Shops in Akihabara

[Samurai Ghost]

I'm going to be in Tokyo for a short time the day after tomorrow, so I was planning on swinging by Akihabara to see if I could snag any good deals on PCE software. The thing is that I don't have too much time to browse all the stores so if anyone knows some good shops there that stock PCE stuff or focus on "retro" consoles in general please post them here!

So far I am planning to go to Retro Friends which has been mentioned recently in the Shooting Watch thread (I want one). Know any similar shops?

Thanks!

[farankoshan]

Super Potato is a common favorite. Despite some high prices, you'll find a very good selection. So that always helps.

Let me know if you need directions since I'm no good at actual street names, but better at landmarks.

[Samurai Ghost]

Super Potato is a common favorite. Despite some high prices, you'll find a very good selection. So that always helps.

Let me know if you need directions since I'm no good at actual street names, but better at landmarks.

OK I'll check it out! Didn't realize they had shops in Osaka as well, could have gone there any time. D'oh! The prices do seem a bit high though though it might be worth a look. Seems pretty easy to get to so I'm sure I'll be fine, thanks though!

[SuperDeadite]

Mandarake Complex for museum quality games.  Traders for the best prices.

[soop]

Mandarake Complex for museum quality games.  Traders for the best prices.

I've heard great stuff about Mandrake.  Didn't they refurbish their store recently (in the last couple of years)?

[SuperDeadite]

No, they built the Complex.  Which is a new 8 floor building which has nothing but their stores in it (one of the floors is entirely a game store).  It's also where tatsujin got arrested by the police for failing to obey (true story, no joke).

[Tatsujin]

Mandarake still is very cheap compared to most of the others, even its games condition is mostly superior. The only contra, not so much variety like f.e. a super potato.

One thing is for certain, mandarake knows very well of the meaning of MINT.

[akamichi]

Nothing really new to add, but I agree with SuperDeadite and Tatsujin have said.  Friends, Mandarake, Trader, and Super Potato are the places I hit for sure when I go.

If what you're looking for isn't in one of these places, then I doubt it would be in Akihabara.  Softmap is good for used games, but their retro stuff only goes back to PSX & Saturn if that.

[shawnji]

Everybody already gave you the best answers, but I also want to mention that the Liberty that's close to both the Mandrake and Super Potato has a few PC Engine titles as well.  I can't vouch for quality since I haven't bought anything from them, but their prices varied a lot between being outrageously expensive to incredibly cheap; so they're at least worth a look on the off chance that you might find a good deal.  Keep in mind, the best deals I've found on PC Engine games have actually been in little mom and pop second-hand stores in the countryside.  I found the Valis and Cosmic Fantasy Visual discs at one of those stores for about 300 yen a piece in near-mint condition.  Super Potato was charging nearly 4000 yen for each the last time I was there...

On a related note, does anybody know where you can find games for the FM Towns and older PC models?  Even most of the shops in Akihabara don't seem to carry any of that stuff anymore.

I'm still kind of mad at myself for not buying that copy of Dead of the Brain 1+2 that was at Super Potato the last time I went...  it's just SO expensive!  

[Tatsujin]

So far as I know, only retro friends carries fm towns marty games, but nothing really to get excited about. Super potato has some peke and lots of MSX games too, but no towns stuff so far.

As for the liberty (nearest from potato just around the corner) i agree on his cheap prices here and there, but on the quality side, there isn't much for hardcore mint collectors.

also worth a look is champ retro games, even their prices are usually set higher than those from potato, but I had my lucky finds there as well. not  great fan tho.

also good ol' media land still caries some retro stuff (FC, PCE, MD, SFC etc.), even the variety is very small, the prices are very good, if you can find your games of choice. f.e. they had a darc x w/o spine for below 3000 once.

[futureman2000]

It's also where tatsujin got arrested by the police for failing to obey (true story, no joke).

Elaborate? 

[Samurai Ghost]

Thanks for the advice guys!

I've been to Mandarake in Shibuya and Osaka and they are great; didn't realize there was one in Akiba. There used to be a couple Mandarake shops in LA but they closed down about 10 years ago. Used to buy a lot of comics and junk from them.

Planning to hit up Friends, Traders, Super Potato, Mandarake and Sofmap since my girlfriend is looking to buy a new laptop and they tend to have pretty good prices for computers. I've only got a few hours but I should be able to hit up most of them in that time!

[Nando]

can't wait to see the loot

[SuperDeadite]

It's also where tatsujin got arrested by the police for failing to obey (true story, no joke).

Elaborate? 

Very old story now.  Old threads still exist.  The story was even listed on kotaku lol.

[Jibbajaba]

It's also where tatsujin got arrested by the police for failing to obey (true story, no joke).

Elaborate? 

http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=3900.msg61825#msg61825

http://kotaku.com/318674/germans-nerds-arrested-for-pc-engine?tag=gamingjapan