How much do you import?

[bahn]

Years ago, when I religiously played the PlayStation and Saturn - I did my fair share of importing. My collection consisted of both Tobal games (they NEED to make a sequel...NOW) along with just about every Capcom fighting game (even the ones I sucked at like X-Men: COTA).

These days, I've just gotten out of it -- mostly because I don't live in New York anymore but I am considering getting back into the import scene later this year.

What games do you guys import (if all) and how often do you buy games from Europe and/or Japan.

p.s. I am also wondering just how much there is an interest in this area amongst the entire forum community.

Also, on an unrelated another note -- how many of you pay attention to game chart statistics (e.g. Top 10 games listed by NPD Group or TRST)?

[gamevet]

I don't import games that often. It depends on how easy it is to run on my domestic hardware. The Saturn was easy to play imports on, but I only bought Vampire Savior and Wing Arms for it. My Dreamcast was home to Shenmue II (Europe) and Border Down.

I only bought those import games, because I could find them in my local stores. Online shopping has never been big on my list.


I'm always interested in the sales charts. I read about them in magazines, but they are always 2 months behind. I occasionally check out the-magicbox charts to see how well games are selling overseas.

[Scourge]

I'm not an avid importer, but do occasionally buy Japanese games. I am interested in import coverage. As for charts, I read them when I run across them, but if I had to choose space for a site or mag between import coverage and charts, I'd drop the charts and add more import coverage.

[rezo]

If I'm buying a new game, it's probably domestic,and if I'm buying an old game, it's probably an import.

[NeoZeedeater]

I rarely import anymore. North America isn't deprived of as much good stuff as it once was and there are so many cheap domestic releases I need to catch up with.

[Scourge]

If I'm buying a new game, it's probably domestic,and if I'm buying an old game, it's probably an import.

Yeah, to add to what I said before, I'm just as interested in, if not moreso, coverage of imports for older systems. DC and SNES are easy to play imports on and I'm always looking for stuff for them.

[Mzo]

I buy domestic whenever the option is there. If I have no choice, then import. I don't really enjoy paying extra to have a game in a language I don't understand.

[oceanfrrJ]

I import more than domestic !

[Jeremy]

I haven't imported anything for a current console, as there just isn't enough that I want to warrant going through the hassle of having a system modded. I enjoyed importing occasionally during the 32-bit days though.

[gamevet]

I buy domestic whenever the option is there. If I have no choice, then import. I don't really enjoy paying extra to have a game in a language I don't understand.

That's my main problem with playing imports. Unless it's a shooter or a fighter, I'm usually not interested. There's no way I'm paying to play an RPG, when I have no idea what the characters are saying. I don't care if I can download a gamefaq, on what is going on. The experience just is'nt the same.