu 7th Nov, 2019 11:00 GMT): Despite the Nintendo Switch indie scene being more than covered by the numerous physical, limited run websites that have popped up in recent times, we have yet another one to keep an eye on. Introducing Gamefairy.
Joining the likes of Limited Run Games, Strictly Limited Games, Signature Edition Games, and Super Rare Games (phew!), Gamefairy "strives to bring outstanding games by independent teams to a physical existence as high quality limited editions, going an extra mile to differentiate the boxed editions from their pure digital form". At first, these websites were a dream come true for collectors, but we can't imagine what it's like for the poor souls who were intending to secure a full set of Switch releases.
Gamefairy will be kicking things off with a Collector's Edition of Bridge Constructor Portal, exclusively for Nintendo Switch. It'll be limited to just 3,000 copies and will include the following:
- A physical copy of Bridge Constructor Portal for Nintendo Switch
- The Nintendo Switch orginal game case with reversible cover art Inlay
- A high quality Collector's Box
- Three gorgeous Bridge Constructor Portal fridge magnets
- Two beautiful printed art cards
- An individually numbered Buyer's Certificate
- Gamefairy Collector's Stamp #001
As you can see, pre-orders will be going live on 13th November, with pricing set at $39.99. The store also features some other goodies ahead of its first limited release.
Do you collect limited run physical releases? Will you be keeping an eye on Gamefairy's physical products? Tell us below.
Comments 33
I was partially hooked into the Limited game release race picking up every game I conceivably felt I’d want to own and play. Recently though this has changed as it’s frankly gone too far with excessively expensive collectors editions and physical releases of a plethora of titles that honestly aren’t all that sought after. It’s all driven by FOMO. I’ve started to just bite the bullet and accept there are those I would like to have owned but now will not.
I’ve only bought a couple Limited Run releases, those being Thumper PS4 and Outlast Bundle of Terror.
I’m just desperately waiting for them to release physical copies of Switch games that they partnered with to release them on PS4. Gimme Astebreed. Gimme Plague Road. Gimme Kero Blaster. Don’t gimme what looks like a mediocre at best Jumanji game.
In the sad times (IMO) of digitally only the more Limited Run sites the better.
Companies like these have ruined game collecting. They take advantage of people who feel the need to have to own every single game, and if they miss out on a release? They end up stuck having to pay more than double for these things. I would rather support EA over companies like these any day.
"Joning the likes of Limited Run Games, Strictly Limited Games, Signature Edition Games, and Super Rare Games (phew!)".
You forgot Special Reserve Games and Red Art Games.
Be wary, there have been a couple of instances of fraudulent Nintendo Switch physical game publishers.
Warned Collectors have never fulfilled any of their orders and are ghosting people who try contacting them about their orders or payment disputes.
Although Game Fairy looks more legitimate as they appear to be expanding into game publishing from previous merch.
@Sawdy
Can't forget First Press Games and Play-asia's PLAY Exclusives published by Eastasiasoft.
@Emob oof. you got drive by downvoted by some idiot who cant handle the truth
I'm a huge collector of physical @RupeeClock and have bought and received games from every publisher you and @Sawdy mentioned except warned collectors. In short could you tell us the names of other fraudulent sites/Companies so we don't get burned.
@CurryPowderKeg79
I've bought from them as well.
It's just Warned Collector's specifically that appears to have been fraudulent, not the others I mentioned.
There was also an "Ultra Rare Games" that popped up on Twitter, but never launched a site or anything.
Thanks for the heads up @RupeeClock.
Gamefairy has been around the convention scene for years. They're certainly more legitimate than Warned Collectors, Ultra Rare Games, Hidden Gems, or any of the other collector scam businesses. That aside, I believe we're up to about twenty of these boutique publishers now.
Someone needs to do the goose game.
Good for them, bad for our wallets
@RupeeClock Never bought from First Press before but I'll add them to the list. Love Play Asia though. Have the Oniken + Odallus collection and have Ghost Blade preordered.
@CurryPowderKeg79 Never heard of Warned Collectors but now I'll avoid.
Not really that interested unless they have some major games which I think will be hard for them as the market is getting crowded. I have bought several games from LRG and SRG without too much of a problem but I haven't tried keeping up since these games get very expensive quickly and many of them have digital versions $10 or less. So far I've been double dipping on a few titles that I feel like I would want to play again down the road. Special Reserve is another one I've used and they have been good too.
@Emob Absolutely. This cancer begun with the Vita but at least there they could justify it because Vita games had almost zero retail presence and people wanted to get some of the games one way or another (and by the end of it too a lot of physical Vita stuff was just crap that people bought because hey, physical). Now the exact same disease has spread on the Switch even though its retail offerings are hundreds and widely available. Let's not even get to the fact that they also make money on shipping, which many do not seem to realize (plus, the majority of games they publish are just trash)
@gortsi Exactly, another reason why this model worked with Vita is because the storage issue. Small and expensive proprietary memory cards makes physical releases easier to sell. At this point however, it's just getting out of hand.
I only like Super Rare Games, they actually have most games ready to be shipped when you buy them. I have waited months for games from LRG due to their process.
@Pablo17
Super Rare Games process is higher risk, as they need to secure capital from sales to fund the production of the next line.
Limited Run Games process is lower risk, as they are securing the funds to manufacture the amount demanded.
@FX102A “I was partially hooked into the Limited game release race picking up every game I conceivably felt I’d want to own and play”
I understand your FOMO point since I fell for it for a while with a few PS4 games, but why would you feel this way if you only bought games you did want to own?
Lately I am doing just that, and only for switch games that allow an open preorder (not click-camping PS4 games ever again). I don’t care for the expensive collector editions, IMO, they are there only for the super fans of particular games.
That being said, I do feel a lot of these services are indeed manipulating collectors and FOMO instincts. Anyone that even thinks they want a Console X “complete collection” sometime in the future and attempting to build towards it is being basically strong-armed into these limited supply releases, and it sucks. It’s very likely going to be detrimental to the collector space, and I see some of these crash-and-burning in the near future. Sadly some of these are damned resilient by virtue of taking money up-front and only manufacturing the pre-prefers copies. They face very low risk.
What I really would love to see is a “manufacture on demand” service, maybe provided by Nintendo themselves. Let’s say Capcom don’t want to release collection X on cart, then don’t and just offer it digitally but let Nintendo manufacture on-demand copies, at the customers expense.
I just want to collect the classics / my favorites in physical form, not to collect obscure titles like this unfortunately.
These are all games that are completely better off buying digitally.
@FX102A With me it's the whole idea of it period. Most these games I bought digitally for 20+ dollars less digitally. As a collector I started calling bs on these physical releases.
Limited editions +
Limited money =
Limited interest
@Tharsman Mainly cos there are games I definitely want to own physically; games I’d like to own physically and games I may want to own physically but yet to actually play them, but if I don’t buy I loose out and pay inflated prices.
@Emob Come on man, be sensible. There cannot be too many people wanting to own every game. And anyone who can afford that isn't really in any need of sympathy lmao!
I would like to buy a physical copy, but the price seems steep compared to the $8 sale on the eShop. I don't really need/want any of the bonus items.
It’s bizarre people would pretty much spit in the face of these companies simply because they don’t cater to this insane less than 1% of the market that feel like they’re on some mission from god or something to collect every single video game ever. No one’s strong arming you into buying their products. You have a collecting sickness.
@Dirty0814 Yeah for the vast majority of these games I just download them because it usually costs less than half as much to get them digitally. The only time I ever consider these worthwhile is when it's a game that I really like/want that takes up a lot of space. Even then I am not willing to spend too much. I have only bought two games like this so far.
@Emob noone has ever collected every game.
Gosh darn it! I just bought the digital copy a few hours ago before this article was posted... is currently on sale in the eShop for 50% off so i gave in, wish i known about this sooner...
@Dirty0814 wrong.
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