Final Fantasy 8 has gone down in history as a pillar of the Final Fantasy franchise, meaning it constantly has the potential to end up back in the spotlight. Unlike its iconic predecessor, Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy 8 did not end up becoming the spearhead of a new blockbuster sub-franchise. However, many fans still feel strongly about the game, to the point that one fan posted about finding a receipt from when the game was first purchased.
In the story of Final Fantasy 8, gamers take on the role of Squall Leonhart, a teenage SEED--a paramilitary operative trained in the art of weapons and magic. Although Squall is introduced as a standoffish loner, it soon becomes clear that he has deep connections with a variety of other young SEED operatives. As a new threat looms over the present, past, and future, it's up to Squall and his team to save the world from a threat they thought was nothing but a myth.
Redditor Snoodlewonker shared a photograph of an antique receipt saved from when their father first bought a copy of Final Fantasy 8 all the way back in 1999. The receipt appears to have several German words noted down in blue pen--possibly a grocery list or notes to self--but the printed text is still clear. Apparently, their father bought his copy of the game at a price of about 100 Deutsche Marks.
Found the old receipt from when my dad bought Final Fantasy 8 in ‘99! 100 Deutschmarks! (Around 76 USD adjusted for inflation) from FinalFantasy
Snoodlewonker stated in the accompanying text that 100 Deutsche Marks would be about $76 USD, adjusted for inflation. This may seem like a high price to some, especially since Final Fantasy 8 can currently be bought on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile for an MSRP of just $19.99 USD. However, it should be noted that plenty of big-budget modern console games cost around $70 USD, and the upcoming PC port of Final Fantasy 7 Remake appears to be no exception.
As of writing, it appears that other Final Fantasy 8 fans are intrigued by the receipt and the information it contains. One user stated that the German release must have been overpriced, only for Snoodlewonker to explain that without adjusting for inflation, the game would have cost about $54 USD. This led the user to report that the German release was actually cheaper than the American copy of the game they bought. Several other users declared that the game was worth the price. It's unclear how or why the receipt was preserved in such good condition for over 20 years.
Final Fantasy 8 is available now on mobile version both in the AppStore and the iStore, as well as on PC, PS1, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.