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Matt
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 Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 7:45 pm Post subject: Easy Mode Volume 2.3 |
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| Easy Mode Volume 2.3 by Matt |  | | PALGN Feature: On importing. | | [View Article] |
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The Brett
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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Ironically Splinter Cell for the PS3 is 50% off in the current EB sale, making it $59.95.
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Matt
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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| The Brett wrote: | | Ironically Splinter Cell for the PS3 is 50% off in the current EB sale, making it $59.95. |
And it's still cheaper to import it.
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Gutsman Heavy
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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the article dropped at the right time for me since I'm just about to take the plunge of PS3 ownership via Import! the only hurdle is the choice of US/JAP/HONGKONG systems do I want US BC, R1 DVD? JAP BC, R2 DVD with the added disadvantage of system censorship, or the Hong Kong venison with its unknown (to me) BC capabilities and ruttin' useless R3 DVD play back.
At least one things for sure, regardless of my eventual choice I'll be better off than if I got an AUS system.
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The Brett
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Matt wrote: | | The Brett wrote: | | Ironically Splinter Cell for the PS3 is 50% off in the current EB sale, making it $59.95. |
And it's still cheaper to import it. |
Though you don't have to wait for postage. Whatever, why am I arguing? I agree with you. 
God $119.95 is a lot of money. Gaming is such a gamble of a hobby too- I know I'd pay $120 for a fantastic dinner at a fantastic restaurant if I knew it were going to be sensational. I view importing as not being a way of getting a "bargain," per se- more of a way to avoid being screwed. It makes sense why companies charge $120 for a game given the costs, but rarely are you going to get $120 of value as a consumer.
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Jeremy
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| The Brett wrote: | | It makes sense why companies charge $120 for a game given the costs |
No it doesn't
AU$120 = US$100
Where as US games cost US$60
Daylight robbery, really.
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TheAnswer
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Matt wrote: | | The Brett wrote: | | Ironically Splinter Cell for the PS3 is 50% off in the current EB sale, making it $59.95. |
And it's still cheaper to import it. |
Actually it isnt, its US$64.90+postage at play-asia.
I do agree thought that it generally is cheaper to import.
I remember when some people paid A$300 for Street Fighter 2 on SFC back in the day.
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killjoy83
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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Great read. For someone like me who hasn't really imported games before, i would have liked some info on importing consoles themselves.
If i were to purchase a Wii, 360, or PS3 from overseas then what else would be needed for each console to function properly here? And what stores would you recommend be the best to buy them from?
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The Brett
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Jeremy wrote: | | The Brett wrote: | | It makes sense why companies charge $120 for a game given the costs |
No it doesn't
AU$120 = US$100
Where as US games cost US$60
Daylight robbery, really. |
It is now, absolutely. But let's also remember when the Aussie dollar equated to US48c. I guess it's a case of the publisher's thinking "worst case scenario given exchange rates, we'll get as much from the Australian market as the US market." Consumers got used to that pricepoint, so why change it when most of us are willing to pay it? Also, you need to factor things in like freight and the fact that US prices do not include 7.5% sales tax and 7.5% GST. I'm not saying it's not robbery, but it's the same as any other industry.
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EvilHayama
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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VG+ and Play-asia are my 2 favourite import stores too, I've never had a bad experience with them.
| killjoy83 wrote: |
If i were to purchase a Wii, 360, or PS3 from overseas then what else would be needed for each console to function properly here? And what stores would you recommend be the best to buy them from? |
You need a transformer with a US plug output, they're easy to get from electronics stores. Make sure you get one that's fairly beefy, as 360s and PS3s can suck up a lot of amps. It's probably worth checking your TV supports NTSC if it's SD, HDTVs should be fine I believe.
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admeister
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Gutsman Heavy wrote: | I'm just about to take the plunge of PS3 ownership via Import! the only hurdle is the choice of US/JAP/HONGKONG systems do I want US BC, R1 DVD? JAP BC, R2 DVD with the added disadvantage of system censorship, or the Hong Kong venison with its unknown (to me) BC capabilities and ruttin' useless R3 DVD play back.
At least one things for sure, regardless of my eventual choice I'll be better off than if I got an AUS system. |
I went through the same thing, and ended up deciding on a US console rather than a Jap one because of possible region locking in the future. It may happen, it may not, but I wanted to be prepared and have an English language system, just in case. This was back in March, and I saved about $120 on the console. Best option, imo.
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Nova Prime
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:54 am Post subject: |
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Region locking might happen in the future? I really, really don't think so.
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admeister
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:52 am Post subject: |
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| Nova Prime wrote: | | Region locking might happen in the future? I really, really don't think so. |
You can never be too sure. Unless Sony state in an official statement that they will never introduce region locking on the PS3, then the door is open. They can do it if they want to.
Not to mention that publishers also have power in that regard as well, they can choose to region lock their games if they desire.
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Luke
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:26 am Post subject: |
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Sony has stated several times the PS3 is region free, just like the PSP, It's never gonna happen.
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Crestfallen
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:58 am Post subject: |
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^ I don't think it would even been legal to do that.
Good read Matt. 
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Hrysicos_Ho
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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My favorite sites are www.yesasia.com and www.dvdboxoffice.com
These both have free shipping. I hate paying postage costs so these sites kick arse.
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segax
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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How long does delivery take ?
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bonsai
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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Free shipping takes at least a week or two to happen
Anyway a friend of mine had a funny story happen to him at EB over Pokemon Pearl. He had imported it a few weeks back when it came out and was talking to the attendant about it whilst his girlfriend was buying a few DS games to catch up (i.e. Animal Crossing, NSMB) and the attendant literally flipped. He accused my friend of robbing Nintendo of Australia of profit and that Gametraders was the sin of the retail gaming industry because they are supplying said imports.
My friend just raised a few eyebrows and said "dude.. I bought it online and $20 cheaper than what you are charging, how could I refuse?"
There's a part of me that goes "maybe I should buy DS software locally to support Nintendo of Australia" and then there's the part of me that says "why should we have to wait 2-6 months for the same software whilst paying $20-30 more?" The whole thing is incredibly ridiculous.
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Crestfallen
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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^ One reason why you wouldn't want to support Nintendo of Australia is because they are dickheads.
Another reason is NoA isn't some kind of local business or volunteer organisation; one needs to be looking out for one's self. Paying a premium on goods can sometimes be justified if it benefits your community, otherwise willingly paying extra money pretty much goes against everything in economics.
And on top of that NoA is just a branch of NoJ I believe and you're still paying the Willing to Sell price that NoJ offers.
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arbok
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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Great read - and we all need to import to show that we aren't just going to put up with these crazy prices.
I don't even consider a game anymore if its $120. I have all the consoles so there's always something to play on any system.
I was hoping the article would talk about the whole Forza debacle. It seems to me that there is an ability to have games region free and its up to the publisher what they want to do. Sadly Forza seems to be locked much to the chargrin of most importers and the ones who are importing for the first time. On the other hand, Ubisoft seem intent on getting the greatest audience possible and unlock all their games on the 360.
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themak
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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Easy mode rocks.
(So does Ouendan 2)
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sEiFeR
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| Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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At the moment I've taken to buying second hand games. Most systems have a huge back catalog of amazing titles and most people are selling them for reasonable prices.
For importing games, I'd recommend www.cduniverse.com, haven't ordered anything from there but as soon as I get my DS i'll be buying a few titles.
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Flypaper
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| Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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The second someone makes a decent Wii free-loader disk Nintendo gets a bunch of my money.
...Of course, Nintendo of Australia never sees a cent of it ever again; but that's their own fault, y'know? 
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jecht_raiden
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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That was well done. Applause to Matt.
Importing is a big issue and for this reader the main deterrent is that sometimes we get special features. And also, the artwork on the covers. I waited for the Final Fantasy games, otherwise my collection would be damned due to non-consistency in covers/regions etc, and for Portable Ops. It's just a habit and one i can withstand for the moment.
I don't like the lateness we get, and i can appreciate importing and obviously for games that we just dont get at all here.
I'm going to have to get Digital Graphic Novel from somewhere special too, that never saw a release here. But i must import that from somewhere that has our actual version.
So to reiterate: i dont import due to special features and artwork
and on that note Final Fantasy III for DS went unchanged and they actually changed the artwork, i have no idea why, USA always get the background image and logo and we get white and logo, thats how it always is, just not this time. So evidently my system doesnt work
*sigh*
So yes, applause Matt on the great writing, much appreciated, keep it up.
Esp, the stab at Splinter Cell and the disclaimer at the end. Nice
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