23 replies to this topic

[JRRD]

Xenoblade is a role-playing video game published by Nintendo and developed by Monolith Soft for the Wii. I've been waiting for this game for years now. I think it was announced in 2009 or something. But then I learned there was no plan to bring this game to North America, which made me pretty damn upset! But it was of course released in Japan and got a very warm reception. It got high review scores, was number 1 in games sales for the week it debuted, and sold over 80,000 copies. So I figure with all that going for it... maybe send it our way? Nope...

But wait! What is this I hear? The cries of North American's across the land? Pre-ordering on amazon and various other sites. Proving to Nintendo that yes... WE WANT THIS DAMN GAME! So with all the snail mail being sent to Nintendo, all the tweeting, all the facebooking... all that love going... It has to come here right?

Wrong... Nintendo basically said. "Sorry, still don't plan to release to North America. Thanks for the love though." Assholes. I lost faith in Nintendo today... lots of faith.

Here is an awesome trailer:

[Raine]

Poor JRRD...

We can still import!

[The_Nightstalker]

It was the RPG that NA deserved but not what it needed (according to Nintendo anyway). As a fan of the past Xeno games (most of them anyway), it sucks to hear that Nintendo of America still does not plan to release this despite fans practically begging on their hands and knees. What a shame.

[JRRD]

Yes, I have to import the game but that in it self means I have to spend way more money than I'd like just to play maybe 2 or 3 games that I can't play here. Sigh...

[Raine]

Let's import the collector's edition. Red classic controller. :D!

Don't have to get a PAL Wii just yet anyway.

[Jeeves]

That sure looks like the type of game Wii sorely needs more of to me.

My sympathies to people who want this in North America. I know exactly what it feels like. This is the same way Nintendo treats Mother fans, even after they've gone to incredible lengths to show their support for the series.

Nintendo of America needs a kick in the ass.

[LalaRu]

Sadly, this is what happens when they start to do away with a console. The problem here, is what we see is so many JRPGs. It actually can take a good year or more to have it translated. Some of the games are expedited so they can be released within the same year (a la Final Fantasy), but others, that aren't guaranteed as much sales, will sit by and take forever to come out (ie Tales of ..., Dragon Quest). It's a real shame, because the potential for more jrpgs in the NA and other continents goes down because people are forced to import or wait excessive amounts of time to have it come out.

They probably would have thought of doing Xenoblade, but the problem is that the translation could take 9months to a year, and then the Wii is already gone, with Wii U being the Nintendo console as of next year. In other words, they screwed an entire worldwide population because they won't want to release anymore Wii games States-side after Zelda (if/when that arrives).

[Tom321]

I happen to think this is an over reaction. I understand the want for this game, the wii is seriously lacking in upcoming games. But I think we should look on the flipside. Wii U is on the horizon and more unlocalized Wii games = more possible launch titles for Wii U. 3DS had a weak launch. I'm betting that Nintendo is already a little leery of their new systems reception (Iwata has been quoted saying that it didn't go as planned) and holing off on Wii titles to release on Wii U in HD for a stronger console release. If not then your anger shouldn't placed with Nintendo, it should be with NOA. The core company has very little to do with North American localization (for example; NOE is getting Xenoblade).

All that being said I'm very surprised NOA didn't localize. There is an English version ready to go whenever they so choose. They only need to change some simple region locking code and bamf! Xenoblade! Nintendo needs some work on their exit strategies for their current gen consoles.

[Raine]

I think everyone knows the difference between Nintendo and NOA. It's pretty damn obvious considering the situation.

This isn't an overreaction at all for people who want some actual GOOD RPGs on Wii. What do you do when you want something? You ask for it. And there's no point in waiting for Wii U when there are apparently no plans to release the games at all. This has nothing to do with system launches because this was an issue far before that. Only now fans feel like they actually have to do something about it.

[JRRD]

Yeah, it wasn't just a couple fans that wanted this for NA, it topped Amazons pre-order lists. That is saying something! Wii U has nothing to do with this game coming out and if they were smart they would realize how well this would sell here.

[Tom321]

I knew about the whole amazon preorder thing, and I don't understand nintendo's reaction, but I don't think all hope is lost for localization yet.

[Tom321]

"July 7, 2011

American localization of Xenoblade is complete, The Last Story is currently being translated to English for an American release, but there is no word on Pandora’s Tower localization. This information was disclosed to Operation Rainfall today from a source within Nintendo who wishes to remain anonymous. There is currently no indication of when Nintendo of America plans to formally announce these titles.

Last week Nintendo of America told its followers on Facebook and Twitter that it had no plans to bring Xenoblade, The Last Story, and Pandora’s tower to America “at this time.” Nintendo intentionally left open the possibility of release. Allegedly, the Redmond, WA branch has been working with other branches to bring Xenoblade and The Last Story to North America.

According to our source, The NTSC version of Xenoblade was completed just over a month ago, while testing for the PAL and NTSC versions of The Last Story could begin in a month. There is currently no word on localization for an NTSC version of Pandora’s Tower.

Remember, this information was disclosed to Operation Rainfall in confidence. Until Nintendo of America makes an announcement, there will be no official word of an NTSC release. However, this news has increased our hope for a North American release of these games. It could also explain why retailers like Amazon continue to have Xenoblade (Monado: Beginning of the World) listed on their website.

Make of this information what you will, but after much internal discussion Operation Rainfall believed it would be best to share this information with our followers. Consider this our announcement of a forthcoming announcement.

Help us keep the pressure on Nintendo, and hopefully we will get a formal announcement of Xenoblade, The Last Story, and Pandora's Tower sooner rather than later."

From the operation rainfall blog (the people that started the whole amazon thing). what do you guys think? t/f?

[Raine]

It could mean nothing at all really. Quite a shame.

Still gonna get a PAL Wii for this I thuppose.

[Tom321]

Raine, on 17 July 2011 - 06:57 AM, said:

It could mean nothing at all really. Quite a shame.

Still gonna get a PAL Wii for this I thuppose.

PAL is asian right? there is a Euro version with english VAs and text.

[Raine]

It's mostly used when speaking of European or Australian territories, but there are some Asian areas (among others) included as well. When I said PAL, I meant a Wii that can play European games. No reason to get it in another language. :U

[Tom321]

Not a fan of softmodding?

[Raine]

Not at all. I'd rather just buy another console.

[Tom321]

For me it's a matter of money. Dropping another 300 (importing a console is expensive, but I'm not sure just how much so, that is just ballpark) or softmodding for free for a game I should be able to play on my home console anyways, since region locking is stupid, and maybe bricking it and having to buy a new NA console for like 200. The only reason I haven't soft modded yet is that I haven't seen a game worth it.

[Raine]

I care too much about my consoles to risk it.

[LalaRu]

$177AUD for the Wii console out here. That price is likely to go down before November, I reckon, but I have not seen any info coming in about Xenoblade, etc. It's supposed to hit Europe in Sept, but we have no information about it for that date. Could be a later in the year release for out here, but can't say for certain.