Japanese Guardian Heroes

[Kyle15]

I decided to look at an eBay seller's page that I recently won something from to see if they put up some more imports. (The game I previously won from this particular seller was Tales of Symphonia in Japanese.)
Suprisingly, they had a complete copy (minus the obi) of Guardian Heroes in Japanese. Now, I had just searched for a copy but only BINs had shown up for the import, along with the obvious copies of the English version. This guy's copy was nowhere to be seen.
After sitting and looking at his page for a minute, the realization finally hit me; he listed it as "Guardian HEREOS". After seeing this, I knew my chances for winning were surely up. It wasn't a complete 100%, seeing as bidders that won this seller's other auctions probably saw it too.
The starting price was $9.99, and can you guess what happened? It never got any higher.

I was the only bidder!

So, here I sit with a copy of Guardian Heroes in Japanese that cost me $9.99. I know it isn't the English version which is very expensive, but still.
I've tried to win this game in Japanese numerous times, only to have it hit $40-$50. I knew I was going to get it someday, but not THIS cheap.

Now for the lesson: always type in game names wrong. You'll probably end up with something good for a great price! :)
Have you ever gotten any imports (or other games in general) in a similar situation?

[VACRMH]

Back in 02 or so, I won 3 sealed Mega CD games (Arcus Trilogy, Ranma and Laughing Salesman) for I'd say about $20.

They were all listed as "Sega CD Game from Japan" or something similar.

Too bad it was probably a waste, I never had a chance to play them and with no knowledge of the language, I probably never will.

[izarate]

Obre Battle

[Breetai]

I found Guardian Heroes in Japan for the equivalent of $7 not too long ago (it SHOULD cost this). I usually goes for around $20-40 here if I remember right (inflated Akihabara prices).

[Kyle15]

I found Guardian Heroes in Japan for the equivalent of $7 not too long ago (it SHOULD cost this). I usually goes for around $20-40 here if I remember right (inflated Akihabara prices).

The Japanese version isn't that rare, is it? All I know is that it tends to get expensive on eBay and in game shops due to the price and demand for the English version.

Anyway, I just got done playing for a little while. It is extremely good, which is no suprise considering how good Treasure's other games are. :D

[smork]

The Japanese version isn't that rare, is it? All I know is that it tends to get expensive on eBay and in game shops due to the price and demand for the English version.

Anyway, I just got done playing for a little while. It is extremely good, which is no suprise considering how good Treasure's other games are. :D

Guardian Heroes kicks much ass. One of my fave Saturn games for sure. I think I got mine for somewhere in the $20 range, so probably about normal...

[Dire 51]

Now for the lesson: always type in game names wrong. You'll probably end up with something good for a great price! :)
Have you ever gotten any imports (or other games in general) in a similar situation?
Heh, it's funny this thread came up, because this just happened to me.

I was on eBay the other day. On a whim, I punched up Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie (http://www.shmups.com/reviews/macross_sv/index.html). I found plenty of copies, most complete, between $50 and $70. *sigh* I like the game from what I've played, but I am not coughing up $50+ for it.

So I decided to just do a general search for Macross and see what I could find. A whole bunch of stuff came up, mostly the CD games. Then I saw it: MACROSS SCLAMBLED Valkyrie SUPER FAMICOM Cartridge.

Buy It Now.

$20!!!

Sure, it's cart only, but I just want to play it. I never thought I'd snag a copy below $50. So I immediately hit the BIN button, confirmed it and fired off a payment.

It was shipped the next day and should arrive soon. I can't wait!

[Breetai]

The Japanese version isn't that rare, is it? All I know is that it tends to get expensive on eBay and in game shops due to the price and demand for the English version.

Anyway, I just got done playing for a little while. It is extremely good, which is no suprise considering how good Treasure's other games are. :DNo, not overly rare. The problem is that whenever it turns up in shops in the suburbs for a "normal" price, it gets snatched up right away and resold to the shops in places like Akihabara (or ebay, yahoo auctions, etc.), and thus gets more expensive. This seems to happen to pretty much any 2D action or shoot 'em up game.

[Breetai]

Macross Scrambled Valkyrie on the Super Famicom - 315yen at Hard-Off ($3). Cart only, mind you. So, I'm wondering, HOW IN THE HELL IS THAT GAME GOING FOR $50+ on ebay??? I really don't get it.

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv31/Absinthaholic/DSCN4312.jpg?t=1248179285
Picture posted because I really like staring at pictures of Minmei and Rick freakin' Hunter or however you want to call him.

[Kyle15]

Heh, it's funny this thread came up, because this just happened to me.

I was on eBay the other day. On a whim, I punched up Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie (http://www.shmups.com/reviews/macross_sv/index.html). I found plenty of copies, most complete, between $50 and $70. *sigh* I like the game from what I've played, but I am not coughing up $50+ for it.

So I decided to just do a general search for Macross and see what I could find. A whole bunch of stuff came up, mostly the CD games. Then I saw it: MACROSS SCLAMBLED Valkyrie SUPER FAMICOM Cartridge.

Buy It Now.

$20!!!

Sure, it's cart only, but I just want to play it. I never thought I'd snag a copy below $50. So I immediately hit the BIN button, confirmed it and fired off a payment.

It was shipped the next day and should arrive soon. I can't wait!

Good going there! :)
This type of search strategy works wonders.

[Dire 51]

Macross Scrambled Valkyrie on the Super Famicom - 315yen at Hard-Off ($3). Cart only, mind you. So, I'm wondering, HOW IN THE HELL IS THAT GAME GOING FOR $50+ on ebay??? I really don't get it.
I don't know, but it seems to have actually dropped in price. I remember seeing copies going from $80-$100 just a couple of years back.

That $3 price tag really makes me wish I had access to this Hard-Off you speak of...


Good going there! :)
This type of search strategy works wonders.
Given this, I have to agree with you.

[Breetai]

I don't know, but it seems to have actually dropped in price. I remember seeing copies going from $80-$100 just a couple of years back.

That $3 price tag really makes me wish I had access to this Hard-Off you speak of...I [B]really[B] don't understand why this game would've ever been going for $80-$100, except when it first game out. It is NOT rare at all. It's common. In fact, the [I]average[I] price it goes for in any shop in Japan, Akihabara even, is between 800-900yen. How is it that the market value for this game overseas is in the $50 range? Obviously I like Macross/Robotech more than the average guy, but still... I really don't get it.

[Dire 51]

If it's as common as you say, then I have no idea why it goes for that much.

[Breetai]

If it's as common as you say, then I have no idea why it goes for that much.Why was there never a Macross 7 game?

[Dire 51]

There was a Macross 7?

[Breetai]

There was a Macross 7?*_*

Fire Bomber!

[Dire 51]

Didn't know about the one. Truthfully, I never got far beyond The Macross Saga.

[Breetai]

Didn't know about the one. Truthfully, I never got far beyond The Macross Saga.You're missing an absolute ton of stuff, then. Macross Plus, Macross 7, Macross Zero and Macross Frontiers (the current series).

[Kyle15]

If it's as common as you say, then I have no idea why it goes for that much.

It's probably just suffering from Final Fantasy 7 syndrome.
"A common game that you can't find cheap because everybody wants it."

At least, that's how I like think about it anyway.

[Kid Fenris]

Why was there never a Macross 7 game?

There's one for the Game Boy Color.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfTSwcDCsr8

It's not that good.


You're missing an absolute ton of stuff, then. Macross Plus, Macross 7, Macross Zero and Macross Frontiers (the current series).

To be honest, Macross Plus is the only one of those I'd recommend without reservation.

[Fuyukaze]

Back when I was buying stuff on a monthly basis off ebay I was always getting good stuff but rarely due to stuff being listed wrong. I honestly dont know how I got half the stuff for the prices I did. Fire Shark, Twinbee Deluxe, Parodius Da Deluxe, Sonic Wings Special, and more? I've always known I was lucky but even I'm still surprised. Guess the closest auction I won like that was for a Koei lot. The showcase game was Nobunaga's Ambition:Clan of the Grey Wolf. Brandish and Inindo were the other two. Brandish alone was fetching 20-30 alone for a loose copy. Got all 3 for like $15 after shipping. Guess it pays to list the more expensive titles vs the cheaper stuff?

Macross Plus had a game? Loved the anime. Same for Frontiers.....

[Breetai]

There's one for the Game Boy Color.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfTSwcDCsr8

It's not that good.



To be honest, Macross Plus is the only one of those I'd recommend without reservation.I recommend them all. Interestingly(strangely?), Macross Plus is my least favourite of them all... but it's still awesome. Macross 7>Macross Zero>Macross DYRL>Macross>Macross Plus. All are great, IMO.

[Dire 51]

You're missing an absolute ton of stuff, then. Macross Plus, Macross 7, Macross Zero and Macross Frontiers (the current series).
I may have to check them out at some point. I remember seeing VHS tapes of Macross Plus for rent when it first came out in the US, but I never picked any of them up.

Anyway, my copy of M:SV showed up yesterday, and right on the customs label, the value of the game was listed as $3. I couldn't help it, I laughed. Makes me wonder if the seller picked it up at Hard-Off.

At any rate, even if I paid more than it was worth, I'm happy. It's a hell of a fun game. Fairly tough too, but then I haven't really been able to sit down and give it a proper playthrough yet.


It's probably just suffering from Final Fantasy 7 syndrome.
"A common game that you can't find cheap because everybody wants it."

At least, that's how I like think about it anyway.
That's entirely possible. I can see it being in demand by both Robotech/Macross fans and shmup fans, so it wouldn't surprise me if that's why it's so expensive.

[Breetai]

Anyway, my copy of M:SV showed up yesterday, and right on the customs label, the value of the game was listed as $3. I couldn't help it, I laughed. Makes me wonder if the seller picked it up at Hard-Off.

At any rate, even if I paid more than it was worth, I'm happy. It's a hell of a fun game. Fairly tough too, but then I haven't really been able to sit down and give it a proper playthrough yet.I'm just happy that I'm really not full of sh!t! :D If it was from hard off, it would probably say "Hard-Off" on the price tag. The label their stuff at most shops I've been do. Was it exactly 315yen? I haven't really played through it either, to be honest. I just bought it because I like Macross and I also like shoot 'em ups. Can't go wrong! Well, you can go wrong if you like shoot 'em ups, the PC Engine and the deep blue sea... That just didn't mix well.

[Dire 51]

I'm just happy that I'm really not full of sh!t! :D
LOL


If it was from hard off, it would probably say "Hard-Off" on the price tag. The label their stuff at most shops I've been do. Was it exactly 315yen?
No, there was no price tag on the game, but on the exterior customs label, the seller wrote $3 for the value.


I haven't really played through it either, to be honest. I just bought it because I like Macross and I also like shoot 'em ups. Can't go wrong! Well, you can go wrong if you like shoot 'em ups, the PC Engine and the deep blue sea... That just didn't mix well.
I dunno, I kinda liked Deep Blue. For the first few minutes, anyway. Good soundtrack, though.