Japanese Retro Video Games

Been another week of hard work. Been putting in a lot of hours the last few weeks and i guess it has paid off as sales are ok overall.The weather here in West Japan is bad with heavy rain nearly every day. Its suddenly turned much colder as well. I thought Spring had arrived and now this crappy weather which makes me feel like staying in all day.

Bought some quality items last Thursday while out, listed most but most of the rare items have sold already. Finding less game shops are selling retro which is worrying and means i have to make more tarvels to find decent priced stock.

Certainly intend to do more gaming this week. Managed a few hours in the last week with some good PCE and MD titles played. I think i`ll play a few of my other consoles, maybe Mega CD this week.

Been watching quite a lot of British TV on SeeSaw player using a UK VPN service. I have a lot of UK channels now and with these players can atch most of British TV whenevr i feel like it. Japanese TV can only be tolerated in small doses, the programmes are nearly all the same with "talento" (celebtraties) talking about food and other non important matters. Entertainment TV is also appaling with terrible 60`s style variety shows, which are funny at first but boring once used to.

Music currently listening to - The The - Soul Mining LP.

Games playing - Mega Drive - Bare Knuckle 1, 2  and 3.

Happy gaming

Steve

Put in a lot of effort the last few days listing here and on eBay.  Probably listed my most ever over 4 days this week.Quite worried  how the Pound is sinking against the Japanese Yen which makes things a lot harder for me. Sales have dipped but i must keep going and growing this site and eBay and diversifying. It is actually a lot harder doing this business than many people think. We have a house to run, relatives to look over , pets, bills etc and we also live in a remote area. There are lots of challenges to overcome and it is a lot different than someone living in a city like Tokyo.

The weather here is strange, having turned a lot warmer, the last couple of days have been like autumn in Japan, mild, but windy with a lot of rain. Global warming? I don`t know, but it is strange.

Now for a new addition  in which i name my favourite game and music track for the week;

Video game; Neo Geo - Shock troopers.

Music; Front 242 - DSMO1 - From Gripped By Fear EP.

Happy gaming.

Steve

Yet another hard week with a good game hunt and quite a lot of listings. Sales have picked up for the bad point at the end of last year which benefits everyone. The more i sell the more bargains i can afford etc. Now , we have large amounts of retro stock bought at low prices, so we can pass on the bargains to our customers.

My best news was hearing the eBay Uk have stopped enforced free shipping for video games and also many other categories. Wonder how much they lost before they realised their greed and cockiness was bringing them down, I think in a previous blog, i predicted this would be their downfall, well it looks like they had to back track and be more realstic for the first time ever. Now i can offer things on the UK site with better shipping deals, so i and the buyer wins, the only loser financially is eBay, hooray!! i hope they have learnt their lesson, i think maybe for while, but i`m sure they will shortly revert back to money grabbing mode.

I`m getting back to work now and hopefully some time for a bit of gaming later.

Happing gaming everyone.

Steve

The good sales continue on here and eBay as our large amount of listings of mainly old retro stuff proves really popular with gamers worldwide.We have been working harder than ever and so far this year is much better than 2009.

Been watching the Olympics on BBC via Slingbox. Watching on Japanese tv is so bad it`s comical. They don`t care who wins, just showing hour after hour of the same Japanese again and again whilst making idiotic excuses about another Olympics where they don`t do very well...

Later this week we embark on our last big game hunt for a while, hoping to get 100+ more retro titles at good prices. We have travelled so much in the last few weeks it really wears you out. With the average game hunt taking approx 13 hours and with hundreds of miles of driving and map reading it really saps your energy.

I hope my fortunes remain better than last years,where i almost gave up with all the stress.

Happy Gaming everyone.

Steve

A positive last week which i hope can continue this year. With a great game hunt on Thursday with some exceptional items found, Crystal Palace winning 3 games on the trot and quite good sales on eBay and from this website, i feel pretty good.

Also, my feedback is back to 100% positive after the scumbag eBay user sk8ordie81 left me 19 negatives after failing to extort cash of me.

The only downside is the snowstorm that started Friday and is continuing on and off, with wind chill factor of -15C at night, it aint great.

Already started listing the newly bought goodies on here and eBay some great gear on most retro formats. Planning a few small weekly game hunts over the next few weeks as i already have a huge amount of quality stock to list (Mostly SS,DC Wonderswan and  PCE).

Looking ahead,we will be adding more categories to this website, but the chance to buy retro games at a fantastic price from a certain chainstore has put that on hold for now.

Here`s hoping the awfull weather here and in many places of the world stops soon. Fed up with being freezing and big electricity bills.

Better go for now and get back to work.

Happy gaming

Steve

After a massive 14 hour game hunt through West Japans countryside yesterday we managed to buy 214 outstanding soft and hardware titles. The listing have already begun on here and eBay with brisk sales anticipated. Sales over the last few week have been excellent, with 57 sales from the webstore alone in the last 7 days.

The downside i have experinced was from eBay user SK8ordie81, please block this person, never sell to or buy from, check his DSR`s. He tried to extort money from me or leave negative feedback (left 19), also filed a Paypal claim after receiving the item and Paypal dismissed it almost immediately. He was the most evil, nasty and pathetic person i have ever dealt with in my 8+ years of selling. eBay have allowed his lying feedback to remain so far although they told me action would be taken! Really annoys me a lot!

Crystal Palace have just gone into administration and that is another thing to get me down. Ten points deducted when we are just outside of the play offs!!!!

Nothing mich happening in Japan at present, apart from the usual news of senior politicians being involved in fraud, payoffs, backhanders etc.

Happy gaming

Steve

Hi everyone,

My last blog said i will do mega listings however i couldn`t due to feeling under the weather and  exhausted. I will be listing heavily on here and eBay as long as i feel ok, and i have already started.

Went out yesterday and bought 208 retro games, with some real quality titles ready to list. Didn`t get home until 2am as we travelled quite a distance and some of the game stores were open 24 hours (yes it is true) and most at least until  midnight, a real gamers paradise. Returned home shattered, feed the cats , let the dog out and crashed for 14 hours or so. Now refreshed and ready to work hard this week.

The amount of sales from this website is picking up very well, and this is encouraging, and i would really like this site to be a viable alternative to my eBay store, where no ever higher listings and end of item fees ensure i can offer items at a better price to all.

Not much other news to talk about apart that the weather is really cold at nightime. Also the Japanese media are showing very biased news reports of the The Shepeard and whalers clashes in the Antartic.

 ne newsreader even said " Why do these terrorists behave like this to us Japanese?". Yes, Japanese are real victims always. Most think the of WWII as Japan havig to defend itself against aggression and constantly moaning about the 2 A bombs whilst denying any war crimes. Sometimes i wish the Japanese government and people had the humility and  morals of the German regarding World War 2.

Let`s get back to gaming.

Steve

Hi everyone,

After a spell of low listings on here and eBay, we now come to a big change. We have been busy buying a huge amount of top quality stock and have now begun listing on here and eBay.

The weather here like much of the world is freezing cold. Yesterday we amost skidded out of control on black ice after buying stock, it`s getting pretty dangerous around here.

Back to the items i bought. Most are Saturn and DC, with some great titles to be listed at the cheapest prices. We also have a nice few N64, SNES, PC Engine and CD Rom 2 games to list. I have approx 400 items ready to list, and i will be putting up as quickly as possible.

With the increasing quality of stock and low prices are sales are really doin g nicely. Than ks to all buyersover the last few weeks.

Time to get back to work.

Happy gaming.

Steve

Happy New Year to everyone. Hope this year will be good for you all.

Agaian we went out on a massive game hunt and managed to get 161 games yesterday, mostly DC and Saturn with a few PC Engine and MD games in the mix. At the moment i am looking after my nieces 2 dog and it is hard work with all my other animals fighting with them etc.

 We had a very sad day , where my old cat Junior sadly died on the 27th. He was a lovely cat, that i saw being born and i brought to Japan with me. He had a great happy life though, and i know we did our best for him.

I wish everyone a happy New Year and hope anyone that has suffered from the credit crunch has a happier new year.

Best wishes and happy gaming.

Steve

Time for Christmas in Japan again. It is now a bit milder, so we aren`t expecting a white Christmas this year. While most Japanese go and buy a KFC bucket for Christmas (not a joke, actually true), we will be having a British style dinner.

As usual we will continue selling and posting items over the whole holiday period, and we usually get great sales,as many other sellers take a holiday.

The big celebration in Japan is at New Year where most people have a few days off and have family gatherings. I`ll have afew beers New Years , but stay indoors and probably do some gaming, also some good football matches over the holiday period.

Back soon.

Happy gaming.

Steve

Finally e have the webstore issue sorted out and we can continue listing as usual. Yesterday was an excellent day. went out  to a sushi bar had some nice grub, all at a decent price.

Also managed to find a massive amount of games which are going to be listed over the Christmas period, mostly Saturn and Dreamcast.

The weather is bitterly cold and it is affecting my internet connection, which can be problematic due to my rural location. It sometimes takes ages just to list one thing, so i often give up for the day.

Sales have been a lot better over the last week which is great, hopefully with the quality i am currently listing that trend will continue.

Happy gaming

Steve

Been having difficulty listing on here the last couple of days. I cannot get my photos on to the lsitings. Hopefully it will be sorted soon. I have some nice things to list.

Receivde my copies of Dux and Wind And Water; Puzzle Battles, as yet they are unopened, but i might have a go today.

Overnight there was the most snowfall in a day in many coastal areas. About 35 miles from here had 40 cm of snow and more is forcast, possibly hitting here! Also last night 4 earthquakes hit the Tokyo area, some quite prelonged and strong, causing concern that a big one may hit soon. Had some nice stuff theough the post from family in the UK; some Bovril, and porridge to keep warm and other British stuff you cannnot find in Japan.

Think i`ll spend a few hours on the Dreamcast and maybe later the Saturn for some shooters

Happy gaming

Steve

What a crappy week for sales. eBay is dead again ,and it is frustrating to say the least.

Listed a massive amount on here and eBay, and i hope some will sell quickly!!.  Looking towards next week , the weather forcast for my area is for very cold weather and snow. It can get pretty bad here when it`s cold and roads can be impassable. Just hoping we don`t get terrible blizzards and i have to walk miles to post sold items.

The Japanese amedia are moaning again about the American bases in Okinawa, it get tedious hearing the same old dreary complaints. The media is also very quiet about Japan going whaling again in the South seas. With much of the world against them, Japan comes out with pro whaling excuses which i must say are very very poor. The most laughable is that the whales are eating all the Japanese fish, when the whalers travel 6,000 miles from Japan to do their whaling an dmost whales eat plankton anyway!!

Palace just lost to Sheff Utd, grrr makes me mad, and the first goal diudn`t cross the line. The ref was a twister.

Well, enough of my rant. A few more thing sto list today, then i`ll do some gaming on my beloeved DC!! Lovely jubbly!!

The weather turns colder by the day here. I`m expecting the first snowfall pretty soon. The nightime weather is bitterly cold and as we are in a rural area at high altitude there is usually a strong wind to make it feel even colder.

Went out yesterday to Kobe. Picked out some outstanding bargains en route and had a nice dinner in Ikea at Port harbour. Took some photos which i will be putting up on this site later today.

The World cup draw has stirred up a lot of interest here, and as usual japanese expectations are much too high. Their coach ( a failure from 1998 WC), thinks they can get to the semis!!! The Japanese seem to think Cameroon and Denmark are weak teams. Oh dear, seems to me they will be going home without even getting a single point from their 3 matches.

I`ll get going. Great items to be listed on here and eBay this week. Nice DC, Saturn. Neo Geo and PC Engine titles, some already listed.

Happy gaming

Steve

Had a really busy week. Listed large amounts on this website and on eBay. Lots of SNES games which i picked up for a pretty good price on my travels.

Japans economy is in dire trouble , with the Yen so high and ramant deflation, large companies like Toyota are having a 3 day week, just like the UK in the bleak`70s. I think this country is in very big trouble and the economy could collapse if the government doesn`t intervene and lower the value of the Yen.

I`ve actually finished work really eraly today and i look forward to a few hours gaming, some beers, maybe some music and then listen to Crystal Palace Vs Watford online before retiring for the night.

Hope sales continue going well, i need a little break at X'mas and New Year

Happy Gaming!

Steve

Been a good week for business but a terrible week for me health wise. Came down with a flu/fever on Tuesday and have only felt back to normal today.

The weather suddenly turned much colder and the nights are especially bitterly cold with strong winds a lot of the time.

My idea of starting auctions again on eBay is being a success and i am finding new buyers daily, at last.

Starting to sell  other items like video game soundtracks on eBay and next will be video game sound novels, other new categories will be added shortly to eBay and to this website.

Planned a large amount of listings this week, managed quite a few, but my illness hit me too bad to complete what i had planned.

Happy gaming

Steve

Time to clear out most of my eBay stock. For some reasons my items are low in search results, i ell hardly anything, but my fees remain high. I have decided to continually run the 20% discount until my stock is much lower.

My eBay store will have a maximum of 200 items and i will be having more auctions.

The way eBay is for me at present makes it unviable to sell there. My income falls with evry change. I cannot be a Top Rated Seller due to the fact on eBay UK as of yet Japanese sellers don`t qualify, so my listings are less visible and eBaY is telling potential buyers that i am not as trustworthy as a TRS. What crap. I have a 100% feedback record and check some of these detailed selller ratings and feedback for these Top Rated Sellers!!! It makes me sick, depressed and realise how sh!t eBay has become for sellers.

I aim to have as i mentioned a much smaller eBay store, more items for sale here and possibly an Auctiva store to open shortly.

We will continue to sell and hope our buyers continue to buy from us.

Steve

Been working hard but the finaicial rewards are only just coming in. Last wewek was my worst ever sales week, but slowly sales are picking up.

Could be due to the great new items listed at the worlds cheapest prices. Went out yesterday to Costco and Carrefour and on the way went to game/recycle stores. Picked up some great stuff at nice prices. Obviously i am listing these on eBay and here at very cheap prices to share the bargains with my buyers.

The weather has been strange, with a snowstorm nearby midweek, with full heating on for 24 hours a day to today where i am wearing a t shirt in the evening and feel warm!! Global warming? maybe! Something strange going on.

Hoping for mega sales with my new items on eBay and my sale on this webstore which will start shortly.

Happy gaming boys and girls

Steve666b

Welcome to my latest blog to all my new members, 15 this week, and to all those who bought from the webstore.

The daytime weather was so hot today that i put on the air con again!!!! I listed madly over the last 24 hours, 33 items on both sites altogether, that and doing Facebook, Twitter etc has left me shattered. I am going to call it a day in a bit. Spend a relaxing evening, bit of gaming, some music and listening to the Crystal Palace Vs Preston match online. I got a free 15GBP bet from Sportingbet and if Palace win i get 53.25 GBP, so i am hoping Palace perform well. I will also indulge in a few beverages of the alcoholic type to assist me winding down.

With the last few days being so hectic, i think Sunday will have to be just a bit of time on here and eBay. Still, i will be listing, blogging and everything else i always do.

Steve

Been working hard again. With a lot of work on eBay especially. The weather is miles better last night was down to 5C and the daytime now is 23C. Not usually in the 20`s in late October here.

The media here are going mad constantly going on about the Michael Jackson film and talking about it, gets on your nerves after a while. This weather is great for taking my dog Crystal out during the day. I have been like a vampire this summer, hardly ever going out during the day.

Glad to see some interest in the forums and  newer people coming on the site and buying items. I am toying with also opening an Auctiva store for higher priced items as it is free until March 2010.

Time to get back to work.

Steve