NIS America’s President On Anime, Crossovers, Sakura Wars, And More

By Spencer . June 29, 2010 . 3:37pm

At E3, we met up with Haru Akenaga, President of NIS America, and brought your questions. The first thing we brought up was Super Dimension Game Neptune.

 

NIS America’s President On Anime, Crossovers, Sakura Wars, And More I know it hasn’t been announced, but my readers are excited about Neptune. Do you think NIS America will publish this game in the future?

 

Haru Akenaga, President of NIS America: All I can say now is Idea Factory asked us to localize the game for the US and Europe. We are eager to do that. We are in discussion about the conditions for licensing the title. The deal is almost done.

 

We’ve seen Nippon Ichi characters crossover into a lot of games. Are there any particular series or companies you would like to work with?

 

It’s really hard to ask anyone to use their characters. For Cross Edge, that was a nightmare to get the characters from Capcom. Maybe, it’s going to be tough to do crossover titles in the future.

 

That’s interesting. It seems like crossovers are hot in Japan with collaborations like Monster Hunter and Metal Gear Solid.

 

Idea Factory is going into that direction. They’re trying to get characters from many companies.

 

A long time ago Nippon Ichi announced they had an Xbox 360 developer kit. Are there any plans to move in that direction?

 

No plans so far.

 

At the Nintendo press conference I didn’t see NIS America or Nippon Ichi listed as one of the 3DS developers. Have you thought about working with the 3DS?

 

That’s because we are really close to Sony. Nintendo has priority on which company they are going to release information to. Some companies like Square Enix and Koei Tecmo have development kits already. That’s why they can show some titles today. We just got a development kit.

 

NIS America’s President On Anime, Crossovers, Sakura Wars, And More A few months ago, NIS America released Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love on PlayStation 2 and Wii. How did that do? Did it exceed, perform to or was it not as good as your expectations?

 

Not as good as our expectations.

 

Uh-oh. What’s the fate of Sakura Wars in North America then? I see a lot of my readers are hoping for Sakura 1+2 for PSP.

 

Another publisher tried to get approval from Sony for Sakura Wars 1+2 for PSP, but it was rejected. Once a title is rejected by SCEA there is almost no chance to release the title.

 

What about as a digital download?

 

That’s Sony’s decision. Sony said this is not a game. They said it’s a text novel. They judged it as that, so it’s really difficult to get the license again. It’s also tough to localize Sakura Wars because of the huge amount of text. It took more than two years to complete the localization. That’s more than the development time of the Japanese version.

 

How are you picking out games to localize between titles developed from your parent company like Last Rebellion and third party games like the Atelier series?

 

NIS America’s President On Anime, Crossovers, Sakura Wars, And MoreWhen I established this company I talked with the head of Gust to work closely together for US versions. Basically, we’re going to release their titles.

 

Since we got the license for Blade Dancer* we started a relationship with Hit Maker. They told us they are going to make much better titles than Blade Dancer. We funded development of those titles and that’s why we released their titles.

 

Once we got Last Rebellion we realized it was not the kind of title we should release in the United States because of its quality. I feel really sorry for our customers because we released that title. That’s why I told Nao (PR Manager) we have to release the announcement for Last Rebellion, but never push that title. We cannot say it’s a really great title. We felt really sorry, but we had no choice to release that.

 

From now on, even though we fund a title, we will not release it if the quality is not good enough.

 

[* Editor’s Note: Blade Dancer was published by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan and picked up by NIS America.]

 

So, I take it you’re not going to work with Hit Maker anymore?

 

They submitted some concepts, but we rejected all of them so far. Maybe they will make some titles with another company and improve their skills.

 

Aside from the Disgaea studio who are you working with?

 

Imageepoch is making our titles, but those are Japanese titles just for PSP. We’re not sure if we’re going to release those in the United States.

 

NIS America’s President On Anime, Crossovers, Sakura Wars, And More Speaking of the PSP, we haven’t heard about anything about games like Princess Antiphona, Classic Dungeon or Absolute Hero Modding Project. Are any of these coming over?

 

Which one would you want to see most?

 

Personally, Zettai Hero and then Classic Dungeon would be number two.

 

[Makes finger crossing motion and smiles.]

 

I remember the report from your parent company said you’re going to focus on PlayStation 3 overseas. Are you going to still release PSP games.

 

We announced we are going to focus on PlayStation 3 titles on maybe March of this year. Almost all titles that just started in development are PS3 titles.

 

But, you just announced Blue Roses in Japan.

 

Yeah. That title has been in development for more than one year, before we announced we were going to focus on PS3 titles.

 

So, what franchises what will we see, except Disgaea, which one would you want to see on PlayStation 3?

 

We are making new franchise titles on PlayStation 3. We understand it’s going to be really tough because everyone is making sequels.

 

That’s interesting because Disgaea is everywhere. I mean the only thing it isn’t on is Xbox and iPhone. So, you’re only going to focus on new IP?

 

Which one do you think can be a good franchise for PS3?

 

I would imagine Zettai Hero has potential. It’s a dungeon crawler and has Disgaea style art.

 

Our development team is really confident in that title. We would really like to make a sequel to Zettai Hero, but they are waiting to see if the game will be released overseas.

 

NIS America’s President On Anime, Crossovers, Sakura Wars, And MoreWhy did NIS America get involved with anime?

 

I think the anime market in the United States crashed and that’s why we started. Many big players are gone now, but their customers are still here. Maybe this is our chance to release anime for hardcore gamers. We realize the anime market is shrinking in the US, but someone needs to release that content.

 

Since you’re close to Sony will we see your anime distributed on PSN?

 

We’re working on it.

 

Oh, one more thing… how is Disgaea 4 doing?

 

Ask me again at TGS.


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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1472407455 Charles Lupula

    Sure, those rules used to exist, but complaining about them now is like complaining about rats because they might give you the Black Plague. The past is the past. EA used to be a big evil corporation that went out of its way to crush creativity. Nintendo used to not allow blood on their system. I used to be a big Sega fanboy who refused to ever buy anything from Nintendo or Sony. Times change.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/VY27XRBU2VMQVWCNPXHMXDR4UE chibi

    what are you talking about?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1472407455 Charles Lupula

    Oh, from other comments this person has made, I get the impression they view supporting the PS3 as being failure.

  • http://twitter.com/dat3nshi Loren

    Dang, nothing on Pandora Hearts. NIS, give us a release date, pretty please! I want to give you my money!

  • lostinblue

    “used to” is flickle, like said, in September 2008, when Yakuza 2 shipped they were still at place seeing the game had to get permission to not be dubbed; I'd suspect Yakuza 3 got the same treatment, because it's quite simply one of the best games on the platform, and PS3 needs those games. And September 2008 is not that long ago too.

    Plus, the “stupid rule” of “no ports without extra content are allowed” is still at place, and it has been doing more harm than good for a long time; Sakura Wars 1+2 being an example, and Princess Crown and Devil Summoner, games released on PSP that are Japan only (and while being ports, the originals were japan only as well) not being allowed to release outside due to stupid policies, that are at place.

    It's not in the “past”. Plus, you should learn to put stuff in perspective, EA was never “evil” it just got a lot of hate from the flickle fanbase, just like Activision gets now, it's cyclic and happens to whoever is market leader on this market, they suddenly turn into the “evil developer” everyone wants to shoot down because they obviously know how to do money. I mean, hell, aren't they better than Ubisoft? yes they are, both of them.

    As for Nintendo… different times, a lot of people fail to understand that, the age ratings back then were just kicking in, if not totally absent:

    -> http://www.411mania.com/siteimages/mortal_komba…

    Meaning without that scapegoat the manufacturers could be held responsible about whatever content available for their platform and the fact someone could buy them, now knowing it wasn't meant for *insert age group*, in hindsight it might not have been the wisest decision, but it wasn't without a reason.

    Yup, you've changed alright, but judging for the way you're defending sony here, with that I don't know if it was for the better, or just for another camp.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1472407455 Charles Lupula

    2 years ago is the past. I'm not sure if you're fully cognizant of how linear time works, but 2 years ago is still the past.

    As for the no ports without extra content, I happen to like that rule. Makes me feel less ripped off when I get something a year after the 360. Does it do harm sometimes? Of course, it does. But I like getting extra characters and mazes.

    And if you want to imply things, just come out and say them. It's not like I agree with pretty much ANYTHING you've ever had to say, so go ahead. You wanna call me a fanboy, feel free. Do you see me saying anything negative about, say, “Xenoblade,” even though I won't be able to play it? Hell, do you see me whining that it should be ported? The game looks pretty damn good and if the Wii had a ton of titles like that, guess what system I'd be buying.

    The thing is that I miss the days of console exclusivity. I miss the days before Microsoft's cash diluted everything. Where systems actually had an identity of their own. Long ago, I owned a PS2, but the Gamecube had all the new Resident Evil games. Can you guess what I had decided to do? That's right. Buy a Gamecube, so I can play them. Humorously enough, the week before I was to buy it, they announced RE4 for the PS2, so I decided against buying the system.

    In other words, I go where the games I want are. I'm sorry that you're still stuck on things that happened years ago and seem to think that people who didn't buy a particular system should be able to play particular games. They shouldn't. You want NISA games? Buy a PS3. Period. Has nothing to do with being a fanboy. It has to do with console identity, which, if anything I wish Microsoft had actually worked to establish, instead of just grabbing everything Sony had established on the PS2.

    I may put down the Wii for its excessive casual focus, but, at least, they've kept an identity. An identity that Microsoft seems to be going out of its way to grab. Why wouldn't I be against that?

  • Joanna

    Me too. I prefer handhelds by a mile. Still play on the consoles, but not as much. I have to share the TV as well, so handhelds are really great.

  • Joanna

    Kind of makes me wish Spencer asked why the Wii version got the short end of the stick. I still picked up the Wii Sakura Wars because while Japanese VAs is nice, I don't mind if games don't have it. Plus I have a weird suspicion my PS2 is going to fail on me soon. :'(

  • Joanna

    If you read other users' comments on here, they didn't even bother with Wii version because it didn't have Japanese audio. Most people who are interested in a game like Sakura Taisen are probably small in number and want Japanese track. Therefore, it is no surprise the Wii version failed. NISA is to blame for sending the Wii version to die. It really was a wasted effort, but not in the way you think. NISA should have given the Wii version the same treatment.

  • Joanna

    I presume you are referring to this:
    http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/05/a-very-special…

    I wouldn't be celebrating though, it's only a couple thousand (~3000) more than Wii. Plus Wii still has a higher penetration percentage. Wii is not selling so much because those who wanted one, have one. It's not surprising Wii sales have dipped enough to get the PS3 ahead in recent weeks given that PS3 slim was released not too long ago.

    I wouldn't even be bringing this up if not for your “NISA shouldn't bother with Wii” a few comments earlier. Put bluntly, you just annoy me with your insistence that Wii sucks and PS3 is Sony's gift to humankind. Just enjoy your PS3 man, I'll enjoy my DS and let's not shove it in peoples faces that their console of choice shouldn't be getting any good games.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1472407455 Charles Lupula

    Have I said anything bad about the DS? In fact, if you actually read a few weeks back, I said that if I played portable systems, I would actually buy a 3DS, because the games announced for it impress me. I don't think the PS3 is Sony's gift to mankind. I do think it is the best console system on the market. It has the best tech and the best games. If there was another system that did, then I would own it.

    The Wii I don't think companies should bother with, simply because company after company after company complain that their games sell horribly on it. Ever read up on the sales of Dead Space: Extraction? Or Darkside Chronicles? Or Sakura Wars, for that matter. Company after company waste time and resources to bring games to a system where nobody will buy them, instead of focusing on the two consoles they could sell better on.

    And it's Nintendo's fault for focusing on the casual market and using last gen technology. I'm sorry that you're blinded by the nostalgia of what Nintendo did in the past, but the Wii has been, as far as the hardcore go, a huge failure, and games shouldn't be put on it when they could put an entire franchise at risk. Look at Marvelous, who have focused so much of their energy on the Wii. They're dying now and that's sad. Had they focused on the HD systems, I truly think they'd be a lot better off now. But try to tell that to the Wii fanboys and they freak out, since they can't accept that Nintendo could've made a mistake.

    And as for only be a few thousand ahead in sales, the 360 people will site similar statistics for NA on the 360 beating the PS3, when sometimes it's not even in the thousands that the 360 is ahead by, so I can use similar stats to someone saying that the PS3 is in third place.

  • http://www.facebook.com/AllenSmithee Samuel Smithee Bateman

    I really appreciate honesty in my companies, and that's what I love about these guys, Aksys, XSeed, Atlus, you know?

    All of those sub-major major localizers (if that makes sense, since they do obscure, but they're the big guys known for bringing obscure over) are really honest, and I really love that.

    If it didn't go against my values, I'd buy everything every one of these guys put out, just to support them.

    Not that I have the money for that to begin with, ahahaha.

    His comment of Last Rebellion really hit home for me, it is a firm belief and I'm glad that they learned the lesson: If something isn't good enough for your standards, preferably your standards are influenced by the publics standards, if you're out to make money, then don't put it out.

    I cannot stress this enough, I believe it 100%. Never show somebody something, especially for money, if it isn't 100% your effort, your standards. And if it isn't, and you have to commit to it, give them some sort of compensation, or be honest about it, like this NIS-man is. Good job!

  • Joanna

    @Charles: I only brought up the DS because it's my favourite system. I didn't bring it up because you were bashing it or anything. I simply implied that each of us should enjoy what console/handheld we like. :/

    Second, that bit about Marvelous is just a conjuncture you made. And the fact that the port of No More Heroes for PS360 didn't do much better than the Wii game itself shows that what you are saying is probably not true. Chances are, MMV did so badly because it lacks brand power outside of Harvest Moon. MMV even admitted as much. Sad but true. People tend to go with names they are sure of.

    Third, you are implying that somehow having causal games is a bad thing. Why is that the case? Some people like more casual titles and that's fine by me. It's not like that's going to affect my playing. Nor do I mind that the Wii is graphically inferior. If I was about graphics, I would have gone with PSP. But I go where the games I like are.

    “I'm sorry that you're blinded by the nostalgia of what Nintendo did in the past, but the Wii has been, as far as the hardcore go, a huge failure, and games shouldn't be put on it when they could put an entire franchise at risk.”

    See here you are giving me crap again. First of all, define “hardcore”. As far as I am concerned, Wii is perfectly fine and I'm sure other gamers feel the same. Just because a bunch of nosy fans think Wii is a “failure” for whatever reason, does not make it so.

    Second, maybe it's cause Wii gamers have been burnt by companies so badly. Namco made the sub-par Graces which was big-ridden, so it's not surprisingly Wii gamers are cynical and only first party games tend to sell. Second Monster Hunter Tri likes to disagree. Monster Hunter being on Wii in no way hurt the franchise. (Some people didn't like the change, but that's their opinion, not iron-clad truth). Chocobo Tales also moved around 90k in Japan. The games that do badly are the ones that lack brand power, but that's the same on every single console. (NIS's PSP games are proof of that). The one that is blind is you, but clearly not on nostalgia. I cannot understand why you feel so vehemently about the Wii getting some great games. What's wrong with others enjoying stuff on their console of choice?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1472407455 Charles Lupula

    Nothing could hurt the Monster Hunter franchise. They could put it on the Virtual Boy and half of Japan would dig one up just to play it.

  • z_merquise

    Wow, so an English translation for Neptune is finally confirmed! This is one of the games I really look forward to.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1472407455 Charles Lupula

    The thing is that Wii owners were lucky they even decided to port it. It was a wasted effort. There was no Japanese version of the game for the Wii, so they shouldn't have even bothered. And for your information, if they had, instead, picked up a Wii RPG (just for the sake of argument, we'll say Xenoblade, even though that's not going to happen), I wouldn't expect them to make a PS2 port of that. Keep games on their original systems. I have no problem with exclusives, even if it means I won't get to play it.

    The last time I saw a localization company do that, it was when the guy from Working Designs had a hissy fit at Sega and created a PS1 version of Lunar: Silver Star Story, while snubbing the Saturn. That, obviously, went a lot better for them, but it just struck me as something that should have never been done.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher-Lex/100000442356406 Christopher Lex

    “A few months ago, NIS America released Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love on PlayStation 2 and Wii. How did that do? Did it exceed, perform to or was it not as good as your expectations?”

    “Not as good as our expectations.”

    Well, duh. It was obvious. Releasing a Wii version of Sakura Wars and a regular PS2 version without japanese voice-acting (unlinke the limited edition) was beyond stupid to begin with. (And no to the haters, it wasn't the Wii's fault)

  • http://zaitcev.livejournal.com/ Pete Zaitcev

    Too bad nobody cared to ask about Toradora Portable in America. Since NIS has the Toradora anime, you'd think it would be a cinch for them to localize the PSP game in the same time and release them together.

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