I wonder if NoE has made back its expenses yet.

Based upon the sales figures on this site, it has grossed 4.14M euro (based upon a 50 euro price point).

From this, payment for translation, voice overs, manufacturing, distribution, and any advertising -- plus retailer margins -- would need to paid before determining the true profit of the game.

In other words, this might not have been a good financial gamble and probably will scare off NoA. And since I wanted to play this game (and others following), that is not good.

But while to us it might be a game (or game playing), to NCL, NoA, NoE, etc., it is a business. And instead of high scores, they are seeking high profits.

Mike from Morgantown

NoA has determined that such games will not sell. Unfortunately the European sales suggest they are right. We in NA will never see these games (except maybe one day as VC releases in a decade from now)
NoE will probably cover costs and more importantly - show 'gamers' they care about them and about quality titles which is important as they are trying to sell 3DS and WiiU as systems 'gamers' want.

I just hope Xenoblade sells enough that NoE continues with releasing The Last Story and Pandora's Tower. I can always import but I can't play TLS in Japanese (PT yes but not to full effect).

Nintendo should sell some strategic games regardless of sales. Xenoblade, Tales of Graces and The Last Story should have been among them. The fact that it didn't happen was a huge let down for me as a fan.

Actually the opposite. The game was more or less sold out everywhere for 3 weeks after its release.

While that may be true the numbers are still vastly underwhelming.  EU sales might crawl up to over 100k but so what?  That won't change NoA minds.   And sadly some of those 100k EU sales are importers (myself included) who likely wouldn't get an NA version now.  

My advice... mod your Wii and import.  Encourage NoE to continue down this path.

Tales of Graces is a NamDai game, nothing to do with Ninty, and besides it is being localized, just not the Wii version

That's true, but Nintendo could have picked up publishing rights to other regions if it wanted (and has with other games like Samurai Warriors 3, or NoE is doing with Go Vacation!)    If NoA wanted to maintain it's 'core' base, this would have been worthwhile.    I can't see even NoE doing this now that the PS3 version is coming out though.

yeah its not happening, the PS3 version is giving too much bang for your bucks. Would have been nice if Namco just gave Wii owners in the west the regular game. Christ! there already doing the translation.

No

I obviously meant what's bolded. Nintendo going serious about hardcore jrpg games in the western markets would have been terrible news for many nintendo fans who witnessed powerless during years how Sony monopolized jrpgs in the west.

They could have easily managed to loose some money, as an investment for other things to come. Pity.