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Nintendo's Worldwide Distribution Failure Thread: Suffering of English Nintendo Fans

Princess Skittles

Prince's's 'Skittle's
Okay, I would like this thread to illustrate Nintendo's haphazard distribution practices this generation in regard to English releases of games. I know GAF has a lot of industry people.. and once this list is near complete, maybe it can be used as a reference to any of you that would like to press Nintendo on why they are leaving so many games out of certain regions.

I need YOUR help. Please help me fill in the blanks. I will be updating this thread regularly. This is for Nintendo developed/published games ONLY. I've started off with what I had just off the top of my head.. and will be filling blanks in as they come to me (or as they are pointed out in this thread).

Check out these Twitter/Facebook campaigns to help get Xenoblade, The Last Story and Pandora's Tower released in the US.
creid said:
Big thank you for helping fill this list:
dallow_bg
Boerseun
wrowa
Stumpokapow
Shiggy
Foffy
AbsoluteZero
izakq
Gameboy415
Released (or releasing) in America, Not in Europe

Wii:

Excitebots
Super Mario Sluggers

DS:

Chibi-Robo!: Park Patrol
Fossil Fighters
Glory of Heracles
The Legendary Starfy

Released (or releasing) in Europe, Not in America

Wii:

Another Code: R - A Journey into Lost Memories
Disaster: Day of Crisis
The Last Story
NPC! Pikmin 2
Pandora's Tower
Xenoblade Chronicles

DS:

Face Training: Facial Exercises to Strengthen and Relax from Fumiko Inudo
Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland
Jam with the Band
Last Window: The Secret of Cape West
Make 10: A Journey of Numbers

Released (or releasing) in Japan, Not in America OR Europe

Wii:

Captain Rainbow
Fatal Frame 4
NPC! Chibi-Robo!
Takt of Magic
Zangeki no Regenleiv

DS:

ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat
Chōsōjū Mecha MG
Daigasso! Band Bros (sequel released in Europe as Jam with the Band)
Densetsu no Stafy 4 (aka Starfy 4)
DS Fortune Teller
Fire Emblem: Shin Monshō no Nazo: Hikari to Kage no Eiyū
Irozuki Tincle no Koi no Balloon Trip (aka Tingle 2)
Jet Impulse
Kanshū Nippon Jōshikiryoku Kentei Kyōkai: Imasara Hito ni wa Kikenai Otona no Jōshikiryoku Training DS (aka Common Sense Training)
Kurikin Nano Island Story
Okaeri! Chibi-Robo! Happy Richie Ōsōji!
Pokémon Typing DS
Project Hacker
Slide Adventure MAGKID
Soma Bringer
Suujin Taisen (DSiWare version released in US/EU as Number Battle)
theta
Tingle's Balloon Fight (Club Nintendo only)
Tomodachi Collection
Touch Panic
Zekkyō Senshi Sakeburein (aka Exclamation Warriors)

DS: (these are more licensing issues over Nintendo incompetence)

Jump Super Stars
Jump Ultimate Stars
Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (although Elite Beat Agents, a region specific version, WAS released in the US/EU).

How to Softmod your US Wii for the first time to play EU Games from the disc.
What you need:
- A US Wii, updated to the current official firmware, and with no homebrew installed.
- A US Copy of Super Smash Bros Brawl or Lego Indiana Jones for Wii.
- An SD card less than or equal to 2GB in size that you can format.

FAQ Part 1:
Q: Is this safe?
A: Yes.

Q: My Wii is not on current firmware, can I still go region-free?
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: My Wii is not a US Wii, can I still go region-free?
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: I already have some level of homebrew stuff installed, where do I go from here?
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: I do not have access to SSBB or Lego Indiana Jones. Are there other games I can use?
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: I do not have an SD card available.
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: I want to do anything other than play EU games on a US Wii from the disc
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: Can I install Wii games to a hard drive?
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: Did you know that you can also do this with Lego Star Wars or Lego Batman?
A: This guide is not for you.

Guide, using Indiana Jones:
- Delete any Indiana Jones save games you have on your SD card or Wii.
- Plug your SD card into your computer.
- Download this: http://static.hackmii.com/indiana-pwns.zip
- Unzip the zip, drag the private folder onto your SD card.
- Download this: http://bootmii.org/download/
- Unzip the zip, drag boot.elf to your SD card. Do not put it inside any folder. Just drag the boot.elf file and have it on your SD card.
- Plug your SD card into your Wii.
- Boot Wii
- Wii Options > Data Management > Save Data > Wii
- SD Card > Indiana Pwns US Save > Copy to Wii's memory.
- Boot Lego Indiana Jones
- Load the save game.
- You will be in the college. Walk to the Art Room (through the courtyard). Inside the art room, approach the left character standing on a podium.
- When it zooms in on the character, choose the "Switch to" option.
- Lego Indiana Jones will now launch the Homebrew Channel installer.
- Wait while the installer runs tests.
- Press 1 when you are told to press 1 to continue.
- Your Wii will reboot, and you will see a "Homebrew Channel"
- Continue to Guide Part 2 below.

Guide, using Super Smash Bros Brawl:
- Plug SD card into Wii.
- Boot Super Smash Bros Brawl
- Go to Save Builder
- Delete any custom stages or move them to your SD card.
- This includes any sample stages for new save files.
- This includes stages downloaded from the Smash stage service.
- Wait at least 24 hours.
- Plug SD card into computer.
- Rename the folder named "private" to privateold
- Download this: http://wiibrew.org/w/images/4/4e/Smashstack.zip
- Unzip the zip, copy the private folder to your SD card.
- Download this: http://bootmii.org/download/
- Unzip the zip, drag boot.elf to your SD card. Do not put it inside any folder. Just drag the boot.elf file and have it on your SD card.
- Plug your SD card into your Wii.
- Boot Wii
- Boot Super Smash Bros Brawl
- Go to Stage Builder
- Super Smash Bros Brawl will now launch the Homebrew Channel installer.
- Wait while the installer runs tests.
- Press 1 when you are told to press 1 to continue.
- Your Wii will reboot, and you will see a "Homebrew Channel"
- You can now plug your SD card into your PC, delete the private folder, and rename privateold to private if you want your Wii data back.
- Continue to Guide Part 2 below.

Guide, part 2:
- Turn off Wii
- Plug SD card into computer
- Make a directory called "apps" on your SD card if one does not already exist.
- Download this: http://geckodownloads.googlecode.com/files/gecko1931.zip
- Unzip the zip.
- Go into Gecko1931 > Gecko1931 > HBC
- There is a folder called Gecko1931 here. Drag the folder to your SD card's apps folder.
- So your SD card will look like (as an example using drive letter J): J:\apps\gecko1931\
- Inside that folder, there should be three files. Boot.elf, icon.png, meta.xml
- Plug SD card into Wii
- Boot Wii, Homebrew Channel.
- You will see Gecko OS. Click on it. Load it.
- Use "Launch Game" to play the import game
- If you have video trouble, you might need to select the "Force NTSC Mode" option in Gecko OS.

FAQ, part 2:
Q: What are some other options I can use while playing my game?
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: Can I use cheats while playing a game?
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: What else can I do with homebrew?
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: Are there other methods for launching PAL games?
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: Can I put Gecko OS on my main Wii menu instead of inside homebrew channel.
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: How do I update Gecko OS in the future?
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: I ran into trouble or don't have experience using SD cards with my computer.
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: I don't want to delete or deal with copying my Smash Bros or Lego Indiana Jones saves. Do I have an alternative?
A: This guide is not for you.

Q: Can I copy/paste this guide somewhere else? Do you need credit?
A: This guide is not for you. Do not republish it, it would take you ten minutes to write a better guide. Do not link to it. Do not credit me.

Q: I have some further questions, can I contact you for support or help or anything else
A: No.
 
Yeah they really make no sense whatsoever.

Nintendo has billions of dollars in the bank, doing small fan services like sending the Last Story over here is an absolute no-brainer.

They are insane in this regard.
 
(I will post here due to 2nd post being reserved)


Yeah they really make no sense whatsoever.

Nintendo has billions of dollars in the bank, doing small fan services like sending the Last Story over here is an absolute no-brainer.

They are insane in this regard.
 

Boerseun

Banned
The correct title for Another Code Wii is:

Another Code R: A Journey into Lost Memories

Here are two more.

Released (or releasing) in Japan, Not in America OR Europe

Wii

Takt of Magic
Zangeki no Regenleiv
 

wrowa

Member
It's called "Another Code R: A Journey Into Lost Memories". Just saying. Two Memories is the DS predecessor.

Also: Europe didn't get Chibi Robo DS, Starfy and Fossil Fighters, which were released in the US.
 

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
DS games not released in US:
- Fire Emblem DS2.
- Tingle DS
- Touch Panic!
- Chibi Robo DS2
- Tingle DS2
- Project Hacker
- Kurikin Nano Island Story
- Soma Bringer
- Friend Collection
- DS Fortune Teller
- Facening DS
- Slide Adventure Mag Kid
- ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat
- theta
- Make 10
- DS Air / Jet Impulse
- Suujin Taisen (DSiWare version made it over here)
- Chosoju Mecha MG
- Starfy 4
- Common Knowledge Training
- Pokemon Typing
- Ouendan
- Ouendan 2
- Jump Super Stars
- Jump Ultimate Stars
- Last Window
- The first release of Clubhouse Games (second got brought over here)
- Daigasso! Band Bros
- Daigasso! Band Bros DX
- Tingle's Balloon Fight
- Exclamation Warriors
- Guru Guru Logic DSiWare

+ a few Japanese-specific games (English Training, that calligraphy training thing, the Kanji lookup, the Eyeshield 23 game, Yakuman, Shogi, Go, that Business Training thing)

I think this is exhaustive, I may be missing a few DSiWare.
 
I'd be interested to know how they compare with MS / Sony, I'm sure they have titles that don't release in certain regions too.

Compared with Nintendo of old, I'm fairly certain they've improved in more recent times... at least in Europe, on retail releases. Ever since games like Doshin the Giant and The Minish Cap (which released here before the US) its been a steady improvement all around really... their 'shelf' design for the European eShop on 3DS is crap though, and they STILL haven't given us those 3D trailers of upcoming games from E3.

NoA's selective Wii publishing must be annoying for Americans though.
 
NoA is insane for thinking that people do not want these titles over here. Have they really fallen so far off the tree that they want their fans to abandon them?

I may as well put my Wii back in its box and store it away for a long time and simply engross myself in other games such as those on the PC backlog.

Thanks NoA, for nothing!
 
Stumpokapow said:
- Ouendan
- Ouendan 2

I don't know if this is really "fair" to criticize Nintendo on. Elite Beat Agents is practically Ouendan localized, even if the music itself was also "localized" to fit the market.
 

Shiggy

Member
Europe did not get:

Wii
Super Mario Sluggers
NPC! Chibi-Robo

DS
Glory of Heracles
Fossil Fighters
Chibi-Robo DS
 
Warrior_Keoni said:
NoA is insane for thinking that people do not want these titles over here. Have they really fallen so far off the tree that they want their fans to abandon them?

I may as well put my Wii back in its box and store it away for a long time and simply engross myself in other games such as those on the PC backlog.

Thanks NoA, for nothing!
The only reason to have it out of the box at this point is Skyward Sword. It is a good reason, but it would be helpful to have other good reasons!
 
Glory of Heracles and Mario Super Sluggers are US-only and Card Hero is Japan-only.


Inazuma Eleven is a Level 5 game that was self-funded/published, though. I wouldn't say Nintendo has any 'obligation' to release that game everywhere.
 

Foffy

Banned
I don't think Europe is getting Super Fossil Fighters, but the US is.

Does the Pikmin 2 Wii Play Control release count as well? That's something the US never got..
 

Futureman

Member
timetokill said:
I don't know if this is really "fair" to criticize Nintendo on. Elite Beat Agents is practically Ouendan localized, even if the music itself was also "localized" to fit the market.

Agreed, and makes me question that list if he listed Ouendan. So many of those games would have zero market in the U.S.

But I do agree there is lots of content NOA could bring over and haven't.
 

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
radioheadrule83 said:
I'd be interested to know how they compare with MS / Sony, I'm sure they have titles that don't release in certain regions too.

Microsoft-published 360 titles that did not get US releases:
- Every Party
(this is an exhaustive list)

Sony PS3 titles that did not get US releases:
- Aquanaut's Holiday
- My Summer Vacation 3/4
- Some of the song packs for SingStar.
- Dark Mist on PSN
- That free game with the cat on PSN
(don't think I'm missing anything here).

timetokill said:
I don't know if this is really "fair" to criticize Nintendo on. Elite Beat Agents is practically Ouendan localized, even if the music itself was also "localized" to fit the market.

I think there are several titles in the list whose omissions were fairly reasonable, I just wanted to be exhaustive.
 

Shiggy

Member
atomsk said:
Imported this cause I love Sandlot, dunno why they'd ignore a Motion+ game

Nintendo hasn't released a meaningful Motion+ title since Wii Sports Resort. This only changes with Wii Play Motion.
 

[Nintex]

Member
We missed some random GameCube games too like Puzzle League, Kuru Kururin(?!) and some others.

I'm still waiting for the 3DS to come out lol
 
Stumpokapow said:
Sony PS3 titles that did not get US releases:
- Aquanaut's Holiday
- My Summer Vacation 3/4
- Some of the song packs for SingStar.
- Dark Mist on PSN
- That free game with the cat on PSN
(don't think I'm missing anything here).
And it should be noted that this list is not longer because Sony is smart enough to let Atlus and NIS bring their smaller games over.
 

Princess Skittles

Prince's's 'Skittle's
[Nintex] said:
We missed some random GameCube games too like Puzzle League, Kuru Kururin(?!) and some others.
Let's focus on THIS generation.

Shiggy said:
Actually, we should also include WiiWare and DSiWare.
Perhaps, if people can provide the content to make it worth pointing out.
 

Ushojax

Should probably not trust the 7-11 security cameras quite so much
Shiggy said:
Actually, we should also include WiiWare and DSiWare.

I'm still pissed that those Pokemon Mystery Dungeon WiiWare games never left Japan, the bastards.
 

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
Neo C. said:
Stump brings the goodies.

Note that I've personally imported Slide Adventure Mag Kid, Theta, Starfy 4, Tingle's Balloon Fight, Another Code R, Ouendan, and Ouendan 2... Still trying to wrangle up Tingle RPG UK copy and Disaster DoC UK copy.

Also from the Sony listed, imported Aquanaut's Holiday, Afrika (before Natsume announced they would publish it here), and was about a month away from importing Demon's Souls before Atlus announced.

I take my first party localization fails seriously ;)
 

Foffy

Banned
If we're counting notable DSiWare/WiiWare games, I think I know of one a peice.

WiiWare:
Line Attack Heroes (Japan only)

DSiWare:
A Kappa's Trail (US/Japan Only)
 
GoldenEye 007 said:
Aren't there weird localization requirements unique to the EU that affects these things?
It is not weird, but every Nintendo published game has to be translated into every major European language. It's surely a bit more costly than localizing a game just for the US market.
 

Shiggy

Member
[Nintex] said:
X-Scape for DSiWare in Europe, fucknuts.

You certainly won't find X-Scape, but you'll find 3D Space Tank ;)

It's mysterious that only the US gets all of Skip's games. The latest Art Style titles weren't released in Japan, that penguin game saw a release only in the US.


@Stumpokapow
If you've got serious trouble getting those two games, please send a PM to me.
 

Ushojax

Should probably not trust the 7-11 security cameras quite so much
Sadist said:
I suppose it doesn't count that NoE published both Trauma Center titles? :p

I agree that NoE have been incredibly shit with the Trauma games, but you can't really expect them to keep publishing 3rd party games if they aren't selling. It's a shame, because both Under the Knife 2 and Trauma Team are excellent titles.
 
Sadist said:
I suppose it doesn't count that NoE published both Trauma Center titles? :p
NoE (and NoA to some extent) publishes a lot of 3rd party stuff. Like Ghost Trick, Inazuma Eleven, Layton series, Ace Attorney series, Trauma series, Dragon Quest series and the Tales of series. It's just that they tend to drop those series when they don't feel like publishing them anymore.
 

Sadist

Member
Ushojax said:
I agree that NoE have been incredibly shit with the Trauma games, but you can't really expect them to keep publishing 3rd party games if they aren't selling. It's a shame, because both Under the Knife 2 and Trauma Team are excellent titles.
I thought the first one sold about 500k? Heard it was a small hit.

Don't know about New Blood, which I own myself.

slaughterking said:
NoE (and NoA to some extent) publishes a lot of 3rd party stuff. Like Ghost Trick, Inazuma Eleven, Layton series, Ace Attorney series, Trauma series, Dragon Quest series and the Tales of series. It's just that they tend to drop those series when they don't feel like publishing them anymore.
I was merely joking haha. I know it's like that.
 

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
Sadist said:
I suppose it doesn't count that NoE published both Trauma Center titles? :p

I guess it all depends on your perspective. If you expect Nintendo to be a good platform steward and publish high quality third party titles abroad (the way they often do with Europe or are about to do by publishing Epic Mickey / Goldeneye in Japan), then sure, blame them here. Atlus clearly can't publish it in Europe, so unless another third party publisher expresses interest, Nintendo is basically the only route to market.

On the other hand, my objection isn't to Nintendo passing on localizing all the games they pass on. I actually understand it a lot of the time. I don't understand how they justify failing to localize a game with better prospects than a game they do localize (cf Glory of Heracles versus Fire Emblem DS2), but it's their call to make. My objection is to Nintendo region-locking the Wii and DSi and not letting 3rd party publishers localize their stuff*. I firmly believe that virtually all of the unlocalized DS titles published by Nintendo would have been picked up by one publisher or another during the DS's peak years if they were available to be picked up. I continue to believe the same is true for all of the Wii titles they've passed on.

* Yes, Cubivore and Polarium Advance, I know.
 
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