A special question on Vampire Chronicle (Darkstalkers for Dreamcast).

Hi! I have a Dreamcast related question. As far as I have searched before I got the idea that some "matching service" games could only be purchased through SegaDirect, an online Sega store in Japan that sold limited editions, merchandise and other stuff, maybe I'm wrong with this and I could bet on it because I never lived in Japan or asked someone directly about this topic.

Also, there are "Sample" versions of games, these come with a sticker on the front of the manual with the word "sample" in upper case and don't include a spine card even if they're factory sealed, I know these are the equivalent of "Not for sale" samples that were sent to stores to be on displays or kiosks, but instead of being limited demos like the "Tentou taikenban" versions of games, the "Sample" versions are the full games, just in slightly different packaging.

Anyway, some of you may know the game Vampire Chronicle for Matching Service, or Darkstalkers to those not so familiar with the title, I recently acquired something that I don't see very often. A "Sample" of a "Matching Service" game, if what I mentioned before is true and A+B=C. Could it mean that I have copy that was meant to be in stores from a game that was never directly sold in stores outside of Sega?

If you could enlight me on the subject I would be very grateful. Also happy that the site is back online, cheers!

 

Do you have a picture? Would be cool to see.

 

I owned a couple of games with the "Sample" sticker and print in the past. I thought that they were (also) handed out as review copies.

 

They're in the main post now. So, does anybody knows something about this? My main questions are: 1) Did Matching Service games were sold in stores outside of Sega Direct during their prime time? 2) How rare would be the Sample version of Vampire Chronicle?