Hamburg  - An avid gamer, Eje Stabler is not always prepared to wait for the German release of computer games. And thanks to online stores specializing in imported games, he doesn't have to.

These stores, once frequented by gamers keen on becoming the first to own a game from Japan or the United States, are becoming more popular, especially as non-gamers find them full of surprising deals.

"'Ryo ga Gotoku' is my favorite game and I want to play the sequel," says Stabler, a 24-year-old apprentice. Japanese trade magazines sang the praises of the Playstation 2 version of the gangster epic. So Stabler decided not to wait for a German version of the game that has been available in Japan since 2006. Instead, he went to an importing shop.

Stabler says the benefits are clear. "As a gaming fan, it's important to play the original version ... I don't want voices dubbed with German."

His attitude is similar to film buffs who insist on watching foreign films in the original language. "On top of that, I find the Japanese packaging a lot nicer," he adds.

And there are other benefits for Stabler such as being one of the first to play "Ryo ga Gotoku 2" in Germany, long before it hits store shelves there.

Stores like Gamesheaven (www. gameheaven. de) and joysoft (www. joysoft. de) specialize in these hot imports. Herbert Wirnshofer, who runs Okaysoft (www. okaysoft. de), a southern German store specializing in imported and independent games, knows a thing or two about what motivates customers like Stabler.

"The percentage of players who order an original version because they're not satisfied with the dubbed version should not be underestimated."

The majority of OkaySoft's business comes from customers seeking uncensored versions of games.

"Some games have been changed to reduce the level of violence to comply with German youth protection law," says Daniel Matschijewsky, who works for the Munich-based magazine GameStar. Those changes can lead to alterations in characters' voices or the game flow.

Matschijewsky says customers who buy imported games don't risk running afoul of the law. Nonetheless, some caution should be exercised when a game is resold.

"If a game doesn't have a USK certification, it can only be sold to adults." Stores like OkaySoft adhere to that rule and demand to see identification papers before selling restricted games.

A preference for the original language or an uncensored version is not the only reason to import a game.

"Thanks to the weak dollar, buying games from the United States and Canada is more attractive than ever," says Matschijewsky. Affordable games can also be found in other European countries, especially Britain, via portals like www. play. com or amazon. co. uk.

But customers have to make sure they abide by customs laws. If a game is ordered without the proper precautions, a deal can quickly turn into a financial burden.

"Customs can charge fees, making it hard to import expensive games like the 160-dollar Rock Band," says Matschijewsky. It's also advisable to check shipping costs, especially for games like Rock Band, which come in large cardboard boxes.

Those considerations mean many people are best off just waiting for the domestic release of their favourite games. But that's not an option for people like Stabler.

"I'm even ready to pay more for a game," says the Japanese game fan. "The best part is when I have a new game, friends come over, and we have to use a Japanese dictionary to figure out how to play the game." That part can be more fun than the game itself, he says. (dpa)