I am now living in Japan

[rainnyx4]

Late July, I moved to Sapporo with my girlfriend. Obviously, I'm salivating at all the video game stuff I can get here with great ease. But, that's the problem. I'm not exactly sure what I should be trying to attain. The only systems I brought with me were my American Wii, PS3, and DS. I know the Wii is region locked so there's slim pickings for that but the PS3, DS, GBA, and GBC games should be ok right?

Also, as far as retro-gaming what should I be looking for to bring back? I have pretty much every major system but only the Saturn and Dreamcast will play imports easily. Is it worth it to buy any Japanese systems? I mean, am I really missing out on that many good games by not owning them?

I'm thinking the best stuff to buy would be peripherals that are hard to come by in America. Stuff like Samba De Amigo Maracas, GameCube Component Cables, etc. Are there ever any compatibility problems with stuff like this?

I know there was a Japanese Gaming Mega Store thread a while back. I messaged the OP but he doesn't have any info on stores in Sapporo. Does anyone know where the best places to shop are in the Sapporo area?

[Breetai]

Late July, I moved to Sapporo with my girlfriend. Obviously, I'm salivating at all the video game stuff I can get here with great ease. But, that's the problem. I'm not exactly sure what I should be trying to attain. The only systems I brought with me were my American Wii, PS3, and DS. I know the Wii is region locked so there's slim pickings for that but the PS3, DS, GBA, and GBC games should be ok right?

Also, as far as retro-gaming what should I be looking for to bring back? I have pretty much every major system but only the Saturn and Dreamcast will play imports easily. Is it worth it to buy any Japanese systems? I mean, am I really missing out on that many good games by not owning them?

I'm thinking the best stuff to buy would be peripherals that are hard to come by in America. Stuff like Samba De Amigo Maracas, GameCube Component Cables, etc. Are there ever any compatibility problems with stuff like this?

I know there was a Japanese Gaming Mega Store thread a while back. I messaged the OP but he doesn't have any info on stores in Sapporo. Does anyone know where the best places to shop are in the Sapporo area?

PC Engine!!! Seriously, you need this. Easiest way is to get a PC Engine Duo (original, Duo-R or Duo-RX).

Super Famicom and N64 games will work on American systems were *very* minimal physical mods. *Most* Mega Drive games will work on an American Genesis. So, feel free to pick up games for those systems.

As far as cables and accessories go, I've never heard of any compatability issues. You should be fine.

[otaku]

sweet man! Hell I still haven't made it their for a vacation! (soon hopefully but likely not until after college and debts are paid sucks) anyway hope you enjoy your stay is it going to be a long term or temporary existence there? is your gf japanese if you don't mind my asking?

[rainnyx4]

@Breetai: I was thinking about picking up some PC-Engine stuff while I'm here. Though I was leaning more towards the Neo-Geo side if I was going to start collecting for a new system. May go all out and try to do both!

I'm aware of the minimal mods required to play Super Famicom and N64 games, though I'd rather not ugly up my systems. So I don't think I'll be purchasing any of those. I wasn't aware that Japanese Mega-Drive games would work on my Genesis. Which games in particular that will work are worth picking up?

@otaku: My girlfriend is actually Filipino. Though everyone here assumes she's Japanese which causes a lot of confusion when people see us together and automatically start speaking Japanese to her, assuming that I don't speak the language. When in reality, I'm the only one capable of speaking Japanese!

I'll be here for at least one year. Though it will most likely end up being 2 or 3 years.

[Breetai]

@Breetai: I was thinking about picking up some PC-Engine stuff while I'm here. Though I was leaning more towards the Neo-Geo side if I was going to start collecting for a new system. May go all out and try to do both!

Go for it! In all honest, though... the PC Engine is much better to collect for IMO. For the Neo, the CD console is good; it's easy to find for cheap and some of the games are really cheap. Unfortunately, by "some of the games" I mean most of the early fighting games. Just about anything else is expensive. If you go for the AES, it's a lot harder to find cheap consoles and games for it (aside from the same older popular fighting games). Plus, the cartridges are HUGE and HEAVY. They're difficult to ship back to your home country. I'd just pick up the Neo Geo ports on the Saturn, since they're almost as good anyway.

The PC Engine has a ton of fun games that you just can't find on other systems, save for maybe the Wii Virtual Console. Even then, a lot of the cool games haven't been released. I completely recommend getting a PC Engine CD set-up. Again, Duo, Duo-R or Duo-RX is the easiest route.

I'm aware of the minimal mods required to play Super Famicom and N64 games, though I'd rather not ugly up my systems.

In all honesty, the only modding you'd do is internal. You won't even see any of the mods. Seriously, go for it!

So I don't think I'll be purchasing any of those. I wasn't aware that Japanese Mega-Drive games would work on my Genesis. Which games in particular that will work are worth picking up?

Honestly, most of the Genesis games you'd want were also released in America. However, you can find them much, much, much more easily and cheaper here in Japan. Most of the games will work(some newer ones won't), although, like the N64 and Genesis, the Japanese carts won't fit in an American system without doing something. In the case of the Genesis, get a Game Genie. The Japanese games fit into it and therefore save you from having to mod your system.

I'll be here for at least one year. Though it will most likely end up being 2 or 3 years.

That's what I said... 4 1/2 years ago.

[MrPopo]

I'm aware of the minimal mods required to play Super Famicom and N64 games, though I'd rather not ugly up my systems.

Inside the N64 and the SNES cart slot you'll find two plastic tabs. You take a pair of pliers and gently work them back and forth until the tabs pop off. Viola, you are now import-capable.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

I'm aware of the minimal mods required to play Super Famicom and N64 games, though I'd rather not ugly up my systems.

Inside the N64 and the SNES cart slot you'll find two plastic tabs. You take a pair of pliers and gently work them back and forth until the tabs pop off. Viola, you are now import-capable.

You copuld just swap the back of a Japanese N64 cartridge with the back of an American one as well for an ugly free mod.

[Dakinggamer87]

sweet man! Hell I still haven't made it their for a vacation!

Yeah, same here someday..

[Upsidedown Fuji]

Welcome to Japan. Racketboy Japaners unite!

Hard stuff to find in the USA? Maracas are a great start. I'd also try to hunt down a collector's copy of Space Channel 5 Part 2 for Dreamcast. White Saturns are easy to find in Japan and easy to mod to play all regions. Wiis are very easy to mod if you know the right places to look online... I'm out of ideas.

[aaron]

if you wanted to get me some GC component cables and send them to me, i wouldn't be sad. just saying.

also, start listening to the sex machineguns.