Topic: 'No Plans' to Release Xenoblade, Last Story, Pandora's Tower in North America

[BeautifulShy]

I'm going to mention a few things that may make sense to you guys and gals.

First of all boycotting any and all Nintendo products from this point forward will have a negative effect.Why you might ask? Well it is because if you boycott Nintendo's games then they might as well not bring out any new IPs to the west.You will be basically be getting the well known titles like Mario,Zelda,and Metriod and the like again.This type of response from Nintendo will in turn be interpretted by Nintendo fans that Nintendo never has any New IPs and essentually this whole forum will be Ian Sane's running around here.

Secondly the if you decide to boycott the title 3rd parties will either look at the Nintendo fanbase as a bunch of people that has to have their way or they are going to complain about things. This will cause 3rd parties to respond in two ways. Either they will fill the void of games missing in the lineup or they will take the games away from the Wii U. Which will essentually leave hardly any games for the Wii U. It will essentually be like in the N64 era as far as game droughts.

Now for me personally I still have lots of games I need to get for the Wii still. To those that are complaining.Do you have every single Wii game you want at this point in time? If not then I suggest you go out and get them since the Wii U will be coming out in about a year.

[ShyGuy]

Protest outside of Nintendo headquarters in Redmond. Start a picket line and yell "scab!" at people who cross the line.

[Enner]

Ouch.

Sad to hear this, though I'm not quite as angry about as the some of the above are. I only got my Wii last year so I do have older games out there that I haven't gotten to yet. Still, I like the what I see from Xenoblade, The Last Story, and Pandora's Tower and I hoped that there would be a North American release.

The big problem in all this is that it does not bode well for Nintendo of America supporting the Wii U.  After a big E3 Press Conference where they hyped that they wanted us all to come back to them, they turn around and refuse to release games that the core audience cares about...despite NoE picking up the tab for all of them, leaving NoA with just manufacturing and advertising costs.  How can you take them seriously after this?

Short answer would be that I never took Nintendo of America too seriously. It sucks that things have changed since the days I hear about Nintendo of America picking up some of the tab to get Tales of Symphonia (GCN) for North America.

As for audiences, I'm guessing Nintendo of America has a specific definition of the core audience and it doesn't include JRPGs. It would be nice if they shift the games to a different publisher who has an accommodating definition.

Maybe be I should be more angry because I would like to see these games come out in North America. Also, publishers such as Atlus and Nippon Ichi have demonstrated that success is possible with smaller profile Japanese games. Finally, there aren't many other meaty games coming out for North American Wiis. There is really no good reason that one of these games can't come out in North America (Perhaps there is a hefty license fee, but still....). Bah, I don't want to waste time and effort of getting mad at Nintendo of America for not giving me a few games that look interesting that I would probably buy months after release when they get discounted. There are bunch of other games that share a similar situation to Xenoblade, The Last Story, and Pandora's Tower to me; I didn't get extremely miffed on those either. The fact that Xenoblade and The Last Story have come far closer than those other games only just makes it more disappointing to me.

Oh well, there are other upcoming North America game releases to anticipate. Damn shame that there aren't more from Nintendo.

[NWR_insanolord]

Everyone saying that Nintendo should do something that would certainly lose them money clearly aren't at all familiar with the company. This is about money. It always has been. You're reading way too much into this if you think it has anything to do with how they'll support the 3DS or Wii U.

[Sundoulos]

Losing money on these games isn't a given; as others have said, Nintendo could either license it to a company like Aksys or at least make a limited release to test the waters.  The puzzling thing is that even in relatively recent history Nintendo has  published games with limited audiences in the past, such as Chibi Robo, Odama, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, Baten Kaitos 2 and arguably Dragon Quest VI.   Last year, they chose to help with the publishing and marketing of Monster Hunter Tri...  So, I wonder what's changed between now and then?   It doesn't really make sense to me.  Arguably, they're in a better market position now than when they released the many of those other games...maybe that's the difference.

Frankly, a built-in hype machine seems to be forming around these games;  is there a legitimate business reason why wouldn't Nintendo take advantage of that?  Who's to say that any one of them wouldn't turn a profit?  For all we know, the Wii U is still nearly 1 to 1.5 years away.   That Wii release list looks pretty sparse.  If I cared about anything they're planning to release other than Skyward Sword, I probably wouldn't be this troubled by it.

I know it's not Nintendo's MO, but in this case I do think it would behoove them to provide more communication to their fans than this.  The big problem with their response here is that between their apparent marketing of the Wii U and their response to a very motivated fanbase, they're sending mixed messages to their overall audience.  The way they've handled this situation so far seems as if they're answering from an ivory tower.  It's a good opportunity to build good will and reinforce fan loyalty, and honestly, they're throwing it away.

I'm not surprised by this response from NOA, and I don't plan to "cut off my nose to spite my face" by either making a self-professed "ban on Nintendo" or by refusing to buy a 3DS or Wii U.  Frankly, I would like to play games on both; but, frankly, it does give me serious pause about being an early adopter of either system.  Honestly, since at least one of my kids is getting close to the age where he can start playing games, I most definitely will probably start basing many more of my gaming/purchasing choices for him, anyway.

Still, if I cared more about more of the games that the other two systems were publishing, yes, they probably would get my money first.  (Still waiting on The Last Guardian, Sony!!!)

[Adrock]

This is certainly disappointing but I'm not boycotting anything. I'll admit that I was certain months ago that at least Xenoblade and The Last Story would make it over due to the caliber of talent behind those games (though Mistwalker's Archaic Sealed Heat didn't). This isn't that surprising. These  are core titles for a niche subset. Unless it's Final Fantasy, you're not looking at killer sales in this genre. As we all know, there are other ways they can be brought over which is probably the worst part about this situation. A total bummer but I'll live and I'm certainly not going to refuse purchasing Skyward Sword as some silly form of protest. All that accomplishes is me NOT playing the newest Zelda game. F that noise.

[NWR_insanolord]

The puzzling thing is that even in relatively recent history Nintendo has  published games with limited audiences in the past, such as Chibi Robo, Odama, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, Baten Kaitos 2

Three of those were GameCube games. The fourth came out in the Wii's first year. That's not recent history.

and arguably Dragon Quest VI.   Last year, they chose to help with the publishing and marketing of Monster Hunter Tri...  So, I wonder what's changed between now and then?

Both of those games were very successful in Japan. These titles are not.

Arguably, they're in a better market position now than when they released the many of those other games

Not really. There are more Wiis out there, but Wii software sales are way down.

Frankly, a built-in hype machine seems to be forming around these games;  is there a legitimate business reason why wouldn't Nintendo take advantage of that?

While at least somewhat impressive, the hype surrounding the games isn't anywhere close to big enough to be a factor in this.

It's a good opportunity to build good will and reinforce fan loyalty, and honestly, they're throwing it away.

Nintendo is certainly facing problems, but losing fan loyalty isn't realistically one of them. Nintendo has the most loyal fan base of any game company, and they know it. Effectively no one will actually stop buying Nintendo products for any real length of time because of this.

[Ceric]

This is whats wrong with US in general.  Congress can do want they want because they are not really accountable to their Citizenship.  NoA can do what they want because they are not really accountable to their Citizenship.

I like to be able to play Pandora's tower and I have an interest in Xenoblade but, I love my Nintendo Community and I will support these efforts because that is what the Community wants.  Its not really about the games anymore, is it, honestly? 

Its about wanting to be heard and taken into account. 
Its about wanting to have variety. 
Its about wanting parity. 
Its about wanting the respect that Loyalty Truly deserves.

At the beginning all NoA had to do was offer a means to get the European versions for this region.  Be that Club Nintendo, special order, etc.  Now I don't think the Community would be happy without a full Retail Release.  We can have Shovelware but we can't have Niche Titles? 

The shear Variety of games on the PS2 is what made it so popular.  XBLA on 360 with its epic variety helps the 360.  Nintendo seems to be refusing to have this variety.  Much like a TV Station that will only show Mega-hits but, have nothing other times but syndicated junk.

What is bringing new dedicated Nintendo Fans into the fold?  Into are Faith if you will. 

I would argue that the the N64 and GCN had brought more people to the loyalist side then the Wii even though it did bring more people in general.  A stream may seem to be nothing to a Boulder but over time the stream will make it a boulder no more.

[NWR_Neal]

What is bringing new dedicated Nintendo Fans into the fold?  Into are Faith if you will. 

Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Kirby, etc.

[Ceric]

What is bringing new dedicated Nintendo Fans into the fold?  Into are Faith if you will. 

Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Kirby, etc.

Can I get 2 Forumers to Comment that they joined and became active in this community because of the Wii versions of those games.

[NWR_Neal]

Because of those games and because of Operation Rainfall are two different things. Some people just dig controversy.

OpRainfall has all this support, but I guarantee that if these games ever come out, more than half of the people upset about this won't get the games.

How many people are lifelong Nintendo fans because of Baten Kaitos and Odama?

[Ceric]

Because of those games and because of Operation Rainfall are two different things. Some people just dig controversy.

OpRainfall has all this support, but I guarantee that if these games ever come out, more than half of the people upset about this won't get the games.

How many people are lifelong Nintendo fans because of Baten Kaitos and Odama?

Slightly different Beast but I do know 1.  Probably the only one though.

I can also guarantee that as well because of the reasons I stated earlier.  Though how many people do you have to have to make this game not a loss?

I can't believe it would be a super lot.  Especially if you made the first run only be enough for the converted pre-orders and maybe 1-2 extra copy.  Heck, don't include the CCPro either.

Some things you do not because they'll net you a huge physical profit but, it gets you mindscape, "Good" Press ,and won't incur a loss.

Though the ship has sailed for this to be one of those things.  The Damage is done and NoA will not give in more than likely because the benefits are now way smaller then they were.  That doesn't mean that they should just sit their and let all this just keep battering them.  Finding a way to redirect the fandom into something more positive should be a goal now.

[Bman87301]

Relax people, this isn't as bad as it seems. My suggestion is to keep sending your letters and keep pre-ordering Monado. Even if NOA doesn't reconsider (which they very well still could if the fans don't back down), that still doesn't mean other publishers won't pick them up-- especially in the case of Xenoblade-- the money's already on the table, so someone's going to want to cash it in. I'm convinced Xenoblade is already guaranteed to come stateside from someone, unless people start being stupid and begin cancelling their preorders.

I actually see NOA's statement as a good sign-- I see this as their way of testing us to see if we start backing down. They realize the Amazon preorders aren't guaranteed sales, as people can just cancel their preorders once Xenoblade gets a release date, and this whole movement could just turn out to be smoke and mirrors by a small, yet very organized niche (which actually could be the case).

They wouldn't bother commenting on the matter at all if they weren't taking this serious. We've already made them flinch-- don't get discouraged, keep it up!

[NeoStar9X]

This certainly does suck. As I said before it will affect how I go about the Wii U. I've calmed down from my initial reaction last night but this was to be expected. Like many companies it's all about the money with Nintendo but I think this does hurt their credibility some when it comes to the Wii U. For the longest time I've looked to my Nintendo consoles as my primary ones. Foolish I know but I happen to like their IPs more so then any other company. Have since the NES. Though no longer. Will I write off Nintendo completely? I don't think so after thinking things over. However they will no longer take a prominent spot in my gaming. They've moved down the list in terms of the console space.

I'll get the Wii U when there are enough games on it that warrant the purchase. Until then I'll be focusing more on my PS3, 360, 3DS, PC. Do I trust Nintendo? No. Perhaps I shouldn't have as I'm just a number to them in the grand scheme of things. If I boycott it will mean nothing. So I'll still buy Zelda as I like Zelda. Will I mod my system to play these games now? I don't think so. To much trouble to do something I shouldn't have to. I simply don't care any longer. Will I hope the Wii U does well? Nah. What happens to it happens to and it's on Nintendo's head. I no longer feel any "desire" to support them. Maybe I never should have. I'll buy the products that are out and that will be that. I'll no longer hope for anything from them.

[Ceric]

This certainly does suck. As I said before it will affect how I go about the Wii U. I've calmed down from my initial reaction last night but this was to be expected. Like many companies it's all about the money with Nintendo but I think this does hurt their credibility some when it comes to the Wii U. For the longest time I've looked to my Nintendo consoles as my primary ones. Foolish I know but I happen to like their IPs more so then any other company. Have since the NES. Though no longer. Will I write off Nintendo completely? I don't think so after thinking things over. However they will no longer take a prominent spot in my gaming. They've moved down the list in terms of the console space.

I'll get the Wii U when there are enough games on it that warrant the purchase. Until then I'll be focusing more on my PS3, 360, 3DS, PC. Do I trust Nintendo? No. Perhaps I shouldn't have as I'm just a number to them in the grand scheme of things. If I boycott it will mean nothing. So I'll still buy Zelda as I like Zelda. Will I mod my system to play these games now? I don't think so. To much trouble to do something I shouldn't have to. I simply don't care any longer. Will I hope the Wii U does well? Nah. What happens to it happens to and it's on Nintendo's head. I no longer feel any "desire" to support them. Maybe I never should have. I'll buy the products that are out and that will be that. I'll no longer hope for anything from them.

That really is a loss for Nintendo, especially having a more Multi-platform friendly system coming.  How long till they stop becoming the Icon of gaming?

[Retro Deckades]

It's true what some people are saying about the Wii U and loyalty to the company in general.

For whatever reason, I tend to have strong brand loyalties -- with Nintendo, it's fierce. I've been with them since the NES, and I don't plan on changing now. However, when it comes to rewarding my loyalty I feel that they haven't done a terrible job. Sure, it may have taken them a little longer than I would have liked to introduce Club Nintendo to NA, but the bottom line is that they really don't HAVE to do anything. However, I definitely believe that it's in their best interest as a company to do so.

That being said, I believe that it's incredibly short-sighted of them not to reward the loyal fans by delivering games such as Xenoblade and The Last Story to us here in North America because us loyal fans are the ones who will be buying the Wii U. If Nintendo thinks for a moment that all of the casual gamers who bought Wiis and keep Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit atop the sales charts will feel compelled to purchase a Wii U, I think they will be disappointed. I have very little doubt that those people have no brand loyalty to Nintendo because gaming is probably not something that they take seriously. They will most likely have picked up an XBOX 360 with a Kinect by this point, if anything, and I don't think they'll see the reason to pick up a Wii U for Mario Kart or New Super Mario Bros. because they figure they already have them.

[NeoStar9X]

That really is a loss for Nintendo, especially having a more Multi-platform friendly system coming.  How long till they stop becoming the Icon of gaming?

I know I'm just one person and what I feel or do really doesn't matter in the scheme of things. Nintendo won't hurt or even know. Just wanted to post my feelings on the situation.

[Ceric]

That really is a loss for Nintendo, especially having a more Multi-platform friendly system coming.  How long till they stop becoming the Icon of gaming?

I know I'm just one person and what I feel or do really doesn't matter in the scheme of things. Nintendo won't hurt or even know. Just wanted to post my feelings on the situation.

Calling Family Guy fans.

Their was an episode where someone called the FCC and made a complaint.  They then extrapolated it out because so few people have the guts to make that call where that 1 person really represented something like 1,000 people.

This is actually done for ratings and like because you can't survey everyone, even though cable systems and Internet TV do allow for this but, that doesn't get over-the-air people etc.

For every 1 active poster on this forum I'm fairly sure their are 5-10 lurkers at least.  Being just one person publicly voicing that opinion is really equivalent to more then just 1 person.  What you feel does matter in the Grand Scheme of things.  That's where it truly does matter.  Now in the more local scheme of things you're probably right.

Just to everyone in general.  What we do matter.  Our opinions are valid.  Don't ever think otherwise.  I will disagree with you and be perplexed by your inconsistency but, I will also agree with you and act on what you say.  Overall, I will probably enjoy the trip.

[Ian Sane]

My beef with this in entirely that there is NOTHING on the Wii right now.  Nintendo has a new console due next year and they obviously want existing Wii owners to buy a Wii U.  Therefore, even if these games wouldn't sell that well, there is some value in having some Wii releases to fill the gaps.  At the very least it gives the impression that the Wii is still a healthy console.  It keeps some momentum.  It has the gaming press covering the Wii with some reviews at least.  The Wii U launch is probably at least a year away.  Between now and then Nintendo is going to have, what, two console games released in that entire time?  That will just kill any momentum they have and they pretty much will have to start all over with the Wii U.  Plus they want to attract the core gamer back and this just doesn't look good from a PR perspective.

I remember when the N64 was nearly done and there were requests to have Sin & Punishment localized.  That didn't happen but it probably should have.  Between Conker's Bad Fur Day and the Gamecube launch there was a span of at least 6 months where Nintendo as a console maker was completely irrelevent.  Then they tried to start new with the Gamecube and never really got any momentum going.  Sin & Punishment was never going to be a huge hit but putting in that gap would have meant that IGN and Gamespot and the magazines at the time would have had SOMETHING to cover.  A new Nintendo game on the shelves can have the benefit of merely indicating that the system isn't finished.  Xenoblade's release doesn't just act as a game to sell but as a marketting tool just to have some activity of sorts going on the Wii front.  Something so that the Wii userbase doesn't think the Wii is finished.  Something that keeps gamers talking about the Wii.  That has some value to it.

[Chocobo_Rider]

...if a smaller publisher wanted to take it, they'd probably have to enter negotiations and work out a deal before they are allowed to publish it elsewhere.

I guess I just don't see why that would be so impossible. Right, fellas?

If I remember correctly, Atlus has come forward and said that they would bring one or more of these games over if if Nintendo corporate would let them.  Unfortunately, Nintendo probably owns the publishing rights to these titles outside of Japan.  For another company to publish them in North America, Nintendo has to sell them the publishing rights, and Nintendo probably doesn't want to do that in case these titles actually end up being some kind of hit.  Besides, it would really expose how terrible Nintendo of America's marketing consistently is if Atlus were able to turn The Last Story into a mega-hit in NA when NoA couldn't do that with Metroid Other M and so many other titles this generation.

I can't find anything like that from Atlus.  Linky link?

I don't think NoA is worried about its ability to sell Wii games =P

So you're thinking maybe NoA will just wait and see how they do in EU?
Could suck if EU sales are good due to all the importing/modding that will take place without announcements.  Then, NoA announces/releases them stateside but everyone who wanted them already has them!!

But yea, otherwise, it seems silly that NoA would find these games too niche to sell, but too mainstream to let others sell.

---

In any case, I'm not giving up! Operation Rainfall costs me very little to be part of, and the potential reward is worth it.  Not just for these three games, but for gaming in general.

[Bman87301]

and arguably Dragon Quest VI.   Last year, they chose to help with the publishing and marketing of Monster Hunter Tri...  So, I wonder what's changed between now and then?

Both of those games were very successful in Japan. These titles are not.

What are you talking about? I know The Last Story was huge in Japan. And I'm pretty sure Xenoblade and Pandora's Tower did pretty well too.

The real difference between then and now, in the case of Monster Hunter Tri, is that the Wii's lifecycle wasn't as close to the end as it is now... and Capcom still did most of the job anyway. In the case of Dragon Quest VI, it was because DQ IX sold well enough.

[NWR_Neal]

Regardless, DQ and Monster Hunter aren't comparable to these three games. It's like comparing a giant blockbuster (in Japan) to a small niche title. Oh wait, it is!

[ejamer]

Hmm... I understand people arguing that this was never going to happen because cash is king for Nintendo. As a company, they don't even do fan service unless it's profitable fan service so new IP titles are rare anyway. All of these titles are risky when it comes to selling in North America and since NoA is judged on the profits they generate the company simply isn't willing to take that risk.


But if -- at the tail end of the lifespan for one of the most successful and profitable consoles ever, at a time when neither Nintendo nor third party developers have anything else of merit to release -- they can't support fans by translating these games then it tells me that a PS3 is a better use of my money than a Wii U.  This isn't a personal or emotional reaction, it's common sense. When one vendor can't or won't provide what you want, go somewhere else. Sony has a lot of problems and makes a lot of questionable decisions, but ongoing support and refusal to import titles isn't something that PS3 gamers need to be concerned in my experience.




That said, it's disappointing that I won't have the opportunity to enjoy these games or Fatal Frame or Another Code R or Pikmin 2 NPC. At least Nintendo did release some enjoyable smaller market games like Metroid Prime Trilogy, Sin & Punishment 2, sequels to Battalion Wars and Fire Emblem, and even Excitebots (which received no support but was at least released).

[Ceric]

Regardless, DQ and Monster Hunter aren't comparable to these three games. It's like comparing a giant blockbuster (in Japan) to a small niche title. Oh wait, it is!

But it did take a long time for that series to come Stateside if memory serves even being successful in Japan.  Which one was the first one they released before it became pretty consistent that we were getting them?

Also RIP Excitebots.

[ShyGuy]

This started back with Disaster Day of Crisis and Fatal Frame 4. Don't get me started on Another Code R.

My only hope is that we can someday see these games as downloadable titles on the Wii U. Going digital would reduce Nintendo's cost and make the games a lower financial risk.

Shout out to Bill Aurion and Mother 3!