How's the import scene now?

[B1gBeard]

/wave

I was a big importer many moons ago way back in the Megadrive/Snes/PC Engine days but gave it up after the PS1 and became primarily a PC Gamer.

The PS3 (I know folk seem to either love it or hate it) is the first console for a while that has brought on that "Must have new console now" feeling.

Was basically wondering what peoples experiences were with importing it and if the scene is pretty similar to how it was when I was a lad?

I remember never having to pay import duties that was for sure.

[jimmbob]

I remember never having to pay import duties that was for sure.

Prepare to be shocked.


Sony are very import friendly to be honest. They've started helping us out by forcing one of the major import sites (liksang) to close. God bless them.

Oh and welcome to the forum. Do you like Capcom? You'll fit right in if you do.

[charlesr]

It's the only viable option. Wii VC games are almost all 50Hz, excitetruck is delayed, 60hz on Wii games isn't a dashboard option. PS3 isn't out yet in Euroland and there has been no official date announced. The pal 360 is ok, but people are often choosing a JPN or Asian one instead because asian games are half the price they are in the UK (and have english options) and can play games that only get a JPN release.

[The_G_Man]

I am the opposite mate, I am a long time gamer who has just started importing
I felt the same way, the pS3 is the first console I found the need to import.
As for import duty, there is none but I did get hit with VAT, ouch.
From what I have read on the forums, not many people escaped the VAT trap and had to cough up.

I am sure a lot of the more experienced importers can give a clearer picture of the import scene as a whole though than me.

[charlesr]

Gah. Where's my manners. Welcome.

[J0e Musashi]

The import scene is way different to the old days. Although it's nearing a full circle as import games are largely cheaper than domestic ones once again. £15 JPN DJ Boy vs £35 UK version anybody? You don't need a special TV nowadays either.
I was very lucky with my PS3. I got a good price and because it was already in the UK no taxes of any kind had to be paid. Ridge Racer 7 is really very good, and different enough from RR6 to warrant a purchase. I'm not so big on Motorstorm (I basically think it's very poor and just a technical demo) Resistance seems decent enough, but offers nothing new. No 100% absolute reason to own a PS3 right now, but if you have that feeling you best get yourself one now. Loads of us are online too, so you can get some online match action going on.

[revisedgenocide]

I imported a shed load during the last gen and really enjoyed it. My pride and joy was my spice cube. So ugly it was beutiful . I was happy enough to go Pal with the 360. Ps3 and Wii im less inclined to do so at the moment though time will tell. Throughout the time i was importing i didnt get whacked with import duties all that often but when i did it wasnt pretty.

[fishbowlhead]

as far as the ps3 is concerned its a good console to import as the jap and us machines are region free (with the majority of the jap games including full english on the disk as well, the menus and spech)

Although actually getting ps3 games has now been made much harder by the fact that sony wont let import sites sell ps3 products into europe, as Jimmie2k pointed out they even went to the extent of closing Liksang down to stop it. However, import shops such as game focus still get hold of ps3 game no problem and the do mail order if your a member there.


However, im crapping myself for the day sony stop all theis region free ness and eradicate the multiple language disks, as my ps3 is jap, and fear its only a matter of time until they lock it down.


as a side note, apparently the PAL ps3 has been locked down to PAL only which wouldnt suprise me in the least.


And welcome to the forum.

[Rockman_Joey]

Many import shops on the internet that my friend has given me to browse for imports generally don't allow you to import the console but they will allow you to buy the video games for it.

The PSP is the first Imported Console I bought, I bought it in 2005 hence when the Ceramic White PSP came out in Japan, I had this urge to buy it, I was gonna wait til September for the Euro Launch but I saw even better so I got that.

I just imported a PlayStation 3 also, making it the third console I've imported, the second one being a Enamel Navy Nintendo DS Lite. I dont have a problem with the console as the games are region free but I would love the console to be updated with Universal Emulation for the PSone and PlayStation 2 games which are unfortunetly region locked. I have nearly 50 PS2 games and the ones I mainly play are the imported versions such as Guilty Gear XX Slash, SFIII, Garou, KOFXI and more!

I dont think they would region lock the games for PS3 and PSP, I remember some idiot in GAME telling me they would do that in a Firmware Update before the PSP was coming out in Europe because I said I'm buying the White PSP, I died laughing.

Sony are losing money so why the hell would they wanna lose even more by making more consoles, gamers would be so pissed off but I hope PAL PS3s dont suffer because I generally import games which dont come out in the UK either for like 5+ months or never so it would be sad for the console.

SONY mainly crack down on importers who are selling stock of PS3 in large numbers hence Lik-Sang closed down because of selling large numbers of PSPs to Europe.

Anyways, you should be fine if you import a PS3 as Blu-Ray can carry multiple language versions of games,but dont expect it on every game

Welcome to the forum.

[in5ane]

Importing is great now because it's easier than ever, and thanks to the net, not as expensive as it used to be

Even if you hate the PS3, you can't deny how import-friendly it is. No stepdown and no region locks? Why can't every console be like that

[lostn]

Ironic indeed that sony would make their PSP and PS3 so import friendly with no region locking, plus multi voltage, yet they shut down any site that exports to EU.

What I'm curious about is, why only the EU? They seem to allow imports into Australia and the rest of the world for some reason, just not Europe. What's that about?

I want to get a US ps3 personally, in case the Resistance censoring thing becomes common. And realistically, if something was going to be censored, it would be the PAL version, not US version. But sadly I would lose out on the ability to play local blu ray movies.

[fishbowlhead]

Ironic indeed that sony would make their PSP and PS3 so import friendly with no region locking, plus multi voltage, yet they shut down any site that exports to EU.

What I'm curious about is, why only the EU? They seem to allow imports into Australia and the rest of the world for some reason, just not Europe. What's that about?

I want to get a US ps3 personally, in case the Resistance censoring thing becomes common. And realistically, if something was going to be censored, it would be the PAL version, not US version. But sadly I would lose out on the ability to play local blu ray movies.

caus the 20gig ps3 retails for £220 in japan, and when its released in europe they can charge you £300 for it, basicly they want more money out of us, and it works every time because most of europe knows no differently.

Do the right thing, IMPORT.

[MartyG]

Ironic indeed that sony would make their PSP and PS3 so import friendly with no region locking, plus multi voltage, yet they shut down any site that exports to EU.

Sony haven't made the PS3 region free to be importer friendly, they've done it to eliminated the legitimate reason for modding the console: making it region free for all games. Sony have elimited the legit other reason, homebrew apps, by allowing the PS3 to install Linux.

Now the only reason to chip a PS3 is to run pirate games, which makes any Sony legal action against modchippers all the more stronger.

[B1gBeard]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Think I'll study Ebay a bit as prices seem good. Still makes me shudder when I think of what I paid for my Jap PS1 all those years ago.

I'm a big fan of Japanese culture and love all of the quirky RPG's that get released over there so it seems a good move (although it seems more and more are now getting released here). I remember playing the Japanese Super Mario on my SNES. Half the fun was working out what the hell the Japanese meant.

Do you guys recommend Ebay or one of the etailers? Ebay seems cheaper but I guess you have more of a leg to stand on with the etailers.

[J0e Musashi]

I'd try and buy from someone on here myself. You can check feedback, ask more questions. Sort out a deal proper before comitting to anything. The person is pretty much guaranteed to speak good English too.