Sega: 'No plans' for western release of Yakuza 5 and upcoming PS4 installment

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/128254-Yakuza-5-Devs-Have-No-Plans-For-Western-Release

After 25 years later I finally found a Sega franchise that doesn't suck aside from Shenmue, and then this happens:

When asked if he had plans to localize Yakuza 5 for the West, series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi said, "We don't have a plan for that at the moment. The Yakuza Studio team is a fixed size, and we have to choose between forging ahead with the next game or localising the one that just came out." He said that he chose to forge ahead with Isshin rather than localize Yakuza 5, which doesn't bode well for English speaking fans of either game.

But, he didn't entirely rule out a future localization of his games, stating "I'd definitely love to reach the whole world [with Yakzua 5], haha, if we have the manpower and the money to do it."

"Haha" my ass. How expensive can hiring a couple translators possibly be? Just crowdfund the shit, fans will pledge some money so they can play the game in english. Hell, I bet you can find people who would work on the translation FOR FREE. It happened before. How far up your own ass is you head exactly, Sega? Stop holding your developers hostage and go out of business already.

I'm getting the feeling that Sega either a) doesn't like to make Western releases for their games for some stupid reason or b) they just like giving Western gamers the finger lately.

The Western release of Phantasy Star Online Online 2 has been indefinetly delayed for months now, with no signs of Sega thinking about working on it anytime soon. So now there's at least 2 or 3 games they're withholding from us. Assholes.

Atlus is doomed.CarnageHeart

nothing new here, sega has been screwing the west for ages now

Isn't crowd funding the same as buying the game? It's people who didn't buy enough shenmue that they had to drop the English cast. I still think there are major issues with Sega games. 

How well does the series sell in the US?  I doubt they would be fretting over the cost of localizing the games if the series were profitable outside of Japan.

How well does the series sell in the US?  I doubt they would be fretting over the cost of localizing the games if the series were profitable outside of Japan.

capaho

But don't worry! You'll still get plenty of Hatsune Miku games!

I guess we won't get both Yakuza 5 and Yakuza:Ishin localization then. I'm sad now, I was really pumped up when I saw Ishin's trailer.

Stopped caring about SEGA since 2011 after not releaseing Valkyria Chronicles III (PSP) outside of Japan

Atlus is doomed.CarnageHeart

Well didn't they buy the whole company? Was there many/any workers lost in the process? If Atlus still has the same manpower as before, then why exactly are they doomed?

Or do they not have the same manpower? I'm not sure.

But don't worry! You'll still get plenty of Hatsune Miku games!

DJ-Lafleur

But seriously though, I do sympathise with Yakuza fans. I have never played the games, but as Tales fan, I know what it's like to have lots of games in my favorite series not localized. But thankfully Namco have been doing good lately though.

But I just found another series to love recently, Shin Megami Tensei. Many people fear that may happen to that series now, since Sega bought Atlus. I really hope they are wrong. But for now I am pretty optimistic about about it.

[QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]Atlus is doomed.Bongardo

Well didn't they buy the whole company? Was there many/any workers lost in the process? If Atlus still has the same manpower as before, then why exactly are they doomed?

Or do they not have the same manpower? I'm not sure.

Nobody's been cut yet, but Sega has its own localization people. Companies always seek to reduce their bottom line, so sooner or later someone at Sega is going to say 'Let's consolidate in order to save costs!'.

Also, Sega is notoriously conservative about what they bring over while Atlus is famously bold about what they bring over. Now the bold guys have to get permission from the conservative guys. That will undoubtedly make for less boldness.

[QUOTE="Bongardo"]

[QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]Atlus is doomed.CarnageHeart

Well didn't they buy the whole company? Was there many/any workers lost in the process? If Atlus still has the same manpower as before, then why exactly are they doomed?

Or do they not have the same manpower? I'm not sure.

Nobody's been cut yet, but Sega has its own localization people. Companies always seek to reduce their bottom line, so sooner or later someone at Sega is going to say 'Let's consolidate in order to save costs!'.

Also, Sega is notoriously conservative about what they bring over while Atlus is famously bold about what they bring over. Now the bold guys have to get permission from the conservative guys. That will undoubtedly make for less boldness.

You could be right. But maybe not. Atlus has always done well over in the west haven't they? Persona in particular is actually pretty popular. So if they can, I can hardly see them choosing not to localise them.

I wouldn't be surprised if they released games over here less though... which would be unfortanate. But I'm sure Persona, at the very least, would continue.

Why dont they just do a kickstarter for a digital release with subtitles only? It's like they are afraid to admit that they would make money off of it.

So much insanity in this thread.

1. People would pledge money on Kickstarter to Sega (A PUBLISHER!) for localization...wow. Some people shouldn't even be aware of Kickstarter, they'll ruin it for everyone else.

2. People believe that this won't make it to the west when every other main installment did? Because the dev team said it's moving onto the next project? And why the hell would a Japanese dev team do foreign localization in the first place? Do you think that Ken Levine translates the script and directs the German voiceovers? This is completely meaningless and probably out of their hands completely and something they wouldn't do anyway.

3. Yakuza is shit.

So much insanity in this thread.

1. People would pledge money on Kickstarter to Sega (A PUBLISHER!) for localization...wow. Some people shouldn't even be aware of Kickstarter, they'll ruin it for everyone else.

2. People believe that this won't make it to the west when every other main installment did? Because the dev team said it's moving onto the next project? And why the hell would a Japanese dev team do foreign localization in the first place? Do you think that Ken Levine translates the script and directs the German voiceovers? This is completely meaningless and probably out of their hands completely and something they wouldn't do anyway.

3. Yakuza is shit.

UpInFlames

And UiF hates yet another console exclusive. Shock and gasp.

[QUOTE="UpInFlames"]

So much insanity in this thread.

1. People would pledge money on Kickstarter to Sega (A PUBLISHER!) for localization...wow. Some people shouldn't even be aware of Kickstarter, they'll ruin it for everyone else.

2. People believe that this won't make it to the west when every other main installment did? Because the dev team said it's moving onto the next project? And why the hell would a Japanese dev team do foreign localization in the first place? Do you think that Ken Levine translates the script and directs the German voiceovers? This is completely meaningless and probably out of their hands completely and something they wouldn't do anyway.

3. Yakuza is shit.

Black_Knight_00

And UiF hates yet another console exclusive. Shock and gasp.

Only insane people read.

[QUOTE="Black_Knight_00"]

[QUOTE="UpInFlames"]

So much insanity in this thread.

1. People would pledge money on Kickstarter to Sega (A PUBLISHER!) for localization...wow. Some people shouldn't even be aware of Kickstarter, they'll ruin it for everyone else.

2. People believe that this won't make it to the west when every other main installment did? Because the dev team said it's moving onto the next project? And why the hell would a Japanese dev team do foreign localization in the first place? Do you think that Ken Levine translates the script and directs the German voiceovers? This is completely meaningless and probably out of their hands completely and something they wouldn't do anyway.

3. Yakuza is shit.

dvader654

And UiF hates yet another console exclusive. Shock and gasp.

*sigh*

Yes, I read it. But fine, if you guys truly believe that this is the actual reasoning and that this game isn't coming over, don't let me stop you. There'll be no one happier than me if it turns out I'm wrong.

You can get a Kickstarter going for Sega in the meantime.

*sigh*

Yes, I read it. But fine, if you guys truly believe that this is the actual reasoning and that this game isn't coming over, don't let me stop you. There'll be no one happier than me if it turns out I'm wrong.

You can get a Kickstarter going for Sega in the meantime.

UpInFlames

Kickstarter is not the only means of crowdfunding. Small scale crowdfunding has existed for over a decade, with the "donate" buttons on a ton of websites. Sega could easily find a way to fund the translation without compromising their reputation. have the Yakuza creator put his face on the fundraising. There are smart ways to do this.

There is no money in it for Sega so they are like "screw you fat americans lolololol" at their latest sushi luncheon. Sega sucks so much.GodModeEnabled

If there is no money then what reason is it to release it in the west?

[QUOTE="GodModeEnabled"]There is no money in it for Sega so they are like "screw you fat americans lolololol" at their latest sushi luncheon. Sega sucks so much.wiouds

If there is no money then what reason is it to release it in the west?

[QUOTE="GodModeEnabled"]There is no money in it for Sega so they are like "screw you fat americans lolololol" at their latest sushi luncheon. Sega sucks so much.wiouds

If there is no money then what reason is it to release it in the west?

[QUOTE="wiouds"]

[QUOTE="GodModeEnabled"]There is no money in it for Sega so they are like "screw you fat americans lolololol" at their latest sushi luncheon. Sega sucks so much.CarnageHeart

If there is no money then what reason is it to release it in the west?

How much of a risk can one take with people jobs on the line?

And UiF hates yet another console exclusive. Shock and gasp.

Black_Knight_00

I've known him for years and that is most certainly not how he measures quality.

UIF, like the rest of us, has some very strong opinions but he can intelligently doll them out and justify them.

Also, I've owned every Yakuza released in the West and yet I'll be the first to admit the franchise has some serious flaws.

That said, I do wish 5 would get a release over here.

I've known him for years and that is most certainly not how he measures quality.

UIF, like the rest of us, has some very strong opinions but he can intelligently doll them out and justify them.

Grammaton-Cleric

Thanks, Gram.

Unfortunately, some people can't stand it when other people say something negative about their favorite games.

[QUOTE="Grammaton-Cleric"]

I've known him for years and that is most certainly not how he measures quality.

UIF, like the rest of us, has some very strong opinions but he can intelligently doll them out and justify them.

UpInFlames

Thanks, Gram.

Unfortunately, some people can't stand it when other people say something negative about their favorite games.

;) You came into the thread characterizing the previous posts as insane, made statements which made it clear you didn't bother to read the first post and dismissed the game under discussion as 'sh!t'. Now you're trying to pretend as if you didn't come into this thread hoping to stir up trouble?

[QUOTE="UpInFlames"]

[QUOTE="Grammaton-Cleric"]

I've known him for years and that is most certainly not how he measures quality.

UIF, like the rest of us, has some very strong opinions but he can intelligently doll them out and justify them.

CarnageHeart

Thanks, Gram.

Unfortunately, some people can't stand it when other people say something negative about their favorite games.

;) You came into the thread characterizing the previous posts as insane, made statements which made it clear you didn't bother to read the first post and dismissed the game under discussion as 'sh!t'. Now you're trying to pretend as if you didn't come into this thread hoping to stir up trouble?

Heh, but that's a different matter altogether. :D

The idea of crowdfunding A MEGAPUBLISHER PROJECT IS INSANE. There's just no two ways about it.

I've read the first post and the original article (as I always do if I decide to post), I just don't buy it. I think publishers/developers usually just try to gauge interest with statements like these, to get petitions going and crap like that, there's very little doubt in my mind that Yakuza 5 will make it to the west.

I've talked at lenght about why I think Yakuza is an awful game throughout the years. The abridged version: awful writing and voice acting, poor combat system that is on the verge of being flatout broken thanks to the worthless lock-on system and atrocious camera angles, cheap AI, frustrating trail and error design that sometimes borders on insanity (fight a dude that's holding a shotgun with your BARE HANDS!), insanely long loading times, awful sound effects, awful soundtrack. The graphics are good, though. It's not quite as awful as Shenmue, but then again, what is? :)

[QUOTE="Black_Knight_00"]

 

And UiF hates yet another console exclusive. Shock and gasp.

Grammaton-Cleric

I've known him for years and that is most certainly not how he measures quality.

UIF, like the rest of us, has some very strong opinions but he can intelligently doll them out and justify them.

Also, I've owned every Yakuza released in the West and yet I'll be the first to admit the franchise has some serious flaws.

That said, I do wish 5 would get a release over here.

Plus he's getting downright passive aggressively offensive on a personal level lately. "Some people shouldn't be aware of kickstarter" (referred to me) was just the latest.

I assume you haven't seen his "F*CK THE PS3!" thread.

Plus he's getting downright passive aggressively offensive on a personal level lately. "Some people shouldn't be aware of kickstarter" (referred to me) was just the latest.

Black_Knight_00

Sega doing kickstarter is just as bad as say Steven Spielberg or Warner Bros. doing kickstarter to dub Harry Potter in Japanese. They have the money they should do it.

However, if fans are willing to foot the bill then I have no problem with it. 

Also, UIF is not an actino adventure fan. He was always going to have a hard time liking Uncharted and well that's lmost the entire PS3 exclusive library. it was hardly surprising. Hopefully Sony develops some WRPGs. Letting ND do a Survival Horror game was a nice start. 

Sega doing kickstarter is just as bad as say Steven Spielberg or Warner Bros. doing kickstarter to dub Harry Potter in Japanese. They have the money they should do it.

However, if fans are willing to foot the bill then I have no problem with it.S0lidSnake

Grammaton, and I apologize that you've been dragged into this, you and anyone else can read through my infamous "F*** the PS3" thread right here and make your own judgement, if you're so inclined. You'll find that, as always, I've backed up every single claim I've made with solid arguments. Some people agreed, some people countered with their own arguments whereas some attempted (poorly, I might add) to slander and discredit my character - about which I was privately contacted by both current and former ROF members expressing their disbelief.

Yes, yes do read that thread so you can see he does indeed start playing games with a bias :roll:

And can't realize that crticism is not a personal attack.

Grammaton, and I apologize that you've been dragged into this, you and anyone else can read through my infamous "F*** the PS3" thread right here and make your own judgement, if you're so inclined. You'll find that, as always, I've backed up every single claim I've made with solid arguments. Some people agreed, some people countered with their own arguments whereas some attempted (poorly, I might add) to slander and discredit my character - about which I was privately contacted by both current and former ROF members expressing their disbelief.

UpInFlames

2 pages in and man I love that thread. I like how we turned it into a thread about shitting on popular games. Journey vs Flower. RE4 and RE5. Some Uncharted 3 hate (ok that was just me).

 Notice how we all called each other nuts without getting upset like you did when we responded the same way when you wrote your shocking Uncharted 2 review. None of us took criticisms personally except for you. Lets forget the fact that you completely shat on what is the second most highly praised games of this generation behind GTAIV. Lets forget that aside from BK, no one accused you of having an anti-PS bias. Lets just look at how you went about writing that review. You chose not post any impressions of the game for days. Day after day you led us on posting smileys making us think you were enjoying the game. It was disingenuous to say the least and the harsh and at times incredulous posts that you got right after that review were largely a result of that. Had you simply stated that you were hating the game, I doubt you wouldve gotten the same reaction.

Regardless, we went on to discuss your review in a great bit of detail afterwards.  

[QUOTE="UpInFlames"]

Grammaton, and I apologize that you've been dragged into this, you and anyone else can read through my infamous "F*** the PS3" thread right here and make your own judgement, if you're so inclined. You'll find that, as always, I've backed up every single claim I've made with solid arguments. Some people agreed, some people countered with their own arguments whereas some attempted (poorly, I might add) to slander and discredit my character - about which I was privately contacted by both current and former ROF members expressing their disbelief.

S0lidSnake

2 pages in and man I love that thread. I like how we turned it into a thread about shitting on popular games. Journey vs Flower. RE4 and RE5. Some Uncharted 3 hate (ok that was just me).

Notice how we all called each other nuts without getting upset like you did when we responded the same way when you wrote your shocking Uncharted 2 review. None of us took criticisms personally except for you. Lets forget the fact that you completely shat on what is the second most highly praised games of this generation behind GTAIV. Lets forget that aside from BK, no one accused you of having an anti-PS bias. Lets just look at how you went about writing that review. You chose not post any impressions of the game for days. Day after day you led us on posting smileys making us think you were enjoying the game. It was disingenuous to say the least and the harsh and at times incredulous posts that you got right after that review were largely a result of that. Had you simply stated that you were hating the game, I doubt you wouldve gotten the same reaction.

Regardless, we went on to discuss your review in a great bit of detail afterwards.

Eh. You should have just ignored him rather than giving him exactly what he was looking for.

I respect UiF, but I could see that set-up coming from a mile away. Most of the Ring knows him much better than me and should have seen it too.

Had you simply stated that you were hating the game, I doubt you wouldve gotten the same reaction. S0lidSnake

Day after day you led us on posting smileys making us think you were enjoying the game.

S0lidSnake

I did no such thing. The SINGLE smiley I posted was in response to Travo that had nothing to do with the game itself.

[QUOTE="S0lidSnake"]

Day after day you led us on posting smileys making us think you were enjoying the game.

UpInFlames

I did no such thing. The SINGLE smiley I posted was in response to Travo that had nothing to do with the game itself.

Are you going to argue that you did not lead us on?

 

Eh. You should have just ignored him rather than giving him exactly what he was looking for.

I respect UiF, but I could see that set-up coming from a mile away. Most of the Ring knows him much better than me and should have seen it too.

CarnageHeart

I know, he himself stated that he hates hollywood blockbuster games early on in the thread.

I blame Travo. :P F1 and BK had predicted a 5/10 score but Travor went with a 7 and that got the rest of us all hot and bothered.

[QUOTE="UpInFlames"]

[QUOTE="S0lidSnake"]

Day after day you led us on posting smileys making us think you were enjoying the game.

S0lidSnake

I did no such thing. The SINGLE smiley I posted was in response to Travo that had nothing to do with the game itself.

Are you going to argue that you did not lead us on?

I posted no indication whatsoever either that I am enjoying or not enjoying the game.