Akira_EX blogged

PROTIP: Read Before You Import

So, if you haven't checked out my (incomplete) gaming collection/backloggery, you can see I like to buy/collect a lot of games. I'm no Kadey, that's for sure. If you also know me, I like to import games.

So I was browsing my favorite import retailer Play-Asia, looking for a $43 filler for my $7 second set of DSi screen protectors so I can apply one of those nifty $5 off $50 coupons (Yeah, that's right, I looked for a $43 filler to use a $50 coupon). I settled on [NDS] Sigma Harmonics, [NDS] Emblem of Gundam, and two Super Famicom games, SD Gundam Generation: Babylonia Kenkoku Senki (D Generation) and SD Gundam Generation: Colony Kakutouki (F Generation).

That package arrived today:



Now, you see, I didn't exactly read the Play-Asia descriptions right, because lo and behold, when I opened D Generation:



Hold the phone! These aren't what Super Famicom carts look like!

Apparently, the SD Gundam Generation games for the Super Famicom utilized the Sufami Turbo, which was created by Bandai and released in 1996 in Japan, to combat rising software storage costs. Unlike the Aladdin Deck Enhancer released by Camerica in the US, this was actually approved by Nintendo provided Bandai handled all the manufacturing and costs, which they did. This is what the Sufami Turbo looks like:



There are two slots: Slot 1 and Slot 2. The game you're actually playing goes into Slot 1, but some Sufami Turbo games (like the SD Gundam Generation games) support linking, so you can put another game in Slot 2 and it'll link to the game in Slot 1. In the case of the SD Gundam Generation games, you can use the exclusive units from the game in Slot 2 in the main game in Slot 1.

But, you see, being made in 1996 and all, the Sufami Turbo is not exactly easily obtainable.

I mean, both of them were under $10 a pop, so I have really little regrets, but imagine my surprise when I saw the cartridge when I opened them up.

So remember kiddies, here's an important lesson: read what exactly you'll about to import. But, if you're really a gamer, you'll import anyway and then read what exactly you need to play it!

gaming related

Responses (1)

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Wolfwood Jul 17, 09
Pretty slick they came with the original packaging, at the very least! They're like really big DS cards. Have fun tracking down the SF Turbo thingy itself now!
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