I"m not very happy at the business going around with Nintendo and their branches outside the US, I've talked to customer service about games they should have a clue about, and nothing. I realise Nintendo is very secretive when it comes to their actual release schedule on any of their game platforms and they still don't tell CS s**t.
I've heard talk about how Nintendo Customer Service is perfect, but THAT IS A LIE. I asked Nintendo of Australia when Cave Story on the eShop was meant to be out, they knew jack all, Now we're getting NightSky, but that still isn't the game i've been holding out for. I asked other companies like EB Games about importing European titles (since they're PAL and work on out systems) and they said there's no plans. Blimey, I've hated EB games for some time now, but they used to be faithful when it came to importing DS games, now it's non-existent with the 3DS. The future is the internet people, EB games/Gamestop will crumble eventually, maybe sooner since the xbox 720 or ps4 aren't meant to be backwards compatible or be able to support pre-owned games, face it we're screwed.

I realise we just had a Nintendo Direct, but why did it take so long to release dates for Luigis Mansion 2/Dark Moon and Animal Crossing?, look at Nintendo now, people are doing the same-old-same-old plotting they'll never make it and that the WiiU was a failure at launch (which is rubbish of course). What is it with Fire Emblem taking two more months to get here? localisation? well in down under we mainly speak English, so why can't we have it now? FACE PALM FTL

The one good thing I've heard this year is that Pokemon X & Y will make it out all across the same month this year for everyone, this is the only sign that Nintendo has tried to get things out without massive delays, but everything else is mixed and jagged for everyone outside Japan and America, I wish this would change.

Please share your thoughts and sympathies.

You know you can always get a NA 3DS and import games than you wont have worry about Aussie release date. Thats really the only way I can see how to get the games the same day as NA.

As for the PS4 and the next MS console where does it state that they cant play pre owned games. As far as I know those are just rumors.

Still waiting for Code of Princess...

Yes, I'm so tired of all the delays. that i'm going to sleep -_-

You're acting like we in america get games ASAP. Guess what pal, we have to wait too. It took us almost a year to get Fire Emblem, and it took some 14 months to get 3G. Animal Crossing I really don't care about at all. Code of Princess sucked, you're not missing much. I remember for a while you guys got games before us.

Not to mention the fact that it is just cheaper to buy overseas, shipping and all.

I still buy in Australia when I can, but only because I crave instant gratification.

And, of course, the idea of downloading retail games from the eShop for $70 is absurd in the extreme.

The demand. Australia's demand isn't as huge as it is in North America and Japan. That's why every game costs drastically more in overseas countries than it does in the U.S.

As for Europe, it's a little more vague. One reason that comes to mind is the over abundance of translations needed to release the game in non-English/Japanese speaking countries such as France and Germany.

Due to the various languages spoken in the EU, it takes longer to translate most games.

Furthermore, AU is a much smaller market than either NA or EU, so it's too much of a financial risk to localize a version specifically for that region. Because of that, AU is usually either given the NA or EU version of a game, and since AU is culturally more in line with EU than NA, most devs choose to give them the EU version (which means they have to endure the same wait EU gamers endure).

I'm sick of people whining about a problem that can't be fixed.

Considering there was a time when we had to pay $100 for Megadrive/SNES games I don't agree with your stance on the whole gaming these days is expensive argument... Resi Evil Remake for Gamecube was $110 when it was first released

You just gotta get used to it. I mean sure, we get games late and have to pay more - it's just a minor inconvenience. Plus, syncing up markets between Japan, PAL and USA would be completely unfeasible.

A good game is still good regardless of whether it comes out in January or June, wouldn't you agree?

Considering that this has been happening for years, why complain about something you can't do anything about?
In some ways, the UK getting games last did me a favor when I was a kid 'cause when I finally got it, I enjoyed it more. Brawl, for example, got delayed for months; and as a result, when it was finally released I played it more often and for longer (still play it to this day!).
Nowadays, EU release date stuff is the norm. I'm not bothered because I'll still get the game at some point.
Also it's a video game, which isn't really the most important thing in the world.

Hey If you have tons of money you can do that for me right? come on man not everyone is rich enough to have three 3DS', I'm lucky I have a regular and a XL.
Hey I know we get some things before America sometimes, but you guys tend to get most of them.
Anyway as I said the Internet is my friend and if I can find Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for $60 instead of $90, then I'll do my purchases that way, you guys telling me we get all the good stuff, no you're wrong there. Australia and New Zealand are the least privilieged, compared to America we are way behind in releases and talk about your guys collections! Since games are so damn cheap, why don't you send us those games we Australasians never got, like Cave Story 3D and Nano Assault.
You know we're lucky we getting Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Luigis Mansion and Rune Factory 4, we are lucky and some of you guys seem a little overprevielieged to me. Good thing from here on out, i'm making my purchases in local bargain bins and importing online from europe..

The delays are annoying, especially in the case of Fire Emblem: Awakening and Code of Princess, but there are lots of times when we get games at the same time as NA, or at least not too far behind. We shouldn't forget about the Operation Rainfall games either, in which we got three great games almost a full year earlier than NA. As for the reasons for the delays, in Europe there are so many different languages spoken that often the games have to be translated into multiple languages rather than just English, unlike in NA where its just English. Also, game publishers are generally going to prioritise the North American market over the European market, since it is far larger and that means more sales.

Yeah, delays are annoying. But in most cases there are good reasons behind them. Just be patient.

You sir are amazing. Good job waiting 14 months to get Fire Emblem, we will wait another 3. But solid effort for waiting.

Do what I do, buy games online, ozgameshop has $50 new release games, sure it takes 2 weeks to get here, but you're saving money, free shipping too ^_^

fire emblem awakening april 19th... sure it's annoying
but what can we do about it? unfortunately nothing

Nintendo of Australia are hopeless. I'm convinced they're run by chimps.

WIth that said, that sad reality is that Australia is simply a very small market. We're far away, and our population is unevenly spread across the land. We should be thankful for what we have - there are many other countries that are worse-off, videogame wise.

Scribblenauts Unlimited springs to mind,still waiting Nintendo.

Heresy! Aside from some lag issues, it is a very solid 3DS release.