UK/Europe Exclusive PS2 games?

[GunPanther]

Hmmmm....

Why is it that European countries get exclusive games whereas us American Gamers are shut out?


I mean, the UK/Rest of Europe gets "Underworld: The Eternal War", "Conan", "The Shadow Of Zorro", "Knight Rider: The Game" and most recently, "Knight Rider: The Game 2". O_O



I've seen those games in action through videos and I'm totally enthralled by the characters.


*sighs*


Anyways, does anyone know of a complete list of PS2 games released in the UK that were never/are never going to be released here in the USA?

I'm very curious.



LIST:

Here's what I've got so far. I know it's small, (probably microscopic if there are hundreds of titles out there in Europe that never made it to the USA) but it's the first list EVER. If there's another list somewhere on the 'net, please show me. Otherwise, my list IS the Authority in Europe-Only PS2 game releases! (You like that bit of reverse psychology? LOL)


(Titles are in no particular order)

Underworld: The Eternal War
Conan
Masters Of The Universe: He-Man, Defender Of Grayskull
Miami Vice
Knight Rider: The Game
Knight Rider: The Game 2
The Shadow Of Zorro
Detonator
Battle Construction Vehicles
X-Treme Express
A-Train 6
Bust-A-Bloc
Gregory Horror Show
Fame Academy
Pop Star Academy
Strikers 1945 Pack



List Contributors: (Again, in no particular order) Queen Of The Felines, devilman, packratshow, Captain Wrong, KJN


:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:

[poloplayr]

a ton of rugby games.

[anagrama]

Why is it that European countries get exclusive games whereas us American Gamers are shut out?


Just about any European gamer will be laughing at that statement. You're obviously unaware of the countless number of games that are released in the US but never make it to Europe.
Believe me, you get the better end of the deal (and pay substantially less for new games aswell as getting them several months earlier).
Don't complain.

And the UK != Europe. There's a whole load of other countries here aswell, y'know. :roll:

[Cauterize]

Why is it that European countries get exclusive games whereas us American Gamers are shut out?


Just about any European gamer will be laughing at that statement. You're obviously unaware of the countless number of games that are released in the US but never make it to Europe.
Believe me, you get the better end of the deal (and pay substantially less for new games aswell as getting them several months earlier).
Don't complain.

And the UK != Europe. There's a whole load of other countries here aswell, y'know. :roll:

I totally agree with you James... Katamari!

[Captain Wrong]

I dunno, but I am curious why Europe got a few PS2 shmups that we didn't get here. (That and I need to figure out a way to play 'em on my non-PAL tv. :()

The Psyiko Strikers 1945 pack was a nice find for 10 pounds. Why didn't we get that here???

[GunPanther]

Just about any European gamer will be laughing at that statement. You're obviously unaware of the countless number of games that are released in the US but never make it to Europe.
Believe me, you get the better end of the deal (and pay substantially less for new games aswell as getting them several months earlier).
Don't complain.

And the UK != Europe. There's a whole load of other countries here aswell, y'know. :roll:


Okay, you're right. UK = Europe. I just mentioned the UK because that's where I've bought all my PAL PS2 games from; Sellers in the UK or the Netherlands.

As for the games only released here, American Gamers are a fickle customer to deal with. The majority of gamers (which I don't consider myself a part of) get bored really easily with the games that are released here. For the 'casual' gamers (aka the 'majority') releasing games like "Zorro", "Knight Rider", "Underworld", "Conan" or "Masters Of The Universe" in the USA would have them come out strictly as $19.99-$39.99 titles at best, not because the games are horrible, but because the franchises they are based on have all but been forgotten or were never too popular to begin with.

When Knight Rider for the PC was released here, if you were lucky enough to find it, it was at a heavily discounted price of $4.99 - $9.99 simply because it just wasn't in demand.

Another example is the franchise "Underworld". Here in the USA, the movie only pulled in about $45 million in box office receipts. To us Americans, that's considered a 'failure', so why bother releasing a game based on a 'bad' movie? (BTW, I liked "Underworld". So much so, that I bought the PAL game so I could play as the super hot Selene. :-P )

Conan is a franchise that's long been dormant in terms of commercial success. The last time that "Conan" was a household name was back in the early/mid 1980's when Arnold Schwarzenegger played the titular character in a series of 2 films. After that, the "Conan" franchise seemed to go back to it's 'underground' roots, waiting for another time to rise again. As a fan of the Conan franchise, it was only natural that I import the game to play it. Plus, I really like hack'n' slash games a'la Golden Axe.

Last, but not least, "Masters Of The Universe" was slated to be released here, but was cancelled due to the fact that the toy/cartoon series did not do very well at all. Within just under a year, the series was dropped from the Cartoon Network's lineup and interest in the action figure line had dissipated. Needless to say, it wouldn't have been a financially sound idea to release a full fledged PS2/XBox game based on the ill fated franchise.


Anyway, what games have never been released in the Europe, but have been released here in the USA?

I'd be more than willing to trade over domestic USA titles (which are probably easy for me to get) for Europe only titles.


Give me some examples and I'll try to give you an explanation as to why it probably wasn't released in Europe.






:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:

[hydr0x]

Anyway, what games have never been released in the Europe, but have been released here in the USA?


dude, you don not really want a list of those, do you? there are about 70-100 games on gamecube alone which didn't make it over here, i don't even want to know how many PS2 games there are, my guess is 100-250, with the obvious examples being ANY baseball and bowling games, ANY NCAA game, some Football games and lots of rpgs

[KJN]

As for the games only released here, American Gamers are a fickle customer to deal with. The majority of gamers (which I don't consider myself a part of) get bored really easily with the games that are released here. For the 'casual' gamers (aka the 'majority') releasing games like "Zorro", "Knight Rider", "Underworld", "Conan" or "Masters Of The Universe" in the USA would have them come out strictly as $19.99-$39.99 titles at best, not because the games are horrible, but because the franchises they are based on have all but been forgotten or were never too popular to begin with.

But that's the price games like "Underworld" or "Masters Of The Universe" are going for here. Since the early days of Mastertronic (http://www.mastertronic.net) Europe has always had a bigger budget scene that the US. I'm not talking about Greatest Hits re-releases but new releases selling for about £9 or similar. A lot of the games that doesn't get released in the US are budget releases here from companies such as Play It (http://www.justplayit.com), Midas (http://www.midasinteractive.com), 505 Game Street (http://www.505gamestreet.com) or Phoenix Games (http://www.phoenixgames.nl).

[Vroomfunkel]

Seriously, you're not missing much on Underworld. My friend - who is a huge fan of the film, and also of videogames, bought this as soon as it was out. And declared it to be possibly the worst game he has had the misfortune to attempt playing. Apparently it is virtually unplayable.

Vroomfunkel

[packratshow]

Wow, I had no idea that MOTU actually came out, or that Underworld existed. As a fan of crappy licensed games(clutches copy of Hooters Road Trip), I need to figure out how to get these into my grubby little hands.

Also, i fear that 7 Sins (http://www.7sins-game.com) will not come out stateside, especially since niether of Monte Cristo's 2 other PS2 games(Fame Academy & Pop Star Academy, although I think they're the same game) have left Europe.

[Queen Of The Felines]

I'm still thanking Jesus, Mohammed, and Buddha that we got Dog's Life over here in the States.

Now if only I could play Gregory Horror Show I can die happy.

Kristine

[motley6]

Miami Vice is European PS2 only I think.

[hydr0x]

Now if only I could play Gregory Horror Show I can die happy.

Kristine

i think we have that one for 15 or 20 euros at our store, would cost you around 30 dollar to have it shipped to you ;)

[GunPanther]

Miami Vice is European PS2 only I think.


Holy shit. There was a game based on "Miami Vice"? O_O



Damn, I used to watch that show a lot when I was younger.






:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Most you have listed above are budget releases (Supermarket specials). Most are also developed by small UK / Europe based studio's. Unless they get a publisher in the states, they remain UK exclusives.

And as they are small studio's, putting up the cash to release the games in the US is unrealistic.

Here they can get away with producing a small amount, and selling them cheap.


either that, or the games aren't really up to the standard required for a full worldwide release, but are of the standard to be sold as budget games cheaply in supermarkets...

[Mayhem]

i think we have that one for 15 or 20 euros at our store, would cost you around 30 dollar to have it shipped to you ;)

Unfortunately the kitty don't have a chipped PS2! The other part of the problem is however, that you'd need R.G.B. output to avoid the old black&white screen.

[GunPanther]

Most you have listed above are budget releases (Supermarket specials). Most are also developed by small UK / Europe based studio's. Unless they get a publisher in the states, they remain UK exclusives.

And as they are small studio's, putting up the cash to release the games in the US is unrealistic.

Here they can get away with producing a small amount, and selling them cheap.


either that, or the games aren't really up to the standard required for a full worldwide release, but are of the standard to be sold as budget games cheaply in supermarkets...



Budget or not, these games are still noteworthy because they will stay in Europe simply because (as you said) "putting up the cash to release the games in the US is unrealistic".

Also, they sell these games in a supermarket setting? O_O

The only thing that even comes close to entertainment being sold in the local supermarkets here are crappy and cheap DVD movies.





:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:

[hydr0x]

The only thing that even comes close to entertainment being sold in the local supermarkets here are crappy and cheap DVD movies.


now you know how crappy those games are...

[Gemini-Phoenix]

My point exactly. I think you'd be hard pushed to find most of them in a dedicated game shop as they just don't want to touch them, hence why they are sold cheap in supermarkets.

Most independant shops will avoid them like the plague, and you'd struggle to get rid of them second hand as trade in's. They are the sort of thing GameStation wouldn't even take if you tried to give it them for free!

I doubt even Cash Converters would take them in either.


They usually sell for between £7.99 - £15.00 in the supermarkets depending on the game.


The supermarkets do have a chart as such, but out of 50, you'll probably find about five *Top* releases, and the rest will be this cheap crap.


I avoid all Midas / Play It / Xplosiv games wherever I can, although I may be tempted to buy that Gunbird Collection even though Xplosiv are releasing it... But that is teh exception to the rule

[hydr0x]

I avoid all Midas / Play It / Xplosiv games wherever I can


eeehh....



, although I may be tempted to buy that Gunbird Collection even though Xplosiv are releasing it... But that is teh exception to the rule

ah, i see, there is a hand-full of games from those publisher (you forgot Phoenix Games though, they are the worst) actually worth a purchase, i think "Bust-A-Bloc", a nice PS2 Breakout clone i have, is from Play-It i also think i have some Midas PS1 game which is good, can't remember it, ain't Striker 1945 from Midas too??

[KJN]

Yeah don't avoid budget games, there is some good stuff in there. Play It, for example, is publishing Road Trip (aka ChoroQ HG 2) (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54840) in europe and thats one of my favourite PS2 games.


i think "Bust-A-Bloc", a nice PS2 Breakout clone i have, is from Play-It

Bust-a-Bloc is from Midas. It's originally one of D3's Simple 2000 games (http://www.d3p.co.jp/s_20/fs_s20_g.html) (vol05: The Block Kurushi Hyper).

[GunPanther]

My point exactly. I think you'd be hard pushed to find most of them in a dedicated game shop as they just don't want to touch them, hence why they are sold cheap in supermarkets.

Most independant shops will avoid them like the plague, and you'd struggle to get rid of them second hand as trade in's. They are the sort of thing GameStation wouldn't even take if you tried to give it them for free!

I doubt even Cash Converters would take them in either.


They usually sell for between £7.99 - £15.00 in the supermarkets depending on the game.


The supermarkets do have a chart as such, but out of 50, you'll probably find about five *Top* releases, and the rest will be this cheap crap.


I avoid all Midas / Play It / Xplosiv games wherever I can, although I may be tempted to buy that Gunbird Collection even though Xplosiv are releasing it... But that is teh exception to the rule


Just because games are cheap doesn't mean that they're not going to be fun.

There are many 'budget' titles that are being released here in the USA which have a starting price tag of $9.99 to $19.99 USD and there truly are some worthy games to keep a gamer's attention for a long time.

Personally, it's never, ever about how the game looks (graphic wise) or even what the game is related to (franchise wise). It's all about how it plays and if it controls well.

You may think that "Conan" or "Underworld" are crappy games, but I actually like them both. Not only do they have characters that I really like, but the gameplay is pretty good. Does that make me less of a gamer because I happen to like budget games? I don't think so. In fact, I would consider myself an avid gamer since I'm willing to play everything that's out there.

I originally started this thread to compile a list of 'Europe only' PS2 games, regardless of whether they're crappy or not.

My point is that not everyone is going to like what you like or what I like.

Everyone should have their own opinions and have their opinions respected.

I'll be right back. I'm having too much fun playing "Conan" right now. :)







:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:

[hydr0x]

GunPanther, noone said that cheap games = crap games, we were just talking about how good or bad those games actually are and all those i have played from those Publishers are mediocre at best (Phoenix games are all pure crap though) with maybe 5 exceptions, if you like Underworld for whatever reason that doesn't make the gamer better for the average gamer, and those should avoid all games from those publishers

[devilman]

I avoid all Midas / Play It / Xplosiv games wherever I can

Midas's PS2 output is much better than the absolutely dire stuff it was putting out for the PS1. Detonator, Battle Construction Vehicles, X-Treme Express are all decent for the price. I've also picked up A-Train 6 by them but I've not got round to trying it out yet. Seems their PS1 stuff was homegrown tat but some of their PS2 stuff are Jap conversions that the big Publishers didn't want.

Xplosiv released Psyvariar Complete Edition so can't complain there.

Not found a Play It game worth playing yet.

And as Hydr0x rightly said, Phoenix are the worst offenders - terrible stuff from them!

[Amy Rose]

Why is it that European countries get exclusive games whereas us American Gamers are shut out?

Hahahahahaha.

If only us PAL regionies got half the games you guys did, and at the prices you guys do. In Australia, we have to pay up to ~$77 US for our new games. Our DS games are like double what yours are, etc. Bitches! If I could get a copy of "Yoshi Touch & Go" for $25AUD over here compared to $70, I'd be sooo happy.

But at the least, I can sympathise with your fave games being locked out of your region. :)

[GunPanther]

GunPanther, noone said that cheap games = crap games, we were just talking about how good or bad those games actually are and all those i have played from those Publishers are mediocre at best (Phoenix games are all pure crap though) with maybe 5 exceptions, if you like Underworld for whatever reason that doesn't make the gamer better for the average gamer, and those should avoid all games from those publishers


Thank you for understanding, hydr0x. :)

I will admit, there are games that exist that are complete and utter shit (pardon my language) but at least I can honestly say that I've played them.

With the USA/Europe/Japan only games, it's way too difficult for a video gamer to track down each and every game ever made. It's also another problem trying to find the way to play these games once they're imported, let alone trying to translate what the text says.

I would love to play some Japanese RPGs, but alas, since I have no command of the Japanese language symbols (Kanji? etc.) I will never touch any text heavy Japanese titles. However, if these same titles made it over to Europe, I'd be willing to try and track them down.





:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:

[GunPanther]

I avoid all Midas / Play It / Xplosiv games wherever I can

Midas's PS2 output is much better than the absolutely dire stuff it was putting out for the PS1. Detonator, Battle Construction Vehicles, X-Treme Express are all decent for the price. I've also picked up A-Train 6 by them but I've not got round to trying it out yet. Seems their PS1 stuff was homegrown tat but some of their PS2 stuff are Jap conversions that the big Publishers didn't want.

Xplosiv released Psyvariar Complete Edition so can't complain there.

Not found a Play It game worth playing yet.

And as Hydr0x rightly said, Phoenix are the worst offenders - terrible stuff from them!

Coolness. Thanks for the updated titles! I'll add them to the list. (Hopefully I got most of the titles correct.)



:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:

[pineapplehead2]

same in australia while, we got games like CrackOut and etc, and you got games like Crystals

Crystals is a great game that never made it to australia and IMO crackout is the best arkonoid clone ever but i would still rather play Crystals.

[hydr0x]

gunpanther if you really want to know the crap exclusives look at these sites, be warned though LOL

http://www.phoenixgamesgroup.com/

(only crap)

http://www.midasinteractive.com/

(1 or 2 interesting games)

http://www.xplosiv.net/default.aspx?MID=0F9F97B788BA&SID=0FAAB294367A

(Xplosiv is worth a look as they are just the budget-label of Empire Interactive)

http://www.justplayit.com/PlayIt.html

(some interesting stuff)


Play-It's site is worth a laugh as they actually are calling the GBA "Game Boy Advanced" LOL