Nintendo Screws Europe (again)

[bapenguin]

Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000680044810/) brings word that the PAL region won't be seeing Revolution till 2007.According to a Nintendo executive who was not named, Nintendo is “currently looking at mirroring the DS strategy, so Revolution would release in the US first in November, closely followed by Japan. Then we’re looking at March 2007 for PAL territories.”

I don't understand why EU gets screwed so often? Is there some kind of PAL incompatibility problem no one knows about?

[Paranoia]

Yes, why does EU get shafted? The UK practically pays more than Americans, I just don't get it.

[Goronmon]

If I had to guess on why it works this way it would be because they don't want to overproduce the console. So they produce a ton for Japan and the US. Then, once the market has somewhat stablized for those two, they can use any excess to ship to EU and will have a better idea on how many they are going to sell.

[Klade]

Personally I blame the French. But then again I blame them for everything :p

[BigJonno]

I can understand that Europe might be a difficult region, due to the multiple languages, but I'm pretty sure that Europe has been a bigger market than the US or Japan for some time now. You'd think that would reason enough for us to get better treatment than we get now. We also pay much more than most for our games and hardware. In the UK it's pretty much a straight dollar to pound conversion, so a $300 console costs us £300, which converts to $546.

[Varsity]

In other news... (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=9215)

[Nerv]

FFS, this is a joke. The Revolution is the only one of the big three that I was prepared to put money down, right now for, and we won't see it untill March 2007?
God-Damnit Nintendo.
The Joystiq article is right on the money when it asks if Nintendo are risking losing the hardcore to MS and Sony.
When I thought the Rev would be out mid 2006, and looking at the current game line up for sony and MS, my intention was to buy a Rev on release, then check out what MS and Sony have to offer around January 2007.
Now, the Revolution will have to contend with a year of MS games, and 6 months of the PS3, and I may not be prepared to buy more than one console that close together.

[Hellstorm]

Unnamed Nintendo source? OMG it must be true. An unnamed Sony source tells me that Killzone 2 was all real-time.

[KarmaGhost]

Unnamed Nintendo source? OMG it must be true. An unnamed Sony source tells me that Killzone 2 was all real-time.In all fairness they say the "source" is an executive, not just some dude.

[pacmanfever]

I'm pretty sure that Europe has been a bigger market than the US or Japan for some time now.

not that i want to see any region get screwed, but the order of markets is still USA > Japan > Europe.

[dr_wily]

RUMORS AS FRICKEN USUAL..
however europe is always behind.. their distribution network must be really complicated or somethin..

[Kamalot]

How is this screwing Europe?

If Nintendo says they will launch on a specific date, they will. Didn't Sony push back the launch date of the European launch of the PSP at least 3 times? What handhelds can Europeans buy today? They can buy the DS and the GBA. The PSP is STILL nowhere to be seen and won't be until AT LEAST September.

Do you actually believe Sony will launch when they say they will?

If I remember correctly, they kept pushing back the PS2 launch date as well. This is a great underhanded tactic that Sony used to keep people from buying the excellent Dreamcast.

Who's really getting screwed?

[netcraazzy]

I'm pretty sure that Europe has been a bigger market than the US or Japan for some time now.

Actually Europe is the smallest of the three markets and although it's still a big market I'm sure that fact is a major reason why consoles seem to always come out late over there. I'm sure the many different languages and regionalization issues play a major roll in that decision too. I’m no corporate business mogul or anything but I know from my international business class back in college that Europe is considered to be a difficult region to do a large scale release in.

[WileE.Coyte]

not that i want to see any region get screwed, but the order of markets is still USA > Japan > Europe.


That's what I thought, but when I did a quick google search surprisingly it said that the U.K alone was the 3rd biggest market for videogames. I could'nt find actual numbers on the whole of Europe, but through in Germany, Spain, Italy, and all those other countries I'm too lazy to list, and they may have the biggest market. Even if they still hold the third largest share, they can't be too far behind. I really don't think Nintendo would ignore such a big market and take the chance of making them wait that long.

[AvA]

Since having really late release dates is not enough, we usually are served with a much higher price!
So, why complain?

[Royal Fool]

If Nintendo says they will launch on a specific date, they will. Didn't Sony push back the launch date of the European launch of the PSP at least 3 times? What handhelds can Europeans buy today? They can buy the DS and the GBA. The PSP is STILL nowhere to be seen and won't be until AT LEAST September.

Do you actually believe Sony will launch when they say they will?

Nah, they never wanted to officially announce any dates, there were only rumours... rumours that all fell flat when Sony announced their September release.

It's dumb, but hey, people wills till buy it by the dozens, because Nintendo isn't pushing the DS (Or GameCube, or GBA) in Europe at all. As usual.

[The_Reckoning]

Then again, PC components are cheap as hell in France.

[Bushido]

so are the women....zing!

[Savok]

Four months is nothing to what we're normally put through. Animal Crossing took two fucking years.

Still pisses me off though, wish they'd just fucking abolish this region shit or treat all regionsl as equals (and I don't care if they are or not in reality).

[riposte101]

Europe localization is a nightmare for video game companies. It needs to be translated for Italian, German, French. Text and New VOs need to be recorded for these native languages. Have you ever seen English translated to German? It takes up almost four times as much space as the English equivalent. It is not an easy job.

[Savok]

They can drop French for starters, no one really cares about the French and their crazy language laws..

[KamaItachi]

I guess now they've tried to combat "le weekend" and "le email" their mad language beureau have tackled "le Playstation" and are just holding everything up.

[mister_slim]

Europe localization is a nightmare for video game companies. It needs to be translated for Italian, German, French. Text and New VOs need to be recorded for these native languages. Have you ever seen English translated to German? It takes up almost four times as much space as the English equivalent. It is not an easy job.
Not to mention some content may need to be changed, such as blood or military insignia in Germany.

[Mr_Snuffle]

import import import... I guess

[Savok]

These consoles better play all regions out of the box.

[president_fred]

If this is true this may very well be the first Nintendo console I don't buy at launch. I had planned to get the PS3 and Rev at launch and the 360 around halo3. But if the Rev is a 2007 release then I will get the 360 and PS3 at launch and then the Rev whenever they have a large enough library. I love nintendo but of all three companies they treat us Europeans the worst.

[KDups]

I love nintendo but of all three companies they treat us Europeans the worst.

Sure. Then wait until Nintendo has a "large enough library". You really know your Nintendo. And like them too.

[Savok]

Actually Sony treats us the worst, we get terrible conversions (Capcom especially) and don't even see many of the great games. The excellent stuff we do see is very limited and the price doubles the moment the shelves empty. Once Nintendo stuff is here, 99% of the time it hangs around for a long time.

[Kamalot]

Europe localization is a nightmare for video game companies. It needs to be translated for Italian, German, French. Text and New VOs need to be recorded for these native languages. Have you ever seen English translated to German? It takes up almost four times as much space as the English equivalent. It is not an easy job.

Localization isn't an easy job at all. I used to work as a localization engineer and can appreciate how much work some of these games are. Animal Crossing had to be the biggest nightmare ever! All of the text was dynamic and context-sensitive. Each of the holidays needed to be tweaked as well since they were specific to certain cultures.

[riposte101]

Not at all. I used to work as a localization engineer and can appreciate how much work some of these games are. Animal Crossing had to be the biggest nightmare ever! All of the text was dynamic and context-sensitive. Each of the holidays needed to be tweaked as well since they were specific to certain cultures.

So...are you agreeing or disagreeing with me?

[Kamalot]

So...are you agreeing or disagreeing with me?

Agreeing. Saying that localization is not an easy job at all.

Sorry for the confusion.

[president_fred]

Sure. Then wait until Nintendo has a "large enough library". You really know your Nintendo. And like them too.
A large enough library of first party games. Which is why I buy Nintendo consoles, mostly. I’m thinking 6-8 months after it is out will be long enough. By the way thanks for telling me whether I like Nintendo or not, I was confused. I guess all the Nintendo games and consoles in my house are just a clever ruse that allows me to criticize them anonymously on web forums with credibility.