Forum - View topicNEWS: Yo-kai Watch Planned for Overseas Release
Note: this is the discussion thread for this article |
Author | Message | ||
---|---|---|---|
Ryusui
![]() Posts: 461 |
|
||
Gotta be honest; not holding my breath.
|
|||
|
|||
samuelp
Industry Insider
Posts: 2242 Location: San Antonio, USA |
|
||
This thing is HUGE in Japan right now.
You get a kid under the age of 12 and girl OR boy there's a really big chance they are obsessed with Yokai watch these days. The reason it's such a hit is that it combines elements of pokemon "collect things" but its main focus is the humor, which is perfectly tuned to 2nd-3rd graders. It's this generation's Gegege no Kitaro. That being said, could it be a success overseas? There is a lot of Japanese mythology underlying the monsters, BUT... the humor is all pretty modern, the setting is modern, and the monsters are kooky and original and not your typical youkai. I think any kid would enjoy it even if they didn't know that the "murikabe" is based on "nurikabe"... (explanation: one of the youkai causing trouble is the murikabe, which makes people go "muuuuuriiiii" ("impossible..."/"I can't do it") in response to everything in a super annoying way) Personally the running gag of Jibanyan training to get revenge against the truck that killed him on the road _never_ gets old. |
|||
|
|||
Stuart Smith
![]() Posts: 1298 |
|
||
Obviously it's huge success in Japan makes them want to expand it out. The franchise is literally printing money. Hopefully it will be a more timely manner than Danball Senki, which is just now popping up in the states despite having been over in Japan for awhile now.
I'm more concerned about the localization. Inazuma Eleven got pretty poor treatment in Europe, and Danball Senki looks to be more of the same. Neither of those are nearly as Japanese-y as Youkai Watch is, so I can't realistically see it working here any better. Like samuelp mentioned some of the youkai are hilariously rooted in Japanese culture. The one that makes people act like an old Osakan stereotype, the one that turns people into hikikomori. My favorite is probably Steve Jaws, though. I laughed my ass off when they revealed a Steve Jobs parody created the Youkai Watch and has an Apple-like corporation in Youkai World. ![]() Hopefully they find a way to make it work without being insulting. -Stuart Smith |
|||
|
|||
enurtsol
![]() Posts: 14853 |
|
||
Japan’s kids love game series Yo-Kai Watch, and one fan says it’s because grownups don’t
“Jibanyan, I choose you!” Does Yo-kai Watch have the power to topple Pokémon?
|
|||
|
|||
Haterater
![]() Posts: 1727 |
|
||
I don't really see this being as popular overseas, especially America. It just has too many hurdles and disadvantage today as compared to Pokemon back then. Smartphones, anime not being as popular back then, some of the Yokai I imagine, and the very important market push. Its all on Level-5 to really push this and being careful with the localization. Hoping their sales expectation is adjusted, like being okay with moderate success and not being disappointed its not a juggernaut like Pokemon.
|
|||
|
|||
Nonaka Machine Gun B
![]() Posts: 825 |
|
||
Wow, that's hilarious that kids would think that. The image of a grown man hogging a Pokémon arcade game from a bunch of kids is funny and frightening.
|
|||
|
|||
ParkerALx
![]() Posts: 194 |
|
||
I got a good chuckle out of the Japanese kid wanting adults to stay out of his or her favorite property. Usually, it's the other way around, with adult fans lamenting that a favorite game/show/movie is being marketed to people younger than them.
I don't see Yo-kai Watch unseating Pokemon in North America, but I wish it all the luck just the same. I might even pick up the game out of curiosity. I've seen a tiny smudge of the anime, and the theme song alone makes its world look endearing. I just hope the show, if it gets brought over to promote the game, doesn't get completely bastardized. I hope they don't translate the brand's name to "Ghost Watch" or something equally generic, for instance. |
|||
|
|||
samuelp
Industry Insider
Posts: 2242 Location: San Antonio, USA |
|
||
We translated a few episodes for international sales more than a year ago, and we were asked to localize the youkai's names (not the humans, though).
No idea if these would get used officially (I doubt it with level 5 involved), but we did Jibunyan -> Crashpurr among others. I like our english name for Jibunyan a lot. It's got literal meaning and coincidental cross language pun! |
|||
|
|||
Kadmos1
![]() Posts: 13589 Location: In Phoenix but has an 85308 ZIP |
|
||
Now when people complain about localization, I can use this point to show that the Japanese will ask for there to be localization to get the series to sell. |
|||
|
|||
Tony K.
![]() Moderator ![]() Posts: 11388 Location: Frisco, TX |
|
||
Kadmos, please observe our policy on necroposting.
|
|||
|
|||
All times are GMT - 5 Hours |
||
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group