Finds (All Others)

[jpx72]

PAL megadrive (50Hz) can't play Sonic1 in fast (60Hz) speed even when you plug the NTSC version in. So I thought that the ROM (game) in both NTSC and PAL cartridges were the same. But from what you're saying, they are not the same, because the NTSC genesis (60Hz) plays PAL Sonic (50Hz) in slow (50Hz) mode.

The SMD is not region free, but not all games are protected. For example, Sonic can be played worldwide without problems just the speed would be different.
My PAL SMD is region (NTSC/PAL) and language (US[EU]/JP) modded so I can play anything and am able to see the region-lockout screens on some cartridges (like Alien Soldier).  But the behavior of the NTSC sonic cartridge is different, when I switch the console to NTSC (60Hz) and plug the PAL Sonic (50Hz) inside, the game still plays fast (60Hz).

[tappybot]

Here are my last two outings..  I've been spending more than usual, but there's no choice. I won't be here for much longer.





Actually about 20 of the games in the bottom pic I got in a 3 for 1000yen sale for anything under 800yen. Which is really great!

[nintendodork]

Very nice! How long and what reason did you stay in Japan for?

[tappybot]

I came at the beginning of last July and have been teaching English at a private company.
I'm just not that into it though, or maybe it's not for me. It's a little stressful for me. Sort of looking forward to going back home and relaxing with my acquired game collection. 

[manuel]

Are you kidding?
I totally LOVE teaching English, but I can't get a fixed position (yet...), because I'm no native speaker.  Sometimes I teach as a replacement teacher, though. The world's not fair. 

Well, enjoy your last weeks in Japan and get all the stuff you want as long as you have the chance! 

[son_ov_hades]

Is it teaching in general or just teaching English? I'm seriously considering teaching English abroad.

[tappybot]

It's teaching English.  It's not at a public school, I think that would have been a better choice for me.

The pay is great, but some of the people I work with are ... well they've kind of ruined the job for me.  They're such unpleasant, rude, and unkind people.  Of course all of Japan teaching jobs can't be like this, but it's been a bad experience.

I'll come back to Japan in the future but not in a job like this.


I would recommend you find something just for the more pleasant experience of seeing Japan, and you probably won't find yourself in a position like myself.
I hear being an ALT in a public school is the nicer job.

[manuel]

Being an ALT in a public school is probably a dream job.
The "real" teacher does all the work and the ALT only has to talk and say some sentences for illustration.

unpleasant, rude, and unkind people

Were those Japanese or other foreigners?

[senseiman]

I spent 5 years as an Eikaiwa teacher back in the day.  Its no picnic at first, but after the first few months I found it became quite easy.  All in all it was a good experience for me....well, it must have been for me to spend that long doing it

Mind you, these days the market is way different and my impression is that the work conditions have suffered a lot.  So I'm probably viewing it through rose tinted lenses.

Anyway, nice finds tappybot.  That is an impressive haul.  I notice you picked up "Gorby no Pipeline" in there!

[L___E___T]

Being an ALT in a public school is probably a dream job.
The "real" teacher does all the work and the ALT only has to talk and say some sentences for illustration.

LOL, your dream job is to sit in a classroom all day and say next to nothing?  
Sounds like hell to me! 

[tappybot]

Those unpleasant people are actually Japanese women. There are two in particular who are such mean people.  It's like they have their period every single day. Not just that, they've tried to humiliate me in the monthly meetings. The company boss apologized to me, but it's still difficult to put up with.

I'm sick of talking and thinking about it.  Looking forward to finishing  the job.



Yeah, I picked up Gorby's Pipeline after you guys talking about it being rather rare (and I hadn't seen it anywhere else). It was 800yen, but I'd rather pay a bit more than never find it again. One of you said you got it at Mandarake for cheap, which is amazing, because Mandarake usually charges 6 or 800 for anything remotely rare (in my area anyway).

edit:   Oh yeah, I also picked up that 3 Eyes boy game after I saw it mentioned here on the site.  I almost didn't get it, but decided I should pick it up while I have it in my reach.

[senseiman]

Yeah, I was the one who got Gorby no Pipeline cheap (210 yen) at Mandarake.  That was definitely underpriced though, it is a hard one to find.  And its definitely a "must have" game for the discerning Famicom collector!

My latest "find" is one of the very first light gun games ever produced by Nintendo (way back in 1970).  I already posted it elsewhere but I like this thing so much I'm putting it here too  :

http://famicomblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/mega-insane-bargain-of-day-kousenjuusp.html

[tappybot]

Wow, that's freaking cool.  Great find!

[manuel]

Being an ALT in a public school is probably a dream job.
The "real" teacher does all the work and the ALT only has to talk and say some sentences for illustration.

LOL, your dream job is to sit in a classroom all day and say next to nothing?  
Sounds like hell to me! 

I'd like that job. It's only a few hours a day, but the pay is quite good from what I hear. Easy money.

[nensondubois]

After checking the mail today, I found a package and guess what it contained... 

Spoiler

My Nintendo GameCube Service Disc Version 1.0/03, but I need an older model Gamecube to actually use it.

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