Episodes available for rent on VIDEX.JP

[Philip]

Just discovered this. On the Japanese online rental video shop, VIDEX, you can currently rent and download Maple Town Story episodes 1-13.

www.videx.jp/detail/anime/v_a_toeianimation/atoa0228_0000/index.htm?ref=search

One episode for two days costs 105 yen, 5 episodes for a week costs 336-420 yen. I have not yet tried if they'll accept my credit card, but I intend to.

However, you can download the first episode free of charge. I did this without trouble. The video and sound quality is amazing, even the next-episode preview that was left out in the VHS release was there. Sadly, the video is password protected, so you can't rip it or burn it to a DVD, just watch it on your computer. But since this is a rental video, that's not surprising.

This is where you register ssv.videx.jp/member/regist/



You will receive an e-mail with an activation link, after you've activated it, you can log in and add the first episode to the cart and check out. You will then receive another e-mail, click on the link called ssv.videx.jp/member/mylibrary/

Then scroll down and download:


(I chose WMV, I haven't tried the VIDEX STATION thing.)

This is of course very good news, I hope more episodes will be released. But man, I REALLY wish there was a way to actually BUY these episodes!!

[Ryusui]

Urgh. Downloadable episodes for sale: awesome. Downloadable episodes for rent: not so much. I hope somebody figures out some sneaky way of cracking the DRM, just on principle.

I wanna say this is a step in the right direction, but I have this ugly feeling they're gonna feature these eps for a month or two and then pull the series entirely.

[Philip]

It does say the episodes will be available until 2012/03/31. So I hope that holds true.

I tried to rent a random episode, but my VISA was not accepted. Too bad. I could get a Japanese friend to help me with it, but since the episodes will expire after such a short time, it doesn't seem worth the hassle. I would like to support this, since TOEI are probably doing it to see if there is any interest for the series, but since I don't have a Japanese-issued credit card, I don't have much of an opportunity to do so.

The best idea I can come up with that would allow you to save these episodes is to use some screen recording software, but I think it would be hard to keep the quality intact.

[Philip]

They have up to episode 26 now. =3

When they get over 30, I will have to do something about this! (as I've never seen beyond episode 30 in Japanese)

Might be a pipe dream... but I wonder if there's any chance they'll release Palm Town like this when they're done with the first series...

[Philip]

Up to ep 39 now! Wowowow MUST HAVE!!

[Robert26194]

And I have no money and no rights to buy the episodes -.-

[Philip]

You can't buy them anyhow. They're for rent only. The videos will expire after 48 hours.

I must have done something retarded last time, because I tried today again to rent an episode with my Visa card. It worked perfectly without any trouble. So I am currently enjoying episode 31-39 in Japanese for the first time! I'll be renting the full series once it's up.