PS2 Sample /Loaner Games

[fcgamer | 5,128]

I found this while out and about today, initially I wasn't going to pick it up until I noticed the sticker on the back.

Anyone else see any of these before? Are they hard to find or fairly common?

[DreamCuPS | 32]

I can't comment on its rarity, but Id like to ask you: what game is that?

[Hybrid | 450]

It's called Venus and Braves 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Venus-and-Braves-PlayStation-2-Japanese-GAME-For-Japan-PS2-Only/313052186860?hash=item48e35d48ec:g:HTUAAOSwKpdekrLN

[spacepup | 2,564]

I've come across several of these (from Japanese outlets, don't see them often here).   They are usually retail copies of the game (with the data matching the retail release), but with a sticker over the barcode.  Some of them (most of them in Japan anyway) also have "sample" or "loaned" on the inner ring of the disc.  I have a handful of them.  They are definitely more limited than standard retail releases.  Here are some examples (these aren't mine. First is PS2, second is PS1)

 

[fcgamer | 5,128]

@spacepup : Yeah mine got the sample loaned printing in the ring too, didn't notice it until now! Thanks!

[thiagogbastos | 1]

On 4/19/2020 at 3:20 PM, spacepup said:

I've come across several of these (from Japanese outlets, don't see them often here).   They are usually retail copies of the game (with the data matching the retail release), but with a sticker over the barcode.  Some of them (most of them in Japan anyway) also have "sample" or "loaned" on the inner ring of the disc.  I have a handful of them.  They are definitely more limited than standard retail releases.  Here are some examples (these aren't mine. First is PS2, second is PS1)

 

@spacepupIs there a way to track the origin of this game?
I have Soul Calibur II and III with this label and engraving on the disc ring.
And do you know if they are really rarer? What is the print run limit for these copies?

[spacepup | 2,564]

39 minutes ago, thiagogbastos said:

@spacepupIs there a way to track the origin of this game?
I have Soul Calibur II and III with this label and engraving on the disc ring.
And do you know if they are really rarer? What is the print run limit for these copies?

I'm not aware of any meaningful way to actually trace the origin of any particular sample.

As for rarity (and I'm not speaking about value, only technical rarity) - they are objectively more rare than standard retail copies.  Think about how many standard retail copies of Soul Calibur III there are out there.  I do not know how many sample copies were sent out, but it is FAR less than retail.  As for the print run limit, I have no idea.  I assume there is some meaning to the code on the sticker, but I have not been able to ascertain specifics.

As for value / worth, it's hard to say.  For many of mine, I haven't paid that much different from a standard retail copy, probably because in nearly all cases I've seen, they aren't prerelease copies - as in the data is typically the same bit for bit to a retail copy of the game.  Some people will certainly try to inflate the value of them and make them seem more special.  And to some degree, they are I suppose.

They are definitely interesting pieces, and I have several of them myself.  I know a few collectors who specifically prefer them over retail or look for them, but I wouldn't say it is a huge market per se.

[thiagogbastos | 1]

On 12/2/2024 at 1:24 PM, spacepup said:

I'm not aware of any meaningful way to actually trace the origin of any particular sample.

As for rarity (and I'm not speaking about value, only technical rarity) - they are objectively more rare than standard retail copies.  Think about how many standard retail copies of Soul Calibur III there are out there.  I do not know how many sample copies were sent out, but it is FAR less than retail.  As for the print run limit, I have no idea.  I assume there is some meaning to the code on the sticker, but I have not been able to ascertain specifics.

As for value / worth, it's hard to say.  For many of mine, I haven't paid that much different from a standard retail copy, probably because in nearly all cases I've seen, they aren't prerelease copies - as in the data is typically the same bit for bit to a retail copy of the game.  Some people will certainly try to inflate the value of them and make them seem more special.  And to some degree, they are I suppose.

They are definitely interesting pieces, and I have several of them myself.  I know a few collectors who specifically prefer them over retail or look for them, but I wouldn't say it is a huge market per se.

I agree with you about these copies being rarer than the retail games.

I would like more information, it's a shame that there is so little about these copies on the internet.

I'm from Brazil, here the original games were financially inaccessible (piracy was the norm). So even the collection community is small.

I managed to get these copies by importing them. It would be great to find the first game in this series, at least to close a trilogy. Both are recorded with "Sample . Loaned"

Thank you for your response to my question.

Edited December 4, 2024 by thiagogbastos