I started learning japanese 20 some years ago when japanese release dates were YEARS before American releases. I played pokemon silver import the summer of 4th grade and my classmates didn’t get it until we were entering middle school.
but the years rolled by and sometime (circa 2010?) globalization was ramping up and “worldwide release dates” became a thing, and my “need for japanese” kind of vanished, which was kind of a sad thing, as I had grown to like it.
now, fast forward to the post-pandemic era and the need for japanese abilities is back in full swing! American versions of video games can cost $100 or more (example[ here](https://www.ebay.com/itm/155675413404?epid=175959647&hash=item243efa4b9c:g:Hu4AAOSwsZ5kttvz&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4EWDnDOxVuMrMY5j6q6oWUAAZZY2tH7F6g4Ws2APF%2F%2FMdAPtLTzvKB6A%2BghdtwWz%2FI%2BE%2BhqAqZK816skQIcLV9mKFydZ4CJj38YSm%2BX8XGD1axmsEyvLxVuZgwbo8sRepFPzSYn%2BoM2pLJr9IvWCClPOQAKU2TW%2BvRmH8x8A0h6HisGAaPQSHgkKifchnRvdcClprTjn5m9%2Fyag3EqROgKWJXCmiX%2Bu4Cgwz%2BF2c8GWufZgXumvEUKOcFtqBSzxTMDxAPBl%2FsIPvPrbza7641tb06tO3rd%2FFjAsgQz%2FFqZaN%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4TziMuwYg)) while there seems to be piles and piles of japanese versions at MSRP-pricing or lower.
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That’s kinda why I hate collecting now. Anything I’m slightly interested in possibly collecting, there are 800 people who are so crazy about it that some things are just financially impossible for a lay collector.
It’s great that you learned japanese for gaming but why in the world would you, as a “gamer”, want to gatekeep content for other people? A worldwide release just means everyone can enjoy the game in whatever language they prefer, including japanese.
I was motivated to start learning when I accepted the fact that Yo-kai Watch 4 would probably never get localised into English.
Haha I’m anxious to learn quickly so I can start collecting. I’m like 70% of the way to N5 so nowhere near able to play these games
There is still a ton of Japanese games that release in the west, but don’t get dubbed in English. Compile heart games are an example like Neptunia and Fairy Fencer F Refrain CHord
I mean… thanks to globalization… I don’t have to order separate Japanese copies of games… I can just change my switch language
Yes I would also like to thank globalization for getting me back into learning the language. Primarily the way modern localizations tend to be.
G5 was when I went back to play Pokémon.
While we’re on the topic, a lot of Game Boy games are easy to read, especially for beginners. The Game Boy is region free so go ahead and buy those Japanese games at only 15% of the American price 👍
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Nldj
Oh lordy, it’s nice that I’m not the only one that feels this way. Currently replaying Super Mario RPG in Japanese because I can’t afford the American cart at the moment, but I could get the Japanese one for less than $20. I’ve been slowly building up my collection of Japanese games……….
Anyone thinking about playing なつもん? Not sure if/when we’ll see a Western release
You’re forgetting the biggest benefit – enjoying games in their true/intended form, instead of the bastardised/memeified/localized/censored stuff that’s been more and more common.
Meh you can play any version of Pokemon you want on hacked 3DS/Switch for free. And there are still plenty of games that get released first in Japan. I played Persona 5 Scramble a year before it came out in the US. Played Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin before it was even announced for the west.
Yup.
I buy everything in full Japanese if possible
Super cheap if it’s older stuff or even some switch games etc
Playing through Diablo 4 now and it’s pretty much like Japanese is the same as English in terms of understanding…. Understanding of course
It’s nice to see the need for japanese because “American video games can now cost $100 or more”?
That’s not a good thing as a gamer. We want lower prices across the board surely. Why would you want something to cost more?
Brother, I’d rather it stay the same and have the motivation to learn without a price hike lol.