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How essential is importing to people? How far can people go before they break through the barrier of desperation and need? If you think about it, maybe importing is one of the reasons why games turn from a fun pastime to an obsession.
Computer games are fun. They let you relax, have fun and are incredibly exciting. When you buy a console, not only do you feel happy, but you know that you finally got something that you have been waiting for. It's like the Guinness advert all over again: "Best things come to those that wait".
Half the fun of a games console is anticipation. Never knowing what will change by the next update, what plans Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft have up their sleeves, it's great! I remember waiting for the release of the Gamecube. The first pictures I saw really got me excited, right from the start, I remember taking a distinctive liking to the silver colour. "Black controllers would look great with that" I thought. Well, I turned out that the silver became the limited platinum edition. Though, for those first few months, I was excited. Very excited.
When my Gamecube did arrive at the door (Cheers SR) on launch day, I signed for the parcel, sat it in the hall and sighed. Why? Because something that I had been waiting for finally came, and then I had nothing to look forward to. Then I realised something. I actually enjoyed waiting for it to come. Reading special previews in NGC (Then N64), talking about the Japanese release in the Nintendo forum and fending off the fanboys that liked to come and take a dig. But the thing is, if I had imported, I wouldn't have waited so long. The report on the US release in NGC wouldn't have meant as much to me as it did without a Gamecube. If I already had a cube, looking over the screenshots wouldn't mean much to me. "I have the real thing" I would have said, but the thing is, I was amazed, drawn in by the textures, the beauty and the sheer amount of effects ever-present in those simple shots.
So where does that leave importers? Well, We have a great example here at SR. Take a wander over to the Ninty forum, and ask for Whitestripes. He'll be happy to show you his "Shiny-shiny!" dance. You see, our Ninty here, he was fortunate enough to import a Panasonic Q from Hong Kong not so long ago. And you know what? I'm happy for him.
Now this might sound strange, considering I just took a few digs at importers, but if you stand back and look, you'll realise something. The Q won't be released outside of Japan. Yes, it may come with Japanese manuals, but it sure is funky. When was the last time a console ever said hello to you? Exactly.
But obviously, he didn't import the Q just for it to welcome him every time he switched the power on, no; he did it for a few reasons. Like many other importers, our friend Whitestripes wanted Animal Crossing. Yes, a Freeloader would do the Job, but what's a Freeloader compared to the beauty that is the Q. Multi-region DVD player, US and Japan game compatibility, and most of all, a very, very funky design.
The games, also, run much quicker in NTSC than they do in PAL. This does affect your playing skill, but nowadays, PAL 60 mode is becoming ever-increasingly included in games themselves.
Another big bonus with importing is the time between US launches and UK ones (and for games like AC, that difference is forever!). But overall, you're probably best off sticking to a Pal cube. I love anticipation, and it rewards me.
Think about it for a second. Picture in your mind the thing you waited most for. What flooded your brain with it's beauty (No Mystique, not that… ;)) and what pleased you most when it popped through the door? Now imagine decreasing the time between the first pictures/information you read/saw, and the time it actually arrived at your house. It wouldn't be as good.
So, overall, while importing has it' advantages, doing it the old-fashioned way and waiting for the release at home will make it much more worthwhile. And with such great deals over at www.ukgamecube.com, you might as well wait. Thinking of importing? Wait. It'll be much better a few months down the line.
Thanks for reading
Chips
Computer games are fun. They let you relax, have fun and are incredibly exciting. When you buy a console, not only do you feel happy, but you know that you finally got something that you have been waiting for. It's like the Guinness advert all over again: "Best things come to those that wait".
Half the fun of a games console is anticipation. Never knowing what will change by the next update, what plans Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft have up their sleeves, it's great! I remember waiting for the release of the Gamecube. The first pictures I saw really got me excited, right from the start, I remember taking a distinctive liking to the silver colour. "Black controllers would look great with that" I thought. Well, I turned out that the silver became the limited platinum edition. Though, for those first few months, I was excited. Very excited.
When my Gamecube did arrive at the door (Cheers SR) on launch day, I signed for the parcel, sat it in the hall and sighed. Why? Because something that I had been waiting for finally came, and then I had nothing to look forward to. Then I realised something. I actually enjoyed waiting for it to come. Reading special previews in NGC (Then N64), talking about the Japanese release in the Nintendo forum and fending off the fanboys that liked to come and take a dig. But the thing is, if I had imported, I wouldn't have waited so long. The report on the US release in NGC wouldn't have meant as much to me as it did without a Gamecube. If I already had a cube, looking over the screenshots wouldn't mean much to me. "I have the real thing" I would have said, but the thing is, I was amazed, drawn in by the textures, the beauty and the sheer amount of effects ever-present in those simple shots.
So where does that leave importers? Well, We have a great example here at SR. Take a wander over to the Ninty forum, and ask for Whitestripes. He'll be happy to show you his "Shiny-shiny!" dance. You see, our Ninty here, he was fortunate enough to import a Panasonic Q from Hong Kong not so long ago. And you know what? I'm happy for him.
Now this might sound strange, considering I just took a few digs at importers, but if you stand back and look, you'll realise something. The Q won't be released outside of Japan. Yes, it may come with Japanese manuals, but it sure is funky. When was the last time a console ever said hello to you? Exactly.
But obviously, he didn't import the Q just for it to welcome him every time he switched the power on, no; he did it for a few reasons. Like many other importers, our friend Whitestripes wanted Animal Crossing. Yes, a Freeloader would do the Job, but what's a Freeloader compared to the beauty that is the Q. Multi-region DVD player, US and Japan game compatibility, and most of all, a very, very funky design.
The games, also, run much quicker in NTSC than they do in PAL. This does affect your playing skill, but nowadays, PAL 60 mode is becoming ever-increasingly included in games themselves.
Another big bonus with importing is the time between US launches and UK ones (and for games like AC, that difference is forever!). But overall, you're probably best off sticking to a Pal cube. I love anticipation, and it rewards me.
Think about it for a second. Picture in your mind the thing you waited most for. What flooded your brain with it's beauty (No Mystique, not that… ;)) and what pleased you most when it popped through the door? Now imagine decreasing the time between the first pictures/information you read/saw, and the time it actually arrived at your house. It wouldn't be as good.
So, overall, while importing has it' advantages, doing it the old-fashioned way and waiting for the release at home will make it much more worthwhile. And with such great deals over at www.ukgamecube.com, you might as well wait. Thinking of importing? Wait. It'll be much better a few months down the line.
Thanks for reading
Chips
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WS has one for a start.
What are you trying to say?
What are you trying to say?
gerrid wrote:
> Like the Q you mean?
> Why did he say it if I had already said it?
You actually said it wasn't coming out here, which it isn't officially, but there's bound to be some lying about somewhere in the UK.
> Like the Q you mean?
> Why did he say it if I had already said it?
You actually said it wasn't coming out here, which it isn't officially, but there's bound to be some lying about somewhere in the UK.
If i had the money like WS i would snap up a Q straight away. At the same time i would get Zelda and Metroid Prime. Im not a "Hasty" person, but being deprived for so long of these games is a crime.
Nintendo are criminals.
Nintendo are criminals.
Like the Q you mean?
Why did he say it if I had already said it?
Why did he say it if I had already said it?
I think he meant games like AC that don't get released in Europe.
Bonafide wrote:
> Yes, but there will be exclusives lying about
Q exclusives?
No there won't.
> Yes, but there will be exclusives lying about
Q exclusives?
No there won't.
Whitestripes wrote:
> And if you lived in America, you would be getting it earlier, does
> that mean they aren't as excited as we are?
Pretty much, yes. But you see, they've built up a resistance over the years. Well, what I mean is, they've got used to having things pretty soon. But come on, American's are impatient anyway, they'll still be excited. Look at Mr. Bush... :D
oh, and cheers for the replies! :)
> And if you lived in America, you would be getting it earlier, does
> that mean they aren't as excited as we are?
Pretty much, yes. But you see, they've built up a resistance over the years. Well, what I mean is, they've got used to having things pretty soon. But come on, American's are impatient anyway, they'll still be excited. Look at Mr. Bush... :D
oh, and cheers for the replies! :)
gerrid wrote:
> I think that's what he's saying.
> And your Q was different, because there was no anticipation for it to
> come out here, because it isn't going to.
Yes, but there will be exclusives lying about
> I think that's what he's saying.
> And your Q was different, because there was no anticipation for it to
> come out here, because it isn't going to.
Yes, but there will be exclusives lying about
Whitestripes wrote:
> And if you lived in America, you would be getting it earlier, does
> that mean they aren't as excited as we are?
I think that's what he's saying.
And your Q was different, because there was no anticipation for it to come out here, because it isn't going to.
> And if you lived in America, you would be getting it earlier, does
> that mean they aren't as excited as we are?
I think that's what he's saying.
And your Q was different, because there was no anticipation for it to come out here, because it isn't going to.
Oh and I disagree entirely, nobody has had as much anticipation for anything I as did for my Q, you should know that :D
And if you lived in America, you would be getting it earlier, does that mean they aren't as excited as we are?
And if you lived in America, you would be getting it earlier, does that mean they aren't as excited as we are?
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