I find the differences between the Japanese and western games markets really interesting, assuming that the US and PAL markets aren't too dissimilar. I'm surprised to hear that the Mega Drive didn't sell too well in Japan, I'd have thought that the numbers would be a lot bigger.
It's funny that what sold very well in one country can flop in another. It's then funny that that system can be treated to some select titles because it's sold well in said country and the library be restricted in the country it didn't fair so well in. The Megadrive sales were staggering considering how well regarded the system is, at least by us Western folks. Could it be down to advertisement power? I know the Saturn had some clever ads here in Japan and that could contribute to its great success of when compared to sales elsewhere. It's something I'll be doing more research on anyhow. Thanks for the comment once again!
Interesting video there , I've always been on the shelf regarding Japanese games , I have a few Japanese Saturn games but always preferred Pal on any Console ...... A lot of people collecting Super Famicom now which just pushes the prices up ... I collect Gameboy Advance which as a small following , prices are starting to increase ... Collected for it when games were fairly cheap.
Wholesale collecting of Japanese games is my only viable option now. When I look at the cost of games from America and God forbid the UK, I would just never be able to afford those prices. Or to put it another way, I probably could but if be able to collect about 5% of the same titles I have for the same price. I never dreamed of collecting Japanese completely, but yeah it seems like a fantastic idea now I'm here. The games run at 60Hz, the cost is cheaper, the box art is nicer and there is just so much availability. It's nice to be able to pick and choose single games or lots where I'm guaranteed a great game for a reasonable price. Those days of finding bargains for systems like the SNES and the N64 have gone. A few years back GC and XBOX games could be picked up cheap in the UK, but still weren't exactly plentiful. GBA games are nice, but I'm don't collect them. I love my GBA player on my GameCube, and I like a lot of the library, but I just don't like handhelds very much since the only free time I have is at home where I have a TV and consoles do it seems pointless. I do appreciate the library though, and the RPG remakes, the stand alone Nintendo franchise games and such are very collectable. I like the boxes too, think I even prefer the Japanese ones shape and box art over the UK ones. Anyway, thanks for the comment!
I agree mate, SFC is the way to go for many reasons. Do you think the general lack of living space is perhaps the reason why there aren't many if any Japanese collectors out there? They are near impossible to find on youtube.
It might have something to do with it, but I think the main issue is the language barrier for most people. Saying that, I don't have a problem with the majority of the SFC games that are non RPG. Most NA and EU/AUS collectors usually have a few token titles in their collection. My guess is that people assume, before they begin to collect, that they need some kind of Japanese fluency to play the games, which isn't true. I think with the scarcity of PAL games and increasingly NTSC USA games then collecting for systems like the SFC and the N64 will be viable and equally enjoyable options.
I was referring to the Japanese people themselves, mate. :p From what I can see there aren't too many collectors out there, even despite the obvious abundance of perfectly conditioned retro games out there.
Looks like my waffle rocket took off too early!! I think living space is a big factor. They do live in tiny places here. Another factor is that I think Japanese people have a different attitude to second hand things, they generally like brand new. The majority of gamers probably download games from the PS network or Nintendo or Xbox equivalent. It suits me down to the ground. One day they'll realize they've sold off half of their electronics heritage and they'll be trying to buy it back at 10 times the price.
Gotta love those 'junk' bins, eh? That stuff would be 50x the price over here! I regret not buying more during my visit in 2011, most of the stuff I had in my hands and put back down is going for crazy money on ebay.
Well mate, it's 9:30 am here, and I'm just getting ready for a jaunt at Hard-off. Sorry to rub it in! I know what you mean though about missing out, but still plenty time to invest. May get some footage of today's jaunt.
I find the differences between the Japanese and western games markets really interesting, assuming that the US and PAL markets aren't too dissimilar. I'm surprised to hear that the Mega Drive didn't sell too well in Japan, I'd have thought that the numbers would be a lot bigger.
It's funny that what sold very well in one country can flop in another. It's then funny that that system can be treated to some select titles because it's sold well in said country and the library be restricted in the country it didn't fair so well in.
The Megadrive sales were staggering considering how well regarded the system is, at least by us Western folks.
Could it be down to advertisement power? I know the Saturn had some clever ads here in Japan and that could contribute to its great success of when compared to sales elsewhere.
It's something I'll be doing more research on anyhow.
Thanks for the comment once again!
Interesting video there , I've always been on the shelf regarding Japanese games , I have a few Japanese Saturn games but always preferred Pal on any Console ...... A lot of people collecting Super Famicom now which just pushes the prices up ... I collect Gameboy Advance which as a small following , prices are starting to increase ... Collected for it when games were fairly cheap.
Wholesale collecting of Japanese games is my only viable option now. When I look at the cost of games from America and God forbid the UK, I would just never be able to afford those prices. Or to put it another way, I probably could but if be able to collect about 5% of the same titles I have for the same price.
I never dreamed of collecting Japanese completely, but yeah it seems like a fantastic idea now I'm here. The games run at 60Hz, the cost is cheaper, the box art is nicer and there is just so much availability. It's nice to be able to pick and choose single games or lots where I'm guaranteed a great game for a reasonable price. Those days of finding bargains for systems like the SNES and the N64 have gone.
A few years back GC and XBOX games could be picked up cheap in the UK, but still weren't exactly plentiful.
GBA games are nice, but I'm don't collect them. I love my GBA player on my GameCube, and I like a lot of the library, but I just don't like handhelds very much since the only free time I have is at home where I have a TV and consoles do it seems pointless. I do appreciate the library though, and the RPG remakes, the stand alone Nintendo franchise games and such are very collectable. I like the boxes too, think I even prefer the Japanese ones shape and box art over the UK ones.
Anyway, thanks for the comment!
I agree mate, SFC is the way to go for many reasons. Do you think the general lack of living space is perhaps the reason why there aren't many if any Japanese collectors out there? They are near impossible to find on youtube.
It might have something to do with it, but I think the main issue is the language barrier for most people. Saying that, I don't have a problem with the majority of the SFC games that are non RPG. Most NA and EU/AUS collectors usually have a few token titles in their collection. My guess is that people assume, before they begin to collect, that they need some kind of Japanese fluency to play the games, which isn't true.
I think with the scarcity of PAL games and increasingly NTSC USA games then collecting for systems like the SFC and the N64 will be viable and equally enjoyable options.
I was referring to the Japanese people themselves, mate. :p From what I can see there aren't too many collectors out there, even despite the obvious abundance of perfectly conditioned retro games out there.
Looks like my waffle rocket took off too early!! I think living space is a big factor. They do live in tiny places here. Another factor is that I think Japanese people have a different attitude to second hand things, they generally like brand new. The majority of gamers probably download games from the PS network or Nintendo or Xbox equivalent.
It suits me down to the ground. One day they'll realize they've sold off half of their electronics heritage and they'll be trying to buy it back at 10 times the price.
Gotta love those 'junk' bins, eh? That stuff would be 50x the price over here! I regret not buying more during my visit in 2011, most of the stuff I had in my hands and put back down is going for crazy money on ebay.
Well mate, it's 9:30 am here, and I'm just getting ready for a jaunt at Hard-off. Sorry to rub it in! I know what you mean though about missing out, but still plenty time to invest.
May get some footage of today's jaunt.