Now this is funny.

[OniZetto]

Today I was checking some of my iM@S music collection, and I found this quite unexpected.



This is the back jacket of a bundle/bonus CD which can only be obtained with a movie ticket from this page, which is outdated:

http://www.idolmaster-anime.jp/ticket/loppi.html

Funny thing is, it was made in Taiwan (where I live,) and it goes as Japanese limited version and is not for sale.

I was like "If these people want to make this CD only available in Japan, why'd they hand over the production process to a foreign company?"

Yet the credits on that back jacket does not mention anyone else than their Japanese staff.

Although the CD contents nothing that interested me, I still felt quite upset about how they treat foreign fans of these girls.

[Okayu]

Do you own that CD or just the jacket? I'd be interested in seeing what's on it.

[OniZetto]

Do you own that CD or just the jacket? I'd be interested in seeing what's on it.

As I live in Taiwan, it is impossible for me to acquire such CD (don't know these girls until last January and this was a bonus CD of the movie premiere released in 2014) I grabbed the scan from internet, also the CD (sadly not a legal copy, it's from a torrent.) But if you like to know I can upload it to my file space.

I don't quite like the way they make many albums as limited copies, so for those I'll just seek for such downloads.

===EDIT===

I'm uploading it right now, it was ripped as a single track, a 25 minutes long .wav file... I haven't played it yet so I have no idea it's a drama CD or containing songs, check it out if you have time.

[Eury]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the vibe that they feel they are too good for my money. :/
Having to just through hoops to support them is really off putting.

I'm not asking to be catered to with comprehensive costumer support or subtitles/dubs or exclusives or compensation or expedite shipping or anything, you don't even have to acknowledge me.

Just give me a nice, secure, safe place to give you my dirty gaijin money.

[Maka]

Japan? Letting GAIJINZ support their series?! IMPOSSIBLE!

Foreign money doesn't count as actual money. We all know that. >_>

/sarcasm

[OniZetto]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the vibe that they feel they are too good for my money. :/
Having to just through hoops to support them is really off putting.

I'm not asking to be catered to with comprehensive costumer support or subtitles/dubs or exclusives or compensation or expedite shipping or anything, you don't even have to acknowledge me.

Just give me a nice, secure, safe place to give you my dirty gaijin money.

Yeah, I can't understand why are they putting amazing things in such a small circle, either. There's a huge amount of overseas iM@S fans, and they know that. But still have no will changing their selling strategy.

Thankfully, not every single stuff is limited to JP exclusive. And we still have few stores which are willing to help us getting our desired items. Some of them even go to Japan regularly to shop such things, then bring them back and put in their stores so we can buy them with ease; at least the journey is shortened from going aboard (couple days) to just another city (quite a few minutes/hours.)

Japan? Letting GAIJINZ support their series?! IMPOSSIBLE!

Foreign money doesn't count as actual money. We all know that. >_>

/sarcasm

That must be the saddest buskin ever in the world... the sun empire philosophy still gain a strong position in Japanese culture even today.

But after all that, my will to support my favorite idol is not changing. Looking at my Chihaya figure, with a slight smile on her frozen, sculptured face, standing in front of my keyboard, I believe that we still have chance to meet them, all we need is just patient.

[mariokirby]

Sorry, if I misunderstood everyone.

But, I use Tenso, which is a Forward Shipping Service from Japan to other countries.  They have a guide on how to buy from Amazon Japan.  I never had a problem with Tenso.

I bought the Idolm@ster games, blu-rays, and mangas from Amazon Japan, and Tenso ships it to me.  It's very easy.

For Japanese PSN cards, I buy the digital from play-asia for the Idolm@ster DLC.

I try to support it whenever I can.  since I get stuff through"other" methods

[OniZetto]

Sorry, if I misunderstood everyone.

But, I use Tenso, which is a Forward Shipping Service from Japan to other countries.  They have a guide on how to buy from Amazon Japan.  I never had a problem with Tenso.

I bought the Idolm@ster games, blu-rays, and mangas from Amazon Japan, and Tenso ships it to me.  It's very easy.

For Japanese PSN cards, I buy the digital from play-asia for the Idolm@ster DLC.

I try to support it whenever I can.  since I get stuff through"other" methods

We know there's Amazon and others, what I thought is what if they allow us to buy their stuff with ease, not going through internet, and then wait for another couple weeks until things arrive.

Buying Japanese PSN cards from my local online shop is annoying enough, so there's no need for me to try overseas service like that; Personally I don't have a credit card, not planned to use one in the future, either. Usually I'll just hop on my motorbike and head to where I can buy such things. What bothers me is that they do "privilege stuff" way too often, making me feel like there's "a loss" from just get the normal version of the same copy. (I'm not used to follow this kind of news.)

About the DLC things I believe you're talking about iM@S Channel, because I have no difficulties with One For All. (Damn NBGI for not making G4U a global digital release...)

[mariokirby]

Ah, I see.  Sorry, about that.  I guess my last post was meant for anyone else that was interested in buying online.  I can see where you are coming from.

About the DLC things I believe you're talking about iM@S Channel, because I have no difficulties with One For All....

Did you mean that you have the Asian version of One for All? I have the Japanese version of One for All, so I need Japanese PSN cards to buy the DLC.  I hope I clarified things. 

[OniZetto]

Did you mean that you have the Asian version of One for All? I have the Japanese version of One for All, so I need Japanese PSN cards to buy the DLC.  I hope I clarified things.

Yeah but why did you buy JP version? Basically there's no difference, but you can buy DLC easier with Asian version.

[animagic4u]

Yeah but why did you buy JP version? Basically there's no difference, but you can buy DLC easier with Asian version.

And the Asian version is cheaper.
I've noticed that iDOLM@STER is becoming more popular outside of JP in other Asian countries, where they are even having lives and then there's the official Korean translation of CG so I think it's good if we can support that too.

[mariokirby]

Yeah but why did you buy JP version? Basically there's no difference, but you can buy DLC easier with Asian version.

How is buying DLC on the Asian version easier?  Sorry, I'm not familiar since I don't have an Asian account.  What's the language on the Asian PSN store?

And the Asian version is cheaper. 

That's true, but I buy from Amazon JP since the prices and pre-order deals are lower than what they normally are.  And, the English imports sites like play-asia are a little more expensive to begin with.  I think I would save some money by buying the Asian version from play-asia, but not a whole lot.  Moreover, I can also buy other things from amazon JP while I'm at it (which are more expensive on English imports sites).

[Eury]

Oh, I'm aware I'm being a baby about it all. Physical merch is normally no problem.  It is just weird stuff like having to go through 3rd parties and alt accounts to get DLC or having to have a Japanese email or vpn or credit card for others services that makes me pout.

The most pleasant experience I had was getting the Rin Figma straight from Goodsmile Company.

[OniZetto]

Oh, I'm aware I'm being a baby about it all. Physical merch is normally no problem.  It is just weird stuff like having to go through 3rd parties and alt accounts to get DLC or having to have a Japanese email or vpn or credit card for others services that makes me pout.

The most pleasant experience I had was getting the Rin Figma straight from Goodsmile Company.

More like you only need a VPN if you want to play mobile games, I don't think DLC for both PS3 games will need additional accounts other than your normal PSN one. Just get PSN cards and top-up your account, then go get whatever contents you want.

Lucky for me, we can get figma from physical stores. Even some limited release like Jougasaki sisters, are still available even if Cinderella Girls is more popular than the original iM@S in my town (how ironic.)

How is buying DLC on the Asian version easier?  Sorry, I'm not familiar since I don't have an Asian account.  What's the language on the Asian PSN store?
================================================================================================
That's true, but I buy from Amazon JP since the prices and pre-order deals are lower than what they normally are.  And, the English imports sites like play-asia are a little more expensive to begin with.  I think I would save some money by buying the Asian version from play-asia, but not a whole lot.  Moreover, I can also buy other things from amazon JP while I'm at it (which are more expensive on English imports sites).

Asian version is directly available for foreign PSN users from your PSN store, while JP version needs a Japanese PSN account and use JP cards to top-up. So buying games and DLC with Asian version is way easier.

I'll not comment on Amazon stuff, since those CD album and/or plastic toys/figures are always more expensive than they are in Japan, you can indeed get a bargain by pre-ordering, but I think that's still just its original price.

[mariokirby]

Asian version is directly available for foreign PSN users from your PSN store, while JP version needs a Japanese PSN account and use JP cards to top-up. So buying games and DLC with Asian version is way easier.

Wow.  I honestly never knew that. 

So, if I'm understanding correctly the Asian version is not really an "Asian" version, but more like an "international" version.  While there is an Asian account and Asian PSN stores, the Asian version of games allows you to log in to a specific game's DLC store from any PSN region account such as from NA or EU.

I'm not sure what language is the PSN menu for the asian version.  I'm assuming you can choose the language such as English.  But, the DLC for the "Asian" version won't work for other versions of the game such as JP.  At least you won't need to create a JP account or need Yen since you pay with whatever currency you have on you own foreign PSN account.

One problem as you pointed out earlier is if games or things like Im@s channel don't have an Asian version or something, then you're out of luck unless you have a JP account.

That sounds pretty cool.  I hope I got that down correctly though it sounds confusing at first, so I may have made a mistake somewhere in my explanation.  This might come in handy later on since sometimes Asian versions actually have english subtitles with JP voices while other versions don't have this option.

Again, I apologize for not knowing this.  I have been using my JP account for a long time and assumed that the Asian version is a completely separate entity like JP, NA, EU.  I appreciate you for taking the time to explain this to me. 

EDIT: Please see more recent posts for more accurate information.  Sorry.