Wow -- looks like you got some good deals. I can't speak for any
stores outside of Tokyo, but Akiba is getting quite ridiculous if you
ask me -- almost not worth going. Now, I usually do score at least ONE
good deal when I go, but that's usually mispriced, so I have to dig for
it.
Medialand has always been the most expensive game in town, way more
than Trader. Then, something went terribly awry. Trader decided they
would rather have an impressive looking store with lots of stock then
actually sell games (similar to the SWB yellow pages commercials from a
few years ago). Heaven forbid someone might want to buy there games.
They literally jacked their prices up like 40% over night. Trader only
has about 4-5 sealed games from older systems (mainly Turbo & Saturn)
where Medialand usually has quite a few more in the case. Not everyone
is into that, but Japanese are.
Both stores are way over priced, and I generaly don't shop there unless
it's somethign I have to have - I would really like to get the rarest
Sega Saturn item ever (Devil Summoner Soul Hackers: Extra Dungeons
Promo) which is sitting in Medialand, but I'd rather spend $500 on food
and heat for a few weeks.
Sofmap has a mediocre selection, but probably the best prices in town.
Liberty is also an ass-reamer as far as prices go, but there's like 7
stores in Akihabara, so it's big enough for them to make a few dumb
mistakes. In fact, some of the best deals I've gotten were there: Y's IV $8
Spirggan $8
Xanadu II $15
Spriggan 2 $55
Fausette Amour $55
and a few others... of course, I go back and the same games are double. :)
Paul+