PlayStation VR Collecting - Part 2: The Software
So many VR games to collect, so little VR time!
In case you missed it, go back and check out Part 1: an Introduction to PlayStation VR Collecting.
Welcome back collectors! In our second part of our PlayStation VR Collecting series, we will be looking at the PlayStation VR software library. With there being over 100 different physical releases in the North American region to collect, there are plenty to choose from!
Let’s talk a little about the North American packaging. The first thing you should note is the ribbon below the PS4 logo. This usually will say one of two things, either “PlayStation VR Game” or “PlayStation VR Mode Included”. The difference here is that the packaging that states “PlayStation VR Game” requires the PS VR peripheral in order to function. The software that states “Mode Included” allow the PlayStation VR headset to be optional, and can be played like a normal PlayStation 4 game on a TV screen. There are also variants of both versions that state “PlayStation VR Game - Jeu” and “PlayStation Mode Inclus” that are seen on some later releases like After the Fall: Front Runner Edition and Disaster Report 4 to cater to French speaking markets.
The second thing you should note is the image that is in the lower right hand corner of most releases. Note that the Tokyo Chronos cover in the image below states “You’ll Need These”, reaffirming that this is definitely a PS VR required game. Polybius on the other hand states “Enhance Your Gameplay with PS VR” which indicates that the PS VR peripheral is optional to play this game. These images also vary, depending on if the PlayStation Move Controllers are required or not.
Some games were re-released with different packaging when VR content was added to the game after the release via downloadable content. This changed the game cover to include the PS VR ribbon and the requirements logo in the lower right hand corner. Two good examples of this are Minecraft and Wipeout Omega Collection.
The other thing to note are the spines. This threw me for a loop when I first started PS VR collecting, scouring the racks of book-shelved games. Not all games that are compatible with PS VR will have the VR headset logo on the spine. This traditionally is true for earlier PS VR releases, and at some point they decided later to add the logo to the spine for all titles, making it easier to identify a PlayStation VR compatible game. Also note in the picture below to the right, the Limited Run Games numbered VR release that starts with “LR-VR##”. This is an exclusive numbering system for all PS VR games published by Limited Run Games.
Now that you know all about the different types of software and variants, where can you find the games? Most of the library was released in a traditional retail setting, although some received limited print runs from companies like Limited Run Games and Perp Games. Obviously anything can be found online through various internet marketplaces, but I highly recommend checking your local independent video game stores first and even your local GameStop. The nice thing about collecting for the PlayStation VR is that many titles are not desired by both standard players and most collectors given the niche market that the PS VR was intended for. This leaves open a great opportunity to collect some excellent titles, some with limited print runs of under 2,000 copies.
Because collecting for this platform is currently under the radar for most collectors, the majority of the 100+ North American releases can be had for under $20. There are some games in the mid-tier of $20-$50, and very few that reach above the $50 mark as of this writing. Want to knock out some heavy hitters? The excellent Job Simulator can usually be had for around $75 used, and the immersive Red Matter hovers around the same price point.
If you have never played any PS VR Games, here are some of my top picks that have been released physically:
Astro Bot Rescue Mission (Platformer)
Concrete Genie (Adventure)
Creed: Rise to Glory (Boxing / Fitness)
Everybody’s Golf VR (Sports)
Firewall Zero Hour (Shooter, works great with the PlayStation Aim Controller)
Fruit Ninja (Arcade Action)
Job Simulator (Simulation)
Moss (Platformer)
No Man’s Sky Beyond (Adventure)
PlayStation VR Worlds (A great sampler of what the PS VR can do)
Quar: Infernal Machines (Turn-Based Strategy)
Sairento VR (Action)
Swordsman VR (Action / Simulator)
Tetris Effect (Puzzle)
Overall the PS VR library can be fun to collect for, featuring all different genres of titles for the platform. With the imminent release of the PS VR 2 system next month, these titles are becoming easy to collect due to them being traded in for upgraded hardware. Where do you stand in your PS VR collecting journey? Let me know! Stay tuned for part 3, where we will examine the different types of PS VR hardware and accessories that exist for your PlayStation virtual reality peripheral!
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