Nintendo responds to Xenoblade's localization efforts (along with Monolithsoft, Mistwalker)

[gumby_trucker]

trestres said:

I literally got tired of making NoA vs NoJ release comparisons. Things appear to be worse now because some big games aren't making it here, but things were always this bad after 2007 ended. The Wii fit phenomena just hit NoA too hard in the head and they did a complete 180° turn on their market views. We have missed out so many games it's not even funny.

This is an interesting point. If true, it means their philosophy with Wii U will be to let third parties carry most of the weight when it comes to 'hardcore' releases, otherwise they'd have no reason to announce the thing. It's not like dual analog and cutting edge graphics are system selling features for the Wii Fit crowd...

Rather it seems Nintendo will offer some new casual lifestyle gimmick that will sell the Wii U to the soccer moms, while the likes of Valve, Epic and Id cater to the 'hardcore' crowd.... Sounds like the end of Japanese gaming to me, as well as the end of 'niche' games..

On the other hand, maybe someone like Valve will see it as a business opportunity to offer quirky Japanese style games for cheap via Steam on Wii U.