March 4, 2016

Will the terrible sales of this game in Japan effect localization plans for the West?

#1 Edited by Quid_Pro_Bono (820 posts) - 
Basically, title. Has anyone heard anything regarding NOA going forward with the localization of this game for the West? I know it's sold pretty poorly in Japan, and considering how the content is so idol-centric that seems like a bit of a killing blow for localization chances. I'm still very curious and optimistic about this game, but I find myself wondering if it's going to be abandoned due to lackluster sales.
Link for the curious:
#2 Posted by Slag (6446 posts) - 
No haven't heard anything. But I am definitely very concerned as I'd like to play it to see for myself.
I have to imagine the odds of it ever coming here has to be very low now, everything I've read is strongly suggesting it bombed big time.
Instinctively I wish this was more of Fire Emblem game mechanically with Persona-ish characters/story, but instead it seems to be a more Persona game with Fire emblem character summons? Either way I'd still like to give it a whirl. If rumors are true this was supposed to be something new entirely and was rebranded. If so I could really believe that.
#3 Posted by Quid_Pro_Bono (820 posts) - 
@slag: I'd be really surprised if it was supposed to be a totally original game, didn't they originally announce "SMT X FE" in 2013? I guess it's possible they merged that idea with another new project, but I doubt it. It does seem like the gameplay is much closer to Persona than SMT (I don't think you'll be talking to monsters) so that's an interesting naming issue as well. In general, I think they muddied the waters with all the talk of it being a crossover game where it's more of a Persona game with Fire Emblem summons as you mentioned.
It definitely bombed; it debuted at only 23k copies and apparently didn't even make the top 20 games in Japan last week, which means it sold less than 8k copies. If it did so badly there, where idol content is very popular, it seems like it would bomb here as well. They already have promoted the game in two Directs in the West, though, so it would be pretty un-Nintendo to cancel it, especially as it's one of the few remaining Wii U exclusive games on the horizon before the NX. It's an interesting situation for sure.
#4 Posted by Slag (6446 posts) - 
@quid_pro_bono: You are likely right. I don't honestly know it's origins, just seen rumors and speculation here and there. And it doesn't really look like one or the other it seemed plausible to me...I just know I heard the initial announcement and was super pysched, just due to the name (which I'm sure is what they were intending by calling it that).
Yeah I think Nintendo has a potentially very big problem on its hands here with the WiiU lineup in 2016. Star Fox Zero doesn't look great, now SMTxFE bombed, so a lot is riding on Zelda WiiU showing up. If it shows up....
Is there anything else really on the horizon for the console? Twilight Princess HD is the only other big Nintendo title I know of. (what happened to those Miyamoto Tech demos?)
#5 Posted by Quid_Pro_Bono (820 posts) - 
@slag: I can't think of anything to add to your list aside from Pokken Tournament. It's very barren at the moment. I think we'll hear a lot about the NX at E3, but that can't possibly be out this Fall so I have no clue what they're planning to bridge the gap.
#6 Posted by ArbitraryWater (13922 posts) - 
I'd like the game to come out over here so I could figure out what the hell it's actually about besides "Vaguely persona-ish JPOP Idol RPG with some Fire Emblem-related imagery." I bet it would be selling a lot better if it was a clear crossover between the two properties (It's not like there is a lack of enthusiasm for SMT or FE in Japan), but I also bet that it would be selling a lot better if it wasn't a Wii U game. That alone is probably the albatross around the neck of this game's sales.
#7 Edited by Zeik (3807 posts) - 
I guess it depends on whether Atlus USA or Nintendo would be the one responsible for bringing it over. Atlus USA is much more willing to bring over niche games that don't necessarily sell boatloads. Nintendo is "better" lately, but I still don't necessarily trust them to bring games over.
#8 Posted by Quid_Pro_Bono (820 posts) - 
@arbitrarywater: I'd agree with the Wii U issue if Xenoblade didn't just sell 86k copies in its opening week in Japan.
#9 Posted by Superkenon (1603 posts) - 
I'll just be here, shrugging ambivalently about the game. Which is weird, since Fire Emblem smashed into Shin Megami Tensei should theoretically be my favorite thing ever, but somehow the end product is nothing like either source? On one hand, I think it's cool that they just did their own thing with it, but on the other hand, it's not doing anything to draw me in as a fan of either material. Which seems very counter to the point. Anyway, I'm just rambling. I still wouldn't be shocked to see it come over here, seeing as how Fire Emblem's a pretty hot property right now, and frankly they need all the games they can get on the WiiU -- not to mention, they've also been plastering it all over the NA Nintendo Directs, so they've more-or-less promised it already.
#10 Posted by ArbitraryWater (13922 posts) - 
@arbitrarywater: I'd agree with the Wii U issue if Xenoblade didn't just sell 86k copies in its opening week in Japan.
That's... almost 4 times as much. So goes that side of my theory. I still think it will come out over here, if only because Nintendo is probably desperate for Wii U games at this point to act as stopgap before Zelda comes out.
Random other question: Has anyone actually heard from people who have played or imported it if it's actually any good? I know it's the Devil Survivor team, but I didn't much care for Devil Survivor.
#11 Posted by loamlife (48 posts) - 
Nintendo is already in the process of localizing it so its a little to late to back down now, though they might send it out to die like Devils Third. Keep in mind no one buys console games in Japan anymore. Fire emblem and Persona are both hot properties right now in the U.S and I have a suspicion the crossover audience between fire emblem and persona fan is Wii U owners.
#12 Posted by Quid_Pro_Bono (820 posts) - 
@arbitrarywater: Well Famitsu gave it a 34/40, and I've heard good things from some people on random forums, but there's also a LOT of hate for this game due to how different from its source material it is (a fact I find refreshing) so I have a hard time getting a good feeling for the game's quality.
I also think the game will still come out here. I wouldn't even mind if they just translate the text and leave the Japanese voice acting, as long as I get to see this weird thing.
#13 Posted by JesusHammer (547 posts) - 
If it doesn't then I'm gonna be real pissed since it was a big reason I bought a Wii U. I wouldn't have one if it wasn't for Xenoblade and this game, so fuck Nintendo if they decide to drop it and I'll make sure to ignore the NX the same way I should've ignored the Wii U. I highly doubt they'll drop it though since they've talked about it at multiple events. It would make people feel like Nintendo is taking a game they want away from them and that's not the kind of PR Nintendo needs right now.
#14 Posted by Quid_Pro_Bono (820 posts) - 
@loamlife: Great point, and Fire Emblem Fates may stoke that fire for more Fire Emblem stuff. I wonder how much space Atlus will give this game with regards to Persona 5.
#15 Edited by BoOzak (1135 posts) - 
I trust Nintendo to bring it over. Atlus, not so much.
#16 Edited by BabyChooChoo (6016 posts) - 
@boozak said:
I trust Nintendo to bring it over. Atlus, not so much.
Why is that? I'd trust Atlus more than Nintendo and I feel like they'd be less likely to alter anything in the process. Granted, the changes Nintendo makes are harmless in the grand scheme of things, but still...
#17 Edited by Zeik (3807 posts) - 
@boozak said:
I trust Nintendo to bring it over. Atlus, not so much.
There's only a single Atlus developed game in the last decade that comes to mind that they didn't bring over. (Eternal Punishment on PSP, for valid reasons.) You definitely can't say the same for Nintendo.
Unless we're talking a European release, then that's a more legit point of view.
#19 Posted by Turtlebird95 (3608 posts) - 
Weren't they already localizing it? I'm pretty sure it was featured in some American centered Direct presentations.
It'll probably be a digital only release or something.
#20 Posted by Zeik (3807 posts) - 
Low chance especially after how bad it did. You might as well import it.
Blowing a bunch of money on an import copy this soon would be preeetty dumb. There's still a reasonable possibility it will come over. Don't waste money before you actually know anything.
#21 Posted by Quid_Pro_Bono (820 posts) - 
@zeik said:
@asilentprotagonist said:
Low chance especially after how bad it did. You might as well import it.
Blowing a bunch of money on an import copy this soon would be preeetty dumb. There's still a reasonable possibility it will come over. Don't waste money before you actually know anything.
Yeah, this plus I really can't read Japanese and as far as I know, there's no English translation and I'm not up for patching in a fan one when it exists.
#22 Posted by doctordonkey (1042 posts) - 
Wait, is this the Fire Emblem x SMT thing I heard about 2-3 years back? I completely forgot this thing existed, had no idea it even came out in any region. I checked out youtube for it and found this, and I guess Marth is a...super saiyan? Or something? Also it seems to be some sort of musical? Definitely not even remotely close to what I thought this thing would be when it got announced.
#23 Posted by Quid_Pro_Bono (820 posts) - 
@doctordonkey: Haha, yeah, that video is pretty outlandish, and is sort of the reason I want to see this thing, but you may want to spoiler it because that cutscene plays about a minute before the final boss of the game.
#24 Posted by BabyChooChoo (6016 posts) - 
Isn't the WiiU region locked anyway? Same thing for the discs too? Or did someone on the internet figure out a way around it in these past few years?
#25 Posted by Atwa (1117 posts) - 
They have already said its coming here, why would they change it?
If anything they would hope to make some money on it over here.
Considering how successful Fire Emblem Awakening was here, I think they push that angle more.
#26 Posted by Corvak (1673 posts) - 
The wheels of the marketing machine have gone too far to stop it now. But it could be another Devil's Third.
#27 Posted by JesusHammer (547 posts) - 
#28 Edited by BoOzak (1135 posts) - 
@zeik said:
@boozak said:
I trust Nintendo to bring it over. Atlus, not so much.
There's only a single Atlus developed game in the last decade that comes to mind that they didn't bring over. (Eternal Punishment on PSP, for valid reasons.) You definitely can't say the same for Nintendo.
Unless we're talking a European release, then that's a more legit point of view.
Yeah that was my point. I'm still bitter about Catherine and Persona 4 Arena. I dont expect Persona 5 to come over here until year or so after the US release. Which isnt as much of a problem with PS4 being region free but the Wii U sure as hell isnt.
EDIT: Not to mention they region locked their own fucking games on the PS3. x(
#29 Posted by Mortuss_Zero (744 posts) - 
I would hope it does. I thought it looked kinda fun.
#30 Posted by Hunter5024 (6612 posts) - 
I would be really bummed if this never made it out over here. It looks really stupid and weird and fun. It also looks like more of an RPG than a lot of recent JRPGs have.
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#31 Posted by BisonHero (9536 posts) - 
I'd like the game to come out over here so I could figure out what the hell it's actually about besides "Vaguely persona-ish JPOP Idol RPG with some Fire Emblem-related imagery." I bet it would be selling a lot better if it was a clear crossover between the two properties (It's not like there is a lack of enthusiasm for SMT or FE in Japan), but I also bet that it would be selling a lot better if it wasn't a Wii U game. That alone is probably the albatross around the neck of this game's sales.
On paper, I should love this game, but then it seems like it barely has much to do with either series. Instead, it feels more like some designer within Atlus had an idea for a JPOP idol RPG, and then inexplicably everybody involved greenlit the inclusion of the Persona and Fire Emblem licenses.
#32 Edited by Zeik (3807 posts) - 
@bisonhero: If that was true I highly doubt they would have marketed the game the way they did with that first trailer if that was their plan from the start. My guess is that they had a vague idea about a crossover game that didn't fully come to fruition, so they just went in a completely different direction.
#33 Edited by BisonHero (9536 posts) - 
@zeik: Yeah, also quite possible. I suspect that first trailer was in such early preproduction they had no idea what to show, so they showed some generic-ass Persona and FE imagery, which got people's hopes up that it would be something like either of those series, then somehow the project coalesced into the designer guy with JPOP idol RPG idea getting the go ahead. Persona or Fire Emblem just seem so NOT the properties to use when you have this idea for a JPOP music-focused RPG. I guess they're what Atlus has at their disposal through this weird business deal, but the whole idea seems like it would've been better served in a spiritual sequel to The World Ends With You or something.
I'm being overly negative. It's probably fine, and plays vaguely like a Persona RPG? I'm still really disappointed in the JPOP idol angle, but the whole thing looks so comical that I can't help but watch. It's like slow motion video of a clown car getting in an accident, and all of the clowns being thrown from the car, horns honking the whole time.
#34 Posted by ShaunK (1559 posts) - 
@hunter5024 said:
I would be really bummed if this never made it out over here. It looks really stupid and weird and fun. It also looks like more of an RPG than a lot of recent JRPGs have.
That's what I'm interested in. I don't get why every JRPG now feels the need to have action-oriented combat. JRPGs are generally seen as a specific market that doesn't always appeal to the mainstream, so the switch to action-oriented combat makes no sense to me. I prefer traditional turn-based RPGS, and I'm glad that there are still people making those.
#35 Posted by Hunter5024 (6612 posts) - 
@shaunk said:
@hunter5024 said:
I would be really bummed if this never made it out over here. It looks really stupid and weird and fun. It also looks like more of an RPG than a lot of recent JRPGs have.
That's what I'm interested in. I don't get why every JRPG now feels the need to have action-oriented combat. JRPGs are generally seen as a specific market that doesn't always appeal to the mainstream, so the switch to action-oriented combat makes no sense to me. I prefer traditional turn-based RPGS, and I'm glad that there are still people making those.
I totally agree. It feels like everybody got together and decided that turn based games don't sell, and I'm not really sure which game tanked to give everybody that impression.
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#36 Posted by Quid_Pro_Bono (820 posts) - 
@hunter5024: Yeah, I agree. I'm enjoying Xenoblade Chronicles X but I'd love a traditional turn-based JRPG again. Oddly, I tend to find action battle systems less engaging than turn-based.
#37 Posted by JPon87 (93 posts) - 
I actually forgot about this! Definitely surprised it didn't sell that well in Japan. There's rabid fanbases for both franchises over here so I think it'll do okay. Only reason I can't imagine it doing great is because not many Persona fans will put aside their PSVitas and buy a WiiU for one game if they don't already own one. I think those that do enjoy both franchises and have a WiiU (like me) will surely pick it up!
I'm also sure since they said it was coming out here (this year?), they had to have already started localization a while ago. Hopefully it's far enough along to where it wouldn't be worth cancelling the game. Hopefully we hear more at E3 or earlier!
#38 Posted by metalsnakezero (2679 posts) - 
So the game will come out in America on June 24 so it coming. However, the fact that it'll have English subtitles with Japanese voiceovers and no dub means sales has affected that way.
#39 Posted by ArbitraryWater (13922 posts) - 
So the game will come out in America on June 24 so it coming. However, the fact that it'll have English subtitles with Japanese voiceovers and no dub means sales has affected that way.
Given the amount of music in the game, a lot of it sung by the voice actors themselves, I could see that being a factor in keeping the audio JP only. Trying to directly transliterate a song from one language to another while also keeping it vaguely musical seems really tough.
It's good to get a release date, but I don't exactly hear a ton of excitement for it over here.
#40 Posted by loamlife (48 posts) - 
@arbitrarywater: I remember watching the treehouse live last year one of the guys was saying that finding voice actors who could also sing was a real problem for the localization so clearly they were trying to dub it at some point. Whether it feel through because of sales, or because translating songs and finding voice actors who can sing is hard is anyones guess. Probably a bit of both. Maybe treehouse is just sick of death threats
#41 Posted by redyoshi (943 posts) - 
It's good to get a release date, but I don't exactly hear a ton of excitement for it over here.
I mean, I'm still gonna get it day one just because it's that SMT x Fire Emblem thing which was half the reason that I bought a Wii U, but I guess I'm just a lot more cautious about it than the day the project was announced. I suppose it works out better this way because my hype was sky high when I heard this was being made, at least now I can be pleasantly surprised.

#42 Posted by ArbitraryWater (13922 posts) - 
@loamlife said:
@arbitrarywater: I remember watching the treehouse live last year one of the guys was saying that finding voice actors who could also sing was a real problem for the localization so clearly they were trying to dub it at some point. Whether it feel through because of sales, or because translating songs and finding voice actors who can sing is hard is anyones guess. Probably a bit of both. Maybe treehouse is just sick of death threats
Yeah, I'm sure finding voice actors who can also sing for your niche market JRPG is probably not an easy task, though FE Fates certainly is proof that it can be done. The lady who voices Azura does a good enough job with songs that were clearly not originally meant to be sung in English. But from what I've seen of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, it seems like every major character has a handful of musical numbers. That would probably be tricky to do for a reasonable cost.
Given the way more explicitly fanservice-y aspects of this game, I wonder if we'll get some more "censorship" and requisite backlash. I'm not looking forward to that. (But seriously also, Nintendo. The target audience for your weird J-POP Idol crossover RPG probably isn't offended by skimpy outfits. Don't be dumb, Fire Emblem Fates might've sold something like 300K copies over here in its first week, but this game sure isn't.)
@redyoshi said:
@arbitrarywater said:
It's good to get a release date, but I don't exactly hear a ton of excitement for it over here.
I mean, I'm still gonna get it day one just because it's that SMT x Fire Emblem thing which was half the reason that I bought a Wii U, but I guess I'm just a lot more cautious about it than the day the project was announced. I suppose it works out better this way because my hype was sky high when I heard this was being made, at least now I can be pleasantly surprised.
I'm sure there will be an interview or article at some point that sheds a little more light onto how they got from "Let's make a crossover RPG between Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei" to "Let's make a RPG about the Japanese Idol Scene but also have random Fire Emblem and SMT elements alongside it".
I'm not sure if this is a day 1 purchase for me. It might be, because it's such a weird thing, but I could also see it being totally mediocre and not worth playing. I should probably look up what people who imported the game thought of it.
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