Capcom's Not Porting Latest Ace Attorney To The USA

[vansau]

Capcom's Not Porting Latest Ace Attorney To The USA

Sorry, folks: Ace Attorney Investigations 2 isn't going to come to North America any time in the foreseeable future.

Capcom's Ace Attorney games are pretty beloved by those gamers who play them over here in the States. However, the latest title in the series, Ace Attorney Investigations 2 isn't actually going to be appearing over here in the West ... at least, not anytime soon.

At the recent "Ask Capcom" video Q&A session, Capcom's Christian Svensson was asked "is Ace Attorney coming to the U.S.?"

Svensson responded with, "I assume that means Ace Attorney Investigations 2. The answer is 'no.' Sorry about that."

At the time, there wasn't much of an explanation as to why this was, but the rationale behind the decision has <a href=http://www.capcom-unity.com/ask_capcom/go/thread/view/7371/27423285/Why_Arent_You_Localizing_Ace_Attorney_Investigations_2&post_num=25#491976593>been explained a bit more over in the Capcom forums:

The costs of localization are higher than the forecasted return. And no, it wouldn't sell more than Okamiden (which has already sold more than the first Investigations).

Could this content show up on some other platform somewhere down the line? Possibly, but there's nothing on that front for me to talk about. I realize there are fans who would like to have this and I'll be sure to explore ways that could happen viably in the future with our strategy and R&D teams but no promises.

It's kind of a shame that there aren't any plans to bring the latest Ace Attorney game over here to North America. At the same time, this comment about how the game might come to "some other platform" sounds mildly promising, especially since I have the first Phoenix Wright game on my iPhone and keep on hoping for more.

Source: Siliconera

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[Radeonx]

Curses!
This and Layton vs. Phoenix? It just isn't fair, I tell you!

 

[gigastar]

Capcom already has a list of games they should be porting to the EU ans US right now...

Most glaringly is Monster Hunter Freedom 3.

 

[Xannidel]

What are they playing at!? North America has a HUGE Ace Attorney fanbase and they would make a nice profit from selling those games here. Maybe (and this is a HUGE maybe) they will learn how stupid this decision is and then they will sell it in the US.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Curses!
This and Layton vs. Phoenix? It just isn't fair, I tell you!

Blame the gaming community for not buying the games. Shame a quality series can't find a financially stable leg over here.

 

[mew4ever23]

Dammit! I was really looking forward to Ace Attorney Investigations 2 too (man, that sounds wrong)..

Does Capcom not realize just how big a following the Ace Attorney games have everywhere else in the world?

Either way, looks like another game for Capcoms "Port this ASAP" list.

 

[Art Axiv]

What are they playing at!? North America has a HUGE Ace Attorney fanbase and they would make a nice profit from selling those games here. Maybe (and this is a HUGE maybe) they will learn how stupid this decision is and then they will sell it in the US.

I doubt. A different story: People keep crying for a new Chrono Trigger game for YEARS.. to no result. I honestly doubt they'd listen.

 

[Juventus]

they will port it. they did port the first three phoenix wright ones, the apollo justice and miles edgeworth ones too. it's not like they did not sell otherwise they would not have bothered porting any of those after the first phoenix wright one.

capcom be pulling an atlus (with the whole catherine thing)

 

[manythings]

What are they playing at!? North America has a HUGE Ace Attorney fanbase and they would make a nice profit from selling those games here. Maybe (and this is a HUGE maybe) they will learn how stupid this decision is and then they will sell it in the US.

Maybe this is just a fake to see the reaction. Enough people say "WTF?!" and they put it out with the added free publicity of people dancing around saying "Hooray! It's coming out!" The longer it is in the public conciousness the more likely you are to buy it.

EDIT: That actually begs the question how much could localisation actually cost? English (and maybe spanish, I guess?) where all that is really required is the main story points and a decent staff of wordsmiths, then some tech guys to change the dialogue.

 

[Juventus]

edit: damn double post

 

[Staskala]

What are they playing at!? North America has a HUGE Ace Attorney fanbase and they would make a nice profit from selling those games here. Maybe (and this is a HUGE maybe) they will learn how stupid this decision is and then they will sell it in the US.

AAI sold really, really badly. ~275000 (EU + USA) copies sold isn't good for a DS game.
So from a business perspective not bothering with a localization is far from "stupid".

I'd say a translation is very unlikely, at least until that Layton/AA crossover comes out.
Layton sells extremely well, so it might give the AA franchise a much needed push.

Edit: On the matter of fan translations: No chance.
The first investigations had a script of about 1.2Mb, the second one should be of similar size.
1.2Mb is huge for a DS game, it would require a very dedicated translation group with experience. And then there's hacking the game and the localization they'd have to keep intact.

If anyone ever starts fan-translating this, it will only get dropped.

 

[Sindre1]

Europe then?

 

[Tim Latshaw]

Dammit! I was really looking forward to Ace Attorney Investigations 2 too (man, that sounds wrong)..

Does Capcom not realize just how big a following the Ace Attorney games have everywhere else in the world?

Either way, looks like another game for Capcoms "Port this ASAP" list.

It's a big following in heart, but unfortunately not in size.

Please don't dock my avatar's already meager salary for speaking out of turn.

 

[xyrafhoan]

The first Ace Attorney Investigations was admittedly underwhelming, but that was because of that ENDING. Nothing would dissuade me from buying Ace Attorney Investigations 2. And I also want a AA5 while we're begging Capcom to bring over more Ace Attorney related things. AAI2 already looks like a much more promising entry than AAI did.

 

[RandallJohn]

Ugh. First Layton/Wright, now this. I'm gonna stop getting excited for Capcom games until I see them on my shelf.

 

[Lord Devius]

they will port it. they did port the first three phoenix wright ones, the apollo justice and miles edgeworth ones too. it's not like they did not sell otherwise they would not have bothered porting any of those after the first phoenix wright one.

capcom be pulling an atlus (with the whole catherine thing)

Catherine is being ported. WOW I MISSED THE POINT OF THAT you were saying that they'll change their mind like Atlus did with Catherine duh. sorry.

And this would be the second Edgeworth game, so... I'm being nitpicky.

Honestly, it's... not all that surprising to me. Phoenix Wright has never been a huge huge huge thing. Lawyers vs cute wolf pup? Wolf pup wins. Not to mention, apparently the localization costs have gone up, which doesn't help.

Fan translations, GO!

 

[FlashHero]

Thats it..sell them on more than one platform and this wont be a problem....I love the charm of the Ace attorney games and i have yet to even play them..WHY...no DS..release it on PC* and i will dammit.

*Preferably Steam.

 

[Macgyvercas]

*shakes with rage*

GOD DAMNIT! Why do they keep all the awesome stuff in Japan!?!

 

[mew4ever23]

Dammit! I was really looking forward to Ace Attorney Investigations 2 too (man, that sounds wrong)..

Does Capcom not realize just how big a following the Ace Attorney games have everywhere else in the world?

Either way, looks like another game for Capcoms "Port this ASAP" list.

It's a big following in heart, but unfortunately not in size.

Please don't dock my avatar's already meager salary for speaking out of turn.

That's true enough, I suppose. Also, don't worry Detective, I assume that you're barely on packaged noodles with the way the economy has turned, so no pay deductions. Not today, anyway.