New Import Video Game Store

[Joe Redifer]

Sweet! I'll probably take you up on that. Gotta complete my collection and there are still a few gems I need to get that you seem to have.

Haven't received Gay Lancer yet, not sure when I should expect it but I imagine it will probably show up fairly soon.

[GenkiVideoGames.com]

Yeah man, should be with you very shortly.
Is there a big scene for Japanese Genesis titles? I guess the high value of the carts in Japan would push out a lot of casual gamers and more it more to the hardcore, collectors scene. But I love the box art even for titles like Curse that are fairly common. I've never understood the need to replace the original box art with a bastardised Western version, but I suppose you do get the odd duffer even in Japan.

[Joe Redifer]

The Curse artwork is so bizarre, that's why I like it. Likely the Westernized version would have been redone into a crapily drawn version of a spaceship.

As for the shipping I've waited much longer for stuff from Europe (like the SCART cables in that other thread) so no biggie!

[GenkiVideoGames.com]

Yeah sometimes we wonder if shiitake are the only mushrooms prevalent in Japan. I wonder how much truth there is in the belief that Japanese art doesn't sell games in the West... Still the situation these days is far better for domestic releases at least here in the UK.

[Joe Redifer]

I have a hard time buying the idea of "Gamers don't relate to Japanese box art so we need to change it so that Strider looks like a middle-aged Bruce Willis!" Yes, that's what companies actually think, BUT then you plug in the game and turn it on and what do you see? Japanese art from beginning to end. Where's Bruce Willis? Why didn't they bother changing all of those graphics to something that we westerners would most definitely approve of?

Box art is kind of a sensitive topic for me. It has no bearing on whether I purchase a game or not, but to me it seems cheaper and quicker to use the existing Japanese art in most cases. The mind boggles.

Now granted there is some AWFUL Japanese box art. Phantasy Star 2 comes to mind as does Elemental Master and Devil Crash. They made sure to redo the Phantasy Star 2 box art for the US, but they made sure that it was still awful.

[GenkiVideoGames.com]

Is the situation any better in the States these days or do you not really bother with domestic software? I've always found it peverse that you can wait so long for a domestic releases here in Europe and it is put down to localisation. I mean fair enough translation takes time, but no one ever asked for a dodgy fantasy poster style box picture the like you'd find in Sadam's stately palace.
Yeah you do get some sh*te Japanese box art too, but that shop that sells Western games in Akihabara always looks crude amongst all those Japan only shops. I wonder what the Japanese would make of our game shops with their ugly boxes?

[Obviously]

Considering anime is huge in the States now, the box art never/rarely changes and if it does it's minor. Back in the days of 8 and 16 bit only a few college students with fan made subtitled VHS tapes knew anything about anime.

[GenkiVideoGames.com]

Yeah, it definitely seems that an increase in popularity of anime has helped avoid too much box art censorship these days.

[Joe Redifer]

Well I received Gleylancer earlier today and it was packed extremely well and arrived in great condition! Game works great and so far it is really fun. I bet I can beat it. Wheee!

[GenkiVideoGames.com]

That's great news. It always gives us a buzz to help a fellow collector get a title they have ben searching for. And with sourcing our stock direct from Japan, hopefully you'll agree the condition of the game is good too.
We admire your bravado having sampled the earlier levels, but wish you good luck with the later ones. Personally sufffering from sweaty palm syndrome always hindered my chances (any excuse!) Anyway enjoy the ride.

[Joe Redifer]

You guys don't happen to know of an adapter that lets the smaller DUO type controllers work on the old giant TURBOGRAFX systems do you? I've been searching high and low but still haven't come up with a way to use a 6-button controller on the TurboGrafx-16 (which has the 8 pin giant DIN for a controller port, similar to the Mega Drive 1 A/V output jack). I assume they had something like this in Japan at one point, they had to have.

[GenkiVideoGames.com]

Wow good question. You would think there would be something, but we have never come across anything I'm sorry to say. I mean you'd need the pad to play SFII... Sorry chief you've got me there. Hopefully someone else out there will come to the rescue... Did you ever manage to pick up a convertor for your Turbo Grafx to be able to play PC Engine titles?

[Joe Redifer]

Oh yeah and I can even play SF2 with a 2-button pad. I have a 6-button pad and I'm gonna attempt some surgery. I must try!

I fail to understand why they changed their whole control connector. Then they took that connector and put it on the back of their system and used it as their A/V connector (while still denying RGB output).

[GenkiVideoGames.com]

Mate - we have enough trouble working out what Sega got up to without losing sleep over NEC!
I'm sure you'll be able to get on a game show playing SFII with two buttons. That's something I'd love to see! Been playing the saucy Strip Fighter II recently which has surprisingly good play mechanics. That's the only reason we play, honest!

[GenkiVideoGames.com]

Hi again.
Just by means of an update we have some quite tidy Sega 16 Bit games on their way including:
ThunderForce 3
ThunderForce 2
ThunderForce 4
Verytex
Gaiares
Elemental Master
Guardian Heroes
Magical Hat
Aladdin
FZ Axis (New)
Devastator (MCD)
Final Fight (MCD)
Kamen Rider ZO (MCD)
Soul Face
Switch (MCD)
Aswell as some new Sega (Mega) CD titles!
AX101 (New)
Star Blade (New)
Prince Of Persia (New)
Wonder Dog (New)

Dreamcast titles on the way including:
Power Smash 2
Jet Set Radio
Tokyo Bus Guide
Rez
Mars Matrix
Marvel Vs Capcom 2 New Age
Gunbird 2
King of Fighters 2002
Fatal Fury (Garou Densetsu) Mark of the Wolves
Street Fighter 3 Double Impact
Street Fighter 3 Third Strike
Hanagumi Taisen Columns
Super Street Fighter 2X For Matching Service
Puzzle Bobble 4
along with sealed copies of Dance Dance Revolution 2nd Remix DC Edition...
(Oh and plenty more on the Saturn etc.)
Thanks!
Peter
GenkiVideoGames.com