History KeepCirculatingTheTapes / VideoGames

* Virtually every Starfy game except for The Legendary Starfy - none of these games have been released in Europe or the U.S.

** All ''HarvestMoon'' games before ''Friends of Mineral Town'' generally count as this, especially the ''Game Boy'' and ''Color'' ones. As said the original SNES game is one of the rarest titles for the console (it rivals ''{{Earthbound}}''), but has gotten a Virtual Console release.

** All ''HarvestMoon'' games before ''Friends of Mineral Town'' generally count as this, especially the ''Game Boy'' and ''Color'' ones. The original SNES game is one of the rarest titles for the console, but has gotten a Virtual Console release.

** All ''HarvestMoon'' games before ''Friends of Mineral Town'' generally count as this, especially the ''Game Boy'' and ''Color'' ones. The original SNES game is one of the rarest titles for the console, but has gotten a Virtual Console release.

*** Tell that to SEGA. Sonic CD was originally supposed to be on the Sonic Mega Collection, but due to emulation problems (I.E. tossing out the original schematics and design documents for the Mega/SEGA CD AS WELL AS somehow losing the original game's source code) ultimately, it was not include. The version on Gems Collection is a hack of the PC version, made to run on the Gamecube under a PC emulator, if memory serves me correctly. This is noticeable in how the debug menu works, and the water in Tidal Tempest being clear (PCs of the era had issues emulating the water effects, so it was scrapped.)

* Any DataEast game that wasn't rereleased on ''Data East Arcade Classics'', including ''Night Slashers'', ''Midnight Resistance''(the sequel to ''HeavyBarrel''), and ''Vapor Trail''. Many of these weren't ported to consoles either, so they can only be played through illegal emulation.

* The ''OgreBattle'' series has never received a re-release, and is nigh-impossible to find without having to resort to emulation. Most game stores (that do so) don't allow you to trade for it specifically ''because'' it's so rare and has never received a rerelease? (Although ''TacticsOgre'' is getting a remake for the PSP)

* I ''dare'' you to find most ''OgreBattle'' games without having to resort to Emulation. Come on...I dare you. Did I mention that CrackIsCheaper, and that most game stores (That do so) don't allow you to trade for it specifically ''because'' it's so rare and has never received a rerelease? (Although ''TacticsOgre'' is getting a remake for the PSP)
** Does it count the same if there's an official release? Namely, only ''The Knight of Lodis'' and ''Legend of the Zenobia Prince'' for GameBoy Advance and Neo Geo Pocket Color can't be had on current consoles. The SuperNintendo and Nintendo64 entries are both on [[{{Wii}} Virtual Console]] now,

* Virtually every Starfy game except for The Legendary Starfy. This troper even has a petition to try to get the other 4 released in Europe and America, but it hasn't had any success so far.

** Are you sure it's not gonna get released due to the last of a first production...or due to the name? Think about it for a second.

* It's nigh impossible to get a physical copy of LSDDreamEmulator. It was only released in Japan, but even there a copy of the game will go for the yen equivalent of about $500. It did get released as a PSOne Classic on the Japanese PlayStation Network in August 2010, but it's unlikely it'll ever get released on the American store since it wasn't released in the US the first time around. The dream journal the game was based on (Lovely Sweet Dream) and the soundtrack (LSD & Remixes) that came with the special edition of the game are even harder to get a hold of since only about 50 copies were made. Also, there was another CD, Lucy in the Sky with Dynamites, wich was basically like supplemental soundtrack featuring different mixes of the songs that was also released only in Japan. However, as you can guess, you can download the game, the two [=CDs=], and scans of the dream journal online. I don't know that the developer, Asmik Ace, cares so much about it since they don't even list the game on their website.

* It's nigh impossible to get a physical copy of LSDDreamEmulator. It was only released in Japan, but even there a copy of the game will go for the yen equivalent of about $500. It did get released as a PSOne Classic on the Japanese PlayStation Network in August 2010, but it's unlikely it'll ever get released on the American store since it wasn't released in the US the first time around. The dream journal the game was based on (Lovely Sweet Dream) and the soundtrack (LSD & Remixes) that came with the special edition of the game are even harder to get a hold of since only about 50 copies were made. Also, there was another CD, Lucy in the Sky with Dynamites, wich was basically like supplemental soundtrack featuring different mixes of the songs that was also released only in Japan. However, as you can guess, you can download the game, the two CDs, and scans of the dream journal online. I don't know that the developer, Asmik Ace, cares so much about it since they don't even list the game on their website.

* It's nigh impossible to get a physical copy of LSDDreamEmulator. It was only released in Japan, but even there a copy of the game will go for the yen equivalent of about $500. It did get released as a PSOne Classic on the Japanese PlayStation Network in August 2010, but it's unlikely it'll ever get released on the American store. The dream journal the game was based on (Lovely Sweet Dream) and the soundtrack (LSD & Remixes) that came with the special edition of the game are even harder to get a hold of since only about 50 copies were made. Also, there was another CD, Lucy in the Sky with Dynamites, released only in Japan that was basically like supplemental soundtrack featuring different mixes of the songs. However, as you can guess, you can download the game, the two CDs, and scans of the dream journal online. I don't know that the developer, Asmik Ace, cares so much about it since they don't even list the game on their website.

* Any DataEast game that wasn't rereleased on ''Data East Arcade Classics'', including ''Night Slashers'', ''Midnight Resistance''(the sequel to ''HeavyBarrel''), and ''Vapor Trail''. Many of these weren't ported to consoles either, so they can only be played through illegal emulation.

** ''Freddi Fish'', ''Pajama Sam'', and ''Spy Fox'' on the Wii are no longer available, because Majesco used ScummVM (without complying with the GPL) [[IdiotProgramming and didn't bother fixing well-known errors in the rendering]].

** ''Freddi Fish'', ''Pajama Sam'', and ''Spy Fox'' on the Wii are no longer available, because Majesco used ScummVM (without complying with the GPL) [[TooDumbToLive and didn't bother fixing well-known errors in the rendering]].

* Due to being produced and owned by G-Mode or other separate companies, ''The Cliffhanger'', ''Hippodrome'', the ''Vapor Trail'' trilogy, ''Double Wings'', and ''Night Slashers'' were not included on the ''Data East Arcade Classics'' compilation, nor was ''Midnight Resistance''. Many of these weren't ported to consoles either, so they can only be played through illegal emulation.

* Due to being produced and owned by G-Mode, ''The Cliffhanger'', ''Hippodrome'', the ''Vapor Trail'' trilogy, ''Double Wings'', and ''Night Slashers'' were not included on the ''Data East Arcade Classics'' compilation. Many of these weren't ported to consoles either, so they can only be played through illegal emulation.

** There was a LEGAL reprint of the game, BUT it comes without a serial number. FAIL! Granted, you could Google the game and find one, but still, it would save people a lot of work if they bothered to include the serial number.

* The VHS promotional tapes given out to NintendoPower subscribers in the mid-1990s. The tapes promoted the Nintendo 64 and games like ''Donkey Kong Country'', ''Star Fox 64'', ''Diddy Kong Racing'', ''Banjo-Kazooie'', and ''Pokémon'', as well as gave interesting behind-the-scenes looks at the making of these games. With the advent of DVD, the practice simply stopped after one release advertising the GameCube, and the tapes are now highly valued by collectors and traders.

** [[IKnewIt Well, not only there IS going to be a 3DS VirtualConsole...]] [[AndTheFandomRejoice but Game Boy emulation is its exact purpose, too!]]

* The GameBoy ''Game/MegaMan'' (''Rockman World'') series, including the well-regarded 5th game. A Game Boy Advance version of ''Mega Man Anniversary Collection'' was planned, but cancelled. Plus, you're out of luck if you don't own a [=GBASP=] or earlier (or a Game Boy Player for the GameCube), as Nintendo handhelds from the DS onwards ditched classic Game Boy support.[[hottip:*:(Yes, the Game Boy Micro removed it first, but who the hell remembers ''that''?)]] Just hope for a release on the {{Nintendo 3DS}} Virtual Console...

** Notable aversion: ''Data East Arcade Classics'' for the Wii.

** The same applies to its sequel ''System Shock 2''. Hailed as a cult classic years after its release. Has topped various "best-of" game lists by Gamespot, PC Gamer, IGN and several more. Still has mods released years after it was made (to the point of a fansite, Sshock2.com, garnering contributions from the game's composer, Eric Brosius). Created SpiritualSuccessor games in the form of ''{{Bioshock}}'' and ''DeadSpace''. Also unavailable, despite EA renewing the ''SystemShock'' trademark in 2006.

** The same applies to the direct sequel to ''SystemShock''.

* The same applies to the sequel to ''SystemShock'' and ''ThiefTheDarkProject.''
** All of the Thief games are actually available on amazon.