For this installment of "Have you ever" I decided to take a topic that I myself normally stay clear of and see what my fellow Dtoider feels about this particular subject.
The last time I can remember importing a must have game because I was so hooked on the idea was the original Pokemon blue (yes captain obvious that explains the picture) but when I originally imported it back in the gameboy era importing wasn't such a huge and controversial idea. I remember I had just been on holiday to Florida and was quite young at the time so decided to take in some good old fashioned american cartoons that us limeys didn't get to enjoy. The biggest one at the time was a little show called Pokemon, which was the abbreviation for the Japanese franchise Pocket Monsters which I'm sure you'll all know, well most of you. I'd become so addicted to the show that when we left I decided to start up the old 56k modem (which of course meant mining some coal and fueling the steam powered engine that was on the back of it) and investigate how I could get more of this fix. I was so happy to find that Sky One was showing Pokemon and so I could continue watching Ash's journey of getting gym badges he never deserved and barely ever capturing any pokemon due to him been too busy making friends.
At the same time that my investigation took place I saw that there was also a game for my favourite (and only) handheld console that was rather cheap even including shipping. So I pleaded my mum for her card and then went back to the internets! This attempt was sadly thwarted due to the address requiring a ZIP code and not allowing me to put in my Postcode. So I was defeated . . . . .
Until a shiny ray of light came to me from the back of my GamesMaster magazine. Amidst the porn, ringtones and pictures of Mr T readily available for download I saw an advertisement for cheap imported games to the UK.
As you can tell the story ended happily and I got my game months before the show started airing on SM:TV which was a saturday morning show here in the UK and I had already caught as many pokemon as I could from the blue version before my friends could even buy it yet!
At the time I knew nothing of whether my consoles were region locked region free PAL NTSC, I'd never looked into that kind of thing because I didn't need to. Nowadays though this is the main concern and/or problem with importing games. When Super Smash Brothers Brawl came out in America, everyone in England who was after this game was given no reason as to why we had to wait nor why it was taking so long to get to the rest of the world after Japan had been happily brawling away for months. Some tried importing the game after doing dubious things to their Wii's and for what? To get the game earlier because they didn't want to wait.
So let me ask you this, first of all have you ever imported a game for whatever reason it may be (the most legitimate of which been that only the country it was imported from got the game), do you stand by your action and believe you would do it again because it was worth the extra work and cost? And lastly do you think that if games were given more availability at the same time with world wide releases would it stop importing or will certain countries still get screwed over by been left in the corner for no reason other than the fact the games companies don't have to supply their products to everyone.
I myself think importing is a waste of time now, I had gotten my pokemon game back when I was younger because I never knew it would be coming out for the UK, but now that it takes illegal means to set my consoles up for imported games to get them earlier I just don't think it's worth the hassle. That's just my opinion though, at the same time I'm outraged I had to wait so long for SSBB to get no extra content or even an apology/reason for the wait. Stupid Reggie, I hope he fornicates himself with a wii motion plus peripheral until he dies of exhaustion from been a big meaty bastard.
Since everything takes so long to come out in the UK I admit I have imported games early. Most of the time though it's either a special edition that won't come out in the UK or the game won't come out here at all. The last game I imported was Persona 3 (special edition).
Importing is easier now than ever but if a game is coming out at roughly the same time in both the US and UK I'll get the UK version
I imported Bleach DS early, but that was mainly because none of the anime hadn't been licensed, only the manga, so I didn't see the games getting licensed until the anime was announced. Incidentally, I didn't start playing it until the English version was already out in stores. Damn my procrastination.
I imported stuff but never to play it earlier. I'm in Canada and we get games at the same time the US does, so there is no reason for me to import games from there. As for Japanese games, I can't understand Japanese yet so if I import a game I get one that's easy to play. I have two Dreamcast games and six PC doujin games. As for modding a console to import stuff, I wouldn't do it.
i live in the UK, and the first import machine i had was the sega mega drive. we didnt know at the time i was too young.All i knew was that i was playing sonic the hedgehog. I first realised about import games when i saw Gran turismo 1 running in electronic boutique in black and white months before release. They told me it was because it was an import version. Being TEKKEN fiend i quickley got my PS1 chipped to play tekken 3[ the NSTC version was better as it ran at 60Hz not 50].
I imported loads of games like MSG1, pocket figters and ridge racer 4 just to play it early. I didnt see a problem and still dont. I paid full price for a full price product that was on legal sale. people import loads of things why should games be different. Nowadays with better release policy and online connectivity there is less point.
BTW i loved boasting that i had MGS1 early until i found out i couldnt play it without a guide.
With dreamcast I did this alot Guilty Gear X numerous King of Fighters, Jet Set Radio, Cool Cool Toon, and many others. In PS2 I imported most of the Taiko no Tatsujin games and a couple pop n music as they have limited appear here. And I did get the japanese version of Soul Calibur 2 and Windwaker in the Gamecube days. And the Ouidan's for DS and Jump fighting games for DS.I don't import a while lot though.
Most I have done to play imports mod wise is I got a flip top mod for my PS2(which coincidentally didn't work for Taiko no Tatsujin and I bought a japanese PS2 the ceramic white Prologue one.
The only two games I've ever imported for the purpose of playing them early were Jet Set Radio and Guilty Gear X on the dreamcast. JSR was also my first import game ever. (I miss the days when playing import games was as simple as doing a disc swap with a GameShark or something.)
After seeing a preview for JSR in the Official Dreamcast Magazine, I knew that I needed it right away. I somehow talked my grandparents into ordering it by by phone from a seedy-looking import website. (I was 14 at the time, so no credit card.)
It felt like ages before it arrived in the mail, but the wait was well worth it. It was also one of those nice games where all of the voice acting was in English and the menus were very easy to navigate.
I bought a Super Famicom version on Street Fighter II in the early 90s. Cost me a pretty penny, but it changed my life (read: made it harder for me to get laid when entering high school).
I can honestly and happily admit that I love to import games, every since the day I read a Super Play magazine review of SNES U.S Chrono Trigger. This was my first import game and it clearly changed my mind completely on the games we get officially, and those japanese/u.s we miss (because of licensing issues, cultural quirkyness etc).
Frankly there's nothing at all wrong with importing games, be it to save money or cut down waiting time. The console kings will tell you crap about it spoiling your warranty, when in truth many peoples warranties have expire. We've seen through this lie everytime, as its clear they are trying to cockblock us.
In a global market, suits at these companies worry about numbers sold where, and this is their new banner excuse to stop us after so long.
The kind of games I import are mostly either japanese games not available in the west (cue the awesome mightyness of Osu Tatakae Ouendan, Eyeshield 21: Max Power Devil, Ouendan 2, Nodame Cantabile etc), and the second reason is for japanese games that reach the U.S shores before they hit europe, or get released at all in the U.K (eg: Front Mission 4, Xenosaga Ep1, Parasite Eve, Einhander etc)
I went as far as getting my PS1 chipped before the powers that be made them illegal in the U.K (thank god I did and kept it, and surpisingly it still works fine today, Thanks CEX.) If my PS2 was chipped I'd get and have more PS2 titles but the stupid ban made that gen difficult. I'm considering buying a U.S PS2, just to get a lot of missed jap gems like SF3 3rd Strike, Fist of the North Star, Last Blade 1 and 2 Collection, Namco vs Capcom, Front Mission 5, etc.
On handheld importing is like mana from heaven, while frowned upon by the gods, its a powerful thing we should all experience yourself or through a friend etc. It really is astounding what we miss out on. Ouendan import popularity got EBA made, but it while fun, it was never the same once it lost all of its original japanese cultural identity and bizarre jap music and faster 60hz.
Is importing wrong? I say no. Either way, the publishers/developers are still receiving fair money for their games, something pirated/ and some DL games don't do at all. Better some cash than none at all, i say.
What have I got early on import to cut time? The most recent game I did this with, was Atlus's Trauma Center 2: Under the Knife. The original I purchased the same way, a good 9-10 months before europe recieved it. On top of that, we get stung here in the U.K buy tax on stuff, and currenty I feel DS and PSP games are overpriced. £15-20 fine, £30 no.
Will I continue to import? Ofcourse, especially since even 360 is now getting some of that region free loving. If I had a Wii, I'd chip that too and stay offline ( I don't have wi-fi anyway. Nintendo can't even get online right anyway, so Live will do just fine.
The entire Japanese catalog of 2D capcom games for the saturn and dreamcast. The last import that I bought early was the first Bleach DS game, but I had no idea that it was coming out here too.
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about me
I love generally all games except pure puzzle ones that don't have a witty story and hopefully a story about monkeys and pirates.
I'm 20 years old and live in Good Old Britain (West Yorkshire to be precise) And as Jim rightly said I do love a good casserole. Zelda, Final Fantasy and Metal Gear are my favorite games and I look forward to their next installments :D
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Have you ever #3 Imported a game to play it early?
Yup.
I imported Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan, Suoer Robot Taisen MX, and Ouendan 1 & 2.
That's why I love my PS3 and handhelds, the region-free deliciousness.
Minna no Golf 5 from play-asia. I bought the US version once it came out here as well.
Keepin' the imported one for pantsu.
Since everything takes so long to come out in the UK I admit I have imported games early. Most of the time though it's either a special edition that won't come out in the UK or the game won't come out here at all. The last game I imported was Persona 3 (special edition).
Importing is easier now than ever but if a game is coming out at roughly the same time in both the US and UK I'll get the UK version
I'm gonna import Final Fantasy XIII when it comes out in Japan on PS3 to play it early :-).
I imported Bleach DS early, but that was mainly because none of the anime hadn't been licensed, only the manga, so I didn't see the games getting licensed until the anime was announced. Incidentally, I didn't start playing it until the English version was already out in stores. Damn my procrastination.
I imported stuff but never to play it earlier. I'm in Canada and we get games at the same time the US does, so there is no reason for me to import games from there. As for Japanese games, I can't understand Japanese yet so if I import a game I get one that's easy to play. I have two Dreamcast games and six PC doujin games. As for modding a console to import stuff, I wouldn't do it.
i live in the UK, and the first import machine i had was the sega mega drive. we didnt know at the time i was too young.All i knew was that i was playing sonic the hedgehog. I first realised about import games when i saw Gran turismo 1 running in electronic boutique in black and white months before release. They told me it was because it was an import version. Being TEKKEN fiend i quickley got my PS1 chipped to play tekken 3[ the NSTC version was better as it ran at 60Hz not 50].
I imported loads of games like MSG1, pocket figters and ridge racer 4 just to play it early. I didnt see a problem and still dont. I paid full price for a full price product that was on legal sale. people import loads of things why should games be different. Nowadays with better release policy and online connectivity there is less point.
BTW i loved boasting that i had MGS1 early until i found out i couldnt play it without a guide.
I imported Phantasy Star version 2 on dreamcast to play it early.
With dreamcast I did this alot Guilty Gear X numerous King of Fighters, Jet Set Radio, Cool Cool Toon, and many others. In PS2 I imported most of the Taiko no Tatsujin games and a couple pop n music as they have limited appear here. And I did get the japanese version of Soul Calibur 2 and Windwaker in the Gamecube days. And the Ouidan's for DS and Jump fighting games for DS.I don't import a while lot though.
Most I have done to play imports mod wise is I got a flip top mod for my PS2(which coincidentally didn't work for Taiko no Tatsujin and I bought a japanese PS2 the ceramic white Prologue one.
Imported Ace Combat Zero:The Belkan War for PS" because I'm such a whore for that series.
*PS2
Rock Band, because Harmonix fucked over Europe for too long.
I live in Germany, so I import most action games to get all the bloody gore.
I imported electroplankton because I didn't think it would get a US release. Kinda regret it now since the actual US release is a rare ds game.
90% of my games i get from America for cheaper/faster.
THANKS EUROPE!
So umm, yes.
The only two games I've ever imported for the purpose of playing them early were Jet Set Radio and Guilty Gear X on the dreamcast. JSR was also my first import game ever. (I miss the days when playing import games was as simple as doing a disc swap with a GameShark or something.)
After seeing a preview for JSR in the Official Dreamcast Magazine, I knew that I needed it right away. I somehow talked my grandparents into ordering it by by phone from a seedy-looking import website. (I was 14 at the time, so no credit card.)
It felt like ages before it arrived in the mail, but the wait was well worth it. It was also one of those nice games where all of the voice acting was in English and the menus were very easy to navigate.
I bought a Super Famicom version on Street Fighter II in the early 90s. Cost me a pretty penny, but it changed my life (read: made it harder for me to get laid when entering high school).
I knew someone who imported Seiken Densetsu 3 because they wanted it... Oh, that's right: SD3 never got a US release.
I still seethe at Square for that...
Pretty much every fighting game on the PS1 and Dreamcast.
I imported a lot of Sega Saturn stuff too. I really miss Burning Rangers.
I can honestly and happily admit that I love to import games, every since the day I read a Super Play magazine review of SNES U.S Chrono Trigger. This was my first import game and it clearly changed my mind completely on the games we get officially, and those japanese/u.s we miss (because of licensing issues, cultural quirkyness etc).
Frankly there's nothing at all wrong with importing games, be it to save money or cut down waiting time. The console kings will tell you crap about it spoiling your warranty, when in truth many peoples warranties have expire. We've seen through this lie everytime, as its clear they are trying to cockblock us.
In a global market, suits at these companies worry about numbers sold where, and this is their new banner excuse to stop us after so long.
The kind of games I import are mostly either japanese games not available in the west (cue the awesome mightyness of Osu Tatakae Ouendan, Eyeshield 21: Max Power Devil, Ouendan 2, Nodame Cantabile etc), and the second reason is for japanese games that reach the U.S shores before they hit europe, or get released at all in the U.K (eg: Front Mission 4, Xenosaga Ep1, Parasite Eve, Einhander etc)
I went as far as getting my PS1 chipped before the powers that be made them illegal in the U.K (thank god I did and kept it, and surpisingly it still works fine today, Thanks CEX.) If my PS2 was chipped I'd get and have more PS2 titles but the stupid ban made that gen difficult. I'm considering buying a U.S PS2, just to get a lot of missed jap gems like SF3 3rd Strike, Fist of the North Star, Last Blade 1 and 2 Collection, Namco vs Capcom, Front Mission 5, etc.
On handheld importing is like mana from heaven, while frowned upon by the gods, its a powerful thing we should all experience yourself or through a friend etc. It really is astounding what we miss out on. Ouendan import popularity got EBA made, but it while fun, it was never the same once it lost all of its original japanese cultural identity and bizarre jap music and faster 60hz.
Is importing wrong? I say no. Either way, the publishers/developers are still receiving fair money for their games, something pirated/ and some DL games don't do at all. Better some cash than none at all, i say.
What have I got early on import to cut time? The most recent game I did this with, was Atlus's Trauma Center 2: Under the Knife. The original I purchased the same way, a good 9-10 months before europe recieved it. On top of that, we get stung here in the U.K buy tax on stuff, and currenty I feel DS and PSP games are overpriced. £15-20 fine, £30 no.
Will I continue to import? Ofcourse, especially since even 360 is now getting some of that region free loving. If I had a Wii, I'd chip that too and stay offline ( I don't have wi-fi anyway. Nintendo can't even get online right anyway, so Live will do just fine.
The entire Japanese catalog of 2D capcom games for the saturn and dreamcast. The last import that I bought early was the first Bleach DS game, but I had no idea that it was coming out here too.
Now that Ha-Puken was so generous to ship his spare US PS2 to me. I will import games more often.