Local game stores, Japan style (lots of pics!)

[chrisbid]

the amount of stock those stores carry is insane, i hope to visit the country one day

[slapdash]

Out of one of the showcases I snagged a Super Cassette Vision game as well. [...]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/3247444920_7eb7c0ae99_b.jpg


Do you know what system the Casio games (numbered 6, 13, 12) in the upper left were for? MSX maybe? I was thinking they might be PV-1000 or PV-2000 games, in which case I was potentially going to ask you to go back for them for me ;-) but the numbers/names don't match up with the PV info I have.

[smork]

Do you know what system the Casio games (numbered 6, 13, 12) in the upper left were for? MSX maybe? I was thinking they might be PV-1000 or PV-2000 games, in which case I was potentially going to ask you to go back for them for me ;-) but the numbers/names don't match up with the PV info I have.


I'm pretty sure they are MSX games. If they were PV-1000 games I would have picked them up myself :)

[slapdash]

Heh, good enough...

[Elrinth]

very cool topic...

Me myself I'm currently trying to get my hands on a Pc-Engine Duo (not R or RX) boxed with a few games (none-simulation games). Oh and I also want an FM Towns Marty with one or two games. I'm not really sure how much I'm willing to pay, it all depends on what's included really :) But definatly 5000 yen for the consoles only.

I've got a friend in Japan, but I don't know where I can direct him to go. He lives in Kyoto.

[Low G Man]

very nice pics, smork. I'd love to see a nice mom & pop game store in the states that carried stuff like this.

[Volcanon]

I like how when I'm in Japan I can buy rockman games off yahoo japan for almost nothing, then sell them to stores in akihabara for profitz.

[smork]

Me myself I'm currently trying to get my hands on a Pc-Engine Duo (not R or RX) boxed with a few games (none-simulation games). Oh and I also want an FM Towns Marty with one or two games. I'm not really sure how much I'm willing to pay, it all depends on what's included really :) But definatly 5000 yen for the consoles only.

I've got a friend in Japan, but I don't know where I can direct him to go. He lives in Kyoto.

I lived in the Osaka/Nara area for a little while and know alot of the stores there. I can probably give some suggestions!

Good luck on the Towns Marty - they almost never pop up in the wild, nor do the games. The Duo might be doable for that given some luck. There's a good A-Too in Kyoto that has a nice selection of games for reasonable prices (sometimes quite cheap depending on what it is). They'd only have a bit of hardware, though.

[Elrinth]

Yeah an FM Towns will probably ultra expensive no matter what I do :)

But first things first, the PC-Engine! :D

So, which stores in kyoto/osaka do you know of? I'll tell my friend to read this topic! :D

[boogiecat]

So - Part 2. Here's where I found some deals. In response to a previous question -- I don't think they like people taking pictures so much, so I try to be fairly sly. This day there was a security guard around me pretty much the whole time I was there -- he didn't seem to be too concerned with me, but it still felt a bit odd to have him nearby all the time. I took these pictures when he moved away, but then he saw me later with my camera around my neck and the lens open (but not taking a picture). He gave me a strange look, but said nothing. Perhaps I am paranoid.

To continue with the photos, here's the Saturn section. I thought it and the DC section had quite nice prices -- thought I didn't get any Sega stuff this time.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/3062063209_78a903ecd1_b.jpg

As I mentioned in the last post, the system section was the only disorganized part of the games area. It still wasn't too bad, especially compared to Urayasu Kanteidan. Here's a view -- check out the loose Twin Famis (sold as Junk as they had no AC adapters and were untested).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/3062909804_81d8e0403a_b.jpg

And another view, this one not so disorganized:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/3062056627_8c7746064d_b.jpg

Look, up there! 3 PC-FX systems.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/3062914428_26cdf3882a_b.jpg

I found the prices in the system section to be really nice. There was good and bad condition stuff, and the bad was discounted nicely for condition. I like that as a collector -- get the systems you want in great condition, but if you want a 'player's system', you can get that for a cheap price, too. Like this pic:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3062071463_1bd62efab4_b.jpg

2 items in that picture are now in my apartment :)

But the best part for me, a hardcore NeoGeo collector, was the Neo Pocket section. It was a part of this wall here:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/3062912988_537ceb1c5c_b.jpg

A full 90% of the NeoGeo Pocket systems on this wall looked to be NIB, and CHEAP. It was as if someone dumped a few boxes of new old stock on the store -- which someone probably did, maybe a local retailer.

The Neo Pocket game section was the best of all for me -- as I found a game I was REALLY looking for (and for the past 3 years, too!). It was cheap, and NIB. It's in this group:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/3062894996_eef22062f5_b.jpg

Hey, look! It's the last super rare Japanese Neo Pocket game I needed, Pachinko Hisshou Guide Pocket Parlor! I grabbed a ladder, dug through the games on the wall. No, it's 6 Pachinko Hisshou Guide Pocket Parlors! All NIB! This is why I root through these game stores, for the FUN of finding something you're really looking for, up on some wall in the middle of nowhere.

Naturally, I bought all 6. Don't they look nice?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/3062920058_dacdc1a539_b.jpg

WOW!! Now i know were i would go in Japan first this year(looks like now i'll use my $90,000 budget when i get there!!)!!...Thank you very much for those pics!!

[Breetai]

Does anyone know of any stores like this in Saitama/northern Tokyo, specifically along the Saikyo, Keihin Tohoku or Saitama Railway lines?

[Flashback2012]

I just noticed this thread. I would spend hours...DAYS scouring these stores looking at every single little thing.

[Breetai]

I just noticed this thread. I would spend hours...DAYS scouring these stores looking at every single little thing.Our usernames have something in common. ;)

[newtype5]

マクロス!
マクロス!
sorry the theme song just popped into my head for, yes, Macross!
hello you two fellow old-skool anime fans!

man, how i miss japan. it's been 8 years since i've been there, but seeing this thread and the wonderful pics brought back so many memories. when my girlfriend went to work i had the pleasure of wandering around tokyo, seeking out cool cd, manga, and game shops. i would spend hours in these tiny cramped shops just wide-eyed and dumb founded at what was before me. i caught myself spinning in circles on more than one occasion because i was in shock and awe at what (literally) surrounded me! and i'm 6'4" so some of those shelves were extra dangerous!
too cool, thanks everyone.

[The 1 2 P]

I just noticed this thread. I would spend hours...DAYS scouring these stores looking at every single little thing.

Ditto. I would love to live in Japan for a few months just for the shopping alone.

[LuxKiller65]

This is the thread made to realise how common many old Japanese games are.

LOL

Thank your for the lovely pictures!

[Breetai]

マクロス!
マクロス!
sorry the theme song just popped into my head for, yes, Macross!
hello you two fellow old-skool anime fans!

man, how i miss japan. it's been 10 years since i've been there, but seeing this thread and the wonderful pics brought back so many memories. when my girlfriend went to work i had the pleasure of wandering around tokyo, seeking out cool cd, manga, and game shops. i would spend hours in these tiny cramped shops just wide-eyed and dumb founded at what was before me. i caught myself spinning in circles on more than one occasion because i was in shock and awe at what (literally) surrounded me! and i'm 6'4" so some of those shelves were extra dangerous!
too cool, thanks everyone.6'4" is pretty call. Did anyone call you "Zentraedi" as you walked by?

[newtype5]

6'4" is pretty call. Did anyone call you "Zentraedi" as you walked by?

no, not once, but that would have been sweet! i did on occasion see a native japanese person that was taller than me. then it was my turn to stare! 0_0

[smork]

Does anyone know of any stores like this in Saitama/northern Tokyo, specifically along the Saikyo, Keihin Tohoku or Saitama Railway lines?

Very very old bump - sorry :) I do have a list of a few stores but usually these aren't anywhere near train lines. Maybe that's why they have so much stock!

[smork]

So the real reason I bumped this thread is I went to the most ridiculous game store this week. I was taking advantage of our long holiday weekend called Silver Week (actually, I am still taking advantage of it - fun being off on a Friday!) and I went up to Aomori in extreme northern Japan. The purpose of the trip was just the trip - see the countryside and relax - but the last day I did a little poking around at some game stores. I looked at several branches of this game store called Game Souko:

http://www.gamesouko.com/modules/weblog0/

I ended up going to several branches, but this one in Aomori city was the best of the bunch. The prices could be ridiculous, and they could be sublime, but the selection is what kicked me in the nuts. They had EVERYTHING.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2547/3948370320_8bf3862733_b.jpg

Overpriced? Sure. But there were a total of 6 or 7 Hello Kitty LE systems. There were some unboxed PC-FX systems that were super cheap.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3447/3947584475_23cfea99e1_b.jpg

That pile of boxed Duos goes several deep.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2594/3948357948_90768e834d_b.jpg

FFI and FFII LE Wonderswan packs. I've been trying to tell people these are common!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2536/3948373150_54583f6fb0_b.jpg

It's not every day you see a boxed Gakken TV Boy. In fact, I don't think i've ever seen one in a store! There's a bunch of cool Epoch and Bandai handhelds, too.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3947582693_9865b8ac5d_b.jpg

PC-FX? 32X? Sure! I think they had most of the games for PC-FX in stock. They also did have EVERY limited-edition Game Gear in stock (including Rayearth and Coca Cola). Here's some of them:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/3947573381_c519db824b_b.jpg

How about some Panasonic Qs? I counted 5 in the store, two which were boxed.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2560/3948374320_318baa0507.jpg

Here's stuff you don't see everyday (except the SMB/DH, which you do). Cassette Vision, Super Cassette Vision, loose 32X, and I believe EVERY game for the Game Pokecon (I should have snagged those but I don't have a system).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3504/3947574429_b018b89320_b.jpg

More in part 2!

[smork]

So I decided to play a game. Pick a random system, see if they have it. How about 64DD?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2643/3948371304_d7233d9718_b.jpg

There was a full Randnet kit in a showcase, too. How about 64DD soft?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2568/3948375184_56c1d87470_b.jpg

OK then. What about LE Saturn or non-Hello Kitty LE DC?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2640/3947571563_e907ebb88c_b.jpg

Check, and check. (The Tsutaya DC was totally bought) OK, well what about Cassette Vision or Super Cassette Vision hardware? Playdia? I bet they don't have a Bandai Intellivision, eh?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/3948359614_c01e7086d9_b.jpg

Make that 2 CV systems and 3 Bandai Intellivisions. Sheesh! Wha about crazy handhelds, like a TV Vader?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3519/3948367928_f771687194_b.jpg

I didn't buy this because it was unboxed and could have been in better shape. It was way cool, though.

They didn't have any Vectrex that I could find, nor any Creativision, Supervision 8000, Visicom or other obscure pre-Famicom systems. Not surprising, but I was hoping. They did have this cool display Gameboy thing in poor shape.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2634/3948361578_654a402845_b.jpg

And of course, the obligatory photo of the alley of Famicom/SFC games.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/3947572197_ab02cf0073_b.jpg

If by some bizarro chance you were in Aomori I would recommend visiting this store - it's less than a 10 minute walk from Higashi Aomori station. But it's highly unlikely you'll ever be up in that part of Japan as it's really far from anything.

[mobiusclimber]

Oh god how I want that MKR Game Gear... Always so bloody expensive on FeePay. :(

[smork]

Oh god how I want that MKR Game Gear... Always so bloody expensive on FeePay. :(

I've already got one so I didn't snag it - if you can read the price it's only 2600 yen, too. There were two of them, no less!

[mobiusclimber]

Yeah I read that, it's what bummed me out so much. That & an N64+DD for 10000 yen. XD

[Nico87]

Seriously, if I ever won like, millions in a lottery, I'd come over and you and me could go to every damn shop in Japan. I'd even give you a $mill to throw around. GOD I NEED TO GO TO JAPAN.

[Breetai]

Smork, this is a thread that NEEDS to be bumped once and a while and added to. It's an awesome thread.

[newtype5]

i totally agree. way too cool. this is what japan-o-phile gamer dreams are made of!

[MonoTekETeA]

Triple Ditto.

[slapdash]

Here's stuff you don't see everyday [...] I believe EVERY game for the Game Pokecon [...]

Oh, no no no no no... Why didn't you call me?!? How much were they going for? If you ever go back...


Wha about crazy handhelds, like a TV Vader?

Just FYI, that's not a handheld, but a dedicated videogame unit, like Pong.

[smork]

Oh, no no no no no... Why didn't you call me?!? How much were they going for? If you ever go back...

If I ever go back I would probably be picking them up for myself - I'm rather kicking myself I didn't grab them, but I was preoccupied with the Dreamcasts and the Cassette Vision/SCV stuff. No excuse, that shit is super duper hard to find and I shouldn't have passed it up!



Just FYI, that's not a handheld, but a dedicated videogame unit, like Pong.

Yeah, I realized my error after I wrote the post but didn't feel like fixing it :)

[Nico87]

What exactly is the Game Pokecon? Haven't been able to find any info on it.

[smork]

What exactly is the Game Pokecon? Haven't been able to find any info on it.

Do a search for Epoch Game Pocket Computer. It's very very early portable gaming.

[JapanesePeso]

Has anyone else noticed that every game in a display case in Japan seems to haven been sun-faded beyond all comprehension? That's the feeling I got today when I was riding my scooter around Kyushu looking for game shops. No pics unfortunately. If you'd like, I can post pics of my shop. :P Probably not as massive as most of the other pics on this thread but nothing to shake a stick at.

[Breetai]

Has anyone else noticed that every game in a display case in Japan seems to haven been sun-faded beyond all comprehension? That's the feeling I got today when I was riding my scooter around Kyushu looking for game shops. No pics unfortunately. If you'd like, I can post pics of my shop. :P Probably not as massive as most of the other pics on this thread but nothing to shake a stick at.No, not around where I live. I can think of a couple like this, but not the majority.

[pepharytheworm]

Wow, this was a great read. I love all the pictures. How are the PC-FX games usually priced? I couldn't see the prices well in your pics. You mentioned the FM Towns a lot, did you ever find a store that actual had some of their games?

[Breetai]

Wow, this was a great read. I love all the pictures. How are the PC-FX games usually priced? I couldn't see the prices well in your pics. You mentioned the FM Towns a lot, did you ever find a store that actual had some of their games?Hey, welcome to the black and red site! It's a nice contrast from black, blue and white.

As for FM Marty stuff, as I mentioned to you in the other place, I never see the stuff (unfortunately).

[Mister_Pal]

Some new pictures wouldn't hurt...

[Mister_Pal]

.....guess not then :(.

[Mister_Pal]

No more pictures? :(