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What Makes Monster Hunter Click In The West

By Ishaan . December 5, 2011 . 1:33pm

What Makes Monster Hunter Click In The West

We recently got in touch with Christian Svensson, Senior Vice President at Capcom USA, to discuss some of the company’s major upcoming games in 2012. Naturally, we also asked about the Monster Hunter series. The last game in the series released in the West was Monster Hunter Tri on the Wii, published in 2009.  Since then, Japan has seen two major Monster Hunter titles: Monster Hunter Portable 3rd on the PSP and PlayStation 3, and Monster Hunter 3G on the 3DS, which is slated for release in Japan this week.

 

“First of all, let me start this by saying that I am an avid Monster Hunter player,” Svensson replied, when Siliconera asked about the key to Monster Hunter’s future growth outside Japan.

 

“It’s such a rewarding series and our most recent Western outing, Monster Hunter Tri on Wii was a huge step forward for the franchise, in large part because it’s much more accessible. It had a more gradual difficulty ramp than the PSP predecessors and support for a second stick aided camera use greatly. While the PSP titles have immense amounts of content (more than Tri), they have been more difficult get into than Tri with a much steeper difficulty curve which I think artificially truncated the expansion of the brand here.”

 

What Makes Monster Hunter Click In The West

In addition to its accessibility, Capcom recognize that Monster Hunter Tri’s online system was an important factor in its success as well. “The other major thing that Tri brought to the table which the PSP titles have not, is a proper online multiplayer implementation,” Svensson continues. “Monster Hunter at its heart is a cooperative multiplayer game and for our market, online play is essential. The adhoc-only approach for the US market is, more often than not, too large of a barrier to find mass acceptance.”

 

By “adhoc,” Svensson is referring to Monster Hunter’s local wireless multiplayer feature in Japan, which bolstered the series’ popularity. Monster Hunter has always been a multiplayer game at heart. While the original Monster Hunter on PlayStation 2 allowed players to play together online, it required a PS2 Ethernet adapter. Since the PSP is capable of communicating with other PSPs in the vicinity wirelessly, the PSP games allow players to gather around and play together as a group anywhere. Through this, Monster Hunter meetups became common in Japan, which is one of the reasons for the series’ immense success in the region.

 

Monster Hunter Tri brought online play back to the series and the Wii’s built in Wi-Fi adapter made it more accessible for players to meet fellow hunters on the Internet. While an online subscription fee similar to MMOs was charged in Japan, this wasn’t the case in North America and Europe. Additionally, the overseas versions of the game were also upgraded to support Nintendo’s Wii Speak peripheral, which allowed for voice chat between players.

 

“I think that looking forward there are ways to greatly improve the accessibility and the online feature set,” Svensson shares. “As an example of improved accessibility, the Japan-only Monster Hunter Tri G [Ed note: we call it 3G] on 3DS adds an optional lock-on camera for new players. It doesn’t change the way veteran players will play, but it adds an easier option for new comers.”

 

What Makes Monster Hunter Click In The West

So, what about Monster Hunter’s future outside Japan?  The blockades preventing an overseas release of Portable 3rd have been well-documented. Capcom have not yet confirmed Monster Hunter 3G for an overseas release, but Svensson has assured several times on Capcom’s forums that we can expect to see more Monster Hunter games localized in the future.

 

“All of that said, the Monster Hunter brand will grow,” Svensson believes. “Every subsequent outing of the title has found a larger audience than its predecessors in North America. We know the games are incredibly engaging and generate a passionate audience that while smaller the West, that audience is more vocal and passionate than just about any other brand we have (including Street Fighter or Resident Evil). I have no doubt that someday, its prominence in the West will rival our other brands.”


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  • jujubee88

    You did not ask about “Monster Hunter” for PS Vita?

    Why? I am literally crying! WHY?!?! :(

    • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

      We asked about the series as a whole, no one game in particular. 

      • jujubee88

        Fair enough. I still cry every time I think of a future without “Monster Hunter” (on a platform I actually want to play on) though. UGHGHGHGHGH!!!!!!!!AAAAHHHH!!

        >:O

        Thank you for responding Ishaan. Very “bro” of you. :)

        • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

          I don’t mind, but please don’t bring this up again. We really do discourage the whole platform wars thing around here. :)

    • James Beatty

      I don’t know why you would cry about a series not coming to a portable that you don’t have. Just get the other cheaper one as well. 

      • Solomon_Kano

        One would assume from his comment that he has no intent to buy a 3DS. As such, it would make sense for him to be interested in whether or not a series he’s apparently interested in was coming to a system he -does- intend to buy, yes? Whether the other is cheaper or not is irrelevant.

        Supposing he -does- intend to buy a 3DS, or he owns one currently, perhaps he wanted to see the series appear on both?

        • James Beatty

          I bought a PSP just for one game, this guy now has 2 he wants :P (i’m also sure he doesn’t have one)

          • Solomon_Kano

            I bought a PSP for one game too lol. Still, you never know somebody’s deal these days, so might as well let him be.

          • http://www.facebook.com/alwaysbored.andrade Jonathan Andrade

            Yeah, but at least if it were on Vita, he wouldn’t have to wait until Capcom USA says he’s allowed to play it. Heck, what if they choose to localize neither MH 3DS title?

            Thank you Nintendo region locks.

    • Tom_Phoenix

      The interview was about already announced Capcom games set to be released next year. Since a Monster Hunter title hasn’t been announced for the Vita (at least not yet), why would he ask about something like that?

      If a Monster Hunter is ever announced for the Vita, I’m sure members of Siliconera will talk about it with Capcom.

  • http://twitter.com/MexRAGE MexRAGE

    Pro-Tip to Capcom…release Monster Hunter in the west on a flagship console/platform with a big online userbase (PS3, Xbox360…and hell even PC on steam), Monster Hunter is a very hardcore game that require alot of time and playing with others and in the West we don’t spend too much time playing mobile/portable consoles as it would on a console/pc…and Nintendo Wii doesn’t count, as it lack the user base that would be interested in Monster Hunter Frachise’s gameplay compared to the PS3, Xbox360 and PC

    • James Beatty

      The online on the wii version was pretty good and the wii has THE biggest user out of all home consoles this gen. Also, the game sold quite well in the states.

    • Solomon_Kano

      Pro tip: the series moved to portables after initially selling poorly on console. That turned it into one of the biggest series in Japan, so I doubt they’re going to ignore that just to appease some Western gamers when it already makes them mega-bucks.

      Much less when some have apparently chosen to discount it seeing release on certain consoles because they “lack the user base that would be interested” in it. That’s a broad generalization sir, and I’m not sure it’s one that you can prove.

      Moreover, there’s another simple factor in why we don’t see the series on one of the other consoles you listed: cost. It’s that simple. They made it popular on portables, it doesn’t make financial sense to move it to an environment that would require greater development time and funds with the risk of seeing less return when they already have a winning formula.

      Don’t get me wrong, I’d love a MH game on PS360, but it doesn’t even make sense for them to do so just because we western gamers don’t spend as much time on portables as our Japanese counterparts.

    • Ronny Andersen

      Yes MH is a very hardcore game. The COD/Halo etc playing audience of PS3/X360/PC ARE not hardcore gamers. They believe they are, but they are NOT. Releasing a hardcore game like MH on those platforms would be a sales disaster for Capcom. That audience likes accessible, fast paced action games with the newest gfx and voice-chat to yell at eachother. That userbase is no audience for MH (i know because all my x360/ps3 only buddies tried Tri and hated it).
      Moving the series to Nintendo platforms greatly increases the chances of MH selling in the west (look at Tri compared to the outings on PS2). MH’s appeal greatly relies on appreciating the small details and nuances, which i believe appeal more to the avid Nintendo gamer than 99.999pst of the gamers on the other systems.
      Think sales numbers of MH Tri G and MH 4 on the 3DS (when they get released here) will prove this.  

      • malek86

        Thinking that Nintendo gamers are any better (or worse, for that matter) than MS/Sony gamers is just delusional. What’s a “Nintendo gamer” anyway? Heck, might as well ask, what’s a hardcore gamer? Trying to enforce some kind of classification on players is already a minus in my book.

        I don’t think you can compare MH3 to the PS2 games either, as those came from a time when the series wasn’t well-known yet.

      • http://www.facebook.com/alwaysbored.andrade Jonathan Andrade

        This is a really stupid post given the success of games like Dark Souls, and Skyrim on the HD platforms. Or are those casual dance games too? It’s a good thing those Nintendo platforms aren’t littered with casual fare… oh wait, they’re the ones who have the most casual content!!

      • Solomon_Kano

        Lol. Uhm… I dunno if you really believe all that, but that sounds more like some trash-talk in anticipation of pissing somebody off. Watch your step.

    • Barrylocke89

      I do agree that Steam Monster Hunter would be VERY sexy.

  • Xerain

    What I’d like to know about is if we’ll be one day seeing an M rated Monster Hunter here, the way Japan gets M rated monster hunter. (Well Technically it is called C over there.)

    • Solomon_Kano

      There’s an M rated MH in Japan? Huh. You learn something new every day.

      • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

        Nah, the Monster Hunter games are CERO C, which is 15 and up it’s more like a T rating in Japan.

        • Solomon_Kano

          Oh? Now I’ve learned something new -and- correct this time.

          • Xerain

            But Japan also has CERO B which is 12 and up which is more like a T than CERO C is.

          • Solomon_Kano

            Oh? @Siliconera15:disqus ’s other response makes sense though. The one about edited content and whatnot.

          • Xerain

            The entire point of my first post was that Western MH is in fact edited for content.

          • Solomon_Kano

            Oh? Ok. Well, that’s that then.

    • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

      Technically CERO C is 15 and up, so it’s more like a T, CERO D would be a “M” rated game.

      • Xerain

        I’d say CERO B is more like a T than C is. We probably could do with an OT or T15 rating from the ESRB. Both CERO and PEGI have this intermediate classification while ESRB does not.

        • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

          Regardless of the age differences for CERO, the Monster Hunter games have not been edited for content to fit a “T” rating in the US. It’s not like Capcom took out monster decapitations to tone down content for a “T” rating. So, by “M” rated Monster Hunter you would have to add something in to make it “mature” (note mature is in quotes because violence or  != maturity).

          • Xerain

            Actually they vomit rivers blood when you kill them in the Japanese version.

            And in general the blood splash when you hit monsters is bigger. They made blood splash significantly smaller in the western version in order to get the T rating, which actually does make gameplay harder due to less visual feeback when fighting. There’ often too much going on to see those tiny splashes. And some monsters are so big the tiny splash gets clipped by it’s body, so you don’t know if you hit it or not.

            Also FWIW decapitation cannot be shown in Japanese games. Even the version of No More Heros (Red Zone) that got the Cero Z rating for graphic violence still couldn’t show the decapitation scene.

          • SeventhEvening

            Woah, woah, woah… I’ve played the Japanese versions of the PSP games and I’ve never seen anything vomit blood. I will admit there is some serious blood splashes to use as visual feedback in Portable 3rd, but I think that’s a portable 3rd addition. I played 2ndG for a while before Unite came out, and I didn’t notice any differences between 2ndG and Unite at all. 
            And I think the “decapitations” spencer mentioned were the severing of limbs and tails, which is in both versions.

  • http://twitter.com/FaithlessMr Bruno Silva

    Hmm, it would seem that the next Monster Hunter game in the west will be 3G. Sucks, I wanted the PSP game as well.

    Gotta brush up on mah japanese then.

  • http://www.facebook.com/Toneko Ethan King

    So in other words we’re not seeing any MH anytime soon and Capcom will keep having pictures and stuff to put up on the PSN to piss us off right?

    • Exand

      Are there really Monster Hunter 3P pictures up on the US PSN? :o
      That seems rather cruel for MH fans.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=749504598 Shane Guidaboni

    I tried Monster Hunter Tri, but couldn’t get into it. I feel I would enjoy it more on handhelds playing in quick bursts, so I’m really hoping we get Monster Hunter 3G and Monster Hunter 4. 

    • malek86

      I tried playing MH3, but couldn’t get into it. But in my case, I think it was because I was starting to get bored of the mechanics. Among japanese games, MH is one of the most stale. I understand that it suffers from the COD syndrome (ie. they have a huge userbase and can’t risk alienating it), but I still think it could use a bit of shaking up.

      • SeventhEvening

        I’m not sure which MH3 you’re talking about, but I felt the same thing when I was playing MH Tri. There was a new weapon type and a couple new changes, but with the small amount of content and the gradual difficulty, I got bored of it fairly quickly. But I didn’t feel that way playing MH3rd. Mechanically, the game was similar, but a lot of things were tightened and streamlined and the move lists were modified on most of the weapon types, requiring the player to re-learn to fight in some cases (like lance users). Additionally, most of the monsters possessed more complex behaviors, which made them more interesting to fight. 

        • malek86

          Uh, yeah, I’m used to calling MHTri just MH3. That’s probably what it was supposed to be before Capcom decided to go with the Wii pun in the title, or at least that’s what I believe.

          I guess I would have liked MH3 if I hadn’t played 140 hours of MHFU and 25 hours of MHG first. At that point, I was getting a little burned out, and having to rebuild my character from scratch felt like a chore. And well, the blurry graphics didn’t help, they never do. Remind me too much of bilinear filtering, which is almost like a psychological barrier for me.

          But uhm, if you tell me the playstyle in MH3rd is different enough (especially for lance users, which I always was) then I might give it a try. The demo didn’t feel all that different, but I guess I did have more fun with it than with MH3. It should be relatively cheap now that there’s a Best budget version.

          I wonder if MH3G is also going to take these modifications, or if they’ll just run off MH3 with added content?

          • SeventhEvening

            Actually, that isn’t what happened with the name, the numbering has always been that weird. MH2, on the PS2 was actually pronounced “Dos”. While the portable series is Portable, 2nd, 2ndG, 3rd. Check out the logo: http://monsterhunterinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/monsterhunter2logo.jpg

            I can believe getting burned out, I’ve got about 230 hours in Unite. I ended up not playing for a couple months before I ordered 3rd. But the weapons have changed a bit. The Gunlance has a couple new moves; the combo system changed on the longsword; the lance feels completely different, It now has options to help cover ground faster in a more controlled way. I’m also a lance user but with the style it work in Unite, it is more defensive. For an enemy like tygrex, which moves very fast, the best tactic is usually to stand in one place and attack when the enemy gets close while defending, avoiding damage. The new style promotes switching between guarded and unguarded and allowing you to hop about more. I think it makes the Lance a more aggressive weapon. 
            All I know is that MH3G is called Monster Hunter Tri G, and it is Tri with some added content, not 3rd with added content (I’m actually hoping we also get a MH3rd G for Vita or something). I know some of 3rd’s monsters have been moved over, but when Tri came out it added a new weapon type and took away four or five, so I’m not sure if it will have the new movelists or not.

          • Xerain

            I’m relpying here because the other thread is maxed out. I did some research, and could not locate the video I watched that had blood coming out of Tigrex’s mouth during it’s death animation. I distinctly remember seeing it, but as I can’t find proof I’ll concede that point. Perhaps it was a modified or prelrelease video.

            As for the large blood splashes, they have always been present in the Japanese portable versions, and definitely are in 2nd G… however… apparently Tri has the reduced blood splashes even in the Japanese version.

    • http://gloopyeegra.wordpress.com/ Arla

      I’ll never understand the quick burst thing people are talking about. I could never imagine playing MH in short bursts. Inventory management, item gathering, crafting all leading up to a long ass hunt. I was averaging like 2 hours anytime I sat down for a game of Tri.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=749504598 Shane Guidaboni

        It’s most popular on handhelds, so that’s saying something about the portability of the game. I would just play it more on my 3DS. If I needed to stop playing at anytime I can close my 3DS and then pick it up sometime later. It’s more suitable to my lifestyle. 

      • SeventhEvening

        I would frequently get together with some friends and play for hours on the portable, but a single hunt is generally limited to under an hour, and if you’re playing the single player you can easily suspend play if, for example, your train ride suddenly ended. Usually I could finish a hunt in about 20 or 30 minutes, which is perfect for a small trip or something to fill a gap between shifts or something.

  • http://www.facebook.com/shawn.dickenson1 Shawn SomethingOtaku Dickenson

    Needs a story to it hell some hunting games has a story why not MH

  • Solomon_Kano

    More vocal than Street Fighter’s fans? Certainly. More passionate? That’s arguable. The SF crowd is on another level with stuff like EVO and places like SRK out there.

    I remember Sven addressing why we wouldn’t see Portable 3rd or P3rdHD before, but I wonder if Capcom has anything to say about that Vita version that they showed back at the Playstation Meeting waaay back in January? Or was that just the PSN version of 3rd shown playing on a Vita?

    • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

      That was the PSN version running on Vita with support for both sticks.

      • malek86

        I wonder if we have any chances of seeing it localized?

        • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

          Right now, it’s looking like a no for P3rd. SCEA and SCEE policy requires that the game be updated with online multiplayer that uses PSN proper as a backend and Trophy support. I remember a thread with Sven saying the team was focused on completing 3G (I guess they’re done by now) and developing 4 instead of trying to fiddle around with P3rd further.

          Oh, I was talking about P3rd HD Version. If you’re talking about P3rd regular, I’d say it’s a lost cause by now. No point localizing a giant game like P3rd if you can only release it on PSN.

          • malek86

            Perhaps they might eventually plan to box it and release it at retail, maybe with some enhancements?

            I don’t think it’s too far-fetched, especially if the PSV isn’t going to get MH4 – those players will want some kind of fix. Otherwise, if the PSV does get MH4, well I guess that they would have no reason to pick this up again.

          • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

            It’s not far-fetched, but look at it this way: If they had to focus on one game for the near future, would they rather focus on P3rd (an older game with less content for a console that isn’t even out yet) or 3G (a newer game with more stuff for a system that’s at least sold a couple million). 

            If I were Capcom and had to pick between the two, I’d pick 3G, doubly so because MH4 is going to be released at some point, so you may as well start building up that fanbase by giving them something prior to that.

            Something else to bear in mind is that a large portion of the localization work for 3G is already done, too, thanks to Tri.

        • Solomon_Kano

          Somehow, I don’t see Capcom bringing a PSN-only version of MHP3rd. I get the impression that they’d sooner not bring it all.

      • Solomon_Kano

        Ah. I thought so. Well drat, guess we’re never seeing that lol.

    • Exand

      It makes you wonder how much Capcom really understands their fan base when you read how Capcom was very hesitant in making SF4. Outside of the usual online negative nancies and trolls, everyone I know who plays fighting games (including at local tournaments) were eager to get their hands on SF4.

      • Solomon_Kano

        Yea, there seems to be some miscommunication going on between their fans and them. Either that or the vocal minority present in every fan base jumped out at them especially. Having been around Capcom-Unity some, I wouldn’t be surprised. For all of the fans they have, they get a good deal of trolls and genuinely negative people posting putting down literally every decision they make.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher-Carmona/100000347329518 Christopher Carmona

    I wanted MH info TODAY, and I got it. Thanks! :D Thinking about getting the PS2 MH game. Already imported MHP3rd HD since I’ve lost hope in Capcom localizing. I should be paying attention in class right now, but Siliconera is so addictive. 

    • Solomon_Kano

      Lost hope? They already… or Sven, at least, already explained why it wouldn’t come. There was nothing to hope for.

      http://www.siliconera.com/2011/09/18/capcoms-christian-svensson-comments-on-monster-hunter-3g-and-4-localizations/

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher-Carmona/100000347329518 Christopher Carmona

        I’m well aware of that, that’s why I said I lost hope.

        • Solomon_Kano

          Ah. I thought you meant like recently. My bad. Carry on then.

    • http://profiles.google.com/dnlblue Daniel blue

      If you have a PSP, get Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. It’s like a hugely expanded version of the PS2 original.

      Personally, I imported Portable 3rd HD too but it’s been three months and it still hasn’t arrived. I suppose the guys over at customs realized what they got their hands on and decided to have some fun with it…

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher-Carmona/100000347329518 Christopher Carmona

        I have Freedom Unite. I wanted to try playing on a console. Besides Tri.

  • Exand

    I don’t think the fan base for Monster Hunter / Street Fighter / Megaman are the same… and I wish Capcom wouldn’t lump them all together.

    Monster Hunter fans belong in the general gamer market. You have people who are heavy gamers, you have people who are light gamers, all playing the game. That’s why you have such a wide range of people who play and enjoy it (in Japan). But because of the general nature, there isn’t any one segment that steps up and expresses their opinions on the game.

    Megaman fans belong to the fanatic gamer market. Much like Sonic fans, the blue bomber has a large following that goes berserk if even the slightest thing is off. They’re also a very vocal group because of their intensity with the franchise.

    Street Fighter has always had a hardcore following that’s enjoyed a resurgence lately due to Street Fighter 4. But fighting game fans tend to be a softer spoken bunch, as evidenced by how self-organized tournies have continued to go on without much support from publishers. They don’t stand up and scream and rant, that’s only happened recently with the newer generation of fighting game fans (ie. the want-now generation of gamers).

    So “vocal” doesn’t mean much, especially in the internet age where vocal can just be the loud minority. And just because you don’t hear much from fans doesn’t mean it’s not going to do well (ie. SF4).

    When I see companies like Capcom willing to spend money on all sorts of clone games that happen to be selling well at the time, I wish they’d take more “gambles” like SF4. There’s no shame in continued revisiting of old(er) franchises, and there’s certainly no shame in trying to test out a product like MH more thoroughly outside of Japan.

    • Solomon_Kano

      I agree, but I think their reluctance to take these “gambles” goes back to that vocal minority in their fan base. In part, at least. It’s hard to gauge interest for a project when only a segment on your fan base is willing to speak on it at all and the segment that does speak could easily lead you wrong.

      If you let the internet tell it, we’re all DYING for a new Darkstalkers game but, and this is purely conjecture, Capcom probably stopped producing the games because the want they were hearing wasn’t matching up with the sales they were seeing in the first place. Mega Man fans claim we’re all DYING for MML3 but, whether I agree with their handling of the situation or not, they deemed it unfit for release due to insufficient demand.

      That’s the trouble with these “vocal” fans — they don’t, most times, represent the majority. Even when they do, you’d never know because the majority may not be the folks on Unity, or IGN, or wherever.

      The issue with gambling on MH is that, at this point, it’s no gamble. They gambled on their initial western release of an MH game on PSP. It paid off, so they continued bringing them. They gambled on bringing MH Tri west to the fabled “casual” audience of the Wii. Now the market is in a position that doesn’t favor any of the MH games we haven’t seen and it’s not quite a gamble when the odds are clear. The PSP is probably the least favored, commercially speaking, console currently in the West. They wouldn’t be gambling as this is something we can all see.

      As far as old franchises, near as I can tell, Capcom benches series that don’t sell. So they may not have retired them just yet, but they’re always on the lookout for the right time to reintroduce them to the market. Street Fighter’s time came in ’08. Mega Man had a short comeback tour. I’m sure they’re looking at how best to return to some of their old franchises, but it’s all a matter of timing. If I learned anything from Monster Hunter, it’s that observing your prey is key to understanding them lol.

      TL;DR

    • OverlordZetta

      I have to disagree about the Mega Man comment. There are fans of all shapes and sizes, sure, and many fanatic, but there IS a serious fault with Capcom here – they’ve as good as killed him off with their recent treatment, and all fans have a right to say something about it. That doesn’t make them “fanatic” because they care about it, and certainly not on the level of the outrageous and forever unpleasable Sonic fanbase.

  • http://gloopyeegra.wordpress.com/ Arla

    Tri came out about a year later in NA. 3G isn’t gonna be a system seller here but can do reasonably well when the userbase expands. I expect we’ll get this late next year or early 2013 if we do ever get it. MH4 isn’t coming out until 2013 at the earliest in Japan so I say be patient.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/jodecideion?feature=mhum TheWon and Only

    Monster Hunter is a series that has potential to grow, but they need to do it the right way. Street Fighter/MegaMan are all series that lost fan bases, and sales over time. Instead of each game bringing in new fans they lost fans overall. Street Fighter 2 on the SNES is the still the biggest selling game of the series. Even though by now you would think their would be more gamers interested. I believe this has to due with the amount of games they create, and how often they release. If Monster Hunter becomes a main western game they need to release them with some years between them. Nothing as long as Nintendo games, but something that makes you wait for the next game. Building up the excitement so you can’t want to get the new version when it comes out.

  • http://www.facebook.com/alwaysbored.andrade Jonathan Andrade

    >> Fears PSP games weren’t very successful in the west because they lack online mode.
    >>> Adds online mode to niche Wii-only fighter.

    Crapcon USA logic.

    • Solomon_Kano

      Note that Capcom USA is, in most cases, a publisher and not a developer. Any logical fallacies presented there would be on another’s fault.

      Not liking them is one thing, but you should understand why something happened rather than just throwing blame.

  • http://twitter.com/Tatsumarii Michael Olmo

    I’ve been very disappointed with Capcom this year. Where’s all the Ace Attorney and Monster Hunter love?    

    • http://myanimelist.net/profile/Kuronoa Kuronoa

      Layton x Ace Attorney crossover doesn’t exist I see.

      • http://twitter.com/Tatsumarii Michael Olmo

        I meant over here in the west. Haha, I’m well aware of Layton x Ace Attorney.

  • konsama

    idk, they just shot in the foot, if online is MH strong point, then why take it out again in 3G? Also that logic is imo pretty bad, if they folowed it since MH came out then we wouldn’t had past MHF1 in the occident, if they dont have millions sales they don’t care. 

    Also in MHP3rd i blame sony for its poor support for it, Ad-hoc party became a mess after MHP3rd HD came out, and it was until 2 weeks ago they made a “decent” fix about it, it still crashes and such but not at the level it did before. They haven’t updated the occidental adhoc party in ages and they are still full of bugs and glitches. Lets wait and see how it does in nintendo 

    • Barrylocke89

      Well a lot of that decision would be for Capcom Japan to make. And in Japan, Adhoc/local wireless monster hunter is doing VERY well. It’s easy for the core audience to be satisfied by just making sure the latest monster hunter game has local wireless and calling it a day. The problem is that there aren’t enough people in America interested in the game to be able to support this too well. Usually, unless you have a circle of friends that likes the game, you’re out of luck this is true for me, only one or 2 of my friends even have a PSP.

      This does leave the question about the latest PSP Monster Hunter that came out. That game actually has an Infrastructure mode (i.e. Wifi) so it doesn’t have the same “issues” that the older MH games and Monster Hunter Tri on the 3DS have. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next MH game that America gets is whatever the next MH game comes next to a console.

      • konsama

        of course, i agree with that but my point is MHF1 and 2 never sold well in the occident, i don’t know about the 1st MH, and they released them here, now its just that if they don’t have guaranteed millionaire sales for P3rd they won’t even bother, even with the lower difficulty for newbs and such that could attaract many newcomers. Luckily i have never suffered because of the online play, i started playing it alone and i still enjoy it more sometimes this way, also i’d really love to see a console MH, i don’t care which

  • http://twitter.com/Incoggnit0 Jonny Cox

    Monster Hunters lack of success in the west lies solely on Capcom. First they bring out the original MH with little to no marketing. Then they chose the worst system to bring Tri out on (I own a wii and have enjoyed playing it but putting Monster Hunter on it was a mistake when it could have done had MUCH better on the PS3 or 360). They fail to localize MHP3rd in any reasonable time frame. And now they’re making the exact same mistakes by keeping Tri G exclusive to the 3DS. 

    • Solomon_Kano

      Tri also would have COST much more to make on PS360, MHP3rd would be a niche title releasing in an ever more bleak PSP market, and Tri G had no choice but to be exclusive to 3DS or go back to Wii — it’s an expansion of Tri (a Wii exclusive, as you’re obviously aware) and the only other portable on the market is the one Portable 3rd hit.

      What do you want from them? There are reasons for why they made these decisions. While they likely served to limit the series expansion in the west, following what you’ve suggested wouldn’t exactly have guaranteed more profit.

    • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

      I’ll never understand why people keep trying to convince themselves that Capcom are somehow unhappy with the way Tri performed or with the platform it was on. Read what’s in the article. It sold better than any other game in the series thus far, and they didn’t spend eleven gazillion dollars developing it. They also reused assets from Tri for Portable 3rd and are now now re-using them for 3G.

      In short, I don’t understand what “lack of success” you’re talking about. Portable 3rd coming over is due to the lack of the PSP’s success, not the lack of Monster Hunter’s success.

      • http://twitter.com/Incoggnit0 Jonny Cox

        Of course it sold better, it had an actual marketing campaign as well as the Wii’s user base to draw from but the fact is that if it were release on either of the other platforms (or better yet all of them for that matter) it would have been much more exposure for the MH franchise as well as FAR more unit sales.

        As I said, MH could have been as big in the US as it is in Japan but Capcom doesn’t seem to want it to be for some odd reason.

        • http://myanimelist.net/profile/Kuronoa Kuronoa

          Keep in mind, they make the games for Japan.  Wii userbase in Japan was fine for Tri. Capcom thought things through when choosing a platform and they consider Japan more important for initial success I’m sure.
          In the West, yes HD consoles would of been better but then I’ll be repeating myself as to why Capcom didn’t do it.

        • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

          Or, on the flip side, the game would have simply been ignored on the HD consoles without Nintendo’s marketing support and lost amidst far more competition from other titles on the HD systems. It would also have cost way more to develop. :p

          The fact of the matter is, there’s no way to see whether it would have done better or not. It may have done a little better, it may have done loads better, or it may have flopped entirely. Clearly, Capcom seem to think having the largest userbase/cost balance and Nintendo’s backing is reason enough to move the series over.

  • http://twitter.com/PafuPafu7 Kevin Lor

    Well, I’m one of the lucky fews that dont need online for MH since I have 2 brothers that likes to come over and play game from time to time. And the chance of meeting someone else with MH is very slim. Well where I live that is.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Roberto-Armando-Iraheta/775564143 Roberto Armando Iraheta

    Capcom REALLY shouldn’t be surprised that it’s not that popular here. For starters, the PS2 version came at a terrible time when MMOs were exploding elsewhere. The PSP version came on a console that hadn’t been quite as successful as it should have been just yet and it had no infrastructure support. (For those not in the know, we aren’t closer in proximity compared to Japanese and there’s fewer PSPs to go around) Then when Tri came out, it came out on the Wii that is having a hard time finding audiences outside of the Nintendo and fitness train and is much less known for online experiences.

    What does Capcom need to do to make this work into another winning franchise?
    1. Make the 3DS version for the US have Infrastructure. Now there is a WHOLE lot less 3DS systems out there than PSPs and much less than DSs. The only way that you’ll be able to get a full experience on Monster Hunter is to have online. There really is no way around it. I really would suggest them partnering with Nintendo to get this done. If not 3G, then DEFINITELY 4. If they do this, the franchise will be a certifiable system seller. No doubt.

    2. Make it for the current console. It BOGGLES my mind that they haven’t made a current Monster Hunter for the current console generation. Players are starving for a multiplayer experience that rivals that of World of Warcraft and they have yet to find it. MONSTER HUNTER IS THAT ANSWER!

    3. Playstation Vita. Self-explanatory.

    I mean, it’s not that mind-blowing that the series hasn’t blown up like it has in Japan. Capcom just doesn’t understand that the market isn’t the same as Japan and has to treat it like it’s own beast.

    • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

      Care to explain 2. and 3. since you’re so sure that’s the guaranteed path to success?

    • riceisnice

      1. I think they noticed that.

      2. Current Console? To me, the current console is the 3DS.

      3. Because the PlayStation Portable did so well in America.

  • teknik1200

    Please give us a new console monster hunter with massive content.   I  sunk more then 1,000 hours into try and still enjoy it.

  • eilegz

    very overrated game…. The game its not popular on the west because of its dated mechanics, dated graphics, lack of support of online gameplay… the feeling of grinding for no reason other to get stronger and better gear and an offline feeling of crappy korean MMO does not help neither…. The lack of improvement in gameplay graphics and other departments its just disappointing… the game itself stagnate it dont improve from what we got from ps2 era…

    Lost planet 2 was a good experiment that wanted to create a MH experience on HD console but the lack of depth killed an excellent opportunity.

  • eilegz

    monster hunter its a so successful but decadent game, its like a japanese COD, it wont improve, its stagnate, the graphics department and gameplay its unchanged and almost the same every single revision.

    With so many sales, why fix what its not “broken”… why invest when capcom can keep on releasing a new revision and fans will just buy it…

    The reason why we dont have a ps3 and vita version of this game its that capcom wants to keep on recycling the same assets that it gets from ps2, wii and psp into the 3ds game…

  • eilegz

    kinda agree but somehow its different taste of 2 different markets….

    The only similarity its that both COD and MH are very decadent, overrated but successful game each on its own….

    Somehow look demon soul and dark soul share some of the MH formula in gameplay dated mechanics (like character movement) but somehow added a good story, less grinding and more satisfying experience and refinement that dont kill the hardcore part, but make a formula more intesresting and fresh.

  • eilegz

    MH = japanese COD… good analogy

  • http://twitter.com/spotted_slime L. R.

    What this tells me: “No online feature = no release”.

    The question is now would they be willing to tweak an online mode for North America and Europe? I have a feeling the answer to that will be “no”.

    They’ve been giving us the “there will be more Monster Hunter in the west” for a while now… but it really just seems like a way to keep the MH fans from outright not buying Capcom stuff as a whole.

  • PrinceHeir

    i actually hope capcom makes a monster hunter game that is “transfarring” compatible with the console and the portables.

    like Vita-PS3 and 3DS-Wii U(if possible)

    both sides can enjoy the game anywhere at anytime in their own setup.

    plus as in the article have been stated. japan seems to be more focus on local lan parties instead of online while the west are very much the opposite.

    all in all i just hope we do get a Monster Hunter game sometime in the near future :P

    • heartless141

      MHP3rd HD already support that with halfassed online.

  • http://twitter.com/Zufield Zufield

    Yeah, you could play Maverick One’s “translation,” if you like reading quest descriptions in horribly broken English.

  • http://flailthroughs.blogspot.com Flailthroughs

    Strike while the iron’s hot, guys. You release the right Monster Hunter game in the wake of Dark Souls, I think it would do pretty well.

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