The Tops-Game site is http://tops-game.jp/. However, they have a message on their site saying:

 TO FOREIGN VISITORS:
PLEASE CONTACT EXPORT DIVISION FROM HERE (with a link to nora1110@sophia-corp.jp

I'm sure you could either email them or just go to the Sophia Corp. website at http://sophia-corp.jp/

I'm not quite sure what the relationship between the two companies is, but it would appear that Sophia Corp. buys stuff from Tops Game and then ships it out internationally.

The game runs on a standard aspect ratio 15khz or 31 khz monitor.

Kevin,
I am not familiar with the topsgames source and cannot find it.  Have a link?  Does this game run on a widescreen or standard ratio aspect monitor?

Thx

i really hope this happens! would be so amazing! i'm going to have to start training. and organizing tournaments, yeah? shirase!

not that this is something to really worry about, but TGM with an 8-way joystick is far from ok--it's seriously difficult to play, like, unplayable i'd say.

Ahhh, disagree! 4-way restrictor: very important. If he's using Sanwa sticks, it shouldn't be any more effort than rotating the restrictor to 4-way mode.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you! I was talking to mat_hatter earlier and he is also very excited.

I assume you sent a mail to Sophia/Tops Game. I was asking around on Tetrisconcept.com's IRC channel and it seems like those companies are really the best places to get it. I haven't heard of the game + Taito Type X hardware going for less than $1400, and I think $100 is probably reasonable for a Jamma-JVS adapter. Another thing to keep in mind is that the game typically expects a 4-way restrictor on the joysticks. If you don't have one of those, it should still be fine; however, the possibility for random misdrops occurs.

I have emails sent trying to hunt one down for price.  Let me know if you see any out there as well.  You never know, maybe we can make this work. 

Any updates on the possibility of TGM3? Looking forward to it already!

Ah tetris, the wonders of it. I think that TGM3 would do a lot better than Jubeat since Jubeat looks confusing plus tetris would be awesome to play after im hot and sweaty from tapping my feet. I might head over to acme today and I'll give an update if i do.

EDIT: Scratch all the info that used to be in this post, hahaha.

I'm sure it would look like spiffy pretty eye candy on a 31KHz monitor, but it isn't necessary by any means.

PSU might be interested in purchasing it since they charge by the hour, not by round.

Also getting TGM3 sounds like a good idea.

TGM1 is ten years old, and I would not get it. It's very antiquated, and not nearly as feature-rich and compelling as TGM3, which came out in 2005.

Yes, TGM3 (or Ti for short) runs on Taito Type X hardware. If you're on a JAMMA cabinet, you'll need to pick up a JAMMA to JVS adapter or something of the sort. As for the pricing, I would estimate around $1500 but then again I don't know your distributors.

So, I assume everyone would want the Grand Master 3?  How old is the Grand Master 1?  I see that one is available today and cheap.  Have not priced a new GM3.  GM3 runs on Taito type X hardware?

I would hope that a new Jubeat might hold up at least a few weeks at at time.  Really would not be too bad to keep running hopefully.  I think the probability of having one would increase for us should the game not be released to the United States.  It's funner that way when it is an import.  Street Fighter 4 has been a good example of having more fun when you should not have it!  :-)

Hey Bill I would vote for TGM over Jubeat, definitely. I would love to have tetris at acme, and as Kevin mentioned it's cheaper and probably more available. I'm not too interested in Jubeat, especially considering the issues already mentioned.

Yeah...I know you probably don't want to be told how to do things Bill, but I thought I'd just throw in my two cents about the feasibility of Jubeat. I don't think the game will be very cost-effective to maintain. It's extremely difficult to maintain machines that are constantly being hit (as in the case of Drummania), and I would think that the touch-based play of Jubeat would only add to this. The game hasn't even been announced for America yet IIRC, and I could only imagine that its launch will be delayed considerably based on Konami's previous location tests.

I'm also not sure why both couldn't be purchased if Jubeat is, since Ti is likely around 1/10th of the price of Jubeat. Again, this is speculation but I think it's reasonable to assume that Jubeat is going to be much more expensive than a generic Type-X game like TGM3.

Bill, thanks for the support. I am really glad that you are willing to talk to the community like this and help acquire these rare games.

Do I get to vote?

I'd say Tetris, most definitely. I play just about every main Bemani game, -- DDR, IIDX, GFDM, Pop'n, and any others I happen to come by -- but I only have a sort of passing interest in Jubeat. I don't know how it is for everyone else, but something bothers me about the execution of these "touch the circles" games. I kind of liked Technic Beat and Ouendan/EBA, but I'm not sure I'd go to an arcade to play something like that. DJMAX Technica looks like it has the most appealing layout, and I think I might like to try that. Still, I think my focus is likely to stick with other music games at the moment.

I want to try to convince the operator of the student union arcade at my college to pick up one of the Tetris The Grand Master games at some point. I'd play any of the three if there were a machine near me. If it was TGM1, I'd play whenever I was near the student union. (Tuesdays/Thursdays before bowling, that would be great, haha.) If it was TGM2+, I'd be taking trips to the student union regularly. If it was TGM3, you wouldn't be able to get me to leave, haha.

Tetris. I think we should go with that because it's actually out and won't cost $20,000 or whatever exorbitant price Konami is going to charge. With TGM3, you'd probably make back the value of the machine a lot quicker.

Jubeat, hands down.  Heh.

Interesting, there does seem to be an interest for this sort of game.

Here is a hard question, would you vote for Tetris or Jubeat?

Something to keep in mind is that Taito Type X boxes take JVS for input. So, either pop it into a NAOMI cab or remember to pick up a JAMMA->JVS box.

Man, it sucks living in California given that there is any sort of slight _possibility_ that there will be a TGM3 machine up in Washington... If it ends up happening, put it to good use for me, okay? If I ever got a chance, I'd totally take a trip up to play it. :<

Yes, that's true. I think Gosha's just saying that it's probably not a good idea to upgrade the SN to X because the new cabinets aren't Betson made.

Well isn't Konami handling arcade distribution themselves for Ubeat and DDR X?  I figure that also means they're building the machines themselves as well

The thought alone of Betson not making the new cabs makes me froth with anticipation

At any rate, the easiest place to find the game has generally been considered to be Sophia Corp. They stock TGM3 under the Taito section in their maker's list. If I understand correctly, they are the export division of Tops Game, who list the price of TGM3 as $1400.

please please please get a tetris grand master 3 machine! i would absolutely get out there as often as i possibly could to play it--and i don't think the sort of "niche" idea that people have about the game is that justified. tetris is sort of THE accessible game, and i think most people really wouldn't be turned off by the depth--because it's really just the potential for eXtreme tetris playing, there's no skill requisite for the game, it's just that there is no ceiling. and that's amazing. the game is tops. please please give me the opportunity to come play it with you!

Yeah, I'd probably play some TGM3 if it came in, jubeat as well.  If Konami is coming out with the new cabinets for X, it might be wise to consider selling the BETSON made cabinets.  I think these new ones will be leaps better.