While the top-hitters tend to be priced at around the 5,800 yen mark (around £30), the prices do get much lower, especially for part-exchange games which can sometimes cost as little as 800 yen (less than a fiver). We're not necessarily talking about tat at that price, either. I saw the original Resident Evil in good condition for only 1,000 yen (about £5.50). However, you should remember that prices often don't include a 5 per cent sales tax added on top of any purchase, and if you want to claim it back because you're a foreigner, you have to make sure that your purchases come to more than 10,000 yen in one place.

The PocketStation was one of the things I wanted to get while I was over in Japan, but it's not surprising that Sony haven't produced versions for any other countries since they don't seem to be able to keep their home country supplied with all the PocketStations it wants. Walking around Akihabara in the morning I saw plenty. Two hours later and not one of the shops I'd seen them in had any stock left. It took me a further hour of running around to try to get one of the last three left in Japan on my last day.

The PocketStation costs between 2,800-3,000 yen (£16-17), depending on whether you get the plain or crystal version, but it doesn't do anything on its own, except give you a little alarm clock on a rope, unless you get one of the games that have a little silver "PocketStation compatible" sticker on the front. Alternatively, you could always get out your copy of Final Fantasy VIII since that has PocketStation capability, as does Ridge Racer T4. I've also been told that there's support for the PlayStation's mini Gameboy hidden away in Street Fighter Alpha 3 for a complete set of game genres.