Support NeoGAF

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

​

Koei Tecmo recently announced a brand-new mainline entry in the Atelier series: Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian. According to the creators, this new title will bring back classic Atelier-esque mechanics, releasing on September 26, 2025, for PC (Steam), PS5, PS4 and the Nintendo Switch (Note that the PS4 port of the game will only be available in Japan).

Automaton recently had a chat with producer Hosoi Junzo about the Atelier series' worldwide success and how it has affected his approach to development. The huge gap between Western and domestic demands seems more apparent now, and that requires a more careful approach when it comes to improving their games – However, Hosoi says that the Atelier team is carefully listening to each opinion or comment that fans send their way.​

​

Hosoi shared with us his message to the overseas readers, telling us what he learned about the differences between the series' Western and Japanese fans while he was on his trip across the ocean. "Recently I went to Europe and North America for the first time, to do some work regarding Atelier Yumia," he says. "There I could actually feel the contrast between the Asian and Western sentiment, as well as the differences between our way of thinking and the Western players' demands."

"For example," Hosoi adds, "in the West, many players are looking for a 'more straightforward action-packed gameplay experience. However, in Asia, that kind of direction would be considered 'too simple,' and players say they would rather like us to 'focus on making Synthesis stronger.' While hearing all these opinions makes me realize how difficult game development actually is, I'd still want players to leave a Steam review or give us any kind of feedback, because it's really valuable information for us – that's why I'd want to tell all our players, keep on sharing your opinions with us!"​

​

Although the series is gaining more global popularity, it seems like the Atelier team doesn't want to simply prioritize the preferences of Western players, but rather, they are determined to reconcile the different demands and find a solution that would be the best for both sides. Contrary to its predecessor Atelier Yumia, which was leaning towards global gaming trends with is open-world map design and real-time action mechanics, Atelier Resleriana will be going back to basics as a classic turn-based RPG, inheriting the spirit of Atelier Sophie 2.

Taking all this into account, it appears that the developers are taking the freedom to make different game design choices for each next game they create, without leaning exclusively towards one market or one group of players. Trying to find a solution that is the best for both sides certainly isn't easy, but as Hosoi said, keep sending all your opinions and suggestions – that way developers will be able to improve their games and make more content that fans will actually enjoy.​

Source - Automaton West​

 

[Hudo]

Thick thighs are universally loved. Focus on that.

 

[spons]

If you became popular due to being Japanese as shit, why the hell would you adapt to what "the West wants"? Just keep on trucking.

 

[Loomy]

If you became popular due to being Japanese as shit, why the hell would you adapt to what "the West wants"? Just keep on trucking.

Because the Japanese market is relatively tiny and shrinking for them.

 

[spons]

Because the Japanese market is relatively tiny and shrinking for them.

Yeah but the three Ryza games sold well enough everywhere, so why change a winning formula. Why would they change anything, especially to "adapt to the West". Honestly, I can't think of a single positive outcome from doing so.

 

[mèx]

A recipe for disaster. Never ever adapt to Western tastes or "global gaming trends".

 

[cormack12]

 

[Loomy]

Yeah but the three Ryza games sold well enough everywhere, so why change a winning formula. Why would they change anything, especially to "adapt to the West". Honestly, I can't think of a single positive outcome from doing so.

Possibly. But like I said. The market is shrinking and budgets are not going down. So they can either do nothing and make no money, keep doing the same thing and make less money on every game, do something smaller and make less money, or try for a larger audience and make more money.

 

[Mike Zhang]

Gain 1 western audience, lose 10 eastern audience

 

[Skifi28]

The 2010s were a dark era for Japanese studios so the answer is quite obvious.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

My answer to the devs: Just be yourself, bruv.

 

[NanaMiku]

They clearly forgot they have an "Atelier" game that is more action oriented. Even Ar tonelico still has the synthesis system from Atelier, but more simplified.
Atelier is always been a relaxing game, it's not about saving the world.
You have Ar tonelico for that




I just want new Ar tonelico/Surge Concerto game

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Another Japanese publishers and devs who are falling into the bullshit of localization grifters. Pathetic to say the least.

 

[Brakum]

If you became popular due to being Japanese as shit, why the hell would you adapt to what "the West wants"? Just keep on trucking.

No need for radical changes. But for instance the games dont have english audio. I would buy a lot more of them, and especially at full price if they had english audio.

 

[Power Pro]

No need for radical changes. But for instance the games dont have english audio. I would buy a lot more of them, and especially at full price if they had english audio.

They used to have English audio...they stopped doing it after Atelier Firis. Claiming that they could be localized quicker if they didn't need to do English voices. I always thought the English voices they had in previous games were fine, so it was disappointing that they only had Japanese in the games now.

 

[CGNoire]

They used to have English audio...they stopped doing it after Atelier Firis. Claiming that they could be localized quicker if they didn't need to do English voices. I always thought the English voices they had in previous games were fine, so it was disappointing that they only had Japanese in the games now.

I feel the same way about so much anime and not too mention cheap ass streaming services that refuse to even pay for the english dub.

 

[Brakum]

They used to have English audio...they stopped doing it after Atelier Firis. Claiming that they could be localized quicker if they didn't need to do English voices. I always thought the English voices they had in previous games were fine, so it was disappointing that they only had Japanese in the games now.

I'll take bad voice acting over having to read an entire game anyway, especially jrpgs which can take like 100h and like half of that is reading.

 

[Fake]

Fuck western. Do what made you a sucess.

 

[Black_Stride]

The Mysterious and Secret series are such good jumping off points for people interested in getting into Atelier games......do more of that!
Atelier Sophie 2 and Ryza 2 were borderline perfect Atelier games , I still liked Ryza 3 but the combat wasnt as good for me.
Im always torn between which one I like more from an alchemy perspective but both systems work well.



Dont fold for "western" ideals Sophie and Ryza were great.
Yumia is not on Sophie 2 and Ryza 2s level IMO.....Id rathert even take Lulua.

Im cautious about Resleriana 2 because dual protagonists, and the second protag being male and cant even use Alchemy.......make him a party member then???
Im hoping its not some dark shit like Yumia either.


Leave, Atelier alone, its my feel good space to just chill and relax, perfect gaming relaxation.


P.S Luluas interrupt combat system was also good.....hopefully they dont forget it exists.

Possibly. But like I said. The market is shrinking and budgets are not going down. So they can either do nothing and make no money, keep doing the same thing and make less money on every game, do something smaller and make less money, or try for a larger audience and make more money.

Sophia and Ryza are what made Atelier games become more popular in the west.
Sophie did like ~400,000 when Atelier games were happy doing 150,000......Ryza did ~500,000.
So clearly whatever they were doing was working, people liked the Atelier games for being Atelier games, if they lose their identity to meet western ideals they may lose the very audience they have worked so hard to gather over some 30 games.

I know Yumia sold pretty well, but that real time combat aint it, and dark themes are the exact opposite of what people like about Atelier games
If Yumia was your first Atelier game, youll likely be shocked why people use them as relaxing feel good games (timelimits not withstanding)......cuz Yumia feels more like a "modern" JRPG.....
If after Resleriana they go back to Yumia style game, they can count me out.......Ill focus on all their more pure Atelier games instead.

 

[killatopak]

I'll be honest and admit that I haven't played much of the latest entries but couldn't they just make a different game for certain tastes?

I mean internally even Mana Khemia 1 and 2 is named Atelier sequels.

I guess they don't want to split the audience but want to cater to both at the same time.

 

[Hypereides]

Pro tip: stick to your roots. Don't compromise on them for the sake of "western values". Less homogenity and more individuality is better for the industry. The industry needs more "exotic spices".

 

[Magic Carpet]

Cell phones. Not the kind with the 'get' button but the kind with the '$$' button.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

Here in the west, we prefer strong heroines who look like this. Please keep this in mind when designing your next game.

 

[JayK47]

I'm glad they are thinking about it. Clearly Yumia has massive western influence and many fans such as me were disappointed by where they took the series. They claim the next game is "a return to form". I have doubts. No more pre-orders. I will wait for release and gameplay videos and user reviews, and a discount.

 

[Black_Stride]

I'm glad they are thinking about it. Clearly Yumia has massive western influence and many fans such as me were disappointed by where they took the series. They claim the next game is "a return to form". I have doubts. No more pre-orders. I will wait for release and gameplay videos and user reviews, and a discount.

Resleriana does look more like classic Atelier than Yumia and even Ryza 3.
Dunno about the Synthesis yet, I was hoping for an evolution of Sophie 2 or Ryza.
Hopefully they havent dumbed it down for "western" audiences.

Weve even got cameos from Totori, Wilbell, Sophie and Raze.

 

[JayK47]

Not a huge fan of cameos, because they do not tend to be from the same universe. How will they explain it? It feels very MCU when they do it.

The videos I have seen of the synthesis made it look dumbed down. Maybe not as bad as Yumia, but it didn't look very good. I would have to do a side by side to see which series had the best synthesis. I started playing with the Dusk series and I feel like they have made it easier every game since.

I just finished and was very disappointed by Yumia. Like 5/10 for me. If I were not a fan of past games, maybe I would have liked it a little more, say 7/10. It tries to be like other games and loses the whole reason for playing an Atelier game. So hearing that they are releasing another game so soon, I am not ready. I will wait to play, maybe next year, on sale. I need to buy the next 3 or more games on sale to make up for Yumia, if I buy at all. I fucking pre-ordered the deluxe edition of Yumia and am still waiting for DLC I paid for, which I have no interest in playing. Never again.

Currently Yumia has mixed reviews on Steam. So I am glad to hear the developers are seeing that.

 

[LordCBH]

Do not fucking cater to the west. Problem solved

Be unapologetically targeting your own home players. That's why a lot of us fall in love with games from there in the first place, because they don't cater to us.

 

[lastmessiah]

At this point "Western gaming" is synonymous with disastrous failure. Shouldn't be hard to achieve.

 

[Sakura]

But the games didn't gain popularity in the west because of supposed western demands. Gives me the same vibes as SE trying to make Final Fantasy more western focused, only to release continually less and less popular titles.
For me personally, I have no interest in sequels. I played and liked Sophie and Ryza, but I never bought the sequels because I don't care. I think they should focus on stronger, standalone games with improved systems and mechanics. It's telling that the Sophie/Ryza sequels sold less than the first games.

Possibly. But like I said. The market is shrinking and budgets are not going down. So they can either do nothing and make no money, keep doing the same thing and make less money on every game, do something smaller and make less money, or try for a larger audience and make more money.

I think you are missing the point. The games were already seeing rising sales and popularity in the west before trying to cater to them.
Furthermore, even in Japan, the "shrinking market", sales have been trending up. Atelier Ryza and Sophie were like their two best selling Atelier games ever. More than double what they would normally sell.

 

[ssringo]

Personally I'd rather they stop churning them out so often. Yumia just came out a few months ago and Reslerania is releasing in a few months. Remakes and mobile games and I just can't keep up or care at this point.

 

[Black_Stride]

Not a huge fan of cameos, because they do not tend to be from the same universe. How will they explain it? It feels very MCU when they do it..

I take it you are new to Atelier games?
Sophie has been in like 5 games or something by now.

The Atelier games dont explicitly say everything is happening in the same universe, but characters show up in other games even from different sub-series, if not directly then they are mentioned.

Pamela for instance is almost expected in Atelier games at this point, same with Hagel.

Lulua had characters from Arland(home subseries) and from Mysterious.

Its also not that serious, these are Atelier games.


P.S Dont play Atelier Resleriana 1 or is the first one 0?
If "unexplained" cameos are gonna bother you.

 

[touchfuzzy]

English dub would be a good start, especially if you're asking for full price.

 

[YeulEmeralda]

The games were always global. Who doesn't like cute alchemist girls doing cute alchemist things?

 

[Esppiral]

I will never understand these companies, if the game sold and succeeded in the west being "Japanese" why do you feel the need to change it to appeal to "Western audiences "? The game already appeals to the wester audience as it is....

 

[GymWolf]

Thick thighs are universally loved. Focus on that.

Thick thighs literally kill minorities and genderfluid people in the west? Dafuq are you on about?

Trump called his death squads "bigot thighs", smh.

 

[Generic]

No more pantyshots?

 

[Sooner]

If you became popular due to being Japanese as shit, why the hell would you adapt to what "the West wants"? Just keep on trucking.

It's not they're selling that well where there isn't a ton of room to improve.

I love the franchise, but there is a lot that can be better in the gameplay and exploration parts. I could do with a little less sitting through seemingly endless dialog about complete nonsense.

 

[JayK47]

I take it you are new to Atelier games?
Sophie has been in like 5 games or something by now.

The Atelier games dont explicitly say everything is happening in the same universe, but characters show up in other games even from different sub-series, if not directly then they are mentioned.

Pamela for instance is almost expected in Atelier games at this point, same with Hagel.

Lulua had characters from Arland(home subseries) and from Mysterious.

Its also not that serious, these are Atelier games.


P.S Dont play Atelier Resleriana 1 or is the first one 0?
If "unexplained" cameos are gonna bother you.

I thought Pamela was funny showing up in every game and I just went along with it. Her boobs getting bigger with every game. I actually think the series started to go to shit once Pamela stopped showing up. Would love to see her return.

Older games didn't have the same protagonist for the trilogy, so it made sense to have them pop in or even join the team in sequels. It would be weird to have Rorona pop in the Yumia game since they are not from the same universe. When they do it like that, it is cheesy and they make some weird excuse like I fell into some portal and now I am here.

 

[MrRibeye]

Back in 1998 Kojima said in a polite way that people in the West are a bit "simple" and things have to be dumbed down and contain explosions and action.
Now 25+ years later Hosoi Junzo still thinks the same way.

The Japanese never got to experience the brilliance of Western writing. Baldur's Gate, Planescape Torment or even the original Bioshock wasn't released with widely available Japanese texts (retail copies have JP subtitles, but digital releases didn't until Remastered released 9 years later).

 

[Black_Stride]

I thought Pamela was funny showing up in every game and I just went along with it. Her boobs getting bigger with every game. I actually think the series started to go to shit once Pamela stopped showing up. Would love to see her return.

Started to go to shit since she stopped showing up?
She was in Mysterious, Secret and Arland.

In the new age its only Envisioned that she hasnt shown up in, so only Yumia the last Atelier game released.......which was released 3 months ago?







I rebuke Pamela vs Pamila.

Older games didn't have the same protagonist for the trilogy, so it made sense to have them pop in or even join the team in sequels. It would be weird to have Rorona pop in the Yumia game since they are not from the same universe. When they do it like that, it is cheesy and they make some weird excuse like I fell into some portal and now I am here.

You know Lulua is part of Arland as in Rorona, Totori and Meruru and that Firis is part of Mysterious like Sophie, Soph 2 and Lydie?

Placta and Sophie were in Lulua so while its never explicitly said the games are in different universes there is no weirdness seeing Placta or Sophie in Arland.
Same as it shouldnt be weird seeing WilBell in Resna.

 

[.Xeno]

Having play almost all the entries Atelier Escha & Logy was the last one I thought was fantastic.

Ryza was cool but went on for to long, 2 games were enough. Haven't trying Yumia yet

 

[falling into hell]

In my opinion they should rather focus on the asian market if the japanese player base is not large enough.

Focusing on the western market is the dumbest thing you could do.

 

[Deerock71]

For the west give Ryza an adams apple and a mysterious bulge.

 

[mayham2199]

It's not they're selling that well where there isn't a ton of room to improve.

I love the franchise, but there is a lot that can be better in the gameplay and exploration parts. I could do with a little less sitting through seemingly endless dialog about complete nonsense.

If the game was harder I would dive back in. I liked Ryza 1 but crafting felt pointless because everything was so easy to beat. I thought the game would center around me needing to craft new items\weapons\armor in order to progress through the game. Good idea on paper but I'm not a fan of the execution.

 

[Zacfoldor]

Here in the west, we prefer strong heroines who look like this. Please keep this in mind when designing your next game.

It looks like Macho Man Randy Savage and Booker T put on fake breasts to sneak in and Choke Slam The Big Show. I was going to say they put on wigs to make it funnier but then I looked at the image and they definitely didn't put on wigs, that is the proud man hair of Scotland just like Duncan and Conner Macleod the highlanders.

 

[GHound]

Possibly. But like I said. The market is shrinking and budgets are not going down. So they can either do nothing and make no money, keep doing the same thing and make less money on every game, do something smaller and make less money, or try for a larger audience and make more money.

Or they alienate their audience while not gaining a new one and make no money.

 

[Loomy]

Or they alienate their audience while not gaining a new one and make no money.

That is a huge risk, yeah.

I think within the context of what Hosoi is talking about, it could work for them. There's obviously an increasing appetite for JRPGs in the West, but something like Atelier games will always have a high barrier to entry.

Tales of Arise opened a lot of eyes. The Tales franchise was in the same position Atelier is in right now where they've been selling well outside of Japan for a while like Sakura mentioned above. If they're going to make a push to try and capitalize on that, this is the time.

 

[xrnzaaas]

Western and Japanese players aren't vastly different. Just don't listen to the twitter weirdos and the journos, they're not going to be the ones paying your bills.

 

[Paulistano]

Square did it and look at them.

 

[Bonfires Down]

How thick should the thighs be, that is the question.