Assuming that this is legitimate and not just some low level guy speaking out of turn I think this gives me less hope that the game will make it out in the West in 2011 but I still have to assume that it'll make it over eventually. 

If they really aren't going to start work on the localization at all until they release in Japan then it'll probably be a situation like Xenoblade where signs are there that the game will release at some point but 6 months after release we still don't have official word on a date for the localization release.  Even if they announced the localization of Xenoblade today and only gave it 2 months from announcement to release that would still be 8 months between JP and NA and it might even go up to more than a year between the releases, which makes me very skeptical that TLS will make it here this year.

It seems really f'ing weird to here that this game "has no plans" for a NS release. I thought Western RPG design was almost at the heart of TLS. That's why MW forgone the turn based stand their and bash system. In favour of a more active tactical system. It seems perfect for NA and less so for Japan. Well what ever.

Well, Xenoblade was listed on Nintendo of America's release schedule for months before it was taken down. It was also listed on their supplementary data for financial info. The Last Story is ripe like you said, and has a lot of reasons for localization.  I did hear that The Last Story was trademarked for US and EU, and both thelaststory.com, and xenoblade.com redirect to Nintendo.com, so there is hope.

 Judging by Nintendo of America's track record (Disaster never made it, Project HAMMER got shevled, no Captain Rainbow, no ASE, and no Fire Emblem until the GCN) it may take a while.

We may see them in the future, but for now, off to Ebay.

Really it needs to be the OP if you want people to actually read your posts, if you present news that contradicts it

EDIT: as to the OP, it means precious little more than our own speculation here, though i see the usual suspects are ready to believe, as always

So I just contacted my Nintendo rep at Golin Harris and asked about TLS.  Guess what?  They don't know and the official line is right now there are no plans. 

Plans for a western release haven't been announced yet and the reps at Golin Harris can't tell you about stuff that hasn't been anounced yet.  Way to go  VG247.

So this is a non-story, people.

NOOOOOOOOO!

I see where you're coming from, but isn't the whole point of a thread to have a discussion? which implies that posts other than the OP are read as well?... or am I reaching too far here?

NOA's localization track record is all over the place.  While Disaster got shelved here (for quality reasons), it still made it to Europe (with the 2nd US localization btw).  Also, Project HAMMER wasn't a localization issue (it was canceled entirely), Captain Rainbow wasn't going to make it no matter what (hunting for Birdo's dildo alone probably sealed the deal there) and Fire Emblem made it over on GBA well before GameCube.  Even still, we got stuff like both Endless Oceans and S&P2, and projects like ExciteBots or Punch Out!! greenlit, so it's not like NOA does the big franchise sequels and Wii ____ games only.

Monado hasn't been taken off NOA's schedule.  In fact it was just reconfirmed recently iirc.  For further US localizations in 2011/2012, I could still see NOA bringing any of the following...

Wii

• Xenoblade 
• The Last Story
• Rhythm Heaven Wii
• Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road Victory
• Dragon Quest X
• Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterfly
• Inazuma Eleven Strikers

DS

• Fire Emblem: Heroes of Light and Shadow
• Jam with the Band
• Last Window
• Super Fossil Fighters
• Kirby DS 4
• Pokemon Typing
• Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 (Professional)
• Inazuma Eleven series
• Professor Layton and the Trickster's Flute
• Ninokuni: The Ebony Wizard
• Mystery Room

Exactly, and might I add "way to go Eurogamer" for perpetuating it, as anyone with any sense wouldn't post this as news.

It surprises me with all of the hate people are clamoring for titles from Nintendo, but if they can say something negative about these titles they will cause it gets hits as I feel is the case here, VG247 knows TLS is a big deal amongst JRPG fans, post a story that will get a lot of hits, and bam you've upped your ad clicks meaning more money in your pocket, Eurogamer sees this and sees an easy opportunity to not only get some hits but if there's backlash if/when TLS is announced for the west they can blame it on someone else misleading them.

Considering its Nintendo of Europe, I would not be surprised if they really didn't know about the DS Lite's existence when they were asked.

Poor NoE.