About the Catherine Decision...

[emeraldrafael]

It makes sense to not release it in the USA. Not only is the market for that kind of thing much smaller in the first place, but it'd almost certainly be slapped with an AO rating, meaning virtually no retailers would carry it. Translating and localising a game costs a lot of money. They would, not see a return of investment if they brought the game to the USA - so who can fault them for deciding against it? What would you do if someone asked you to hurl a ton of money in the trash because a relatively small number of people would really enjoy seeing you do it?

Id ont think it will get an AO rating. Probably an M. They have some twsited stuff in that game, but its no worse then half of the other M rated games that American companies put out.

 

[Defense]

It is making me consider "beefjack". I've never heard of them. It could be a lie that Atlus was going to correct them on until they saw the uproar and went with the above message. Ugh, too much speculation, not enough solid evidence.

That's what I was thinking as well, I don't think I've ever heard of Beefjack before this report.

Nope, you're right, we in the SMT fan group have been back and forth-ing it since I posted the news late last night, we've basically decided that it was a bit too carefully worded and the odds are still pretty good that (with the incredible amount of praise the game has been getting here in the west along with the atlus faithful) it will still see a release here, let's also not forget the difficulty patch they just put out, point is it may take time but a Catherine release is still plausible.

Atlus always does this. They still released Persona 4 with the "failure" of Persona 3, and I don't think they knew that Demon's Souls would've became a huge hit in America either.

 

[RowdyRodimus]

If it helps I just sent them an email explaining my disappointment (but not anger) at the news and asked them to reconsider. Honestly that's the most we can do without acting like entitled douches (not saying that about anyone here BTW).

 

[Arkley]

It makes sense to not release it in the USA. Not only is the market for that kind of thing much smaller in the first place, but it'd almost certainly be slapped with an AO rating, meaning virtually no retailers would carry it. Translating and localising a game costs a lot of money. They would, not see a return of investment if they brought the game to the USA - so who can fault them for deciding against it? What would you do if someone asked you to hurl a ton of money in the trash because a relatively small number of people would really enjoy seeing you do it?

I don't see why people assume this game would get an AO, it's certainly got more sexual elements than most mainstream titles, but it's not like it's actually porn. CERO gave it a C rating, which is the equivalent of a high T or a low M rating from the ESRB. This puts it on the level of Uncharted or MvC3.

By comparison, Killzone 3 and Bayonetta are rated D, which is a step higher.

Because the ESRB is much less lenient about sexual content - in particular frequent sexual content - than others (excluding Australia/Germany, of course).

Japan in general is much more tolerant of sexual content. Hell, just look at what happened with the whole Hot Coffee thing in the US. It came to light that there was an entirely unfinished sex minigame in GTA:SA, which could only be accessed with a hacking device, in which the participant characters remained fully clothed.

Boom, game re-rated to AO.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I think it's probably for the best they not release it outside of Japan. Kinda glad for it as my face can't handle any more facepalming from the media's kneejerk responses to any game that doesn't fart sunshine and rainbows.

I mean it is an H-game isn't it? That's what I've gotten from the coverage about it. It probably would get an AO over here or end up heavily censored to garner an M rating.

 

[IvoryTowerGamer]

Just thought I'd make a thread about this.

This was sent to people subscribed to Atlus's newsletter. This tells me two things.
1. They are hurt and/or shocked about the amount of fan backlash from their decision.
2. They aren't releasing Catherine outside of Japan. Why else would they send a timid response like this? Otherwise, they probably would have stated a NA release of Catherine is undecided, not a never.
I still like them, I just feel a little jilted. I'll continue to buy their games, but hope they will reconsider their decision.
Discussion: Thoughts on the message? On Catherine? On Atlus as a whole?
[sub]Thanks to mireko for informing me of it.[/sub]

Did they ever explain why they weren't bringing it over?

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Just thought I'd make a thread about this.

This was sent to people subscribed to Atlus's newsletter. This tells me two things.
1. They are hurt and/or shocked about the amount of fan backlash from their decision.
2. They aren't releasing Catherine outside of Japan. Why else would they send a timid response like this? Otherwise, they probably would have stated a NA release of Catherine is undecided, not a never.
I still like them, I just feel a little jilted. I'll continue to buy their games, but hope they will reconsider their decision.
Discussion: Thoughts on the message? On Catherine? On Atlus as a whole?
[sub]Thanks to mireko for informing me of it.[/sub]

Did they ever explain why they weren't bringing it over?

That's just it. We have a single statement made on a site no one has heard of. Atlus has neither confirmed or denied it. Which makes this message all the more ambiguous.

 

[mireko]

Because the ESRB is much less lenient about sexual content - in particular frequent sexual content - than others (excluding Australia/Germany, of course).

Japan in general is much more tolerant of sexual content. Hell, just look at what happened with the whole Hot Coffee thing. It came to light that there was an entirely unfinished sex minigame in GTA:SA, which could only be accessed with a hacking device, in which the participant characters remained fully clothed.

Boom, game re-rated to AO.

I completely agree about the ESRB being nonsensically strict about sexual content, but look:

Bayonetta got a higher rating in Japan and still got an M in the US.

Bayonetta.

[small]It's within the realm of possibility that CERO gave it a D for the S&M-themed torture kills (sounds so much more creepy when I type it), but I just can't see this game getting an AO.[/small]

I think it's probably for the best they not release it outside of Japan. Kinda glad for it as my face can't handle any more facepalming from the media's kneejerk responses to any game that doesn't fart sunshine and rainbows.

I mean it is an H-game isn't it? That's what I've gotten from the coverage about it. It probably would get an AO over here or end up heavily censored to garner an M rating.

Nonononononono, no. H-games aren't even rated by CERO.

 

[Alphakirby]

With this, I have to say...
The color could perhaps be a reference to a certain game.

Hey,maybe Catherine is coming to the US after all, that pink is a good sign of that.

 

[Alphakirby]

Well that and the text of the message, and Atlus, I'll give you one more chance if the message is for what I think it is.

 

[Choppaduel]

I don't care about the game or the developer so I'll have to make my case in the general sense.

If some studio makes games but says that you can't play them, cause you live in the wrong area. FUCK THEM! I'll just turn my attention back to games that are ACTUALLY AVAILABLE.

 

[Jonny The Kay]

How could I ever hate the people who made Demon's Souls? But seriously the Catherine thing seriously bums me out.

 

[Defense]

How could I ever hate the people who made Demon's Souls? But seriously the Catherine thing seriously bums me out.

They published Demon's Souls in America only, From Software developed Demon's Souls.

Atlus is more Shin Megami Tensei/Etrian Odyssey.

 

[Arkley]

Because the ESRB is much less lenient about sexual content - in particular frequent sexual content - than others (excluding Australia/Germany, of course).

Japan in general is much more tolerant of sexual content. Hell, just look at what happened with the whole Hot Coffee thing. It came to light that there was an entirely unfinished sex minigame in GTA:SA, which could only be accessed with a hacking device, in which the participant characters remained fully clothed.

Boom, game re-rated to AO.

I completely agree about the ESRB being nonsensically strict about sexual content, but look:

Bayonetta got a higher rating in Japan and still got an M in the US.

Bayonetta.

[small]It's within the realm of possibility that CERO gave it a D for the S&M-themed torture kills (sounds so much more creepy when I type it), but I just can't see this game getting an AO.[/small]

Well, the thing is, there isn't that much actual sexual content in Bayonetta. People hear things like "S&M machines" and "all her clothes fly off" and assume it's terrible, but the truth is those "S&M" attacks are never used for anything actually explicit and are only used against non-human enemies. Even when her clothes come off, she's still left with the amount of body coverage offered by your average bikini. And besides from the dancing and innuendo (both of which are really rather tame by anyone's standards), what else is there?

There are no sex scenes, all the enemies are non-human (besides one, who you can't kill). Catherine is a highly sexually themed game with multiple sex scenes (although how explicit they are, it doesn't say), themed around a seductive woman and a whole murder mystery plot.

Violence, seduction, overt sexual overtones, actual sex scenes and surrealism...there's no way it wouldn't get rated AO.

 

[Whitenail]

While I've never played an Atlus title and I don't know much about Catherine other than "It looks like a Japanese game-version hybrid of Black Swan and...I'unno, something with grotesue monsters...Silent Hill" I sympathise with it not being released outside of Japan, I imagine it's like if the upcoming Bioshock was never released in Australia.

 

[Alphakirby]

Because the ESRB is much less lenient about sexual content - in particular frequent sexual content - than others (excluding Australia/Germany, of course).

Japan in general is much more tolerant of sexual content. Hell, just look at what happened with the whole Hot Coffee thing. It came to light that there was an entirely unfinished sex minigame in GTA:SA, which could only be accessed with a hacking device, in which the participant characters remained fully clothed.

Boom, game re-rated to AO.

I completely agree about the ESRB being nonsensically strict about sexual content, but look:

Bayonetta got a higher rating in Japan and still got an M in the US.

Bayonetta.

[small]It's within the realm of possibility that CERO gave it a D for the S&M-themed torture kills (sounds so much more creepy when I type it), but I just can't see this game getting an AO.[/small]

Well, the thing is, there isn't that much actual sexual content in Bayonetta. People hear things like "S&M machines" and "all her clothes fly off" and assume it's terrible, but the truth is those "S&M" attacks are never used for anything actually explicit and are only used against non-human enemies. Even when her clothes come off, she's still left with the amount of body coverage offered by your average bikini. And besides from the dancing and innuendo (both of which are really rather tame by anyone's standards), what else is there?

There are no sex scenes, all the enemies are non-human (besides one, who you can't kill). Catherine is a highly sexually themed game with multiple sex scenes (although how explicit they are, it doesn't say), themed around a seductive woman and a whole murder mystery plot.

Violence, seduction, overt sexual overtones, actual sex scenes and surrealism...there's no way it wouldn't get rated AO.

Umm,I'm pretty sure it would get an M,AO is more along the lines of literal porn,I bring up the one sex scene in Heavy Rain that was an explicit game on it's own terms (just go with me) if the ESRB were to judge Catherine, I'd suspect a M rating because I'm pretty damn sure Atlus used camera angles to censor the sex. The main focus is the plot after all, just because sexual themes are a main subject doesn't mean it gets an immediate AO.

 

[Alphakirby]

This is how I can guess Catherine is coming to the US,it's an obvious tease, the apology is in fact a tease for us to get the game here due to the massive outrage. Also let's not forget some other cryptic advertising we've seen

Yep,Atlus is pulling a nicer version of the Daikatana tease image,the cryptic message,the design and color which both relate to the game,and because we already know Atlus made it, no need for developer titles

see what I mean

 

[infinity_turtles]

I'm still hoping it does get released. If not, my feelings for Atlus will become even more bittered. I'm still sore about only getting two, three, and five in the Growlanser series. The enhanced port of the original for the PSP was the perfect time to grab and translate it. But I'll still crawl back to them anytime they release something from Atlus proper to fulfill my cravings like a crackwhore to a pimp.

 

[Maylo]

I will always love you, Atlus. But you're breaking my little heart </3

Now what am I supposed to do until Persona 5?

 

[qazmatoz]

My response to their email:

"No, because you don't have the courage and integrity to publish Catherine. The western games industry needs something like this to question and examine their backwards philosophy of what a "mature" title is. Even a simple translation with no re-dubbing would be adequate and not terribly taxing on your resources. You know people will buy this game, maybe not in the millions like the games industry has unrealistically set as its benchmark, but enough that people will know that you as a publisher actually have the integrity to attempt to further the medium in North America.

Or you could publish more Naruto games or whatever makes you happy."

Sigh.