Matt’s Somewhat Serious Bit
While I generally feel that the Easy Mode audience is the most knowledgeable sect of the PALGN reader base, I often get the feeling that my advice is not always taken to heart. Sure, some of it is tongue-in-cheek, taking stabs at the absurd crap in the industry, but once in a while I do have something important to say. As a result, I’ve decided that it’s time we revisited the issue of imports.
Importing has been a part of gaming for a long time, but the way in which it is conducted has changed - for the better. 10-15 years ago, importing was simply about getting games you’d never dream of getting here, or having things first, and paying absurd amounts of money for the privilege. You’ll hear many stories on message boards about people paying 90 quid for a copy of Street Fighter II for the SNES months before its PAL release, or importing piles of Japanese RPGs. Mail order catalogues and specialist Mum and Pop stores used to be the face of importing, but all of that has changed.
Shmups tend to be amongst the most imported titles these days
The Internet has increased the ease of importing exponentially, and allows us to bypass import store premiums. Competition between stores and the rise of eBay and other auction sites have made acquiring one’s desired import goods take mere seconds (plus 14 days postage). Limitations still exist in the price of shipping, particularly with peripherals and consoles, and duty can be an issue (depending on the place of purchase), but it certainly beats dealing with the 75-100% premium one used to face upon purchasing something at a brick and mortar importer. I recommend Play Asia for Japanese games, and Videogamesplus for North American games (let me know your about favourite store).
Timeliness and availability remain the largest incentive for the majority of importers. The allure of getting games that are simply not available in Australia (or wherever you’re from) will never cease, and the fact that our fair country represents such a small segment of the market is likely to continue to allow us to be screwed with release dates. Moves by Microsoft and Sony in particular have cut down waits on first party titles, but we’re still facing the brunt of delays from Nintendo and third parties such as Capcom and Konami. Every generation, Nintendo fans are kind of like deluded women running back to their ex-boyfriends, insisting they’ve changed, only to end up crying on your shoulder – just take a look at Super Paper Mario if you need any more evidence. Didn’t Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney just come out here? I seem to recall finishing that while I was still a student, two years ago.
The Defense suggests that you go back in time and purchase the game when it came out.
One particular advantage that escapes people with importing is the element of cost. With a strong Australian Dollar, particularly against the Yen and greenback, importing has never been cheaper. Sure, rip on me for being a cheap ass accountant, but let’s analyse a few examples. John is an idiot. He has lots of money, and only shops at EB. He looks a bit like this. Being an idiot, John likes Tom Clancy games, so he wishes to buy Splinter Cell: Double Agent – that’ll be $119.95. Matt, on the other hand, is not an idiot. He decides that Splinter Cell is a tired piece of crap, and he won’t buy it – total saving $119.95. But suppose I did wish to buy it – I run to the series of tubes called the Internet, check the region status of the game – oh lookie, region free, and then run off to Play Asia and pay $US40 + $US3 postage - $AU52. This is the inherent advantage of region free consoles – the PlayStation 3, PSP and Nintendo DS; you are not limited to purchasing your games locally, and can save significant amounts of money.
I don't care what score we gave it, it's pants.
So what’s hot on the importing scene now? Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii: Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 for the Nintendo DS is the sequel to the beloved Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!!, a rhythm game that features a rather enthusiastic Japanese cheer squad and a bunch of J-Pop and J-Rock. The sequel pits the original cheer squad against a new cheer squad, as the rivals attempt to solve the problems of every day people with inspirational dances, or something like that. If you need something a little more anglicised, the western version of the game, Elite Beat Agents, has just been released in Australia.
Try saying that title after a six pack.
Odin Sphere is a 2D RPG from Vanillaware and Atlus, a sort of spiritual successor to the Japanese-only Princess Crown for the Sega Saturn. The game features beautiful hand drawn sprites and a Hitoshi Sakimoto soundtrack, but is also a fairly tight RPG in its own right. It’s not really a traditional RPG in the way that it plays, but that works in its favour. You’ll need a US or modified PlayStation 2 to play this one, though.
Detailed sprites > bald space marines
Wii owners are baffled about Nintendo’s silence on Super Paper Mario, so why wait for the PAL hating bums to get around to making a decision when you can play it now? Combining the 2D platforming action of traditional Super Mario Bros. with a little 3D and some Paper Mario style storytelling, Super Paper Mario is the best of both worlds. Again, you’ll need a US console to play this one, but it might be a venture worth looking into.
Nintendo hates you. I'm not kidding.
Importing is cheap, easy and allows you access to games you might never see released here. The possibility remains that importing may become a thing of the past with the rise of digital distribution, but the infrastructure is not yet in place to accommodate this large scale.
Quote of the Month
From Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision.
“GameCube really became a non-strategic platform for us, and most of our development effort was focused on straight ports at low costs to leverage our franchises.”
Translation: “We never put any effort in.”
“For a few generations, Nintendo software was better than third-party software."
It still is.
Iwata and Miyamoto laugh at your pitiful output
"When you look at where we are today…we think we’re actually in the best position and probably even in a better position than the first-party to leverage our development dollars. We’re reinvesting against the Nintendo platform in a way that in the last cycle we really did not.”
Translation: “Wii caught us with our pants down – less HD crap, more crappy ports with tacked on waggle wand crap.”
Look Activision, I like you, but you need to understand that you just can’t hold a candle to what Nintendo has to offer. The reality of the situation is that third party developers such as Activision need to bring the types of titles to the table that Nintendo cannot or will not do themselves – and on top of that, they must be developed with the Wii’s capabilities in mind. Just because your game is on the Wii does not mean you have to use the Remote and Nunchuk.
I Can’t Believe it’s a Video Game
Everybody knows who Hulk Hogan is, but not everybody has had the misfortune of seeing his Hollywood acting career. Before “gems” such as Mr. Nanny, Santa with Muscles, and Three Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain, the Hulkster was in a film that was actually watchable – Suburban Commando. Hogan plays the role of Shep Ramsey, an interstellar bounty hunter who crash lands into the suburban house of the Wilcox family, and “hilarity ensues.”
I can see forever.
For reasons unknown, two years after the release of the film, Alternative Software decided to develop a game based on Suburban Commando for the PC, Amiga and Commodore 64. The game itself is a bit iffy, attempting to combine horizontal shooting with beat ‘em up action and run and jump platforming and failing at all three. It’s a little bemusing that one would chase a license to a mediocre film so long after its release for the purpose of producing a mediocre game, but hey, I guess things are a little more integrated now that we get mediocre games at the same time as mediocre films.
Bet you Hulk still no-sells.
Easy Mode would like to apologise for the 24 hour delay in its release. If you have any complaints, direct them to Commissioner of Taxation, GPO Box 9990 in your capital city. As always, thoughts and opinions expressed in Easy Mode remain those solely of the author and not of PALGN, it's advertisers, affiliates, cronies, sympathisers or the Prince of Wales. Don't try to sue Easy Mode, because the author is worthless.
Loading...
