8d30a9d1   
   From: bel@whipassgaming.com   
      
   > agree with both. Some bad decisions and timing on Vic's part sunk WD,   
   > and it was especially ironic in that he narrowly missed the total   
   > resurgence of sRPG in the western market which began with Disgaea.   
   > Many believed there was no market for these games here, or a market so   
   > small it wouldn't be profitable. Nippon Ichi proved them wrong.   
   > Disgaea opened the flood gates of sRPGs here and had WD been there,   
   > they would have ride the wave of success. So successful was the NI   
   > franchises that even sRPG giant Idea Factory!, which to my knowledge   
   > has never in its history produced a game for the North American market   
   > began bringing their games to NA.   
   >   
   > Speaking of IF! Talk about an opportunity lost. I said to Vic years   
   > ago he should hook up with them, and sign a translation contract. It   
   > was both a strategic and cultural fit. They specialize in making   
   > sRPGs, was very productive (cranked out sRPGs like clockwork) and had   
   > never produced a game for NA. (In fact I think my conversation with   
   > Vic is still here in Dejanews somewhere). But he brushed them off as   
   > not being "polished" enough for his taste. Now, IF! has a contract   
   > with Atlus for localization. What a waste.   
      
   I agree, though I still feel WD's largest issue was their inability to   
   compromise the ultra-hardcore-super-deluxe versions of their titles.   
   Now, I don't mind it so much, because when I buy a WD game, I want the   
   SE version of it...but not everyone wants to drop $60+ on Lunar. I think   
   that had WD of allowed for some just plain-jane versions of their   
   software, accompanied by a lower price, sales would have been a lot   
   higher...and they could have still made money off their SE versions from   
   the hardcore fans. I never did understand why they wouldn't do this.   
      
   Bel   
   --   
   Whip Ass Gaming: http://www.whipassgaming.com/   
      
   "It's at times like these the great heaven knows   
   That we wish we had not so many clothes."   
     - Adam Ant, Strip   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)