new, 3D famicom game

[nensondubois]

I might just get a PS3 for this game but only if it's released in the US.

[manuel]

I don't see a reason why it shouldn't be released in the US.

[Jedi Master Baiter]

If Nintendo keeps making games of the Super Mario Galaxy / NSMB / Twilight Princess / Phantom Hourglass caliber, I'll still play them with 60, too.

My real gripe is that Nintendo doesn't seem to "move on" , like their characters getting older or doing completely different things.  I'm particularly displeased with Punch Out!!

[manuel]

Then you have to speak with your wallet and stop buying their stuff.

[L___E___T]

I don't see a reason why it shouldn't be released in the US.

Money.

You have any idea how much it costs to translate and test a game with that much text?  Even more so if you do the 5 languages for Europe as well?!
This is a sure sell in Japan but in Europe and the states it becomes an instant niche title.  I'd expect an English translation for the US, but i don't think it'll be out in Europe.

[manuel]

I am a translator, so yes, I know how much it costs. 

But if marketed right, this should be no problem, especially when the game is good. If it's crappy, that's another thing again.

Then again, I personally don't need a translated version, because I can understand the original. 

[L___E___T]

Oh I know you're a translator, but it's not just the cost of actually translating, it's the cost of development too.  You can outsource a translation pretty cheap, you can even record voice-over pretty cheap but you still need to compile it all and put it into the game.

Once that's done you gotta pay guys (and gals) to test it, you gotta get it through Sony America and their testing, then Europe too if you want.  All that takes weeks and months in most cases, by which time all your marketing focus is gone so you have to respend and even then it's hard because people don't always want to cover it.  So, it's not always about marketing right as much as timing it right, even.  I imagine the amount they have to spend on marketing just in Japan is pretty small as well.  

I still think it'll show its face in the US though, it's easier and cheaper to roll out there amongst other things.

[manuel]

Yeah, it's quite an expense (and time consuming) to localize games.

[L___E___T]

We have awesome and dedicated people like you to thank for it though Manuel!  
When you think of it though, the sales of retro game challenge didn't even cover that process, so it's more of a risk than people think, even when it's pretty much a sure thing it can be too much money to risk losing.

* fingers crossed for this over here

[manuel]

It seems that Retro Game Challenge didn't sell enough indeed, because part 2 still didn't get released.
It's really a shame.

[L___E___T]

Yeah, XSEED came right out and said that because the first didn't get bought enough then they literally couldn't get the 2nd one moving, they wanted to do it even.

Thing is though, this is what I eman by a sure thing in Japan often is the other end of the scale in the erst of the world.

Japan - TV show with star + love for famicom/retro titles (esp RPGs and dragon quest) much more than anywhere else = success.

US / Europe - no tv show, no celeb personality, mediocre love for retro titles, (little love for dragon warrior) = stores not convinced so it aint on shelf so it stood little chance in the first place.

It may have got loadsa love on 1up.com and fan sites but that is no way near a good indication of the DS audience.  I know one game in particular for DS that got game of the year all over the place but sold so, so little because it was new and stores weren't that aware of it.

It's shame but that's the way it goes.  OK for Japanese linguists like you Manuel but I can't see a fan translation coming out for retro game challenge 2 anytime soon.  Apparently it was a real biatch to fit all the translations in the character limit as well..

[UglyJoe]

Apparently it was a real biatch to fit all the translations in the character limit as well..

Really?  As far as technical limitations go, newer games tend to be a lot easier translate than older games.

[L___E___T]

yeah, it's basically because DS still works on a pixel level, especially for text and for a game like that.  Having character limits is just another way to keep the data size down but I'd be surprised if they had to work that hard on a game like that.
Sometimes they are just put in place because of lack of consideration, then when you come to localise it's a real pain when it ends up 20% more text.

Rather than have me go on, there are a series of blogs I should point you to that look at it all and are quite an interesting read:
http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8977388&publicUserId=6017191

[manuel]

To go back to the original title, I hope there will be a trial version on the PSN. That would be sweet.

[PatMan33]

I think this game looks really neat; however, seeing it in motion kind of hurts my eyes.

I'm going to keep watching it though. Some of the gameplay looked a little bland but it's still in development so I don't worry too much.