My Sony Playstation 2 is skipping and taking longer to load ?
Can I use American or Japanese games on my U.K. console ?
I'm getting black boarders at the top and bottom of the screen on some of my games ?
I've bought a games console from the U.S.A or Japan, can I plug it into the wall socket here ?
I've plugged in my U.S.A or Japanese console into the wall socket and it's now dead ?
I've bought a games console from the U.S.A or Japan but I can't get a picture on my T.V ?
What’s the advantage of buying an imported console and games ?
Do imported consoles have a proper warranty ?
Why are imports more expensive then the U.K versions ?
My Sony Playstation 2 is skipping and taking longer to load ?
This is a common problem, we can re tune and fully service your Playstation for you. Details are on our repairs page. Also applies to Nintendo GameCube machines.
Can I use American or Japanese games on my U.K. console ?
In most cases no, a few consoles like the Neo Geo and the handhelds like Nintendo Gameboy do run all country games, but most consoles will need some sort of converter or an internal conversion. See our conversion page for more details.
I'm getting black boarders at the top and bottom of the screen on some of my games ?
In most cases this is because the game is a U.K Pal version, even if you have had your machine converted to run all country games this will still not guarantee the games to run full screen. See our conversion page for more details.
I've bought a games console from the U.S.A or Japan, can I plug it into the wall socket here ?
No you need a stepdown transformer, U.S.A for example are 110 volts, and we are 240 volts in the U.K.
We sell stepdown transformers for all consoles:
* Please note that some consoles like the X Box need a bigger rated stepdown then most other consoles, so if you own a stepdown for the Sony 2 for example check that this stepdown is the correct rating.
I've plugged in my U.S.A or Japanese console into the wall socket and it's now dead ?
As mentioned above you need a stepdown transformer, don’t worry if you didn’t know this and have blown the machine, its pretty common and we can repair this for you.
I've bought a games console from the U.S.A or Japan but I can't get a picture on my T.V ?
Because U.S.A. for example are N.T.S.C (this is the name of their T.V standard, We are PAL I in the U.K) This will mean you will not be able to tune the console in like you normally would when using an aeriall lead here unless you have a multi system T.V which is very unlikely.
You will be able to use the console by using the A.V lead supplied (if the console comes with this lead that is?) This is a lead with a red, white, and yellow end to it, this will plug into the front or possibly the back of your T.V and should give you full picture and sound, please note that you have to push the A.V button on your T.V remote to get the picture, you don’t tune anything in like before.
If the picture is in black and white this means your T.V will not except an N.T.S.C. signal.
If this is the case or you did not get an A.V lead with your machine or maybe your T.V does not have the A.V sockets? Don’t worry as you can probably use a scart lead which works in the same way as the A.V lead. Most T.Vs have a scart socket nowadays (this is sometimes called a euro connector/socket) this is a small oblong socket found on the back of the T.V, you might even have three of them? We sell scart leads for most of the consoles.
However, if all that fails, we also sell N.T.S.C to Pal leads and boxes for some machines..
What’s the advantage of buying an imported console and games ?
The main advantage is getting the hardware or software a lot earlier than the U.K. release, most machines in Japan don’t see the light of day in Europe for years after the Japanese release date.
Same with the software, in fact many games released in Japan and U.S.A. don’t even get released in Europe.
Also because Japan and U.S.A. are 60Hz, this is the TV screen display in Japan (We are 50Hz in the U.K.) The games run at the intended speed without boarders at the top and bottom of the screen. Many U.K. games when re programmed for the PAL market run 17% slower then the original Japanese or U.S.A. versions and do not give a full screen display as intended.
Do imported consoles have a proper warranty ?
The warranty we offer you is no different and in no way lesser then any other warranty you would get in the high streets when purchasing an official U.K console.
We give a full warranty with all our consoles new or used.
If in the unlikely event of any problems in the first four weeks, we will replace your console for you or if you wish a full refund, anything after that we will get the console repaired for you.
If any problems arise after the warranty we offer a full back up service and have a 99% success rate with all repairs.
Most new consoles nowadays are very reliable anyway.
Why are imports more expensive then the U.K versions ?
When importing hardware and software from overseas there are import duties, V.a.t and shipping charges. Places like Japan are very expensive to ship from, unlike buying something from Europe for example.
Also many Japanese products imported into the U.K will go through Hong Kong agents first before they reach the U.K, again adding more duties etc. to the final price.
Many people and especially some of the games magazines over here in the U.K when converting Yen to the pound to highlight the difference in the Japanese game retail prices fail to take into account any of the above. When you see for example a Japanese PlayStation 2 game that would retail in Japan for say 6800 Yen, if converted straight over this comes to about £39.00, so why is this retailing here in the U.K for £69.00 ? , well 6800 Yen + Japanese sales tax (see below), shipping from Japan to the U.K direct then the import duties and Vat knocks the price up from the £39.00 to about £52.00 cost.
Countries like the U.S.A & Japan have a sales tax added on to their final retail prices in the shops, unlike here in the U.K where our sales tax (V.A.T) is already included on the final price on the shop shelves.
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