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Why isn't Suikoden 2 on PSN?

For a bunch of reasons I am under NDA not to talk about.
This reminds me of that Jimquisition about secrets in the industry. You're not guarding state secrets here. If it's a situation that's out of your control then just say what it is. Instead it just makes the company look like they don't care.
 

MarkMan

loves Arcade Sticks
I wish people on the internet would try to think from a business standpoint before saying 'fuck XXXX company'...

I'm positive Konami knows that Suikoden II is one of the most popular/hard to find games in their library.
 

Mr. Helios

Neo Member
Suikoden is one of my favorite games of all time. I'm not even sure why I never bought Suikoden 2, but I want to play it so badly. Was it true that you could carry over your army/castle from the first game??

Also, sorry for being slightly off topic here, but why on earth can't I purchase Chrono Trigger on my PS4 PSN?? I've never played it and I finally need to. I see that you can grab it for PS3/Vita, but why no PS4? I've already retired my PS3.
 
For a bunch of reasons I am under NDA not to talk about.

But I can tell you it's NOT all these:



But someone here has been paying attention:


Well crap, looks like one person here has an idea. Without telling us things you shouldn't, should and be optimistic or pessimissitc about a psn release of the game?
 

Justified

Member
Square Enix has been really hit or miss at putting up PS1/PS2/PSP games digitally

at least the Kingdom Hearts games make sense to not be available (Disney)

Thats the thing unless we get access to there contracts it could be other licenses reasons.

We no about high profile IP owners like Disney, etc. But what about smaller contributors who also licensed out their IP. Maybe they cant be reached, Maybe they hate video games now, Maybe they finally realize that guy wasnt really Schtolteheim Reinbach III.
 
I wish people on the internet would try to think from a business standpoint before saying 'fuck XXXX company'...

I'm positive Konami knows that Suikoden II is one of the most popular/hard to find games in their library.

It's been this way since release, yet konami never did a reprinting or reissue of that game.

Keep in mind Atlus managed to reprint SMT:Nocturne, despite that game selling somewhere in the low 5 digits.
 

Laughing Banana

Weeping Pickle
Because Kojima's ass is not attached in any way to the game so Konami can find no chance of licking it if they put Suikoden 2 on PSN.
 
I wish people on the internet would try to think from a business standpoint before saying 'fuck XXXX company'...

I'm positive Konami knows that Suikoden II is one of the most popular/hard to find games in their library.

if capcom can put out their old marvel fighting games, if the Simpsons arcade can get released, if xmen arcade can come out, they can find a way to put out suikoden 2.


but Konami is the worst these days so they don't.

I paid $125 for a good condition copy of suiko 2 last year after selling my original copy and don't regret it at all.
 

Dragon

Banned
One obscure bug is one thing, and PS2 to PSX errors can be an issue with the emulation.

Suikoden 2 has a LOT of these translation and sound errors. It's not just one, they're not obscure, and it's a certainty that SCEA is aware of the state that game.

It just boggles my mind, why was Suikoden II approved in the first place then?
 

White Man

Member
I forgot VP2 is a PS2 game so it can't be on PSN. So replace "VP2" with "VP."

VP2 looks pretty assy via PS3 emulation. It's obnoxiously shimmery.
 

DiscoJer

Member
Read post #19 to get the closest hint you will possibly ever get

IMHO, that seems more like an attempt to deflect criticism away from Konami.

"No, we're not dumb, honest, there's just a super-secret reason we can't release it."

Even if the hinted thing is correct, that there is some sort of licensing problem, then that's because Konami is dumb. They should have thought about that before, or they should figure out how to clear it up, like Capcom has managed to do with a lot of their old licensed games, like say the D&D arcade game

(Though just what would be licensed in this case is beyond me. The translation? What, they didn't buy it outright, merely licensed it? That's bizarre)
 
This reminds me of that Jimquisition about secrets in the industry. You're not guarding state secrets here. If it's a situation that's out of your control then just say so. Instead it just makes the company look like they don't care.

But I am guarding company secrets. In short, as you say: It's a situation out of my control.

Well crap, looks like one person here has an idea. Without telling us things you shouldn't, should and be optimistic or pessimissitc about a psn release of the game?

I guess I should have said, "Someone is actually trying to figure a reason". Those reasons given weren't the reasons why. (EDIT: I've changed the first post to reflect this)

I'm still optimistic. But there are a lot of barriers that have to be either vaulted or circumnavigated before it reaches PSN. All I ask is that people continue to voice their desire to see the title released, keep raising hell and getting my bosses' attention.
 
But I am guarding company secrets. In short, as you say: It's a situation out of my control.



I guess I should have said, "Someone is actually trying to figure a reason". Those reasons given weren't the reasons why.

I'm still optimistic. But there are a lot of barriers that have to be either vaulted or circumnavigated before it reaches PSN. All I ask is that people continue to voice their desire to see the title released, keep raising hell and getting my bosses' attention.


That is good news. I really want to see the game receive a digital release so it can find a wider audience than the people willing to either pay absurd second hand prices or pirate the game.
 
It just boggles my mind, why was Suikoden II approved in the first place then?

The bugs aren't that obvious unless you actually play all the way through the game. I don't think SCEA does this when approving titles, especially not back in 1998.

It's obvious NOW though- a simple google search will bring up scads of laughable screens like this:

Suiko2-Gibberish2.png


plus the sound glitches, etc.
 
But I am guarding company secrets. In short, as you say: It's a situation out of my control.
I edited my post to be clearer, but why can't the company say what the problem is? The only reason I can think of where they wouldn't is if it would cast them in a bad light.

I definitely feel it's the translation issues. There's areas in Tinto where the dialogue is messed up and sections where there's supposed to be music but silence. Most likely Konami can't be bothered to fix this stuff.
 

Takao

Banned
Wait, Megaman Legends PSP existed and it was blocked?

Go **** yourself, SCEA!

The best/worst part about that is the fact that the PSP ports are the only versions of the games available digitally anywhere, and they're only on J-PSN.

What ???

But why was the Powerstone collection ok ?

Sony !!! *shakes fist*

I haven't played the DC versions of the Powerstone games in more than 10 years, but a Google search brings up some changes for the PSP release:

The anthology is for the PlayStation Portable and includes a few enhancements. The original Power Stone now included the four new characters introduced in Power Stone 2, while the sequel contained the two characters originally ommitted. Both games also contained new unique items.

http://capcom.wikia.com/wiki/Power_Stone
 
Because they want you to emulate it.

And if that's not what they wanted me to do then they are way too late.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
I edited my post to be clearer, but why can't the company say what the problem is? The only reason I can think of where they wouldn't is if it would cast them in a bad light.

I definitely feel it's the translation issues. There's areas in Tinto where the dialogue is messed up and sections where there's supposed to be music but silence. Most likely Konami can't be bothered to fix this stuff.

Among other bugs, I agree. Suikoden 2 is one of those cases where it's general unavailability is simply not possible to write off by anything other than incompetence.

1.) The game was undershipped to begin with- not TOTALLY out of line, seeing as how the first didn't exactly light the world on fire. but despite demand, it never got a disc reissue. Many other PS1 and PS2 games, many from smaller companies than Konami have managed this, at least.

2.) Suikoden 1 (which is not as popular as 2) has been on the store for some time, yet 2 (which is in high demand, going for $100+ on ebay for years now) is mysteriously absent. Square has been raking in money with dumps of FF7-9 for years now, Konami isn't blind. There are also scads of hyper obscure games for sale as PS1 classics that didn't sell a tenth of what suiko 2 did.

3.) Konami isn't shy about re-releasing content- we've got reissues of metal gear solid about at least 3 or 4 times now, plus VR missions. We also got symphony of the night re-released as a bonus a few times, and castlevania chronicles.

4.) Konami attempted to release 1 and 2 as PSP games. did so successfully in Japan, but was shot down by SCEA and didn't feel whatever the reason was was worth the investment. Other companies (Square, with valkyrie profile) got around the "no straight ports" thing fairly easily- and if it was simply a matter of adding a cheap cutscene for extra content I'm sure konami would have done it. A translation issue however might have been too expensive and time consuming to be worth fixing.
 
I edited my post to be clearer, but why can't the company say what the problem is? The only reason I can think of where they wouldn't is if it would cast them in a bad light.

I definitely feel it's the translation issues. There's areas in Tinto where the dialogue is messed up and sections where there's supposed to be music but silence. Most likely Konami can't be bothered to fix this stuff.

Less "can't be bothered", more "cost-benefit analysis".

If it was easy and cheap with a huge payout, we'd have done it by now, right? Most questions can be answered by assuming this.
 

Lucreto

Member
Suikoden is one of my favorite games of all time. I'm not even sure why I never bought Suikoden 2, but I want to play it so badly. Was it true that you could carry over your army/castle from the first game??

Also, sorry for being slightly off topic here, but why on earth can't I purchase Chrono Trigger on my PS4 PSN?? I've never played it and I finally need to. I see that you can grab it for PS3/Vita, but why no PS4? I've already retired my PS3.

You don't carry over the castle or army to Suikoden 2 but you do get extra scenes and some returning characters would have higher levels when you get them.

As for the PSN thing I don't think you can download PS1 games from the PS4. There is no way to play them or transfer to the Vita or PSP. Your best bet it to download from the Vita.
 
Less "can't be bothered", more "cost-benefit analysis".

If it was easy and cheap with a huge payout, we'd have done it by now, right? Most questions can be answered by assuming this.

So, if it's strictly a "cost benefit" issue- why was Suikoden 1 which sold less and doesn't have half the demand available as a PS1 classic, while 2 is missing?

The only viable explanation (and cost to benefit does not make sense here) is that they're prevented from simply re-releasing it as a classic due to a problem- and a problem that doesn't exist for suikoden 1. That immediately rules out licensing or creative issues, as was the case with the marvel games. It's also not an issue with voice actors or music, (silent hill ran into this) as suiko 2 HAS no voice acting or music with vocals. hell, some of the sound that SHOULD be there *isn't*, because of bugs.
 

Syril

Member
It's funny that even with all the bugs & translation mistakes, Suikoden 2 is still considered one of the best RPGs of all time.

I thought the writing in the translation was pretty solid, mistakes and omissions aside. In both the times I played it, I never had any bugs that interfered with my ability to play the game, which is more than you can say for more recent games that have had buggy releases. The most unfortunate thing was the missing music, since I've actually heard them and they're all really good and play at really big moments.

So, if it's strictly a "cost benefit" issue- why was Suikoden 1 which sold less and doesn't have half the demand available as a PS1 classic, while 2 is missing?

The only viable explanation (and cost to benefit does not make sense here) is that they're prevented from simply re-releasing it as a classic due to a problem- and a problem that doesn't exist for suikoden 1. That immediately rules out licensing or creative issues, as was the case with the marvel games. It's also not an issue with voice actors or music, (silent hill ran into this) as suiko 2 HAS no voice acting or music with vocals. hell, some of the sound that SHOULD be there *isn't*, because of bugs.

The bugs with music and the gibberish text in spots that weren't translated properly probably would prevent it from being certified for rerelease.
 

fertygo

Member
The bugs aren't that obvious unless you actually play all the way through the game. I don't think SCEA does this when approving titles, especially not back in 1998.

It's obvious NOW though- a simple google search will bring up scads of laughable screens like this:

Suiko2-Gibberish2.png


plus the sound glitches, etc.

The thing that I remember the most from the bug though is you can going through the wall in your castle dojo LMAO

all of those still don't stop Suiko2 being my best gaming experience.
 
True that but it kinda happend with that DS and PSP games it's not as bad BoF but still...

Ouch! aint it the truth, though?

The thing that I remember the most from the bug though is you can going through the wall in your castle dojo LMAO

all of those still don't stop Suiko2 being my best gaming experience.

Don't disagree with you at all. Suikoden is one of my favorite series, and II is right up there in my top 3 RPGs I've ever played, and is one of the best games on PS1 even WITH the bugs.
 

Laughing Banana

Weeping Pickle
Oh come on. I know you are better than that kind of post.

Sorry. Talks about Suikoden always touch my nerve because it has always been and still is one of my most beloved game series.

And I honestly think the sentiment expressed in my previous post is not without merit. Nowadays it seems like Konami is serious about projects only if the name Kojima or Metal Gear is attached to them, I care little about either of them which is why I am mad about stuff.
 

MrBS

Member
That's fine Konami. Don't release it on PSN. I'll happily take a localised version of the PSP release instead ;)
 

mattiewheels

And then the LORD David Bowie saith to his Son, Jonny Depp: 'Go, and spread my image amongst the cosmos. For every living thing is in anguish and only the LIGHT shall give them reprieve.'
I was just thinking about this...how daunting would it be to take that Japanese I+II PSP game and inject the English script into it? I know a lot of work would need to be done to II's script, but maybe if a technically dumb guy like me could figure out how to implement it, maybe we could organize something. Can't believe it hasn't happened yet.
 

GECK

Member
Been wanting sell my PS1 copy on ebay for years. But could never bring myself to actually list it. That game will forever be a part of my soul.
 

vocab

Member
I wish people on the internet would try to think from a business standpoint before saying 'fuck XXXX company'...

I'm positive Konami knows that Suikoden II is one of the most popular/hard to find games in their library.

I'm completely capable of forming an argument from a business standpoint. However, when it comes to Konami, and typical Japanese companies who live under a rock and make up reasons why their stock is falling.... It's kind of hard to care at all. The demand for this game is through the roof. All I see is free money to be had, and from a business point of view it's a damn shame they aren't getting it.
 
Seriously.

I've never seen the game sold for less than $100. New or used. Amazon's got it at $600. I'm WTF. It's like Konami wants fans to acquire it through illegitimate means.

I freaking love Kojima, but some company seriously needs to buy Konami and whip their asses into shape because they clearly are hell bent on leaving anything that's not Metal Gear to just rot into obscurity.

So much IP neglect and mistreatment has happened with Japanese companies. They have all this history with amazing brands that they're either actively running into the ground, or just shelved away into dormancy and let to lose clout. Can't wait to see what they're gonna scramble to do once this Freemium/Cellphone bubble stagnates or pops, and they're left with no pedigree to really fall back on.
 
The bugs with music and the gibberish text in spots that weren't translated properly probably would prevent it from being certified for rerelease.


Which is what I've been saying since I entered the thread. "Probably the same reason why the Marvel games aren't on PSN" is nonsensical, as are mysterious "cost/benefit reasons!"

Not that nonsensical reasons haven't kept games from being localized before (see just about every other game square put out on the SNES, or more recently Xenoblade chronicles on the wii) but it's at least *unlikely* that bizarre jp-centric views of the world are keeping a re-release from happening when there are more obvious explanations.

Seriously.

I've never seen the game sold for less than $100. New or used. Amazon's got it at $600. I'm WTF. It's like Konami wants fans to acquire it through illegitimate means.

I freaking love Kojima, but some company seriously needs to buy Konami and whip their asses into shape because they clearly are hell bent on leaving anything that's not Metal Gear to just rot into obscurity.

Castlevania seems to be doing quite well. not everyone likes the new direction, but it's clearly active and selling better than it was.
 
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