Toradora Portable!

[Louis6507]

I agree. I think PSP sales are hurt by companies not porting over VN's. Let's be honest, any portable gaming system (including my beloved PSP) will NEVER match the processing or graphics of these latest and upcoming consoles. Yet, US marketing companies seem to think people will keep purchasing titles that they could very well play on their at home, massive, and now 3D TVs.....

Just look at the games that are popular on PSP (Little Big..., Papatoon..., etc...). These are games that pretty much are unmatched on any console. This, for lack of better term, forces people to purchase a PSP just to enjoy these unique games.

Honestly, PSP's and VN games sell very well in Japan. It's profitable enough for even small scale sales and distribution. So, just imagine if it was on a larger scale! Anime may be a niche market in the US...but it certainly is NOT a small one.

Even with the years that have passed since Toradora Portable came out in Japan...It STILL consistently sells for about $80 usd for th regular version and $200+ usd for the collector's edition. And...those are in Japanese, being sold in America! The market is there. If American anime collectors are willing to pay that much for a non-English title...An English title could sell for $100+/$250+ respectively.

I'm not saying NISA should manufacture a billion copies of the game. Maybe do a limited collector's edition of 300 units. At $200 each...I'd hardly believe they couldn't turn a profit, even if they only sold those 300 units. Then, once those sell...any further productions of standard editions at around $100 will sell. Again, I'm not talking about millions of copies. But, games that sell millions of copies cost more to make, and cost less.

AND, all of this is even ignoring the fact that many North American Anime are imported back to Japan, and purchased by collectors there as well.

Furthermore, companies like NISA should work harder to attend or at least have a small booth at more mid-sized, East Coast conventions. There were Toradora! bootlegs for sale at last year's Orlando conventions, and I'm sure there'll be more this year. I'm against bootleggers (obviously), but I don't blame them too much...when official versions aren't even available for sale! -_- MegaCon and AFO might not be as large as ComicCon...but, because of logistics (who can afford in this economy to take a Vegas vacation just for a convention?)...they're missing a lot of potential customers.

[Phoenix_Apollo]

I'm sorry, but I'm not paying $300 for a localized release of anything (especially new). That's just not worth it. It's why I don't buy all of these music games with all of these instruments that sell for over $100. It's not worth it. I'd honestly rather NISA not localize it if it's going to be like that. I'd rather something much more affordable or to at the very least be given my $300 worth, and by that I mean a plethora of extras. And by extras, I mean more than Starcraft II and Arc the Lad Collection combined.

[Louis6507]

If they go the way of a $200+ option, they'd just have to make sure it is a limited release. Meaning, they only produce maybe 200 copies and that's it forever. Then they could sell regular editions for $50-$100, which is very reasonable for a niche game.

That's what happened with the Japanese version of Toradora Portable! Collector's Edition. I won't post links, but search for it on the popular auction site. You'll see there's one listing only, that started out with 6 available (now only 3 left) all USED and their buy it now price is $199 (free shipping&handling). The seller's located in Japan, and the only parts they will NOT guarantee quality of are the paperboard PSP holder and exterior box. But, all "extra items" are included.

If NISA does this, and let's say numbers the boxes...they'll sell. Hell if NIS's giclee things sell for $300 each...a numbered, limited edition game for PSP will sell. Even if only 25 people buy them all, to dominate the used/convention/online market.

Hell, the person selling them on the auction site is probably clearing a $100usd profit off of each one sold.

The problem really comes from Toradora Portable! having "full spoken audio." So, there's no way they'll port the game until they have the English speaking cast for the DVD. That's my thinking. ...and I'm very glad for that full spoken audio. ^_^ Without that, I'd never understand enough of it to play. Between that and the walk-troughs I have, I can still enjoy my $140 Japanese only version I own. ^_~

PPS: Then again, I'm a little crazy for Toradora! I even have bumper stickers on my car. lol

[kazriko]

I've heard very good things about this from friends who have imported it. I know it's a long shot, but it's one I'd buy if it came out.

I finished Disgaea Infinite and really enjoyed it.

[Phoenix_Apollo]

Funny how I said I wouldn't pay $300 for a game. I take that back. I would pay it, but only if I really wanted it.

Anyway, if that's how NISA has to do it to get it done, that's fine with me.

[stealth20k]

I would pay 100 plus only for really great rpgs that arent localized....

[Ar Tonelico]

I would pay 100 plus only for really great rpgs that arent localized....

But this is Toradora though so it's worth it.

[stealth20k]

I cant stomach paying 100 plus dolalrs for a game that doesnt have 50 plus hours of gameplay

[robeduriv]

Well I'm not one who is into watching Anime shows but I did gain interest on a few through playing a game based off it first. For example the game Fate/Unlimited Codes that was brought by Capcom. I only heard a bit on how great the Fate story is at the time but never looked into it. However after playing this game I got hooked to the characters and went off to see the entire story through the anime and visual novel. So what I'm trying to say is that maybe if NISA localizes this, it has the potential of gathering more interest towards the Anime they are already distributing.

[Louis6507]

I think what people have to remember is that this is a SIM game...And, to basically put it: a Dating SIM. All of these popular games are expensive in the US.

Look at "Love Plus." Almost everyone agrees that it's an average game at best as far as game play is concerned, and yet, the game bundle "Love Plus +" is VERY DIFFICULT to purchase, and it's in the $300-$500 usd range. (The "+" edition comes with a limited edition Japanese DSI XL.)

Toradora Portable! isn't a game meant for traditional, American PSP gamers. It's meant for Otaku and Dating SIM fans. For a true fan (ie...otaku), $300 is nothing. Hell...I'll spend an easy $500 on a 5 day trip for a convention....Probably close to $800 if I go to any Vegas cons. (damn expensive hotel rates!!! >.<;;; )

Hell...I've spent over $200usd on Toradora! figures alone! lol At least a PSP game I can bring with me and annoy my friends and co-workers with, and entertain myself on those flights to cons or at lull moments between panels. lol ^_~

I would be very surprised if anyone who doesn't own at least $100 in anime merch. (excluding games, consoles and DVDs) ever bought a Dating SIM game...ported or not. It's like someone owning a Bugatti Veyron, even if they don't collect or race cars. They're just not even marketed to regular buyers. lol ^_^

[bloodyaftertaste]

When you say that love plus + is 300, you also pointed out that its bundled with a system. It's not just the game alone, and that is what I think people like stealth are saying they won't pay 100 dollars for it. If we got bundled DS games with systems they cost around the same price whether its a game marketed towards a casual gamer or an otaku.

Plus you also have to keep in mind that video games are more expensive over there in general, no matter the genre. So a $100 dollar DS game alone would be insane here. Sure there will be Otaku gamers who would pay that here, but a price like that here would ruin the games chances as being successful.

[Louis6507]

I agree with you. What also hurts it is that it seems that here in the US, it's extremely rare to see a "limited/numbered" release of any games. Here, they'll produce however many they feel is good, and once stock gets low, produce more. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any game that had a collector's edition with a limit around 300 or less. It seems, in the US, companies like Sony consider a "limited release" to be like their Blue Madden PSP combo, who's initial production was probably over 1 million units. Way too many to ever really be a collectible of any kind...unless we fast forward 100 years and keep that box and everything in it in a magic bubble.

My experience at the cons is it must either be a "one-off" or very limited/numbered or customized/autographed for anything to sell in the price range I'm speaking of.

I'm just glad Sony is doing so well at blocking piracy on the PSP. (Excluding the 'fat's' and those who skip the firmware updates on 2000's.) That keeps the game manufactures in the profit end of things, where they need to be, to ever take chances on porting games like this one.

PS: Please excuse my refusing to ever give up on this idea, and trying every crazy idea I can think of to convince NISA to port this game. I agree with your logic, I just refuse to accept it. lol ^_~

[desolato]

Hmm, I would definitely be in for this game, it would be a great step forward for localised visual novels, but for now I'm already happy with the anime, let them succeed all of that first.

[kazriko]

I would buy it, though I think $30 is my limit. I rarely go for really expensive games.

[Louis6507]

$30 limit?! lol I could never be that well disciplined. lol Even big-named, popular American titles debut at $39.99 for the PSP. (KH: Birth by Sleep; Valkyria Chronicles; GoW: : Ghost of Sparta; Phantasy Star Portable; etc......)

To stay under $30, you'd never be able to pre-order a PSP title. ^_~