Rainfall, petetions... better plan/idea

[D.D.D.]

So these campaigns, petitions and whatever else fans can do to get their games to the states or PAL released really seem to be increasing these days, at least they're becoming more noticed it seems.

My questions is, instead of doing these type of activities on the net (or even letter writing) why not make things more concrete with Nintendo. US fans want Xenoblade and likely Nintendo of America doesn't think it's worth the time to do "localization" for US voices and removing an extra U here and there (I know there's more but just generalizing).
Fans even got Xenoblade to the top reserved list on Amazon as well but none of that equals guaranteed sales.

So how about this: Nintendo could make/release a NTSC version of the PAL Xenoblade for adamant fans of the game but, NOA would have fans place an order directly through NOA, pay for it in-full in-advance (even at $50 or $60 direct), and meet X-number of sales by Y-date to actually "make it worth their time" to localize/just sell for fans (like if they got 50,000 guaranteed paid-in-full sales from US residents).

It seems very easy and straight forward to me so, why couldn't this work???

[isiolia]

Years ago, I asked that same basic question in email to Capcom regarding DC Vampire Savior. The response I got was basically that I didn't have a clue as to what went into releasing a game (and I'm not paraphrasing there, it was that blunt). So I doubt it'd work.

I agree, you'd think that an on-demand printing of games would be possible. Sony does it with some DVDs. Maybe it'd be more likely to see from a company that actually gives a shit about catering to it's fans though.

[Opa Opa]

I'd like on-demand prints.

...Of course, I don't know if that would end up costing a company more or not. I'm not a businessman.

[AmishSamurai]

White Wolf Publishing switched to an on-demand publishing model recently, and have survived a year or so with it.

[vlame]

nintendo is in dire need of money now. they better localize some damn games.

[BoringSupreez]

I don't see why the OP's idea wouldn't work. That's how wargame publishers operate today.

[equalsign]

So how about this: Nintendo could make/release a NTSC version of the PAL Xenoblade for adamant fans of the game but, NOA would have fans place an order directly through NOA, pay for it in-full in-advance (even at $50 or $60 direct), and meet X-number of sales by Y-date to actually "make it worth their time" to localize/just sell for fans (like if they got 50,000 guaranteed paid-in-full sales from US residents).

It seems very easy and straight forward to me so, why couldn't this work???

I've been wondering this too. NOA did that sort of thing for Electroplankton for goodness sake. I've got to think Xenoblade has a better sales potential than that.

[boltfanSD]

I've found multiple articles that have been saying a large reason for NoA's current lackluster localization efforts could be attributed to the weakening dollar in respect to the yen while European currencies are relatively strong right now. Any losses from a North American release would translate to even greater losses for Nintendo of Japan. Sure they're not practically printing their own money anymore, but I don't see how they could lose money by printing out some NTSC copies and shipping them out. They don't need to change anything and I could care less if the text has an extra "u" in the word color. If companies like NIS America and Atlus can keep bringing over niche games (to pretty mediocre reviews, no less) then Nintendo certainly can bring over a couple of the highest rated rpg's in recent memory. Even if they lose money on these titles (or just fail to meet some inflated profit margin due to the casual boom), the effect on their brand image among core gamers will definitely pay off as they approach the release of the Wii U.