How do I buy Eroge?

[HV3]

I've been leeching for a decade and a half now and I'm sure I read this somewhere but cant find that info anymore.

How do I buy Eroge? (eg: games from: KISS, Tinkerbell, Bishop, Lilith...etc All those games that appear on Getchu)

I've used dlsite a few times but those games are more like the "indie" games of Eroge. (IMO!)
I'm asking how do I buy the actual "Triple A" titles? If they can even be called that.

I am Canadian. (North America)

J-List has good games, but J-List only sells translated and "licensed" games (using anime terms here, ha)

Hoping for a link to thread or even a guide, anything is better than no knowing.

 

[Checkmate]

http://www.amazon.co.jp, but you gonna need to sign up for a Japanese address. Personally, I use Tenso. This is the least expensive option: you shop at Amazon JP using your own credit card, shipping from amazon to tenso address is oftenly free. You pay tenso to forward the package to Canada.

A more expensive option would be to use http://yokattaweb.jp/ordering.html. with yokatta, you can actually buy anything, just write to them, giving them the info, they will send you a paypal invoice and you proceed from there. Check out the fees though

I also use ShoppingMallJapan (SMJ) for auction such as Yahoo Auction Japan to get what really rare (oftenly, Comiket goods), check out their fees and their lolzy exchange rates.

There are more proxy service like http://sutocorp.com/ that has a cheaper free and one of my friends recommended but I haven't tried them yet.

Hopefully this would help.

None of these solution are cheap but they are the best price ratio to me. When you involved with 2D, you're expected to spend like having 100 girlfriends at the same time.

 

[HV3]

Wow, you have no idea how much I love you right now Check.

Think I'll try out Tenso!
All I really want is 2-4 games (bundles in fact) from companies I've always loved, just felt guilty only being about to enjoy their stuff via Torrents. =)

 

[pichu655889]

Such games need a distribution platform like Steam :O

 

[Ero_Yatsu]

If nothing else games that have download versions may be purchasable via official site stores. I bought Shishunki from the US via http://rune-cage.softstore.jp/i/item44829.
Edit: Forgot to mention NSFW link.

 

[HV3]

Ero_Yatsu <3
I just returned after being hit with the " Oh wait this is a DL game not a Disc game" as it took me to DMM site.

So Downloads are region-free?
=( but I really want Disc >_> even though it may be a lot more expensive, I'm looking at this purchase as more a Collector's item than a mere Eroge that I want to play =P already have an expensive Figure hobby going so I cant buy too many Eroges.

 

[Ero_Yatsu]

Ero_Yatsu <3
I just returned after being hit with the " Oh wait this is a DL game not a Disc game" as it took me to DMM site.

So Downloads are region-free?
=( but I really want Disc >_> even though it may be a lot more expensive, I'm looking at this purchase as more a Collector's item than a mere Eroge that I want to play =P already have an expensive Figure hobby going so I cant buy too many Eroges.

I can't say unequivocally that download versions are free of region restriction as some Eroge developers block some other countries (or all other countries >:( http://www.alicesoft.co.jp/)
Disc versions will be harder to get because you will need to find a merchant willing to export r-18 products, which in my experience is unfortunately difficult to do.

 

[HV3]

I can't say unequivocally that download versions are free of region restriction as some Eroge developers block some other countries (or all other countries >:( http://www.alicesoft.co.jp/)
Disc versions will be harder to get because you will need to find a merchant willing to export r-18 products, which in my experience is unfortunately difficult to do.

Checkmate mentioned Tenso. they export items, Just read the "Prohibited Items" section and theres no mention of R-18 items or Cero Z items. it just lists the basics, no perishables, no explosives, no under-pressure items and almost everything you're not allowed to take on a plane or to the airport pretty much =D

Such games need a distribution platform like Steam :O

I believe such a distro does not exist for Eroges most likely due to laws and the fact companies get better revenue, rank and status when you buy items or even Downloads from their sites.
If one distro exists like Steam/Origin, then it would pretty much destroy the main reason these sites exist, plus completely destroy the HUGE value of Eroges being collectors items depending on where you buy from, like Getchu has those awesome wall-scrolls or telephone cards that come with games you buy from their shops.
I also believe the DL Eroges arent as popular as Disc versions, think they only exist for faster distribution and I'm not sure if I read right but most disc version purchases come with their DL counterparts.

Also, the MAIN reason Steam exists is because WE (North Americans) did not have such great places like DLSite, Getchu, DMM (think this ones a tad newer than the rest) and others. We never had these huge places that are pretty much "Steam"-versions of Eroges, hence why we have 1 giant PC game distro whereas the Japanese have ones that have probably been around way before Steam... (hinting at Getchu, I cant remember when it started but I can remember the days of Steam v1.0 =D)

Oh and I should mention I slightly hate Steam, it and probably my obsession of owning pretty figures are probably my biggest wallet sink.

 

[Checkmate]

the MAIN reason Steam exists

The main reason I quit western game because of Steam - nowadays all I got from buying games in the western world is a piece of paper with 12/16 digits code on it, tell me to install Steam and download it from there. No pretty boxes, no game disc, plus I have to install a piece of shitty software on my PC and download it at turtle speed. Seriously, I'd torrent the game because it has better speed for me. Eventually, I never buy western game anymore, don't play it either.

Getchu has those awesome wall-scrolls or telephone cards that come with games you buy from their shops.

Sofmap bonus usually biggest and greatest but ... it doesn't have flat chest bonus as often as getchu. I haven't tried ordering from getchu and had it directly ship to tenso though.

you will need to find a merchant willing to export r-18 products, which in my experience is unfortunately difficult to do

There's also amiami who will export directly to you.

 

[HV3]

The main reason I quit western game because of Steam - nowadays all I got from buying games in the western world is a piece of paper with 12/16 digits code on it, tell me to install Steam and download it from there. No pretty boxes, no game disc, plus I have to install a piece of shitty software on my PC and download it at turtle speed. Seriously, I'd torrent the game because it has better speed for me. Eventually, I never buy western game anymore, don't play it either.


Sofmap bonus usually biggest and greatest but ... it doesn't have flat chest bonus as often as getchu. I haven't tried ordering from getchu and had it directly ship to tenso though.


There's also amiami who will export directly to you.

I completely agree with on Steam but I do play now and then but I've recently made a jump from PC gaming to Console so I barely get on Steam anymore.
It never struck me before the Sofmap was a place like Getchu! =O I just assumed it was some abbreviation for "Pre-order goodies" that was Japanese! ahahah, silly me.
Amiami Exports??? do you mean like Tenso or just items from their store? because I have a Figure hobby on the side and Amiami is like my Walmart when it comes to buying Figures.

Just signed up Tenso, according to a new law passed in April 2013 all members need to show proof of address, so I had to take a picture of my Drivers License and upload it, waiting for a Registration Completion email. =D

 

[HV3]

Excuse my double post.

Just placed an order on Getchu.com using Tenso info =O
Was a bit tricky hopefully I put the address in right, the email from Tenso only says "Street Address" and shows kanji and numbers in a long string of text, but the "Address" on getchu uses the example of just numbers(eg: 1-1-1), and then theres a "Building/Apartment" field .... I just copy pasted the end of the Street Address into the Building field, it translated into "Transfer Com" via Google translate. Hope everything goes well. cost about $5 for shipping from Gethcu to Tenso, now I just wonder how much it will cost to ship it from Tenso to me. Most I've paid for a Japan to Me delivery so far is about $46(~4,000yen) for a 2,700yen item....and it was much heavier than probably this Game case/boc will be.

 

[HV3]

Triple Post, but Final Update.

Finally got the Game today =D so excited, should have been here friday but it was held at the post office as I had other parcels coming in, guess they thought deliver all parcels on the same day would be easier than coming twice in the same week.

=D Now I just need to know if its safe to Torrent/upload or I should not share this and just hoard it all to myself!?

Because someone did request it ....
http://www.anime-sharing.com/forum/...uest]-[tinkerbell]-人妻園-～俺が人妻好きになった5本～-183334/

 

[Checkmate]

=D Now I just need to know if its safe to Torrent/upload or I should not share this and just hoard it all to myself!?

It's really up to you. Personally, I shared all of what I purchased/acquired whether possible. After all, this is Anime-Sharing, and sharing the good stuff is the point for this community to exist in the first place.

 

[Sakamoto_Neko]

=D Now I just need to know if its safe to Torrent/upload or I should not share this and just hoard it all to myself!?

Because someone did request it ....
http://www.anime-sharing.com/forum/...uest]-[tinkerbell]-人妻園-～俺が人妻好きになった5本～-183334/

For me I'd personally wait till the game is at least a month old before uploading anything, and only if it's available nowhere else on the internet.

I normally buy digital releases of eroge from dlsite and dl.getchu. Mainly because

1. I only want to play the game, and not collect all the extra stuffs,
2. It skips all the hassle of customs when trying to buy a physical copy, and
3. It's an instant pay-and-download.

Having a credit card that lets you buy things internationally helps a lot.