Thanks, Duders!

Last year, I wrote a blog post about Operation Rainfall, a grassroots movement to convince Nintendo to release three Japan (and later, Europe)-only Wii titles in North America. The post attracted some decidedly mixed responses. Some were receptive to the idea and willing to help, and to those of you that did, I thank you. Others, however, were aggressive in their belief that it had no chance of success, so why even bother? To which, at the time, I could only say that there was nothing to lose from giving it a shot.

And what do you know? Itworked.

While the extent of Operation Rainfall's actual level of influence in the decision-making process can be debated, it's unlikely that without the campaign in at least some form, Nintendo of America would have chosen to release Xenoblade Chronicles this coming April, nor would they have given XSEED the license to release The Last Story. This leaves only one game out of the three, Pandora's Tower, without an announced North American release plan of any sort. And given how utterly stubborn Nintendo can be when it comes to their releases (EarthBound fans are still pining for an official release of Mother 3), I have to say that even without Pandora's Tower, two out of three ain't bad.

And while Nintendo and XSEED both deserve thanks for working to get Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story to North America, I again thank those of you here at Giant Bomb that helped participate in Operation Rainfall's drives, whether it was through the letter writing campaign, haranguing Nintendo's social media intern on Twitter and Facebook, and everything else that the organizers put together since this past June. A lot more work went into this than a simple sign-it-and-leave-it internet petition, and while not getting a North American release of any of these games wouldn't have been the end of the world, it's still a pretty impressive effort.

All of this being said, Operation Rainfall isn't done yet. After all, if it worked twice, there's nothing to say that it can't work again for Pandora's Tower. So if you're itching for one more game to play on that little white box, you might consider helping out. And hey, after that's over, they might even move on to other games. But you know, it only has a chance of working as long as people try.

Wait, I can't tell if I was in the "I support this" part or "it won't work" part, mainly because I feel like I was both at the same time.

@Video_Game_King said:

Wait, I can't tell if I was in the "I support this" part or "it won't work" part, mainly because I feel like I was both at the same time.

I mostly recall you stating your disappointment that it had nothing to do with Fire Emblem. :P

Too bad they're still coming out for the Wii. Can we start a new campaign to bring them to platforms people use?

I was highly skeptical as to whether it would have any effect, but colour me mistaken. Glad that people will have more worthwhile games to play on the Wii.

You really want to remind me of that? Especially since DS games are still getting Western releases AND Kakusei is getting a European release?

@Rolyatkcinmai said:

Too bad they're still coming out for the Wii. Can we start a new campaign to bring them to platforms people use?

Well, technically, they'll also be usable on the Wii U, so there you go.

@Video_Game_King said:

You really want to remind me of that? Especially since DS games are still getting Western releases AND Kakusei is getting a European release?

There's nothing that says Kakusei won't get a North American release. I'd be interested to see what NOA's 3DS line-up is going to look like at E3 this year.

@Rolyatkcinmai said:

Too bad they're still coming out for the Wii. Can we start a new campaign to bring them to platforms people use?

Oh good, you said this so I didn't have to.

@Rolyatkcinmai said:

Too bad they're still coming out for the Wii. Can we start a new campaign to bring them to platforms people use?

Trolololololololololol

@Hailinel said:

@Rolyatkcinmai said:

Too bad they're still coming out for the Wii. Can we start a new campaign to bring them to platforms people use?

Well, technically, they'll also be usable on the Wii U, so there you go.

Well shiver me timbers.

@Rolyatkcinmai said:

Too bad they're still coming out for the Wii. Can we start a new campaign to bring them to platforms people use?

Maybe these are reasons to use the damn platform? Or am I entering a world of circular logic just by engaging this statement?

I say it's a bigger success than most people expected. I was completely surprised when Xenoblade was announced so The Last Story coming to America seems even crazier. I guess petitions can work... unless Nintendo of America had planned this all along but kept it hidden for this long. 
 
Now I continue to wait for Mother 3.

@Hailinel said:

@Video_Game_King said:

Wait, I can't tell if I was in the "I support this" part or "it won't work" part, mainly because I feel like I was both at the same time.

I mostly recall you stating your disappointment that it had nothing to do with Fire Emblem. :P

Don't forget me. My rage about having to wait for an undoubtedly amateurish overly-literal translation patch for Shin Monshou no Nazo is unquenchable in its fury. Ok, that's not entirely true, as I still have yet to finish either Thracia 776 or Seisen no Keifu despite having advanced fairly far in both of them.

@ArbitraryWater:

You better finish that shit. Oh, and hint for the final chapter: put Julia to sleep. That will make all the sense in the world when the time comes. (It's either that or do something completely insane.)

@Video_Game_King: Speaking of Fire Emblem, I have the GBA one from the 3DS Ambassador program. What are your thoughts on that one?

I pre-ordered it on Amazon, it was called Monado though or something like that.

Oy... well, at least that whole situation was only really knackered as opposed to hellishly knackered, but still, oy.....

@Ace829:

You mean Sacred Stones? Just find Tear Ring Saga or something. I don't care that it's in Japanese, or that the translation is scattered across a billion scripts; just do it. Tear Ring Saga's the game that Sacred Stones is trying to be.

Well, this is a surprise. But I don't know much about XSEED, I thought the developer was Monolith Soft? And with that, I need to go back and research what these games were even about in the first place. Something to do with the Xenogears universe, but that's all I know so far.

@Vonocourt said:

I pre-ordered it on Amazon, it was called Monado though or something like that.

Yeah, that was part of the Xenoblade campaign. Unfortunately, those particular preorders have all been cancelled; the only way to buy Xenoblade Chronicles in the U.S. is either through Gamestop or Nintendo's own website. XSEED, however, is selling The Last Story through Amazon.

@UnrealDP said:

Oy... well, at least that whole situation was only really knackered as opposed to hellishly knackered, but still, oy.....

It's all right, UnrealDP. You can admit that you were wrong.

@Video_Game_King said:

@Ace829:

You mean Sacred Stones? Just find Tear Ring Saga or something. I don't care that it's in Japanese, or that the translation is scattered across a billion scripts; just do it. Tear Ring Saga's the game that Sacred Stones is trying to be.

I, for one, actually enjoyed Sacred Stones, both on the GBA and as an ambassador program game, and it doesn't require translation patching in any way. :P

@QuistisTrepe:

XSEED is the publisher. They're known for publishing obscure-ass Japanese games that catch my attention.

@Video_Game_King said:

Wait, I can't tell if I was in the "I support this" part or "it won't work" part, mainly because I feel like I was both at the same time.

I was initially really hopeful about it, but then Nintendo continued to pass up opportunities to announce localizations so I started to assume it wasn't going to happen. That's when Nintendo said Xenoblade was coming in April, like they were just waiting for me to give up to announce it.

Just a heads up, people that want to get Xenoblade should definitely pre-order it. I don't normally pre-order games but it sounds like Nintendo is treating this like a specialty item and pre-ordering through their site or Gamestop is the only way to get it, that they don't want to risk making extra copies and are basically trying only to fill pre-orders. At the very least it's going to be a limited run and there will be very few leftovers for Gamestop walk-ins. Of course they could always decide to reprint later depending on sales but if you want the game, why take chances.

@Video_Game_King said:

@Ace829:

You mean Sacred Stones? Just find Tear Ring Saga or something. I don't care that it's in Japanese, or that the translation is scattered across a billion scripts; just do it. Tear Ring Saga's the game that Sacred Stones is trying to be.

I assume you mean to get the game through a PSX emulator. I'll give it a shot someday.

@Hailinel said:

I, for one, actually enjoyed Sacred Stones, both on the GBA and as an ambassador program game, and it doesn't require translation patching in any way. :P

Neither does Tear Ring Saga, since the patch isn't out. Instead, I'm telling him to read the scripts (they're both programming scripts and dialogue scripts. I thought I should throw that in there).

@QuistisTrepe said:

Well, this is a surprise. But I don't know much about XSEED, I thought the developer was Monolith Soft? And with that, I need to go back and research what these games were even about in the first place. Something to do with the Xenogears universe, but that's all I know so far.

Monolithsoft, which is owned by Nintendo, developed Xenoblade Chronicles. The Last Story was developed by Mistwalker and published by Nintendo in Japan and Europe. However, NOA is partnering with XSEED to publish it in North America. XSEED publishes a lot of niche Japanese titles in the U.S., some of them under the Marvelous name, like Rune Factory Frontier.

@Hailinel: But... we are still waiting for a freaking VC of earthbound first off... Nintendo are not smart... they are fucking idiotic at best in terms of catering to the fandom at this point in time.

@Jay444111 said:

@Hailinel: But... we are still waiting for a freaking VC of earthbound first off... Nintendo are not smart... they are fucking idiotic at best in terms of catering to the fandom at this point in time.

This explanation might answer some questions.

@Hailinel said:

@UnrealDP said:

Oy... well, at least that whole situation was only really knackered as opposed to hellishly knackered, but still, oy.....

It's all right, UnrealDP. You can admit that you were wrong.

Er, thanks for being classy about it and not an arse? Oy, it's like dealing with the guy who predicts the sun's not going to rise, except when he's right.

Oh well, good prediction on that one, lad. Here's to more letter writing and internet petitioning, eh?

Glad someone on the forum calls it like it is. I had to laugh when the official giantbomb news posts talking about last story coming over didn't even say a word about project rainfall. Are they solely responsible? Unlikely. But it is outright ridiculous to suggest the campaign had no effect.

@Video_Game_King said:

@QuistisTrepe:

XSEED is the publisher. They're known for publishing obscure-ass Japanese games that catch my attention.

Oh I have heard of them, but the only thing I remember them being associated with was that bizarre remake of Wild Arms on PS2. A remake of a game that I don't recall anyone asking for.

@Hailinel said:

@Jay444111 said:

@Hailinel: But... we are still waiting for a freaking VC of earthbound first off... Nintendo are not smart... they are fucking idiotic at best in terms of catering to the fandom at this point in time.

This explanation might answer some questions.

Change the music up some with new composers, and slight pixel changes are pretty much all that is needed. Either A, Nintendo lost the damn source code and is to proud to admit it. Or B, They are just lazy and don't want to spend any money on something that WILL make a return profit due to the insane cult value the series has now.

Nintendo lost all respect from me because of this.

Now you guys should all go support Operation Moonfall!

@UnrealDP: I could very well have been wrong and it might not have worked, but the point is that everyone that contributed added to its potential for success.

@Jay444111 said:

@Hailinel said:

@Jay444111 said:

@Hailinel: But... we are still waiting for a freaking VC of earthbound first off... Nintendo are not smart... they are fucking idiotic at best in terms of catering to the fandom at this point in time.

This explanation might answer some questions.

Change the music up some with new composers, and slight pixel changes are pretty much all that is needed. Either A, Nintendo lost the damn source code and is to proud to admit it. Or B, They are just lazy and don't want to spend any money on something that WILL make a return profit due to the insane cult value the series has now.

Nintendo lost all respect from me because of this.

Such changes are outside of what Nintendo of America is capable of. The game was developed over a decade and a half ago in Japan, and any changes to the graphics or music would have taken a great deal more work than the average Virtual Console release. While it does suck that the game is likely not ever going to appear on the Virtual Console, I can't really say that I blame Nintendo for their stance on this. Things can always change in the future, but if they were to lose my respect over anything, this would not be it.

@yoshimitz707 said:

Now you guys should all go support Operation Moonfall!

I only found out about this recently, but would love to support it. Majora's Mask deserves a remake.

@Hailinel: Er, yes, see aforementioned internet petitioning for more. I got it mate and good on supporting a cause 'n all that.

@Hailinel said:

@Rolyatkcinmai said:

Too bad they're still coming out for the Wii. Can we start a new campaign to bring them to platforms people use?

Well, technically, they'll also be usable on the Wii U, so there you go.

What kinda counter is that? The WiiU currently has the lowest installment base of all known consoles :P

Oh, and a not completely unrelated question I have to ask, why was it called Operation "Rainfall"?

@Hailinel said:

@Jay444111 said:

@Hailinel said:

@Jay444111 said:

@Hailinel: But... we are still waiting for a freaking VC of earthbound first off... Nintendo are not smart... they are fucking idiotic at best in terms of catering to the fandom at this point in time.

This explanation might answer some questions.

Change the music up some with new composers, and slight pixel changes are pretty much all that is needed. Either A, Nintendo lost the damn source code and is to proud to admit it. Or B, They are just lazy and don't want to spend any money on something that WILL make a return profit due to the insane cult value the series has now.

Nintendo lost all respect from me because of this.

Such changes are outside of what Nintendo of America is capable of. The game was developed over a decade and a half ago in Japan, and any changes to the graphics or music would have taken a great deal more work than the average Virtual Console release. While it does suck that the game is likely not ever going to appear on the Virtual Console, I can't really say that I blame Nintendo for their stance on this. Things can always change in the future, but if they were to lose my respect over anything, this would not be it.

people petitioned the living fuck out of it during the early 2000's though. Hell, it got to the point where Nintendo is basically insulting us at this point. Hell, there are execs that basically blew all of us off when asked about us from a interviewer. I gotta be honest. I really want to buy the game with my own damn hands. But if Nintendo is basically going to be dicks about this and either not release it, or change things up, or just remake the damn thing already. Then they should stop fucking teasing us by having those characters in smash bros games. Or, better yet. Public domain it if they are not going to do shit with the license anymore so we can pirate it legally.

I have yet to play the game because of Nintendo's HORRID business practices when it comes to listening to the fans. Once we get last story and xenoblade and Pandoras tower, we should finally demand a damn remake of these games on the 3DS. But no... I doubt I will ever be able to play even a single of these games legally because of Nintendo. they deserve all the shit they get for being such a terrible fucking company IMO.

I realize I went full on rant and I do apologize for this. But considering what Mother fans have been doing for the past 10 to 20 fucking years... this is just bullshit at this point and we deserve to be pissed.

@RockmanBionics said:

@Hailinel said:

@Rolyatkcinmai said:

Too bad they're still coming out for the Wii. Can we start a new campaign to bring them to platforms people use?

Well, technically, they'll also be usable on the Wii U, so there you go.

What kinda counter is that? The WiiU currently has the lowest installment base of all known consoles :P

Oh, and a not completely unrelated question I have to ask, why was it called Operation "Rainfall"?

Well, he never specified which consoles. :P

The name Operation Rainfall is derived from the notion of ending a gaming drought on the Wii.

@Jay444111 said:

Or, better yet. Public domain it if they are not going to do shit with the license anymore so we can pirate it legally.

You can't pirate if it's legal to take...

@Hailinel: Yeah I pre-ordered it at gamestop, though more to support the cause rather than an intense interest in the game. Sad to say it'll probably join A Boy and his Blob, Fragile Dreams, and Sakura Wars as the wii games I really meant to play.

@Hailinel: Well that makes a lot of sense then.

Y'know as much as I'm not a big fan of Nintendo as a company these days, they have some of the best properties and make some of the best games in the biz. I sincerely hope that they're able to make something cool that's successful with this whole WiiU thing.

Until then you guys are getting two supposedly great games to tide you over (I can only really speak for Xenoblade. It's pretty good, provided you don't hate games that play like MMO's) so enjoy that :)

wish i knew about these before selling my wii, would like to plays these

I get the weird feeling that Operation Rainfall only started because Americans were pissy that Europeans were exclusively getting certain JRPGs and not the other way around, like usual. I doubt there were any Operation Runefalls going on when it turned out we weren't getting Suikoden III way back when. Honestly, I think we just accept the fact that Europe never sees half the JRPGs that came out as the natural order of things. Maybe that's the source of the displeasure: the sheer weirdness of it all.

Cynical conspiracy theories aside, I'm glad you guys are getting Xenoblade. It deserves to be played by everyone. I'll probably say the same about the Last Story after I start it tomorrow. I imagine if those two sell well in both regions, Pandora's Tower will quickly follow.

@Jay444111 said:

@Hailinel said:

@Jay444111 said:

@Hailinel said:

@Jay444111 said:

@Hailinel: But... we are still waiting for a freaking VC of earthbound first off... Nintendo are not smart... they are fucking idiotic at best in terms of catering to the fandom at this point in time.

This explanation might answer some questions.

Change the music up some with new composers, and slight pixel changes are pretty much all that is needed. Either A, Nintendo lost the damn source code and is to proud to admit it. Or B, They are just lazy and don't want to spend any money on something that WILL make a return profit due to the insane cult value the series has now.

Nintendo lost all respect from me because of this.

Such changes are outside of what Nintendo of America is capable of. The game was developed over a decade and a half ago in Japan, and any changes to the graphics or music would have taken a great deal more work than the average Virtual Console release. While it does suck that the game is likely not ever going to appear on the Virtual Console, I can't really say that I blame Nintendo for their stance on this. Things can always change in the future, but if they were to lose my respect over anything, this would not be it.

people petitioned the living fuck out of it during the early 2000's though. Hell, it got to the point where Nintendo is basically insulting us at this point. Hell, there are execs that basically blew all of us off when asked about us from a interviewer. I gotta be honest. I really want to buy the game with my own damn hands. But if Nintendo is basically going to be dicks about this and either not release it, or change things up, or just remake the damn thing already. Then they should stop fucking teasing us by having those characters in smash bros games. Or, better yet. Public domain it if they are not going to do shit with the license anymore so we can pirate it legally.

I have yet to play the game because of Nintendo's HORRID business practices when it comes to listening to the fans. Once we get last story and xenoblade and Pandoras tower, we should finally demand a damn remake of these games on the 3DS. But no... I doubt I will ever be able to play even a single of these games legally because of Nintendo. they deserve all the shit they get for being such a terrible fucking company IMO.

I realize I went full on rant and I do apologize for this. But considering what Mother fans have been doing for the past 10 to 20 fucking years... this is just bullshit at this point and we deserve to be pissed.

Jesus, I really like Earthbound too, but this is a completely moot point. There are fan translations for Mother 1 and 3 that Nintendo has taken no action against. Mother 3's translation from starmen was pretty well known, and they could have interrupted at any time and closed them down. They have not.

If they don't want your money, fine, take the alternative. The ship has long sailed on Mother at this point, and its super easy to just play them. I agree that it shouldn't have to be like this, but its not like anyone is stopping you from playing the game anymore.

@Mento said:

I get the weird feeling that Operation Rainfall only started because Americans were pissy that Europeans were exclusively getting certain JRPGs and not the other way around, like usual. I doubt there were any Operation Runefalls going on when it turned out we weren't getting Suikoden III way back when. Honestly, I think we just accept the fact that Europe never sees half the JRPGs that came out as the natural order of things. Maybe that's the source of the displeasure: the sheer weirdness of it all.

Cynical conspiracy theories aside, I'm glad you guys are getting Xenoblade. It deserves to be played by everyone. I'll probably say the same about the Last Story after I start it tomorrow. I imagine if those two sell well in both regions, Pandora's Tower will quickly follow.

I think that the European release of Xenoblade Chronicles was part of it, at least. After being denied games ranging from Disaster to Fatal Frame IV to Xenoblade, we were tired of getting stung by NOA's refusal to release pretty much anything that wasn't an already established all-ages IP on the Wii. I'd say it's been a feeling that had brewed for years.

   Now I continue to wait for Mother 3.  

Now it's time for no one to buy them right?

Damn it, XSeed looks so good but I don't want to buy a Wii at this point...damn it.

Let's hope more than 15 people buy the games then, else I imagine they'll be even more strict with what they bring out over yonder waters.

Fuuuck I'm going to have to go into a GameStop.

And for all you Wii naysayers, if you haven't already bought one for Rhythm Heaven Fever, what are you doing!?

Its a shame that Xenoblade was kinda rubbish