I don't import as a matter of course (since I don't know Japanese the language barrier is pretty high), or for early access (like the recent Phoenix sequel that included English).

My main reason is for games that simply aren't released in the US--I've recently become addicted to the bemani music game genre so I got Ouendan for the DS, plus Parappa/Taiko no Tatsujin/DJ Max Portable/Pump It Up Exceed for the PSP.

If those games were released here in the US, I wouldn't feel the need to import, but since the publishers don't seem to think that we like music games. . . I've spent more time looking for translations than I ever thought I would!

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Last summer a friend of mine was studying in Japan. He normally lives in Sweden, and I live in the US. We regularly exchange games from each of those three regions saving each other from rip-off import sites and outrageous shipping charges. It's quite nice. I would recommend it to any DS owner interested in seeing what games others are enjoying to which he has no local access.

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I'd never once considered importing games. The prices always seemed to be way to high, shipping to expensive, and the language barrier too high.

Then Play Asia went and threw a New Years sale. Now I've got copies of Soundvoyager, Dialhex, Dotstream, and Orbital on the way.

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The only DS game I've imported was Phoenix Wright 2. I almost purchased Ouendan, but it was 20$ more than EBA, which I bought instead.

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I imported a white DS Phat from Japan a few years ago, before I got my black DS Lite. I also imported a white PSP (please don't kill me! I only got it for GTA games, I'm still a DS Fanboy at heart).
Also, as I live in the UK, I import all my DS games from america, because they are half the price (UK £30/$53 - US £17/$35). I only import games from Japan if they have an option for English.

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I'm generally too cheap... I mean frugal to import games. And I have more than enough US published games to keep me busy for a while. But I think that companies should be publishing their games region free on all of the systems. It's good to give people choices and not force them to resort to mod chips and other illegal means.

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I love me some imports but I have only imported one game for my ds(jump ultimate stars)

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I'm all over the imports, and pretty much only for DS. I usually go with NCSX or PlayAsia, but I also have the convenience of VideogamesNewYork (202 East 6th St, NYC) being a dealer at nearly every convention I go to. I also have two friends living in Japan currently whom I could ask to send me games in exchange for cookies or something...

I currently have my Enamel Navy Lite, Ouendan, Jump Super and Ultimate Stars, and Bleach DS and DS 2nd. Also, Super Robot Wars D for GBA. I'll get around to Daigasso and the expansion eventually...

The language barrier isn't a terrible obstacle for me. I have a solid knowledge of katakana and hiragana, which the former helps tremendously for most menus. Though when it comes to kanji and dialog comprised mostly of it... I know a few kanji, but otherwise I avoid story-heavy imports because of it!

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I imported Final Fantasy 3 on the day of it's release in the US, for good reason too, it still hasn't been released here in the UK. It was also cheaper to import from the US than buy a game from the shops here. Rip-off Britain at its worst.

However, to all those people thinking of importing DS games from the US, be careful of customs charges, I got lucky and wasn't charged, but if you do it can double the price of the game.

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My only choice is to import, because nobody seem to care about brazil, so i m always getting things crom tronixweb and play-asia.

Also i got both EBA and Ouendan, but still Ouendan kicks EBA ass :)

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i've never imported anything personally, but i have gotten a few birthday/christmas presents that have come from japan - for example, my light blue ds lite i had before the ds lite was out in the us. and it was so worth the money that someone else spent on it. :)

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Only import DS stuff I have are an Enamel Navy DS Lite and Jump Ultimate Stars.

I would like to get a couple of more imports (Ouendan and Ganbare Goemon! Toukai Douchuu come to mind), but as one of the shopkeeps from Legend of Zelda put it: "Boy, this stuff is expensive!"

Although I have a very limited understanding of Japanese, I've some imports for nearly every system I have:

-ZOIDS (Famicom)
-Rockman & Forte (Super Famicom)
-Rockman: Battle & Fighters (NeoGeo Pocket Color)
-Rockman EXE4.5: Real Operation (GBA)
-Famicom Mini Vol.20: Ganbare Goemon! Karakuri Douchuu (GBA)
-Kessakusen! Ganbare Goemon! 1+2 (GBA)
-Wonder Project J2 (N64)
-Legend of Zelda: Four Swords+ (GameCube)
-Nintendo Puzzle Collection (GameCube)
-Rockman: Complete Works (PlayStation)

Yeah, I'm quite a Megaman fan, huh? :P

I've a couple of imported systems, too. The Suicune Blue GBA and Torchic Orange GBA SP from the Pokémon Centers in Japan.
Yeah, I'm a sucker for limited colors and Pokémon... Sure would like one of those Dialga/Palkia DS Lites...

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I imported a DS lite when they were first released in Japan and soon after imported Ouendan, one of my fave games of all time.

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I have no understanding of Japanese, and no patience to read along a translation. I am probably going to sell my white lite to my roommate's mom and get an ice blue for myself.

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I'm the proud owner of a PokéPark edition DS Phat, and Rayquaza edition GBA SP, along with Japanese editions of Pokémon Leaf Green, Emerald, and Diamond. I've also picked up import copies of Ouendan, Pheonix Wright, and Kanji sono mama Rakubiki Jiten (JapaneseEnglish dictionary for DS).

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a game i'd highly recommend importing is picross. I don't know any japanese but the only thing you would need it for is the menus, but after playing around with them a bit its pretty easy to figure out. the game its self stay pretty much the same with a few differences in the modes but overall, very fun and addicting.

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Other than SSX Tricky, Backyard Baseball, and Midway Arcade Treasures, pretty much every game I own was developed in Japan. I like the style of play better, and I'm not a huge fan of violent games like GTA, SOCOM, or Mortal Kombat. I think alot of the Japanese games are more imaginative, and can transport you into another world.

So, it was only a matter of time before I started hearing about these crazy games that will never see the light of day here. My first import was Yoshinoya for the PS2, and now I have Dotstream, and Pinky St. KiraKira Music Hour which is ana amazing Rhythm game for the DS.

http://www.dmpl.co.jp/kira_mu/

I don't mind the price, if the game lives up to expectations, but I don't think I would buy an RPG, because the language barrier would prohibit me from enjoying the game.

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I import about 3/4 of my DS games. Games are much cheaper to import than buy in Australia most of the time we get huge software delays and sometimes get no release at all.

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I imported Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!, and Jump Superstars... although I'm thinking about getting the Kanji Dictionary too... I can't justify it, however.

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I make most of my spending money selling people games from Japan at a tiny markup.
So... It makes me happy when people take interest in a Japan only game, as it means I`ll have more cash that week.

That said, I have never ordered a non-Japanese game. Most of the good games (dare I say all?) come out here first anyway, so I`ve never felt the need to have a crappy translation. And even if I did, I`d certainly never pay the type of rip off prices most import places charge. I have yet to see a shop in Japan providing US/EUR games though.

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