The Japan Trip Resource Thread!

[Sketcz]

There was a golden age for gamers, and it ended.

It exists only in our memories. A myth that become a legend, now visited only by ghosts and time travellers.

[kryss]

Up stairs in MediaLand should have some GC stuffs, and the larger Sofmap on the front of where Super Potato is. But otherwise it was crap when I last went there. Probably why I stopped going there in 2008.

[QualityChimp]

It exists only in our memories. A myth that become a legend, now visited only by ghosts and time travellers.

Oh, Sketczy!

I was hoping whilst you were out there you would find... the Motherload

[teddymeow]

The highlights of my last trip to Akihabara were a groovy curry restaurant and half-price cherry tomatoes from Y's Mart

Which curry place? I like the one outside the station right by Gamers & Tokiwa Musen.

Omnomnom!!!!

[Sketcz]

I read the guide a few pages back, which seemed to describe good places for console games (I never even saw Mandarake while in Akiba), but is there a decent shop for normal PC games? As in not porn games?

Seriously though, Akiba sucks now. That guide has 6 stores listed in it. Back in 2000 there was more like 30 stores. Think for a moment: 6 stores? I'm sure there's that many in London or Paris. Akiba's got nothing special anymore.

[briareos_kerensky]

I read the guide a few pages back, which seemed to describe good places for console games (I never even saw Mandarake while in Akiba), but is there a decent shop for normal PC games? As in not porn games?

Oh, the Mandarake in Akihabara is just a six story tall, jet black building, with a red Mandarake insigna almost as tall as the building itself, it's very easy to miss But it's not on the main street, IIRC it's on the right (coming from the tube station) at the huge mirrored building.
I recall a shop having a decent selection of PC games, but only recent stuff; it was on the main road, nearish the luggage shop. Maybe asking at Mandarake could help, non-porn PC games can be buried among porn games, especially if it's Princess Maker.

[ETC]

The highlights of my last trip to Akihabara were a groovy curry restaurant and half-price cherry tomatoes from Y's Mart

Curry! Where I want curry

[teddymeow]

Curry! Where I want curry

C&C Curry Shop (big chain) do really great, cheap curry - nice little one in Shinjuku by the multi-site Yodobashi Camera.

CoCo Ichibanya is also delicious.

[ETC]

C&C Curry Shop (big chain) do really great, cheap curry - nice little one in Shinjuku by the multi-site Yodobashi Camera.

CoCo Ichibanya is also delicious.

Thanks Chris. Btw what is the usual prices in a book off? Are they common?

[randombs]

Sorry, guys! I can't remember where the place was. It was down some side street near little shops selling random PC bits.

[speedlolita]

Seriously though, Akiba sucks now. That guide has 6 stores listed in it. Back in 2000 there was more like 30 stores. Think for a moment: 6 stores? I'm sure there's that many in London or Paris. Akiba's got nothing special anymore.

Paris? Sure. London? No. There's 1 store left.

[tokyochojin]

Yeah, Akihabara is not a shadow of its former self but there are still a couple of good places to check out. Downloads on PSN etc are killing the retro market.

Still, there are a couple of places so if you are heading to Tokyo check out my guide on DCgaga.com.

http://www.dcgaga.com/2013/06/guide-to-retro-shopping-in-akihabara.html

[kryss]

Thanks Chris. Btw what is the usual prices in a book off? Are they common?

A decent 2ndhand complete Virtual Boy cost me 5k from one, so I would say their prices are reasonable.

[randombs]

Paris? Sure. London? No. There's 1 store left.

Which one? When I went there last month Game Focus had closed down. I wasn't aware of any others(although I've never really checked properly)

[fishbowlhead]

Which one? When I went there last month Game Focus had closed down. I wasn't aware of any others(although I've never really checked properly)

Game focus is gone? knew that guy quite well, great store