Job Discussion Forums

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

Could someone please tell me some names and locations of the stores that sell import (ie north american) game consoles and video games? I'm starting to regret not bringing my PS2 and games over here with me :'(
Also is it possible to buy a modded PS2 in Akihabara? I wouldn't mind being able to play Japanese videogames or movies if I wanted to.

Thanks

Brendan

Senshixena · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 16 Location: USA

Since someone brought this up...is it true that the US PS2 won't work properly b/c of volatge problems? Is it worth bringing the PS2 over or is it a better bet to just buy one in Japan?

Hoser, I guess you would say definitely bring it over Smile

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Try LAOX in Akihabara. They have a big selection of export models. It's about three minutes walk from Akihabara station. Take the exit for Electric Town... You'll see it once you exit the station.

Willy_In_Japan · Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 329

I go to Akihabara all the time, and SELDOM see North American consoles or games. Any North American games I have ever seen have been quite high priced 'imports'.

My suggestion is to pick up a Japanese game system and play the games that dont take a lot of japanese knowledge....and on your next trip home grab your game system. Of course any high powered PC can run a ton of emulators.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Funny this topic should come up... I was thinking of buying a Gameboy... I'm a kid at heart... But before I shelled out any money I started looking over the selection of games..... I couldn't find a single one I would enjoy playing.... What happened to all the games I liked when I had my first Gameboy? I enjoy: racing games, sports games (football, golf, tennis, hockey, etc) and Mario-style games.. I also like a good shoot-em-up... Jeez, everything I see nowadays is all elaborate plots, adventures, anime-style whatsits, I dunno.. I guess no one is in the market for anything "simple" anymore.

Oh well, it's not like I have that much time to play games anyway.....

Smile

Oh, and just so I don't get accused of threadjacking.... Look for any storefront that has a huge "Duty-Free" sign... That usually means they sell stuff meant for export. Dunno if that includes games and consoles though. But LAOX was the best suggestion in this thread thus far.

Celeste · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:23 pm Post subject:

Hey, do any techies know if my japanese PS2 will work in Canada- also, does anyone know if there is a chip that will allow me to play N.American gmaes on it? I know there are chips that will let N. American consoles play import games, but I haven't been able to find info (in English) about the Japanese consoles.

Willy_In_Japan · Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 329

Your Japanese Playstation will work in Canada/US, but of course will only play Japanese region games. So, if you took your whole collection home, it should work on your Japanese console, as the TV system is the same (NTSC)

I know the original Playstation was quite 'chipable' to take out copy protections and region protections, but I do know that later versions were more difficult to 'chip'. Also, the people doing these mods had pressure put on them by the authorities, as it was considered 'illegal'.

Playstation Portables, PSP, are region coded also. One bought here will only play Japanese games. I just picked up a PSP, and I got a driving game (Ridge racer) a puzzle game (Puzzle Bobble) and a Namco Arcade game collection (Galaga, Pacman, Dig Dug etc with originals and updates). In addition the PSP plays MP3s, displays pictures and plays movies. You might want to consider one of those.

The Game boy advance games might not be to your liking, but you can pick up a Game Boy Color for about 1000 yen, and I found a street vendor in Akihabara that sold me a 108 in 1 Game Boy Color cart. It has all the old game boy games you remember, and is probably the way to go. It cost me 2000 yen.

My suggestion to anyone living here for a time is to pick up a Japanese system. Forget trying to get a North American system. You will just pay through the nose.

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

I bought the PSP for my boyfriend and had it sent to him. He bought video games in Canada and they work perfectly fine. You cannot watch any movies on it though.

I am going to buy the pink Gameboy DS in Japan and he already did the research for me and says that the North American video games will work for it.

I brought my gamecube with me, but I dont think any of the games will work if I buy them here. Unfortunetly I cant try since you can't rent video games in Japan Sad

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

Gah! I'm really feel like kicking myself now. I should have brought my PS2 and games-I came in under the weight limit so i could have done it if i wanted to. And I could have just gotten it chipped so that it would play Japanese movies >.<

Senshixena · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 16 Location: USA

Hoser, I assume it would be too expensive to buy one from N.A. and have it shipped over there? Though I hear the new model PS2's are either difficult to be modded/ can't be modded.

I guess I will bring mine over, and just use the computer to play dvd's. Another tip: playing dvd's on PS2's burns it out faster. I have seen proof, this is not a rumor.On the new model, I have no idea.

Can anybody advise on the safest way to ship the PS2?

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

Playing DVDs on a modded PS2 will burn it out.

I was warned about this at the asian mall I went to when I bought a modded PS/2. I think my friend ignored it and started to watched DVDs with it. 3 years later, it only plays some of the games now Sad

Sody · Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 55

Hoser, did you end up buying a PS2 or shipping your NA one over? I am curious because I was considering buying one here in NA before I leave. It's $179 here in Canada.

Senshixena, wouldn't be best to bring it as a carry on? I think most airlines would permit it, perhaps someone could confirm this. I know people who have brought their desktop system units as carry ons so I think they would allow you to bring a PS2.

Sody

Senshixena · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 16 Location: USA

Sody,I think i will try to bring it with me since I don't plan on bringing a laptop. If you don't plan on brining one, you could consider the same for yours. One upside to buying it here, is that you can buy enough used games here to tide you over for a while.

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

Safest way to chip a PS2 is to get someone else to do it who knows what the heck they are doing Smile

You need to be able to solder.

I think I am going to get my friend to purchase and mail me a new modded PS2. Apparently they cost about $300 in Toronto. I don't know if that is tax included or not. That's not too bad considering that it costs over $200 for a new PS2 plus probably $50 for the chip and $50 for the install.

They can chip the slim PS2's now and that's what I'm going to get. I would just purchase it here but I honestly have no idea where to go to find these kinds of things.

I've also heard that watching DVD's on a modded PS2 will burn it out faster. I don't know whether this is more fact or rumour but I will certainly agree that there is a possibility of this.

Sour Grape · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 241

The branch of Laox you want is called Asobit City. They have import DS, PSP, X-boy and PS2 games, as well as a few PC games too. Not a great selection, but better than nothing. I think it's on the fifth floor.