I've mentioned this idea elsewhere on the forums before, but this topic came up earlier on a VC, so it seems like something that would be worth talking about (also, Dollow kept prodding me about the idea, after i brought up this theory)

I remember hearing recently that sales for handheld FF titles have not been doing well recently in the west, and so I came to the conclusion that maybe they have not yet released information about a western release for type-0 due to the fact that they don't want to risk doing such a high budget project only to have it sell like crap here in the west. Enter
Theatrhythm, a title that would be fairly cheap to localize, and thus worth the risk. Almost seems like a logical medium of which to test out Final Fantasy's popularity to this point, right?

Considering past instances where low sales of something has effected the release of something else, it makes perfect sense to me.

Take into account Mother 3, a very popular game, much anticipated. Nintendo did not release it to the west due to poor sales of Earthbound, a game that was released more than a decade before.
Another one to take into account: the PSP ports of Megaman Legends and Megaman Legends 2. We did not get them, because the originals did not sell all that well here.

What do you think? do you think this is a possibility? or do you think I am just off my nut?

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The sad part is that if it is true, it's like the stupidest reasoning to not release the game. The thing as to why I would believe in this is, from a Square POV, they might be trying to test how meaningful the name "Final Fantasy" brand name is in the west, if it has any power in selling games in the west. The more I think about it the more it makes sense, and the more it scares me.

I mean they are completely different games from each other, FF:Theatrhythm is rhythm game that is on the 3DS and is meant to a celebration of the FF music, and Type-0 is a like a full FF game that's on the handheld.

Or it could be that they are trying to test the handheld market for FF in the west as a whole, it is so weird that it makes sense, from some weird Vulcain logic.

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Sign here, it wouldn't hurt to just help a little

Not to mention they had to pick the weakest springboard title to gauge if Type-0 would be localized for the west. I can already bet you Theatrhythym will bomb in the US/UK market, or at best, barely make even like XIII-2.

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(April 20, 2012 04:33:50 AM)TheNinjaMax Wrote:  Not to mention they had to pick the weakest springboard title to gauge if Type-0 would be localized for the west. I can already bet you Theatrhythym will bomb in the US/UK market, or at best, barely make even like XIII-2.

well, who's to say that they're gonna be expecting anything really large? Consider the fact that in the first week, Theatrhythm only sold just shy of 70,000. If the first week for the western audience is even half that, it might be possible that they might be more likely to consider the idea.
Y'know, even if this is likely, don't expect that they want to sell it in the millions or even the hundred-thousands like that. It is not the kind of thing that you could reasonably expect to sell better in the US or even the UK better then it did Japan, and I myself am sure that SE is reasonable enough to realize this.

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Depends on how they release Type-0, but either way my answer is no. Gauging a RPG on the sales of a beat game for one is not a good market strategy. Second, gauging a dead console's sales on a new thriving console's sales is even worst strategy.

The only way I see them doing Type-0 now is a Digital only PSP title which will sell like crap, or do an HP remake later. I'm pretty much thinking the later this late in the game.

As for if I think Theatrythm will do well, I'm sure FF fans will buy it. Problem will be in SquareEnix convincing non-FF fans, that like beat games, that Theatrythm is a solid beat game. If word of mouth happens well, it will get some hype.

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My personal theory is that they're going to sell it on western PSN (NA, EU, etc), translated into English and compatible with PSP & PS Vita. I think that would be the least risky on their part.

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Yeah I heard you, Dollow and Varnis talking about this on the Voice chat last night(sorry about muting my microphone people were sleeping) when I brought up how much I wanted Type-0 on my vita.

It's an interesting theory but I don't think they will base it off Theatrhythm sales personally. I think there waiting to see how popular the Vita will be in the west and make a little announcement at E3. The PSP is very popular in Japan(It still is since more units are being sold in Japan then the Vita), but in the west it wasn't so popular.

Square might be waiting to see the popularity of the Vita before taking a risk of putting a game like Type-0 out. Putting the online version of the game out for the PSP/Vita would save them money and would make it more accessible to the users.

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I know this is a theory, and it sounds like this will happen. I don't quite understand why they would compare Theatrythmn and Type-0. They are both different game genres and they are on different handhelds, one of which is older. Also, it's a little backwards, I can't really imagine Theatrythmn used to bring new fans to the series, because most people are getting it for the nostalgia, the music (Or atleast that's why I'm picking up a copy). Whereas Type-0 is on it's own, and is very similar to the rest of the FF's.

Personally, if I had to choose, I would rather have Type-0. Agreed, there may be a little faltering with the FF fan's here in the west, with sales and everything, but mainly the fans are waiting for Versus, and the fact that XIII was a hit or miss, same with XIII-2.

Honestly the time is now if they want to get started on this project, they shouldn't have waited much past the release of the Vita, and waiting till summer to gauge if it'll work is way too late. They messed up the window for Type-0 to be localized for the PSP.

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