Goodge Street's Game Focus in new Famitsu-For Londoners:

[JAPJAC]

I snapped this from today's Weekly Famitsu magazine:

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL10/875 ... 958191.jpg

Does anyone know why? Does anyone know if they know?

I can't read the surrounding Japanese unfortunately.

Thanks for any possible help.

Surprised and intrigued...

Cheers.

[Skykid]

Wow, I'd love to know about this. Lord know's why they're in there, if they're being touted as an import game shop that ship pretty much sailed ages ago. Their retro sections have dried up quite a bit over the last three years, which is a shame.

Bloody cool to get into Famitsu though.

[mr_m0nks]

I got Mushihime-sama Futari from Games Focus and they fo a few import games downstairs (mostly PS2 and dreamcast)

[Rupert H]

I spoke to them about it -- they're as surprised to see as we are.

It would be interesting to see what it's all about.

[JAPJAC]

So, they do still sell the odd popular/mainstream new grey import now a la Mushihimesama Futari and they were unaware of their little honor.

I wonder why one would choose Game Focus as an example (a poor one at that from my day) of an English grey importer over somewhere like Raven Games that have been doing it for over 20 years and have done pioneering things. Assuming that is the reason why they are pictured.

Still baffled.

Tell them to get over to the Japan Centre and get this issue...



...and frame it!

Thanks for the interest and help.

Cheers.

[Skykid]

I still want to know what it says!

[DEL]

Interesting how it got there . I also wonder if they found the arcade round the corner.
Translation pls

[MX7]

Ha ha, awesome. Very odd. Would ask my girlfriend to pick me up a copy from the Japan Centre, but they've become pretty crap for mags since they shifted the layout around

[ryoga3099]

I work in Game Focus. Yes, we are baffled and will look into getting a copy of the magazine, as soon as Japan Centre moves to their new location is Regents Street. I've tried another book store close by, but didn't have any video games magazines. We've posted it on our Facebook group/fan page to see if anyone is willing to translate the pic we got from JAPJAC's twitter page...

[dcharlie]

can't see facebook from work, so this might be pointless as someone may have already answered , but read it quickly at lunch at the local store.

All from memory, so might be some slightly off bits.

Basically, it's a chat between Suda 51 and Mask de UH about online game stores and stores in the UK, more of a ramble than a coherent piece which is as per their articles style.

The question is raised as to whether there are any stores in London similar to Akihabara's Messe Sanoh? Following on from this Tokyo Toys is mentioned, then Game Focus. They don't say much beyond Game Focus stocks import as well as old games, classic games and anime - saying that there isn't really another store like it, though they do mention that in the Oxford Circus area there are 3 stores of that ilk.

other than that, Suda talks about Psygnosis and how that's the sort of firm Grasshopper aspire to be like, some mention of Discworld (Prachett) and the PAL format and RCA connectors.

Not sure how helpful that is! Will look at the scan later.

More Mask de Uh (Takeshi Uechi) here :
http://www.famitsu.com/blog/mad/

[JAPJAC]

I work in Game Focus. Yes, we are baffled and will look into getting a copy of the magazine, as soon as Japan Centre moves to their new location is Regents Street. I've tried another book store close by, but didn't have any video games magazines. We've posted it on our Facebook group/fan page to see if anyone is willing to translate the pic we got from JAPJAC's twitter page...

I know I slagged off your employers but a gentlemanly 'thank you' to my good self for drawing your attention to the subject in the first place would of been nice.

Good for you though as it appears that a kind soul above has gone and is going out of their way to help you and your place of work. I hope you thank them this time and thus infinitely improving upon your first ever post here.

Thank you dcharlie for your time and effort, I now understand perfectly as to why this shop was photographed in the magazine.

Cheers.

[ryoga3099]

Well, thank you to everyone who has brought this to our attention, especially Rupert for letting Ricky know. Thanks JAPJAC for the pics. DCharlie, cheers for the translations, gonna post this on the Facebook page.

I recognise the names JAPJAC and DCharlie from other places, but just can't remember where. Ever been on the NTSC-UK forums?

I don't know how long ago any of you guys have visited the store, but the import/retro market has changed significantly since the heyday, with release dates of video games getting more worldwide releases and the rise of Internet purchasing. You just have to look at titles like Final Fantasy XIII, Gran Turismo 5, and Super Street Fighter 4 to find that it's more cost effective for the consumer to get the UK versions or import them via e-commerce shops. It's only titles that haven't been released for localised consumption like Demon's Souls that bring us the old-skool style customers of yesteryear.

[dcharlie]

no worries, Ryoga - glad to help out.

Ever been on the NTSC-UK forums?

yeah, been on NTSC-UK for a long time, Next-gen , Sega-X back in the day , but mainly on GAF and Evilbore these days, though no time for surfing posting

last time i was in Game Focus was a good 2 years ago - but i've only been back to the UK 5 times in the last 10 years or so.

[Skykid]

I know I slagged off your employers but a gentlemanly 'thank you' to my good self for drawing your attention to the subject in the first place would of been nice.

Good for you though as it appears that a kind soul above has gone and is going out of their way to help you and your place of work. I hope you thank them this time and thus infinitely improving upon your first ever post here.

Dude, you need to relax a little. What do you want, a standing ovation?

[DC906270]

we should all kneel before JAPJAC's greatness, and internet status as the #1 import video game pioneer from the 90's

[JAPJAC]

ryoga3099-My pleasure. All the best.

Cheers.

[DEL]

Has Game Focus got copies of Taito Memories

[DC906270]

Dunno, but if they dont, ive got copies. Which Volume you looking for? I have them all..

[ryoga3099]

No Taito Memories unfortunately.

Gonna go through the import games, price-wise, once I've finished repricing the DVDs section - hopefully, you might find some bargins there! I usually send out statuses via Facebook, so let me know if you wanna join, or just find us.

[DEL]

ryoga3099 - I'll join up on Facebook.

DC906270 - Let me check and I'll get back to you. Thanks

[Rupert H]

Awesome.

I'm interviewing Suda 51 next week and I'd love to get to the bottom of this but I doubt there will time to ask him about his UK shopping habbits.

[dcharlie]

I'm interviewing Suda 51 next week and I'd love to get to the bottom of this but I doubt there will time to ask him about his UK shopping habbits.

I'd love to know more about his fascination with Psygnosis

I can't recall which way round the article flow was but i'd assume that it was Mask de Uh that was talking about London games stores , especially given his recent tour of London on his Mad Gamer blog.

[ryoga3099]

ryoga3099 - I'll join up on Facebook.

DC906270 - Let me check and I'll get back to you. Thanks

Coolio! Link is below:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-Un ... 6624717871

[Devil Soundwave]

I work in Game Focus. Yes, we are baffled and will look into getting a copy of the magazine, as soon as Japan Centre moves to their new location is Regents Street. I've tried another book store close by, but didn't have any video games magazines. We've posted it on our Facebook group/fan page to see if anyone is willing to translate the pic we got from JAPJAC's twitter page...

I know I slagged off your employers but a gentlemanly 'thank you' to my good self for drawing your attention to the subject in the first place would of been nice.

Good for you though as it appears that a kind soul above has gone and is going out of their way to help you and your place of work. I hope you thank them this time and thus infinitely improving upon your first ever post here.

Thank you dcharlie for your time and effort, I now understand perfectly as to why this shop was photographed in the magazine.

Cheers.

Jesus...

[Elixir]

I actually recently obtained the Taito Memories games (see sig) but they're long out of print now.

[TodayIsForgotten]

Man, I read this as google street's and got excited that they would do such a thing.