Doing the drywall at the new McDonalds
Gender: Male
Rank: Ace Attorney
Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 1:46 am
Posts: 1586
So I was thinking about how some games are localized and some are not, and how we are often given different (or even conflicting answers) to why some games were localized and some aren't. Now that SoJ has come out and there's the possibility of changes in the franchise, I started wondering if there was a way to seriously analyze all the anecdotal data we've heard and try to find a real reasonable explanation for why some games are localized and some are not.
I myself tend to automatically think "we don't get games that don't have Phoenix on the box art" and "we don't get spin-off games", but I wonder if it might be more complicated than that. I also tend to assume that it has to do with non Phoenix games not selling well (and I figure that's actually true) but I don't know for sure.
With that in mind, I'm starting up a little research project where I'm trying to find data and interviews about the localization process and sales. I remember a lot of things off the top of my head (especially during the AAI and DD days) but I'm currently looking for sources, direct quotes, sales data, etc. I was originally going to post my "findings" here when I was done so I could discuss and analyze the subject with people, but since this will take a while and others might already have some of this data, I thought I'd post here now and see if we could build up the info together. So if you have any info, links, or just general thoughts about the subject of why things are localized and why they aren't (or if you have any questions yourself about the subject that you think should be looked into) then feel free to add it here!
Here are some of the questions I'm trying to research in order to answer/back up with evidence right now:
*Why was GS1 not localized during the GBA era but was during the DS era?
*JFA was definitely localized because of AA's massive sales, but I also know that the localization of T&T and AJ was started around the same time or close together. That begs the question, were each of the games (especially AJ) localized due to the series' continued sales, or was it because Capcom started translating all three of them after they saw how well AA did? (and consequently, could sales of JFA, T&T, and AJ not have been as good as we might expect?)
*Why was AAI locazlied? Did AJ sell well or was it done on faith that the AA brand could still pull in money?
*Why was AAI2 not localized? We have multiple answers for this, so I need to go back, look at all those answers, and see if one of them makes more sense.
*Why was DD localized?
*Why was VS localized? Did Nintendo do it more because of Layton hype than AA hype?
*Why was DGS not localized? Was it Japanese Sales? Was it the fact that it was a spin-off? Localization Troubles? The fact that it didn't star Phoenix?
*Why was SoJ localized?
*Does the fact that both DD and SoJ both got localization announcements within days of the games' announcement mean anything? Does it mean that DGS2 (which didn't get that info) isn't coming out?
*What were the sales figures for each game, both in Japan and in the U.S. and Europe?
*Does the fact that DD and SoJ were only localized to English mean anything about sales figures in non-English speaking countries?
* What statements have been made about localization/business in general?
I have "answers" for many of these questions, but I'm trying to find sources and analyze them together. I'll update this post with my findings as I get them, but if anyone has thoughts, answers, or sources for these questions I'll update the post with your findings as well.
I used to have Sam Waterston as my avatar but photobucket added a watermark and also Law & Order has been cancelled for 10 years so it's time for me to move on.