Question to Japanese forum users:

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

How true is it that companies like Sony were trying to destroy the second hand game market in the country? How did that go on to effect the legacy of video games in the region? Has it had any long term effect on used games in Japan?

(Sorry for posting this so late at night. I live on the east coast of the U.S. so it’s about 13:30 over here)

Post automatically merged: Feb 28, 2025

One more question, a bit more positive this time: What are some games you love that never get talked about by western gamers?

 

[naizou's iconnaizou]

It's true, but since it happened in the '90s—either before I was born or when I was just a baby—I don't know the details. I only know that Sony filed a lawsuit to regulate the resale market.

Looking back, it seems like a ridiculous move, but considering that it was only about ten years after the Famicom popularized video games in households, it's not entirely surprising that companies would come up with such measures to protect their profits.

In conclusion, I don't think that lawsuit significantly changed the market. If anything, over the past decade, investors and YouTubers have driven up prices. Plus, with the current weak yen, foreign collectors have become more active, causing retro games to flow out of the country. As a result, the prices of used games will likely continue to rise.

Personally, I have no complaints about people with money buying these games—it just makes me regret not earning enough myself. However, it does feel a bit sad that items originally developed and sold in our country are becoming harder for us to purchase.

Nowadays, everyone is so knowledgeable that it's tough to think of a game Western gamers haven't already talked about! But if I had to choose a game that never officially made it overseas, I’d say Shin Megami Tensei if... from the Shin Megami Tensei series is my favorite! I also love Rent A Hero for the Mega Drive (Genesis). It had a very American-inspired setting, so it's a shame it was never released internationally.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

It's true, but since it happened in the '90s—either before I was born or when I was just a baby—I don't know the details. I only know that Sony filed a lawsuit to regulate the resale market.

Looking back, it seems like a ridiculous move, but considering that it was only about ten years after the Famicom popularized video games in households, it's not entirely surprising that companies would come up with such measures to protect their profits.

In conclusion, I don't think that lawsuit significantly changed the market. If anything, over the past decade, investors and YouTubers have driven up prices. Plus, with the current weak yen, foreign collectors have become more active, causing retro games to flow out of the country. As a result, the prices of used games will likely continue to rise.

Personally, I have no complaints about people with money buying these games—it just makes me regret not earning enough myself. However, it does feel a bit sad that items originally developed and sold in our country are becoming harder for us to purchase.

Nowadays, everyone is so knowledgeable that it's tough to think of a game Western gamers haven't already talked about! But if I had to choose a game that never officially made it overseas, I’d say Shin Megami Tensei if... from the Shin Megami Tensei series is my favorite! I also love Rent A Hero for the Mega Drive (Genesis). It had a very American-inspired setting, so it's a shame it was never released internationally.

All of this is very nice to hear!

I’ve heard of both games listed, but both are in a “what could have been” kind of way. Very sad they never made it to western translations.

 

[Deleted member 121503]

However, it does feel a bit sad that items originally developed and sold in our country are becoming harder for us to purchase.

Yeah, that's sad, especially since most people overseas can't even read Japanese. And worse, a lot of them are teenagers that don't even take care of their stuff well on the 3DS subreddits you can find posts of likely 12 years olds breaking their New 3DS XL/LLs everyday
Leaves me with a mix of sadness and anger, such items falling into the hands of people that can't even take care of them properly is really a pity

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

Yeah, that's sad, especially since most people overseas can't even read Japanese. And worse, a lot of them are teenagers that don't even take care of their stuff well on the 3DS subreddits you can find posts of likely 12 years olds breaking their New 3DS XL/LLs everyday
Leaves me with a mix of sadness and anger, such items falling into the hands of people that can't even take care of them properly is really a pity

My 3DS broke, but only in the sense that it won’t turn the 3D off no matter what I do. I owned it as a child, and that’s probably part of it, as I carried that system around with me everywhere I went and it experienced all sorts of temperaments and temperatures! I think I even took it to the mountains once. I don’t live near mountains, so that would have been a very new scenario for it!

Ultimately, my 3DS gave me many years of gameplay, memories, and videos that I cherish. I got many of the files off of it and onto a 2DS XL, so there’s not much lost aside from the original 3DS form factor (which I’ve always loved, but it was time to move on).

 

[Deleted member 121503]

My 3DS broke, but only in the sense that it won’t turn the 3D off no matter what I do. I owned it as a child, and that’s probably part of it, as I carried that system around with me everywhere I went and it experienced all sorts of temperaments and temperatures! I think I even took it to the mountains once. I don’t live near mountains, so that would have been a very new scenario for it!

Ultimately, my 3DS gave me many years of gameplay, memories, and videos that I cherish. I got many of the files off of it and onto a 2DS XL, so there’s not much lost aside from the original 3DS form factor (which I’ve always loved, but it was time to move on).

Aww. Same thing with my DS Lite! I always played with it all the time, it always had this problem that the screen looked either with a red or blue tint so I decided to fix it some day. I didn't know that the speakers were soldered to the screen lol so I uh kinda ripped the wire thing that connects the speakers to the screen so RIP audio. I did replace the screen successfully though but the screen went bad after a few months, and I never figured out how to connect the digitizer touch screen ribbon cable thing to the motherboard so now it's still here but with top screen, audio and touch screen not working lol. Kinda my fault, I admit it, but hey it was one of my first repairs ever lol. I could still fix it but at this point I'll just leave it like this, it's the memories and fun we had that truly matter! ♡

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

Aww. Same thing with my DS Lite! I always played with it all the time, it always had this problem that the screen looked either with a red or blue tint so I decided to fix it some day. I didn't know that the speakers were soldered to the screen lol so I uh kinda ripped the wire thing that connects the speakers to the screen so RIP audio. I did replace the screen successfully though but the screen went bad after a few months, and I never figured out how to connect the digitizer touch screen ribbon cable thing to the motherboard so now it's still here but with top screen, audio and touch screen not working lol. Kinda my fault, I admit it, but hey it was one of my first repairs ever lol. I could still fix it but at this point I'll just leave it like this, it's the memories and fun we had that truly matter! ♡

Those systems are very durable, well built, and fun to use! The DS lite was my first ever games system (sometime around 2010?) and it blew me away.

We don’t even need to get into the amount of time I spent as a third grader in Pokémon Black (694 hours….-_-)

So many memories!

 

[Deleted member 121503]

Those systems are very durable, well built, and fun to use! The DS lite was my first ever games system (sometime around 2010?) and it blew me away.

We don’t even need to get into the amount of time I spent as a third grader in Pokémon Black (694 hours….-_-)

So many memories!

I have a lot of hours in Pokemon Black too! 389 haha, great game even without the nostalgia factor.

 

[naizou's iconnaizou]

Aww. Same thing with my DS Lite! I always played with it all the time, it always had this problem that the screen looked either with a red or blue tint so I decided to fix it some day. I didn't know that the speakers were soldered to the screen lol so I uh kinda ripped the wire thing that connects the speakers to the screen so RIP audio. I did replace the screen successfully though but the screen went bad after a few months, and I never figured out how to connect the digitizer touch screen ribbon cable thing to the motherboard so now it's still here but with top screen, audio and touch screen not working lol. Kinda my fault, I admit it, but hey it was one of my first repairs ever lol.

It's great to try your hand at repair!
Physical objects will eventually break. It’s inevitable, but fortunately, we live in a time where replacement parts are easily available through sites like AliExpress.

Retro consoles are becoming rarer every year, so we should cherish them.

I could still fix it but at this point I'll just leave it like this, it's the memories and fun we had that truly matter! ♡

Those systems are very durable, well built, and fun to use! The DS lite was my first ever games system (sometime around 2010?) and it blew me away.

We don’t even need to get into the amount of time I spent as a third grader in Pokémon Black (694 hours….-_-)

So many memories!

It’s not just the games themselves that matter—the memories of where we took them and where we played them are truly special.
I don’t play games outside anymore, but since I value nostalgia so much, I prefer to play on the original hardware whenever possible.

Maybe that’s why I’m always broke. LOL

 

[Deleted member 121503]

It's great to try your hand at repair!

Yes, it is!

Physical objects will eventually break. It’s inevitable, but fortunately, we live in a time where replacement parts are easily available through sites like AliExpress.

Retro consoles are becoming rarer every year, so we should cherish them.

Yup, absolutely! I'm glad Aliexpress exists lol. We should definitely cherish our retro consoles, as you said!

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

It's great to try your hand at repair!

I’ve restored (not repaired) a PSP before! Previous owner had Metal Gear: Peace Walker and Klonoa installed!