As discussed a while back in this space, a digital movement called Operation Rainfall had been created to encourage Nintendo to localize three acclaimed RPG titles for the Wii. These games - Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story, and Pandora's Tower - have been successes in other markets (including Japan and Europe) and hardcore American gamers really wanted to get their hands on a copy. Sadly, this seemed unlikely, and this was the last proverbial straw in the growing conflict between Nintendo's die-hard gamer demographic and the legions of Wii Fit enthusiasts that had (allegedly) stolen their favorite publisher away from them. Some poorly-worded statements from Nintendo bigwigs seemed to confirm the fears of the hardcore: Nintendo had given up on trying to please the 'core gamer.

However, Operation Rainfall wasn't going to shout or criticize. Their plan since Day One has been to kill them with kindness, and it has worked amazingly well. Xenoblade was officially announced for localization in December, and a few days ago, The Last Story was also confirmed. Pandora's Tower almost seems inevitable now, barring a total blackout at the registers when Xenoblade drops. (And pre-orders are already at six figures, as O.R. places as much stock in advertising these games as they did in getting them localized.) If sales are decent for these games, it will be a big win for all parties.

I'm a proud (if somewhat passive) member of O.R., and it's easy to see why they've been so successful:

- They have resources.

- They are INSANELY organized. Seriously, there have been shuttle launches with less planning.

- Their discipline is spotless - every word that comes out of them is polite, civil, and to the point.

- They understand that Nintendo is a business, not a charity, and frame their arguments accordingly.

- When Nintendo agreed to localize Xeno and Last Story, they switched to "Thank You!" mode and made terrific videos, letter campaigns, and gift thingies to all parties involved. They didn't get what they wanted and say "finally, you idiots see the light."

In short, they're the opposite of 99% of the stuff you see on the Web. And that's why they were addressed directly by Nintendo and the major gaming press.

Now, it's not as if Nintendo is some benevolent entity here. Localizing a game that's already made isn't a huge investment (doubly so if they port the European versions), and O.R. has basically agreed to tirelessly promote their software for free. Add in Nintendo's dire 2012 Wii line-up, and there's a chance they would've ported at least one of these games anyhow to make a desperate attempt at relevance. But there's no way they'd have ported all 3, and this is a nice goodwill gesture. Throw in O.R.'s goodwill gestures in return, and we hav eone of the few publisher/consumer dynamics in this business that isn't defined by pure rage and hostility.

And that alone is worth celebrating.