About the Catherine Decision...

[Rad Party God]

I like Atlus, I do like their games and I really don't mind about Catherine's decision, I wasn't interested on it anyways, nor did I have the platform to play it, but I will keep buying their games, they're an amazing company.

 

[qazmatoz]

I don't understand the automatic assumption that the game would be labeled as AO when fucking Leisure Suit Larry games get released in North America with an M rating. Also, Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volley Ball.

Somebody explain. Why is exploring sexuality more taboo than blatant juvenile sexuality?

 

[Ignatz_Zwakh]

I'm not going to boycott them or anything...I'm just...gah. I really wanna play that damn game. >_<

It actually makes me wanna take Japanese lessons so I could import it...but I lack funding...

 

[Chris646]

Yes Atlus, I still like you. You have given me Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, not to forget Master of the Monster Lair, Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, and recently released favorite of mine; Radiant Historia. I probably would have played Catherine in the future, and would've looked it up, that is for sure; but I am pretty impartial in my opinion of Catherine, so it does not affect me either way. But for the fans who saw this game and saw an intriguing world with an interesting story and were eager to play this, only to have their hopes shattered when you announced this, I feel sorry for them.

 

[mikev7.0]

First let me qualify what I mean when I say "I love Atlus." I always have. Since Persona 1. I've intoduced their games to as many people as would listen to me rant about them (especially the Etrian Odyssey games.) Someone here said that Atlus didn't have the "integrity" to publish Catherine here. Well what if someone who owns ten of their titles (including My World My Way basically becuase yeah, that took guts to make.) said that I actually SUPPORT their decision to NOT bring it here?

In fact I think it takes MORE integrity to NOT publish it here and give in to the "vocal MINORity." Do I need this game? No. Do I want Atlus to be around? God yes. They really do bring some of the most innovative games to the western market and if they don't feel this would sell I'm gonna' go WAY out on a limb here and say that they know that better than I do. *gasp* Yeah, yeah I know. Later I probably will try to pretend I never said that but still, hadda' be done.

In fact I don't think "Catherine" would be a game I'd buy to support them and like I said I've done that before. Speaking of which you guys do realize that you're using a really whiny tactic with the company that created the pout mechanic right?

So ATLUS, like ya? Hell I luv ya' baby and I'll still buy your games, always. In my opinion the less "mature" they are the better. I own ten of your titles and I've "sold" way more than that. None of them are rated anything more than "T" and I'd prefer they not be.

 

[IvoryTowerGamer]

Just thought I'd make a thread about this.

This was sent to people subscribed to Atlus's newsletter. This tells me two things.
1. They are hurt and/or shocked about the amount of fan backlash from their decision.
2. They aren't releasing Catherine outside of Japan. Why else would they send a timid response like this? Otherwise, they probably would have stated a NA release of Catherine is undecided, not a never.
I still like them, I just feel a little jilted. I'll continue to buy their games, but hope they will reconsider their decision.
Discussion: Thoughts on the message? On Catherine? On Atlus as a whole?
[sub]Thanks to mireko for informing me of it.[/sub]

Did they ever explain why they weren't bringing it over?

That's just it. We have a single statement made on a site no one has heard of. Atlus has neither confirmed or denied it. Which makes this message all the more ambiguous.

In that case I'd probably reserve mu judgment until we know more.

Though I'd be quite disappointed in them if they didn't bring it over due to its adult content.

 

[mireko]

Well, the thing is, there isn't that much actual sexual content in Bayonetta. People hear things like "S&M machines" and "all her clothes fly off" and assume it's terrible, but the truth is those "S&M" attacks are never used for anything actually explicit and are only used against non-human enemies. Even when her clothes come off, she's still left with the amount of body coverage offered by your average bikini. And besides from the dancing and innuendo (both of which are really rather tame by anyone's standards), what else is there?

There are no sex scenes, all the enemies are non-human (besides one, who you can't kill). Catherine is a highly sexually themed game with multiple sex scenes (although how explicit they are, it doesn't say), themed around a seductive woman and a whole murder mystery plot.

Violence, seduction, overt sexual overtones, actual sex scenes and surrealism...there's no way it wouldn't get rated AO.

It's sexually themed, sure, but there's no indication that it contains any explicit nudity (which = nipples, in the US) or necessarily any references to specific sex acts, which is usually what sends the ESRB into a blind rage.

Keep in mind that a C-rating is still relatively low, even when adjusting for cultural differences, I still can't see it getting an AO.

As for Bayonetta,
Two words: Saw horse.

[small]AKA The only thing in that game that actually made me feel a little uncomfortable.[/small]

 

[Au Naturel.]

Don't worry ATLUS, I was looking forward to Catherine, but I still love you.

 

[Korne]

This seems like really clever marketing to me. We are sort of playing out the back and forth relationship that you experience in the game. What clever bastards. Here is my reply to atlus...

We've had so many good times, I don't want this relationship to end over one little thing (even if it is big to us). It would be nice if you reconsidered, but I would still love you anyway.

Love, Your Faithful,
Name Here

 

[Korne]

It've sold poorly and would have to be very edited and censored to avoid an AO rating - a death sentence to a video game. The costs of doing all that, marketing it and translating the text and voice is obviously (according to their finance department) greater than their potential profit.

No surprise here.

It would still sell as well as their other games have, and it is already a huge success in Japan (it beat out MvC3 in the first week). I doubt it will get an AO rating. It has a lot to do with Sex and Violence, but it is done in a classful way.

 

[Phoenix09215]

I was very dissapointed when I heard because I think the industry needs a game like Catherine to move forward. That of course is only if it has been done tastefully, which I suspect it has being that its Atlus, who I trust. I was really looking forwards to playing a game that challenges the conventions of the genre and being that I am currently learning Japanese, might even purchase a copy while I am in Japan, because I am set to be going there late next year!

 

[EHKOS]

Oh how could I be angry at the people who made Tail Contcerto?!
*hugs Atlus*
Never again Atlus, never again.

 

[Korne]

I have not yet observed a single speck of appealing gameplay in that game...

It's an Atlus thing, you wouldn't understand.

 

[Alphakirby]

I have not yet observed a single speck of appealing gameplay in that game...

Make a JP Xbox Live account and get the demo, see if you like the gameplay for yourself. And People look back at my repost of the message by Atlus, Catherine is most likely coming out here in the US and I can tell from the message itself, the type of text and color of the background give me the feeling we won't be dissapointed.

 

[ANImaniac89]

Well I can only hope this but that email looks to me like they might have been testing the waters to if it would be worth it to release it in the US.

Now seeing the backlash they got over this I wouldn't be surprised if a US release was announced.

 

[scnj]

Considering this is the first and only release I've been interested in from them, no I don't like them, and yes I am bitter. This was their chance to prove themselves to me and maybe get me interested in their other products.

 

[Gigano]

A shame, it seemed like a console title - the only one so far - that had a shot at dealing with the theme of more overt eroticism properly for once.

...I probably wouldn't have bought it, but it's regrettable that a game like that doesn't get wider western exposure (and subtitles so it could at least be imported).

 

[Alphakirby]

A shame, it seemed like a console title - the only one so far - that had a shot at dealing with the theme of more overt eroticism properly for once.

...I probably wouldn't have bought it, but it's regrettable that a game like that doesn't get wider western exposure.

Am I the only one considering Atlus' apology to be a possible tease for Catherine from looking at the details...I mean really I posted something from Daikatana to prove my point, DAIKATANA!!!,one of the biggest bombs ever made! My point is that the game will or has a relatively good chance of now coming out in the US due to all the outrage about the lack of plans to do so. Read my other posts god damnit,and stop being so hopeless!

 

[Gigano]

...

Am I the only one considering Atlus' apology to be a possible tease for Catherine from looking at the details...I mean really I posted something from Daikatana to prove my point, DAIKATANA!!!,one of the biggest bombs ever made! My point is that the game will or has a relatively good chance of now coming out in the US due to all the outrage about the lack of plans to do so. Read my other posts god damnit,and stop being so hopeless!

I suppose it could be a marketing move to test/generate US interest for the game (like the stunt GOG pulled), but there's a fair bit of optimism involved with such assumption.

But yes, given your arguments it doesn't exactly seem preposterous that it might still see (a hopefully uncensored) US/EU release at some point, at least if the reaction to this cancellation announcement is widespread enough.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

Well, I think the game looks like shit anyway, so I don't care that much.
I mean, Atlus is one of the only companies that has spun out any decent JRPGs, tbh (Odin Sphere, Shadow Hearts, and Demon's Souls) but Catherine just looks beyond bizarre (and seems to be playing too much on shock factor).

I'm still hungover on the fact that it sold twice as many copies as MvC3. I mean, I know it's Japan, but HOWWWWWW.

edit: Schweet, 1000 posts. Time to bust out the Dr. Pepper.