nhendrickson

Quick cash-in game. Definite pass.

I can't speak for others, but I personally don't like being told 'you can't handle it'. Let me be the judge of that. Besides which it wasn't a cultural decision. It was a business one. They were given X amount of time and money to produce a localized version timed to cash in on the interest in 'all things Japanese' generated by the release of FFXIII. To meet this deadline, some things HAD to go - particularly things of an obscure or culturally embarrassing nature.

In this context, I choose to not support a hastily cobbled together 'cash-in' release for full market value. But I'll be happy to rent it. That's voting with my wallet.

Clearly, for those who had ANY intention of EVER buying this game, the hostess bars were a major inducement. Hell, I even enjoyed perusing the magazine racks in the convenience store. I really don't think there ever was much hope of attracting an audience that didn't already have an interest in Japanese culture. Even the history quiz would have been a treat for the hardcore japanophiles.

I agree that buying this release in this form will only encourage similar abuses in the future. I would rather not see that happen to such a great series. Think if every Miyazaki film release was treated like 'Warriors of the Wind" (ok, so the situation is not quite THAT bad).

Still, for me, this just went from a 'buy' to a 'rent'.