Ni No Kuni confirmed for North America

[Ventara]

DS version is staying in Japan. I'm guessing the main reason is because of the nearly 400 page Rune Spell book that comes along with the DS version to help you progress through the game. Level-5 can't justify the cost of localizing such a book (I have it and there is just too much text.). Maybe if the PS3 version does amazing sales wise they might reconsider since they were originally going to localize the DS version.

Is that mandatory for the game? I watched an unboxing of it on Youtube, and it's pretty thick. I doubt every copy came with that (but if it did, wow). It seemed more like a collectors edition item.

[Ryos]

DS version is staying in Japan. I'm guessing the main reason is because of the nearly 400 page Rune Spell book that comes along with the DS version to help you progress through the game. Level-5 can't justify the cost of localizing such a book (I have it and there is just too much text.). Maybe if the PS3 version does amazing sales wise they might reconsider since they were originally going to localize the DS version.

It more likely has to do with the fact it's not good business sense to localize an inferior version of the game that's about 50% different (technology aside). But yeah, I'm sure that book probably doesn't help either. While it isn't impossible for the DS version to make its way over, I know I pretty much assumed when the PS3 version was announced that if a version of the game were to be released here, it'd be the PS3 version. It'd be another story if the two games were (technology aside) the same game or completely different types of games.

[Miyuki]

Didn't feel like reading through more whining and whatnot, so...

Did Lv5 ever mentioned if they're including another huge BACONBACONBACON book with the game? I kinda stopped playing the DS version 'cause flipping to certain pages in that book every other 5 to 10 minutes is relatively annoying. =\

[Chaosblade]

I've seen some people say the PS3 version doesn't need a book, but I don't know if that's true or not. I mean, people were saying it didn't even HAVE a book after the announcement despite the fact they SHOWED a PS3 version book. DS version was black and PS3 version was white, or something.

[Adrian-kun]

Only the PS3 ver., though

[Miyuki]

I've seen some people say the PS3 version doesn't need a book, but I don't know if that's true or not. I mean, people were saying it didn't even HAVE a book after the announcement despite the fact they SHOWED a PS3 version book. DS version was black and PS3 version was white, or something.

Nah, DS's book is brown. The box, however, is black. If it does come with a book I hope it's better executed than then DS version. x_x

[Takao]

i am so shocked that a high budget japanese game on a healthy platform is getting localized what a surprise it's not like anyone could sense this was going to happen months ago but imagine if we didn't come in 2nd in the facebook poll yay us

Is that mandatory for the game? I watched an unboxing of it on Youtube, and it's pretty thick. I doubt every copy came with that (but if it did, wow). It seemed more like a collectors edition item.

Every copy came with the book.

Yes, it is mandatory for gameplay.

[Ryos]

i am so shocked that a high budget japanese game on a healthy platform is getting localized what a surprise it's not like anyone could sense this was going to happen months ago but imagine if we didn't come in 2nd in the facebook poll yay us

I voted in that poll specifically in the hopes this game might be brought over (though I'm still not sure if that poll had any influence in the decision). I was worried the whole anime deal would scare publishers off, but it looks like that isn't the case.

[Takao]

That part of my post was entirely sarcastic. Even if the game placed last in the poll, it still would've been localized just due to sheer notoriety and budget this game has. Has there been a big budget HD game that's been limited to Japan-only? The answer (assuming Tales of Xillia does get localized) is no.

[Gintoki]

God, I'm such a retard for Ghibli. I even bought that awful Earthsea movie when I was living in Japan. The only cool thing about it was the fact that it had dual language audio and subtitles. Seems odd for a Japanese release, but then again its the only J-region Ghibli movie I've bought.