About the Catherine Decision...

[StriderShinryu]

I'm quite disappointed in their decision and, really, I'm not sure why they went that way. They are known as a niche developer/publisher who makes their living on mature content. It's not like we're talking about Nintendo here.

This is far from an "I want to play Catherine, so this decision sucks!" because as far as the actual game is concerned, I really don't know what to make of it as much of the gameplay seems focused on character interaction I haven't seen in translated form.

As for the emailed image? That is a rather odd way to acknowledge the issue. It almost makes me think they are playing coy about things and have bigger plans as opposed to no plans at all.

 

[GideonB]

I don't hate Atlus for saying they probably won't release Catherine in other territories. I'm more pissed off at the fact that they leave the EU (for the most part) alone so even if there is a western release, they'll skip over Europe and that makes me annoyed. Come on guys, release some more games over in the European land please? ;D

 

[Halo Fanboy]

As kirby said, NOT EVERYBOD SPEAKS JAPANESE!

Expect a guide to appear on Gamefaqs within the month.

 

[GloatingSwine]

I don't see why people assume this game would get an AO, it's certainly got more sexual elements than most mainstream titles, but it's not like it's actually porn. CERO gave it a C rating, which is the equivalent of a high T or a low M rating from the ESRB. This puts it on the level of Uncharted or MvC3.

Mass Effect got an M rating for half a second of sideboob. Catherine has an explicit sex scene. Do the math.

 

[moretimethansense]

As kirby said, NOT EVERYBOD SPEAKS JAPANESE!

Expect a guide to appear on Gamefaqs within the month.

Oh of course!
I could read a fan made translation on my PC while I play, not knowing where I am excactly in the conversation, accidently reading too far ahead or reading two sentances behind won't affect my enjoyment of the gamee in the slightest!

I remain, You sir are an idiot.

 

[Alphakirby]

As kirby said, NOT EVERYBODY SPEAKS JAPANESE!

Expect a guide to appear on Gamefaqs within the month.

Umm,that's called READ A BOOK! So no,I don't want a guide,I just want the apology letter to mean that Catherine is coming out in english-speaking parts of the world.

 

[Alphakirby]

Mass Effect got an M rating for half a second of sideboob. Catherine has an explicit sex scene. Do the math.

How do you know,have you looked it up,have you played the game? If you say no to all of these things, you are making a bullshit assumption. As I've mentioned,Heavy Rain has a sex scene,Heavy Rain had Madison taking a shower (You would see her naked),Heavy Rain has a morbid story,it's still a great game but with the severity of the ESRB it would've gotten an AO for those two little moments...it got an M. Do the math.

 

[moretimethansense]

Mass Effect got an M rating for half a second of sideboob. Catherine has an explicit sex scene. Do the math.

How do you know,have you looked it up,have you played the game? If you say no to all of these things, you are making a bullshit assumption. As I've mentioned,Heavy Rain has a sex scene,Heavy Rain had Madison taking a shower (You would see her naked),Heavy Rain has a morbid story,it's still a great game but with the severity of the ESRB it would've gotten an AO for those two little moments...it got an M. Do the math.

Again though, it was from a french developer, I bet if it'd been from a more well known American/Canadian dev there'd have been panic in the streets.

 

[mireko]

I don't see why people assume this game would get an AO, it's certainly got more sexual elements than most mainstream titles, but it's not like it's actually porn. CERO gave it a C rating, which is the equivalent of a high T or a low M rating from the ESRB. This puts it on the level of Uncharted or MvC3.

Mass Effect got an M rating for half a second of sideboob. Catherine has an explicit sex scene. Do the math.

Does it? Have you played it? I can't imagine it would get such a low rating in Japan if it actually contains that.

Yes, there are cultural differences, but the differences aren't that big.

Mass Effect had enough violence and mature themes to qualify for an M without the alien sideboob shot. It did lead to the hilarious/depressing Fox News controversy, but I don't think they would latch onto this in quite the same way. It's pretty far from mainstream in the US.

[small]Okay, there'd be a risk of Fox News starting a fuss. But there's always a risk of them starting a fuss: They're completely fucking insane.[/small]

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

I don't see why people assume this game would get an AO, it's certainly got more sexual elements than most mainstream titles, but it's not like it's actually porn. CERO gave it a C rating, which is the equivalent of a high T or a low M rating from the ESRB. This puts it on the level of Uncharted or MvC3.

Mass Effect got an M rating for half a second of sideboob. Catherine has an explicit sex scene. Do the math.

Does it? Have you played it? I can't imagine it would get such a low rating in Japan if it actually contains that.

Yes, there are cultural differences, but the differences aren't that big.

Mass Effect had enough violence and mature themes to qualify for an M without the alien sideboob shot. It did lead to the hilarious/depressing Fox News controversy, but I don't think they would latch onto this in quite the same way. It's pretty far from mainstream in the US.

[small]Okay, there'd be a risk of Fox News starting a fuss. But there's always a risk of them starting a fuss: They're completely fucking insane.[/small]

Plus, to my knowledge, Catherine doesn't show actual nudity. Madison from Heavy Rain had a scene where she was showering and it showed everything. It only got M and that is as explicit as you get.

 

[Alphakirby]

Mass Effect got an M rating for half a second of sideboob. Catherine has an explicit sex scene. Do the math.

How do you know,have you looked it up,have you played the game? If you say no to all of these things, you are making a bullshit assumption. As I've mentioned,Heavy Rain has a sex scene,Heavy Rain had Madison taking a shower (You would see her naked),Heavy Rain has a morbid story,it's still a great game but with the severity of the ESRB it would've gotten an AO for those two little moments...it got an M. Do the math.

Again though, it was from a french developer, I bet if it'd been from a more well known American/Canadian dev there'd have been panic in the streets.

Still,what I'm saying is that either way the ESRB rated it an M,so Catherine would have to be like Leasure Suit Larry to get to AO,but we all know Atlus is much much smarter than that,and put an great story into it,and from what I can tell, a moral choice system based on text replies you send to Catherine and Katherine

 

[mireko]

Mass Effect got an M rating for half a second of sideboob. Catherine has an explicit sex scene. Do the math.

How do you know,have you looked it up,have you played the game? If you say no to all of these things, you are making a bullshit assumption. As I've mentioned,Heavy Rain has a sex scene,Heavy Rain had Madison taking a shower (You would see her naked),Heavy Rain has a morbid story,it's still a great game but with the severity of the ESRB it would've gotten an AO for those two little moments...it got an M. Do the math.

Again though, it was from a french developer, I bet if it'd been from a more well known American/Canadian dev there'd have been panic in the streets.

Not really sure what difference that makes, Atlus is a Japanese deveolper. They are nowhere near being as well-known in the West as BioWare or Rockstar.

[small]Off-topic: This thread is a veritable wall of quotes! [/small]

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Mass Effect got an M rating for half a second of sideboob. Catherine has an explicit sex scene. Do the math.

How do you know,have you looked it up,have you played the game? If you say no to all of these things, you are making a bullshit assumption. As I've mentioned,Heavy Rain has a sex scene,Heavy Rain had Madison taking a shower (You would see her naked),Heavy Rain has a morbid story,it's still a great game but with the severity of the ESRB it would've gotten an AO for those two little moments...it got an M. Do the math.

Again though, it was from a french developer, I bet if it'd been from a more well known American/Canadian dev there'd have been panic in the streets.

Not really sure what difference that makes, Atlus is a Japanese deveolper. They are nowhere near being as well-known in the West as BioWare or Rockstar.

[small]Off-topic: This thread is a veritable wall of quotes! [/small]

This is just my opinion, but I think the negative stigma Japan has with people in the States may play a part. Remember when stores refused to display Record of Agarest War? But that Conan or X-Blade cover is fine. I think that the gaming culture here at large thinks that Japan is weird and would discriminate.

 

[moretimethansense]

Mass Effect got an M rating for half a second of sideboob. Catherine has an explicit sex scene. Do the math.

How do you know,have you looked it up,have you played the game? If you say no to all of these things, you are making a bullshit assumption. As I've mentioned,Heavy Rain has a sex scene,Heavy Rain had Madison taking a shower (You would see her naked),Heavy Rain has a morbid story,it's still a great game but with the severity of the ESRB it would've gotten an AO for those two little moments...it got an M. Do the math.

Again though, it was from a french developer, I bet if it'd been from a more well known American/Canadian dev there'd have been panic in the streets.

Still,what I'm saying is that either way the ESRB rated it an M,so Catherine would have to be like Leasure Suit Larry to get to AO,but we all know Atlus is much much smarter than that,and put an great story into it,and from what I can tell, a moral choice system based on text replies you send to Catherine and Katherine

That's the ERSB though, it's the reactionary public that causes problems.

Not really sure what difference that makes, Atlus is a Japanese deveolper. They are nowhere near being as well-known in the West as BioWare or Rockstar.

[small]Off-topic: This thread is a veritable wall of quotes! [/small]

Between Majesco and ATLUS, no difference, I'm just pointing out that if they were a more well known company there'd be no chance of it getting in withoit someong making a stink.

If a game is popular enough it's only a matter of time till some idiot buys it for their underage kid then goes screaming to the press about it.

 

[Fappy]

Wait, when did they say they weren't releasing Catherine outside of Japan?

A statement to a site yesterday. The Escapist has an article on it.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108030-Atlus-No-Plans-to-Bring-Catherine-West

Well that sucks. I was looking forward to something that could get me out from under my RPG/Fighting Game rock. Looks like I'll be stuck here for awhile :/

 

[Kotaro]

Hey, Atlus? Keep in mind that most of the people who already buy your games would probably be all over this game. Just sayin'.
I am disappoint. Yes, I still like you (You guys make some of the best jRPGs out there), but I am rather upset by this.

 

[MisterShine]

Us getting P5 isn't a given. P3 and P4 weren't the hottest sellers over here.

Really? I swear I read somewhere that P3 and 4 were the best selling titles Atlus USA released, hence why they translated the updated PSP version of the original Persona. I'll try and find the article..

OT: Sad about the news, and honestly a tad surprised. Why make an Xbox 360 version if you're only releasing in Japan? There are like 25 people in Japan who have Xbox's and 24 of them work for the MS Japan division. That said, I do understand why they wouldn't, Atlus doesn't have a ton of financial muscle and wouldn't be able to take a big loss easily, better to stick to things they're sure their audience will buy.

Still sad though

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

i wouldnt be suprised if this was a deliberate move by atlus. given the nature of the game a "flirty" apology would seem like a nice tease to get fans salavating over a possible release.

I'm starting to feel that way too. I don't know if it's denial, but quite a few see it that way. You may (I hope) be right.

 

[Alphakirby]

Wait, when did they say they weren't releasing Catherine outside of Japan?

A statement to a site yesterday. The Escapist has an article on it.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108030-Atlus-No-Plans-to-Bring-Catherine-West

Well that sucks. I was looking forward to something that could get me out from under my RPG/Fighting Game rock. Looks like I'll be stuck here for awhile :/

Don't worry,Catherine was a puzzle game of sorts,look up the demo on Youtube unless you want to play it for yourself in which you will need a JP Xbox Live account

 

[Alphakirby]

i wouldnt be suprised if this was a deliberate move by atlus. given the nature of the game a "flirty" apology would seem like a nice tease to get fans salavating over a possible release.

I already said this 6 times in this thread...how did you not notice?