Last week a series that I've been following over the past year, Macross Frontier, ended its run. It's been a long time since I've watched an anime series with mecha and plot that kept me interested until the very end. Now, unfortunately, I come the realization that due to legal issues from years ago the series is likely to never be released officially outside Japan. I may sound pessimistic, but with the way the entire franchise has been treated by licensors, especially in the US, it's probably going to be treated the same way.
So here's a question for everyone: Have you ever been pissed off that a game, show, or other item would not be released in your part of the world? Sure, there are times when it takes years for the situation to change, but it's still agonizing to wait a long period of time after it gains or loses its popularity. It's even worse when the powers that be give bad or even no explanation at all why they're doing nothing about it. Some examples might be the SNES Fire Emblem games, the Mother series, import toys, and various anime.
MOTHER 3 😥
But eh. I have the Japanese verison, and will download the English patch on day 1
Some examples might be the SNES Fire Emblem games, the Mother series, import toys, and various anime.
That continues to make me a sad panda to this day. =/
Another area of agony is a good chunk of the Tales series. Sure, we get the mainline 3D games (and even a spinoff game), but as far as 2D games go? Nothing since the Playstation 1 era. A damn shame, too. They look extremely fun.
Actually, that goes for the majority of modern 2D games (especially those on the PS2). I'm still shocked that we managed to get Odin Sphere over to the states. >.>
Jump Super Stars and Ultimate Stars also come to mind (and won't ever come out due to the legal nightmare with the licenses), but at least the DS is region free without modification.
Two words.
Radiant Silvergun.
For video games, I'd say Seiken Densetsu 3 (Secret of Mana 3) and the first Star Ocean for the SNES. While they are playable through emulation, sometimes it doesn't feel right. Maybe it's the translations or just playing them on a PC that makes it seem inconvenient. But I'm okay with Star Ocean since the remake is coming out on the PSP.
Two words.
Radiant Silvergun.
This.
Also Sonic CD's Japanese soundtrack to a lesser extent. I mean, even EUROPE got an export of that one, while us Yanks have been left in the dark for too long.
The fact that 'Metal Wolf Chaos' will never be released in the US is proof that there is no justice in the world.
One? I have a list:
Metal Wolf Chaos
Jump Super Stars/Ultimate Stars (yes I know there's english faqs, but I'd rather not have to read them)
Keitai Sousakan 7
MaDan Senki RyuKendo (actually, we MIGHT get that as some kind of Power Rangers show)
Revoltech - among the best action figures you can get on the market. Mostly is giant robots, such as a few lesser known ones like....Gurren Lagann, Skull 1, Shin Getter 1, Eva Unit 0... yanno, just small names. You can only find it on online vendors, hobby shops and anime conventions.
Busou Shinki - One of the most bizarre and awesome toy lines I've seen. We were supposed to get a game here, but Konami just kinda let the idea die. In the meantime, Japan's on its fifth or sixth wave of the toys. Same conditions for finding these as it is for Revoltechs, only harder.
Remember those Final Fantasy Trading Arts figures that were sold in blisters years ago? IIRC, for both volumes they didn't release all of the figures outside of Japan. I think we missed out on Riku (X), Selphie (VIII), Vincent in a Turks uniform (VII and rare!), Vivi (IX), Lulu (X) Zack (VII and rare!), as well as the chrome/statue versions of all of them. The same thing happened to the Valkyrie Profile Trading Arts figures, Arngrim (guy with the big sword) and Alicia (secret figure from VP2) got the cut.
Stupid Square-Enix 
Unfortunately, outside the realm of action figures here in the States, there doesn't seem to be much mainstream demand for plastic statues. When we get 'em, they're always limited edition and usually crazy expensive, so they don't fly off shelves too fast.
Parasite Eve, Saga Frontier, Romancing Saga, Grandia X, Grandia 3, Virtua On for the Dreamcast, Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Seiken Densetsu 3, Giftpia, Namco X Capcom, pretty much every Tales game other than Symphonia, Phantasia, Eternia, and Radiant Mythology...
Honestly, I could probably go on for hours about games that never made it here to UK/Europe, when you consider our first main Final Fantasy title was the seventh in the series and out first main Dragon Quest was the eighth in that series, I think there are many jaded gamers here.
I should point out that we are catching up, pretty much every previously unreleased FF title has now been released in some form or another, some as many as three times, the Dragon Quest DS remakes are on their way, hopefully Chrono Trigger is, we got Super Mario RPG at last, and we did get Shenmue 2 on the Dreamcast when the US had to wait for the Xbox port.
So we have some love.
^
Dang, I didn't think it was that bad for some people. I feel for you, especially for Chrono Trigger.
In response to your first post that you made on this topic/thread Tarsun, no I've never been pissed off, at that stuff (that I remember of), although stuff like that would frustrate me extremely, even though I don't remember having ever gone through something like this. Good luck on getting what you're looking for.
Parasite Eve and Crono Trigger never did make it to the UK...
Also, Ehrigez (or however it was pronounced) was kind of fun, if only for letting you have Cloud vs Yuffie battles, so it's a shame that never came out.
Tons of Slayers, Sailor Moon and Gundam games I would have snapped up with a decent translation. Mang... I'm still upset that Slayers RPG on the SNES had it's translation project cancelled ;.;
I premptively weep that the new vs Capcom wont come here, also.
That's about all ^^
Wait, wait, wait. A new game in the franchise is being made, or the people you work with possess a new copy of the game?
If the former, may I have links?
new as in unopened copy... Sorry to get your hopes up =|
That's ok.
You and your colleuges are only a few hour's drive away.
I'll be coming for it, when you least expect it.
I agree it sucks about Frontier... really good series, and I REALLY liked a lot of new designs in the series. For Japanese exclusive things, I was always disappointed the Transformers: Headmasters, Masterforce, and Zone series were never dubbed and released over here in USA land. That and the original version of Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere for the Playstation, which did make it over here, albeit in a gutted form. That's in terms of entertainment... now the Nissan Skyline, there is a crime that we never got that car over here or even in a left hand drive market, but I don't think you were looking for cars.
The fact that 'Metal Wolf Chaos' will never be released in the US is proof that there is no justice in the world.
Wow, just looked at the videos for the game. It's a travesty that a game that screams USA is released only in Japan. Sure it's silly, but made of pure explodium and awesome!
I'd also want to add Legend of the Galactic Heroes to the list, the longest OVA I've heard of.
The fact that 'Metal Wolf Chaos' will never be released in the US is proof that there is no justice in the world.
It's a travesty that a game that screams USA is released only in Japan.
Yeah man, Japan gets all the good s**t. And they usually get it first too. It sucks that we Westerners miss out so often... >_>;
Mother 3 fans It's not official, but it will do for now. I'll probably try it somewhere down the road.
