Comments on: Straight from the Horse’s Mouth: METI Explains Stance on Secondhand Game Consoles http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/ Photos, Stories and articles on East Asia Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:50:02 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Mutant Frog Travelogue » Blog Archive » Another PSE Update - Asahi Apologistic in semi-anonymous column http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/comment-page-1/#comment-34765 Mutant Frog Travelogue » Blog Archive » Another PSE Update - Asahi Apologistic in semi-anonymous column Wed, 22 Mar 2006 04:34:53 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/#comment-34765 [...] In response to massive protest (including a petition drive with 75,000 signatures), the government has compromised to weaken the abonimable PSE Law (previous posts on MF here, here, and here) to exempt vintage musical instruments and allow dealers to perform the required electrical safety tests themselves. The govt even intends to establish government-sponsored testing centers to facilitate implementation of the law. Furthermore, they have said that conducting the PSE test will not open the seller to liability for the product’s electrical safety. (Source: Nikkei March 21 Morning Edition – not online yet). Unfortunately, the government has only decided to exempt some products from the law etc, not exactly the acknowldgement of antique electronics sales that the Synthesizer Programmer Assoc. wanted. [...] [...] In response to massive protest (including a petition drive with 75,000 signatures), the government has compromised to weaken the abonimable PSE Law (previous posts on MF here, here, and here) to exempt vintage musical instruments and allow dealers to perform the required electrical safety tests themselves. The govt even intends to establish government-sponsored testing centers to facilitate implementation of the law. Furthermore, they have said that conducting the PSE test will not open the seller to liability for the product’s electrical safety. (Source: Nikkei March 21 Morning Edition – not online yet). Unfortunately, the government has only decided to exempt some products from the law etc, not exactly the acknowldgement of antique electronics sales that the Synthesizer Programmer Assoc. wanted. [...]

]]> By: Mutantfrog http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/comment-page-1/#comment-33106 Mutantfrog Fri, 24 Feb 2006 04:13:04 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/#comment-33106 Justin, the law is primarily being sold as a set of safety regulations. I don't believe that the environment has much to do with it. Still, you could make an environmental case on the grounds that newer appliances are built to far more rigorous energy consumption guidelines, and in the long run making everyone buy newer rice cookers, washing machines, refrigerators and other electricity hoggers will put a dent in domestic energy waste. Justin, the law is primarily being sold as a set of safety regulations. I don’t believe that the environment has much to do with it. Still, you could make an environmental case on the grounds that newer appliances are built to far more rigorous energy consumption guidelines, and in the long run making everyone buy newer rice cookers, washing machines, refrigerators and other electricity hoggers will put a dent in domestic energy waste.

]]> By: Justin http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/comment-page-1/#comment-33105 Justin Fri, 24 Feb 2006 04:08:42 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/#comment-33105 Personally, I find it quite ironic that this whole thing is sold in the name of the environment, when probably the environment will end up hurting more. Much of the stuff that stores (much less individual sellers) won't bother "inspecting" or aren't legally allowed to sell will simply end up thrown out. Where else could it go? I don't understand how that aligns with the "green" goal of this law. Personally, I find it quite ironic that this whole thing is sold in the name of the environment, when probably the environment will end up hurting more. Much of the stuff that stores (much less individual sellers) won’t bother “inspecting” or aren’t legally allowed to sell will simply end up thrown out. Where else could it go? I don’t understand how that aligns with the “green” goal of this law.

]]> By: Mutantfrog http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/comment-page-1/#comment-33076 Mutantfrog Thu, 23 Feb 2006 16:22:30 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/#comment-33076 Could you find a reference for that Joe? I think digging up a little information would make a great followup post. Could you find a reference for that Joe? I think digging up a little information would make a great followup post.

]]> By: Joe http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/comment-page-1/#comment-33074 Joe Thu, 23 Feb 2006 15:49:26 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/#comment-33074 Funny you mentioned used video games; that's another can of worms altogether because of the hellacious copyright laws here. The courts in Japan have actually split on whether it's legal to sell used video games... Funny you mentioned used video games; that’s another can of worms altogether because of the hellacious copyright laws here. The courts in Japan have actually split on whether it’s legal to sell used video games…

]]> By: Matt http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/comment-page-1/#comment-33047 Matt Thu, 23 Feb 2006 02:24:36 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/#comment-33047 The Mega Drive, 32X, and Mega CD may be on the list because of some manufacturing process that sega used in that era, not necessarily the AC adapter. Nevertheless, this completely and totally kills any arguments or protestations from people who are afraid that they wouldn't be able to buy game cartridges and/or accessories. Turns out to be much ado about almost nothing, but excellent research! The Mega Drive, 32X, and Mega CD may be on the list because of some manufacturing process that sega used in that era, not necessarily the AC adapter.

Nevertheless, this completely and totally kills any arguments or protestations from people who are afraid that they wouldn’t be able to buy game cartridges and/or accessories. Turns out to be much ado about almost nothing, but excellent research!

]]> By: Adamu http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/comment-page-1/#comment-33046 Adamu Thu, 23 Feb 2006 02:04:11 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/#comment-33046 No idea why it's on the list. The author of the JANJAN piece may have had a different reason to put it there (the AC adaptor may not meet more specific guidlines etc), but he didn't say. The Dreamcast plug, if I remember correctly, was not removable. If you're interested and read Japanese, you can dig through the Japanese govt agency's site dedicated to the law: http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/consumer/seian/denan/index.htm I'm done with it for now. No idea why it’s on the list. The author of the JANJAN piece may have had a different reason to put it there (the AC adaptor may not meet more specific guidlines etc), but he didn’t say. The Dreamcast plug, if I remember correctly, was not removable.

If you’re interested and read Japanese, you can dig through the Japanese govt agency’s site dedicated to the law:

http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/consumer/seian/denan/index.htm

I’m done with it for now.

]]> By: Nezuji http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/comment-page-1/#comment-33044 Nezuji Thu, 23 Feb 2006 01:52:06 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/02/22/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-meti-explains-stance-on-secondhand-game-consoles/#comment-33044 Erm, every model of the Sega MegaDrive (including those in Japan) DOES use an external AC powerpack, so I'm not sure why it's on the list. The same goes for the Super 32X and (I think) the MegaCD. As for why the PlayStation is on the list, well while the PSOne has an external AC powerpack, the original PlayStation (what we used to call a PSX before Sony made something else with that name) DID have its AC-DC convertor inside the case. Erm, every model of the Sega MegaDrive (including those in Japan) DOES use an external AC powerpack, so I’m not sure why it’s on the list. The same goes for the Super 32X and (I think) the MegaCD.

As for why the PlayStation is on the list, well while the PSOne has an external AC powerpack, the original PlayStation (what we used to call a PSX before Sony made something else with that name) DID have its AC-DC convertor inside the case.

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