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Let's convince Nintendo to go region-free!

Come on, you'll never get anything concrete on this. Most of the decisions to localize a game happen behind closed doors. We can only guess and assume.

Sega of America has never truly cared too much about the series' fate in the west for a while. Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst and Phantasy Star Universe's servers were laughable compared to their Japanese equivalents.

The less said about SoA's plans to dripfeed codes for Phantasy Star Portable 2's bonus items across months as advertising, the better.
 

Somnid

Member
Nintendo could at least have their own version of PSN blog. It feels like Nintendo has no fan outreach at all and Nintendo Directs are not fan outreach. Nintendo is completely secretive of all their games, barely ever release information more than a few months/weeks before launch, and have a mediocre relationship with the press.

In what capacity? Nintendo Direct, Miiverse Dev Communities, Iwata Asks, the occasional Swap Note, as well as their Twitter and Facebook pages are all sources of info directed at fans.
 
I have no idea who that guy is, but PS3 being region-free has no effect on Japanese games being localized. If anything, with the recent Hatsune Miku example, some otherwise unlikely localizations happen because of the interest shown by imports (Project Diva f got significant sales from imports).

Also, people won't import games they have no chance of understanding. Localizations are still important. That is no excuse to block people who do understand the foreign language from importing the games.

Also, he's using the laughable "just buy a Japanese console" argument. Nothing to see here.

An even better example of the positive effects importing can have is Demon's Souls. If the PS3 had been region locked, I doubt it ever would've been localised or Dark Souls would even exist.
 
In what capacity? Nintendo Direct, Miiverse Dev Communities, Iwata Asks, the occasional Swap Note, as well as their Twitter and Facebook pages are all sources of info directed at fans.

Thats exactly the problem. It feels more like the info is directed at fans more than there is actual communication. They don't even have community managers to discuss their games here with fans, so we have no real idea what info they're getting and which they aren't/
 

SumGamer

Member
BS.

I mean they can still localize to cater toward people in each specific region, right?
The only thing that will keep them from doing so is that people may already import the game from another region to an extent that the game may bomb afterward as people have played it already. Although he refused to accept it, he did not reveal the real reason behind it either.
 

GamerJM

Banned
Your answer to one kind of proves my point. If your parents help you order a game, then it is their responsibility (not Nintendo's). Heck, it is always a parent's responsibility (why did I need so many words in order to come up with this :lol:).
As for two, I'd love to point out that many people who love Nintendo nowadays, do so because they grew up with Nintendo games. For a company not only short-term profits, but also long term customer binding is important. Which is why games like Pikmin 3 are delayed. I can find myself agreeing to the risk of losing the family friendly image, though.
It's good to have a discussion. The more relevant arguments we have, the more likely Nintendo is to listen, as they will ask themselves those questions too.

Speaking about likelihood of listening,

Actually, I'd advise against it. As this campaign is on a roll now, it is better to keep it at one. I would love a general Nintendo account system (Wii U and 3DS), but now is not the time. If we would start many petitions at the same time, we risk that Nintendo ignores them all.

Obviously it is a parent's responsibility, but going by that logic we shouldn't need parental controls at all. But obviously Nintendo thinks they do. I really just think that the main underlying reason is that Nintendo has a Disney-like reputation for family friendliness, and they're afraid of doing anything that could potentially screw with that.
 

L Thammy

Member
Holy crap. Did the petition suddenly explode with popularity today? Iwata's comment on IGN mentioned that competitors used region locking, so perhaps they will adjust to their changing context.
 
Obviously it is a parent's responsibility, but going by that logic we shouldn't need parental controls at all. But obviously Nintendo thinks they do. I really just think that the main underlying reason is that Nintendo has a Disney-like reputation for family friendliness, and they're afraid of doing anything that could potentially screw with that.

They've published video games with vibrator jokes. NoA may be the Disney of video games, but NCL is definitely not.
 

L Thammy

Member
They've published video games with vibrator jokes. NoA may be the Disney of video games, but NCL is definitely not.

They've also published violent stuff in both regions. NOA published Eternal Darkness which is pretty gory at times and very dark in tone. NCL published Zangeki no Reginleiv, which is full of buckets of blood, pretty appropriate for Norse mythology.

Now that I think about it, they also published Xenoblade Chronicles in the US. What happens at the end of that?
 
They've also published violent stuff in both regions. NOA published Eternal Darkness which is pretty gory at times and very dark in tone. NCL published Zangeki no Reginleiv, which is full of buckets of blood, pretty appropriate for Norse mythology.

Now that I think about it, they also published Xenoblade Chronicles in the US. What happens at the end of that?

I don't know, I haven't got that far yet. Thanks though.. :/
 

Raitaro

Member
I support region-freeing. However it seems what little hope there was of a Phantasy Star Online 2 English release have been nullified by fan-efforts to play and translate the Japanese version.

Glad to not be the only one fearing scenario's like this! Now let's both hide from Atmej's wrath...(looks a few posts down)...oops too late!
 

ASIS

Member
Obviously it is a parent's responsibility, but going by that logic we shouldn't need parental controls at all. But obviously Nintendo thinks they do. I really just think that the main underlying reason is that Nintendo has a Disney-like reputation for family friendliness, and they're afraid of doing anything that could potentially screw with that.
Really? Maybe if the DS never existed. Truth of the matter is, DS was region free for a number of years, and it's slogan is "touching is good".
 

Raitaro

Member
In Ouendan's case, it led to a localization, so that reason doesn't work.

If you mean Elite Beat Agents, which counts as a completely new game, then I'd have to disagree. In fact, that game demonstrates the exact opposite, namely that mass importing of region free Japanese games does NOT automatically garantee localization (= translation) of those Japanese games.

So in this case, importing the Japanese Ouendan might actually have led to that game never being localized but having a Western spin-off being made (which was fun as well, but just not the same). This makes Ouendan a very interesting case in my opinion.

So, in light of Ouendan / EBA as an example, I ask again while reiterating that I'm not against removing region-locks: what proof do we have that a region free 3DS / Wii U would result in more games like Ouendan being brought over with English text, instead of them (A) not being localized at all or (B) being too radically altered for a Western market.

Again, I'm not defending Nintendo, I'm just really curious whether there ever has been an extensive study that gives us reliable data about possible long term consequences of region free (Nintendo) systems with regards to niche Japanese games. The PS3 does seem like a good system to look at, so how did niche Japanese games on that system fare when it comes to them being brought to the West? Are there any PS3 games that were popular with importers but were never localized? Demon's Souls comes to mind as a counter example to my question, but didn't the Japanese version of that game get popular in the first place because it already had English texts?

Feel free to shout at me some more if that helps you, I'll keep being polite and ask the tough questions anyway.
 

sakipon

Member
Really? Maybe if the DS never existed. Truth of the matter is, DS was region free for a number of years, and it's slogan is "touching is good".

After just visiting the OT MJ thread I'm not sure I wanted to hear this from anyone with a Michael Jackson avatar.

so, still no any kind of response?

Patience. Microsoft took a while to respond and didn't show any progress while people waited.
 

Shiggy

Member
Keep in mind this was before all this happened. As the official response now is no response, there is still hope. Rightfully pointed out by Bulbapedia.

Does that change anything? In fact, Iwata has repeatedly shown that they don't care about what happens around them (HD gaming, growth of smartphone market and decrease of dedicated handheld market, ignorance or lack of market research/observation as seen by the Wii U and 3DS confusion). He's even gone on to acknowledge this:

"We just don't care too much about what other companies are doing or are trying to do."
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/13/tech/gaming-gadgets/nintendo-e3/index.html?hpt=te_t1
 

Septimius

Junior Member
Does that change anything? In fact, Iwata has repeatedly shown that they don't care about what happens around them (HD gaming, growth of smartphone market and decrease of dedicated handheld market, ignorance or lack of market research/observation as seen by the Wii U and 3DS confusion). He's even gone on to acknowledge this:

"We just don't care too much about what other companies are doing or are trying to do."
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/13/tech/gaming-gadgets/nintendo-e3/index.html?hpt=te_t1

I think this is a sort of false connection. What I take it as is "we'll keep doing our thing, no matter what Sony and MS are up to", not so much to say that the macro-development of gaming is something they don't follow.

Yes, Nintendo haven't really been following the times, but that's just poor execution, and it is not related to Iwata's saying about what others are doing.
 

Shiggy

Member
I think this is a sort of false connection. What I take it as is "we'll keep doing our thing, no matter what Sony and MS are up to", not so much to say that the macro-development of gaming is something they don't follow.

Yes, Nintendo haven't really been following the times, but that's just poor execution, and it is not related to Iwata's saying about what others are doing.

You might be right about that particular quote. Yet it's evident that they don't seem to care much about customer or market trends - I mentioned several examples. Moreover, they introduced region-locking on DSi at a time when the PS3 had it abandoned already.
 
Iwata: Please misunderstand. The consequences of drip-feeding E3 interviews.

I wonder if NOE have accidentally screwed themselves by setting up in Germany and being subject to it's laws. The whole 18 rated content curfew thing was apparently due to Germany and was stopped due to Nintendo's current Parental Control system.

I can imagine the German government/child safety group throwing an absolute fit if went and changed the system on them after proving it's apparent strength.

Unfortunately I don't think NOE is going to relocate any time soon.
It was not law. It was some lobby group saying it was a good idea. The mistake NOE made was in deciding to impose it on the whole EU (at least I thought I heard Norway did not have any problems).

NOE did a u-turn though and the reason for that. Their parental controls already did the content locking.

If the 3DS was region free I'd be importing Mario & Luigi 4 from Europe so I can play a month early. Guess I'm part of the problem.
But would that make sales "terrible" in your region as Josh Thomas prophecies? If could be arsed to log into twitter I'd say; "As Mario games only sell in the first month, apparently."

p.s. he imports hardware and software so I wouldn't be surprised if his stance is based on "I paid for additional hardware, no reason you should get an easy ride now suffer like me peons".
 

also

Banned
Come on, you'll never get anything concrete on this. Most of the decisions to localize a game happen behind closed doors. We can only guess and assume.
Then please explain where your assumption comes from.
PSO2 is F2P, so they didn't loose any sales, and I don't see how how just a few people going through the trouble of playing early would kill the localization.
 
jblXgeWPXf9gui.PNG
 

L Thammy

Member
Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda.
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAAAYUKk9XopzFg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAABnUV5159CnzA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAAAYUKk9ZMBbwQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAABtUV58hzYbrg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAACNUKEXQp75rA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAADYUV6mzWd6mA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAADOUV51vM4pZg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAAD4UV51vELLPQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAABtUV58TXaT4A
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAADMUKlYBXJ37Q
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAABtUV58haSMVw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAAABUaWzYLgXqg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYIHAAABAADKUKFScTu0Rw [?]
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYIHAAABAADRUV6fjq6Fjw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAABnUV51jBgo1Q
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAADzUV58jJz6jQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAABtUV58mkEFKQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAADMUKlYEDdbQQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAAD4UV52ELS-7Q
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAABtUV58VazMcw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAADbUV58oKq_QQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAADzUV58oCu3rg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAABnUYnVRGx2hw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAAD4UV52B7aOwQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAAABUaWzfodBNg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAAAYUKk9lfGfKg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYQHAAABAAABUaWzaJD6xA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAABnUYnVLtDLTA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAABtUV58h0T0Kw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAADOUV5183wMjQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAABAABtUV58h1DHiQ


On the topic of importing discouraging localization, the logic doesn't seem to make sense. Hell, look at films like The Ring and Old Boy. International popularity of the original Asian product brings out the American remake. Demand for the original product is observed and a localized product is created to meet that demand.
 
InsideGamer (Netherlands) has put up another article regarding Iwata's statement.
-
Looking at the - for me - foreign media coverage, it looks like this is getting well known. I wonder when/if the mainstream media gets on it. For now, it just seems a matter of time.
 

mantidor

Member
If you mean Elite Beat Agents, which counts as a completely new game, then I'd have to disagree. In fact, that game demonstrates the exact opposite, namely that mass importing of region free Japanese games does NOT automatically garantee localization (= translation) of those Japanese games.

So in this case, importing the Japanese Ouendan might actually have led to that game never being localized but having a Western spin-off being made (which was fun as well, but just not the same). This makes Ouendan a very interesting case in my opinion.

So, in light of Ouendan / EBA as an example, I ask again while reiterating that I'm not against removing region-locks: what proof do we have that a region free 3DS / Wii U would result in more games like Ouendan being brought over with English text, instead of them (A) not being localized at all or (B) being too radically altered for a Western market.

Again, I'm not defending Nintendo, I'm just really curious whether there ever has been an extensive study that gives us reliable data about possible long term consequences of region free (Nintendo) systems with regards to niche Japanese games. The PS3 does seem like a good system to look at, so how did niche Japanese games on that system fare when it comes to them being brought to the West? Are there any PS3 games that were popular with importers but were never localized? Demon's Souls comes to mind as a counter example to my question, but didn't the Japanese version of that game get popular in the first place because it already had English texts?

Feel free to shout at me some more if that helps you, I'll keep being polite and ask the tough questions anyway.


I really don't think you can measure success of region free if games get translated, or localized, the issue with region free is that companies see it is harmful, which is actually not the case, it's actually free money.
 
D

Deleted member 13876

Unconfirmed Member
InsideGamer (Netherlands) has put up another article regarding Iwata's statement.
-
Looking at the - for me - foreign media coverage, it looks like this is getting well known. I wonder when/if the mainstream media gets on it. For now, it just seems a matter of time.

If anyone has the connections, now would be a good time to approach some of these sources.
 

L Thammy

Member
What? Which ones? I never heard of this.

Captain Rainbow.
It's a vibrating black bar. It's not clearly said what it is, but the question at the moment is whether Birdo is a male or female... the discovery of this mysterious object has her immediately declared female.

Super Mario RPG also has Peach's XXX as a secret item, but I always figured that it was her underwear.

This post has been deleted.

Thanks, I'll erase it.
 
Edit: Just beat...and I did not spoiler too...
What? Which ones? I never heard of this.
Captain Rainbow. The context is something like in order to prove that Birdo is a woman (and free of the crime of being a Man) Captain Rainbow presents an object that vibrates (it was found on Birdos bed and the icon was either completely black or pixilated).

On another note. Didn't Captain Rainbow sell like 8000 copies...if only those importers hadn't been there...
 

also

Banned
What? Which ones? I never heard of this.

In captain Rainbow Birdo get's arrested for using the women's bathroom. You have to find proof that she's actually female, so you go to her house and find this curious vibrating object under her pillow.
ibtNteo7ornAms.gif
 

GeekyDad

Member
I think we'll see better results appealing to the hacking community than to Nintendo. Nintendo have spoken their piece. Don't think any further campaigning is going to negotiate a change in their corporate policy.
 
I think we'll see better results appealing to the hacking community than to Nintendo. Nintendo have spoken their piece. Don't think any further campaigning is going to negotiate a change in their corporate policy.

What happened to the Operation Rainfall naysayers? We've only just begun.
 

gngf123

Member
I think we'll see better results appealing to the hacking community than to Nintendo. Nintendo have spoken their piece. Don't think any further campaigning is going to negotiate a change in their corporate policy.

Nintendo said no to the Op Rainfall guys loads of times before they finally gave in. Same with Microsoft more recently regarding X1 DRM.

Campaign should continue, don't back down.
 
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