[tmm84]

What a comment on the article states is so true as someone who has lived/worked in Akiba for at least a decade. The amount of physical media has been going down over time. The abundant amount of movies, games and music that was on physical media for a reasonable price is gone. Many of the stores in Japan have been mined and stripped of affordable media. Hardware too has gone up in price (radios, game consoles and computer parts). So much of what would be cheap has been gleamed to be sold on Yahoo auctions (I've seen some YouTube videos showing North American or European collectors paying extreme prices) or to be over priced by Japanese standards in Akihabara to tourists (because of weak yen which allows them to charge more). Akiba has changed from a geek hangout to just another spot on the map (go to a maid cafe, get the t-shirt and see the cool buildings kind of place). There is still plenty of manga, figures and souvenirs to purchase in Akiba so if that intrigues you then I would suggest a visit for those instead of video games or computer stuff.

[ecliptik]

Coincidentally that was probably my comment.

I was there last week and while it was an experience, I had much more luck looking for games/hardware in other stores more off the beaten path.

I don't regret one minute there though, it was fun to look around and just to be there.