So Level-5 recently announced that the popular RPG, Youkai Watch, will be coming to the west in 2015 along with toys and whatnot. My question to you is: Will it be popular here? If so, will it be a fad and here to stay like Pokemon?

I think if it's advertised correctly it could become popular, but probably only as a fad.

So yeah, popular, flop, or inbetween?

Link to the announcement: http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=877862

Hino, president of level-5, says that Youkai Watch is being planned to be released in the west next year. They already have a toy company ready to support the series and think that the success of the series is guaranteed.

「妖怪ウォッチ」も、先輩格に続いての海外市場進出を視野に入れている。

「来年を目途に世界展開する予定。日本らしいファンタジーとしての魅力があると考えている。すでに海外の玩具メーカーなどから『絶対に成功する』とのお墨付きも 得ている」と日野氏。

"In regards too foreign markets, we have been taking a look at it in regards to Yokai Watch. We are in development planning to release it sometime next year. We think it has a big appeal as a very Japanese-ish fantasy story. We already have support from a foreign toy maker company saying that it will be a definite success."

Not like Pokémon...but yes.

All depends on timing.. If they can market the toys as THE holiday present for kids its gonna be huge..

Well, I doubt most kids even know about the anime in the west so it probably wont be that big unless the show pops up

I will buy it so its at least 1 sale for europe! :)

Think they'd bring the anime to the west? They probably will

The game only became to the level of popularity it has attained because of merchandise and TV ratings. If it doesn't have that over here, it won't do well.

Yea but if they release the game before the anime, I doubt its gonna be too successful... I think it will end up like monster hunter in the sense that its freaskishly popular in japan but not in the west, least until the release the anime and it gets going

Ive only really paid attention to gaming news regarding this series. Do we know if they plan on releasing the show to the west as well or not?

It just might, they will have to change that name first.