Solatorobo: Red the Hunter announced for North America and Europe

[joshnickerson]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

[SEGA_Queen]

This is awesome news! Now I might be able to afford the english version!

I went browsing online for more info, and found an something very interesting on the Xseed Games forum:

http://xseedgames.com/forums/showthr...ull=1#post7836

Basically, someone posted a quote from Corbie Dillard from NintendoLife. Dillard had posted this on his E3 coverage webpage: "Also set up an appointment to see Solatarobo tomorrow. Supposed to be a really cool action RPG coming from XSEED."

Now, if Xseed is indeed the publisher, this would increase the chance of getting a special edition brought out here. Hey, they did it for all of their PSP releases. So why not for the DS as well?

[Aussie2B]

Great news. Would love to know the publisher, though. I see some people are suggesting Xseed. Does that mean that the US version will have a different script from the European version, which is being localized by Nintendo?

[Mayhem]

Yeah, I was just gonna report the same, apparently it was mentioned at E3. As Corbie noted.

[Vlcice]

Very, very good news. That saves importing, even if it takes a little longer to get here. (Though that probably means no French ;.; )

[SEGA_Queen]

A new trailer with actual gameplay footage is out. Unfortunately, the english version hasn't been uploaded yet.

Here's the link to the French version instead:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5Uoihxn4_c

[Vlcice]

Also, in further Solatorobo news, Solatorobo.com is apparently registered to:

Registrant:
XSEED JKS, Inc.
21515 Hawthorne Blvd.

Suite 1020
Torrance, CA 90503
US

Domain name: SOLATOROBO.COM

And was registered on May 31. It was pretty much confirmed before, but nice to be extra-confirmed.

Edit: I noticed in that trailer that they were using the Japanese voices, whereas an English preview I saw from E3 mentioned dubbed voices. Interesting.

[Aussie2B]

I'd think that Xseed would have more sense than to dub the voices, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If they did want to dub them, then they should get native French speakers to record the same lines so as to correct the mispronunciations by the Japanese actors. That would be the only course of action (besides leaving them as-is) that wouldn't be dumb and wrong.

[Kid Fenris]

Edit: I noticed in that trailer that they were using the Japanese voices, whereas an English preview I saw from E3 mentioned dubbed voices. Interesting.

Do you have a link to that preview? Every report I've seen about Solatorobo's E3 appearance is vague, suggesting that Xseed wants to keep it quiet for the time being. Perhaps they haven't finalized the license.

[Vlcice]

Sorry, I misremembered. It's actually from Nintendo's MCM expo, which is a Euro show: http://mcm.gamespot.com/story/631612...nds-on-preview

I did see one site explicitly mention seeing it at Xseed's booth, but they yanked it later. It definitely implies Xseed isn't ready to get the news out yet. (Though if they weren't ready, they probably shouldn't have registered the domain to their company. )

[SEGA_Queen]

The game's been officially announced by Xseed:

Press Release:

http://xseedgames.com/news.php?id=126

Announcement Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9smXv1HjjA

Oh, and amazon.com already has it up for preorder:

http://www.amazon.com/Solatorobo-Red...8947903&sr=8-4


EDIT: I just found some english gameplay footage!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nQTf...mbedded#at=223

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JFm7...layer_embedded

[Aussie2B]

Great. Too bad it's priced at $34.99 instead of $29.99, but, hey, it's still better than what I'd pay to import the European version.

I'm a little disappointed with how Xseed is marketing it, though. It's as if they're suggesting that the only things praiseworthy about Tail Concerto and Solatorobo is that they have anime art and furry characters when there's so much more to the games. These are great platformer/adventure games that can appeal to anyone (if you're not deathly afraid of something cute, at least). It is a lovely world with charming characters and wonderful art, but if the games weren't just plain fun to play, to run and hop around in your mech and grab everything and chuck it around, nobody would care about them.

[SEGA_Queen]

Ooh, I just found some english gameplay footage!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nQTf...mbedded#at=223

The only thing that would make the US release even better, is if Xseed announces a collector's edition. (I want an english artbook!)

[Aussie2B]

Yay, the French voice snippets are still in there. Good move, Xseed.

[Vlcice]

Good news And I'm really glad to hear those Flench voices are still in there. Now I just need to bug Xseed about getting a French text option.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Yay, the French voice snippets are still in there. Good move, Xseed.

... French voice snippets?

[Aussie2B]

The game doesn't have full-fledged voice acting, but there are little snippets of voice as greetings and exclamations. Rather than to be understood, they're aimed to heighten the atmosphere of the world because the area in which Solatorobo is based is inspired by France. I was worried that the localizers would miss the point of them altogether and dub them in English, but thankfully they get it and left them as is.

[Vlcice]

Speaking of French: http://xseedgames.com/forums/showthr...ull=1#post8860

I begged Xseed to keep the French text, and the response is that they will try to keep all the languages from the Euro release in the game. They'll only leave them out if there's a reason they can't. Awesome!

[Aussie2B]

Wyrdwad is working for Xseed now? That's interesting. If I remember correctly, I think I was talking about Solatorobo with him back around when it first came out in Japan. I wouldn't be surprised if Xseed picking up Solatorobo was influenced by him to some extent. Very cool.

And I guess this is confirmation that they'll be using Nintendo's European localization? Although I'm sure they'd make some minor changes, if only to change it from British English to American English.

[Vlcice]

Yes, he confirmed that they're using NoE's script(s) here: http://xseedgames.com/forums/showthr...p?605-Furballs and here: http://xseedgames.com/forums/showthr...ull=1#post8846. He said that when they get scripts from external partners, they review them for their own quality standards and may make edits - but the quality of the Solatorobo translation is high enough he doesn't really expect they'll need to do much, if anything.