Random Person's Tumblr says anonymous Sega Rep says Yakuza 5 is never happening
- Thread starter fvng
- Start date
Dragon1893
Member
I wish they'd at least talk to us. We could make shit happen if they gave us a goal. In the end it all comes down to a certain amount of money. Talk to us sega.
I thought were initially happy enough with Yakuza 3 and 4 sales ? I remember them saying 4 sold more than 3 as well. However if they use/used Dead Souls sales in regards to 5 I'd be very disappointed, as that only appeals to even a certain section of Yakuzas fanbase which is small enough as it is (who aren't fed up with zombies etc)
The most frustrating thing is that, unless other issues ARE at play, it's wholly justified unlike some of the games skipped before. Nintendo seemed to grossly underestimate how much people wanted games like Xenoblade and Last Story, SE's come off as largely clueless, and Namco seems to drag their feet too much on Tales (or it's just been that overwhelming in recent years), but Yakuza's had multiple attempts to break into the west and while timing maybe partially to blame it's had trouble really taking off, and you can only do that so many times before you look insane.
... Would've been nice to have had Dead Souls disregarded in favor of 5 though.
EDIT: And half the problem (this likely is what hits Tales) is the cost of localization. Hatsune Miku could sell half as well but it'd probably be multiple times more profitable depending on license agreements because that basically just involved translating menus, they didn't even properly translate the music but transcribed to romaji instead.
... Would've been nice to have had Dead Souls disregarded in favor of 5 though.
EDIT: And half the problem (this likely is what hits Tales) is the cost of localization. Hatsune Miku could sell half as well but it'd probably be multiple times more profitable depending on license agreements because that basically just involved translating menus, they didn't even properly translate the music but transcribed to romaji instead.
fvng
Member
I did the same, I can have peace of mind that I did everything I could to support the series. How many others can say that?
Sony can create a ton of good will with fans by doing this.
CartridgeBlower
Member
Anyone know numbers on which sold more in the US -- 3 or 4? If 4 sold more, then that means they are basing their decision not to release 5 on Dead Souls -- which I think a lot of fans can use as ammunition for why they think Sega is fucking up.
R_thanatos
Member
I should have imported Y5.
I didnt because i tjought sega was localising them.
Now i slightly mad...
Time to find a japanese copy i guess
I didnt because i tjought sega was localising them.
Now i slightly mad...
Time to find a japanese copy i guess
StarCreator
Member
This is a tangent, but apparently when dealing with Japanese song translations, the original creator has guaranteed veto rights over any official translation of their work. Project DIVA F has more than 30 song creators involved, which would have made the process of translation a game of tag on a ludicrous scale. There was just no way to get it all done and approved in a reasonable amount of time. It also goes a long way toward explaining why the US Blu-Ray release of the Mikunopolis concert, which does have almost full translation subtitles, took almost two years to come out.
Iorv3th
Member
I wonder if they could figure out a cost to localize it and then kickstarter it. See if there is enough interest. Have an option to pay 60$ to get the game when its done (just do a download code if they have too to save costs). Then have smaller amounts as im sure some people would be willing to contribute something even if they aren't sure about buying it.
Psycho_Mantis
Banned
Yup. Keeping their best franchises in Japan (Yakuza, VC, Shining, Phantasy Star). Guess all I can except are mediocre sonic games from them in the West. They are dead to me now.
Dragon1893
Member
I've been bracing myself for disappointment for a while now but I just can't get over it. I'm holding on to the hope of this being BS but it's probably true.
No, I don't need numbers, I can use my head, you can use yours too you know?
If they are not releasing it here it's because of "opportunity cost", like LiveFromKyoto said, not because it won't be profitable. There are dozens and dozens of niche games (more nicher than Yakuza) that are released here without any problem, not to mention the digital option (like they did with VF5 FS), you can continue to believe what you want.
The total waste of space is discussing with you, because it seems like you're one of those company cheerleader, so I'll stop.
It'd be the same. That's not how the game is meant to be played.
Between a terrible experience and a no experience I prefer the latter. (at least until I can't read moonrunes)
But that's not a Yakuza thing, if a japanese game (japanese as in "really japanese", not "mgs japanese") hasn't a japanese audio option I just don't buy it.
BentMyWookiee
Member
Same here, I bought every Yakuza game released in the US (even Dead Souls). And I always bought new instead of used. I'm sad that we're not getting 5, I guess I'll have to try importing and playing with a guide.
I will not accept that in the west there isn't even a sufficient fanbase to justify at least an implementation of english subtitles and menus, that is all that's needed and how expensive can that be? Would love to hear from the 8-4 guys to get a feeling what amount of dollars we're actually talking here.
Sega is such a shit publisher. First they completely ignore bringing Kenzan over, then they decide to cut the shit out of Yakuza 3 because it wouldn't "resonate" with western fans. With the poor sales of Yakuza 4, instead of focusing their localization efforts on Yakuza 5 by skipping bringing out the awful Yakuza: Dead Souls to the west, they do it completely vise versa.
This is abhorrently awful. I seriously hope they open up to outside help in bringing this game over to the west.
This is abhorrently awful. I seriously hope they open up to outside help in bringing this game over to the west.
Damn, yeah, that would make it impractical. No wonder they just stuck with Romaji, if you really care there's fan translations out there anyway without a doubt.
Go_Ly_Dow
Member
Nintendo should pay to get this ported and localized for the Wii U. That system needs games, and they probably already did pay for the HD-versions of Yakuza 1 and 2. I think this is the only hope we have of a localized version unfortunately
it mega bombed on Wii-U.
Best hope is if SEGA would just talk directly to the fanbase and seek solutions. Like a kickstarter to cover localization costs. We would pay and wouldn't mind.
fvng
Member
Removing the hostess bars was a bad move but I would hardly call that "cutting the shit out of the game"
They removed some side quests as well.
SpikedGunner
Member
There seems to be a number of options available to them (especially since SEGA started to touted themselves as more digital now, even spring a limited retail release for Miku - popularity of the brand aside) and yes, considering a number of niche titles see releases and actually seem to do well in comparison does seems rather shameful when you look at SEGA's response...seems a bit insulting.
I know it's not as simply as it seems, but is there some other issue otherwise aside from maybe the amount of translation.
edit: just a thought, other issues could stem from the ingame brand licensing.
distantmantra
Member
Saw this coming. But, I've been importing the RGG games since Kenzan!
You can get a used copy on ebay for about $50.
You can get a used copy on ebay for about $50.
on suicide watch.Let's not forget the 22 missions (out of 123) and some of the mini games (No hostess clubs, no mahjong, no Shogi, no massage parlors)
That's quite a chunk.
fvng
Member
http://www.ninostarter.com/
They can run their own ala Namco Bandai but they'd probably get better visibility on Kickstarter.
Once a target number of pre-orders are hit, they should kick the localization into high gear. This way the fans demanding Y5 are at least putting their money where their mouth is.
Jesus. I had no idea. Well, I never got through all the sub quests anyhow but still. Maybe that's due to time constraints rather than choosing to be dicks.
dragonflys545
Member
T_T SHIT!!!!!! I'm depressed now.
Zoe
Member
Wait, what's this?
ShadowgeistX
Member
Nintendo should pay to get this ported and localized for the Wii U. That system needs games, and they probably already did pay for the HD-versions of Yakuza 1 and 2. I think this is the only hope we have of a localized version unfortunately
I would have undying loyalty to Nintendo systems if they moneyhatted the entire Yakuza series for localization here. Of course they will do nothing of the sort lmao.
ioriyagami
Member
Yakuza 3 sold 450K copies outside of Japan, a 40% of the total sales
Yakuza 4 sold 300K copies outside of Japan, a 34% of the total sales
I don't know about you, but I don't think those numbers are that trashy
StarCreator
Member
What's your source for these numbers?
Taking them at face value, the first thing I see is the rather steep downward trend.
ioriyagami
Member
Are you implying that an MMO like PSO2 wouldn't require a serious localization effort? It'd take even more than Yakuza 5 would, since MMOs receive continuous patches, all of which would need to be localized as they come out.
chaarrttzzz is your source? we get shipment numbers from Sega, no way those numbers are legit.
off the top of my head, last year because of RGG of the End delay, that and its western release were in the same fiscal year, the extra shipment from overseas release were like 100-120k for the rest of world, yeah that low.
if you don't believe me I can pull the pdf in a bit.
ioriyagami
Member
Their numbers are accurate enough. At least the sale figures of Yakuza 3 were good, Sega reps said that much when it was released: http://www.1up.com/news/initial-sales-yakuza-3-west
New here? they're banned.
No, they're not. There is a reason they are banned on GAF. And "good" can always be relative to many things (I can't see specifics of the article since that link doesn't work for me and must be blocked here at work or whatever).
SpikedGunner
Member
There is quite a bit text, even that's not dialogue...and again, there is also the fees/licensing from the real world products advertised in the game.
found my post from last year, if you want to see how the last localized Yakuza game sold, unless someone wants to leak NPD/Gfk numbers you won't get any better than this publicly.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=37770895&postcount=394
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=37771257&postcount=396
Yakuza Dead Souls by the end of March
RGG of the end by the end of June 2011
we know the game has sold through 413k in Japan until end of 2011, BKK's post http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=37771257&postcount=396
so that 120k shipped for NA/EU is very possible. Of course 3/4 possibly did better but you're only as good as your last work when making these business decisions.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=37770895&postcount=394
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=37771257&postcount=396
Yakuza Dead Souls by the end of March
RGG of the end by the end of June 2011
we know the game has sold through 413k in Japan until end of 2011, BKK's post http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=37771257&postcount=396
so that 120k shipped for NA/EU is very possible. Of course 3/4 possibly did better but you're only as good as your last work when making these business decisions.
They tried the Wii U, didn't get enough sales, and the 360 is non existent in japan.
I've seen at least one comment from someone in the industry about how way, way off they are, and some of the people here have access to NPD numbers so they can probably see through the bullshit very easily. So no, don't ever fucking treat them as legitimate.
EDIT:
Most of their sales were always going to be from Japan, but in addition to that these are games that actually fill up a huge amount of the blu-ray and that's probably partially because they're not worrying about 360 compatibility. For how close the two systems are in power people seem to easily disregard this facet and how much it can actually matter.
Samurai_Heart
Member
The amount of dialogue is comparable to an RPG plus there are numerous mini games/side quests.
Maybe the sales are just 100k or less, but isn't enough to just translate the menus, put subtitles and release as a download only game?
Probably the profit would be almost 0, but they can't at least pay this operation if the game sold like 50k?
Isn't a really good business decision to do this, but if the risks aren't so big...
(I'm just speculating, have no idea how much would cost to make the localization)
Probably the profit would be almost 0, but they can't at least pay this operation if the game sold like 50k?
Isn't a really good business decision to do this, but if the risks aren't so big...
(I'm just speculating, have no idea how much would cost to make the localization)