Recent realization

[Chibz]

The Japanese don't seem to think very highly of westerners. They release games under different titles, and skip sequels (Final Fantasy for example), or even change the sprites in a game to make it fit in an entirely different series! (Mario 2, NES).

Why do they do such things, or have done them?

 

[Marv21]

I bet they are still angry at Austriallia and America for WW2.

 

[xitel]

And yet at the same time you have games like Devil May Cry 3, in which they increased the difficulty when they brought it to US shores and made it ridiculously hard.

 

[Knight Templar]

Don't judge them by how they release games. They also didn't sell rapelay, and the reason for this is they don't think the games will sell enough to make it worth the trouble.


At least thats what I've heard.

 

[The Iron Ninja]

Because we are all ignorant pig dogs that like to use terms like "westerners" when if you travel far enough east, you'll end up in the "western" world anyway.

Think of it this way, I doubt all of the video games created by English speaking counties get translated into Japanese either.

 

[Chibz]

But really, Mario 2 for the NES. It's obviously not even a real Mario game; but they sold it to us like it was.

By the way, I'm speaking against the companies more than anything.

 

[LordMarcusX]

And yet at the same time you have games like Devil May Cry 3, in which they increased the difficulty when they brought it to US shores and made it ridiculously hard.

Same with Final Fantasy 4, although I don't believe it was that difficult, but it did prompt the releasing of a FF4 "Hard Type" in Japan, for people who wanted an extra challenge.

Race aside, ultimately we all bleed green. If a game is not marketed in the west, it's because the company lacks confidence that it will make money off the endeavour. They are probably right, which is why Mother 3 will never be released in the US.

 

[Chibz]

Because we are all ignorant pig dogs that like to use terms like "westerners" when if you travel far enough east, you'll end up in the "western" world anyway.

Think of it this way, I doubt all of the video games created by English speaking counties get translated into Japanese either.

This, but focusing more specifically on that last part: I don't speak Japanese, but it's got to be kind of a ***** to translate the entire script from one language to another.

As for the titles bit...well, there are some words that don't translate to another language. That may not be the reason, but why is this a big deal?

No, I mean the blatantly remaking and reselling of games as something completely different.

 

[Eiseman]

The Japanese don't seem to think very highly of westerners. They release games under different titles, and skip sequels (Final Fantasy for example), or even change the sprites in a game to make it fit in an entirely different series! (Mario 2, NES).

Why do they do such things, or have done them?

You need to understand that your examples - well, make that your accusations as a whole - occured nearly twenty years ago. It's a different world now, and I like to think we've grown on them a little.

 

[Chibz]

It's quite possible that they still do it, but we don't notice. Being treated deceptively should not be forgotten so readily.

Because we are all ignorant pig dogs that like to use terms like "westerners" when if you travel far enough east, you'll end up in the "western" world anyway.

Think of it this way, I doubt all of the video games created by English speaking counties get translated into Japanese either.

This, but focusing more specifically on that last part: I don't speak Japanese, but it's got to be kind of a ***** to translate the entire script from one language to another.

As for the titles bit...well, there are some words that don't translate to another language. That may not be the reason, but why is this a big deal?

No, I mean the blatantly remaking and reselling of games as something completely different.

...Oh. Excuse my lack of brain functions, it's kind of late and I just finished two hours of mind-numbing math problems (and several hookers.)
Uh...I do not know? Until now, I hadn't heard of anything like that.

What was released as Mario 2, for example, was really Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic.

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

Different things for different people. People are raised with different views on the world, and this comes through in games. For instance look at a lot of Made In America games and you will see a lot of different themes compared to a same genre game made in Japan.

And changing stuff makes it appeal more to the customer. American and European will probably like stuff rooted in their own fairy tales and folk stories compared to stuff with heavy emphasis on Eastern lore. They will still be probably liked but sales will be lower compared to a game that is made to fit it's general audience.

 

[Simriel]

Because we are all ignorant pig dogs that like to use terms like "westerners" when if you travel far enough east, you'll end up in the "western" world anyway.

Think of it this way, I doubt all of the video games created by English speaking counties get translated into Japanese either.

This, but focusing more specifically on that last part: I don't speak Japanese, but it's got to be kind of a ***** to translate the entire script from one language to another.

As for the titles bit...well, there are some words that don't translate to another language. That may not be the reason, but why is this a big deal?

No, I mean the blatantly remaking and reselling of games as something completely different.

...Oh. Excuse my lack of brain functions, it's kind of late and I just finished two hours of mind-numbing math problems (and several hookers.)
Uh...I do not know? Until now, I hadn't heard of anything like that.

Max, Did you steal the hookers from my spaceship again? I need them to play blackjack!

 

[Chibz]

Because we are all ignorant pig dogs that like to use terms like "westerners" when if you travel far enough east, you'll end up in the "western" world anyway.

Think of it this way, I doubt all of the video games created by English speaking counties get translated into Japanese either.

This, but focusing more specifically on that last part: I don't speak Japanese, but it's got to be kind of a ***** to translate the entire script from one language to another.

As for the titles bit...well, there are some words that don't translate to another language. That may not be the reason, but why is this a big deal?

No, I mean the blatantly remaking and reselling of games as something completely different.

...Oh. Excuse my lack of brain functions, it's kind of late and I just finished two hours of mind-numbing math problems (and several hookers.)
Uh...I do not know? Until now, I hadn't heard of anything like that.

Max, Did you steal the hookers from my spaceship again? I need them to play blackjack!

Screw the blackjack! Just host a tournament instead.

It's quite possible that they still do it, but we don't notice. Being treated deceptively should not be forgotten so readily.

Because we are all ignorant pig dogs that like to use terms like "westerners" when if you travel far enough east, you'll end up in the "western" world anyway.

Think of it this way, I doubt all of the video games created by English speaking counties get translated into Japanese either.

This, but focusing more specifically on that last part: I don't speak Japanese, but it's got to be kind of a ***** to translate the entire script from one language to another.

As for the titles bit...well, there are some words that don't translate to another language. That may not be the reason, but why is this a big deal?

No, I mean the blatantly remaking and reselling of games as something completely different.

...Oh. Excuse my lack of brain functions, it's kind of late and I just finished two hours of mind-numbing math problems (and several hookers.)
Uh...I do not know? Until now, I hadn't heard of anything like that.

What was released as Mario 2, for example, was really Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic.

Ah-ha. That's...well, that's a little weird.

I'll say. The real Mario 2 was released as "The Lost Levels" at a later date.

 

[Dmatix]

Its because they are EVIL! and wise to destroy our freedom! no.
I think that most of the changes they make in games are for purely financial reasons.

 

[Simriel]

Because we are all ignorant pig dogs that like to use terms like "westerners" when if you travel far enough east, you'll end up in the "western" world anyway.

Think of it this way, I doubt all of the video games created by English speaking counties get translated into Japanese either.

This, but focusing more specifically on that last part: I don't speak Japanese, but it's got to be kind of a ***** to translate the entire script from one language to another.

As for the titles bit...well, there are some words that don't translate to another language. That may not be the reason, but why is this a big deal?

No, I mean the blatantly remaking and reselling of games as something completely different.

...Oh. Excuse my lack of brain functions, it's kind of late and I just finished two hours of mind-numbing math problems (and several hookers.)
Uh...I do not know? Until now, I hadn't heard of anything like that.

Max, Did you steal the hookers from my spaceship again? I need them to play blackjack!

Screw the blackjack! Just host a tournament instead.

It's quite possible that they still do it, but we don't notice. Being treated deceptively should not be forgotten so readily.

Because we are all ignorant pig dogs that like to use terms like "westerners" when if you travel far enough east, you'll end up in the "western" world anyway.

Think of it this way, I doubt all of the video games created by English speaking counties get translated into Japanese either.

This, but focusing more specifically on that last part: I don't speak Japanese, but it's got to be kind of a ***** to translate the entire script from one language to another.

As for the titles bit...well, there are some words that don't translate to another language. That may not be the reason, but why is this a big deal?

No, I mean the blatantly remaking and reselling of games as something completely different.

...Oh. Excuse my lack of brain functions, it's kind of late and I just finished two hours of mind-numbing math problems (and several hookers.)
Uh...I do not know? Until now, I hadn't heard of anything like that.

What was released as Mario 2, for example, was really Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic.

Ah-ha. That's...well, that's a little weird.

Max! They are my hookers! YOU HAVE TO ASK FIRST! I have told you this before.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

A lot of times there are copyright issues which prevent a game from seeing and overseas release, like Super Robot Wars or Another Century's Episode.

You can't only blame the Japanese, either. Sometimes they can only release a game over here if another company fronts the bill for localization, which is why many people love Atlus so much.

 

[Simriel]

Max! They are my hookers! YOU HAVE TO ASK FIRST! I have told you this before.

I can't control my urge to kill that long and you know it.

I know it. My hookers know it. My GORRAM CAT knows it you piece of Gosser!

 

[RYjet911]

Its because they are EVIL! and wise to destroy our freedom! no.
I think that most of the changes they make in games are for purely financial reasons.

Wait, what? If they wanted to save money, they would surely just leave the game as it is? Changing stuff in a game costs money...

The examples the OP gave are too old... Final Fantasy sequels and Mario 2 are two instances which can really be ignored by today's standards, considering their age. I'm not knowledgable on the facts, but I don't know many games at all where they have been heavily edited for another country's release, specifically when Japan releases one for the western market.

 

[Kirosilence]

The Japanese don't seem to think very highly of westerners. They release games under different titles, and skip sequels (Final Fantasy for example), or even change the sprites in a game to make it fit in an entirely different series! (Mario 2, NES).

There is a lot more that goes into localizing a game in the U.S. than simple taste. Many of the Final Fantasy games wern't ported because Square was going through tough times during the early days of FF. Once Square was making a lot of money in Japan again, they started porting more games to the states because it became a viable market.

There is a lot of cost that goes into selling a game overseas, a lot of legal stuff to. They would probably have the same conversation about how a lot of American made games don't get ported over there, or are changed for legal or otherwise reasons.

For example, World of Warcraft, Wrath of the Lich King had to be modified for it's Chinese release, they had large sections of the game removed or retooled due to cultural taboos. It's not that Blizzard or America hates China, there are a whole slue of reasons why a game will be modified, or simply not released in another country.

On a related note: WHEN IS FATAL FRAME 4 COMING TO NORTH AMERICA!

 

[Chibz]

True, but these are frequently needless changes. Sprite changes, for example, that have no violence or sexuality oriented reasoning behind them.