Retail Radar: GameStop offering imports

Specialty chain offering manga-based DS crossover fighter Jump Superstars, latest Naruto DS fighter, to US gamers.

Importing games has traditionally been a niche activity in the US, with few consumers willing to deal with language barriers, bypassing regional lockouts, and finding a good source to buy games from just to play games from other countries.

But things are changing. Language barriers can still be a concern, but regional lockouts are becoming less common, with the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and Nintendo DS all being region-free systems as far as games go. (Regional locks on the Xbox 360 are determined by the publisher.) The availability looks to be getting better as well, if GameStop's product listings are any indication.

GameStop is currently accepting preorders for a pair of Japanese DS games that it expects to ship this month. The more prominent of the two is Jump Superstars, Nintendo's crossover fighting game featuring more than 150 characters from 27 manga and anime series that have appeared in Shonen Jump magazine. Among the properties included are Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. In the past, games specific to those franchises have been released in the US by Atari, Capcom, Namco Bandai Games, and Konami.

GameStop is charging $49.99 for Jump Superstars and expects it to ship December 27. The game was originally released in Japan last year and has already spawned a sequel there, Jump Ultimate Stars.

Also on offer is Naruto: Saikyo Ninja Daikesshu 4, the latest DS fighting game based on the anime and manga series. The game costs $39.99, and according to GameStop's product page, it was expected to ship today.

As of press time, a GameStop representative had not returned GameSpot's request for comment on the company's importing plans.

Please note, while retailer listings frequently give gamers a heads-up on unannounced news, they should not be taken as final confirmation of a game's release date, platform, or even its existence.

103 Comments

  • Kraygohr

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 9:06 pm PT

    Good. I've been waiting and don't care if they're not in English. Paying more isn't what I want though.

  • lightningkyuubi

    Posted Dec 31, 2006 7:25 pm PT

    i dont want an import unlss its english....

  • _Sam_

    Posted Dec 26, 2006 10:30 am PT

    FilthyYamBag - I still see it

  • FilthyYamBag

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 3:02 pm PT

    why did this game suddenly disappear off of Gamespot's website

  • i_love_my_ds

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 2:08 pm PT

    that game looks pretty cool

  • NarutoLuffy

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 4:46 pm PT

    I know this a stupid question, and feel free to say it is stupid, but are imports translated?

  • Wezker619

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 11:11 am PT

    I HAVE JUMP ULTIMATE SS who wants to lose!

  • datniccah187

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 6:43 am PT

    sounds smart

  • adrianchen0104

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 2:10 pm PT

    you know what?? the newest Jump SSs serie in Japan now right is called "Jump Ultimate SSs" feature more than 40 manga characters.... don't you believe me??? here is the link: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/ajuj/index.html
    and I will get one of this when I go to Japan during X'mas vacation...
    I'll probably get three more japanese imports!!! GO DS!!!!!!!!!

  • usagi704

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 11:12 am PT

    That is fantastic news, but I'd be more interested if they were more current with what they are offering instead of 1+ year old releases.

  • princeofgames90

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 10:00 am PT

    Nice apraoch

  • Vash67

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 6:27 pm PT

    Pretty cool. While I don't care for either of those games, it's a good sign. Once in a while, I have seen imports for sale at Best Buy, so maybe this is going to be a growing thing. On a semi-related note, wal-mart.com sells J-Pop. Now that's just weird.

  • zenigame

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 6:10 pm PT

    "Well. . .I was hoping Jump Superstars would actually see localization, but I suppose this works, too. . .for others."

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Jump Super/Ultimate Stars series is NEVER getting localized in the U.S. Ever. There are too many licensing issues, which is why they have never translated the games and never will.

  • tidusjeff

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 6:06 pm PT

    Looks like gamestop is trying to make as much money as they possibly can, I guess they think making a lot of money off of last years earnings wasn't enough for them. Gamestop is just trying to make up for taking the other EBs away. If they really wanted to step into otaku territory their going to have to do better then EBs offering of the PAL version of Shenmue II.

  • ThrawnEternal

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 5:51 pm PT

    I own Jump Superstars,Your Japanese needs to be really good to read that game. Import Jump Ultimate Stars instead, its much better.

  • MrPuzzlez

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 3:55 pm PT

    Ooh! Nice! Since Fony did the goofy, that'll be a big help.

  • Flame_of_Nova

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 3:06 pm PT

    They did that back in the Dreamcast days. Good to see it come back.

  • ra7krz

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 1:32 pm PT

    Best Buy already had those games months ago, and cheaper too. still good news thou

  • dhghunter

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 1:13 pm PT

    My local Best Buy is sold out of Jump Superstars, but it still has Naruto in stock for $49.99. Odd that so many stores that usually do not carry game imports have the same exact two titles in stock.

  • Dreamcrusher

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 10:08 am PT

    Good news, but the Best Buys in the southeast already have both games on the shelves.

  • Sephiroth-X

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 9:54 am PT

    Well it's good that places are starting to offer imports. I hope to see more of it.

  • rome_tx

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 9:46 am PT

    Better late than never but hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 9:26 am PT

    Good move from GameStop

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 9:15 am PT

    smart move for gamestop. great news for gamers!

  • KidShadow2

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 8:47 am PT

    That works for me. Some imports are cool. I hope they import those games which hold over 40 games in one !

  • Cloud737

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 7:55 am PT

    Wow, this is truly amasing news! I hope other retailers adopts this strategy, and I really hope Sony gives up on it`s grey import offensive (you`re still buying their product, after all). Some Japanese games don`t even see light in the US, so for some there are only 2 solutions: importing or pirating. I think the first is better for companies and consumers who can afford it.

  • rbop

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 7:22 am PT

    ...uhhh, so?

  • Maverick19

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 7:19 am PT

    Hummm Fry's Electronics in Tempe, Arizona have been selling imports for a while, its not a bigselecton but is something. so why do people make it a big deal when Game stop starts selling them?!! Seriously check your local Frys.... in the words of BORAT...." I'ts Nice!"

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 6:27 am PT

    I've already seen these two games at a local Best Buy in Madison, WI. They were the same prices listed here. I was intrigued by the prospect of readily available import games, but these two do not really interest me. I guess that it's cool, but why not just properly release them here?

  • axillia

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 6:26 am PT

    It's about time GameStop does this. Too bad it's a year too late.

  • runelv

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 6:05 am PT

    Nintendo has sued a lot of European stores for just selling imported games (not systems). But the USA has a law about freedom of speech, so Gamestop may not be sued to death as long as they don't export to Europe and get sued by any of the European countries. Lik Sang won over Sony in Hong Kong, but lost in England.

  • stiker71

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 5:59 am PT

    Wheres all the good Import DS games?

  • Autolycus

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 5:56 am PT

    When sony realizes their ps3 isnt all that and blu-ray starts to fail, the MIGHT sue gamestop, best buy, fry's (if they have ANY legal reason, which i dont think they have), simply for the cause of making up some of the billions of dollars they lsot investesting in two dead technologies...yes its only been out for a month, NO its not nearly as demanded as you think and NO developers wont makes games for it after about 2 years because its just not worth the time or money.

  • ert47

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 5:08 am PT

    By making teh PS3 Region-Free, does that not help their problem (Sony) with people importing?

    *runs off to PlayAsia*

  • abdullrahman

    Posted Dec 13, 2006 4:36 am PT

    YAY, first lik sang and now gamestop ^_^ haha, prepare to be buy sony games and ps3.

  • ebonyflame

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 11:13 pm PT

    Like games from other countries but would rather wait on localization for handheld games as I tend to play those games when the urge hits me and not for long periods of sit down time like I do with their home system counterparts.

  • YukoAsho

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 10:50 pm PT

    Sony's not going to do anything to GameStop for the simple reason that they're not selling import hardware to Europe, which is where the issue with Lik-Sang was (EU and US laws regarding imports are vastly different). This is just import games on a region free handheld. I expect Japanese releases for PS3 to hit the US eventually, as the people buying the system are likely crazed enough to buy imported games.

  • MasterAsh42

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 10:46 pm PT

    Well. . .I was hoping Jump Superstars would actually see localization, but I suppose this works, too. . .for others.

    There's better uses for $50 on the DS for me right now.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 9:23 pm PT

    Im not bing on imports, but they will sell

  • Korubi

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 9:22 pm PT

    Ouendan please.

  • leonia19

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 8:16 pm PT

    Fry's Electronics has been doing this way before Best Buy or GameStop.

  • XGxAxMxExRX

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 8:11 pm PT

    I saw jump superstars at best buy and it was much cheaper

  • VengenceZero

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 7:52 pm PT

    50 Bucks 4 a DS Game? What am I Rick James? Im not Rich B*tch.

  • niteowl74

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 7:32 pm PT

    I saw the import Naruto 4 for ds in best buy a couple of weeks ago along with the psp version. Have to admit i was shocked.

  • SpecterX3

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 4:35 pm PT

    I just wish it was Ultimate since it has Wifi, but meh, I'm good with this.

  • Spongemario

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 4:28 pm PT

    Awww...$50? A little pricy there.

  • happy_fizzle999

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 4:27 pm PT

    what abou EB games? do they have it too?

  • soulitier

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 4:20 pm PT

    yes i can finnaly get the gba version of custom robo, cheer team and pokemon stadium 4 for the wii (if that comes out in us) along with jump super stars 2 plus that one game with solid snake fighting optomus prime.

  • TryMe01

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 4:20 pm PT

    why get Jump Superstars then you can get the wifi enableded sequel, Jump Ultimate Stars?

  • michelle_moraes

    Posted Dec 12, 2006 4:06 pm PT

    Oh yeah, looking forward to Beatmanias, Drummanias, DDRs and the like from Bemani!!!

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