From 1UP.com (http://www.1up.com/article2/0,2053,1616126,00.asp)
In a surprise announcement earlier this month, Microsoft admitted having no plans to release Phantom Dust outside of Japan. The company gave no explanation in its press release, but we have uncovered an interesting twist to Phantom Dust's fate. Not only did director Futatsugi admit that his team developed an English version along side its domestic Japanese build, he even loaded up the fully-translated English version on one kiosk at the press event, eager to show it off.
Microsoft's polemic decision to scrap plans to release Phantom Dust outside of Japan is something of a brewing controversy within the company, with game designers and public relations people urging Western Xbox fans to embrace the game and demand its release stateside. One Microsoft representative told me that if demand is strong enough in North America, Microsoft may reverse its previous decision.
My question to you guys is: Do you think Phantom Dust is worth fighting for? I spent about twenty minutes playing the game last Thursday and it definitely has potential. The question on everybody's minds at MS is whether Western gamers will respond to its very Japanese story, art direction, and one-on-one battle system.
So what do you guys think? I was told that if gamers push hard enough, the game will be released in Western markets.
-rp
In a surprise announcement earlier this month, Microsoft admitted having no plans to release Phantom Dust outside of Japan. The company gave no explanation in its press release, but we have uncovered an interesting twist to Phantom Dust's fate. Not only did director Futatsugi admit that his team developed an English version along side its domestic Japanese build, he even loaded up the fully-translated English version on one kiosk at the press event, eager to show it off.
Microsoft's polemic decision to scrap plans to release Phantom Dust outside of Japan is something of a brewing controversy within the company, with game designers and public relations people urging Western Xbox fans to embrace the game and demand its release stateside. One Microsoft representative told me that if demand is strong enough in North America, Microsoft may reverse its previous decision.
My question to you guys is: Do you think Phantom Dust is worth fighting for? I spent about twenty minutes playing the game last Thursday and it definitely has potential. The question on everybody's minds at MS is whether Western gamers will respond to its very Japanese story, art direction, and one-on-one battle system.
So what do you guys think? I was told that if gamers push hard enough, the game will be released in Western markets.
-rp
