Why can't we have awesome retro stores like this in the U.S.? Of course, even if we did they probably wouldn't sell Famicom carts.
Sigh again.
(Via gameandgraphics.com, by way of fuckyeahfamicom.tumblr.com)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sigh
That's my reaction whenever I see photos like the following, which was taken at the famous Super Potato store in Tokyo's Akihabara area:
Why can't we have awesome retro stores like this in the U.S.? Of course, even if we did they probably wouldn't sell Famicom carts.
Sigh again.
(Via gameandgraphics.com, by way of fuckyeahfamicom.tumblr.com)
Why can't we have awesome retro stores like this in the U.S.? Of course, even if we did they probably wouldn't sell Famicom carts.
Sigh again.
(Via gameandgraphics.com, by way of fuckyeahfamicom.tumblr.com)
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16 comments:
I usually say that exact thing a couple of times a year, right after seeing a similar picture or hearing about people picking up stuff totally random on retrostores. I'm so jealous.
They do have retro video game stores in Germany though. I've been to one in Hamburg. Probably not nearly as good as the japanese versions but still, they did sell famicon.
Thanks for stopping by, balloonfighter! I'm glad to hear Germany has some retro game stores that sell Famicom (and other Japanese) games. Actually, there are some here in the states, but most of them are in bigger cities (NYC, San Fran, etc.). There's even one here in Seattle -- I've just never been to it. I think I've been putting it off because I'm worried that I'll spend too much money when I do go there :)
Starfighter -- well, at least we can be jealous together :)
heh, i think i will join you with being jealous, i only have some fake-famicom cartridges to buy, that sux
At least there's eBay and Yahoo! auctions -- and sites like genki -- right, Nuts)?
yup, just right now hoping to import Fallout for PS2
It's sucky that there isn't a place for retro gamers to visit to find old scores. Whatever happened to used games from another generation?! I mean...besides E.T. for the Atari...we know what happened to that.
I have a feeling things like eBay have made it harder for actual retro stores to be profitable these days, Justin -- although that's just a guess on my part.
I think you're right. And I think it sucks.
Yeah, I agree. As much as I love eBay for its selection, I'd love it even more if I could walk into a store and see a bunch of Japanese retro games :)
Japanese retro stores are awesome. One guy had a good article on a blog somewhere (gotta find it) where he says that having physical stores like this is....well....important. You can't walk awe-struck down the aisles of Ebay. These stores are like shrines to the gods of video game past.
I love them so! Even a little city like Fukuoka has about 7 or 8 that I know of. Can't beat that.
Unfortunately you are probably right though. Online shops in North America would kill these types of places off before they got off the ground. Well, except the handful that do exist in the big cities (kudos to them)!
Kind of a trade-off I guess. American society gets big cars and huge portions at restaurants. Japanese society gets amazing retro-game shops.
AH, THIS article here:
http://www.bitmob.com/articles/20th-century-spud-the-case-against-digital-distribution
He nailed it. Exactly why retro game shops are awesome and digital distribution sucks. Good read, that.
Oh, yeah, I agree 100%, Sean -- as much as I am a fan of eBay, it's just not the same as walking into a store and seeing games in person.
BTW, I'm completely jealous that you have 7/8 such shops in your little city! (You don't mind if I cry for a few minutes, do you?)
Finally, thanks for the link. I'll definitely check it out -- esp. since I lament the move to DD pretty much every day. (I like my boxes and cases and manuals, damn it!)
LOL, yup 7 or 8 shops at least. Actually I think my next blog post (or one of the upcoming ones) will be an in-depth survey of Fukuoka's game shops. Only the ones that sell Famicom games of course:)
I'm totally with you on DD, I hate it. Not just for games, I miss music CDs too. Well, I don't miss PAYING for music CDs, I just miss being able to browse through the CDs on people's shelves when I visit their house or apartment. One of the more minor forms of culture activity that has been lost to the ages:)
Ah, well, I'll be looking forward to that post, Sean!
I'm with you re: CDs, too. I love the simplicity of buying songs/singles via iTunes, but I miss buying CDs, too -- and snooping through the CD collections of my friends :)
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