Bandai Namco opening UK high street stores

Rage Concern Racer.

KK wrote:What I expected before opening this thread:

What I got:

KK wrote:You and Namco in 1995:

How it's going:

Incredible Same reaction here!

shy guy 64 wrote:Will they have digimon stuff?

There's not enough love for Digimon on this forum

I've opened Bandai Namco stores in Ealing, Sheffield Meadowhall, and Brighton North Street, and by gum it put them on the map!

"The stores will feature products such as Bandai's Gashapon"

This is awesome, hopefully they have a lot of them. Went to the Bandai store in Sunshine City Ikebukuro which had 3000 of them.

I've gotta temper my expectations haven't I.

Qikz wrote:"The stores will feature products such as Bandai's Gashapon"

This is awesome, hopefully they have a lot of them. Went to the Bandai store in Sunshine City Ikebukuro which had 3000 of them...

...I've gotta temper my expectations haven't I.

That link to the Camden store mentions Gashapon, Qikz:

GASHAPON BANDAI OFFICIAL SHOP is a GASHAPON® dedicated capsule collectable shop featuring many of Bandai’s latest products. Here you will meet some of your favourite Japanese characters, and discover an array of on trend miniature collectables!

GASHAPON® is BANDAI’s miniature capsule collectables and vending machines. The name is a combination of the “clunk (gasha)” sound made when the handle is turned, and how the capsule “pops (pon)” out of the machine.

So make a wish and turn the handle!

^ I also did some digging and found this tour video of the Camden store. You'll be pleased to see that the gashapon machines - and contents - are exactly as per the original Japanese versions .

jawa_ wrote:

Qikz wrote:"The stores will feature products such as Bandai's Gashapon"

This is awesome, hopefully they have a lot of them. Went to the Bandai store in Sunshine City Ikebukuro which had 3000 of them...

...I've gotta temper my expectations haven't I.

That link to the Camden store mentions Gashapon, Qikz:

GASHAPON BANDAI OFFICIAL SHOP is a GASHAPON® dedicated capsule collectable shop featuring many of Bandai’s latest products. Here you will meet some of your favourite Japanese characters, and discover an array of on trend miniature collectables!

GASHAPON® is BANDAI’s miniature capsule collectables and vending machines. The name is a combination of the “clunk (gasha)” sound made when the handle is turned, and how the capsule “pops (pon)” out of the machine.

So make a wish and turn the handle!

^ I also did some digging and found this tour video of the Camden store. You'll be pleased to see that the gashapon machines - and contents - are exactly as per the original Japanese versions .

Interesting that they don't use coins here (in Japan you enter coins in 100yen intervals). I wonder what the price of each of them are. Most gachapon are 300yen which is about £1.50. I'm assuming they'll probably be more expensive.

Qikz wrote:...Interesting that they don't use coins here (in Japan you enter coins in 100yen intervals). I wonder what the price of each of them are. Most gachapon are 300yen which is about £1.50. I'm assuming they'll probably be more expensive.

I believe that the price is £2 per token, Qikz.

jawa_ wrote:

Qikz wrote:...Interesting that they don't use coins here (in Japan you enter coins in 100yen intervals). I wonder what the price of each of them are. Most gachapon are 300yen which is about £1.50. I'm assuming they'll probably be more expensive.

I believe that the price is £2 per token, Qikz.

£4 per gachapon toy. I think I'll wait until I go back to Japan

Qikz wrote:

jawa_ wrote:

Qikz wrote:...Interesting that they don't use coins here (in Japan you enter coins in 100yen intervals). I wonder what the price of each of them are. Most gachapon are 300yen which is about £1.50. I'm assuming they'll probably be more expensive.

I believe that the price is £2 per token, Qikz.

£4 per gachapon toy. I think I'll wait until I go back to Japan

In that vid, the gashapon selection and pricing is explained from the 01:00 mark. Yeah, one token is £2 and the capsules are either two, three or five tokens each; so, £4, £6 or £10. Probably more expensive than in Japan, then! Do the Japanese machines have three bandings as well, Qikz?

site23 wrote:I've opened Bandai Namco stores in Ealing, Sheffield Meadowhall, and Brighton North Street, and by gum it put them on the map!

Knoyleo wrote:

site23 wrote:I've opened Bandai Namco stores in Ealing, Sheffield Meadowhall, and Brighton North Street, and by gum it put them on the map!

I live close to Meadowhall. The problem is, its Meadowhall, so no, I won't be going

OrangeRKN wrote:

jawa_ wrote:Maybe you'll be looking for a Klonoa pencil case?

Please don't make things up like this

... ...I specifically mentioned Klonoa 'cos I know that you're a fan, OR! You never know, maybe some Klonoa gear could turn up in these stores.

KK wrote:What I expected before opening this thread:

I never had the chance to see the Trocadero when it was like that inside.

When i started heading into London, that part of the building had closed and only a small shopping precinct (containing Tokyo Toys) remained. Even that is all gone now.

jawa_ wrote:

Qikz wrote:

jawa_ wrote:

Qikz wrote:...Interesting that they don't use coins here (in Japan you enter coins in 100yen intervals). I wonder what the price of each of them are. Most gachapon are 300yen which is about £1.50. I'm assuming they'll probably be more expensive.

I believe that the price is £2 per token, Qikz.

£4 per gachapon toy. I think I'll wait until I go back to Japan

In that vid, the gashapon selection and pricing is explained from the 01:00 mark. Yeah, one token is £2 and the capsules are either two, three or five tokens each; so, £4, £6 or £10. Probably more expensive than in Japan, then! Do the Japanese machines have three bandings as well, Qikz?

So usually you'll have

200yen
300yen
400yen
500yen

and "premium gacha" which is around 1000-2500yen, but it's super high quality.

Qikz wrote:So usually you'll have...

Ta, Qikz. It'll be interesting to see how successful the gashapon machines are in these stores. At least we know that the content and quality is as per that of Japan's machines.

Victor Mildew wrote:Ridge racer

Green Gecko wrote:

Victor Mildew wrote:Ridge racer

I'm making a little display of my racing games in my pc room, and ridge racer features heavily.

Victor Mildew wrote:

Green Gecko wrote:

Victor Mildew wrote:Ridge racer

I'm making a little display of my racing games in my pc room, and ridge racer features heavily.

Woah! Does it bring back memories like it's 1995? Let's go.