I never actually asked for digital localization or will. I already imported this long time ago. I would only buy it again if it was physical (which I did for PS3) to show my support.
My point was this: SEGA is actually giving people who don't want to import the game and/or want a localized version the opportunity to buy it. Period.
The simple fact is that if a publisher doesn't think a game will sell enough to turn a profit, there is no reason to do a production run on physical media. Project Diva F, or whatever this is, is not likely to do gangbuster numbers on physical media outside of Japan.
With all that in mind, more localized games, digital only or not, is not a bad thing.
From where I'm sitting it's ridiculous to me to recommend someone go spend however much it would cost to import ($60+shipping from what I could see on nippon-yasan.com) and deal with playing the game in a language they don't know solely because it's not on a cart (especially when the digital version will be localized and cost less).
Yes, the person might have to juggle some space on their card and won't be able to sell/trade the game when finished -- but it's all about opportunity cost to the person buying it.
So yeah, maybe you don't want it because it's digital only and you've already bought the game via import. But telling people who do want the game to import it instead will only result in other games handled by the publisher not being localized for the west.
You act like giving Vita owners the extremely easy import game 6+ months late and digital-only to boot is doing us a favor
Only DD-Only game I bought was Atelier Totori in a moment of weakness after getting the free $20 the final day of the promo. Every time I think about how I should have a case for it on my game shelf leaves me with regret..didn't even play it before it was half off because I had to keep deleting it to make space on my 4GB to be able to fit anything besides it.
I'll have open arms for any $20 half price niche localization like Corpse Party or BRS which likely couldn't have made it over physically nor at all if not for it, that's what digital download is perfect for. Completely physical-viable yet DD-Only -and- full price releases like New Little King, Earth Defense Force, Project Diva and Dragon Ball Z will make -great PS+ titles-.
That's just the thing. As I explain above, a publisher is not going to waste the production cost of a physical run to get minimal sales in a market that won't support it. Now I'm willing to be that while the localization cost should be minimal because the PS3 game was already being localized, it's still probably not low enough to pay the money on printing physical media, shipping it, and trying to sell it. The number of units they'd move, most likely, will not eclipse the cost... why should a publisher put something on physical media just to lose money?
So yeah, they are doing people a favor. Games like EDF, New Little Framerate Story, EDF, etc. are probably NOT viable for physical distribution in western markets -- for people who want to play the game in their native language and not have to deal with importing just to get a physical copy? It's wonderful.
Side note: Was I willing to pay $40 for EDF 2017 Portable? Fuck no. That's too much for a game I can't trade or sell... but when it hit $15? Sure.
Importing games has more chance of ensuring a sequel than buying/"supporting" a localization will ensure a localization of a sequel. >__>
Yes, this is true. It's two different actions.
If the game sells well overall, it will get a sequel. So buying the game in the region it sold best in will add to the total and help ensure a sequel is made for that region.
However, if a publisher brings a game over as a digital only title because the costs of localization+production for a physical release don't add up and it bombs... well, then, it will confirm the worries that made the publisher decide to not produce a physical copy for the region in the first place and may very will make them decide NOT to bring over future games in the franchise for release at all. (Especially with Sega: see Yakuza.)
