NoA just released a statement that they have “no plans” to release Xenoblade, Last Story, or Pandora’s Tower in NA. Project Rainfall is uber pissed. Hardcore gamers are pointing fingers everywhere: Reggie, NoA as a whole, the expanded audience. That isn’t certainly didn’t come as a shock, but it’s very important. The fact that NoA is splitting its fanbase even more possibly the worse thing it can do. Of course, the Wii Separate U is already doing that, but I imagine that should the expanded audience catch wind of Project Rainfall directing some of its hate at them, they won’t be too happy about this. (considering almost every game media outlet is covering Project Rainfall, that’s actually quite plausible, but not guarantied by any means. Especially considering the size of hardcore gamers is dwindling.) I know that scenario is unlikely, but the point I’m trying to make with it is that NoA is killing itself. A split fanbase kills possible sales, forcing you to cater to two different audiences, and costs you many, many dollars. Why the hell would you want to do that.
The solution is simple: NoE is already making English translations of Last Story and Xenoblade, so suck it up and translate Pandora’s Tower, and release all three in North America. But nope, because that’s what NES/1/2Wii Era Nintendo would have done. And modern Nintendo doesn’t like classic Nintendo, because classic Nintendo requires what we common folk call work, and modern Nintendo prefers its skwered version of creativity to actual work. They remind of those touchy feelly schools that tell kids to “explore their creativity and ideas” rather then teaching them actual facts about Math, English, History, and Science.
The Wii tried (and somewhat succeeded) to meld all gamers together. (remember bridge games? Nintendo sure as hell doesn’t) But the Wii Separate U just wants to split gamers into nice little pens and give each pen one game every 18 years. Except for those few “dedicated” (read: stupid) fans who buy everything Nintendo releases like sheep. They get the s*** that Nintendo’s creativity creates.
Translating a game isn’t hard. If it really becomes a problem hiring VA’s and stuff, stick on some subtitles for cutscenes and just a common menu translation. There are groups of fans who do that for no pay at all. It’s really sad that on that aspect fans > NoA’s translation team
Overall, this is going to end very bad for NoA and Nintendo as a whole. Sure, it may seem like a couple insignificant games, but just wait. NoA will continue to waver from what the fans want, alienating more and more people. Just letting this slide won’t make the problem go away, it’ll only make it worse. The customer always wins, every time. Just wait.
Yes, the customer does always win. These companies serve at the pleasure of the gamers.
But is the issue really about the localization? This is what I’m asking. There is a lack of communication between NOA and its market (i.e. you). People are saying, “Why won’t you bring this game over?” and NOA gives no answer. You have very Nintendo friendly journalists from Kohler to Rawmeat Cowboy asking Nintendo this and even they get the run around.
If NOA would talk to the public some more and explain their reasoning, this issue would not have blown up as it did. People might be annoyed, but they would appreciate being informed.
Now, instead of the market asking why a game or two isn’t going to be localized, the market will be asking, “Why should anyone be a Nintendo gamer?”
