Pcenginefx In Japan 2008 Mega-Post (lots of pixs)

PCEngineFX · 10/14/2008, 01:18 AM

So I was just in Japan from the 9th-13th and I'd like to share some of my experience to those who have never been there before via the magic of digital images:

This is the view from my hotel in Tokyo. Buildings as far as the eye can see.

I have arrived at the Tokyo Game Show 2008!

A few booth pixs - SNK, Hudson, Koei & Au:

And of course the ever so wonderful booth babes. This is only a small sample of photos I took ;)

After TGS, it was off to Akihabara (known as "Akiba")...this is just one side street of many in the area.

My favorite curry place in Akiba..."Homemade Curry Time"

Oh look! Found one used game store that has PC-FX & PCE goods!

After going in, I saw that they had a PC-FX, DUO, DUO-R, DUO-RX, GT, LT (which was not for sale!) and a LaserActive... the posted prices in this poster were not exactly right (could be "starting" prices as the marked prices on the systems were higher).

They also had an assortment of controllers and cables...

After leaving the store, this happened to me:

...and what better way to solve my problem than to visit a maid cafe! If you don't know what a maid cafe is, it is QUITE the experience and I highly recommend you go. The @home cafe in Akiba is English friendly so it was quite nice. The maid I had was ultra-cute and of course they all speak in anime voices. The @home cafe is pretty much family friendly so you won't feel strange bringing your girl along....well other than the maids calling you "my master" all the time :-D

Yah, that's me before entering the maid cafe...

The cafe is so popular that is spans multiple floors.

Photos of my maid. If you pay 500 yen you can get a personalized photo of yourself with your maid (which I did).

After saying goodbye to my maid I turned a corner and saw a group of people looking at a HDTV. People were mesmerized by the game on the screen...which was of all games, BLAZING LAZERS.

Well it was about time for me to leave Japan, but one more thing had to be done...I had to eat Kobe Beef! I found a high-end place in Shibuya where I could finally taste this king of all beef which was all of 10 bites for $140(ish) USD...

...and here it is, the most expensive steak in the world.

Hope you enjoyed the highlights of my trip. I did visit more used game shops in Akiba and picked up some PCE/FX goods which I will be showing off later....

Tatsujin · 10/14/2008, 02:42 AM

wow..did ya get a kobe-beef for dinner. very nice^^

SuperDeadite · 10/14/2008, 02:47 AM

kobe-beef is good. But I must say omi-beef is a lot better.

WoodyXP · 10/14/2008, 03:14 AM

Quote from: Pcenginefx on 10/14/2008, 01:18 AMms were higher).
They also had an assortment of controllers and cables...

Holy Hell those are expensive. That's like 'Gaijin Gouge' prices there.

Keranu · 10/14/2008, 03:49 AM

You didn't even say how good the steak was! I'm dying to hear!

Tatsujin · 10/14/2008, 05:18 AM

Quote from: WoodyXP on 10/14/2008, 03:14 AMHoly Hell those are expensive. That's like 'Gaijin Gouge' prices there.

yeah..that's in the new shop called "retro game" directly at the chuo-doori in akiba. this one is expensive as hell, although zou can make some good bargain there from time to time. but in generally it's about 20 up to 50% more expensive than the rest of akibas retro sources.

Tatsujin · 10/14/2008, 05:21 AM

Quote from: Pcenginefx on 10/14/2008, 01:18 AMPeople were mesmerized by the game on the screen...which was of all games, BLAZING LAZERS.

wasn't it probably super star soldier?

SuperDeadite · 10/14/2008, 05:48 AM

Quote from: Tatsujin on 10/14/2008, 05:18 AM
Quote from: WoodyXP on 10/14/2008, 03:14 AMHoly Hell those are expensive. That's like 'Gaijin Gouge' prices there.
yeah..that's in the new shop called "retro game" directly at the chuo-doori in akiba. this one is expensive as hell, although zou can make some good bargain there from time to time. but in generally it's about 20 up to 50% more expensive than the rest of akibas retro sources.

Speaking of new game stores, any "A-Too" shops in akiba? Originaly it was just one store in Osaka and one in Kyoto. Last time in Osaka though I noticed two more all on the same street like Sofmap does. Also the Den Den Mandarake is closed and gone, I'll miss that one...

Tatsujin · 10/14/2008, 06:11 AM

no A-too seen here so far. but instead we got the akiba mandarake, which is damn big (also well for retro) and also has super stuff for moderate prices

guyjin · 10/14/2008, 06:14 AM

even though the price is high, I like the ones marked 1980 yen

Sparky · 10/14/2008, 09:33 AM

very nice, looks like you had a damn good time... i had to scroll back to view the Hudson Info booth again along with the girl in red and black and that violent erection poster

Nazi NecroPhile · 10/14/2008, 11:47 AM

Uhmmmm, booth girlies.

So these maid cafes..... are they happy ending types of places? If so, count me in.

guyjin · 10/14/2008, 12:23 PM

Quote from: guest on 10/14/2008, 11:47 AMSo these maid cafes..... are they happy ending types of places?

No.

PCEngineFX · 10/14/2008, 03:53 PM

Quote from: Keranu on 10/14/2008, 03:49 AMYou didn't even say how good the steak was! I'm dying to hear!

The steak was the most tender and flavorful I've ever had (and I eat a LOT of meat). I was with 3 other people at this dinner and the bill turned out to be over $900 USD ($600 for the Kobe alone). Worth trying once in your life at least, but I wouldn't do it again.

Quote from: guest on 10/14/2008, 11:47 AMUhmmmm, booth girlies.

So these maid cafes..... are they happy ending types of places? If so, count me in.

Not this one at least...it was really male/female friendly. I saw an ad for a more male-centric schoolgirl cafe which I wanted to hit but didn't have time...

Quote from: guest on 10/14/2008, 09:33 AMvery nice, looks like you had a damn good time i had to scroll back to view the Hudson Info booth again along with the girl in red and black and that violent erection poster

Oh yah, that poster cracked me up...had to sneak a shot of that!

Quote from: guyjin on 10/14/2008, 06:14 AMeven though the price is high, I like the ones marked 1980 yen

I almost picked up some control pads but paying $20 at that place was too high. You should have seen their A/V cables for the DUO - $30 each (OUCH!)

Quote from: Tatsujin on 10/14/2008, 05:21 AMwasn't it probably super star soldier?

Could have been...thought it was one of those shooters

Ceti Alpha · 10/14/2008, 04:47 PM

OMG, ....booth babes!

OK, I'm moving to Japan. lol Seriously though. I want to live in Robotech world. lol

Those photos were awesome Aaron. Thanks for puttin' those up.

Joe Redifer · 10/14/2008, 08:18 PM

So do you tip in Japan? I can't imagine what the tip would be for a $900 dinner.

PCEngineFX · 10/14/2008, 08:28 PM

Quote from: Joe Redifer on 10/14/2008, 08:18 PMSo do you tip in Japan? I can't imagine what the tip would be for a $900 dinner.

Luckily, no....no tipping in Japan (at least where I went in Tokyo).

rolins · 10/14/2008, 08:41 PM

I wanna picture taken with a cute maid.

I suppose those cafes would be the japanese equivalent to Hoosters, huh?

nectarsis · 10/14/2008, 08:42 PM

VERY nice pics BOSS MAN

Looks like a great trip.

PCEngineFX · 10/14/2008, 08:52 PM

Quote from: rolins on 10/14/2008, 08:41 PMI wanna picture taken with a cute maid.
I suppose those cafes would be the japanese equivalent to Hoosters, huh?

Well, the @home cafe is not really sexual - I'd feel fine bringing my entire family there just to experience what a live-action anime cafe feels like. Hooters is more sexy/male orientated so there is a difference.