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Report: No Western Release For Wii Fatal Frame IV
by Leigh Alexander [PC, Console/PC]
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April 13, 2009
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Tecmo and Grasshopper Manufacture's Wii title Fatal Frame IV: Mask Of The Lunar Eclipse won't be released outside of Japan, since publisher Nintendo has refused.
"Nintendo holds the publishing rights to Fatal Frame Wii, which was developed by Tecmo LTD. and Grasshopper Manufacture and released in Japan on July 31, 2008," Tecmo said in a statement published by consumer site GameSpot.
"Nintendo of America has since then decided not to publish the title in North America--consequently, the title will not be released in this territory," the statement continued.
Fatal Frame is a horror franchise that originally debuted on PlayStation 2 and Xbox, and the Wii installment was highly anticipated by fans of the cult series. It casts players as researchers who must fight ghosts and solve puzzles using only an occult camera, and prioritizes an atmosphere of spectral fear rather than combat and gore, although its imagery tends to be frightening nonetheless.
Nintendo hasn't given any reason why the fourth installment won't see a Western release as originally planned, and neither has the company commented on whether it will consider selling the publishing rights to another company, according to the report.
"As the owner of the IP, Tecmo feels very unfortunate that the fans of the series in North America will not have a chance to play the game, but respects the final decision made by Nintendo of America," the statement concluded.
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As a developer and a gamer I am concerned by NOAs approach to the US market. Nintendo doesn't seem to have a desire to support the core audience in the US, which on the one hand is great for developers of the 360/PS3, because there will be many more core players on those platforms.
It's sad to think kind of junk is still happening at this point and time. Simply disappointing.