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Ken's Rage 2 Wii U will be digital-only in Europe.

B

Bjoern the Smexy

Member
I read through the article but it says nowhere that it's a download exclusive, but that it's download-only for the Wii U, meaning that there will probably be no Wii U retail version of the game.
 
V

VOOK

We don't know why he keeps buying PAL, either.
A download only Wii U™ version will be available a day earlier, on the 7th of February.
Click to expand...

From the Press Release. Happening in Australia too.

No bricks and mortar version, kind of sad this is happening already but at least fans can get the game on the Wii U if they want.
 
Alexios

Alexios

Cores, shaders and BIOS oh my!
onipex said:
I hope so.
Click to expand...
Why would anyone hope for less choice? Would having copies on store shelves negatively affect your eShop purchase?

Bjoern the Smexy said:
I read through the article but it says nowhere that it's a download exclusive, but that it's download-only for the Wii U, meaning that there will probably be no Wii U retail version of the game.
Click to expand...
You said the same thing with different words as far as I can tell. If it's exclusive to the eShop that means there's no disc copy.
 
FrostuTheNinja

FrostuTheNinja

Member
Bjoern the Smexy said:
I read through the article but it says nowhere that it's a download exclusive, but that it's download-only for the Wii U, meaning that there will probably be no Wii U retail version of the game.
Click to expand...

I knew my wording in the title wasn't clear enough. But yeah, that's exactly what I was getting at. :B
 
K

kami_sama

Member
Alextended said:
Why would anyone hope for less choice? Would having copies on store shelves negatively affect your eShop purchase?
Click to expand...
I think it's that it wouldn't have released on Europe without it being a downloadable title.
This way Japanese publishers can localize games without the cost associated with the physical distribution.
If it means more Japanese games, I'm all for it.
And I think Code of Princess is going to be released like that.
 
A

Anth0ny

Member
I hope more games that don't stand a chance at retail are given a chance on the eshop in the future.

A Xenoblade/Last Story kind of game would absolutely be eshop exclusive on the Wii U.
 
J

Jackano

Member
It's better than nothing. In other times, the Nintendo hardware will not have got any release at all.
I agree to the digital sales in those cases. Is that less risky than doing a full retail version on a 2 months old system?
 
N

nubbe

Member
It's good that games which don't have a broad audience can still get released through digital download.
 
D

dakkumauji

Member
Pretty odd that the Wii U edition is the only one not getting a retail release in Europe especially when Koei Europe has been releasing everything on a disc lately while in America, the PS3 Musous get shafted onto digital only.
 
K

Kuroyume

Banned
onipex said:
I hope so.
Click to expand...

tumblr_maphfvSRay1r2gif7o1_250.gif
 
F

FyreWulff

Member
nubbe said:
It's good that games which don't have a broad audience can still get released through digital download.
Click to expand...

Especially when Nintendo makes it super easy while MS and Sony still require you to jump through a bunch of hoops to release digital-only "full" titles. Specifically Microsoft. It's actually easier to get a retail title licensed for 360 and PS3, even if you're a small dev, than a GonD title.
 
S

ShockingAlberto

Member
I am fine with eShop exclusivity. I'd like the option, but if there's no way it's financially viable (and Musou games are increasingly likely to fall in to this category), then I am okay with it.

I am less fine with pricing it as if it's a retail game. The excuse about not wanting to piss off retailers goes out the window and the best defense one can muster at that point basically amounts to "Well, it's niche, so they kind of have to gouge you for as much as they can."
 
B

Bjoern the Smexy

Member
Anth0ny said:
I hope more games that don't stand a chance at retail are given a chance on the eshop in the future.
Click to expand...

Jackano said:
It's better than nothing. In other times, the Nintendo hardware will not have got any release at all.
I agree to the digital sales in those cases. Is that less risky than doing a full retail version on a 2 months old system?
Click to expand...

I actually like the idea of at least doing a download-only release of a game that may or may not sell well on a certain console (and we all know that developers act kinda Nintendophobic).

Doing a digital-only release may be the better idea overall than doing a retail release, as there are no added costs to the game aside from porting the game over and a certain percentage of the sales price going to Nintendo.

Looks a little...*dons sunglasses* steamy.

YYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!


EDIT: Agh, I just remembered that this game might get an 18+ rating in Europe which means I only get to buy and download this during sleepy time :(


EDIT2:
A mod should change the title to "Ken's Rage 2 Wii U gets download-only release in Europe".
 
N

Noisepurge

Member
Infernal Monkey said:
Yes. In Europe at least.

The game will likely be digital-only for all platforms in America.
Click to expand...

suh weet, still need to grind the first game though :D ITS JUST SO BORING, but it is a guilty pleasure, i dont know why i play it. I'm almost at the final Raoh in Legends with Kenshiro and ive played several characters through several levels in Dream mode and Legends too.

Bjoern the Smexy said:
A mod should change the title to "Ken's Rage 2 Wii U gets download-only release in Europe".
Click to expand...

Thats why i asked, it sounded like the whole game is a Wii U exclusive in Europe.
 
O

onipex

Member
Alextended said:
Why would anyone hope for less choice? Would having copies on store shelves negatively affect your eShop purchase?
Click to expand...

I would rather have less choice than no choice, but I really like this because I think it will good for the eshop. It would be much better if Nintendo also shipped those game specific eshop cards for retailers too.

I also hope this could lead to games releasing in more regions a few weeks/months faster too. There is nothing stopping a retail release later on for the Wii U.
 
W

Willy Wanka

my god this avatar owns
Considering Koei stuck Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper on the e-store at £50, I'm expecting them to do exactly the same with this game. So rather than supporting such price gouging bullshit, I'll stick with my £32 PS3 copy from Argos instead. Some people may not have the option to play it on another platform but I'd hope they would avoid buying it anyway to show that these prices are in no way acceptable. That is of course unless WO3H sold so badly that they will price Ken's Rage 2 at a more palatable price (say £40) but lets face it, that's extremely unlikely.
 
N

Neo C.

Member
While I appreciate the "better than nothing" strategy with eShop only releases, I do hope we don't just get the most mainstream of the mainstream games in retail. Niche games should have the chance to attract more gamers besides its niche group.

For risky niche games, that kind of business model would be nice:
1) eShop release first to minimize the risk
2) Once the game breaks even, release retail version, budget price
3) ???
4) profit
 
N

nickcv

Member
and this is now shaping into a trend...

i'm afraid that's what is going to happen with the Ace Attorney franchise
 
M

michaelius

Banned
Neo C. said:
While I appreciate the "better than nothing" strategy with eShop only releases, I do hope we don't just get the most mainstream of the mainstream games in retail. Niche games should have the chance to attract more gamers besides its niche group.

For risky niche games, that kind of business model would be nice:
1) eShop release first to minimize the risk
2) Once the game breaks even, release retail version, budget price
3) ???
4) profit
Click to expand...

And how do you then sell x thousand copies required for minimum print by Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft ?

Biggest mistake in those digital releases is pricing them equally to retail recomended prices.
 
N

nickcv

Member
RedSwirl said:
Just curious, but would this include Italy? I hear Hokuto no Ken has a massive fanbase there.
Click to expand...

we do have a massive fanbase here in italy, it just doesn't translate into game sales.
Italians are extremely attached to the anime, it was a huge part of my generation growing up, everyone belonging to my generation watched the anime (one way or another, since some parents thought it was too violent), we all know the theme song, we all know the names of most main characters, and yes that includes girls as well.

another anime that was iconic is Saint Seya.
 
N

Neo C.

Member
michaelius said:
And how do you then sell x thousand copies required for minimum print by Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft ?
Click to expand...
That isn't really a hurdle, or at least it's not a new hurdle. In the former gen, a publisher needs to print a minimum of copy and that minimum still needs to break even.
With the business model I've proposed, the localisation costs are already recouped before the publisher prints the game for retail. Which means the retail version only needs to sell a very small amount to break even (= recoup the print costs), even when released budget priced.

michaelius said:
Biggest mistake in those digital releases is pricing them equally to retail recomended prices.
Click to expand...
I would be smart to release it a bit cheaper, but I don't think the publishers are too concerned, because they now have the ability to make sales. It's one of the reason why I bite Trine 2.
 
D

dallow_bg

nods at old men
onipex said:
I would rather have less choice than no choice, but I really like this because I think it will good for the eshop. It would be much better if Nintendo also shipped those game specific eshop cards for retailers too.

I also hope this could lead to games releasing in more regions a few weeks/months faster too. There is nothing stopping a retail release later on for the Wii U.
Click to expand...
Makes no sense.

Digital releases do terrible in Europe.
 
N

nickcv

Member
Neo C. said:
While I appreciate the "better than nothing" strategy with eShop only releases, I do hope we don't just get the most mainstream of the mainstream games in retail. Niche games should have the chance to attract more gamers besides its niche group.

For risky niche games, that kind of business model would be nice:
1) eShop release first to minimize the risk
2) Once the game breaks even, release retail version, budget price
3) ???
4) profit
Click to expand...

i do agree with you, but we are headed into that direction... give it 7 to 10 years and the only games still sold as retail are going to be Collectors Edition of major mainstream titles

FrostuTheNinja said:
Did you get a chance to play that brawler that came out recently? I've been wanting to check it out.
Click to expand...

nope, but i gotta admit i was tempted
 
C

Celine

Member
nickcv said:
we do have a massive fanbase here in italy, it just doesn't translate into game sales.
Italians are extremely attached to the anime, it was a huge part of my generation growing up, everyone belonging to my generation watched the anime (one way or another, since some parents thought it was too violent), we all know the theme song, we all know the names of most main characters, and yes that includes girls as well.

another anime that was iconic is Saint Seya.
Click to expand...
*fist pump*

However I've heard the first one sucked so I'm not that confident...
 
T

Tailzo

Member
nickcv said:
we do have a massive fanbase here in italy, it just doesn't translate into game sales.
Italians are extremely attached to the anime, it was a huge part of my generation growing up, everyone belonging to my generation watched the anime (one way or another, since some parents thought it was too violent), we all know the theme song, we all know the names of most main characters, and yes that includes girls as well.

another anime that was iconic is Saint Seya.
Click to expand...

Yeah, same for france. Saint Seya was the hottest thing before dragon ball came I think.
 
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