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European gamers unite against missing european versions!

2+2=5

The Amiga Brotherhood
I can understand that a niche Japan only game doesn't arrive in Europe, but when i see that a great game like persona 4 the golden(and others) will have a us release but not a euro one my head explode!
I mean, i know that there is a lot of bureaucracy, but the localization is already there, take the us version, place a pegi sticker over the ersb and voilà, you have the european version! No money for a boxed version? Digital distribution(in this case the ps store) is the answer!
Is really that difficult or anti-economic to release in Europe, as a dd-only game if necessary, an already localized game? I don't think so.

Have you other examples?

Let them hear our rage!
 
I'd rage but I'm too busy importing Persona 4 Golden. It is region free, you know?

Now Arena is a different story. That game finished. Zen are just sitting on it to avoid TTT2 and DOA5.

Edit: I should clarify that my accusation against Zen is my own conspiracy theory, and that I don't have insider knowledge on this, lest someone be confused.
 
I can understand that a niche Japan only game doesn't arrive in Europe, but when i see that a great game like persona 4 the golden(and others) will have a us release but not a euro one my head explode!
Persona 4 Golden will have a European release.

It'll just be in 2020 or something.
 
it's not like i don't understand your pain . i really do but some US localisation companies doesn't havea proper way to interract within europe .. to release a game you need some ( at least ) basic facilities that some of them don't have.

The real problem is that some games are region locked for no good reason ( persona 4 arena for example ) and that we're forced to wait .. forever in some cases ...
 
Yeah, sucks to be in Europe. What sucks more, is that regionlocking is coming back in style. It's the '90's all over again...
 
I can understand that a niche Japan only game doesn't arrive in Europe, but when i see that a great game like persona 4 the golden(and others) will have a us release but not a euro one my head explode!
I mean, i know that there is a lot of bureaucracy, but the localization is already there, take the us version, place a pegi sticker over the ersb and voilà, you have the european version! No money for a boxed version? Digital distribution(in this case the ps store) is the answer!
Is really that difficult or anti-economic to release in Europe, as a dd-only game if necessary, an already localized game? I don't think so.

Have you other examples?

Let them hear our rage!

It's obviously not as easy as taking the US copy and shoving a PAL sticker on there or they'd be doing that.

If it gets released in Europe then it usually needs translating in the main major languages in Europe. Also, there's a few differences in spelling and word use in the US in comparison to the UK, so meanings over there might not be relevant over here.

It's also a legal thing. Laws in Europe are different to the US, so maybe content in the game fine for the US isn't fine for the UK (I highly doubt this but it's just another point).

I'm with you though, I'd love more games to go to the UK if they get a US release. When I went over there last year for work, I popped into a few games stores and noticed a huge amount of titles that don't get a UK release and it made me very sad :(
 
I'd rage but I'm too busy importing Persona 4 Golden. It is region free, you know?

Now Arena is a different story. That game finished. Zen are just sitting on it to avoid TTT2 and DOA5.

Infact i'll import it too, but why i have to do this?
 
Standing up to be counted!

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T_T
 
the Earthbound/Mother series. All of it.

The greatest offender. Especially when they have all the content in Super Smash Bros. It's a big "Fuck you." It's like a guy refusing to loan you his awesome DVD then continuing to quote it and make references to it whenever you hang out. Not cool man.
 
I always wanted Operation Darkness, but US-only and Region-Locked :/

Yeah, I wanted that game badly too. A few weeks ago a friend of mine said I could just get it with a US account thru games on demand. So I made a US account, and downloaded the demo just to be sure and it worked. So I got some points to buy the game but wasn't allowed to buy it. I mean wtf? If it was the content itself that was the problem I shouldn't be allowed to play the demo too but I was.. You'd think companies want your money...
 
I do agree with the OP. I mean, sometimes, you cant import it because of regionlock... and sometimes, import is just a pain !
I mean, when you import from USA, you have to wait a long time or pay big shipping prices. And sometimes customs makes you pay more because it comes from another country...
When I could pay a game for 40€ and have it now if I go in shop or wait 2 days if I buy it on the internet, importing it will makes me pay maybe twice as mush, but also wait 2 to 3 weeks.
While it could be easier to use US translation and put a PEGI stickers. And today, every hardware has an online shop, even 3DS.
 
It's obviously not as easy as taking the US copy and shoving a PAL sticker on there or they'd be doing that.

If it gets released in Europe then it usually needs translating in the main major languages in Europe. Also, there's a few differences in spelling and word use in the US in comparison to the UK, so meanings over there might not be relevant over here.

It's also a legal thing. Laws in Europe are different to the US, so maybe content in the game fine for the US isn't fine for the UK (I highly doubt this but it's just another point).

I'm with you though, I'd love more games to go to the UK if they get a US release. When I went over there last year for work, I popped into a few games stores and noticed a huge amount of titles that don't get a UK release and it made me very sad :(
Obviously i was exaggerating, but after spending years and lots of money realizing a game and localizing it i don't think it is a good move to miss a big market due to stupid bureaucracy.
 
Also, localisation company should be more cooperative in US and Europe.
I mean theres no Xseed in Europe and no Atlus. Cant they work with Rising Star and Ghostlight for exemple ?
 
Standing up to be counted!

SMTStrangeJourneyJPcover.jpg


Radiant_Historia_Cover_Art.jpg


T_T

At least the DS is not region blocked. The 3DS on the other hand... Seeing that it will be the most popular handheld in Japan, I expect lots of games that won't get a release in Europe that I won't be able to import.

Even with the Vita not being region blocked, you still have to be very mindful of possible DLC that you won't be able to buy with your country account.

It would be nice if platform holders actually came up with a workaround for people who want to import games who won't get a release overseas.
 
Infact i'll import it too, but why i have to do this?

You're not wrong. But hey, it's a fact of life, and importing isn't so burdensome as it was ten years ago. The systems these games are on are 99% of the time region free (P4A be damned), and it's often cheaper to get it from America too. Plus worldwide postal services in the developed world are much better. It takes a 5-7 working days for a parcel to arrive nowadays, whereas back in 2004 when I was importing MGS3, I waited 3 weeks.

But you're right. Europe is a pretty big market, and currently a bunch European companies who license the games and take their time releasing them are ruling the roost. There are some exceptions, like Nintendo of Europe, Ghostlight, and Rising Star Games (who all try their hardest for timely releases), but that's the way it is and I don't expect a relatively small company like Atlus to begin operating in Europe any time soon.

What annoys me more with PAL releases isn't when a smaller Japanese company has trouble getting a game over, but when someone like Konami releases MGS HD Collection 3-4 months later. They have no excuse other than not giving a fuck.
 
I can understand that a niche Japan only game doesn't arrive in Europe, but when i see that a great game like persona 4 the golden(and others) will have a us release but not a euro one my head explode!
I mean, i know that there is a lot of bureaucracy, but the localization is already there, take the us version, place a pegi sticker over the ersb and voilà, you have the european version! No money for a boxed version? Digital distribution(in this case the ps store) is the answer!
Is really that difficult or anti-economic to release in Europe, as a dd-only game if necessary, an already localized game? I don't think so.

Have you other examples?

Let them hear our rage!

Somehow I don't think gamers in France would be too thrilled to find that the official French PAL version of Persona 4 Golden is in English only. The determined hardcore gamers there would have imported already.
 
I do hate how the UK is exempt from release of games already translated into English because it's not ready for the rest of Europe... no offence to them or anything, it's just... it would cut like, a year off certain games being released.

And region locking does suck. It's been okay lately, with games like Kingdom Hearts 3D and Pokemon Black releasing closely between regions, when at other times it's been a huge difference in time between Japan, American, and UK releases. But if Animal Crossing 3D is stalled between America and EU... I shall not be pleased.
 
Super Mario RPG, I cannot see how why NoE passed on it until it's VC release in 2008. Any cost-benefit analysis would show far higher returns than the localisation cost.

Final Fantasy Tactics is a similar story
 
I can understand that a niche Japan only game doesn't arrive in Europe, but when i see that a great game like persona 4 the golden(and others) will have a us release but not a euro one my head explode!!

The real issue here is Index / Atlus still not having an European office (I will forever hold a grudge against them until they do) and preferring to license their games to other publishers instead of selling them directly to Europeans.

We are basically dependant on when and if an European publisher decides it's worth it to publish an Atlus game for us to buy.
 
I don't mind it, I'm importing them. It becomes shitty when publishers decide to region lock the games.

Yeah, which is happening now again... you'd think things would get easier with digital downloads but as is already pointed out, the legal issues in countries remain.
 
Super Mario RPG, I cannot see how why NoE passed on it until it's VC release in 2008. Any cost-benefit analysis would show far higher returns than the localisation cost.

How they made 3 Paper Mario games but didn't even stretch for a GBA/DS port of Super Mario RPG is beyond me. It's like they don't like money!
 
Speculation?

Yeah, I should clarify that. Totally speculation. But really, what are they doing that's taking so long? They have playable builds of the game they've been showing for months. Playable builds with, at the very least, a French language menu option (can't confirm the others, but I bet they're there). I don't buy the "development issue" bullshit delaying the game this much, to be honest, and I personally reckon they're sitting on it until TTT2 and DOA5 pass. You can't really blame them, because releasing a fighting games in such a short space of those two would be commercial suicide for them, I just wish they'd acknowledge that fact rather than string everyone along with vague reasons.
 
Still no sign of this coming to the European 3DS eShop.

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The greatest offender. Especially when they have all the content in Super Smash Bros. It's a big "Fuck you." It's like a guy refusing to loan you his awesome DVD then continuing to quote it and make references to it whenever you hang out. Not cool man.

When I first played Smash i was like "WTF is this character?" and then i understood what pearl i've missed only because i was born in europe :(
 
I mean, i know that there is a lot of bureaucracy, but the localization is already there, take the us version.
It isn't. You just have an English version, which you can't release in most countries. Even if you keep the game in one language, you still have to translate manuals.

place a pegi sticker over the ersb and voilà, you have the european version!
Just have to fill out a lot of forms. Get permission from PEGI, and the console holder to publish it. Make sure all licenses are arranged.

No money for a boxed version? Digital distribution(in this case the ps store) is the answer!
Above stuff still applies.

Is really that difficult or anti-economic to release in Europe, as a dd-only game if necessary, an already localized game? I don't think so.
Atlus isn't a licensed European publisher.
 
Yeah just release the damn game in english if you can't bother translating them in time or have some bullshit reasons like it seems to be with P4A and such. Tho luckily nowdays its not nearly as bad as it used to be.

And just watch every nextgen console be region locked. I can only hope Sony still has it to continue with region free gaming but I have my fears.
 
It's announced by Ghostlight but that's about it... :(
Aye, but they only recently got permission from Nintendo to publish DS/3DS games, which explains why it's taking so long. It's going to be out in the next 2-3 months. Finally.

Atlus isn't a licensed European publisher.
Actually, I don't know if this constitutes being licensed with SCEE or not, but Atlus USA have published two games on the European PS Store: Persona (PSP) and Rock of Ages. That would be equivalent to being a licensed EU publisher, if only for PlayStation, right?

But that's merely a technicality, since they don't have the facilities to do a localisation or manufacture and distribute physical goods around here.
 
The real issue here is Index / Atlus still not having an European office (I will forever hold a grudge against them until they do) and preferring to license their games to other publishers instead of selling them directly to Europeans.

We are basically dependant on when and if an European publisher decides it's worth it to publish an Atlus game for us to buy.

Yep so much anger for them still not opening an European office, I'm sure the games they publish will have a good reception especially Germany and France. Sure times are tough but you'd reckon they have made a publishing deal with a European publisher by now.

edit:
Apparently it's just been rated by a classification board :) still, if same thing happens with Harmo Knight, inexcusable.

Finally, I've topped up my Nintendo eShop money in anticipation of this title.... that was February and now most of mine money have gone to other eShop title and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy dlc...
 
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