[Not for Sale ]

8.1 Hibaihin.

These games are marked "Not for Sale" and the most notable game under this category is Darius Alpha.

Fig. 8.1 Darius Alpha (picture taken from a recent Yahoo auction.)

Only a few years back a complete version (i.e. card, box and instruction manual) would have set one back US$250 or so. Now, you won't even be able to buy the bare hucard for that sort of money. Recently in Japan a complete version can command a price of between 80000Yen up to 110000Yen and that doesn't even include the letter that it came with!!!!!

Recall prices in Akihabara (notably Trader) is around the 40000Yen mark I think still and I have yet to see a copy on sale 'complete' with letter. Now I really envy those who bought it a few years back when it was in abundance in Akihabara.

Next up is the equally hard if not harder to find item for Darius.... the 3D specs.
I have only ever seen another one on George Palamara's page but since he has been abducted by aliens and his page no longer exists, here is a picture of the specs in cruddy cardboard + transparent cheapo cover. The specs reads "Sony Handicam" which makes it a non-true PC-Engine product. Someone might have found it funny to add a Darius sticker with the words Hibaihin but I wouldn't mind adding this to my collection.