Don't Expect Tales of Graces PS3 In The West

Tales Union writes: "The last Tales release in North America was Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World on November 11, 2008. Since then, Western fans of the long-running Japanese RPG series have heard little to nothing from Namco Bandai. Following the release of Dawn of the New World, there's been a number of unsettling signs, such as Peter Garza, the localization manager for Tales beginning with Tales of Symphonia for the Nintendo GameCube, leaving the company and the recent layoffs of personnel in their North American branches.

When the PS3 port of Tales of Symphonia was announced last April, many hopes were dashed when rumors about a possible localization came and went. Although there were no localization rumors for the Wii version of Tales of Graces, fans of the series were still left wondering what the future of the series would be in the West, as two of the mainline console games in the franchise had been passed over.

Now, with the recent release of Tales of Graces f, many have been wondering if Namco Bandai might release this improved port of the original in the West. However, for those who analyze the port, it becomes much more likely that Namco Bandai might have other plans in store, namely a Wii version of Tales of Graces f for the West. And some reports, such as this one, are signaling this might happen (although Namco Bandai has yet to comment on this story)."

[JDouglasGU]

thats too bad for tales fans

[Abash]

As long as they bring the new Tales of game they're announcing on 12/15 overseas, I'll be happy.

[Dragun619]

Yeah, I just hope they at least bring over Tales of Xilla for PS3.

[princejb134]

im a huge tales fan
but these idiots dont wanna send it to the west
all i ask for is english subtitles and menu, i could careless about the voices

plus is namco bandai fault there games aint selling in the west
like common why would they make their game on the wii
we pretty much all know unless the name is mario it wont sell as much as you expect it to
and no wii sports aint a game is a demo

[disturbing_flame]

It's too bad also for NAMCO.

I mean what NAMCO think ? They think they will survive only with the Japan market ?

NAMCO needs to push japanese games out of JAPAN! Why ?
Because actual gamers don't know anymore japanese games, they only play occidental games, and on the other way, japanese try now to make occidental games because they think they can't sell them in Europe nore America.

NAMCO ask Nintendo if japanese games can't be sold in occident. Ask the leader of this generation if Pokemon, Mario, Zelda and more are forgotten.
Ask Square if FFXIII didn't sold in Europe and America.
Ask people who played JRPG on PS2, PS1, Saturn, Dreamcast,N64,gamecube if they don't want japanese games back in their consoles.

Japanese developpers must stop making games with an occidental approach and start making japanese games translated to be sold around the world.

We want true japanese games back on consoles, we've got already what we need with our occidental devs for TPS, FPS etc. We need true arcade games, true survival games, true WTF games, true JRPG games, on consoles.
We want JAPAN back ! NAMCO you're doing it wrong, if you don't understand the market and don't believe in your History, you will fail.

Even SEGA released and is releasing YAKUZA out of Japan...
Come on, seriously

[Mahr]

Yeah, at this point, Graces should not really be a high priority entry on any running 'desired localization' lists. There are some good, talented folks handling a fan translation for both versions of it right now.

A better direction of effort would be toward getting the next game over here.

[Hardedge]

Sad face :'(

[TANUKI]

Arg... time to RAGE!

[Smacktard]

I kind of doubt Wii owners in the West are gonna get it, too. That article links a source that says it's coming out, but I can't find ANY other source. Seems quite doubtful to me. I'd love it if it did.

[Kain81]

WTF? Whats wrong with you Namco...the fans are waiting desperatly on a Tales game on the PS3 and you do nothing WTF?

[UltimateIdiot911]

Yet, they wonder why sales are falling into an abyss. All they do is keep releasing DBZ over and over and other anime related game.

All the good games, they rarely bother to localize. It's like they want to fail in the west.

[xXxSeTTriPxXx]

i see what you did.in the abyss (tales of the abyss) lol.

[FrigidDARKNESS]

there missing potential sales by holding it in Japan.. I played Tales Of Vesparia on the 360 and enjoyed every minute of it.

[Titanz]

I'm sure Wii fans would be ecstatic!

[Arup02]

I wasn't expecting lol

[Chris399]

They're really our only hope at this point. At least one of them should be able to pull the rights from those stodgy buggers.

[Baka-akaB]

they can't do anything when greedy namco still doesnt want to release the rights .

They are such airheaded bimbos ... they dont want to do it themselves , yet dont want others to do it neither

[GigaGaia]

TalesUnion are obviously wrong. When the PS3 version was announced, it meant the Wii version would never come out oversea. If one is gonna come out, it's the PS3 version.

JRPGs sell better on PS3 then Wii and 360 anyway.

[Solbadguy]

I won't be surprised when Namco goes under and I wouldn't care. I only own one retail game from them this gen and it Katamari Forever. Enslaved tanked and now they won't release any tales games in NA or Europe so they're pretty much dead to me.

[xXxSeTTriPxXx]

i really want this game to come out in the states but it's not looking good, due to poor business decisions.

it's like they're out of touch with, where there fanbase are (on the ps3).i really don't see whats the problem with giving atlus the distribution rights to the tales of franchise in NA.

let them keep releasing their rpg's on none rpg consoles, their last couple of games tanked commercially.they keep this up and they will be closing their doors.

[DeathGazer]

Namco screws over PS3 owners again...

Not news.

[Redempteur]

Weird article .. some spelling mistake here and there ( PS3 port of symphonia , really ? )

Not to mention that tales of fans don't care about reviews.
The sega yakuza route should be taken ( release the game for those who want to play it without losing all your money on voices nobody wants ) and look at the sales with minimal risks ..

Who cares if it's just upgraded wii graphics ? WHO CARES ? the gameplay is slick and polished and that's what matters ..

[Chris399]

I don't know what this article is going on about. It was definitely more than just an upscaled game, looked very cartoonish (as most Tales do), but stylized and fun. Only real difference that I saw between F and Vesperia were minor environmental detail and hair design.

[ShawnCollier]

If you compare the Wii and PS3 versions, they didn't really change all that much besides up-rezing the graphics.

They only started on the PS3 port around February/March and they would have had to have signed off on the finalized code around October or early November at the latest to get the copies of the game made, so there wasn't really that much time to completely revamp the graphics.

[Redempteur]

NO ..
they ONLY annonced the port around February/March

You may not be aware but the wii version has a lot of bugs ( still not fixed on wii ) and namco promised a correct version to their fans .. That was months before they annonced the F version ..The decision to do the F version instead most likely came around that time .

Besides this isn't just a port .. it's an upgraded title .. they just doubled/tripled the lenght of the game while fixing stuff ..this isn't things you do in a couple of months ..

Next , they actually upgraded almost all textures ..(comparaison pics exists) .. They just didn't change the models of the characters ( and why would they ?? )

Finally they didn't change the models of the characters because there was no need to .

Tales of fans ( like myself ) would be plenty happy to enjoy the new HI-oujis and optionnal bosses , the new titles( costumes ) , the new skits and the corrected camera .yes i say it now ..the necessary changes for the people who want the game..

[ShawnCollier]

Whoops, sorry about the PS3 Symphonia goof, meant Vesperia there.

EDIT: Fans might not care about reviews, but good reviews generally equal better sales.

[Obama]

It's partly due to the 360 fans reception of TOV. They lost so much money by bringing it over to the west when rarely anyone who own a 360 care about it. Seems like they are not trying again..which is sad since ps3 gamers in the west actually care about jrpg.

[xino]

well they can fuck off! if they don't wanna release the games outside Japan.

And games site should stop publishing news about the trash games.

[Burning_Finger]

And yet they localized Tales of Vasperia on the Xbox 360. FU Namco-Bandai. I hope you end like Square enix losing a lot of fanbase, Millions of Dollars and sales.

ATLUS and SEGA are the only 3rd party dev/publisher i really care this gen.

They are really good of bringing JRPG here in the states.

[KillingAllFanboys]

I am sorry guys.....but I giving up on Tales after I play TOS on Gamecube and Wii and Tales of abyss on PS2 I loved Tales game....but I have been waiting since 2008 for a new Tales game. I think I cant wait any longer...What has happened to the amazing JRPG we use to play on our PS2 AND Gamecube.I bought a freaking ps3, and wii for JRPG. An they release Tales of Vesperia on Xbox I was like WTF. I am just tried of Japanese company screwing the west over. I dont hate the companies, but I just hate their bad decisions come on Namco Bandai your better than this!!!!

[Darth Stewie]

Namco should just do what Sega does with the Yakuza series just have English sub.

[sashimi]

IF this is true...I hope NamcoBandai goes bankrupt so someone who is more willing to export their games outside of Japan can takeover :(

[Paracelsus]

ToG on Wii = ToS level of sales? So much for "Tales Union", it's like they have grown on trees, as if they don't know the age in which Jrpg sold over 300k in the US has been over for more than 6-7 years. Now only major mainstream series sell, and Tales did its best to stay out of that group thanks to Namco.

Not mentioning that thinking Wii can sell that much of a Jrpg is pure madness.

[Redempteur]

REACTING TO THE UPDATE POST:
"Additionally, if Graces f's additional content was to be brought over, this would be done similar to Tales of the Abyss's additional North America content, done by Namco Tales Studio or an outside developed contracted by Namco Bandai. "

There is no if f's content

Graces F is basicly a new game there is the wii ( buggy version not sold anymore ) and the PS3 version .. so there is no choice , if graces comes by namco it will be the PS3 version .

[Tuxedo_Mask]

If the article is correct with its assumptions, and if the article it references concerning a Western release of Tales of Graces for the Wii is correct, then Namco Bandai must run their business in a very strange way. The person calling himself "Kaiju" in the article linked from this one claims that Tales localizations halted due to ToV's low sales on the Xbox360, yet after seeing success in Japan with a PS3 version they don't release it in the West on PS3 too to see if there is any difference?

Referenced in article: http://www.associatedconten...

"The poor performance of Tales of Vesperia setback several localizations- including DS, PSP, and PS3 releases."

What does the sales of an Xbox360 exclusive have to do with the localization of games for other systems? I hope that what this person says isn't truly representative of NB, although his twisted logic sounds like a plausible excuse for a company that prefers to sit on a potentially successful franchise rather than attempt to make any profit with it in the West.