This region-locking crap bugs me, because I live in Japan now and have both US and JP games and systems...and I really REALLY hate the XL now and wanna play my US games on the smaller New 3DS. But I can't, because the JP model is region-locked and the US model DOESN'T EXIST. It amazes me that Nintendo doesn't seem to want me to buy their games/systems anymore.
Dragon Quest music has a HUGE place in Japanese culture (way more than Final Fantasy). It's to the point where it's in school textbooks, and the Junior High down the road from here plays the opening theme every morning over loudspeakers while kids are going to school. When you compare that to how unknown a lot of the music is in the US/EU, it wouldn't surprise me if the game didn't make it over. I'm not even sure it would sell that well, though I'd still prefer it being released at least digitally.
However, Dragon Quest is heavily composed for orchestra, and many songs either sound too similar or lack the rhythm to be in this game. Ultimately, I'm not even sure how well this is gonna work, so 60 songs doesn't surprise me at all.
I'm currently living in Japan, so I have to have 2 3DSs, thanks to region-locking. I have an XL for US and a New 3DS for JP. Having used both, I desperately want the New 3DS for my US games, and was willing to import one without even being able to trade in my 3DS XL. So I'm getting double slammed, because not only does region-locking force me to have 2 3DSs, now I can't even upgrade my US one because there's ONLY the New 3DS XL and ONLY US games work on it.
I now have money to buy stuff, and Nintendo has actively made it difficult to buy their products. They've already lost me as a Wii U customer, and now they forced me out of New 3DS for US, meaning I won't get to play Xenoblade Chronicles, despite HAVING a New 3DS (in Japanese). I can't win with Nintendo anymore, and that's brutal when you consider how easy it's been in the past. They're legitimately losing me this generation, and that's sad.
I had the NES, and I loved it, but getting the Game Boy was what really secured my emotional attachment to gaming! I'm one of those people who has multiple Game Boy models and every iteration of the DS line, and it's something that never gets old for me.
I think for me, while the tactile connection and closeness to the screen provide a physical bond to the hardware, much of the emotional attachment is all the places I've brought my handhelds and the adventures I've had with them. Things like playing Link's Awakening on a beach as a kid (and then in front of Mt. Fuji as an adult), Wario Land in the mountains, Harvest Moon as our family drove through farmlands and snow on our way to Christmas vacation, Final Fantasy Legend II literally on the edge of a cliff. I've played Final Fantasy Dawn of Souls on a train in Japan, I've played Pokemon Sapphire in the same towns the Hoenn region is based on! (Kyushu is awesome and worth visiting)
The point to all this is that I always keep a handheld with me, not because I'm constantly bored or addicted to gaming, but because it's a chance to bring an adventure along on an adventure. That's something that consoles consistently lack. The same can be said about game music and the way they can add to our everyday adventures. So go out and do something unique with your handhelds...because you CAN.
I LOVED this game, and I've played it twice, trying to get the achievements. Yes, this game is a mix of Ys and Neutopia, and is short. However, the price was beyond reasonable for its length. Also, anyone wanting to compare this to Hydlide is wrong, the gameplay requires planning and dodging, the music is fantastic, and the art is super clean and cute.
One thing I will say is that the iOS/Android version is missing a few bonus things, including a challenging final boss and achievements. Also the iOS version is zoomed in a lot, while the 3DS version is zoomed out more and has better borders and menus. I highly recommend paying the few dollars/euros/yen for the 3DS version.
Whoever compared this to Rifftrax was smart, because that's basically the issue here. If you're going to make money using large amounts of other people's IPs, you should have to pay a license fee to do so. Yes, you own your commentary and the material you bring, but the question is public broadcast of someone else's material. When you buy a movie, it specifically states that you are not allowed unauthorized public broadcast or reproduction. A game may not have that warning (or it may in the legal fine print) but it's likely that in a court, it would be viewed the same way.
That said, I think the way Nintendo is managing the system is too strict and will likely damage their internet reputation. The financial cut is maybe 10% too high, but the guidelines are the real issue. It's an unmanageable system that nobody will want to mess with.
That also said, Youtubers do need to recognize that they don't own the content they are commenting on, and the "you'll get publicity!" argument doesn't entitle them to freebies. Neither does "free speech" because while their speech is protected, the videos aren't a part of their speech. Legally they must either take the MST3k route (only making videos of Public Domain movies or paying license fees) or the Rifftrax route (Only releasing and making money off of the commentary). Clearly, Nintendo needs to revise their policy, but I don't see why any big company would like other people making money off their products without compensation.
(All those things said, Nintendo isn't likely to do anything, as they're a company stuck in a traditional Japanese business structure that is largely dying in the global market.)
I don't currently have a system that can play this (my laptop is rubbish), but if it gets released on Wii U, I'll buy a Wii U JUST for this game (and the Virtual Console stuff. Oh and NES Remix.)
I've always loved these games, and felt that they were my favorites. I could always feel the sense of love and appreciation that went into Hoenn in general, and the graphic diversity made for a region that was fun to explore.
That said, I spent 2 months in Kyushu back in 2013, and I REALLY began to understand why Masuda loved it so much. Because of that, I have an even stronger connection to what was already my favorite Pokemon game!
As a kid, my neighbor had Nintendo Power, so I'm guessing I learned it from him? That or on the playground at school. Either way, it's still the only way I've ever beaten the game!
I'm EXTREMELY disappointed that there's no US release of the regular-size New 3DS. I bought one when I moved to Japan, and having it side by side with my US XL, I really dislike the XL. The screen is TOO big abd pixelated, whereas the mid-sized New 3DS is perfectly balanced. Also the New 3DS is drastically lighter and feels better. Not to mention the faceplates here in Japan are really nice. (Also, the moved Power Button and game-slot cause fewer accidents than the original. My game would eject in my purse constantly with the XL, but it hasn't ever with New 3DS)
I was going to import a US New 3DS and transfer everything off the XL... but now I'll stick with the old model instead. Region-locking has stopped me from buying Wii U, now this has stopped me from buying a second New 3DS.
I'm EXTREMELY disappointed that there's no US release of the regular-size New 3DS. I bought one when I moved to Japan, and having it side by side with my US XL, I really dislike the XL. The screen is TOO big and pixelated, whereas the mid-sized New 3DS is perfectly balanced. Also the New 3DS is drastically lighter and feels better. Not to mention the faceplates here in Japan are really nice. (Also, the moved Power Button and game-slot cause fewer accidents than the original. My game would eject in my purse constantly with the XL, but it hasn't ever with New 3DS)
I was going to import a US New 3DS and transfer everything off the XL... but now I'll stick with the old model instead. Region-locking has stopped me from buying Wii U, now this has stopped me from buying a second New 3DS.
I've been replaying this recently, using only one Female Human and one Female Mutant. My only real complaint is how annoying it is to keep up with the random spell changes after a battle. You have to look at the spells and save after every battle to keep from losing the best magic.
Am I the only one who finds it a little bit awkward this this GBA features Samus' original armor color when the mod was released in honor of Fusion...where her armor color was completely different? If they'd released it for Zero Mission, then ok, lol.
Nintendo is definitely missing out. Falcom put tons of soundtracks from their entire back catalog of CDs onto iTunes, and as a result I've spent infinitely more money than I ever would have trying to buy physical import CDs. There's no need to torrent any Falcom music ever thanks to their iTunes support (unless you're just massively poor), and I think Nintendo could make a lot of quick money by following suit. Furthermore, I think this would fit in with their strategy of using smartphones to get people interested in Nintendo products without putting actual games on the platform. VERY missed opportunity, here!
This pad has all the buttons of the 3DS, AND a touchscreen. AND he said they wanted a dual-screen gaming experience. Imagine if this thing ends up being DS/3DS compatible with an HD upscaler? They have EVERYTHING they need to do it.
Yay! FINALLY I get a chance to play one of these games in English with my friends! I've been waiting years for them to bring one of these games outside of Japan.
This is fantastic! The collectors box and booklets and things look really nice, the soundtrack is cool (even if it isn't massive or anything) and the game...man I've been waiting to play this game again. I always loved the All-Stars version of these, so I really can't wait. $30 is so reasonable, too! Thanks Nintendo!
Now I can get back to complaining about the game I REALLY want...Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon, one of the greatest and most overlooked games of the N64 era! I WANT this game, NOA!
I definitely want to see these games here, with major emphasis on Dracula X. Yes, I have it on the PSP, but I just don't care for the way it emulates on that system.
Ai Cho Aniki (TG16) Cotton (TG16) Dracula X: Rondo of Blood (TG16) Magical Chase (TG16) Parodius (TG16) Ys III and IV (TG16)
Comments 25
Re: New Nintendo 3DS Exploit Makes Japanese Systems Region-Free
This region-locking crap bugs me, because I live in Japan now and have both US and JP games and systems...and I really REALLY hate the XL now and wanna play my US games on the smaller New 3DS. But I can't, because the JP model is region-locked and the US model DOESN'T EXIST. It amazes me that Nintendo doesn't seem to want me to buy their games/systems anymore.
Re: Series Producer Ichiro Hazama Says Theatrhythm Dragon Quest Will Have About 60 tracks
Dragon Quest music has a HUGE place in Japanese culture (way more than Final Fantasy). It's to the point where it's in school textbooks, and the Junior High down the road from here plays the opening theme every morning over loudspeakers while kids are going to school. When you compare that to how unknown a lot of the music is in the US/EU, it wouldn't surprise me if the game didn't make it over. I'm not even sure it would sell that well, though I'd still prefer it being released at least digitally.
However, Dragon Quest is heavily composed for orchestra, and many songs either sound too similar or lack the rhythm to be in this game. Ultimately, I'm not even sure how well this is gonna work, so 60 songs doesn't surprise me at all.
Re: Talking Point: New Nintendo 3DS, Operation Faceplate NA and the Bigger Picture
I'm currently living in Japan, so I have to have 2 3DSs, thanks to region-locking. I have an XL for US and a New 3DS for JP. Having used both, I desperately want the New 3DS for my US games, and was willing to import one without even being able to trade in my 3DS XL. So I'm getting double slammed, because not only does region-locking force me to have 2 3DSs, now I can't even upgrade my US one because there's ONLY the New 3DS XL and ONLY US games work on it.
I now have money to buy stuff, and Nintendo has actively made it difficult to buy their products. They've already lost me as a Wii U customer, and now they forced me out of New 3DS for US, meaning I won't get to play Xenoblade Chronicles, despite HAVING a New 3DS (in Japanese). I can't win with Nintendo anymore, and that's brutal when you consider how easy it's been in the past. They're legitimately losing me this generation, and that's sad.
Re: Feature: Five Nintendo 64 Games We'd Love to Play on 3DS
I know it's 3rd party, but let's be honest...all I REALLY want is Goemon.
Re: Soapbox: Portable Gaming Forges a Special Relationship With the Player, and Nintendo is the Master in the Field
I had the NES, and I loved it, but getting the Game Boy was what really secured my emotional attachment to gaming! I'm one of those people who has multiple Game Boy models and every iteration of the DS line, and it's something that never gets old for me.
I think for me, while the tactile connection and closeness to the screen provide a physical bond to the hardware, much of the emotional attachment is all the places I've brought my handhelds and the adventures I've had with them. Things like playing Link's Awakening on a beach as a kid (and then in front of Mt. Fuji as an adult), Wario Land in the mountains, Harvest Moon as our family drove through farmlands and snow on our way to Christmas vacation, Final Fantasy Legend II literally on the edge of a cliff. I've played Final Fantasy Dawn of Souls on a train in Japan, I've played Pokemon Sapphire in the same towns the Hoenn region is based on! (Kyushu is awesome and worth visiting)
The point to all this is that I always keep a handheld with me, not because I'm constantly bored or addicted to gaming, but because it's a chance to bring an adventure along on an adventure. That's something that consoles consistently lack. The same can be said about game music and the way they can add to our everyday adventures. So go out and do something unique with your handhelds...because you CAN.
Re: Fairune II is Adventuring Towards the 3DS eShop
I LOVED this game, and I've played it twice, trying to get the achievements. Yes, this game is a mix of Ys and Neutopia, and is short. However, the price was beyond reasonable for its length. Also, anyone wanting to compare this to Hydlide is wrong, the gameplay requires planning and dodging, the music is fantastic, and the art is super clean and cute.
One thing I will say is that the iOS/Android version is missing a few bonus things, including a challenging final boss and achievements. Also the iOS version is zoomed in a lot, while the 3DS version is zoomed out more and has better borders and menus. I highly recommend paying the few dollars/euros/yen for the 3DS version.
Re: Editorial: Nintendo's YouTube Creators Program 'Beta' Provides Vital Feedback - It Won't Work
Whoever compared this to Rifftrax was smart, because that's basically the issue here. If you're going to make money using large amounts of other people's IPs, you should have to pay a license fee to do so. Yes, you own your commentary and the material you bring, but the question is public broadcast of someone else's material. When you buy a movie, it specifically states that you are not allowed unauthorized public broadcast or reproduction. A game may not have that warning (or it may in the legal fine print) but it's likely that in a court, it would be viewed the same way.
That said, I think the way Nintendo is managing the system is too strict and will likely damage their internet reputation. The financial cut is maybe 10% too high, but the guidelines are the real issue. It's an unmanageable system that nobody will want to mess with.
That also said, Youtubers do need to recognize that they don't own the content they are commenting on, and the "you'll get publicity!" argument doesn't entitle them to freebies. Neither does "free speech" because while their speech is protected, the videos aren't a part of their speech. Legally they must either take the MST3k route (only making videos of Public Domain movies or paying license fees) or the Rifftrax route (Only releasing and making money off of the commentary). Clearly, Nintendo needs to revise their policy, but I don't see why any big company would like other people making money off their products without compensation.
(All those things said, Nintendo isn't likely to do anything, as they're a company stuck in a traditional Japanese business structure that is largely dying in the global market.)
Re: Hironobu Sakaguchi to be Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at GDC 2015
Lifetime Achievement Unlocked!
Re: Sega's Wonder Boy Lives On In Monster Boy, And He Could Be Coming To Wii U
I don't currently have a system that can play this (my laptop is rubbish), but if it gets released on Wii U, I'll buy a Wii U JUST for this game (and the Virtual Console stuff. Oh and NES Remix.)
Re: Junichi Masuda Discusses Where Hoenn Got its Name and What the Region Means to Him
I've always loved these games, and felt that they were my favorites. I could always feel the sense of love and appreciation that went into Hoenn in general, and the graphic diversity made for a region that was fun to explore.
That said, I spent 2 months in Kyushu back in 2013, and I REALLY began to understand why Masuda loved it so much. Because of that, I have an even stronger connection to what was already my favorite Pokemon game!
Re: Weirdness: Hands Up If You Knew About the Super-Easy Button Combination to Resume Progress in Super Mario Bros.
As a kid, my neighbor had Nintendo Power, so I'm guessing I learned it from him? That or on the playground at school. Either way, it's still the only way I've ever beaten the game!
Re: Ninterview: Learning Retro Secrets With A Former Nintendo Game Play Counselor
What a fantastic interview! This really provided incredible insight into what must have been a very hectic, yet rewarding job!
Re: Hands On: We Check Out The New Nintendo 3DS XL
I'm EXTREMELY disappointed that there's no US release of the regular-size New 3DS. I bought one when I moved to Japan, and having it side by side with my US XL, I really dislike the XL. The screen is TOO big abd pixelated, whereas the mid-sized New 3DS is perfectly balanced. Also the New 3DS is drastically lighter and feels better. Not to mention the faceplates here in Japan are really nice. (Also, the moved Power Button and game-slot cause fewer accidents than the original. My game would eject in my purse constantly with the XL, but it hasn't ever with New 3DS)
I was going to import a US New 3DS and transfer everything off the XL... but now I'll stick with the old model instead. Region-locking has stopped me from buying Wii U, now this has stopped me from buying a second New 3DS.
Re: Hands On: We Check Out The New Nintendo 3DS XL
I'm EXTREMELY disappointed that there's no US release of the regular-size New 3DS. I bought one when I moved to Japan, and having it side by side with my US XL, I really dislike the XL. The screen is TOO big and pixelated, whereas the mid-sized New 3DS is perfectly balanced. Also the New 3DS is drastically lighter and feels better. Not to mention the faceplates here in Japan are really nice. (Also, the moved Power Button and game-slot cause fewer accidents than the original. My game would eject in my purse constantly with the XL, but it hasn't ever with New 3DS)
I was going to import a US New 3DS and transfer everything off the XL... but now I'll stick with the old model instead. Region-locking has stopped me from buying Wii U, now this has stopped me from buying a second New 3DS.
Re: Feature: Celebrating 25 Years Of A Legendary Final Fantasy Title
I've been replaying this recently, using only one Female Human and one Female Mutant. My only real complaint is how annoying it is to keep up with the random spell changes after a battle. You have to look at the spells and save after every battle to keep from losing the best magic.
Re: This Metroid Game Boy Advance Design is a Treat
Am I the only one who finds it a little bit awkward this this GBA features Samus' original armor color when the mod was released in honor of Fusion...where her armor color was completely different? If they'd released it for Zero Mission, then ok, lol.
Re: Japanese Prime Minister Says the Country's Economy "Can Learn From" Nintendo
Abenomics...
Re: Soapbox: Nintendo Soundtracks - Where Are They?
Nintendo is definitely missing out. Falcom put tons of soundtracks from their entire back catalog of CDs onto iTunes, and as a result I've spent infinitely more money than I ever would have trying to buy physical import CDs. There's no need to torrent any Falcom music ever thanks to their iTunes support (unless you're just massively poor), and I think Nintendo could make a lot of quick money by following suit. Furthermore, I think this would fit in with their strategy of using smartphones to get people interested in Nintendo products without putting actual games on the platform. VERY missed opportunity, here!
Re: Reggie: Wii U to Boast a "Full Range of Entertainment"
This pad has all the buttons of the 3DS, AND a touchscreen. AND he said they wanted a dual-screen gaming experience. Imagine if this thing ends up being DS/3DS compatible with an HD upscaler? They have EVERYTHING they need to do it.
Re: Take a Trip Down Boom Street on 6th January
Yay! FINALLY I get a chance to play one of these games in English with my friends! I've been waiting years for them to bring one of these games outside of Japan.
Re: Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition Coming to U.S.
This is fantastic! The collectors box and booklets and things look really nice, the soundtrack is cool (even if it isn't massive or anything) and the game...man I've been waiting to play this game again. I always loved the All-Stars version of these, so I really can't wait. $30 is so reasonable, too! Thanks Nintendo!
Re: Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures
This game seems like Super Indyvania IV. I might have to try this...
Re: Review: Water Warfare (WiiWare)
Let's see, I can put on a cute loli dress, get a supersoaker and some water balloons, and deathmatch people online? Yes please!
Re: Nintendo Download: Masks, Crystals, Chess and Art (US)
Now I can get back to complaining about the game I REALLY want...Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon, one of the greatest and most overlooked games of the N64 era! I WANT this game, NOA!
Re: Hudson Not Abandoning Virtual Console After All?
I definitely want to see these games here, with major emphasis on Dracula X. Yes, I have it on the PSP, but I just don't care for the way it emulates on that system.
Ai Cho Aniki (TG16)
Cotton (TG16)
Dracula X: Rondo of Blood (TG16)
Magical Chase (TG16)
Parodius (TG16)
Ys III and IV (TG16)