Dragona Akehi
Retired
MoxManiac said:
Dude. It's SCEA.
THEY DONT NEED A REASON.
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WD rises from the ashes (sort of)
- Thread starter pancakesandsex
- Start date
Dude. It's SCEA.
THEY DONT NEED A REASON.
vireland said:
Can't wait to see what kind of pointless crud (read: puppets) your special edition packages bring.
At any rate, I wish any company with your goal in mind good luck. Just one thing. Bring over your games in an acceptable timeframe this time around. No excuses.
I can't go into the specifics of the pervasive problems, but it helps to have a Japanese parent (or any giant-sized entity) to come and undo the mess the bully has made on the playground. We had no such protection, and only got hip to that part of the political game toward the end, having never had to deal with those kind of crazy head games.
Growlanser II and III were pretty new when we initially proposed them, having come out within 6 months of each other. The US could have gotten them about 2 years earlier, and we'd have already released IV.
charlequin
Banned
MoxManiac said:
I think Vic (and when I say "Vic" I really mean "whatever conglomerate of people made key decisions at Working Designs ca. 2001-2005") really was greatly responsible for WD's problems with the focus on Goemon and such, but I don't think you can really underestimate SCEA's contribution either. The "no full-price 2d" policy is well-known and responsible for some other games (Tales of Destiny 2 and Tales of Rebirth, notably) not making it over, and there have been other somewhat arbitrary game refusals in the past.
The Abominable Snowman
Member
Handhelds are the future. We need Handheld love, Vic. Too many great PSP games trapped in Japan 
Angelcurio
Member
I must say that WD was a great company during the ps1 days. Thanks to the i could play games like Lunar and Alundra (sony should make a sequel of this game).
But in the ps2 days, to be honest, WD didnt contribute a lot with my hobbie. Grownlanser II was a really good game, but it was too short. Asking for a full retail price for that game would have been disastrous, when you could have finished at rental.
Then Growlanser III, the other game in the pack, was really horrible. If it would have been released as a standalone title, it would have suffered a horrible death.
So, i guess that some mistakes were made regarding the games choice.
Now that you are starting your own company, i would suggest you to focus in the handheld market in the meantime. A lot of games are being released for the DS and the PSP, and have never been released stateaside. It could save you a lot of problems regarding the game aprobal process, and you would really bring the games to the gamers faster.
But in the ps2 days, to be honest, WD didnt contribute a lot with my hobbie. Grownlanser II was a really good game, but it was too short. Asking for a full retail price for that game would have been disastrous, when you could have finished at rental.
Then Growlanser III, the other game in the pack, was really horrible. If it would have been released as a standalone title, it would have suffered a horrible death.
So, i guess that some mistakes were made regarding the games choice.
Now that you are starting your own company, i would suggest you to focus in the handheld market in the meantime. A lot of games are being released for the DS and the PSP, and have never been released stateaside. It could save you a lot of problems regarding the game aprobal process, and you would really bring the games to the gamers faster.
Shin Johnpv
Member
vireland said:
The console took off at easter time of last year, unless much like in the Sonybots minds it's still easter for you so I guess it's still taking off
and seriously man a racial slur in the name of your company good idea there
maybe I should start a company and call it like Daygo Foods or Mic Beer
Mr_Furious
Member
As much as I applaud Vic Irelend for fighting the good fight, I must say that if it's one genre we don't really need much more support with is the J-RPG. We have more than enough companies covering the localization of most of the better Japanese offerings for here in the states. Attention should really be placed on localizing other genres that have been sorely neglected in the good ol' U.S.
pancakesandsex
Member
could vic be the mystery man translating the galaxy angel PC games?
Just a note, Growlanser 1 is on the PC, if ever there was a way to still bring this awesome game to the US, thats it. Vic, since you've made it pretty clear that gaijinworks will be multiplatform, any chance of PC being included in that array?
Just a note, Growlanser 1 is on the PC, if ever there was a way to still bring this awesome game to the US, thats it. Vic, since you've made it pretty clear that gaijinworks will be multiplatform, any chance of PC being included in that array?
Propagandhim
Banned
Racial slur? I remember my spanish textbook had a story about a guy going to Japan and being called a "gaijin" - I don't think it's as drastic as you're making it sound.
Howard Alan Treesong
Member
Propagandhim said:
Look, spin WD and Vic all you want, but "gaijin"? Racial slur. You can't really get around that.
Shin Johnpv
Member
Mr_Furious said:
Truth
Shumps needs some one willing to bring them over
The best of that Genre is still stuck in Japan
pancakesandsex
Member
:lol :lol Gaijinworks to develp exclusively for irem console? :lol :lol
but seriously:
Sakura taisen is also on PC......
but seriously:
Sakura taisen is also on PC......
Propagandhim
Banned
Synthesizer Patel said:
Well, i'm not intentionally trying to spin anything. I figured it couldn't be such a terrible word if it was in my old highschool textbook.
*cue the DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH RACISM IS IN TEXTBOOKS NOWADAYS*
I simply thought it was more along the line of "Yankee" than "N***er*"
Joe Molotov
Member
Synthesizer Patel said:
OMG, I hope libraries aren't letting children read this racist book!
Interesting. A few points.
-Sorry, the name is HORRIBLE. Maybe a year from now people will have warmed up to it like Wii though I suppose.
-Thank God you're not just doing X360 games :lol
-Someone earlier said it best, do translations that are ****ing translations, not inserted with tons of american shit. I understand literal translations don't work, but dozens of RPGs get released each year without Clinton jokes, etc, etc.
-Turnaround times need to be a lot better then they were at WD. If SCEA blocking you is no longer an issue, it shouldn't take years to get the games out, right?
-As has also been said, Atlus and other companies have largely filled the niche publisher role. However if you're willing to work across multiple systems, there are certainly some decent titles you can get out. Also, Dragona's VC/Xbox Arcade suggestion is excellent, think there's anything you can do about that?
If you can get out decent titles for a variety of systems in a timely manner, then I think you'll do very well. Even most WD fans associate WD with "long delays." I'd personally reccommend to try to get away from that as quickly as possible. Pack-ins and stuff are awesome, but I would have rather been playing Growlanser months if not years before it's release and missed out on bonus packaging and shit. Maybe find some kind of middleground like Atlus does with preorder CDs/artbooks/whatever. Personally if I'm teetering on the edge of getting a game or not, a preorder bonus might make that difference, and consequently get you more sales. I'm not a fan of WD for the aforementioned reasons, but I certainly hope you do well and turn things around. Atlus or whoever doesn't need to be the only game in town, the more the merrier.
-Sorry, the name is HORRIBLE. Maybe a year from now people will have warmed up to it like Wii though I suppose.
-Thank God you're not just doing X360 games :lol
-Someone earlier said it best, do translations that are ****ing translations, not inserted with tons of american shit. I understand literal translations don't work, but dozens of RPGs get released each year without Clinton jokes, etc, etc.
-Turnaround times need to be a lot better then they were at WD. If SCEA blocking you is no longer an issue, it shouldn't take years to get the games out, right?
-As has also been said, Atlus and other companies have largely filled the niche publisher role. However if you're willing to work across multiple systems, there are certainly some decent titles you can get out. Also, Dragona's VC/Xbox Arcade suggestion is excellent, think there's anything you can do about that?
If you can get out decent titles for a variety of systems in a timely manner, then I think you'll do very well. Even most WD fans associate WD with "long delays." I'd personally reccommend to try to get away from that as quickly as possible. Pack-ins and stuff are awesome, but I would have rather been playing Growlanser months if not years before it's release and missed out on bonus packaging and shit. Maybe find some kind of middleground like Atlus does with preorder CDs/artbooks/whatever. Personally if I'm teetering on the edge of getting a game or not, a preorder bonus might make that difference, and consequently get you more sales. I'm not a fan of WD for the aforementioned reasons, but I certainly hope you do well and turn things around. Atlus or whoever doesn't need to be the only game in town, the more the merrier.
Joe Molotov said:OMG, I hope libraries aren't letting children read this racist book!
Whoa, what a coincidence - we have a book exchange place near the cafeteria at work and I was browsing there before breakfast and saw someone added this book to it, immediately picked it up and read the back because of the name... have you read it? Is it worth reading all 1200 or so pages? Sorry for the thread derail.
A couple of thoughts:
1) Gaijinworks is a downright awful name.
2) There's no doubt that WD became all but irrelevant years before they closed, and that's something I find a lot more regrettable than the closing itself.
3) Vic and WD were doing things and bringing us content that really wasn't going to make it's way here no matter what, and for that they'll always have my support.
4) I wish them the best of luck, and I hope they'll apply the lessons learned from WD to the new company. At this point, I'd rather have another Atlus than WD.
1) Gaijinworks is a downright awful name.
2) There's no doubt that WD became all but irrelevant years before they closed, and that's something I find a lot more regrettable than the closing itself.
3) Vic and WD were doing things and bringing us content that really wasn't going to make it's way here no matter what, and for that they'll always have my support.
4) I wish them the best of luck, and I hope they'll apply the lessons learned from WD to the new company. At this point, I'd rather have another Atlus than WD.
Shin Johnpv said:
There are piles of fantastic shmups that have never made it out here. I honestly don't know what Cave asks to license its game, but considering there's very, very little translation required, I'm sure you could make it profitable at a $19.99 price point. Look at XS and their release of Shikagami no Shiro 2: they sold out their first printing practically instantly, and have made a good profit on reprints.
Joe Molotov
Member
djtiesto said:
I like James Clavell's books in theory, but in practice I just don't have a long enough attention span to read a book that long anymore. I started reading Shogun, but I stalled out somewhere in the middle and never got around to finishing it, and ended up getting the TV miniseries instead. YMMV
DarknessTear
Banned
Man Vic, make Namco let you bring Tales of Destiny remake and Tales of Destiny 2 here. These are the only big games I really want to come to the states and they just aren't. It's insanity, I tells you.
No spin necessary. It's not the word, it's how it's used. Someone made the connection that it was akin to "queer" when speaking about gay folk, then that community took the word back, turning the word inside out again. Pretty astute observation, actually. Gaijin is "outsider", that's all. And now, we're taking it back, baby.
Buffy4ever
Banned
Shard said:
I buy all the japanese type games ( Sega, Snk ) I won an x-box. I bought the X-box just for the Sega games, all the other games were an afterthought. Yes I do own a PS2 and an Gamecube. Actually if you apply your Statement to a broader statement, The Ps2 would be the only system the Hardcore Japophile wuld own. What other Japanese games does the Gamecube have besides Nintedno games,all the Capcom games, one or two sega and Namco games, that would appeal to the hardcore japanophile?
I don't know about the Japanese use of the word, but in English "gaijin" strikes me as more nerdly than "otaku". It's like when kids pick up 10 or 20 japanese words from watching anime, and start throwing them into their everyday conversation, thinking they know Japanese now. Especially with something like "ichiban" in close proximity. It just doesn't seem to fit with WD's old style of perfectly fluid native English in their translations (ignoring the occasional times when you went too far, like the Clinton jokes). Although maybe you're going for a different direction with this new company?
I really like the "Draftworks" name I suggested on the first page, but it's your company and if you like Gaijinworks, so be it. It's a much better name than "Wii", in any case.
I don't know if you're allowed to say, but can you tell us about how much of WD is back together again for Gaijinworks? Did you hint that you might be getting a Japanese parent, or will you be 100% independant again? I think you hinted that you'd personally have more say over the company this time.
And I'm not worried if Atlus is better than Gaijinworks or not. All you need to be is better than them on their worst day, and you'll have a place. As long as you're bringing over games that otherwise wouldn't come over, I don't see how anyone could possibly complain.
I really like the "Draftworks" name I suggested on the first page, but it's your company and if you like Gaijinworks, so be it. It's a much better name than "Wii", in any case.
I don't know if you're allowed to say, but can you tell us about how much of WD is back together again for Gaijinworks? Did you hint that you might be getting a Japanese parent, or will you be 100% independant again? I think you hinted that you'd personally have more say over the company this time.
And I'm not worried if Atlus is better than Gaijinworks or not. All you need to be is better than them on their worst day, and you'll have a place. As long as you're bringing over games that otherwise wouldn't come over, I don't see how anyone could possibly complain.
charlequin
Banned
MoxManiac said:
It's not impossible, but, well... every 3D Tales ever has been released or announced for release in America (no exceptions) and every 2D Tales announced for PS2 has not been announced for America (again, no exceptions.) I wouldn't be surprised if Namco didn't, say, fight for the games, but I feel reasonably certain that one or both of them were at least proposed and shot down due to 2Dness.
EDIT: IIRC, Vic's already been shot down by Namco for bringing either Tales over. I don't think Namco is willing to let people other than Hometek translate their games. Too bad, a ToDR/ToD2 dual-pack would be sweet hotness.
Whimsical Phil
Ninja School will help you
I'm sure he has "Gaijin 4 life" written in tape on the back of his shirt as we speak.Tamanon said:Vic's seen Clerks 2 I see
ManaByte
Gold Member
Dragona Akehi said:
Back in 2003/2004 G4TV.com (the show) had a special Girls of Gaming episode. They had Zoe Flower, Tanksmash (a super hardcore gamer girl with Megaman tatooes, etc), and someone from SCEA First Party Approval.
Now, despite coming off as one of the most arrogant people on the planet, the SCEA girl explained how the approval process worked as if it was the greatest thing in the universe and it was the only way to bring out games in the US. Basically she explained that if the game did not make the PlayStation brand look competitive against the other consoles, it would not be approved at all. That means no 2D games and nothing too niche to not alienate the mainstream market and thus make the brand look poor in comparison to MS and Nintendo.
Dr. Kitty Muffins
Member
Didn't read all of the thread but:
Just keep releasing quality niche japanese rpg's and I will be happy.
I was very satisfied with the Growlanser double pack and I hope to see IV released stateside some day.
I'm sure there is a ton of PS2 RPG stuff sitting trapped inside japan that really needs to come to the US. Hint Hint
Whatever you do, please be as humourous as NIS is with their english translations. That always sells me!
Just keep releasing quality niche japanese rpg's and I will be happy.
I was very satisfied with the Growlanser double pack and I hope to see IV released stateside some day.
I'm sure there is a ton of PS2 RPG stuff sitting trapped inside japan that really needs to come to the US. Hint Hint
Whatever you do, please be as humourous as NIS is with their english translations. That always sells me!
Mana Knight
Banned
I'm very glad to see Vic around and posting again. I have been a big fan of many of Working Designs games and bought them on Turbo 16 Grafx, Saturn, PS1, and PS2.
Anyway, I'm definitely glad about Gaijinworks starting up. I don't have a problem with the name because I'm thinking their games they choose, will make me very happy.
Anyway, I'm definitely glad about Gaijinworks starting up. I don't have a problem with the name because I'm thinking their games they choose, will make me very happy.
i see i've been beaten to the senkou no ronde post. but publish senkou no ronde! i'll buy three copies! nothing wins PRECIOUS HARDCORE CREDIBILITY (which is way better than capital) like immediately releasing a game you don't stand to profit from! plus jrpgs suck!
...and i suppose 'gaijinworks' is little worse than 'spaz.' i wonder if anyone explained that term to, say, tecnosoft. :lol
...and i suppose 'gaijinworks' is little worse than 'spaz.' i wonder if anyone explained that term to, say, tecnosoft. :lol
I resisted the urge to use almost that exact choice of words. I'm pleased that another was not so tactful!Pellham said:Using a random japanese word in english is sooo weeabooish.
A serious question to Vic - what exactly is it your company is going to do to seperate itself from the pack? If your plan is to basically be Working Designs, Part 2, with more emphasis placed on the pointless pack-in extras, badly written localization and hiring the worst voice actors you can possibly find, what exactly makes you think this is going to be any more succesful than it was during this past console generation? Given that it's been shown that you will continue to pursue the release of games despite SCEA indicating that they will never, ever allow you to release them, over a period of years, and even when the game you wish to release is really not very good and your fight ends up eventually running your company into the ground, what makes you believe anyone is going to support your newest venture? Have you perhaps learned when to pick your battles? Does anyone actually take you seriously anymore outside of a few die-hards on Internet message boards?