What should I look for while in Japan?

drfrielgood

drfrielgood

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Next Sunday I'm leaving for a 3 week trip to Japan. I'm studying abroad with my university, but the stay is going to be very unstructured and I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to go searching for game stuff. So for those of you with some knowledge on the country, I've got a few questions:

Which game systems require modification to play Japanese games? I know that the PSP doesn't, and most consoles do, but I'm just lookiing for an accurate list. I really don't care to mod any of my systems.

For those consoles that do not require a mod, which games would recommend to me? I like pretty much all types of games, though I'm not too big of an RPG player. My favorites are platformers and action titles. I'd like a variety of recommendations though!

Compared to the US, how much can I expect to pay for games in Japan?

Since game soundtracks are virtually non-existent in US stores, are they more widely available in Japan? How much, on average, can I expect to pay? I hope to get a Katamari Damacy soundtrack for less than the $30 I've seen most of them go for on ebay!

Please feel free to share anything else that I should know or any of your personal experiences. Thanks in advance!
 
[quote name='drfrielgood']Next Sunday I'm leaving for a 3 week trip to Japan. I'm studying abroad with my university, but the stay is going to be very unstructured and I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to go searching for game stuff. So for those of you with some knowledge on the country, I've got a few questions:

[quote name='drfrielgood']Which game systems require modification to play Japanese games? I know that the PSP doesn't, and most consoles do, but I'm just lookiing for an accurate list. I really don't care to mod any of my systems.[/quote]

GB, GBA, Nintendo DS, and the PSP do not require mods. Xbox, PS2, and GC do. If you need details on older systems, I can tell you those too, but I'm too lazy to post them if you don't need them... :)

[quote name='drfrielgood']For those consoles that do not require a mod, which games would recommend to me? I like pretty much all types of games, though I'm not too big of an RPG player. My favorites are platformers and action titles. I'd like a variety of recommendations though![/quote]

I can't really recommend anything, but I am sure others can.

[quote name='drfrielgood']Compared to the US, how much can I expect to pay for games in Japan?[/quote]

That's a tough one. Japan's games differ in price. Some places have deals, while others do not. Some are overpriced, and some are cheaper than here. You'll have to look around to figure this out...

[quote name='drfrielgood']Since game soundtracks are virtually non-existent in US stores, are they more widely available in Japan? How much, on average, can I expect to pay? I hope to get a Katamari Damacy soundtrack for less than the $30 I've seen most of them go for on ebay![/quote]

Soundtracks, along with anything game related, are a ton easier to find in Japan than they are here. You shound't have a probelm finding what you are looking for. Again, I don't know how much they cost...

[quote name='drfrielgood']Please feel free to share anything else that I should know or any of your personal experiences. Thanks in advance![/QUOTE]

Have fun! :D
 
Be prepared to spend more money than you are currently planning to. The last time I went over Christmas break, I was surprised to find that the majority of newly released games were more than in the US, even with the exchange rate. And video game merchandise, especially soundtracks, seemed to be considerably more expensive than here. Before buying anything, I would check around on a few import shops and ebay, because surprisingly, you can find offers through them with shipping included cheaper than you can actually buy it in Japan.

I did buy a few video games while I was there, but I think the best things I wasted my money on was toys. I ended up at some toy store in Harajuku, and easily spent $150 on crap that I can't even remember, and is now scattered around my apartment. Just go, look, and if you are in Akihabara, haggle. It is possible to find really good deals, but you just have to do some research before hand.

Hope you enjoy your trip.
 
^_^

I buy Japanese import CDs all the time. Be prepared to pay for $30+ per CD. That's the norm in Japan anyway. If you want it for cheaper, buy it used.
 
If you could find any of the really limited Pinky.st (or pinky.cos) dolls for cheap-ish (less than $35 us dollars a doll, say?) I'd be eternally grateful (and give you cost + 10% + shipping for 'em... especially if you found the German Wing Commander :bouncy: )
 
RAAAAAAAMEN!

OMG, if you eat anything in Japan, eat their RAMEN! And they have to come from the little carts/stalls on the streets. My sensei told me there are Ramen fanatics who will wait in lines around the corner to get some of the really good stuff.

I can't wait till I go myself this summer. Too bad my family and I are going w/ a tour group, but I'll just take an "extended potty break" to do some exploring.
 
first of all some japanese xbox game can be play on American system, like SFAC for example. For game cube all you need is an action replay for $10. If you love platformers and action titles, for gamecube check out the Advanture Island/ Super Bonk remake and maybeDreamMix, the Konami SMBM type game.

I am also leaving the country this summer and here are some of the things that i would look for

1. look for stuff for older generation. You are going to get some Japan only games for very cheap, brand new
2. Personally I would look for music cd (not just video game soundtrack)
3. If you are trying to get new release expect to pay more than you would pay here for a new game.
4. I would also go crazy for toys
 
Japanese animation cels. They are insanely cheap there and should be reasonably easy to transport. I would certaintly be interested in some if you did, especially Nadeisco
 
This isn't so much as what to buy, but a quick way to hopefully make a little bit of extra cash. All over the Tokyo area are these little thrift stores that sell used clothing, as well as buy used clothing. I was bored and wanted to try to find some really odd japanese clothing, so I browsed through one, and was amazed at the prices. These old, very worn looking flanel shirts were going for between $60-80 each. Things that we find very common here, are obviously, not so common over there. Another example of insanely overpriced clothing was Levi's jeans, which went for about $80, and at the time, letterman jackets were the trend, which went for upwards of $300. This got me thinking; if I had the extra space in my luggage, I'd just cram a bag full of old clothes and run down to academy to pick up just some generic flanel shirts, then turn around and resell them in Japan. Keep in mind that your Japanese will have to be somewhat decent to get this to work out, but it's just something I hope to put in action over the summer. Feel free to try it as well if you get a chance, I'm curious what your results might be.

Oh, if for some reason it works, and you find yourself with an excess of monetary funds, coupled with a feeling of extreme gratitude for a certain CAGer that relayed this information to you, I wouldn't turn down an electroplankton poster. Or nintendogs. (hint hint).

Hope you enjoy the trip.
 
You should go to Liberty 6 in Akihabara and stock up on old, used import games. It would be really sweet to pick up a used Japanese Sega Saturn, and tons of games for it. A friend of mine made the trip last summer. I have a Saturn rigged to play imports, and so I sent the most money I could afford to spare with him to buy me games: $40. For my $40, I got 14 games, all in mint condition and complete, and not a bunch of crappy ones, either. :D He knew where to look, and what stores to visit, but he definitely made the most of my money. There IS cheap-ass gaming to be had in Japan, obviously.

Aside from the above suggestion, I could also suggest that you pick up a PC-FX system and a buncha hentai games to go with it, but...um...obviously I can't condone that kind of behavior. *coughcough*
 
[quote name='darkwingduck13']You should go to Liberty 6 in Akihabara and stock up on old, used import games. It would be really sweet to pick up a used Japanese Sega Saturn, and tons of games for it. A friend of mine made the trip last summer. I have a Saturn rigged to play imports, and so I sent the most money I could afford to spare with him to buy me games: $40. For my $40, I got 14 games, all in mint condition and complete, and not a bunch of crappy ones, either. :D He knew where to look, and what stores to visit, but he definitely made the most of my money. There IS cheap-ass gaming to be had in Japan, obviously.

Aside from the above suggestion, I could also suggest that you pick up a PC-FX system and a buncha hentai games to go with it, but...um...obviously I can't condone that kind of behavior. *coughcough*[/QUOTE]

Good suggestions. He should pick up a copy of radiant silvergun for me. :D
 
Space constraints are really going to limit what I can take back with me, unless I choose to ship some stuff home. I'm really not into anime, hentai, any of that, I'll really only be looking for games and game-related collectibles.

I see that the Gamecube needs only the freeloader to play import titles. Are there any similar ways to play import titles on other systems, new and old?

How much would classic Japanese systems go for, such as Famicom and Super Famicom?

Still looking for some specific games I should look out for...
 
[quote name='drfrielgood']Space constraints are really going to limit what I can take back with me, unless I choose to ship some stuff home. I'm really not into anime, hentai, any of that, I'll really only be looking for games and game-related collectibles.

I see that the Gamecube needs only the freeloader to play import titles. Are there any similar ways to play import titles on other systems, new and old?

How much would classic Japanese systems go for, such as Famicom and Super Famicom?

Still looking for some specific games I should look out for...[/QUOTE]

Why not get a box and shipped stuff home? it is actually not that bad.

the only other games thats easy to import is n64/dreamcast (gameshark) GBA/DS and super famicom.

As for system i am sure they are worth the trouble carrying unless you are into collectiing them.

Again games i would look for are: DreamMix TV: World Fighters, Hudson Selection Volume 3/4 (Adventure Island and Bonk remake) for gamecube

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-48-15-DreamMix-70-i0j.html
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-4a-77-2-15-Hudson+Selection+-70-2oo-43-1g.html
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-4a-77-4-15-Hudson+Selection+-70-2op-43-1g.html
 
If you're going to Japan, and all you can think about is games, something is very wrong with you my friend. Two words: Japanese Pussy.
 
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