The best argument for Nintendo to release rpgs in the US...

[J T]

If you haen't heard yet, a group calling themselves Operation Rainfall have been pleading with Nintendo to release Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story, and Pandora's Tower in North America. Nintendo has responded by saying thanks, but we don't have any plans to do that.

Operation Rainfall has been garnering support and getting people to sign petitions. You can read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Rainfall

But that's not why I'm making this thread. I'm making it because one Operation Rainfall member has made this hilarious and smart video explaining to Nintendo what they are missing out on by not releasing in America. It makes Nintendo seem straight foolish not to release in the states.

[Jamisonia]

I have one word: Earthbound. Nintendo simply does not feel, and appears not to be close to changing their mind on this. Is simply a money decision. They know it costs a lot of money to translate text heavy RPGs, and do them right, and they simply don't believe it will make a large enough profit to constitute that cost. Easy as that. We can argue that Nintendo is wrong, and all that but that hasn't changed their mind with Earthbound. I don't see it it changing with Little King's Story or Xenoblade. I know these two were released in Europe and therefore have been translated. But they clearly don't think it will sell in North America. Go figure.

But Nintendo doesn't seem to be being huge douche's about fan translations either. They're not shutting them down. So yeah they're not doing it themselves, but they don't seem to be actively trying to stop Westerners from playing these games.

[AppleQueso]

Earthbound not getting released on VC (if that's what you're referring to) has more to do with a lot of licensing issues and possible legal troubles they'd have than anything.

[irixith]

I like the way he made his point. Is it going to change anything? Probably not. The Wii is now end of life, and Nintendo will drop it like a hot potato like they have in recent times for the GBA, and the pre-3DS DS series. Nintendo typically cuts support very early on, and shifts any worthwhile titles to their upcoming console. I also still firmly believe that the titles he wants brought over will be pirated/imported more than they're sold anyway. Fatal Frame 4 already has a fan translation for example, and with a few button presses, a softmodded Wii has nothing to worry about in terms of region protection for importing. Enough people that want the game here import the game from there, why are they going to buy it again here?

On a completely different note, what an awesome voice.

[jfrost]

If there's one man to make Nintendo change their minds is a man with that voice.

[MrPopo]

The issue isn't that Nintendo won't release the RPGs. The issue is that they won't let another company (such as Atlus) release them.

[AppleQueso]

The issue isn't that Nintendo won't release the RPGs. The issue is that they won't let another company (such as Atlus) release them.

this

I absolutely don't understand it.

[flamepanther]

When Nintendo "has no plans" for something right now, but feels they might be able to do something with it later, they tend to hold onto it. Remember, they did a complete translation of the 8-bit Mother (a.k.a. "Earthbound Zero") and then sat on it until the NES died, waiting to see if there would be a good reason to release it.

[weasels]

Little King's Story

...the u.s. has this game.

[BoringSupreez]

When Nintendo "has no plans" for something right now, but feels they might be able to do something with it later, they tend to hold onto it. Remember, they did a complete translation of the 8-bit Mother (a.k.a. "Earthbound Zero") and then sat on it until the NES died, waiting to see if there would be a good reason to release it.

I wish they would at east put stuff like that up on the VC. I think they'd be bound to make at least a little money that way. It can't cost too much money to sell a game digitally, so even if it only sold 50,000, I think they'd make some money. At least if the game is already translated.