Genesis Around the World: Akihabara

[Melf]

Gamers around the world long to visit Akihabara, Japan. Long known as a haven of everything retro, it holds many items that westerners can only obtain online, if at all. Some are lucky enough to find themselves in such a great place for spending their deflated dollars on everything Mega Drive, and staff writer Rodger Swan is one such man. Sega-16's very own Man in Japan gives us a brief tour of one of his outings to the famed electronics district in the newest edition (http://www.sega-16.com/2007/12/genesis-around-the-world-akihabara/) of Genesis Around the World. Read on dear friend, and don't forget to bring some napkins. Trust us, you'll need them.

[InternalPrimate]

Awesome, awesome, awesome feature Roger. Loved the video. There's a reason I spend waaaaay too much time on this site during work :D

[ThunderForce]

Time to bust the Akiba bubble:

Akiba is full of rip-off artist of game prices.

Good number of shops in Akiba cost a lot more than most of the Japanese shops in Japan.

Ok, I have a really good friend in Japan who lives in Northern Japan. He used to go to Akiba all the time to buy games and etc, thinking Akiba is the best for games. One day he start going to his local shops in Northern Japan. Prices in North Japan are really cheaper than most of the Akiba game shops. For example my friend once show me a photo of Puyo Puyo complete for Megadrive at Super Potato for $20. Then he show me a complete copy of the same game at his nearby game shop for $3. You can still get good deals at Akiba, but according to my friend you're much better off getting your games outside Toyko because games are so much cheaper elsewhere. He doesn't go to Akiba that much anymore, just to play some pinball and get some arcade PCBs. Prices are so terrible that you don't want to shop in Akiba anymore. I already knew for years that Akiba are full of shit for prices. I mean why the hell I want to spend $20 for one game when I can get it cheaper for $5.

Now, once again you can still get good deals at Akiba time to time. But the costly vs. cheap ratio is a lot higher outside Akiba. For example, my friend was searching for Alien Solider for me. Most if not all Akiba shops wanted $150+ for it. He got it for me at a shop in Northern Japan for $95. When you buy games in places other than Akiba, rare games are a lot less than what Akiba, and auction sites ask for.

Another example, Nekketsu Oyako for the Saturn (a OK Tecnosoft Final Fight rip-off beat 'em up) goes for $20-$40 in Akiba. My friend got it for me for whopping $5.

Akiba is nice and all, but if you want to be smart with your money you can do your game shopping elsewhere.

[Genesis Knight]

Tiiiiiiiiiight. Excellent, Rodger, excellent!

@Fighter17; yeah, I'm sure you're right (wish I had 'friends' like you do) but I guess the appeal of Akihabara is the crazy *volume* of stuff and the selection. There's so much crap in one place that it's like gaming heaven, even if it is expensive.

[Aarzak]

GREAT article, only re-invigorated my desire to visit Japan one day. Although one of my main motivations for going is because..........*sigh*, I have something to admit guys................


I have a serious case of yellow fever. :(

[TmEE]

You're not the only one !!!

That is another reason for me to visit Japan someday !!!

[Rusty Venture]

Akihabara is one of the reasons why I forbid myself to set foot in Japan.

[VinnyT]

Akihabara is one of the reasons why I forbid myself to set foot in Japan.
Wow, i'm surprised. With all those LEGAL whorehouses....

[ThunderForce]

@Fighter17; yeah, I'm sure you're right (wish I had 'friends' like you do) but I guess the appeal of Akihabara is the crazy *volume* of stuff and the selection. There's so much crap in one place that it's like gaming heaven, even if it is expensive.

It's crazy at first. But once you clam down and think about the prices you'll say "WTF!!??"

They are other places to get your games than Akiba, and cheaply too.

[Rusty Venture]

Wow, i'm surprised. With all those LEGAL whorehouses....

There you go again, confusing your reason for going to Japan with why I would go.

[kylera]

The problem with those who aren't as literate in the language is that we can't really find them unless we have a guide or some sort.

Oh well, body language is universal.

[Zebbe]

MEGA AWESOME feature. Now I wish even more I can visit Japan someday.

[VinnyT]

There you go again, confusing your reason for going to Japan with why I would go.
Well, you ARE the boards resident pervert..... :p

[Rodger]

cool thanks a lot guys, glad the feature is getting positive buzz. And I'm happy to see the link to the video I made also highlighting akihabara!

It's true, one can find cheaper games elsewhere, but the overwhelming volume of games in one place is still too much to ignore. However, the pawn shops near my dorm room tend to have some good deals on games, but the selections tend to be quite crap most of the time. Like I said, you gotta be careful in Akiba and look around, but I find the hunt to be half the fun :)

[Rusty Venture]

Well, you ARE the boards resident pervert..... :p

Not enough to frequent one of them places.


Rodger long time no uh...see, how are things there in Japan?

[grittykitty]

cool article! akihabara in general is hit and miss - i went twice this summer while staying in japan, the first time i left empty handed and irritated. the second time a month later, i found a like-new, complete copy of monster world IV for about 1900 yen! i also found some other gems for cheap (like wani wani world) and a few games i didn't realize had stateside releases that i overpaid a couple bucks for. i think a pen and notepad is definitely necessary for comparison shopping, and it also makes the hunt a little more fun.

on the other side of the country, den den town in osaka is also noteworthy - it's like the short, chubby cousin of akihabara. again, hit or miss as far as prices. but, it also has some stores with nice atmosphere.

[ary incorparated]

Akihabara is one of the reasons why I forbid myself to set foot in Japan.

Why have you seen those basements :b .

Great work Megadrivenawesome Japan looks so cool.

[Dave White]

The Japanese must trust there customers more than the US. I mean looking at the photos it looks like the customer can look through game cases like he's looking at books on a shelf. It even looks like systems are out where the customer can handle them. I wish it was like that here in the USA. Instead I always have to bug a an employee, who hates life, to take a game out from under glass so I can see it's condition and then say "no thanks" because it's missing pieces.

[Rusty Venture]

Why have you seen those basements :b .

Great work Megadrivenawesome Japan looks so cool.


I saw those stores. I need to stay away because I need to keep what little money I have.

I can't spend it all on games, Godzilla stuff, and DVD's.

[TmEE]

You can leave your wallet at home (or where-ever you stay), and just look around.

[ary incorparated]

I saw those stores. I need to stay away because I need to keep what little money I have.

I can't spend it all on games, Godzilla stuff, and DVD's.

Inddeed.

[Rusty Venture]

That's not very fun, now is it?

I could probably resist video games as I could avoid the areas and stores (keyword: probably) but other temptations are all over the place.

Some DVD, some shirt with awesomely hilarious Engrish on it, etc.

[Melf]

I want a t-shirt that says:

CONGRATURATIONS!

a WINNAR IS YOU!

:D

[ary incorparated]

I've seen T shirts with Dio hazuki on it there,if you make it Hazuki Dio then it will be the brother of robert James?.

[Rusty Venture]

Holy Diver

You've been down too long in the midnight sea...

[Iron Lizard]

On one of the local rock stations here they had an interview with Dio and they asked him what the hell Holy Diver was about. I swear to good he said " It is bout a scuba diver... and he is religious"

[Rusty Venture]

I'm no Dio expert, but I think he is quite the joker.

[ary incorparated]

I'm no Dio expert, but I think he is quite the joker.

listen to shenmue on DC they say Dio instead of RIO.

[Rusty Venture]

I'm talking about Ronnie James Dio.

Religious scuba diver? :lol:

[The Sports Guy]

Ronnie James Dio: God of Rock.

[ary incorparated]

Ronnie James Dio: God of Rock.

that one i meant.

[Epicenter]

I'd like to parrot what Fighter17 said about prices; from the pictures I've seen of items in Akihabara, e.g. at Super Potato, they're overpriced by a good bit compared to the prices in Northeastern japan, in Aomori province where I am presently stationed. That said it takes more effort looking around and hoping to find something here than in Akihabara where there's shit-tons of stuff but for higher prices.

I'll be going to Akihabara soon (in a few weeks) and I'll be taking plenty of photos, and unless I missed my guess bringing a lot of stuff back... ;) I'll probably do a write up on Epic Gaming about it when I return.

[Rodger]

Hey guys, glad to see that the akihabara article generated a lot of interest. Haha, I've continued my sega gaming in Japan, this past week I caved in and bought a Japanese Sega Saturn.. and already like 17 games... and two boxed arcade pads... but it's cost me maybe... $80 total? Not bad if I do say so myself haha. I'd like to write another Japan Gaming special for you guys when I get more time, this week is finals week for me at Keio, but after that I'll have a nice break (and a chance to play all my new games lol)