Your stories about importing and diving into the world of importing video games. I'll begin!

It all started in Late 1997.

I had a bizarre dream involving a U.S. version of X-Men Vs. Street Fighter releasing on the U.S. Sega Saturn. Shortly after, Capcom released it in Japan with a 4MB cartridge addition technology and rocked the white Saturn world with its perfect arcade translation. From there on, I had to have it. Back then, places like GameCave (remember them? Mostly so-so customer service and super-high prices but selection like none-other, advertised in the back of GameFan magazine...tangent...) had the game for some obscene price ($90, I foggily remember).

This was my first import Saturn title, and I hadn't many U.S. games so this was epic.

Little to my knowledge, the 4MB cartridge is what made the game work like the CPS-II board and it needed to be inserted into the machine before the console booted up the game. Those clever bastards at Capcom made sure to enforce double anti-import protection (which Sony later tried on PlayStation games, blocking ordinary converters like Street Fighter EX2 PLUS and Um Jammer Lammy) but not allowing you to insert the 4MB if you didn't have it in the cart slot prior to powering the system on.

If anyone remembers how you had to manipulate the console and game to get it working, you had to initate the "swap" method on the black U.S. Saturn to "trick" the system in believing the cart was in the machine from start-up. This meant removing the game converter (remember those?!) for the 4MB cart, which shared the same slot, giving you a good second to pull it off.

Well I didn't know this, nor did anyone mention it when I bought the game via telephone (no internet/site). This was days before internet forums and such to reveal such trickery (to my knowledge this also wanted published in any gaming zines even GameFan who gushed over the import). Eventually, I ended up returning the game because I just couldn't get it working (and exchanged it for, please don't hurt me, Yoshi's Story/import version).

After hearing about the swap trick again at my local mall's EB (in my adolescence, I spent much time there), who (if you'll also recall) illegally (?) starting selling random import Saturn games on shelves. I ended up purchasing it from them for some silly price of $75.

It all paid off when I finally managed to manipulate and get it working. Only thing that sucked was repeating this painstaking process each time to play the game. Then the wonderful world of emulation surfaced as I didn't have $1,000 to buy the coin-op, and now my Saturn can happily collect dust in my closet!

I've never imported a game or a game system, the price and language barrier always deterred me, although for some games like fighters you really don't need to read.

I will say X-Men vs. Street Fighter on the PS1 was a hollow shell of what it was in the arcade and Saturn. I rented it once and wow... made the previous Capcom fighter on the system (Marvel Super Heroes) look much better in comparison. Scraping the tag team system - which was new at the time - on the PS version killed the game outside all the slowdown... and to think even with that knowledge they still bothered porting Marvel vs Capcom, and even more intense fighter to the system as well.

Lesson: Never underestimate Capcom's willingness to make a dollar

The only game I've ever imported was Legend of Mana. The process was pretty straightforward. It really wasn't worth it.

Back in my DDR-obsessed days, I bought a PS-X-Change to play imports on my PS1. Worked like a charm for some games, but for newer games I had to input action replay codes to bypass the protection every. single. time. Eventually I got fed up with the codes (which I actually memorized) and just reverted to the trusty swap trick. I used my DDR USA disc, so it's now scratched up beyond recognition.

And yeah, thank goodness for emulation.

In terms of acquiring imports, I searched for years to find affordable copies of Picross 2 and Samurai Kid (both GB/C) from Yahoo Japan Auctions. On the other hand, I paid a bit more than I should have for a "greatest hits" edition of Snatcher (PS1) off eBay. Most of my other importing has been done with import sites, so not too much of a hassle with them.

I've found my recent importing has been reduced to just DS games since I'm extremely wary of modchips. However, if that "Vast" memory card thing for PS2 turns out to be true, I'm gonna be importing a truckload of PS2 games that I've been dying to play.

Mine's much the same as XISM's...Gamefan's glowing review of X-Men vs Street Fighter for the Saturn ensured I'd be draining my wallet soon enough. Thankfully, the Saturn had officially died in the US and I scored one in near mint condition online for $40. Next was the 4-in-1 converter, which I snagged at EB for another $40. No issues there. The day Marvel vs Street Fighter came out, I placed an order for that and X-Men vs Street Fighter from buyrite videogames. Guess what? Wouldn't work. Converter was crap. I got lucky and the same lady at EB who sold it to me replaced it. Success, but after all that, I was dying (and I couldn't read the screen I was getting from the faulty conversion cart) That was close to $150 for two games (and me making about $5 an hour part time, so that was a fortune), but so worth it. Although I'm glad to have a Saturn, since I've bought quite a few imports for it since then. I've gone through 2 more 4-in-1 converter carts though.

I also remember feeling extremely morbid getting my Dreamcast modded, but I couldn't wait for Marvel vs Capcom 2's domestic release (which was later bumped UP five months...So I got to play mine, like, 2 months in advance instead of 7-8) so I had to trust the guy at the import store not to destroy it. Chip and the system still work nicely. Even played the Atari 2600 emulator for it a few days ago.

All over the Capcom fighters (I ended up buying 3 copies of DC Capcom vs SNK 2, because I was worried about low print runs and had to ensure I got one). Almost bought a Star Ocean 1 cart for $80, but I thought better of it.

I guess my most annoying import experience was with the Rockman 1-6 games on PSX.  Not only did you have to buy each separately, but you needed special action replay codes to get them to work after doing the swap trick.  Then, halfway through the series those didn't work anymore and I just went and got my PSX modded and was done with it.  It was a pain in the ass, but so worth it since I didn't have an NES at the time and the PSX versions are far better than the PS2 Anniversary Collection (which wasn't released until years later anyway).

I remember being so pleased that I beat Rockman 1 in two days since it's the hardest one and I had never played it before.  You see, I grew up with the GB Rockman games which are MUCH harder than the NES ones, so I was unknowningly well prepared.  When I first discovered that the NES games let you carry nine energy tanks at once, I couldn't believe it.  I was so used to the limit of four on the GB games.

Other import factoids:

My most expensive import game: Seiken Densetsu 3 ($130)
-Still the most expensive game I've ever bought, and the only RPG I've played all the way through to the end in Japanese (I almost finished the Japanese version of Legend of Mana, but didn't quite).  Thank goodness for GameFAQs and the super helpful item/magic translation guide Game Cave gave me for free with it.

My most pointless import game: Shenmue II (DC)
-I didn't even play my copy of Shenmue before ordering this, and Shenmue was the reason I bought a DC in the first place (Jet Set Radio, MSR, CvSNK, and SF3 ended up being the games I actually used my DC for).  Although I still own Shenmue and both the DC and XB versions of Shenmue II, I've never played any of them.

My wort import game: F-Zero for Game Boy Advance (GBA)
-And I thought my import of F-Zero X was a waste.  Thankfully, after these two duds in a row, the series more than redeemed itself with F-Zero GX, GP Legend, and Climax.

My most pleastantly surprisingly import game: Ouendan (DS)
-I bought this one pretty much because Angela wouldn't shut up about it, and damn was she ever so right.  Absolutely fantastic.

I remember being so pissed they didn't bring these over... I know it sounds stupid but I wanted to have each game on it's own disc, that would have been so cool. Sure having one 256~512KB game on a 700MB disc seems like a waste but they probably filled up that up space with audio.

Thing that drove me crazy? Let's totally redo MM4~6 soundtracks but leave M1~3 alone outside the tracks done for the power fighters and have 8 and 16/32 bit sound mixed in a single game. L.L. = lame and lazy.

I'm pleased to hear the PSX versions are superior, I always figured that was the case... Anniversary seemed slapped together to me.

Uh, what you just described ARE the PSX versions. That's what they used for AC.
The only difference is, with the separate PSX games, you also get unlockable artwork, enemy data, a time challenge and some selectable upgrades (like a higher jump, and faster charge etc.) and updated visuals on health and weapon gauges in Navi Mode.
Better than the AC stuff, definitely, but the music issue doesn't change.

i remember looking in the back of gaming magazines in 95 and seeing how you could get seiken densetsu 3 by mail order for some 90$+ with shipping. God damn it seemed like such a good deal at the time.

Ouch, and here I finally got my copy a few months ago for a mere 500 yen, mint and complete.

When they released Street Fighter Zero 3 on a years dead Sega Saturn (when there was already a Dreamcast version out there), I stopped.

Nonetheless, it was a last hurrah for the wonderful 4MB cartridge; a peripheral that stopped at nothing to pronounce the Saturn's prowess among a dying breed of consoles even if it didn't help make Final Fight Revenge (purchased that one, had no problem getting it running, actually didn't find it that terrible) pretty or appealing.

To further my own Capcom import saga, I eventually bought Marvel Super Heroes Vs Street Fighter (spectacular port like the one before), Rockman & Forte too see what all the fuss was about (fuss = cripplingly hard like Mega Man 8), Rockman X2 for Super Famicom (for fun, because I share a special bond with this one over the rest). Always wanted the PS Rockman Complete Works series, at least 3 or 4, but declined many a time because of their individual costs and language barrier. I wasn't happy then Sony was very adament about not bringing them here so I wanted to spite them by importing but then the miracle of MMAC came along.

In the 1999/2000 swing, I went on a craze of buying lots of N64 imports (some silly moves there) but one of the grand ones was F-Zero X in 1998 which despite harsh reviews gave me much hubris playing it finally months before the U.S. got it. I'll never forget how those bastards at BuyRite.com (thankfully dead) sandbagged me for $17 overnight shipping only to have it be backordered, coming one whole week late. Good times.

Good thread.   Not a so much greatest lengths, but some great nostalga memories for me...

Import Japanese Video Games used to be so cool!. Back in the day... I had surface level knowledge of import NES games, but never actually acquired any.  When I did finally see those famicom cart, I was shocked.  They kind of looked like Genesis / Mega Drive carts. 

The first import game I recall borrowing (not buying) was 'Thunderforce III' for the Mega Drive.  A friend of a friend had it and brought it over.  I learned quickly the 'Genesis modification' process, to play import Mega Drive games.   I hadn't even played Thunderforce II, but was blown away at III.  Excellent graphics and music.  Everyone  in my house came around to check it out.  "Wow, the cool games don't come to America?" my oldest brother said.  Even though the release dates now appear to be the same between US and Japan, on Gamefaqs, I recall them being fairly distant between them.  Like 6 to 9 months..  To borrow the game for a weekend from a friend, I had to loan all of my genesis games (about 13 games).   No problem...I played the $hit out of TFIII, and I beat it that weekend.  A great shooter.

Around the same time, perhaps a year later, my Dad went to Taiwan (and China, I believe),on business.  Mom went too.  Somehow I talked them into looking for Megadrive import Video games over there.   I made a list of ten games, based on a review of the current EGMs I had and their most talked about / highly rated import games   My parents asked their travel assistant to try to track down the list of games I wrote down.

They were away on travel for a full month.  They never mentioned anything when they called to check in.  But when they came back, a 'full' brown paper bag was sitting on my chair in my bedroom.

Probably one of the happiest moments of my still formative years.   I am / was such a nerd...hahaha...But.. I got EVERYTHING I asked for (about 10 games).  The only ones I can remember are listed below:

- Batman (At the TOP of the list.. by Sunsoft.  Not released for over 2 years due to licensing issues with Batman for the NES, Sunsoft was on an exclusive licensing deal for Nintendo systems in USA, The Genesis version was far superior, and a prized import at the time.  In fact I recall several import shops that I tried contacting said the game was discontinue due to a lawsuit. A turbo grafix game was released but not exported from Japan, as well)
- New Zealand Story
- Rastan 2
- DJ Boy

I later imported Strider though I can't remember if I got it from a friend, who originally imported it.   It was upwards of $100 if I remember correctly...

Other memorable imports, Mario Kart, TMNT IV, Cybernator (Assault Suit Valkens)...

Then there was PC Engine.  The first time I played it, my best friend from childhood had gotten Valis IV for PC Engine, and Bomberman.  Valis IV's music was the first time I heard Turbo/PC Engine, I was hooked!  Somehow I talked my little brother into asking for a Turbo Grafx 16 with CD rom for Christmas..My parents loved that one,,, 'Did you talk him into asking for a 'Terbo Graffik 15??'   Yep, I had to sit through a lecture about that..lol. 

I had a waning interest with video games, or so I thought, when I took my Neo Geo in for trade in to 'Die Hard Video Games' (one of the legendary import video game shops, in Northridge, CA at the time.  Anyone remember 'Die Hard Game Magazine'??). Expecting to get cash out on my game system / collection, I saw on demo Dracula X.  I had to have this, obviously.  I had never heard about it before, but I knew, this was the ultimate import game I'd ever seen. At the time, I was in route to abandoning gaming altogether, but one more go with Castlevania brought me back.  I traded my Neo Geo and all the games I had. Dracula X was like $130, and a used T16 Duo (with a faulty cd 'lid'), for like $120.  Considering what I had spent to date on Neo Geo equiment and gmes, this was a pretty sizable loss.

Ahh memories...