I've been thinking about this since I saw it and I'd like to propose that the up to six player co-op proposed here is actually fully contained within the confines of the multiplayer mode. I'm thinking it'll be something along the lines of Mercenaries, which would be a pretty cool thing.
So in short, the up to six player co-op won't be in the main quest, but in an extraneous mode.
I don't think there's any surefire way, as publishers don't often disclose how large of a run they are going to do, nor what the current demand is. With some of Nintendo's more limited releases, they've indicated as such ahead of release (Super Mario All-Stars, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Zelda w/ Gold Remote).
There are a few methodologies you can employ:
1). Who is the publisher and how big are they? If they are a small publisher (like Atlus, or NIS, or XSEED) the run is likely to be small. The more niche the title, the smaller the run.
2). How did the last game in the series do? If it sold poorly and is still being published despite low sales numbers, it's likely the publisher is going to do a small run to avoid over stock and buy backs. Dragon Quest V (DS) fell victim to this.
3). What's the genre of the game? If it's something Japanese, it's probably getting a small run - those types of games don't do well in America these days.
4) .Where is the game available at release? If you can't find it at the big stores like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, it's probably a limited production.
With all of this, it's worth keeping in mind that just because something has a limited run that it won't get cheaper and still be easy to find down the road. Stuff like Spyborgs had a very limited run, but sold so poorly that it was easy to track down for years after its release (I just got a copy a few months back).
If you do think a game is going to get a limited run, it's important to keep a very close eye on it. Sites like Cheap Ass Gamer do a great job of tracking game prices and you should use them to your benefit. You can definitely get rare games at cheap prices if you are vigilent about tracking them from the point they hit the market.
Hope this helps - I do have some experience with this. Oh, also of merit - check your local Gamestop, especially during Buy 2 Get 1 sales. You'd be surprised how often you can find these rarer games in phenomenal condition way down the line on the cheap. People who buy those types of games tend to keep them in tip top shape, for whatever reason.
Amen to that. Eff the eco boxes, they are only benefitting the publishers.
You'd be surprised how often the codes aren't redeemed in used games. Not saying it's a definite, but based on the quality of the box and the inserts you can usually make an educated guess on when a code hasn't been touched.
I don't have time right now to reply to all of this. I will quickly state that I never felt I was owed anything for the price drop. I understand why Nintendo dropped the price of the system, but the crux of the problem is that Nintendo publicly stated their intentions of scalping the consumer.
In any event, it's not just one thing individually. Essentially the entire culmination of the situation from the rushed release of the system, to the crappy launch line up, to the knowingly overpriced hardware, to the poor release schedule (up until recently), all paint a picture of a really mismanaged product. I understand the intention of the Ambassador program, and while I think it's easy to praise Nintendo for doing it, I don't think that it makes up for the disaster the 3DS has been up until now. Nintendo gave us an unfinished product and then cut the price when they actually had the thing fully implemented. You can give me whatever you want, but it doesn't make up for what I consider gross mistreatment of your customers. I think it stings that much worse because this is not the way Nintendo has operated in any recent memory. Maybe back in the NES days, but not in the modern landscape.
As for Twisted Metal - while I may have missed the limited run stuff, I can almost promise you'll be able to find games in that run on store shelves after price drops happen. But all of that is irrelevant - it's something that's known up front, so you as a consumer can make an informed decision on whether or not that bonus is worth adopting early. If I were to get the game anyway, I think it's a neat bonus. My excitement is mostly derived from the fact that when I invariably find the game on the used game rack or in the bargain bin, there's a good chance I'll be getting an extra free game without needing to adopt early. That's the Cheap Ass Gamer in me.
If anyone is interested, a wrote up a quick blog on the bills and the blackout in particular.
I don't know if it was originally, but it is on the iPhone/iPad. As you mention, it's better suited for that platform and for that audience.
To an extent, I think I see your point, but at the same time I feel like buying a system is like signing an invisible contract. Historically, it's a couple years (or more) before a price drop happens. So part of that investment is an assumption that you're willing to pay more if your alternative is waiting years before you can get it at a cheaper price.
Typically, most hardware manufacturers have lived by this contract, but Nintendo threw it out the window. While I totally agree that the consumer made a conscious decision to purchase at full retail price, they may have done it on the pretense that they were adopting early to avoid waiting years to play new games.
I understand your point, but I actually bought a 3DS for the site. I didn't feel the price was fair, just that it was a necessary expense. Had I not been running this site, I would not have bought the 3DS at launch. I probably still wouldn't have one at this point. I'm a very frugal gamer and though my game collection is enormous, I rarely pay much (less than 5-10 dollars) for anything I buy.
Under any other circumstances, I'd agree with your viewpoint, but I think this is a special case.
Also, I don't think Nintendo had to do anything and quite frankly, I don't care that they did. It changes absolutely nothing for me as a consumer and I would've harbored the same frustration no matter their actions with such a drastic price cut.
Yeah, I don't understand this limit either. It's such a short demo (though a good one), there's no reason to impose any limitation. While no one will likely exceed the limit found here, at face value, it's just a negative thing to see.
Hearing about the 3 use limit is insane - that's a bad idea no matter how you slice it. If you ask me they are defeating the whole purpose behind a demo.
