What makes an AES cart rare?

Is it the amount of copies produced? The time they were produced? The actual quality of the game? The artwork on the inserts and manuals? I've pondered these questions for quite some time now, but have found no logical conclusion. Also, why is Samurai Shodown 2 so cheap when most Neo fans consider it one of the best, if not the best, fighter for the system? Come on in and let's talk a while about the value of AES carts.

Most rare games are considered as such due to their limited supply. However, there are some distortions like the collector market and distribution region.
The supply, demand and price of Neo Geo really has three phases:

"The Future is Now" 1990-1994
After the first batch of games it was pretty apparent that the Neo Geo was no Super Grafx. The Neo Geo peaked with Fatal Fury Special and Samurai Spirits II (more than likly about 1 was produced for every system I think...just my theory of course).

"The Future is CD" 1995-1999
SNK shifts much of its efforts in the direction of CD gaming, hence the cartrige format is scaled back and released in limited quantities--possibly as a way to absorb excess MVS stock. However, the series fighters are still quite popular: KOFs, Fatal Furys, et al. and are still released in sizable quantities.

"The Future is Nostalgia" 2000-Present
SNK drops support for the CD format. 2d gaming has a dramatcially scaled back presence in the home console format, resulting in nostalgia for the past. People who wanted a Neo Geo back when "The Future Is Now" now have jobs. Games are still produced in limited supplies, but demand has increased. The casual gamers who bought the system and games (AOF 2, FFSP, SSII, etc.) when it was the hot item are now liquidating causing the availability for the common Neo Geo games to increase, and result in lower prices. Many the hard core gamers who intensly collected the Neo Geo games released throughout the "Future Is CD" period are keeping the games in their collections and distorting the availablility of these titles from uncommon to rare or very rare (i.e. Magical Drop 2, Overtop, Quiz Chibi).

Carlson

The price of a Neo game , never reflects the quality of the game .

Fatal Fury Special $45

Legend of success Joe $180

Its just that some games are harder to find so the price goes up ,

Thanks for the responses guys! Your explanation was exactly what I was looking for 16-bit.

Top analysis Carlson, couldn't of said it better myself

Other determinants of whether a cart is rare are:

Whether they've been signed by Dion
Whether they've been stamped by Dion
Whether they've been touched by Dion
Whether they've been up Dion's arse
Whether they've been looked at by Dion
Whether they're encrusted in diamonds
Whether they're gold plated or not
Whether or not NSX-T say's they're rare

<img src="graemlins/loco.gif" border="0" alt="[Loco]" /> <img src="graemlins/loco.gif" border="0" alt="[Loco]" /> <img src="graemlins/loco.gif" border="0" alt="[Loco]" />

Actually, Tarma's idea isn't too far off. I think that when a collector tries to promote a game as rare it becomes "rare"; or when two desperate collectors start a private little bidding war on an item, it becomes rare. Look at Twinkle Star Sprites. Why is it more rare than ShinOhKen? Who knows, seeing as how carts have been becoming rare out of nowhere, ShinOhKen might be worth $1000 next year. All it takes is one fool to spend over $1000 on that piece of shit. The price list will get updated, the japanese will see the changes, the collectors will see the changes, and then ... Another piece of shit that people start to like for the price tag.

I like Quiz Chibi Maruko since I bought it for $400.

It is a super funny game.

Carlson (16-bit) is a excellent seller and pretty knowledgeable about Neo scene.

I have no question about his theory.

But a lot of not-so-rare games become "rare" is because of those fuckin so-called collectors.

"oh yeah, it's rare"
"Not really. I dont' think so"

"I've seen this title on Ebay over $$"
"Oh, really? Nah....."

"It's fuckin rare now. I'm willing to pay $$$ for that game. PM me and payment is on your way"
"??? WTF....??? Is it that rare?"

"Guys, I've seen couple Ebay auctions of that game ended up with $$$. I have this game also. Make me an offer"
"Shit.....I'd better start getting this title before it's too late"

This is what happens to Neo scene most of time.

Nothing is rare if there is no demand for it. For example, KofF2000 US.

The Most Wanted Game on Neo-Geo is an EUR/US "Kizuna Encounter aka S.T.B", it´s worth more than $2000,00+++, but that game don´t make more fun than FFS for $35,00 IMO!!!
Even an US MotW is just worth 1/3 of that price, and definately the BEST FiGHTER yet!!!
So i´m always wondering, why KE-STB is that worth??? Another good example is MS1, i prefer the third part of the series and i also like MSX more than the first two parts.
But that´s just my opinion...

Chris, Super Tag Battle is da bomb - one of the best fighters on the Neo and the VERY VERY FIRST
one which ever introduced real tag (not KoF style) fighting - therefore alone it`s a legendary game.

It's rare when dumbass's put stuff like, "I will buy your Metal Slug US for $2000 shipped" in their sigs. <img src="graemlins/tickled.gif" border="0" alt="[Tickled]" />

The Price Guide -No factual initial release #'s or whereabouts of copies in existence.
Ebay -shills paradise
Conversions -alot of good carts have been sacced
throughout the years.
NGF -Freaked Merchandise destroys authenticity and lowers value.

-BB