Idea Factory posts "otome games in English" poll

News from My Neoromance's home page: "Idea Factory Japan are looking at launching their games in English, before they could launch it, they would like to know the market demand and what we, [sic] would like in an English otome game. So if you would like to participate, please help with the survey on [the My Neoromance] forum."

Some of Idea Factory's strategy RPG games have been localized by NIS America, O3 Ent, and Atlus. It's not clear if the company might consider translating one or more of its otome games through one of these companies, or whether it is contemplating other options.

Idea Factory has also created several boy x girl(s) ren'ai games on consoles. A list of the company's titles can be found on GameFAQs: http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/company/42709.html (Strangely, it has no English Wikipedia entry.)

The questions in the two-part survey include:

- "Which IF title would you most want to see an English version of?" [These include original and licensed games.]
- "Which [console] format would you prefer?"
- "Would you buy an Otome game based on a shojo manga you liked?"

There is also a question on whether fans would prefer a visual novel, a game with complex gameplay, or something in between.

I'm curious as to what might result from this. Might there be one or more romantic games in English on home consoles in the future? Could the company possibly profit from selling text-heavy, cute games on consoles? Would the company risk publishing on a system which caters to mainstream gamers?

[rg4619]

Good luck convincing Best Buy or Gamestop/EBGames to stock these games (publishers like Atlus USA and XSEED won't touch visual novels for that reason alone). It's a tough genre to get into, so I wouldn't hold my breath.

At any rate, otome games don't interest me, although I'm glad that some companies want to try different things.

Yup, no interest here either. Especially the third question relating to shoujo manga, I don't read any shoujo manga and my exposure to shoujo related material is pretty low, confined to a few popular titles like Ouran High School Host Club. It seems they are really trying to target girls, women, and shoujo fans with this and don't seem to care if it would appeal to other demographics. I've felt that the number of girl gamers has increased in recent years, but I don't think it's anywhere near the number of males that play video games, especially with the list of games they've done, which are pretty much all console games. Being a semi-lurker of GameFAQs, it's still a rarity to see female regular posters. I guess it is trying something new, but with such a niche fanbase, I would think they'd want some appeal for other audiences.

[zalas]

つ http://messageboard.tokyopop.com/for...ad.php?t=12650

[Ojamajo_LimePie]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I don't read any shoujo manga and my exposure to shoujo related material is pretty low, confined to a few popular titles like Ouran High School Host Club.

...for which they made a game.

As someone who does read a lot of shoujo manga, I'd love to see more otome games released in English.

I'll give this a shot for the hell of it.

"Which [console] format would you prefer?"

Probably a handheld platform. PSP has the best audio/visual capabilities, although it's still struggling.

I'm not fond of reading a lot of text on SDTV, so PS2 doesn't appeal to me.

"Would you buy an Otome game based on a shojo manga you liked?"

As a guy, reading first-person descriptions of steamy events or heavily romantic thoughts (female POV) is a no-no. It might be great for those who want to explore different sides of their sexuality (or for girls, naturally), but that isn't my thing.

I'm curious as to what might result from this.

I'd be shocked if anything ever became of it.

Would the company risk publishing on a system which caters to mainstream gamers?

Honestly, I don't think they understand what they're trying to pursue. Every so often, a company claims to have dreams of doing something like this. However, it's often because they have little idea of what the market is like (and the resistance they'll get from potential publishers, retailers, consumers, and even the gaming press). Mixx/Tokyo Pop, Softegg, Hirameki, Broccoli?

Idea Factory will learn soon enough.

[Kealdrea]

- "Which IF title would you most want to see an English version of?" [These include original and licensed games.]
Anything new, preferably GxB, that has a good storyline and doesn't have stupid humor that makes me give up on the game. (*shivers at the thought of Yo-Jin-Bo* Unfunny Pokemon references in a story based hundreds of years ago...)
- "Which [console] format would you prefer?"
PC.
- "Would you buy an Otome game based on a shojo manga you liked?
Yep.

They already said they can't release PC games on the Neoromance forums. Idea Factory just doesn't seem to have much experience or interest in PC games. There's only one PC game listed on their website, and two older ones that are not listed.

But yeah, I think they'd have an easier time if they go with DS titles, since we've already gotten a handful of anime style adventure games released in America with no problems, and more coming in the pipeline. But if they go the PS2 route, I'm worried they won't get SCEA's approval, bwaha. We shall see.

Oh, and cause there aren't links to where this survey is being held in this thread, here they are for anyone who is interested in participating.

Survey #1 http://forum.my-neoromance.com/index.php?showtopic=1206
Survey #2 http://forum.my-neoromance.com/index.php?showtopic=1217

Gotta be registered to post, just so you know.

Which IF title would you most want to see an English version of?"
- Hiiro no kakera Portable (series)!

Which [console] format would you prefer?"
-PSP and PS3 i have both

Would you buy an Otome game based on a shojo manga you liked?"
- of course!!

please.! I really love OTOME games and visual novels, like HAKUOUKI: Demon of the fleeting blossoms..

and also, please make a ENGLISH VERSION of Hiiro no Kakera, 'cuz i'm like struggling in japanese cuz I cant read them very well.. especially KANJI.. :(

I will support youe projects with all my heart. <3

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Which IF title would you most want to see an English version of?"
- Hiiro no kakera Portable (series)!

Which [console] format would you prefer?"
-PSP and PS3 i have both

Would you buy an Otome game based on a shojo manga you liked?"
- of course!!

please.! I really love OTOME games and visual novels, like HAKUOUKI: Demon of the fleeting blossoms..

and also, please make a ENGLISH VERSION of Hiiro no Kakera, 'cuz i'm like struggling in japanese cuz I cant read them very well.. especially KANJI.. :(

I will support youe projects with all my heart. <3

I REALLY LOVE THEM!

Game: Hiiro no Kakera

Console: PSP or Playstation 2

Would I play a game based on a Manga: Definatley!

I love otome games! Its great, no fantastic that idea factory is looking into bring there otome games to America! It's like a dream come true!

At least one unregistered person has been posting in this thread recently. If you're interested in companies translating a few more VNs and games with GxB pairings, then I recommend politely posting on specific companies' message boards. Furthermore, make sure you focus on untranslated games that are available on currently viable platforms or consoles, and understand what sort of software the company currently specializes in translating.

Since this thread began in 2008, Aksys Games has translated the PSP version of Hakuouki. Even though it was a niche product released on a console that most companies no longer considered to be commercially viable, it has apparently sold about 50K copies in the last six months.

[Stranger]

Originally Posted by dorkatlarge

Aksys Games has translated the PSP version of Hakuouki. Even though it was a niche product released on a console that most companies no longer considered to be commercially viable, it has apparently sold about 50K copies in the last six months.

that number exclude digital downloads, so unless Aksys Games come out and talk about it, we won't know.

That aside, if you keep in mind that Hakuouki is a VN and compare it to MG's releases*, it actually did very well! And if VGCharz numbers can be trusted, then it did a lot better than Atelier Meruru: Alchemist of Arland 3 and some what better than Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel!

* I believe that Koihime Musou toke a lot longer than that to reach 1000 units!

Unfortunately, VGChartz numbers are completely made-up, unreliable data that has been proven wrong both directly (with niche publishers saying not to trust them, since they tend to inflate sales for games that could never dream to reach 50k copies) and indirectly countless times. There's no real data on Hakuoki's performance so far, but considering NPD data for other PSP games (less niche ones, too) it would be a miracle if it sold 10k copies.