entremet
Member
It makes less sense that they Vita version exists? You must not be aware of the Vita home audience lol.
No plans to bring Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 to the West; Developer fears backlash.
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Ironically enough, I'm actually pretty sure the Dragon's Crown outrage/issue actually got it a lot more publicity.
Palculator
Unconfirmed Member
Parodying the people who'd actually get offended by this. Should've made it more clear, I guess. My bad.
Really strange decision by KT, I can't understand it if not for the reason they gave. It will cost very little to localise a game like this that appears to be seriously shallow in content, text and voice acting. Not only that, but they're already localising all the text to English for the Asian release anyway. After that, a digital release for the West is not a huge extra investment - it's a really small one.
On top of that, there's tons of anticipation for this game online, both here and on other forums. People seem really happy about how it's turning out. DoA5 was really well received in the West, and they made tons and tons of money selling DLC bikinis. That model will, no doubt, be used in this game as well, and there's no reason to suggest it wouldn't be as successful, if not more so (seeing as this game will be lewder, there's more reason to buy the swimsuits).
So this doesn't make sense to me as a business decision at all. It's not some 'niche, barely break-even RPG' that needs extensive localisation. That's not what this is.
So why, then? It's perfectly possible that KT don't fully understand the debates the west has been having about objectification in games over the past year, and are afraid of ruining the reputation of their studio by making a game that is more sexualised than any of the games they will have seen receiving criticising online. And perhaps having that stigma follow them to DoA series proper or to Ninja Gaiden, or to lose their 3rd party contracts with Nintendo (they did Other M and Hyrule Warriors).
It's also possible that they're planning some really risque costumes for Marie Rose, and have been legally advised that they wouldn't fly in certain markets. In which case they localise the Asian version to English in the knowledge that the fans of this game would not buy a censored version. (Marie is top-2 popularity in ALL regions, according to the vote.)
But I'm inclined to believe that this is genuinely about the content rather than business. The business argument makes no sense at all.
On top of that, there's tons of anticipation for this game online, both here and on other forums. People seem really happy about how it's turning out. DoA5 was really well received in the West, and they made tons and tons of money selling DLC bikinis. That model will, no doubt, be used in this game as well, and there's no reason to suggest it wouldn't be as successful, if not more so (seeing as this game will be lewder, there's more reason to buy the swimsuits).
So this doesn't make sense to me as a business decision at all. It's not some 'niche, barely break-even RPG' that needs extensive localisation. That's not what this is.
So why, then? It's perfectly possible that KT don't fully understand the debates the west has been having about objectification in games over the past year, and are afraid of ruining the reputation of their studio by making a game that is more sexualised than any of the games they will have seen receiving criticising online. And perhaps having that stigma follow them to DoA series proper or to Ninja Gaiden, or to lose their 3rd party contracts with Nintendo (they did Other M and Hyrule Warriors).
It's also possible that they're planning some really risque costumes for Marie Rose, and have been legally advised that they wouldn't fly in certain markets. In which case they localise the Asian version to English in the knowledge that the fans of this game would not buy a censored version. (Marie is top-2 popularity in ALL regions, according to the vote.)
But I'm inclined to believe that this is genuinely about the content rather than business. The business argument makes no sense at all.
More like when Itagaki left, so did the balls and financial risk-taking of Tecmo. MS didn't publish any of Team Ninja's games besides Ninja Gaiden 2.
Are we just going to ignore the massive change of tone that has taken place in social media since DOAX2? The tone to these type of games is different now than then.
Green Card
Member
Or maybe it would have made enough to be worth releasing but not enough to warrant releasing with bad press. But I guess KT could be like Konami and just not care about their own brand. Anyway your how businesses operate line was unnecessary or at least overly simplistic. Just because something will be profitable doesn't mean it will be released.
Portugeezer
Member
Can't have any females in a video game without someone moaning about something.
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
sensui-tomo
Member
Kotaku's Jason Schirer(sorry i forgot your last name) and polygon made sure that game sell well.
DOA characters are too old for Vita.
Honoka mouse pad for vita and marie rose for ps4... something was wrong there. /jk
nycgamer4ever
Member
I didn't there was sex in this game. If you consider this softcore porn, what do you consider hardcore.. Women in bikinis eating a Mr. softy ice cream cone?
I mean it's a game about women doing things on a beach in bikinis. Should they be wearing sweaters? Should we start going to the beach and complaining there are people in bikinis and swim trunks and guys are showing their nipples?
Triggerhappytel
Member
Porn is free online anyway.
Seriously; is there any purpose to this game besides watching boobs and getting a boner?
Seriously; is there any purpose to this game besides watching boobs and getting a boner?
Erm DOA5:LR has costumes just as revealing or even more so then DOA2. I don't remember any major backlash to it.
Malick[AI]
Member
Screw it. I just pre-ordered the Asian version.
I normally really agree with Jim Sterling, but you nailed the flaw in his logic here. Vocal audiences can and do affect game development and publisher decisions.
the game is already made. Even localization is already made if its true that Asia version has english subtitles. I'd say bringing over Nobunaga's Ambition is definitely more expensive.
Blackleg-sanji1
Banned
Aaaaand here we go
Jawmuncher
Member
I still think we'll see it. But probably not for a good while after Japan.
Steve Youngblood
Member
The marketplace has changed a lot since 2011. I'm not saying that the current social climate has exactly zero impact on whether or not to release it here, but I do firmly believe that in order for it to have a meaningful impact it would have already had to have been a game that was on the chopping block for proper localization to begin with.
sensui-tomo
Member
People want the ps4 version's engine on pc, the models in particular ... there was a community pissed when they found out the pc port was based on the ps3 version.
Eolz
Member
DOA characters are too old for Vita.
Pretty sure that's one of the main reasons Japan didn't vote for Christie and Rachel to be in the game actually.
Ludger Kresnik
Member
Pretty sure they all did.
The volleyball aspect is actually pretty well-liked. The jetskiing in DoAX2 has its share of fans as well. Believe it or not, these games are actually fun.
the first game was actually a fun volleyball game. avoid DOAX2 tho
Snkfanatic
Banned
Oh yay the "porn is free and everywhere" argument.
Imperfected
Member
It certainly can, but that doesn't mean that it is.
He specifically calls out people for saying that big companies never listen to bloggers, small-scale journalists, and general internet outrage by pointing out that it can and has had an impact on their bottom line and decisions.
His blog post specifically says that Tecmo-Koei would never be influenced by the same bloggers, smale-scale journalists, and general internet outrage by pointing out that those voices are irrelevant to their bottom line and decisions.
Personally, I do think it's more Tecmo-Koei's concern over backlash from major/mainstream media outlets that drive this decision, but it's still a situation where I can't help but call him out. He's letting the fact Games Journalism is his beau lure him into self-contradiction due to his desire to always paint it in the most positive light. If it has the power to make a situation better, it most certainly has the power to also make the situation worse when misused, and there's no point in sugar-coating that.
I've actually always wondered myself why people buy fan service stuff solely for that fact when there's youtube as well.
Xtreme-Gate: Its actually about ethics about suspicious game mechanics that allow to play the game one-handed.
partyphone
Banned
lol seems like a pretty lame excuse. if they were confident in the game's ability to sell they'd bring it over regardless. that hunie pop garbage made money, right?
The Mad Draklor
Member
Well, importing it is...
Strange decision by KT. People who don't want to buy it won't buy it. People who do want to buy will buy it. But hey, I guess things need to be complicated for complexity's sake ¯\_(ツ
_/¯
Strange decision by KT. People who don't want to buy it won't buy it. People who do want to buy will buy it. But hey, I guess things need to be complicated for complexity's sake ¯\_(ツ
_/¯Anton Sugar
Member
Yeah, poor Koei Tecmo.
LowParry
Member
Well, I'm sure they would of toned down some of the aspects of the game IF it were coming to the West. And we'd see more people get upset over that. Kind of a silly decision they made because of some fear of a backlash. Maybe if a enough people voice their opinion on the matter on their twitter, they'll rethink their decision?
One thing's for sure, between Fatal Frame, Xenoblade X and now this it's clear that the recent, highly-publicised discussion about objectification and equality in games is definitely affecting things. The 'it won't ever affect games you like' argument was always pure bullshit to me (otherwise what's the point of the discussion, if not to change things), but now we're seeing clear evidence.
As someone who loves a bit of sexy fanservice, it's a damn shame.
As someone who loves a bit of sexy fanservice, it's a damn shame.
Crossing Eden
Hello, my name is Yves Guillemot, Vivendi S.A.'s Employee of the Month!
Those are two different situations which are very incomparable because the audience complaining about Payday 2 microtransactions was likely way bigger than the audience complaining about this game's existence. He's not saying that complaining absolutely never works ever, only that in this instance, the decision was not brought on by complaints. The people who complained about this likely don't even know about it yet.I wasn't just talking about translations btw, I was talking about dev cost altogether along with translations and releasing it in the west.
Please don't tell me that the "holy war" thing is yet another insinuation of puritanism.
sensui-tomo
Member
Koei is fine with shit sales though which makes there statement odd, They still release vita titles in the west, and obscure games that are nicher than DW (dungeon maker game and its expansion)
Seriously, since localization is already done, any additional cost they must do to localization to be released at Western market is censoring, but that kills the big selling point of this game. Censoring this also would reduce the potential buyers, so that solidifies KT's decision even further. So in this regard cost is indeed the playing factor about this issue too.
At best, I'm more likely to believe the company feeling they need to change stuff like Marie Rose than it being JUST about sexualized women. At least on GAF, it seemed most were okay with the changes to Lynn, but didn't like the character creation change.
SliceSabre
Banned
Do we have to have the discussion about how titillation is better than fore bore nudity for some people? Again?
Blackleg-sanji1
Banned
Exactly the sales thing seems odd to fall back on. Koei have been localizing Everything lately. I see no reason y this wouldn't come either other than some content in the game/planned will get some backlash they just dont want
Brawly Likes to Brawl
Member
I have zero interest in playing this game, but I don't agree with this decision at all. At least the console it's for is region free, but that doesn't make this any less ridiculous.
Death Metalist
Member
I know, I feel you. I think it's bullshit as well but I also feel for the developers who don't want to deal with all the bullshit. It doesn't even make a difference in the end because you know what will happen? People who want to prove a point will import the game and people who are interested in the game are going to import it as well so this decision makes no sense when thinking about it in the grand scheme of things lol.
I think the only way to "win" this thing is for them to make a DOAX male version as well that way there can't be any arguments made from anyone. Everybody wins, just like nobody argues about porn because there's all types of it. I think I read somewhere that they are thinking about adding guys as well? Who knows. All I know is that I feel for the fans and developers.
I have 0 interest in this game, and was definitely glad to see the costume localizations go through on Nintendo product. Still if they wanted to release boobie ladies the game they should have just done it. I can't see it affecting their brand. Heck toss the dudes back in as an option and they'd probably hit a whole new market.
AuthenticM
Member
How can we reconcile saying that people complaining about the representation of women in video games haven't had any bearing on Tecmo's decision to not release this game in the west with recognizing that people complaining about the representation of women in video games have had an actual impact on other companies' productions in recent times (such as having more women protagonists, better-developed female characters, etc)?
And yet they brought over DOAXBV/2. So... flimsy excuse.
It's simply because they don't want to cut Marie Rose/Hooters and put superior Lei-Fang/Helena in.
It's simply because they don't want to cut Marie Rose/Hooters and put superior Lei-Fang/Helena in.
Or preferably all the girls that are above legal age.
Palculator
Unconfirmed Member
The reasonable conclusion to arrive at is people aren't buying them solely for that fact.
They were just pulling for the home team.
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