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[Pizza]

What...in the world is all this? I have absolutely no idea what 3/4 of this statement is talking about.

Yeah it was an awful post tbh.

Dairy Queen is a fast food place that's nationwide in america. The dairy queen franchise owners in Texas got together and convinced corporate that they should get their own advertising rights so they can better cater to Texans.

So, despite the national dairy queen commercials appearing in Texas, the Texas dairy queen people also put up their own, terrible, commercials while choosing not to participate in anything the national commercials advertise.

So, recently, there were silly Jurassic world cups advertised fucking constantly on tv, except none of the Texas franchise owners bothered to order any of those cups.

I attempted to compare this to NoA's handling of almost anything, but I fumbled my analogy and I'm horribly sorry for that.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Not that the online community was going to ever be large for this game in the first place, but I wonder how active it will be without an American playerbase.

 

[duckroll]

Let's face it. There isn't much confidence for this game from any branch of Nintendo. It's just that NoJ and NoE are willing to fulfill their obligations to the developer and to their fans by releasing the product at all. Clearly no one in the company gives much of a fuck about the game in terms of commercial value.

In Japan, it's a Amazon Japan exclusive for retail. This is practically unheard of. For anyone who doesn't want to order it from Amazon Japan, it's practically an eShop title.

In Europe, it's getting an English only release, with no additional European languages available. This is also very rare, especially for the sort of title this should be - a western focused action shooter with a heavy multiplayer component.

In the US, Nintendo isn't even interested in publishing it.

 

[Peltz]

It takes a lot for me to get mad at Nintendo (what can I say? I'm a die hard fan), but cancelling this release in NA would do just that.

Shame on NOA if true. They helped fund development and they should have taken a more heavy-handed approach to make sure it was good if they weren't confident in the project by now.

 

[Space Medafighter X]

I still have it preordered on Amazon. Can't they just give us a a release date?

 

[giancarlo123x]

Maybe they're saving it for NX here. Conspiracy.

 

[Ridley327]

If someone else published the game in NA does that mean they'd have to foot the bill for the servers?

This game looks like such crazy stupid fun, but I guess people aren't into that sort of thing anymore.

It depends on what sort of arrangement they would be making with Nintendo. It's also possible that Valhalla themselves are handling the servers, since it's their IP and their show to run, so to speak.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Maybe they're saving it for NX here. Conspiracy.

So, a Wii U release in Japan and Europe, but an NX title in North America? In late 2016 at the earliest? That makes no sense. No way this is moving to another Nintendo console.

 

[SatoAilDarko]

Hey remember when you said "give it a few hours"??????





Not at all. Same thing happened last generation with a number of games on the Wii. Released in Japan, released in Europe, fully localized. NoA wasn't interested. If not for XSEED, there wouldn't even have been a release for The Last Story either. This is the same shit since day 1.

I think the contradictory part is that Devil's Third would sell more than both Europe and Japan combined in the US. Yet the other two regions could still provide a physical release.

Same for Fatal Frame, American sales would be higher than Europes. We've seen this last gen with the Project Rainfall games and this gen America leads Europe in Wii U console and software sales.

It's an issue where Nintendo's strongest territory is treated the worst by Nintendo.

 

[TI82]

Game never looked good to me, was surprised Nintendo was publishing it. This pretty much confirms my suspicions that it was not tracking well.

 

[stan423321]

In Europe, it's getting an English only release, with no additional European languages available. This is also very rare, especially for the sort of title this should be - a western focused action shooter with a heavy multiplayer component.

Didn't that use to be a reason for NoE to turn some titles down?

 

[Leafhopper]

In Japan, it's a Amazon Japan exclusive for retail. This is practically unheard of. For anyone who doesn't want to order it from Amazon Japan, it's practically an eShop title.

Holy shit I wasn't aware of that. Crazy. I thought it was a normal release in Japan.

 

[Semajer]

Did NoE become a lot cooler than NoA in the last years or is just NoA turning into shit?

Both. NoE have always had the multi-language/multi-country handicap that has made it miserable for us living here at times. NoA has to actually work towards being so shit, and this is just the newest of many examples.

 

[Wanderer5]

What is with NoA not wanting to release WiiU stuff in the summer? Granted Devil's Third is probably really niche, but still. Still amaze why they didn't try to push Yoshi for the summer.

 

[Toadthemushroom]

I think the contradictory part is that Devil's Third would sell more than both Europe and Japan combined in the US. Yet the other two regions could still provide a physical release.

Same for Fatal Frame, American sales would be higher than Europes. We've seen this last gen with the Project Rainfall games and this gen America leads Europe in Wii U console and software sales.

It's an issue where Nintendo's strongest territory is treated the worst by Nintendo.

Regional sales comparisons distort the importance of the actual sales figures and projections when we're looking at niche titles like this, though. It may sell better in North America, sure, but if sales projections for the game are low, in the ballpark, of, say, TW101 (and even then I can see it selling less, because it won't get anywhere near the marketing spend that TW101 did), then it doesn't matter if it'll sell more than in Europe or Japan -- NoA won't see it fit to publish it themselves full stop.

Basically, a comparatively higher figure on a small number is still a small number, and that small number is probably too small to justify NoA's involvement given the sorts of games they could be working on with their resources instead. Things like this are why Atlus USA should never be absorbed into Sega -- Atlus USA's overhead is far smaller than Sega of America's.

Like Duckroll said, NCL and NoE are fulfilling their obligations to publish it themselves, and NoA have the flexibility to pass it onto a smaller publisher who can get the game out the door more efficiently and at lower costs. So NoA is making a rational decision here.

 

[Neiteio]

Maybe they're waiting to find the other two-thirds

 

[wild wild rice]

Shit. If impressions from Japan/EU are good and we don't get it I'm gonna be PISSED.

Maybe it's time for Itakagi fans to finally give up hope on this being any good...or maybe Devil's Third will be this gen's God Hand. Completely misunderstood at release, cult classic as time goes by.

 

[Ridley327]

What is with NoA not wanting to release WiiU stuff in the summer? Granted Devil's Third is probably really niche, but still. Still amaze why they didn't try to push Yoshi for the summer.

There's a heat wave joke that's waiting to be made here.

 

[duckroll]

I think the contradictory part is that Devil's Third would sell more than both Europe and Japan combined in the US. Yet the other two regions could still provide a physical release.

There is no contradiction. While it can be assumed that there is higher sales potential in the North American region, there are also higher marketing and distribution costs to get to that potential. NoA has repeatedly shown that they have much less tolerance for perceived "low end" titles that are too niche. They might be more generous earlier in a generation (like with Sin and Punishment 2), but once we head towards the end of a generation, they simply don't give a fuck.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Itagaki bout to queue up that Aerosmith

 

[Plinko]

NoA is terrible, but let's be honest--this game is going to be a disaster.

 

[Tohsaka]

I guess NoA is perfectly happy with Legend of Kay Anniversary being the only retail release on the console until Mario Maker in September.

 

[TheChits]

Fuck.

 

[tebunker]

So I think the language thing might be the right angle as well.

I believe there are regulations in North Amercian countries about having other languages implemented. So this adds additional costs. They don't want to throw good money after bad.

It doesn't justify NoAs apathy, but it is probably another reason.

Hopefully Xseef or another company picked it up or even GameStop exclusive.

Itagaki was at E3 more tha. Likely negotiating terms with Nintendo and a publisher. He has remained positive on FB so I guess we will hear soon.

 

[sixteen-bit]

I guess NoA is perfectly happy with Legend of Kay Anniversary being the only retail release on the console until Mario Maker in September.

I feel like that one keeps getting pushed back too. Wasn't it supposed to be a May release?

 

[dreamfall]

I believe in Itagaki! He'll pull through! Even if it is digital only!

 

[jholmes]

People are positive about this game not getting released the same way they were positive about the Wii U getting a SKU without the GamePad. I don't know why Nintendo's being so quiet about this game but I also don't think the logical conclusion was that they brought a game that will only ever sell at all in North America back from the dead to exclusively not release it in North America.

 

[flohen95]

In Europe, it's getting an English only release, with no additional European languages available. This is also very rare

It isn't that rare in general - it is though for Nintendo. More to the point:

Didn't that use to be a reason for NoE to turn some titles down?

Yes. NoE didn't release Pokémon Conquest in Germany because it had no German translation. It was only released in territories that usually get most of their games in English anyway.
In fact, I think this might be the first Europe-wide retail English-only release by NoE since the 90s (though I may be wrong here).

 

[synce]

It's insane what this game has been through. Wouldn't put it past NOA to do something this stupid

 

[Spieler Eins]

What a Konami-tier shit move from Nintendo. Continuing to be vaporware would have probably been better for the game than giving it to Nintendo to die, lol. And Valhalla in general has now basically been killed by them.

Guess I'll enjoy it with 50 other people online soon. Also, are people still shitting on the game? It now looks especially wonderful compared to that Starfox embarrassment recently, which somehow managed to look even worse (much worse in fact) than this game graphically and even in gameplay. While this has now has Vanquish movesets mixed with Ninja Gaiden. Can't wait (regardless of reviews inevitably trashing it, that is, if anyone in EU even bothers to review it).

 

[SolidSnakex]

Let's face it. There isn't much confidence for this game from any branch of Nintendo. It's just that NoJ and NoE are willing to fulfill their obligations to the developer and to their fans by releasing the product at all. Clearly no one in the company gives much of a fuck about the game in terms of commercial value.

In Japan, it's a Amazon Japan exclusive for retail. This is practically unheard of. For anyone who doesn't want to order it from Amazon Japan, it's practically an eShop title.

In Europe, it's getting an English only release, with no additional European languages available. This is also very rare, especially for the sort of title this should be - a western focused action shooter with a heavy multiplayer component.

In the US, Nintendo isn't even interested in publishing it.

That all raises a question of why would Nintendo pick it up at all? If no division of the game has confidence in the product, then why even bother? Everyone at least put their weight behind Bayonetta 2. But it's never really seemed like Nintendo was all that confident in this game.

 

[Cronox]

I have faith.

 

[Krejlooc]

Let's face it. There isn't much confidence for this game from any branch of Nintendo. It's just that NoJ and NoE are willing to fulfill their obligations to the developer and to their fans by releasing the product at all. Clearly no one in the company gives much of a fuck about the game in terms of commercial value.

In Japan, it's a Amazon Japan exclusive for retail. This is practically unheard of. For anyone who doesn't want to order it from Amazon Japan, it's practically an eShop title.

In Europe, it's getting an English only release, with no additional European languages available. This is also very rare, especially for the sort of title this should be - a western focused action shooter with a heavy multiplayer component.

In the US, Nintendo isn't even interested in publishing it.

Seems about in line with the way othet publishers treated it when it was xbox 360/ps3 bound.

Maybe it just doesnt look to be a very good game?

 

[Pizza]

I guess NoA is perfectly happy with Legend of Kay Anniversary being the only retail release on the console until Mario Maker in September.

Well now I'm sad for the lack of yoshi all over again

 

[fernoca]

Itagaki has been hinting to an announcement soon and an english version of the video they made for the japanese release.

So, nothing official yet. Not that I'm holding hopr, but neither pointing fingers. Heck, just look at the thread regarding tbe possible digital only release of Fatal Frame in NA. Is like some would precer no release at all, than a digital-only release.

That all raises a question of why would Nintendo pick it up at all? If no division of the game has confidence in the product, then why even bother? Everyone at least put their weight behind Bayonetta 2. But it's never really seemed like Nintendo was all that confident in this game.

Well, they funded the game. Development was already problematic before the transition to Wii U, so they threw some money and resources to them in the hopes of making something.

It has happened before across multiple publishers and they either cancel the game, release it as is, or re-skin it into something else.

 

[E_Darkness]

Does this look like the kind of person to not sort this out?

 

[weevles]

Still available for PO online at Walmart, GS, and Amazon. I'm not going to give up on it yet, either.

 

[Discomurf]

Hmmm... I wouldn't worry about it not coming too much yet. NOA is probably just doing "their thing" again as usual. I imagine a 'Devils Third Direct' is possibly incoming in the next couple of weeks. I have some faith knowing that Gamefly has the game listed for release on 8/28, plus this was 'TBD' a couple of weeks ago so I don't think they made that date up.

I've collected some recent screens (below) and it looks like this game has come a long way visually, not to mention the multiplayer maps and modes look interesting and could be a load of fun.

Its a shame the game seems buried at the moment - hopefully we'll know more soon as I'm looking forward to seeing more of this.

 

[duckroll]

That all raises a question of why would Nintendo pick it up at all? If no division of the game has confidence in the product, then why even bother? Everyone at least put their weight behind Bayonetta 2. But it's never really seemed like Nintendo was all that confident in this game.

They were confident enough in the game to dedicate substantial Treehouse time at E3 on it last year. Not quite confident enough to have it be part of their Digital Event, but W101 was also announced after an E3 Nintendo conference, while skipping the conference itself. I don't think Nintendo picked the title up expecting a stinker, but I think that now that the game is done, they might not be as thrilled with the end result as they expected.

 

[Toadthemushroom]

That all raises a question of why would Nintendo pick it up at all? If no division of the game has confidence in the product, then why even bother? Everyone at least put their weight behind Bayonetta 2. But it's never really seemed like Nintendo was all that confident in this game.

It was probably snapped up way before Nintendo knew how things would turn out by mid-to-late 2015. And likely with NCL's money, rather than a move from NoA or NoE more specifically.

Why NoA would release it like this goes back to these two paragraphs here:

 

[Spieler Eins]

[screens]

Thank god for Shibata or whoever got us this, the final CiNG games, Wii RPGs without petitions, Fatal Frame 2, etc. in EU.

Why even fund all this stuff? (or other not well known games that came out everywhere, but were basically still sent to die regardless)

 

[grandjedi6]

Maybe the game's fucking terrible?

 

[ZSaberLink]

I'm guessing NoA don't see it worthy of their money given their overhead and potential sales, which is really sad.

Their internal forecasts for the game probably didn't justify the expense of them releasing it and marketing it. But I'd rather it got a quiet release like one from NoE than no release at all from them. It going to another publisher, like The Last Story did, is probably the most likely outcome.

Rob Fahey summed it up best in an article about marketing and videogames. While his message was about independent developers, there were a couple of paragraphs on the reality of big publishers marketing bigger videogames.

How much money does an eShop release cost though? You'd think a couple hundred sales would cover the ESRB rating, and any upload fees, especially if indies can do it so easily.

 

[Yasumi]

Odds are the game is still coming.

I am willing to bet that NoA was forced to choose between Fatal Frame or this to bring over and use their marketing budget on this year.

Considering Fatal Frame is looking to be an eshop-only release, Nintendo's marketing budget must be somewhere in the range of a rotting apple and a shoelace. They really don't have the marketshare to be leaving games unlocalized, especially with core-focused titles like these.

 

[Toadthemushroom]

I don't think Nintendo picked the title up expecting a stinker, but I think that now that the game is done, they might not be as thrilled with the end result as they expected.

I don't think it's got anything to do with the quality of the game, probably just whether it's worth Nintendo's money to invest marketing and resources given low sales projections.

Like TW101 it could be the best game in the world (as some believe), but it still led to really low sales in North America despite NoA actually pushing and marketing that game a lot.

In a way Devil's Third is the opposite of Splatoon from a pure appeal perspective. Splatoon has bags of universal appeal and its core and still-novel concept can be picked up immediately, Devil's Third is niche. Not the best comparison but Splatoon got a marketing budget the size of Mario Kart 8 in some regions, because Nintendo knew it was worth putting that much money into the game. Devil's Third would be a lost cause, much like marketing the Wii U a lot. Those marketing dollars wouldn't return the sales required.

 

[Francokid1]

I hope its not cancelled for NA...
I am interested in the online multi. It looks pretty fun.

 

[Toadthemushroom]

How much money does an eShop release cost though? You'd think a couple hundred sales would cover the ESRB rating, and any upload fees, especially if indies can do it so easily.

Aye, that's that I'm wondering. Ideally it'd just get a very quiet release like what NoE is doing. But even then NoE's publishing it on disc, a rarity when you consider how even SCEE/SCEA is publishing Yakuza as digital-only.

I'm guessing NoA doesn't want to allocate any resources to publishing the game both pre-and post-launch, and they can do it at a lower cost by passing it on to another publisher.

Actually, that's a good point -- perhaps it is getting a retail release, and NoA is ensuring that happens by passing it onto a smaller publisher who can do that using less resources. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[SomedayTheFire]

If that's what it looks like after "coming a long way visually" oh boy.

 

[IAmtheFMan]

For fuck's sake Nintendo.

 

[SatoAilDarko]

Maybe the game's fucking terrible?

They're charging $60 for Star Fox. Not only a very ugly game but one without a multiplayer mode, needlessly weird control scheme and will probably be able to beat on three hours.

They're also releasing an Animal Crossing party game whose only shown mode is a board game with everything decided purely on luck. Even Mario Party gives you agency with items and minigame performance.

Quality means nothing to Nintendo.