Hi, article split into three tonight for my own blog. I've got a bit of a headache tonight. It's actually not from hangover; I've just had bad eating habits for the past few days. Okay, maybe it is a little bit of something weird.
Anyways...
My backlog update and my general updates are down there. I want to get this rant on-board first.
This is only a mini-rant established for now just to get this thought out, but lately I'm really sick of this idea that we have to limited run printed copies of localization. I'm fine with limited print, but don't be against restocking them.
The entire point (and what Iwata, among many other Industry vets, some now dead and some still standing) of localizing a game is for everyone to play them. Frankly, every game should be available to every player everywhere - I'm a firm believer of this. Of course, that only works in a perfect world, so getting as close as possible is also acceptable
But, when this stuff is basically cash fishing only at the hardcore fans, that to me screams of a business strategy of "Let's go just for the niche fans with no expectations of sales" aka, "No pain, short term gain."
If you go with the short term pain option to try for a long term gain, a bigger fanbase, the results can be highly rewarding. Just look at Atlus! Actually, wait, maybe being bought by SEGA isn't a wonderful fate for translation companies. Never mind.
Want to know some ridiculous prices still? Ar Nosurge on Vita. 70. SolaToRobo on DS with box. 120. Localized games should be cherished, not for scalpers to play the resell game.
So for any that love localization of games, before we see this inevitably become a bigger and bigger problem, I think it's good to voice to localization companies now. I'm not telling you to boycott, but just a nice email is always good. It sure won't kill them and can only make things better. Even if you don't entirely agree, think about the long term, people.
---
So a lot of general doubt has passed through my head lately. I don't know what it was that hit so hard. Heck, I kind of don't know what I'm doing anymore. I have a lot of doubt placed into myself lately. I mean, okay, maybe I don't, and I don't know where I'm going with this
But then I remember Iwata, and the stuff I checked on him to remind myself of some of his many great accomplishments.
You know, about 20 years ago, he was in a rock and a hard place. HAL unwilling to budge to stop working on Alcahest, and Square unwilling to allow them to localize it. Not being paid that much, even as the president of a company (and more like backbone president, up until some events that transpired) - It seriously makes you wonder. Yet, even in that positions, at an age significantly older than I am, (I'm in my early 20's, he was in his early 30's), he still fought for a localization. There was probably some doubt in his mind, but with that came confidence.
I guess probably the number one start to my composition is not browsing forum posts too much. Hearing the stuff like "I went for a degree in composition... and now I'm homeless" or the negativity of Game Audio can be humorous sometimes (there's more context than you would think) but... it just eventually hurts.
I can't surround myself with oblivious positive thoughts 24/7 though. I'm already use to telling a dozen people to whip back to reality. If there's one thing Iwata fought for in his mid-career, it was not playing by the regular rulebook
And that's what I need to do.
So, expect a lot of updates on my projects soon. I fixed the mac, so I'm doing something right.
---
So I finished Tales of Hearts R but I'll do my episodic "The hell was this?" later. I also finished Mario Sports Mix (loosest form of "Finished") and I'm starting to knock down the Backlog through bits and pieces. The "This only takes a few hours at most!" section is harder than I thought. I need to really set aside a day but I think I can knock down a good 20-30~
As I said before, I pretty much have to play through at least one RPG. I'm right now sticking on Code Name S.T.E.A.M. and The Walking Dead Season 2. I'm pretty confident I'll beat Code Name S.T.E.A.M. before the end of the month... or close to.
I also plan on starting back up everyone's favorite PS2 RPG's. Shadow Hearts, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, and Nocturne. One of these things is not like the other.
---
Lot's to do lately, little time, and I keep running every day into overtime. I'll manage, though. This week feels like things are finally cooling down to a somewhat realistic schedule. Sort-of. Maybe. At least some of you read this column, right? Or blog? It's something.
