The mecca of used game stores
by Conrad Quilty-Harper 
{ Jul 15th 2006 at 1:30AM }
You know that old game you loved but can't seem to find anymore? The one you think you may have lent to a friend, but your memory isn't clear enough to accuse them of anything? Well don't yell at your best mate just yet. We think we may have found your lost game, along with every other person's lost game ever.A used game store in Japan has such an insanely large collection of used video games on sale that I can only assume that the owner has a super-large magnet in his basement that can pick up loosely place NES carts by the thin metal connection strip and transport them from as far away as Brazil. You're thinking, "but CDs are made out of plastic, how does he manage to collect them with a magnet?" He doesn't.
Two words: Oompa loompas. Trillions of them.
[Via Insert Credit; thanks linus]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Petrie @ Jul 15th 2006 1:48AM
I wonder if they have my copy of the US Final Fantasy 2 my friend "borrowed" when we were about 13 (7 years ago) and loaned my Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, only to have him move and end up stuck with his MQ. Anger still fills me over this injustice.
Zdog88 @ Jul 15th 2006 1:50AM
Woot finaly I can get my Ehrgeiz back. DAM you theaving Oompa loompas. oh and my ps1 ff7 demo disk.
Hwyowl @ Jul 15th 2006 2:04AM
Actually that was five words.
the deaf guy @ Jul 15th 2006 2:05AM
#2 i still have my ehrgeiz even though i never beat it *sigh* i guess i bought it because it had cloud in it and godhand is a cool name. just couldnt' get the hang of it. but yea i wonder if they have a copy of earthbound. starman jr i miss you so!
Zdog88 @ Jul 15th 2006 2:13AM
#4 Are you an Oompa loompa that has stolen my copy of ehrgeiz. If so the give it back. But your probably not an Oompa loompa. That game was a blast, the adventure mode was the most fun. But ya I got it because of Cloud. Dam him and his boyish good looks!!
Petrie @ Jul 15th 2006 2:18AM
Did anyone buy Ehrgeiz for the gameplay instead of just because Cloud was thrown into it? I gave the title a rental and found it to be bland, I would've kicked myself had I actually bought it full price.
Scorpionwitch @ Jul 15th 2006 2:28AM
Oompa loompas are good with bacon. Hunt them to extinction - problem solved.
Epitaph @ Jul 15th 2006 2:39AM
Must be all the contraband that the police seized when selling used games was illegal in japan. Good connections can get you alot for very cheap.
Heath @ Jul 15th 2006 2:48AM
hey, dont try and b funny when ur not.
k? thnx.
bv @ Jul 15th 2006 2:49AM
Anyone else get a weird tingly feeling when they see a sega master system on display in its original box?
http://pics.livejournal.com/jamie_sam/pic/0001k8yg
Brings back so many memories.
Lionel @ Jul 15th 2006 3:08AM
Very nice. I wish that store was in my neighbourhood when I was looking for SF2 turbo SNES. Although it would probably be in the Super Famicom version.
Pal @ Jul 15th 2006 3:27AM
I go to these stores all the time while I'm in Japan. Makes me want to buy every NEOGEO game there and sell it on eBay for profit.
Bought Shenmue 2 (DC) the other day for $12 or so, that was nice. I have Shenmue 1 in English, but I wanted the Japanese version so that was another $3.
Fun fun fun!
Keith L. Dick @ Jul 15th 2006 3:50AM
*USED* is the key word tho I don't think Sony should be able to control it...
Kinda like used cars...
nick @ Jul 15th 2006 4:04AM
Conrad Quilty-Harper always posts the best Joystiq blogs. No kidding. He's got no axe to grind (like Blake w/ his Infendo/Nintendo thing, or that Ransom-Riley/Wiley dude who goes out of his way – literally OUT OF HIS BIG FUCKING-ASS WAY – to disparage anything not Sony) and he always posts the most interesting stuff from Europe. Bravo! Thanks Quilty-Harper, hypenates and all. You share, at least partially, the name of one of fiction's greatest antogonists. Hoo ra!
Andrew @ Jul 15th 2006 4:04AM
I thought used games were like... banned in Japan. Or something.
the deaf guy @ Jul 15th 2006 4:24AM
i could be an oompa loompa i wore short pants once. but can't say i stole your copy. and yes adventure mode was a blast but i kept getting my ass handed to me on like floor 14 or mebe it was 20 its been a while mebe someday i'll give it a go again. yes good old cloud... he's so dreamy.. wait what am i saying?! no more sugar for me.
oopma loompas = pets or meat, i hear they bleed chocolate milk.
Crazylink @ Jul 15th 2006 4:27AM
Holy crap when was Tales of Symphonia released on PS2? I thought it was Gamecube exclusive?
Its on the row second from the bottom. http://pics.livejournal.com/jamie_sam/pic/0002bdfa/
BPM? @ Jul 15th 2006 4:40AM
Crazylink, it was later ported to PS2... in Japan, anyways.
And, if you'll excuse me for a moment... [ahem]
♪Chumba, wumba, gobbledy-goo
Life isn't fair, it's sad but it's true.
Chumba, wumba, gobbledy-gee
When your poor legs are stiff as a tree.
♪What do you do when you're stuck in a chair?
Finding it hard to go up and down stairs?
What do you think of the one you call "God?"
Isn't His absence
Slight-
-ly
Odd?
♪Maybe He's forgotten you!
♪Chumba, wumba, gobbledy-gorse
Count yourself lucky you're not a horse.
They would turn you into dog food
Or to
Chumba
Wumba
Gobbledy-glue!
♪Gobbledy-Glue!♪♪
Conrad @ Jul 15th 2006 5:11AM
Aww shucks Nick, you're only saying that cos I brought Oompa Loompas into a post! :-)
manuel @ Jul 15th 2006 5:48AM
I've seen a lot second hand game stores in Japan. Big ones, too.
But never one THAT big. 0.0
I have just one word for that: WOW. And that wow is drowning in my drool.
*drooool*
The only thing I missed is the address and the map of that damn shop. I want to go there!
I left a comment on the page, maybe he replies me with the address. I NEED to go there!
Smellslikepie @ Jul 15th 2006 6:00AM
BPMΩ - HAHA! I love that episode of Family Guy!
Jim @ Jul 15th 2006 6:29AM
"Two words: Oompa loompas. Trillions of them."
Surely 'Koopa Troopas' would be more apt? :-)
Steven Morrissey @ Jul 15th 2006 6:52AM
Do any of you guys know some big shops in Kansai? That shop looks great (I'm searching for some old GB carts), but I'll have to save that trip for a special occasion.
coalhalo @ Jul 15th 2006 7:24AM
"3. Actually that was five words.
Posted at 2:04AM on Jul 15th 2006 by Hwyowl"
Uh, no it was not it, was two and then a period.
"Two words: Oompa loompas. Trillions of them."
See. Two words, (oompa loompas), and a period. Then on to the next sentance.
Sorry for the asinine response, but I just could not let it pass.
RisingSunofNihon @ Jul 15th 2006 8:25AM
Wow, here I was thinking there were some pretty big used game stores in my neighborhood. If any of you find out the address, be sure to post it here. I have to check that place out!!!
Rune Imagiro @ Jul 15th 2006 9:06AM
Seeing this shop brings a tear to my eye. Oh! What I wouldn't give to see the SNES Cartridge of Secret of Mana back in my hands... Perhaps the greatest game of all time simply vanishes from my collection.. and I want it back.. and now it seems I have a glimmer of hope!
Askin @ Jul 15th 2006 9:42AM
Does he have only one copy of game? If I with friends want to buy several games? What's next?
Kevin @ Jul 15th 2006 10:49AM
I think Super Potato in Akihabara may be a little larger.
http://www.superpotato.com/
"Get your wonder soft world!"
idioteraser @ Jul 15th 2006 10:55AM
Risingson read the livejournal entries the address and direction are giving in them.
Revolution @ Jul 15th 2006 11:37AM
I really want to go to that store and pick up Super Puzzle Fighter. I really want that game but I don't want to spend a buttload of money on it on EGAY
K_G @ Jul 15th 2006 12:18PM
This place is much bigger than Super Potato in Akihabara, and looks to be a bit more organized and spacious in the asiles as well...Not that Super Potato doesn't have its charms in a major fire trap kind of way.
Shagi @ Jul 15th 2006 5:19PM
Where are the PC games...these are all for lame consoles.
saboola @ Jul 15th 2006 5:24PM
I am pretty sure I would walk in there and have uncontrollable seizures at the sheer awesomness that is that store.
thunderleg @ Jul 15th 2006 7:45PM
You and me, both, saboola...
tril @ Jul 16th 2006 6:45PM
Sigh... Memories
Dirk Dorkelson @ Jul 16th 2006 7:21PM
A good Joystiq post/thread would be one where readers can plug their favorite non-EB Games/GameStop video game stores. (Nothing against those stores; they're just easy to find b/c they're always listed in the phone book and you know to look for them.)
It'd be nice to see a list of solid shops to visit when I'm on vacation or whatever. (Apologies if this has been done.) I bet a pretty cool directory could be put together.
So far, Discland in Bloomington, MN, has to be the king of used game stores for me. Too bad it's so far from SF.