Companies come and go in this industry, I remember a time when it would be unfathomable to envision a world without Atari or what about a world without Sega as a console maker. There are always shifts in the gaming world, but that is the way the cookie crumbles things come and go studios rise and fall. I'd be a little more concerned if we were in something that looked like the video game crash of 1983, but the market is larger than ever and is far from stagnate. Yea it may come to pass that you won't see another PlayStation (though I doubt it) but you'll just replace it with something else.

[QUOTE="Talldude80"]

it's a good enough reason, but it might not be very easy at all. I personally just try to wing it when playing games that dont have any english on the screen. I tried a demo of a japanese game on my psp once and it was no big deal that I couldnt read the menus, I just did some trial and error. but it was not a game where I really NEEDED to read anything (Ace Combat), so that might be why. If you think you'll actually have the $$$$ to travel to Japan someday, then yeah learning Japanese would be a GREAT thing to do. but just to play imported games? It's hard to say if the amount of time would be worth it.

Articuno76

I also think the entire trial by fire for languages works differently based upon you own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to adopting a new tongue. Personally, I never did very well in traditional language courses, at least the way they are taught in the USA. I didn't fail my classes, but I did not feel I would ever be able be able to hold a conversation using what I had learned in a classroom. I did better by using the "natural" technique as I've dubbed it learn a good amount of nouns just like you would as a child and basic basic grammar and listen to the language and preferable be forced to speak it (IE go somewhere it is spoken fluently). I'll pick up more in a week or two surrounded by a different language than I would in two semester worth of University level courses. Then again my g/f is just the opposite she learns much better in a structured classroom environment.

Now if you are a native speakers of English we have a catch 22, it is pretty hard to travel somewhere these days that a good amount of people don't speak english. Problem is if someone hears your accent they may well try to converse with you in English. This can make it difficult when you are trying to learn their language and would really like to attempt to converse. it is also makes things much easier on the other hand if you are just passing through or on a vacation.

Well back on track here to the OP, learning a new language just to play a game is perfectly fine. I say don't get caught up in semantics of what is proper motivation to learn Japanese or anything else. We are all motivated by different forces and if playing important games can drive you to learn a new language I say bravo.

Obviously it is the item you need to revive Aerith in FF7 so hidden and obscure it has never been found lol

The Golden Gun (GoldenEye N64) back in the day before the cheat codes were released for this game it was dawn near impossible to beat every level on 00 Agent, which is exactly what need to be done in order to receive this item.

I always found this game to be strangely addictive, though the Sega Master version was the first time I ran into it.

Einhander (PS1)

Metroid Prime Trilogy (GC)

Double Dragon (Genesis)

FF7 Black Label not really rare in my book (PS1)

Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (GC)

Ikaruga (GC)

Command and Conquer (N64)

Nothing really crazy listed I'm sure I have something better but I'd have to look through my entire collection.

The 4th gen, it's not even close. I'm still picking up games for the Genesis, and i plan on getting some of those CD and 32x games that I stupidly missed out on from back in the day. Even that overrated other console, the snes, has some worthwhile games that I still enjoy to play now as well.

Renegade_Fury

Yea, I'll Have to agree about the SNES thing I was in its corner back in the day mostly because that was the only system I owned at the time. In retrospect though I seem to go back and play a ton more Genesis games than SNES ones. Not to discredit the SNES has it had its fair share of great titles.

I've been playing since the end of the 2nd gen/start of the 3rd gen and though I've been enjoying the current systems I don't seem to have that urge to replay many games. I guess I would have to go with the 6th gen (DC, XBOX, PS2, GC).

DC- SoulCalibur, Shenmue, RE:CV, Craxy Taxi, Jet Grind Radio, etc...

PS2- All the Tekken's, GTA's, God of War's, MGS's, GT's, Jak Series, etc...

GC- F-Zero, RE remakes and 4, Eternal Darkness, Metroid Prime's, etc...

Xbox- Halo's, Far Cry Instinct, KOTOR's. Jade Empire, Splinter Cell's, Ninja Gaiden, etc...

Not to mention all of the multiplats (I know I mentioned a few above, but they appeared on the given console first)

Burnout's, Prince of Persia's, Hitman Series, NFS Series, Etc...

There are just too many great games to list and I just feel I go back and replay more games from the 6th generation than I do or have with any other gen before. I suppose a close second would be the 4th gen with SOR2 pretty much headlining it.

Einhander

Raiden 2

In the Hunt

Ikaruga

1941: Counter Attack

Soldier Blade

Einhander; how dare Square tease us like that at the end yet not deliver.

Crystalis; really a great action adventure game for the NES that paved the way for 16bit titles such as Secret of Mana. It was one of my greatest wishes as a kid that a SNES sequel would appear.

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey; the ending really wasn't an ending at all and I need to know more.

No More Heroes I've been slowly going through this game and it is really hard to even find the motivation to play on. I suppose I'll complete it eventually, but man it sure is far from addictive. Simple game mechanics and stupid mini-games it really boggles my mind that it out scored Wii game like MP3.