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"Importing: How to decrease excitement"

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Thu 23/01/03 at 18:03
Regular
Posts: 787
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
Thu 23/01/03 at 18:17
Regular
"Being Ignorant"
Posts: 2,574
Very good post Chips!

I don't think I've ever had any game material imported mainly for the same reason you gave. Sometimes the anticipation helps, but then again not all things anticipated live up to the hype, which doesn't turn out so good. I say just wait, and take it as it comes along.

My mate once ordered for Tenchu 2 and they gave him a totally different game that just played a bit like Tenchu. Plus, it was in Japanese so he never really knew the game's bearings.

:)
Thu 23/01/03 at 18:17
Regular
"bit of a brain"
Posts: 18,933
Patience, as they say, is a virtue.
And importers are the most impatient gamers of all.
Thu 23/01/03 at 18:15
Regular
Posts: 11,875
Shiny!

I don't actually like importing games, I've resisted the temptation to import Metroid or Zelda or anything, I can wait for the PAL release.

But I will import SoA Legends :D


*does the shiny shiny Q dance*
Thu 23/01/03 at 18:15
Regular
"Must be Parkinson's"
Posts: 1,471
nice advertising at the end.. not verys subtle. For em gaming is an obsession, and I am critical towards games which other people might like... but thatss just my personality.. not because I import. Nice theory though and well written.
Thu 23/01/03 at 18:03
Regular
"Jog on, sunshine"
Posts: 8,979
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

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