Tales Fans Petition for International Releases
- Categories: Games, News
- Date: Aug 2, 2010 18:45 JST
- Tags: Namco Bandai, Ports, PS3, RPG, Tales of Vesperia, Tales Series, Translation
International fans of Namco’s blockbuster Tales series of RPGs desperate to see English releases have launched that most effective of pressure campaigns, an Internet petition.
The petition, currently enjoying modest success and with the high proportion of approvals which might be expected of a fan petition, is of course completely non-binding upon either Sony or Namco.
Namco has already denied it has any plans to release Vesperia’s non-beta version to the hairy barbarians.
Namco’s recent international releases of the series have for whatever reasons not done very well (although its Japanese releases are only enjoying a shadow of their former popularity as well) – as a result it seems Namco has completely shelved localisation plans in favour of releasing pathetic God of War knock-offs for the western market.
With Tales of Vesperia, Tales of Graces and an unnamed Tales PS3 exclusive all lacking any sign of English PS3 release, it seems the stakes are high for non-Japanese speaking Tales fans – with enough neglect whatever release sustaining fandom currently remaining could be dissipated, reducing the chances for a successful release even further..
| 
Marshmallow Imouto Succubus Hits The Beach
Bishoujo Mangekyou Fan Translation Emerges
Samurai Rising – Square Enix: You Guessed it!
Mangaka Pay Tribute to Kyushu
Street Fighter V Enlists Guile
Chinese Death Simulator “Hopefully Won’t Explode”
Re:Zero “In The Nick Of Time!”
Muma Astacia Sultry Succubus Ero-Figure
Hundred Sloppy Kissing Anime
Greek Woman “Born Without A Vagina!”
Let It Die Trailer Unforgettably Fierce
Shinjuku Station Reveals “All Yu-Gi-Oh Cards Ever!”
KanColle Arcade Scores A Direct Hit
Bakuon!! Relentlessly Cute
Fuwary Gymnastics Girl Onahole Frighteningly Flexible
Star Fox Animated Short Takes Flight
Big Order “Big & Scary!”
Langrisser Re:Incarnation Tensei Really Retro
Monster Hunter Generations Monstrous As Ever
Live Action Naruto Stage-Play Filthier Than Ever
Goddess of 2ch: “What A Cute Hole!”
Alice Margatroid Ero-Cosplay by Hiyo Nishizuku Full of Cheer
Sheryl Nome Bunny Girl Cosplay by Mike Super Scandalous
Marvelous Madoka Mizugi Cosplay by Mashiro Yuki
Marie Rose Cosplay by Mike Undeniably Sexy
Tasha Tracer Cosplay Truly Tantalizing
Witch Craft Works Cosplay by Kagune Intensely Seductive
Kaine Cosplay by Yuricha Flawless
Kasumigaoka Utaha Cosplay Pretty Pure
Goddess of 2ch “Another Bathing Beauty!”
I'd rather see a campaign that gives xbox 360 the full game via DLC, for free.
Because that's what we deserve. Fucking Namco.
The idiot companies don't even try to sell internationally and then bitch about piracy...
Literally.
Other than that the fact alone that when the voice actor for the main fudgin character says that recording was finished a year ago signigifies that Namco will continue to be sleazebags.
I can't assert on Graces, but really when Troy Fudgin Baker/Yuri Lowell says that it's been done, the least of you could do is.....Oh wait this Namco. The same company who find God of Wars shitty knockoffs based on another subpar remake film better than bringing this, .Hack//Link out.
Not really. They translated some Tales games in the past and it never sold well.
If those God of War spinoffs are being released one after other, it's because they sell, like it or not.
I feel bad for the people that were going to buy the localizations though.
Keep in mind that translating and localizing and etc aren't cheap. ANd the business isn't doing so well for themselves.
So, translating japanese text to english with fair accuracy isnt cheap? Maybe that's why tons of manga scanlators do it for free. And the voice, are those "voice actors" they pick from the street are really that expensive?
The real expenses come from paying the publisers, and that's where you can scrap all those spendings and publish it online! I think it's an "old business model" issues all over again.
Indeed, imo, they don't even need to bother with the voices. As long as the text is english I think alot of people would be fine with it. (I would actually prefer it like that)
I'm pretty sure the fans would gladly translate the damn thing with more accuracy then certain professionals.
Just there they can cut some expenses and probably provide a bit more bulk for some fan's resumes for later business opportunities.
lol i can wait for the fan translation, i had to for fatal frame 4...
Not only it isn't cheap, it actually isn't accurate!
I've yet to come across any translation that I felt the translator actually put in the effort or had a reasonable level of competency for any commercial game translation.
Fan translations are a mixed bag but it is indeed the rare fan translation that maintains a good level of quality throughout. When it gets bad, it can easily reach the Doremi Ladholyman translation levels.
You should check the fan translation for Tales of Innocence. They did a great job IMHO.
FAN TRANSLATION??????
for PS3?????
FACEPALM!!!!
guess what? a small company like atlus USA localized Persona 3 Portable where they had to redub ALLOT of text due to the female protag.
if they can do it so can a huge ass corporation like namco bandai.
Ah, but you should know by now.
ATLUS loves us. Namco Bandai? That's a bit questionable.
questionable, look up what a morning star looks like, thats there preferred object to stick in out collective asses
those dumbasses completely redid all the audio and speech for the new game. they could have probably gotten away with reusing alot of the old stuff at a cheeper price. work smarter and make international releases!
I want Tales of Vesperia.
I will see Patty...
*eyes the Japanese version of TOV*
One way or another...
*eyes hentai pics of her on Pixiv*
That said, the next best thing is a hentai loli doujin for me...I hope they release some TOV doujins with her on Comiket 78...
Even though i gladly signed the petition myself, i knew it wouldn't play through at all. Sigh another decent couple games we won't see legitly released over here.
Having played and thoroughly enjoyed the 360 version, I think PS3 western fans should get a piece of the pie.
That said, if Namco was smart, they'd be releasing ALL Tales games as possible for 360 and PS3 for the western audiences as well.
It's like they're setting themselves for a fall. Especially when PSP, DS, Wii, 360 and PS3 all have a veritable appetite for JRPGs.
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 for the PSP Jap only
Yeah, some handheld versions can stay handheld. Which is totally cool. But it strikes me as odd that they'd divide between consoles AND make them Japan only for home console Tales games. Unless they want to pump up a Tales game with a bunch of unnecessary CGI cutscenes like a Final Fantasy game, they can easily make 360 and PS3 versions without much effort. Also, unlike FF, they have plenty of expertise now to make high definition JRPG on both PS3 and 360, so we're unlikely to get the heap of whining, Square Enix style.
They have the game, and it works on the console, all they have to do is translate it into english sheesh. The international sales may not match the jap sales but they should easily cover the translation costs with change left over. If these companies are suffering so much financially then i'm amazed they are not doing anything it takes to increase their playerbase.
p.s. im a pc gamer, but even i can see baka being baka.
They're just worried that the game won't sell in the West because it doesn't have big, buff and bald space marines in it.
If they ever ship out some poor excuse like "Piracy will ruin our PS3 sales"
They can go fuck themselves. The PS3 is unhackable.
I have already given up on BAMCO.
I didn't actually release that the image you used for this article was a CROSSDRESSING Yuri until the third viewing.
I WANT HER!!
Her? :3
I believe that's Yuri Lowell cross-playing, isn't it?
I find his name an insult -n-
That's the beauty of wanting "her";
Knowing it's not a HER.
But it's fine too...
IT'S A TRAP!!!
OUR SHIELDS CANNOT WITHSTAND FIREPOWER OF THIS TRAPTITUDE!!!
Too cute to be trap but thats the reality.
what the hell is with the gaming market? its like every decision they make is the exact opposite of what they thought would be a good idea
I don't understand why they refuse to make international versions. Wouldn't sales of the game increase by a lot? I'm kinda new to this kind of stuff because Vesperia was on the 360, which I played, and I didn't know the PS3 didn't get a "perfect" version.
In the article it says the past releases have not done well. But the typical xenophobia crap is probably another large reason.
Usually, when they decide to release international versions, they need to have a company subsidy overseas. The subsidy's job includes paying for translators and the voice actors for the English version. If they don't have any companies that are directly involved with the main company overseas they'll have to consult third parties.
Namco Bandai believes that there's no breaking even if they try to release international versions, since other than paying for voice actors, translators and programmers(Different languages require different encoding, some games may require a complete overhaul, which is to say, get back to the start and do the encoding from scratch), they need to pay for manufacturing and localization costs. Meaning unless it sells a decent amount of units they'll be making a loss trying to take it overseas.
Before the world knew that 360's just a beta, since 360 was more known to be the "World" console, therefore Namco Bandai believed that they'll break even with ToV. But they didn't. So they didn't even want to bother with the PS3.
There isn't any evidence that i know of that would say that people who own the PS3 would tend to be a RPG fan more so than someone who owns a 360, and if it really happens to be the case, then Namco Bandai isn't considering this factor. But otherwise i would say chances of any are slim. Besides, i've been following the Tales series for quite a bit, and the best ones that they have IMO are still the first few mothership titles, namely Phantasia, Eternia, Destiny, and Symphonia.
Well you see, the international fanbase isn't big enough according to namco bandai, so the time and effort it would take to localize it isn't worth there time.
The tales series may not seem that small outside of japan, but it's not big enough to make a good profit. It's sad but true.
Too bad games are produced by companies who don't care about the actual gamers.
article sucks but the pic is just too much win.
Really would be nice to see the Tales series come to the US, disappointing watching them as they say that we would not like it enough for a translation.
So where is this petition so that I may sign it?
I think it's in the official PSBlog. There's a suggestion area where PS fans may ask what they like. Developers normally come and comment there, but all they get is nagging from fans who can't get enough.
Oh yeah, Namco said they're working on localizing some RPGs to the NA region a while ago on the blog. There may still be hope for "Tales of" fans.
Who cares about the PS3? I want Tales of Hearts ANIME edition for the DS to be localized <.<
At least Tales of Innocence got an awesome fantranslation last month, which took 2 years to finish. lol
Well tales of hearts is getting a fan translation, but you probably knew that. Better than nothing?
yeah, i knew that. Problem with that is, that i don't have much faith in Groups i never heard of and havn't finished anything before.
The fantranslation of ToH is getting moved back and forth in between the People who are doing this.
It's like no one really wants to sub it. lol :/
I wish absolutezerotranslations would do it like they did ToI. <.<
fap fap fap fap fap....
so what if it's a trap? I don't care!
fap fap fap fap fap....
i blame Microsoft and the Xbox360 for this!
I signed it, and I hope Namco Bandai comes to their senses--with the Japanese game market shrinking as it is, it makes no sense to stop releasing some of their main games to the foreign market (for proof that this is the wrong way to go, look at the way most other major Japanese publishers in the last few years--they're focusing more on exports, not vice versa). Tales of Vesperia is especially inexplicable since the long and potentially expensive process of localization was already done on the 360 version, so aside from the cost of actually publishing it, there's no reason not to release the PS3 edition here, aside from one of Microsoft's famous exclusivity agreements that has to make gamers want to punch babies, this 360 owner included.
I'm happy with importing the japanese versions and being able to understand japanese, mwahahaha :D
You guys could use this as an opportunity to pick up a new language :p
It takes a real otaku to learn a language to play a game, seriously. I guess working isn't an option for most otaku.
It's not necessary mutually exclusive. I'm studying at university. They offer free language courses there. We're required to complete at least one three semester language course. Guess what I choose :p
As an added bonus, our female Sensei is damn cute...
I work full time and attend classes on weekends.
Lots of us otaku find a way somehow.