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Falcom’s President On Localizing The Legend Of Heroes: Trails In The Sky Second Chapter

By Spencer . October 20, 2011 . 6:16pm

You heard what Xseed had to say about the progress of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky Second Chapter. We also asked Falcom’s president Toshihiro Kondo about his thoughts and the challenges of bringing The Legend of Heroes Trails in the Sky Second Chapter overseas.

"As you know, [The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky] SC is on two UMDs. With the retail UMD market the way it is in America and Europe, it would be very difficult to release it as a packaged product. Because the game has two UMDs, making it a downloadable title for PlayStation Network takes a lot of programming effort on our side to make it one file so it is compatible with the PlayStation Store," Kondo said to Siliconera.

"The Trails in the Sky series, even in Japan is still shipping thousands of units a month. We’re getting thousands of new fans a month for the series as it continues to grow. At some point in the future, we would like to expand on the series by bringing it to other platforms. The best I can say right now is please be patient. We would like to bring the rest of the games over to the West. If all of the fans can keep bugging Xseed they will keep bugging us and perhaps we can work out a solution together in the future."

http://www.facebook.com/devin.generall Devon General
THIS IS ME BUGGING XSEED, SO THEY CAN BOTHER YOU ETC.
Seriously, though. I’ve got a brand new copy of Trails in the Sky. I haven’t even FINISHED it and it’s already my one of my favourite RPGs. I mean, nothing will dethrone Baten Kaitos or Final Fantasy IV in my eyes, but it’s a really great game, and I would love to see more of it.
I actually love the Xseed guys though. Between Ys, Legend of Heroes, and the upcoming Grand Knights History, you guys can always count on gaming dollars from me.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Altin-Bujupaj/1157167838 Altin Bujupaj
Freaking seconded. Do what it takes to bring it here. You got my Euros that will easily convert into more dollars ! (Though I must mention that I am a hardcore-fan of Ys, but Legend of Heroes is a close second !!!)

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1443425328 Manuel Antony Marcano
BUBUGBUG Now heres 40 more $ for another copy.
IsaacGravity
I’m not for pestering relentlessly but XSEED has my support regardless of how the PSP market looks on this side. They bring over titles I like and I like that they see hope in a damn nice system like the PSP.
That said, I’ve yet to really sit down with my new copy of Trails in the Sky myself…
firetetsuyanomura
I hear there is a TON of dialogue in the games, so I can understand delays. I would love to have as many of these classic Trails RPGs as possible. This series is such a gem, I only wish there could have been some PS2/home console offerings.

Shinji Kazuya
Yes, there is really tons of text. XSEED said they can release about 10 games a year and Trails alone takes up the time of 5 of those games. I think it was something like that.

Solomon_Kano
I believe it was 8 and 4, but you got the idea lol.

Shinji Kazuya
Since this is the second and there’s still the third, this worries me a bit but I’ll keep my faith high. At least Zero no Kiseki is getting a new version in a brand new system so it should have a greater chance of coming to us.

http://twitter.com/endlesshistory Endless History
The thing is, unlike SC, the 3rd can be released on PSN, which means that Vita owners can buy it as well. Please don’t forget the PSN backwards comparability that Sony keeps talking about.
If SC can get released, everything will be okay.

Kai2591
I’m planning to buy Trails in The Sky 1st chapter through PSN…after I get Vita :)

Solomon_Kano
Same here. Let’s hope they can make Second Chapter on PSN happen, too.

Kai2591
You got that right ;)

http://myanimelist.net/profile/Kuronoa Kuronoa
But you can buy now and then transfer it when you get a Vita. :(

Kai2591
D’oh!

epy
“…At some point in the future, we would like to expand on the series by bringing it to other platforms. The best I can say right now is please be patient. We would like to bring the rest of the games over to the West.”
Maybe I am being too optimistic but I just read they are going to release TitS HD Compilation on PS3 in this part of the interview.

Shinji Kazuya
Oh, how I wish you were right mate! I HOPE YA ARE RIGHT!!!
It would be damn awsome playing Ys and TitS in HD on the PS3.

http://www.facebook.com/bleuvii Scot Eaton
From this article, it sounds like XSeed is pestering Falcom to reprogram it and release it on the PSN. And it SOUNDS like Falcom is starting to listen. As far as Japanese business culture goes, this is a very good sign. It means the idea has taken root, and it could only be a matter of time before it becomes reality.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Eddie-Dominguez/1078890439 Eddie Dominguez
i’m not too optimistic about this.too bad because i really liked the first entry,so i guess we’ll have to REALLY wait and see..just the fact that the pres of falcom want us to keep begging for the game is really a “sign” that this game doesnt have a high probability of being ported on the west and on time.
i mean due to the game being massive in terms of japanese characters/letters,its really an impediment (in my opinion) for this to be on time. because lets be frank about this, guys…if this game takes more than 2 yrs to translate or port to either the vita,psn or even steam. then many people (not us here at siliconera lol) will likely to forget about this game…just look at what happened to wkc1, they took too long and many people lost interest in the game when they brought it here.despite the fact, that the game itself was flawed according to most gamers
just hope that i’m very wrong here and that we all get to play this cool rpg

http://twitter.com/endlesshistory Endless History
That’s not been the case in Japan. The only time there has been a real difference in this pattern is Ao no Kiseki, and it getting announced almost 3 months after Zero no Kiseki.
In fact, the wait between Sora no Kiseki the 3rd and Zero no Kiseki was *three years*. If the time to wait to continue the series made Zero, at the time, the biggest seller of the series (only to have its record smashed by Ao, of course)…
Then take into account that they dropped doing PC versions for Zero and went to PSP?
That to me doesn’t sound like it was a big problem there.
The problem with what happened with White Knight Chronicles is, unfortunately, I had NO CLUE there was even a US release of the second game. Period.

Shaun Danis
Imminent Tom approaching these comments soon. =P
On a more serious note. I really really really want to reiterate what I said in the other comments section. If XSEED, Falcom, or ANYONE of you out there have a good idea on how to make TiTs/Ys/Falcom products more popular over here in order to get XSEED more funding and support on localizing titles. Please tell me. I will do everything I can.
I have already imported the entire series from Japan and own two copies of FC that XSEED localized. I can’t do anymore myself for them. None of my friends own a PSP so that makes it impossible to get the game for them as a gift (unless I get a PSP for them as well).
I’m in a conundrum (as a fan and consumer) because I don’t know what to do in order to get XSEED more support. Just “posting” and “telling” people about it on-line doesn’t do much. Sure it puts a bug in their ear but it doesn’t get them to actually “purchase” a product.
Long live XSEED. All of the staff there are complete bros (and brodette’s) and actually care about their consumer base unlike some other localization studios out there.
neo_firenze
I haven’t missed many opportunities to voice my support for more TitS localizations. I will continue to do so :) And I have to say, if “other platforms” means something like a Steam release… I’d be all over that too. Same goes for any other console or portable.
Kondo is one of the people in the industry who truly “gets it” though, so I have some faith in Falcom here. See a great interview with Kondo here: http://www.1up.com/news/trail-nihon-falcom, and lots of good Siliconera interviews and comments in the past including this one: http://www.siliconera.com/2010/05/17/falcom-president-talks-legend-of-the-heroes-trails-in-the-sky-and-psp-remakes/. LOVE the answer to the last question there.
Hopefully Xseed can step up and make it work to get Trails 2 and 3 out in English somehow, and not have a repeat of Half Minute Hero or Retro Game Challenge where they had good intentions but failed to follow through on bringing out localized sequels to the original games they localized.
While we’re talking Falcom, I love Ys and the Legend of Heroes series, but I’d really really like to see something Kondo has mentioned fondly before… a Sorcerian remake!
Phlo
The PC version already exists, just translate it and bring it to Steam! (Please…)

Quadsdat
Indeed. This, in my opinion, may be one if the best ways to go about this multple UMD conundrum.
But my question is how does the PC gaming userbase compare with the PSP?

GGear0323
the PC gaming userbase is strong and has gotten stronger over the past 5 years. the ‘problem’ is that they are very much used to all kinds of sales and reduced prices and the fact that JRPGs are not represented very much on the platform so we can’t be sure how well it would take. they love their indie games but the price range of those is between $1-10 at best. not long ago, people were talking about the idea of a Disgaea game appearing on Steam. i would love to see that happen first and gauge the reaction, sales-wise.

Quadsdat
The numbers are there, no doubt. My question was more directed towards the appeal of such a niche title to the users. (Which you have discussed there too)
Considering that translation is probably the biggest effort in localising the Trails series, might it be wise to localise the pc version of FC to test the waters?
TrevHead
I personally think steam sales are great for niche games especially Japanese games where many PC gamers either play just western games and or Japanese ROMs. Its also great for breaking in the PC market and creating fans.
Although Ild probably grab this for (PAL) PSP ild buy the PC release in a heartbeat.

http://twitter.com/endlesshistory Endless History
This has been said many many times. XSEED doesn’t have any programmers to do anything for PC, and Falcom dropped PC development in-house.
XSEED is pretty much at Falcom’s whim on the programming part, whether or not they can do the work necessary to reprogram the PC version or not.
….then take another thing into account. If they only release SC on Steam, then jump to 3rd? They will be jumping platforms *again* for Zero. There isn’t a PC release of Zero or Ao out there*.
*please don’t mention the Chinese PC release of Zero. I have it. I can’t even get it to run properly and it’s laden with SecuRom8 and just… a giant mess.

http://twitter.com/Megawarrior345 Elle
I LOVE that they sincerely try to give hope to the fans and explain the situation.
Solomon_Kano
Glad to hear that there’s hope.
Now let’s HOPE that those “other platforms” are PS3 and/or Vita while we keep bugging XSEED to do their best on Second Chapter.
brian yep
Spiffyness~
http://vanilladice.deviantart.com/ Dice
If you haven’t played the first game and you’re looking for a review, look no further: *You will pay twice as much for a game you will only like half as much*.
GO BUY, and THIS IS ME INNERVATING XSEED HOPING THEY READ SILOCONERA.

http://www.siliconera.com Spencer
I don’t know if Xseed reads Siloconera, but they do read Siliconera and even comment so…. there’s hope!

MrRobbyM
As long as Ao No Kiseki is eventually localized, take as long as you want.
Okuni-chan
Its REALLY, REALLY nice to see this. I don’t know how much more a fan XSeed/Falcom can make out of me. To be open about the process and what would go into is comforting. It feels like they actually care about the fans. That they know there is a following and they communicate with it. Not just ‘we’re working on it’ or hearing nothing at all. Or even the evil *get your hopes up and let you down* scenario I’m still a bit burned over… Thank you Falcom and Xseed I shall continue to cheer you on!
Ladius
A big thank you to Siliconera for voicing our wishes directly to Falcom, I hope they and XSeed can reach some kind of agreement regarding the future of the Trails series in the west.
Personally, I think Steam would be the best option by far since a UMD release is both unlikely and risky, a PSN release could probably be unprofitable and a PSVita port is not so probable considering how they are going to bring Zero there as the first Trails title.
Hours
This makes me more hopeful.
Vita ports would be the best option IMO, while also releasing the games on Steam. But really, I’ll take Trails any way I can get it, just as long as we get the whole series.
Vyrhn
release it on Steam and I’ll buy it for my accounts and all my friends that uses Steam :)
sandra10
“If all of the fans can keep bugging Xseed they will keep bugging us and
perhaps we can work out a solution together in the future.”
I’m sure we can save some time if we just cut out the middle man and just bug you guys first.
Johnny P.
Godspeed! “SALUTES”

MPHavoc
Here, here! Just keep trying your damnest, Falcom and XSeed, and we’ll do our part as well.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=685220688 Vince Vazquez
XSeed/Falcom: You guys bring us a PC version for Steam, or an XBLA or PSN version, and I will buy it! Just hearing that you are aware of how incredibly weak the “UMD Market” (read: PSP, as a platform) is in the west is encouraging:) And hearing that you want to bring it other platforms is too! I really wish I heard that from more Japanese developers. I HATE the PSP. And even though the last game I got for mine was Ys III, it’s not like I play it much.
I got up to Level 3 and I had had it with that sh*tty handheld. I’m glad I bought it because I like to support XSeed and Falcom, but the PSP is wretched and Japan’s more stubborn developers need to start going multiplatform.
I will support the heck out of you guys, and buy up a ton of your games, if they come to PSN and/or Steam!

http://twitter.com/Cudgeon Raji
I would probably also hate the PSP if I bought a 3DS and had to see how all good games come out on the PSP. :D

Ravage27
A Vita release would make the most sense at this point of time (for both Falcom and fans). Time to start bugging Xseed then :p
Gatchaman1
These guys and Atlus try so hard yet Namco and SEGA all they can say is derp

chicken_and_rofls
Atlus stopped trying a while ago. They’ve pretty much given up on localizing niche games that aren’t produced by their Japanese parent company.

LaserVision
Not trying? Remember Drone Tactics, Dark Spire, My World My Way, Rondo of Swords, Steal Princess and Draglade? They may have stopped, but can you blame them?
I’d rather have Atlus USA in business if it means fewer games.

chicken_and_rofls
Every single one of those games was released at least two years ago. In fact, two years ago is pretty much exactly when Atlus changed strategies and stopped localizing niche games like the ones you listed.
After Demon’s Souls, they’ve slowly decreased the number of JRPGs they release to zero (ignoring Atlus JP titles). Now they focus on XBLA, Naruto, random games from Europe, and those crummy F2P MMOs they like to spam people on the mailing list about.
I’d rather have Atlus in business too, since it means we get MegaTen in the West. But I wish people would stop treating them like they’re still in the same league as NISA or X-Seed. They’re not.

OneOkami
“I’d rather have Atlus in business too, since it means we get MegaTen in the West.”
If Atlus USA weren’t in business, I’d expect another publisher to pick those up (Assuming Index isn’t like Namco Bandai and would charge too much money for the license).
Ladius
“But I wish people would stop treating them like they’re still in the same league as NISA or X-Seed. They’re not.”

Pretty much this.
Before 2010 Atlus USA was the best publisher of Japanese niche games in the west: they had a long history of providing good quality games with a stable output, a wide catalogue of games from many different developers and they actually took some risks in order to widen the fanbase’s horizons.

Nowadays they’ve completely abandoned that business model, becoming simply the localization arm of Atlus Japan’s titles.
It’s fine, too (no one wants to miss out on SMT and Persona, after all), but they are nothing like XSeed and Aksys (or NISA, to a lesser degree) and seeing people praising them as the saviour of the Japanese niche after the last two years is puzzling.

Ladius
It isn’t that they are releasing “fewer games”, it’s that they have completely stopped localizing anything that isn’t an Atlus first party game, abandoning all the other jrpg franchises they supported till 2009.
Also, Atlus USA stayed in business for most of its history only thanks to niche third party titles, and the fact that other companies are still happily localizing such games shows just how absurd it is to give Atlus USA yet another free pass for forsaking their old fanbase.
Of course it’s their company and they are free to do what they want, but those who supported them for years because of their unique, courageous localizations have also the right to point out how wrong it is to mix Atlus USA with those publishers that are actually trying to bring us new titles, like XSeed and Aksys.
The fact that Atlus isn’t even remotely as open as other niche publishers and that they haven’t ever discussed their change of policies in interviews, official statement and so on is even more puzzling, not to mention the shady attitude they shown with the Persona 2 IS Climax quests removal.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2UQZFOZSMYND4QQWBXHZPPXNKA Vampiric
Exactly right. Most people dont see this. If you look on the atlus website, someone pointed this out in a topic and a mod quickly closed it.
Hraesvelgr
And I’m okay with that, really. Most of the non-parent company games they’ve released aren’t that special, imo.

kroufonz
but even their parent company game are rarely come anymore for example GROWLANSER!:P

kroufonz
atlus (especially recently) isn’t really trying that hard tough.

kroufonz
so their talk about future, PS3 HD PSP remaster or vita still possible then.
willtell
Looking more and more like we shouldn’t even bother with the series to begin with.
Seems like the whole Trails Series isn’t going to be translated within the next 5++ years if at all with this rate..Was a fun game, but the whole “Get more people to buy it or else there’s no hope for more” stuff put me off from it for sure…

Ladius
I don’t think it’s particularly surprising that they hope to have more support to localize a five-game series that is widely known to be the most text-heavy in jrpg history.
It’s not like they don’t need money to stay in business and justify prioritizing huge games like the Trails ones to their investors when they could simply forsake the series and localize more smaller games.
Trails 2 by itself has two times the text of Trails 1, six times the texts of Final Fantasy 12 and more texts than the whole Ys series. Expecting a tiny company like XSeed to localize it mere months after Trails 1′s release when the first chapter sold less than they hoped is absurd.
Also, the jaded “we shouldn’t even bother” attitude is surely easier than actually taking some risks and localizing one of the best jrpg of this generation hoping to see it supported. The fact that they’re still working on Trails 2 even if Trails 1 underperformed is commendable.

willtell
That changes why you shouldn’t put your hope into a series that will likely fall into oblivion/delays…..how?
You guys can support Xseed as if they where Apple or some crap, but it doesn’t change the series future that they even keep on stating….

http://twitter.com/endlesshistory Endless History
Despite the fact that all five of them didn’t even get released within rapid succession (7 years for the fifth game, guys). People on ALL sides have been saying to be patient. What people don’t realize is that there’s more than just translation that needs to happen…
And with Falcom heading up any programming, that requires them to be fully available to do the text insertion for SC for XSEED. Falcom, as well, isn’t a large company. Last I checked, they still rate in the ‘under 60 employee’ status on the Nikkei.
….yet somehow, until a few weeks ago, they were working on five games? (Ys VII Multiplatform- this was announced a few years back to soothe the masses in their backlash over Ys Seven), Ys Celceta, Ao no Kiseki (now out, however), an unnamed PSP title (yes, they’re still doing a PSP title), and their involvement in the full voice edition of Zero no Kiseki for the Vita.
If the game undersold, XSEED needs to put priority in other games to recoup losses. They had an editor OUT for 9 months (Jess worked exclusively on Trails for I think she said 10-12 hour days, 6 days a week, for 9 months)- that’s 9 months where they could have pushed out at least two, maybe even three games.
Then consider the cost of having three people do the translation for it. Remember- Jess isn’t a translator.
This whole ‘we’re not going to get it out for xxx years = we’re never going to get it’ reminds me just why a LOT of people in the US don’t even bother taking these kinds of risks. They get people who respond like this- people who don’t understand the speed that the gaming industry moves at in the first place. :/
http://twitter.com/AnthonyFoster5 Anthony Foster
The first Trails only came out on March 29 of this year, it’s been less then 7 months sense then. Talk about impatient.

d19xx
As much as I want to see TITS 2nd, I think at this point it is better for Xseed to just localize more games instead of getting held up by one title that may not turn out as profitable as other potential games they can localize.

Ladius
Our best hope is that they are able to do both things, releasing many great games like they are doing (Corpse Party and GKS are awesome choices) while slowly working on Trails 2′s localization. Of course buying their games smply because of Trails is wrong, since their lineup is actually full of titles worthy of the fanbase’s support.
I think that Trails could became their core franchise if Falcom managed to expand it on Steam, PSN (Trails 2) and Vita: the first chapter surely underperformed, but the series is getting a lot of buzz because of its great quality and i think it could be strenghtened by this ordeal if they manage to localize SC outside of a PSP UMD release.
Of course the astounding amount of texts in those games (Trails 3 is a bit bigger than Trails 1, but Zero is as long as Trails 2 and Ao has even more texts…) is a real issue, and one that isn’t likely to be solved unless sales really pick up the pace.

http://twitter.com/digtrioPortable Digtrio
Just curious as to why they don’t perhaps hire a bit of extra help. I understand that money is a huge factor, obviously, but it’d certainly speed up the process for a bit. Even if it was just for a short period of time.
But realistically, a release on PC wouldn’t be that farfetched either or a release for Vita. We’ll get the game eventually. All is good. :)

malek86
That would cost even more, and the first game already sold under expectations.
I’m really not sure we’ll see the game anymore. But if Xseed has to go under just to give us one game, then I’d say screw that, even if it were the best game ever. I’d rather have the company around and give us more games in the future, you know?
PC and Vita might help, but who knows if they’re actually looking into those. Doesn’t really sound like they are.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2BOP4Z5KE5N7T5MUGIV6TEFMT4 Thomas
There already exist PC versions of Trails 2 and 3 (as well as Trails 1), and we are indeed exploring those options for release (along with virtually every other option you can think of!).
Fear not, we’re doing all we can. If the release doesn’t happen, it definitely won’t be for lack of trying!

http://twitter.com/creid8 Pete
Money is the reason why.

http://myanimelist.net/profile/Kuronoa Kuronoa
Let’s positive thinking! So glad Falcom isn’t giving up. I don’t mind a Vita or PC version I bought Trails 1 already but I’m fine with rebuying.
Mister_Nep
I’m so glad Falcom is positive about the situation. Both sides aren’t willing to give up yet. That makes me happy.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BSWWTWOYVAD3IWPLFMXTZH46TM sergio
Let’s review:
Xseed show us T.I.T.S once; but to show up 2 big T.I.T.S at once they want we beg for it….WTF is Xseed!??!
Perhaps my girlfriend?!?!
Rsss
Serious:
We have to wait untill march. In worse case scenario, With the Vita launch a PSN only release will be possible (archives with 4GB can be upped there).
Up to Aoi no Kiseki Falcom is re-lauch a PSVita improved version.
At personal level I WANT THE FULL VOICE VERSION (With Subs only).

http://twitter.com/endlesshistory Endless History
There is the problem with the fact that Second Chapter can’t be released in PSN.
Ao no Kiseki doesn’t have anything announced for a full voice version, as well. I think they need to get the full-voice for Zero no Kiseki out first. The problem is, we need to just worry about these games one at a time.
Trails in the Sky First Chapter is the SMALLEST game of the series. That’s what needs to be remembered in all of this. Falcom has also gone on record to say that Ao no Kiseki is their largest game developed.
At the moment, XSEED has a game with three million Japanese characters in it sitting in front of them. It’s, easily, the ‘elephant in the room’ for them right now. They’re not ignoring it, and Falcom’s not ignoring it. Just because they’re not talking about it does it mean that they aren’t working on it.
Also, I think the ‘subs only’ is going to be impossible due to Sony’s restrictions on English releases- I think they require that an English voice track be in the game. If you want to have the Japanese voices, you will need to make it dual language. ALSO a LOT of stuff in Zero no Kiseki and Ao no Kiseki does not have text captioning with it, and would require to have MORE strings of text added to the game if you want to leave the Japanese voices in it and subtitle them. (S-Crafts, for example, aren’t subtitled. They haven’t been and I doubt they ever will be. It would be a mess, visually, and I would be ashamed if they did it.)

http://twitter.com/BlackCycFan Michael Connell
Good luck to you Falcom and Xseed, to show my support I’ve gotten Solatorobo and Brave Story to fill in the gap (hope you guys have SC out before George R.R. Martin finishes Winds of Winter, lol)
Couple questions though, since I’m nearly finished with the first game, I’ve decided to try out the Gagharv trilogy. Are there any connections at all between that trilogy and Trails in the Sky? Like are there any cameos?
My next question has to do with the third chapter. I came across a description of its premise and it said this:
“This game takes a big departure in its storytelling style both from the
previous chapters and other RPGS – the game’s focus is on the cast to the
exclusion of almost everything else, by creating a plot that forces them into an
illusory world with almost no one else to interact with. It sounds rather
limiting, but it works quite well as they encounter fragmented parts of familiar
places and people within them. The darker tone and this new style does feel a
bit strange after the first two but as you go through it all clicks into place
and serves as a fitting end to the trilogy. And, of course, it ends up serving
as a perfect excuse for the most psychedelic visuals in the entire series.”
So story concept wise is it similar to Ultima Underworld 2?

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