Source: http://monkeypawgames.com/2012/03/prove-your-j-rpg-fan-power-help-support-our-kickstarter-campaign/

Much of what we do at MonkeyPaw Games centers on bringing Japanese games to life in Western markets. It is a difficult job as Japanese publishers often lack the confidence to localize their game and think others can’t do it either. We convince them that there is a market and that we can localize well. For the creator and publisher, they should be flattered! But that is rarely the case.

Risk dominates the equation. Proper localization must preserve a game’s integrity while weaving the intricacies of crossing cultures. Add the risks associated with submission, translation, quality assurance, marketing, and publishing…you can understand publishers’ aversion. Of course, the biggest risk is financial and the heavy exposure of bringing a foreign game to a competitive market.

It needn’t be this way. We need to remove some risk. First, let’s eliminate retail! No shops, no overhead, no wasted inventory, no returned product. Ship the product direct to users.

Still, much risk. If we could know how many users and how much they are willing to pay, the math becomes much, much easier.

Enter Kickstarter. By allowing users to vote on a game with a pledge to buy, we can focus on design and creativity. The model so well fits gaming that you’re sure to see once inaccessible titles now come into play.

And so we offer you Class of Heroes II for the PSP® system. Developed by Acquire Corp. of Japan, this quintessential RPG has a great pedigree and a strong following in Japan. By using an experienced and renown translation team to produce a culturally-sensitive and quality-assured localization, we know we have a winning hand.

But we won’t stop there. The offer includes not just a beautifully boxed Deluxe Version of a prime J-RPG with embossed leather hand-crafted guidebook, but also a surfeit of swag that will make your collectible goodie shelf come to life. Dig even deeper into the rewards and you might find yourself in Tokyo meeting the actual dev team, or even having your likeness in the game.

So you can see why we’re pretty excited about the opportunities. Kickstarter and the J-games will meet and Class of Heroes II will be the first born.

These Guys Want Half A Million To Prove That People Still Love JRPGs

http://kotaku.com/5896727/these-guys-want-half-a-million-to-prove-that-people-still-love-jrpgs

If MonkeyPaw Games raises $500,000, they'll know that gamers still love JRPGs. The publisher, previously responsible for bringing Japanese role-playing games like Alundra and Vanguard Bandits to the PlayStation Network, is launching a Kickstarter campaign to prove that the beloved genre ain't dead yet.

Tomorrow, MonkeyPaw (and partner Gaijinworks) will kick off their Kickstarter to create a deluxe physical version of the RPG Class of Heroes 2, the company has told Kotaku. They want to release an "old-school package," the type you might have seen in games a decade ago, stuffed with maps and figures and all sorts of other collectibles. To do so, they want half a million dollars.

If this project works out, the team has a "laundry list" of other JRPGs they'd like to bring over to the United States, Gaijinworks president (and former Working Designs head) Victor Ireland told Kotaku this afternoon. Ireland, responsible for the localization of wonderful games like the Lunar series, thinks there's room in the U.S. market for a resurgence of JRPGs.

"There's tons of great RPG and related content in Japan that just isn't making it out because it's just pooh-poohed at unprofitable and written off," Ireland said. "Fortunately with the Vita getting a huge push and its PSP compatibility, we can transition these unloved ugly ducklings so they can finally be seen as the graceful swans we saw all along. "We're looking at titles on all platforms, but there's a special emphasis on PSP because there's so many titles stuck in Japan that really need to be enjoyed here. However, even though I can't give specific titles, know that we have pursued or are closing deals on all major platforms." Class of Heroes 2, the sequel to an Atlus-published PSP dungeon crawler (that received rather mediocre reviews), never made it to the U.S. when it was first released back in 2009. Whether or not this Kickstarter is successful, MonkeyPaw says it still plans to release digital versions of Class of Heroes 2 for PSP and its companion, Class of Heroes 2G, for PlayStation 3.

Here are some of the reward tiers that MonkeyPaw and Gaijinworks will make available for this project: * Custom gold-sealed letters acknowledging pledged hardcore JRPG support from Victor Ireland * Class of Heroes 2 Deluxe Pack for PSP with bronze/silver/gold commemorative pins per tier * Class of Heroes 2 Limited Edition character plush toys

* Class of Heroes 2 Poster signed by the entire team

* Inclusion in the game's credits and ability to choose credit placement level with pledge

* Class of Heroes 2 Limited Edition Pocket Watch * Class of Heroes 2 Limited Edition custom music box

* Grand Tier: All previous tiers and 2-night stay in LA with one hosted day at E3 2012 and dinner with MonkeyPaw Games and Gaijinworks

* Two tiers off Kickstarter allow a trip to Japan hosted by MonkeyPaw Games and Gaijinworks to meet the Japanese creators and another that allows fans to be drawn as a character in the game that will ship. "This Kickstarter really is a test case for this evolved model of digital/physical hybrids direct to fans," Ireland said. "We're excited to see it work like we think it will and really amp up the RPG market again to satisfy the fans we know are out there."

here's the kickstarter link. I hope it works out for them
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1272149684/class-of-heroes-2-deluxe-for-the-psp-system

hmm.. I think they should have made it more affordable to actually get the game through that. Like ~$30 for a digital (vita compatible) version would have been great imo , but then again Sony might want some moneyz for the dls and such, so it might not have been too viable that way.

Yeah make it 20-30$ for digital code and I'd be interested. As is currently i think i can only throw a buck or two.

How I want to have more money so I can really help them... I will look at my finances on 15.04 and then hopefully be able to get them 60 €...

*goes out to buy lottery tickets*

EDIT: Aww... fuck it let next months Stefl1504 care about money...

EDIT2: WOAH! I totally need to get 50k$! Me as a character in a game! Totally need that ;P

is there ANY Footage of the game?

Oh and, i think half a million for a localization.. thats.. a lot. i'll keep an eye on it, but i am not sure yet if i want to pledge 60$.

Meh... Class of heroes 1 kinda sucked.. Never liked 1st person rpgs.. If it was any good a larger company would have translated it.. Wanna support jrpgs? Go get chaos rings 2!!

If they'll make a new Vanguard Bandits, I'm willing to float them $500,000 all by myself.

This is quite an idea. While I'm not a huge Class of Heroes fan (seriously, they could have picked something with a bit more mass appeal), I'll still pledge some cash for them. I want more JRPGs.