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July 6, 2015   3DS, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U   10 Comments

Why Square Enix is Hesitant to Localize Dragon Quest Games, Looking at DQ Heroes to Gauge Western Interest

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Square Enix has detailed why they are somewhat hesitant to localize Dragon Quest games in the west. Executive producer Yuu Miyake, discussed the issues they have encountered with the games.

“We want to get them out here. We really do! The Dragon Quest games are very text-heavy, so the time and the cost it takes to localize these and do it well is quite something. Business-wise, we have to think quite hard whether we’ll make that money back from localizing to North America. It’s always been a difficult decision. But the more you tell us, the louder the voices, the more likely we are to do it.”

“We’re really using this (Dragon Quest Heroes) as a kind of opening up of the market. We can gauge whether the American people might want to go back after Heroes and see some of the other Dragon Quest games. Hopefully we could use that as leverage to get those out over here.”

It seems like we might be getting Dragon Quest VII & VIII on the Nintendo 3DS in the west.

Via: Nintendo Everything, Source: Polygon

Author: Francis@PE (18964 Posts)


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  • Ryuken13

    ??? Use a niche game that is only superficially tied to the RPGs to gauge consumer interest?? That is absolute idiocy..

    That is like going to the doctor for an ear ache and he wants to base treatment and prognosis off a prostate exam lol.

    That is the dumb ass Squeenix we all know and love..

    Let’s be honest.. RPGs cost more to localize due to dialogue and text. Dragon Quest Heroes has less dialogue and text.. Cheaper to localize.

    Honesty would be nice but totally unexpected from the big gaming companies.

    • Bob

      Not to mention that the very niche game is on a system that Dragon Quest isn’t… Gauging the popularity of a series on a console line that the series hasn’t touched in years is a very stupid business model… Hopefully PS4 owners buy it, I guess. I want DQ on 3DS and Wii U in the US…

    • Mythosa

      Agreed. Seems mental. That’s like trying to gauge Zelda interest on links crossbow training.
      It’s not even the same kind of game at all.

  • Hidden Flare

    OK I don’t know if I would get it but I have to ask, does dragon quest heroes demand to know anything about the dragon quest series, I have a ps4 and I’m curious.

    • Ryuken13

      Dynasty Warriors Type game with Dragon Quest monsters and characters..

      Buy if you like Dynasty Warriors.. Dragon’s quest RPG stories have little to do with this game IMO.

  • Kidking17

    It always comes down to money doesn’t it.

    • Jon Turner

      Well of course; these kind of projects especially. There has to be a huge interest and demand for them to begin with.

  • Jon Turner

    Dragon Quest has always been a tough sell in America. The series DOES have a following in the west, but nowhere near to the degree that it is in Japan. I do appreciate that they’re giving it some thought though.

    “The louder the voices, the more likely we are to do it.” Hmmm… maybe we should include demand for better Nintendo support among the requests? **Hopes for DQXI and KH3 on NX**

    • CapableTie

      And FF XV

      • Jon Turner

        It’s gonna take a miracle to get those games on NX, but… if Nintendo makes it easy to port the games it shouldn’t be an issue. The question is whether SE finds it profitable to do so. Again, money is the issue.