By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
jarrod on 26 November 2010
Edit Thread
MrT-Tar said:
jarrod said:

Better late than never.  Hopefully Nintendo picks up IE2-3, Ninokuni and Layton 4 as well.


I remember hearing a while back that Level-5 were opening a Western publishing studio.  I think they are using Nintendo to sort of 'test the waters' with IE, if the franchise picks up popularity in the West then Level-5 will publish future instalments.

In theory, a football RPG developed by Level-5 released on the DS with a marketing push by Nintendo, at least here in Europe, should sell crap loads.  But one can never be sure.

As for Ninokuni, I'm really not sure.  If Nintendo publish it in the West, they might demand full or timed exclusivity for the title.

Level-5 did just open a US branch, and they've said they'll also be setting up shop in Europe next year, but I kinda think they'll be focusing on their 3DS/Wii/PS3 games with that (their only announced game is actually Layton 5 for 3DS).  For the rest of their DS stuff, I really think it'll be partnering with Nintendo, or not releasing anything at all. And if SCEA/SCEE don't pick up LBX, I doubt Level-5 will bother with that in the west either... DS and PSP just have too many piracy problems here (which actually makes Ninokuni DS more attractive in weird way, with the giant tome that's necessary to play the game) plus the systems are just naturally winding down at this point.

Speaking of Ninokuni, the game's getting an exclusivity window on DS anyway, I don't think it'd be a problem for Nintendo to publish the DS version next year and then have Level-5 self-publish the PS3 version in 2012.  Nintendo published Samurai Warriors 3 in NA/EU, yet I've no doubt we'll see the PS3 version (and maybe even a 360 version) come over in 2011.