Why do you import?

[G-Boobie]

I'm pretty new to the import scene. My list of non-US NTSC games is VERY short, but I find myself trolling Play Asia and similar sites(along of course with Ebay)looking for exotic and interesting games to buy. Now, to be clear, I speak no japanese. I have NO idea what's going on in these games when I play them, but for some reason it doesnt impact my enjoyment of them.

So my question is, why do YOU import games? Do you enjoy the novelty and difference in culture? Do you speak the language? Are you a general collector or videogame scholar?

As an aside, I think that the PSP being region free has the (admittedly small)potential to break imports into a much larger percentage of the gaming populace; it could be interesting to see what makes people want imported games in the first place.

G-Boobie, out

[GaijinPunch]

So my question is, why do YOU import games?

I simply do not like western games. I play one from time to time, but nothing more. Once a year or so.

[Aussie2B]

Yeah, most Western games don't appeal to me either, although I'm usually perfectly happy to play the localizations of Japanese games.

I import basically because I don't see the sense in limiting myself. If I hear about a great game, I will see to it that I get it, unless there's some extreme factor that prevents me. I'm not the type to just say "Oh, shucks, it only came out of Japan" and then pretend as if the game never existed.

I import for other reasons now and then too. I'm a huge, crazy fan of tri-Ace, so I get their games as soon as they come out in Japan, even though most get US releases later on. I just don't want to wait for a US release, and considering how some of the localizations for those games have gone, I honestly don't trust the US versions to do justice to the original work. In the case of Star Ocean 3, not only did the Japanese version come out LONG before the US localization, but when it did finally get a US release, they butchered it by changing the names of almost everything in the game (people, places, items, you name it) and that really annoys me. There are few things that irk me more than an arrogant localizer that takes liberties with a Japanese game and changes things willy-nilly for no rhyme or reason just because he thinks his ideas are worth more than those of the people who actually created the game.

[smork]

Yeah, most Western games don't appeal to me either, although I'm usually perfectly happy to play the localizations of Japanese games.

I import basically because I don't see the sense in limiting myself. If I hear about a great game, I will see to it that I get it, unless there's some extreme factor that prevents me. I'm not the type to just say "Oh, shucks, it only came out of Japan" and then pretend as if the game never existed.

I import for other reasons now and then too. I'm a huge, crazy fan of tri-Ace, so I get their games as soon as they come out in Japan, even though most get US releases later on. I just don't want to wait for a US release, and considering how some of the localizations for those games have gone, I honestly don't trust the US versions to do justice to the original work. In the case of Star Ocean 3, not only did the Japanese version come out LONG before the US localization, but when it did finally get a US release, they butchered it by changing the names of almost everything in the game (people, places, items, you name it) and that really annoys me. There are few things that irk me more than an arrogant localizer that takes liberties with a Japanese game and changes things willy-nilly for no rhyme or reason just because he thinks his ideas are worth more than those of the people who actually created the game.

What she said.

I like quite a few Western games, but I definitely prefer the Japanese style of games. All my recent consoles are NTSC/J anyway, so there's not any region issues. Basically, I buy what I like, no matter where it's from. But if you want to play, say, shooters then Japanese games are where it's at.

[Windy Miller]

For me, importing includes US games which I buy because they're nearly always out earlier in the US than the UK & cheaper. The Japanese games that I import are mainly puzzle type games that will never see the light of day in the West & can be played fairly easily without knowing the language. One of my favourite UK Magazines (NGamer) also does at least 5 import reviews per month which fuels my interest in the import scene.

[Drag0nsfyre]

Pretty much my response is the same as others for the most part. :) I also like japanese culture etc. I have had an interest in japan (culture etc) since the 4th grade. I'm 35 now and I still have the same interest. Although I never was able to get around to take a class in learning japanese I'm slowly starting to teach myself.
My import gaming experience started after joining DP and finding out how easy it was to play imports on my newly aquired Saturn at the time. So out of curiosity I picked up a a new ARP+ that I found on Ebay for $15 I picked up a few obscure interesting looking titles and a few shmups and had a blast. That pretty much hooked me on imports. I did some more research and found out about a ton of cool looking games that never saw the light of day here in the States. I now am able to play imports through my SNES, Saturn, Dreamcast ( GBA and DS of course) and now I just imported a White PS2 to check out some of the more modern japanese game offerings.

Welcome to the import scene and I hope you continue to enjoy it. :D

[RoyalShin]

Most people in America ( mostly the whites ) will say that all the imaginary and make belief stuff comes from the Irish. ANother thing is that we in the west is more about commercialing items then making a better product.

When Japanese makes games for one thing the graphics are representive anime like ( game art ) but when westernser makes games we try to go beyond representation.

Like in Gun Hazard, Commando, Castlevania, they use small little sprites and gives us an idea of the characters using cut scenes or showing detailed anime pictures stil trapped in representation form.

However in most USA games we barely use representation and thus the games are less appealing when viewed. Most US games have big sprites showing diffrences of body shape and texture ( like in most fighting games ) .

Lastly USA if not the entire western world is about looking good and never really being good at all. Like for example Urban Freestyle Soccer ( or that sapposive gang soccer game where you can hit apponents ) failed when they use stereotypes in the game that you could not verify or find in real life.

Rather then Cyber football or even any of the RiverCity Sport games was just regular Soccor and you could smack the living daylights out of people and it was funny.

I taking up arts and advertisments and I have to hear these people sound evil all time talking about how it does not have to be good but just look good. That is why people tend to import games.

Also it feels really great to see and hear the game run on the real hardware then emulating it on a PDA or home PC.

I officially could careless about the Wii or X-box 360 but maybe the PS3. The only games I play now is on the SNES and Saturn.

While I know owning a controller for the PC and Winamp pretty much defeats the purpose of that can you name a perfect Sega Saturn Emulator?

[RadiantSvgun]

Because I'm a fan of Arcade games. Enough said.

[Apollo]

I find that there are too many series that never reach America. Usually, I'll find a translation guide on gamefaqs or something and use that.

Mainly, i do it for the Mother series, though. it's a shame Mother 3 never came out in the US.

[8Ways2Tuesday]

I tend to accidentally end up as a fan of series that never make it to the US, like Angelique (which I discovered at a convention where someone showed a fansubbed Angelique OVA) or just a partially-localized series (Star Ocean, for example, or Suikoden, or Tales). I like filling in the blanks.

[G-Boobie]

Excellent answers and thank you.

Sorry; I don't know any good Saturn emulators; MAME for the 2D fighters obviously, but getting a PC to think its running a Saturn isnt easy (because of the data allocation and weird ass 2 CPU layout of the Saturn) regardless of the horsepower differential... Maybe now that duo and quad core processors are becoming more prevalent someone will do something about it.

I picked up an ST Cart for a US Saturn, so that's one problem solved, anyway.

[Drag0nsfyre]

I picked up an ST Cart for a US Saturn, so that's one problem solved, anyway.

The only prob you might have is with games that require 1-4 meg memory. I think there is a swap out trick but I'm not sure. It will certainly get you started in Saturn importing though :)

[Hwj_Chim]

I love 2D fighters and shumps and you just don't get these any more in america.

[8Ways2Tuesday]

G-Boobie, as far as the PSP being region-free... Well, I know that's sold a ton of European English copies of Tales of Eternia and Breath of Fire III to people in North America, but I'm not sure about breaking the language barrier.

The DS, on the other hand, prompted even selected Gamestops to carry some of the all-Japanese JUMP magazine fighting games. So if any system is going to spark interest in importing for casual gamers, I'd put my money on the DS at this point.

(What part of Michigan? *waves*)

[fahlim003]

It's not as much the fact I specifically get imports, rather I get whatever game I like in it's best form. Be it import, domestic or whatever version is availible only I'll get it. As it turns out many of the better versions or solely availible versions are Import and that's that.

[TurboGenesis]

I import games that are not come out in the USA. Otherwise how do I play it.

Sorry I am USA person and and speak English so I cannot get past language barrier.

If game comes out in USA I get that version.

I could really care less about box art and packaging sorry. It is cool when packaging is nice in Working Designs/Atlus sense but I really choose to play my games.

In the end I am USA born my mother reminds me that I should be happy and fortunate to be in USA (its better than Vietnam right?)
So I have been brought up to appreciate it in the USA and I support USA localizations sorry.

SO in conclusion, I import games when there is no alternative. I am a games player and some games I play were only realized in Japan so I get Japan games.

[segagamer]

I import games because for whatever reason, there are games that did not get released in the US that I have an interest in playing. Othertimes, I have bought import games already released in the US due to changes that should not have been made in the first place.

[Sailorneorune]

I import to get some of the games that never came here at all (Pulseman), got a decent release here (X-Men vs. Street Fighter), or for which the import is not as insanely expensive as the US version (haven't really found one that matches this criteria yet -- some people might put Marvel vs. Capcom 2 into this category).

My most expensive import is definitely Pulseman, but it gets lots of love and a permanent place in my Nomad.

[Tron 2.0]

Simple to play games that are not released here.

That's all for me any ways.

[lkermel]

I personally like japanese games, they are the only ones that really 'light my gaming fire'. They are the ones who often try new game concepts or mix existing ones together. I'm bored by all the FPS shoot-alikes and tasteless franchises released in the west. I also like the quality of the japanese game's art-work and character designs. All in all, I'd sometimes buy a japanese game in the US if it's been imported/translated, but I'd usually rather go for the original if I have the choice (they also happen to be cheaper !).

[ssjlance]

I import mainly because I have always been interested in Japanese culture. Also, I buy any import game I can find at flea markets (which I have found two ofm thus far) and ones I really want off of eBay. Another reason is because games come out there first most of the time, and a lot of real gems never make it overseas.

[Iron Draggon]

I import mainly because I don't want to miss out on all the great games that should've been released here in the US, but never were... so most of my import collection consists of sequels to games that were released here, but for some strange reason we never got the sequels... and it really sucks in some cases, because I have the sequel, but I have no idea what it's really all about, because it's all in Japanese, and I don't know how to read Japanese... but at least I have the games... so if I ever learn how to read Japanese, I'll finally know what the hell all of those mysterious games are really all about...

it started when I learned the unbelievable news that Thunder Force 5 would not be released for the Saturn here in the US... that was such a slap in the face to all of Sega's loyal followers that I simply couldn't continue to pretend that none of the great games not released here didn't really exist anymore... if they would not give us our Thunder Force 5, then I would simply have to import it, as there was no way in hell that I was going to miss out on that one... so of course that led me to purchase alot of other great games that never got released here, and I'm still fully infected with import fever now, and I always will be... and of course it helps alot that I too have always been very interested in and fascinated with Asian culture, so it makes alot of sense for me to combine two of my biggest passions by importing alot of video games from Japan... it's the next best thing to getting to go there...

[PapaStu]

I import because there is no Mushiking love here in America. That and Konami is stupid when it comes to the Bemania line.

[The 1 2 P]

I love playing thru my favorite games in Japanese. It's like a whole new experience. But then I also like playing import games that never come out in the US.

[tritium]

Lots of reasons. My JP Copies of Sonic Adventure 2 (which ironically has an english option) and Soulcalibur were under $20 combined. Sonic Adventure 2 us i've never seen under $25 by itself.

There is also the issue of great titles that never make it stateside, or are released in japan for dreamcast, but in the us only for ps2 or xbox (ie: ikaruga, Shenmue 2, Evil Twin, etc) I'd rathre have dreamcast versions.

Last but not least, coolness factor. It just looks cool to bringout versions fo the game none of your friends even know how to acquire.

[otaku]

I import mostly for games that never came to the states or if the Japanese copy is cheaper

[josekortez]

I import because a lot of the good games especially classic compilations never come to States or they don't come fully intact. Well, that's why I started anyway...

[kazuo]

I started importing because I wanted four characters at the same time with zero loading at my house.

God, I love XMvSF on Saturn. Soo awesome, and it was worth the $75 to make Sony fanboys cry.

Those were the days...

[Sailorneorune]

I know I posted in this thread before, but I have more reasons why it's good to import:

Sakura Wars -- Sega's incredible turn-based strategy/dating sim. Not released here due to retarded management. Anime and manga available in the US.


Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland -- Nintendo's fruity Zelda spinoff. Not available in the US due to paranoid parents who are afraid their DS-owning children might catch TEH GHEY. Other Zelda games available in the US.

[bust3dstr8]

Because of great titles like this.


http://home.comcast.net/~fawst/Japcd.bmp