Is importing cheaper for you?

[Jay]

How so? Games are games no? Just because you can't play it on your TV you won't pay?

I don't pay 40 quid for games I can play on my TV either.

[J0e Musashi]

I don't pay 40 quid for games I can play on my TV either.

Well that's fair enough, but your original post didn't make that clear.

[englishbob]

Only used to get imports for a few important reasons...

(1) No borders, full screen, full speed versions
(2) No silly 6-12 months wait for PAL release, and then be crap because of point (1)
(3) Cheaper and better editions generally.

Now due to the next-gen, most of those points aren't valid. Although I am still confused by the way Xbox 360 games still make the PAL/NTSC distinction, you are generally getting the same full screen, full speed game as the rest of the world.

Release dates are much closer now (save Demon Souls), but annoyingly the Americans still get the games first, which in an "online" tournement world is a head start, but then I guess if they didn't get the first the world would end. Or something.

Cost was never a major factor with imports for me, but it does all add up. I would gladly buy more Japanese 360 shooters, but the outdated region coding factor is blocking my legitimate pounds to buy legitimate goods, a strange way of "blocking" making more money for yourselves.

I still import all my Blu-Rays from the US though. I mean they have the 5 disc Blade Runner. And smaller cases. Those UK boxes are twice the size, for no good reason.

[Decider-VT]

I'm one of the lucky few that benefits from a staff discount on games so importing is a rare thing for me these days- usually retro only, or if I think that a game will have a low run or simply won't be released here.

I served a couple of Austrian tourists at work on Saturday. They were spending £80 on a few 360 games in the sale and seemed to be really excited. After their transaction was finished they told me that they'd usually have to spend that amount to buy one game back home!

[Jay]

Well that's fair enough, but your original post didn't make that clear.

Sorry dad.

I do make the odd exception and import expensive stuff. Esp2 and Mushi are recent examples. I'll probably grit my teeth and fork out for Hyakumanton, but I do miss the days of cheaper imports.

[elaniel]

I very rarely import any more. I have a US Wii, and it's getting very expensive importing games from the USA now. About £42-£43 with shipping.

Now that I have my Wii "sorted" I don't really import any more unless there is a time lag with releases, or I find a very good deal. Especially with shorter window releases (US gets game on Tuesday, I get around Wed/Thurs due to shipping early, sometimes earlier) and actual discounts on preorders which very rarely happens in the USA.

PS2 I used to always import for, but this generation it's very rarely that I do now. Really only the new DDR games from Japan and a few others.

[Johnny]

No way. Remember the days when a new Asian 360 release was sub-?30? I have a US and JPN Wii so buying games is more or less the same as UK prices, I buy, where I can, UK versions of PS3 games now and only have a JPN 360 so it gets expensive.

Getting pretty sick of the likes of Playasia too. I can wait a month or two here in the UK and a game will be half price or less. Take a look at the "bargains" section of PA. They consider a few quid off a game that's been out years to be a great offer

[J0e Musashi]

Rememeber back in teh day when JPN MD games were cheaper than UK releases? I remember buying DJ Boy for £16 brand new. Then once the SFC came out imports were suddenly more expensive. Was that sommat to do with the EU or sommat?

[Yakumo]

Hmm, so it looks like us in Japan and some parts of Europe are better off importing due to local prices being sky high. Sad to hear about the situation in the UK regarding imports. Still, at least new games now cost the same as they did in the 16bit days, 35 pounds or there abouts.

[112]

Rememeber back in teh day when JPN MD games were cheaper than UK releases? I remember buying DJ Boy for £16 brand new. Then once the SFC came out imports were suddenly more expensive. Was that sommat to do with the EU or sommat?

I think it was more likely to do with popularity in video games at that point - the market grew and so like anythign else in the business world, a decent profit could be made, hence the price hike....... Then again I could be talking shat as that's the first reason that popped into my head....... In addition IIRC snes hardware and carts cost a lot more to mass produce when it first dropped....... Or is that the shat talking again

112

[Ouenben]

Thankfully I was able to get a friend in Canada to get me no more heroes 2 for $20 from Walmart, some sort of sale.

[Kubrick]

SFC games were just generally expensive, full stop. When EDGE magazine was still l33t, they used to state the proper Japanese price in their reviews and it was often Y8800 or thereabouts.

[112]

Thankfully I was able to get a friend in Canada to get me no more heroes 2 for $20 from Walmart, some sort of sale.

Yes, but can you live with the French text on the back of the box? Cos Joe Musashi can't........

This is something I've noticed a few peeps I know do - import for the sake of it....... Where the look of the cover pains them so much they must get the Japanese/US one. An prefference I am so glad I dropped, otherwise I be broke........

112

[mr_sockochris]

The exchange rate has pretty much killed importing for me. US/JPN Wii games have gone from being just under £30 to just over £40 since launch

[ince]

i used to import to get games earlier mainly.

now i just stick to pal stuff. can't remember the last time i imported a game.