Budokai 3 Greatest Hits, at last available on Amazon?

[Conan the SSJ]

Well, while browsing through Amazon, I decided to check out the Budokai 3 area to give some reading on some of those entertaining-as-hell reviews. To my surprise, though, I see that the cover-art Amazon is sporting is that of the Greatest Hits release. They obviously didn't do this for a while when it was originally released, as Atari had one hell of a confusing distribution going on with this version of the game. Anywho, now that we have the combination of GH cover-art and the price of $20, does that mean Amazon has the "correct" upgraded version of the game? I personally already own the game, so I have no intent or interest in finding out, if any of you guys or ladies do, go for it and let us know what's up.

EDIT: It would seem Atari have gone behind our backs and changed the Greatest Hits case art to the original release, evidently because they were never even selling the actual product. False advertising, anyone? Let us all root Lemmy on as he seeks the best DBZ Ps2 game ever.

2nd EDIT: It would seem Amazon have the Greatest Hits case-art back up, though most definitely still only selling the original release...WTF!?

[Anonymous Friend]

I think the only way to be somewhat sure would be if they showed the disc itself. I actually just found a copy of the game at an EB yesterday. i went in to return Transformers and Nightshade and get a replacement disc for MGS2 Substance when I saw it on the shelf. I had to make sure that they were giving me the correct disc. The regular version has a black half circle-ish bottom and I think the Greatest Hits' is red. Atleast i hope so or when I get the game back from my friend I'm gonna be very upset.

[Li'l Lemmy]

Well, while browsing through Amazon, I decided to check out the Budokai 3 area to give some reading on some of those entertaining-as-hell reviews. To my surprise, though, I see that the cover-art Amazon is sporting is that of the Greatest Hits release. They obviously didn't do this for a while when it was originally released, as Atari had one hell of a confusing distribution going on with this version of the game. Anywho, now that we have the combination of GH cover-art and the price of $20, does that mean Amazon has the "correct" upgraded version of the game? I personally already own the game, so I have no intent or interest in finding out, if any of you guys or ladies do, go for it and let us know what's up.

I stumbled upon this last night while shopping. However, it didn't occur to me that this could in fact be the "correct" version of the game, mainly because I'm just so damned skeptical. So I didn't buy it.

But in order for us to find out, wouldn't a person have to order more than one, given the 50/50 odds if in fact it's a correct advertisement in picture only? Or at least, if multiple people here pick it up and we all get the true version, we can call it a success.

Here, I'll do my part. (*goes through Amazon.com*) There. I've just ordered my copy on a whim, because I have the incomplete version and $20 to blow on the chance this is legit. (I never did find the right shrinkwrap, dammit.) The characters' mouths move on the menus of the version we're looking for-- it's something like that, right?

If I get the right copy, someone else has to order it too to ensure that mine isn't a fluke. If I get the wrong one, well . . . that just kills the whole thing, now doesn't it? But either way, I'll be sure to let eveyone know what happens.

The regular version has a black half circle-ish bottom and I think the Greatest Hits' is red.

Well, my version is black and missing features. I'll get my order in two days, so I'll check for that red/black difference too.


EDIT: Okay, fine. Let's turn this into an all-out experiment. I've amended my order; I'm getting two copies. I'll be amazed if they're both the correct version. We'll see. But if they are, I'd say that's a fair indication . . . though not 100%. Someone else will still need to order from Amazon and receive the right disc also before we can truly recommend them in good conscience.

[Conan the SSJ]

The characters' mounths move on the menus of the version we're looking for, right?

If I get the right copy, someone else has to order it too to ensure that mine isn't a fluke. If I get the wrong one, well . . . that just kills the whole thing, now doesn't it? But either way, I'll be sure to let eveyone know what happens.

The regular version has a black half circle-ish bottom and I think the Greatest Hits' is red.

Well, my version is black and missing features. I'll get my order in two days, so I'll check for that red/black difference too.

The Greatest Hits disc is still black in the background with Yi Xing Long in a faded image, it's just red on the bottom part of the disc to indicate it's the Greatest Hits release, just like any other Greatest Hits game would be. Really the only way to tell if it's the "correct" version, without risking a paranoid memory card mishap, is the mouth-moving of Pan on the Load Screen menu. My editorial reveals all, don't let it let you down.

Mike, I'm still waiting for ya' to include it in your site's editorial section.

[Anonymous Friend]

I just happen to be in Best Buy today and they have 4 copies of the Greatest Hits version. I haven't gotten mine back yet but aleast if the one from EB isn't right all I have to do is take it back and go there.

[Li'l Lemmy]

EDIT: Okay, fine. Let's turn this into an all-out experiment. I've amended my order; I'm getting two copies. I'll be amazed if they're both the correct version. We'll see. But if they are, I'd say that's a fair indication . . . though not 100%. Someone else will still need to order from Amazon and receive the right disc also before we can truly recommend them in good conscience.

All right, then.

My order arrived today. Conan? Assuming that Pan's mouth is the definitive sign (as per your well-worded editorial), then it appears that neither of the two discs I ordered is the correct version; her lips just aren't moving.

And am I missing something here? I don't even have boxes with the Greatest Hits design on them; I have REGULAR Budokai 3. With the copy I already have, this makes me the owner of an unprecedented THREE copies of the original version of Budokai 3 (except that one of them actually looks different from the other two but AGAIN . . . really isn't). Hooray!

Well. Not the end of the world, because I can just have these re-shrinkwrapped and sent back. Or so I thought. So indeed, I went back to the Amazon page to see what issues would be involved in returning these, and you know what? There is no Greatest Hits design anymore; it's reverted straight back to the original Budokai 3. Even Conan's image link has changed.

But it gets better. When I spoke with a representative, I was told that they never carried or even advertised the enhanced version at all!

Bullshit. Conan, you SAW the same design I did. Right? I'm not crazy.

So then I spoke with a second representative, who was somewhat more helpful and rather shamelessly candid. Putting up the Greatest Hits design was apparently some sort of tactic to unload their last copies of the game despite not actually having this version in stock; they want to shift their focus to the Tenkaichi games and the next-generation systems, and games like Budokai 3 are taking up space. (How, I must wonder? It's an infinite Internet warehouse.) But Amazon has already received several complaints similar to mine, he says. I imagine this is why there's no hint on the site that Greatest Hits was ever offered.

Which means, I'm told, that I'm stuck with these; "if it's not performing any differently from another copy of the same game or otherwise malfunctioning," then their responsibilities in their capacity as a merchant have apparently finished; I can't return the game simply because I'm "dissatisfied with how it plays".

Not that he wasn't polite about it. Amazon's official story, according to this man, is that different covers were essentially the same game and that no harm was done, so of course it doesn't count as false advertising or open any avenues for me to cite bad business practices. What a surprise.

But if that's true, then why did they switch back the designs so quickly?

F%ck.

[fps_anth]

lol, that really sucks Lemmy. But I have a question. Why don't you just pick up Budokai 3 Greatest Hits at Best Buy or EB Games? Almost every single store that has PS2 games has B3 Greatest's hits. I purchased the fixed version from Best Buy. And I live in Canada! Maybe the stores near you don't have them?

[Li'l Lemmy]

Oh, I'm sure I have those stores near me . . . in fact, I know I do. But how do I know they even have the proper version of Budokai 3 Greatest Hits?

Tell me about your experiences. Did the shrinkwrap theory work after all?

[kvon]

Oh, I'm sure I have those stores near me . . . in fact, I know I do. But how do I know they even have the proper version of Budokai 3 Greatest Hits?

Tell me about your experiences. Did the shrinkwrap theory work after all?

I didn't rely on the theory. I just bought it from the ZStore on my first try, and boy was I lucky.

During my stay at California though, I had searched my nearest stores including EB Games, Game Stop, Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart, and no sign of it! So if any of the stores above just so happens to have it right NOW, I wouldn't trust them. Amazon is just way too generic for you to be looking for a game as specific as Budokai 3 Greatest Hits.

Edit- And since ZStore is sort of a DBZ Specialist Store, I trust them with this game.

[Conan the SSJ]

My order arrived today. Conan? Assuming that Pan's mouth is the definitive sign (as per your well-worded editorial), then it appears that neither of the two discs I ordered is the correct version; her lips just aren't moving.

And am I missing something here? I don't even have boxes with the Greatest Hits design on them; I have REGULAR Budokai 3. With the copy I already have, this makes me the owner of an unprecedented THREE copies of the original version of Budokai 3 (except that one of them actually looks different from the other two but AGAIN . . . really isn't). Hooray!

Well. Not the end of the world, because I can just have these re-shrinkwrapped and sent back. Or so I thought. So indeed, I went back to the Amazon page to see what issues would be involved in returning these, and you know what? There is no Greatest Hits design anymore; it's reverted straight back to the original Budokai 3. Even Conan's image link has changed.

But it gets better. When I spoke with a representative, I was told that they never carried or even advertised the enhanced version at all!

Bullshit. Conan, you SAW the same design I did. Right? I'm not crazy.

So then I spoke with a second representative, who was somewhat more helpful and rather shamelessly candid. Putting up the Greatest Hits design was apparently some sort of tactic to unload their last copies of the game despite not actually having this version in stock; they want to shift their focus to the Tenkaichi games and the next-generation systems, and games like Budokai 3 are taking up space. (How, I must wonder? It's an infinite Internet warehouse.) But Amazon has already received several complaints similar to mine, he says. I imagine this is why there's no hint on the site that Greatest Hits was ever offered.

Which means, I'm told, that I'm stuck with these; "if it's not performing any differently from another copy of the same game or otherwise malfunctioning," then their responsibilities in their capacity as a merchant have apparently finished; I can't return the game simply because I'm "dissatisfied with how it plays".

Not that he wasn't polite about it. Amazon's official story, according to this man, is that different covers were essentially the same game and that no harm was done, so of course it doesn't count as false advertising or open any avenues for me to cite bad business practices. What a surprise.

But if that's true, then why did they switch back the designs so quickly?

F%ck.

I don't know what the hell happened. Yes, Lemmy, I saw the exact same design for the Greatest Hits case art, and why everyone at Amazon except that second representative are denying even putting up the GH case-art, well I'm sure they'll find themselves denying having Shin Budokai/Sparking! NEO screen-caps next to the case-art link as well. Possibly it was a publicity stunt on their part, false advertising though, because you now have two extra copies of the same game you never wanted. I'd say threaten legal action, but only because I'm pissed that Amazon in their professional selves would pull some BS like this. Well, maybe if you try the Z Store, according to our fellow purchaser kvon, he got the real deal and the correct disc on his first purchase.

I'm sorry I ever started this topic, but hey, now I've made Amazon look like ignorant, greedy jack-off people.

Oh, I'm sure I have those stores near me . . . in fact, I know I do. But how do I know they even have the proper version of Budokai 3 Greatest Hits?

Tell me about your experiences. Did the shrink-wrap theory work after all?

Yes, in fact I've literally bought 3 copies of Budokai 3 Greatest Hits in shrink-wrap form, one being my personal copy and the other two I've given to fellow members as birthday gifts. I know from experience. If Best Buy has any shrink-wrap copies, get it, it IS the correct release. If it isn't, I'll personally send ya' back $20 for that one.

[Li'l Lemmy]

I don't know what the hell happened.

That makes two of us.

Yes, Lemmy, I saw the exact same design for the Greatest Hits case art, and why everyone at Amazon except that second representative are denying even putting up the GH case-art, well I'm sure they'll find themselves denying having Shin Budokai/Sparking! NEO screen-caps next to the case-art link as well. Possibly it was a publicity stunt on their part, false advertising though, because you now have two extra copies of the same game you never wanted.

Eh, I'll find something to do with them. I suppose I could try to sell one and try to get some money back, and then keep the other in case this particular version becomes valuable one day. And the third one-- the one I already had to begin with-- could just end up being the one that I actually play.

I'd say threaten legal action, but only because I'm pissed that Amazon in their professional selves would pull some BS like this. Well, maybe if you try the Z Store, according to our fellow purchaser kvon, he got the real deal and the correct disc on his first purchase.

I'm surprised, as well. I've shopped at Amazon for years and never had a problem like this, or any problem at all. But while I could be angry, I suppose I should just count myself lucky that I was able to get some semblance of truth and honesty from the one person instead of obsessing for the next few weeks over how this happened and how many hostages to take.

I'm sorry I ever started this topic, but hey, now I've made Amazon look like ignorant, greedy jack-off people.

Don't be. It was as much me as you. I really only had to get one copy, but I took the risk and ordered two. Besides, if I didn't try, then I'm pretty sure at least one other person here would have . . . and I'd rather it have been me with money I had to spare than someone else taking a chance with funds that could be going to rent or the utilities-- and you know that this isn't a far fetch; we've ALL spent money on DragonBall that we shouldn't have at one time or another.

Yes, in fact I've literally bought 3 copies of Budokai 3 Greatest Hits in shrink-wrap form, one being my personal copy and the other two I've given to fellow members as birthday gifts. I know from experience. If Best Buy has any shrink-wrap copies, get it, it IS the correct release. If it isn't, I'll personally send ya' back $20 for that one.

Ha! Don't worry, Conan, I'm not gonna hold you to that one.

But oddly enough, I'll take your advice once again. I know you mean well. I really do want to see what all the fuss is about, and if you say you've bought three copies from one store then that fills me with more than enough confidence to head to my nearest Best Buy and give it a go.

Let's see what happens!


EDIT: No! No! No!

No f%cking way! The image and page design on Amazon have returned to the Greatest Hits version again!

[rant]What the hell is this about? Bad enough that I was told they never had it despite that they in fact advertised it, which I've made peace with, but now they're advertising it AGAIN?! Almost as if if they're saying, "Okay, he's gone now; put the sign back up."

(Please, someone tell me that they saw the box art change from Greatest Hits to the original Budokai 3 after I pointed it out last night. That it really did change to BEGIN with!)

Wow, I'm pissed. And usually takes a lot more for me to get like this. But y'know, I just can't believe what I'm seeing! So badly do I want to turn around and say that I'm done with this, that it's over no matter what shit they're doing over there . . . but dammit, I'm going to harrass them right now and get me some damn answers. 'Cause NOW I feel like I've been played.[/rant]

Damn f%cking son of a bitch mother-f%cking shit-munchers-- (trails off into various other worse expletives)

[Conan the SSJ]

No f%cking way! The image and page design on Amazon have returned to the Greatest Hits version again!

[rant]What the hell is this about? Bad enough that I was told they never had it despite that they in fact advertised it, which I've made peace with, but now they're advertising it AGAIN?! Almost as if if they're saying, "Okay, he's gone now; put the sign back up."

(Please, someone tell me that they saw the box art change from Greatest Hits to the original Budokai 3 after I pointed it out last night. That it really did change to BEGIN with!)

Wow, I'm pissed. And usually takes a lot more for me to get like this. But y'know, I just can't believe what I'm seeing! So badly do I want to turn around and say that I'm done with this, that it's over no matter what shit they're doing over there . . . but dammit, I'm going to harrass them right now and get me some damn answers. 'Cause NOW I feel like I've been played.[/rant]

Damn f%cking son of a bitch mother-f%cking shit-munchers-- (trails off into various other worse expletives)

I'm officially as confused as the next person.

Well, this time I got proof they've had the thing up there...and as of this post, it's back up.

Lemmy, no more tries at Amazon. Best Buy or Z Store, dude.

PROOF:

[Conan the SSJ]

Sorry if this bump is inappropriate, just thought I should bring this topic back up for the moment. Any luck with the game, Lemmy?

[Anonymous Friend]

I just got mine back from my friend (as well as BT2) and mine does work properly but I can't seem to use my Gameshark or Codebreaker with it. I like using the all capsules use one slot code and have my breakthrough Vegeta have his Majin upgrade, and Freeza and Coola characters have their cyber/meta change.

[Kula]

Li'l Lemmy, I don't know how trading laws work where you are, but in the UK we have a little thing called the trade descriptions act...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_Descriptions_Act

If a product is not suitable for the use it was advertised for, the seller is required by law to give you a refund.

[Akira]

Hey guys, it was me who originally noticed the shrinkwrap differences on Budokai 3 Greatest Hits copies.

I also work at Best Buy and have kept tabs on all the restocks of the game we have recieved. Based on the handful of copies I purchased as I developed my theory (which proved to be correct almost everywhere by the way), I have talked to customers and friend who have purchased the game in more recent months based on my recomendation.

Here's what I now know:

-Any copy that has the old style label on the top that says the name of the game that you have to peel off is a misprint original version in the GH Special Edition packaging. These also have standard fold up tougher plastic wrapping. Avoid these.

-Any copy that has the soft plastic shrink wrap that is sealed at the edges without a top label is most definately a Special Edition copy of the game almost without a doubt.

-Recent shipments are all correct copies, but have the original Plastic wrap style again. (I think the variation on this previously was due to them being opened at Atari and the discs replaced with the correct ones during the fiasco back at the start of 2006, and resealed with the softer stuff.) These have no top label, and are what is widely available now in stores.

Your chances should be much greater now than those of us who paved the way and found the varianaces back at the beginning of the year. If you get a bad one, just return it and get another one. Just say it didn't work properly. Don't explain why you are returning it, just get another disc and try that one. Most of the misprint ones whould be gone by now anyway in most areas.

Good luck guys, Let me know if you have any questions.