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XSEED: 'Close to Impossible' to Justify Releasing Retro Game Challenge 2

by Neal Ronaghan - September 5, 2012, 12:11 pm EDT
Total comments: 10

Any chance of an eShop release is unlikely because of licensing issues to boot.

The likelihood of Retro Game Challenge 2 seeing an official release outside of Japan is slim-to-none, according to XSEED, the publishers of the first game in the series.

"Unfortunately with the number that Retro Game Challenge did, it’s close to impossible to justify bringing the sequel over," XSEED's Jimmy Soga told us.

The reasons don't extend to just sales, though. Soga shot down the likelihood of an eShop release because of licensing issues. "It’s true we really don’t have to worry about inventory if we bring it over to 3DS eShop," he said. "But it is a bit of a tricky title since the rights belong not only to Namco Bandai for the game, but also to Fuji TV for basing it off the television series."

Retro Game Challenge out on DS in Japan in 2007 and in North America in 2009. You can read our review for more details.

The sequel, featuring retro-inspired takes on games from the Super Nintendo and Game Boy eras, was published by Namco Bandai in Japan in 2009.

There is still a fan translation of the game reportedly in the works. However, the website hasn't been updated since early 2012.

Screen is from the fan translation project.

Talkback

geoSeptember 05, 2012

I'd certainly buy it, and I think more people would buy it as an eshop release. 

Penguin_Of_ThymeJared Rosenberg, Video ProducerSeptember 05, 2012

I would be willing to buy a untranslated version for $10 or $15 on the eShop.

Fatty The HuttSeptember 05, 2012

I loved (and still love) Retro Game Challenge. I think I would love the sequel even more since the games are based off of Super NES and Gameboy.
Only 2 rights holders? Pfft! Come on, XSEED, you could do it. e-shop is a different paradigm than retail. I do not think basing the decision off of the retail sales for RGC is the whole picture here. Has XSEED tried any releases on e-shop yet? Maybe they should.

oldscoolSeptember 05, 2012

I assume when XSEED is referring to an eShop release, they are referring to the releasing the whole game.  It's too bad they couldn't chop the individual games out and release them, much like Bandai Namco has done with the Triotos release on iOS.  I purchased the first game and would love to have the individual games on my 3DS home screen.

WebmalfunctionAlex Culafi, Associate EditorSeptember 05, 2012

Fuuuuuuuck. Ever since the translation of Game Center CX has slowed down, I was hoping that this would fulfill my Arino needs in the meantime.

Fatty The HuttSeptember 05, 2012

I am not in favour of buying the chopped-out games individually. A large part of my enjoyment of RGC had to do with the charm of its wrapper; the gaming magazines, interacting with your "friend", completing the specific challenges in any given game; finding and using cheat codes from the magazines or elsewhere, the overall goofy story, etc. Strip away these elements are you are left with some mediocre to pretty good retro-styled games. That's not that interesting to me.

MegaByteAaron Kaluszka, Associate EditorSeptember 05, 2012

Quote from: Penguin_Of_Thyme

I would be willing to buy a untranslated version for $10 or $15 on the eShop.

I'd pay that to access the Japanese eShop.

xcwarriorSeptember 05, 2012

I own the original, its the next game I'm playing once I finish Nostalgia. Looking forward to it. Shame more people didn't buy it.

Jonnyboy117Jonathan Metts, Associate EditorSeptember 05, 2012

I paid full price and told everyone else to do the same! But there are limits to word of mouth. XSEED wasn't doing much marketing back then (they seem to be improving with The Last Story). I wonder if there could be a Kickstarter campaign for this kind of thing. You'd need to have an XSEEd-like level of knowledge about the real costs to license, localize, and distribute the game (even over eShop, there are some costs).

geoSeptember 06, 2012

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

I paid full price and told everyone else to do the same! But there are limits to word of mouth. XSEED wasn't doing much marketing back then (they seem to be improving with The Last Story). I wonder if there could be a Kickstarter campaign for this kind of thing. You'd need to have an XSEEd-like level of knowledge about the real costs to license, localize, and distribute the game (even over eShop, there are some costs).

Oh god kickstarter would be perfect for this.

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