Japanese Region Mobile/Cell Phone Games (e.g. Square-Enix)

[layzee]

How does one acquire them?

A little information about me first: For various reasons, I like to collect Japanese-region games. So while I realise that some Japanese mobile phone games were translated and localised for non-Japanese audiences (e.g. Final Fantasy IV: The After), I am still only interested in the original Japanese versions (i.e. with Japanese text). Mobile games that are exclusive to Japan (e.g. Final Fantasy Legends: Warriors of Light and Darkness) of course, need not be mentioned as a counter-point (I also want them). Basically, "buy/download the local English versions" is not a valid option for me.

In order to acquire these games, it would appear that I would need a Japanese mobile phone. If I was to import a Japanese phone, which would be the best in general for my purposes? That's assuming of course that I can access the Japanese networks in order to download the games. Since I don't actually reside in Japan, I assume I can't. Note that I don't know anything about Japanese mobile phones, their networks nor anything else related to that subject.

A quick browse of the Square-Enix website reveals Apple iPhone compatibility which may be a better alternative due to it being more "in use" widely and thus, hopefully more standardised. However. the problem of accessing Japanese networks remains and not all games (especially older ones) are compatible. Looking at the Square-Enix webpage above, I assume that's multiple networks, based on those icons to the right. Of course, other issues exist like me not actually needing a new phone and the fact that iPhones are pretty expensive but that's irrelevant (to this thread). Having said that, I would like a new phone...

Another possible method that may eliminate the regional obstacles is "dumping". or the process of transferring data from one medium (e.g. cartridge, mobile phone) to another (usually PC). Technical and legal implications may apply to this method however.

Anyway, if you have anything to add to this topic, please throw out what you have.

To get an idea of the sort of things I'm after, here is my undoubtedly incomplete "Want" list so far. Everything listed below, I would like to collect and own. If you know of any more Japanese mobile phone games that you think I might be interested in, please make some suggestions or direct me to a website that has a convenient list. Since I'm interested in multiple game franchises from multiple companies, the information available is a bit fragmented. I am even interested in re-releases, just to see what changes they have made. For example, Seiken Densetsu on the iPhone has its gameplay interface changed a bit (since it's a touch pad) and cosmetic changes were also made on the "Ring System" menu with character portraits, etc...

Anyway, it's about time I get to the list:

Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII ビフォアクライシス -ファイナルファンタジーVII -
Breath of Fire: Ryuu no Tsuri-shi ブレス オブ ファイア 竜の釣り師
Capcom Girl no Mind Puzzle カプコンギャルのマインドパズル
Chaos Rings ケイオスリングス
Chocobo de Mobile チョコボ de モバイル
Chocobo Panic チョコボパニック
Chocobo to Crystal no Tou チョコボとクリスタルの塔
Chokkan! Rockman 直感! ロックマン
Choube! Rockman 跳べ! ロックマン
Chrono Trigger クロノ・トリガー
Code Age Brawls コードエイジブロウルズ
Crystal Defenders: Vanguard Storm クリスタル・ディフェンダーズ　ヴァンガード・ストーム
Crystal Guardians クリスタルガーディアンズ
Densetsu no Ogre Battle 伝説のオウガバトル
Dirge of Cerberus Lost Episode -Final Fantasy VII- ダージュ オブ ケルベロス - ファイナルファンタジー VII- ロスト エピソード
Dragon Quest - Mobile ドラゴンクエスト モバイル
Dragon Quest Battle Road - Mobile ドラゴンクエストバトルロードMOBILE
Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e… ドラゴンクエストIII　そして伝説へ…
Dragon Quest Monsters ドラゴンクエストモンスターズ
Dragon Quest Monsters - Mobile ドラゴンクエストモンスターズMOBILE
Dragon Quest Monsters Wanted! ドラゴンクエスト モンスターズ WANTED!
Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road Victory Special Movie ドラゴンクエスト　モンスターバトルロードビクトリー　スペシャルムービー
Dragon Quest: Fushigi no Dungeon - Mobile ドラゴンクエスト 不思議のダンジョンMOBILE
Dragon Quest: Motto Fushigi no Dungeon - Mobile ドラゴンクエスト もっと不思議のダンジョンMOBILE
Estpolis Denki DX: Inishie no Denki Doukutsu エストポリス伝記 DX いにしえの洞窟
Final Fantasy - Mobile ファイナルファンタジー モバイル
Final Fantasy II - Mobile ファイナルファンタジーII
Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street - Mobile ファイナルファンタジー in いただきストリート MOBILE
Final Fantasy IV ファイナルファンタジーIV
Final Fantasy IV: The After - Tsuki no Kikan ファイナルファンタジーIV THE AFTER -月の帰還-
Final Fantasy Legends: Hikari to Yami no Senshi ファイナルファンタジー レジェンズ 光と闇の戦士
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children - Larger-than-Life Gallery ファイナルファンタジーVII Advent Children - Larger-than-Life Gallery
Final Fantasy XIII - Larger-than-Life Gallery ファイナルファンタジーXIII Larger-than-Life Gallery
Front Mission - Mobile フロントミッション モバイル
Front Mission 2089 フロントミッション 2089
Front Mission 2089-II フロントミッション 2089-II
Ganso Hanjuku Eiyuu 元祖 半熟英雄
Hoshizora no Nakama-tachi 星空の仲間たち
Itadaki Street Mobile いただきストリート MOBILE
Kingdom Hearts - Mobile キングダム ハーツ モバイル
Kingdom Hearts Coded キングダム ハーツ コーデッド
Knights of Crystal ナイツオブクリスタル
Kobun ga Tobun? コブンが飛ぶん?
Kobun Tokei コブン時計
Kumitate Kobun 組み立てコブン
Makai Toushi SaGa 魔界塔士 サ・ガ
Musashiden II Episode Zero 武蔵伝II EPISODE ZERO
Oshioki Kobun おしおきコブン
Rockman Bug Sweeper ロックマン バグスイーパー
Rockman DASH Golf ロックマンDASH ゴルフ
Rockman DASH: 5tsu no Shima no Daibouken! ロックマンDASH 5つの島の大冒険!
Rockman EXE Legend of Network ロックマン エグゼ レジェンド オブ ネットワーク
Rockman EXE Phantom of Network ロックマン エグゼ ファントム オブ ネットワーク
Rockman GP ロックマンGP
Rockman Panic Fire ロックマン パニックファイア
Rockman Pinball ロックマン ピンボール
Rockman Slot ロックマン スロット
Rockman Space Rescue / Rocket Christmas ロックマン スペースレスキュー / ロケットクリスマス
Rockman Tennis ロックマン テニス
Romancing SaGa ロマンシング サガ
Romancing SaGa 2 ロマンシング サガ2
Seiken Densetsu 2 聖剣伝説2
Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden 聖剣伝説 -ファイナルファンタジー外伝-
Seiken Densetsu: Friends of Mana 聖剣伝説 FRIENDS of MANA
Sigma Harmonics Coda シグマ ハーモニクス コーダ
Song Summoner: Utawarenu Senshi no Senritsu ソングサマナー 歌われぬ戦士の旋律
Song Summoner: Utawarenu Senshi no Senritsu Kanzenban ソングサマナー 歌われぬ戦士の旋律 完全版
Square Enix Melody Full スクウェア・エニックス メロディフル
Square Enix Melody Full Plus スクウェア・エニックス メロディ-Plus-
Star Ocean: Blue Sphere スターオーシャン ブルースフィア
Tactics Ogre: Unmei no Wa - Special Promotion Application タクティクスオウガ 運命の輪 スペシャルプロモーションアプリ
Tales of Breaker テイルズオブブレイカー
Tales of Commons テイルズオブコモンズ
Tales of Mobile: Craymel Check
Tales of Mobile: Craymel Lab
Tales of Mobile: Groovy Arche
Tales of Mobile: Klondike
Tales of Mobile: Reversi
Tales of Mobile: Scramble Land
Tales of Mobile: Tales of Quiz
Tales of Mobile: Tales of Wonder Casino
Tales of Mobile: Whis Battle
Tales of Tactics テイルズオブタクティクス
Tales of the Abyss: Mieu no Daibouken
Tales of the Abyss: Mieu no Fonic Gojiten
Tales of the Abyss: Mieu no Jikkenshitsu?
Tales of the World: Material Dungeon
Tales of Wahrheit テイルズオブヴァールハイト
Tobal M トバルM
Voice Fantasy ボイスファンタジー

Finally, since I assume that the subject of this thread is pretty niche (or at least, my requirements are) and the people with the knowledge to help probably even more sparse, I made multiple threads on multiple forums with the intention of scraping together what knowledge I can manage to receive. Apologies in advance if my actions (posting same threads on multiple forums) offends your sensibilities.

[Parodius Duh!]

dont know, but someone made this topic yesterday:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150081

[layzee]

dont know, but someone made this topic yesterday:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150081

Well, isn't that a coincidence.

In any case, I'll leave this thread here regardless.

[mobiusclimber]

Wow, I had no idea there were so many... This is pretty sad as far as I'm concerned b/c while I'd love to play these games, the thought of playing them on a phone isn't that appealing to me. I guess if I had a phone compable of it I would but... I'm not into that whole "my phone does a million things" business. I'm more of the "damn kids, get off my lawn! *shakes fist*" kinda guy.