Buying JAP Games, and not understanding them.

[Sketcz]

Well said saur

Personally, Japanese games made me interested in Japanese language and culture, and now that I know more about it, I appreciate it on a completely seperate level from gaming.

See? "Gaming" stripping down cultural barriers the world over, and they say it needs to mature as a medium. pah!

[Kubrick]

Yeah, about 95% of my games are Japanese, and I will always seek out the JP version where possible- even in cases where the USA/PAL versions get released first and I have to wait (1080 for example).

They just feel better value and the reasons why have already been given, but I'll give a special mention to GBA games, they are especially lush compared to UK ones.
The carts themselves have a much harder-wearing shiny laminated sticker instead of a papery one, plus the boxes (also laminated) and artwork are of course way cooler...even the flaps inside usually have some cool little logo or something printed on them!

I'm not a huge fan of "story" games, or Western-made games for that matter, so I don't think I miss out on much...

I've noticed though, that with the newer consoles, the games are becoming less import-friendly and have a lot more Japanese characters in them than they did a few years ago...I guess it's because it's easier to read them on the higher resolutions of today's machines.

[Ady]

I prefer playing my games in a language I understand.

The exception is with arcade-style games where it doesn't really matter.

[Che Musashi]

I had a similar topic somewhere else. What do you do when your playing a game you don't understand. Here's what I do... keep playing.

Seriously though, I have games I don't understand. I still don't know the story in PN3, but it doesn't phase me. I'm impatient and like Saur said Japan gets all the good Omake with their games.

I know when Sengoku Musou hits in a less than 10 days. I'm going to be sacrificing story so I can play it. But if I'm really inclined I'll buy the US version, though I don't feel compelled too.

Worst case scenario if you don't understand the language but like the game, just go ahead and make a story up. I do.

[JammyD]

I've got Nebula Echonight on order, which would be the first JPN game I've imported which has a significant amount of Japanese voiceovers and text. I'm not sure it'll get released outside Japan and I am curious to see how I'll find it since it's a horror adventure game where story matters. I'm already familiar with the game's plot and I'm hoping that the cutscenes will tell me what I need to know as I play through.

Siren is another such game I'll be importing soon; I value atmosphere and authenticity before dialogue with rubbish localisation.

Up till now I'd just bought language friendly JPN games, eg. SSBM, Rez or 2D shooters which are straightforward to understand.

[Len]

I prefer playing my games in a language I understand.

The exception is with arcade-style games where it doesn't really matter.

I have to agree with the above sentiments. Ok the packaging may be of a slightly better quality (ok a lot better in some cases) but I really haven't got time to trial and error my way through a game anymore, I'd like to play it as it was meant to be played (i.e. the player understanding everthing). Each to their own though. That said Siren is tempting me...

Must be an age thing as was also mentioned earlier...

[JU!]

I've always personally bought Japanese, even when i had no understanding of the language, now i'm learning Kanji n know Katakana n Hiragana this is not as bad n my Japanese can only get better. Usually the wait is to painful for me for translation. Initial D is a good example of this wait, is it even out in the U.S? As mentioned before box art is nearly always better for Japanese release n as Saur pointed out omissions that r made to U.S n PAL vers i find can sometimes not make sense, n although these omissions can be tiny n make no difference to the game, i want the game the way it was supposed to be.

Sometimes now tho the wait can be beneficial e.g ltd boxes for PAL n extra levels etc over the Japanese vers. I do think story is important n with MGS2 i missed out n am currently playing substance. Thias has already been said but if it's an RPG or story lead game i'd go for the English vers. On the other hand i'm not sure what i am goin to buy Twin Snakes in.

[Smeghead]

PAL pwnz

[Darwock]

I asked this elsewhere but surely the Jpn version of Twin Snakes is going to have english voiceovers. If it's like MGS2 the codec text will be spoken as well, so the J version will be fine.

This is an assumption based on the fact they always re-release MGS in Japan with the english actors, and substance was english dubbed.

I have both MGS and MGS2 in Japanese and English. Japanese has a cool atmosphere about it, but honestly, it's stupid to play it that way and think you're getting the best out of the game.