Operation Rainfall
 

Now this is an interesting little movement.

I don't know how many of you follow Nintendo's localization records, but it has been pretty piss poor this generation. Finally, it seemed like gamers in the States have had enough and combined their efforts to get Nintendo to bring over Xenoblade, The Last Story and Pandora's Tower.

In general, these type of fan movements have had little effect due to them simply being like an online petition of some sort, but this operation has done things differently using the power of the internet.

They pushed Xenoblade to the number 1 game on Amazon.com through pre-orders, bombarded Nintendo of America's Twitter and Facebook page, sent snail mail to Reggie's offices in Seattle.

Anyhow, here is more about the movement and Nintendo's less than stellar track record this gen.

http://kotaku.com/5815447/how-badly-...oblade-for-wii
http://www.destructoid.com/letter-wr...r-204505.phtml
http://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/me...h-america.aspx
http://wii.nintendolife.com/news/201...tendo_facebook
http://wii.ign.com/articles/117/1179120p1.html
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/a...o-the-wii.aspx
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...elease-article
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/26956
http://wii.ign.com/articles/117/1179129p1.html
http://www.destructoid.com/fans-brin....phtml#comment
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/26967
http://www.siliconera.com/2011/06/26...-fan-campaign/
http://www.rpgamer.com/rpgcast/rpgcast182.mp3 (from 1:04:08 ~1:08:39 live reactions to reading this thread.)
http://kotaku.com/5815716/nintendo-a...ving-them-rpgs
http://screwattack.com/blogs/ScrewAt...op-seller-list
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/op...n-of-wii-rpgs/
http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q2-2011/062711a.html
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20...00008-isd-game

~Edit~
And for the games
Xenoblade


The Last Story


Pandora's Tower

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

I really hope they get on the ball with their localizations. Monolith Soft stuff is usually pretty cool, saying from experience since I've played Disaster: Day of Crisis, but how has Nintendo been ignoring everyone's requests or interests?

We know they want our money. The fact that people are saying that whatever Monolith Soft is hiring for for the Wii U probably won't make it to the US because of their localization track record, says something.

Also, Mistwalker stuff does well. People pay for what I think is a cult following for the games that studio is making, especially among former Final Fantasy fans. Lost Odyssey is the reason I still want to get my Xbox replaced I want to finish it that badly. I also heard Blue Dragon is good, and now that The Last Story is out and I know nothing about it...

...this sucks.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/0...he-last-story/

And here's the original article meant to link to

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

What, you played Disaster and you didn't hate it?
You even got past the 5th level? :s

But yeah, I also hope we get these RPGs. Europe is already getting Xenoblade, so the English (and Spanish?) translation is already there for you guys.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

What I read on Joystiq about the localization was that it was going to be very British-ized and there's also the issue of the Wiis being region locked.

I have a soft mod on my Wii to be able to play such things, but for other people that don't know or don't want to do this for example, this is a big speed bump because it would require them buying another Wii just to play one game.

And Disaster: Day of Crisis wasn't bad! You just can't take it seriously.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

I also heard that the English (British?) voice acting is quite bad half of the time. But the game includes the original Japanese voices with subs.

I gave Disaster a chance, I really did. I just got so frustrated by every pixel and every soundwave of it.
Did you ever pay attention to how his footsteps sound? It's like they just smashed 2 random objects together and decided that was close enough.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

The English voice acting was very very very American, especially since I would imagine that was the choice cause it looks like an American city.

The voice acting is bad though, but that's because it's over the top, but that's what makes it fun!

Part of the reason why I liked House of the Dead: Overkill was because I didn't take it seriously at all and the game didn't take itself seriously either, which is perfect cause it lent itself to the grindhouse aesthetic. I dunno, just cause a game is bad critically doesn't make it not fun.

I think I was all over the place with this post, but you get the idea.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

We have what you want. http://www.cubed3.com/news/15826

All 3 confirmed for Europe. I so hope you will also get them!

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/ni...tory-or-pando/

This was put out last week. NoA doesn't like North America very much I guess.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

No real update, but to rub salt in the wounds, here's the English trailer for the game, Xenoblade

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

This looks so good.

MAN I hate NoA right now.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

NOA does not want our money. =S

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

And of course The Last Story and Pandora's Tower are confirmed for Europe.

:mad: This face is for Angrist cause he'll be able to play them.

No offense Angrist.

NoA is really pushing my buttons nowadays.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Hehe, the worst thing is I won't even play them. :(

Buy a PAL Wii. For $10 I'll gladly get rid of the horrendous Disaster: Day of Crisis for you.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

My Wii is softmodded to play games from other regions, but that's besides the point. I don't want to spend money on Xenoblade Chronicles for example if NoA is looking at getting the game here in America because it would make more sense for me to just buy it here...but why would I wait?

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Import that shit. It's what I'm doing.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Well needless to say, I've already tried it out for a bit yesterday.

It's good.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

On that note, anyone have a link to a good tutorial for soft-modding a Wii to play import games? I've found a few on my own, but I'd rather use one that I know someone here has used and had it work for them.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Also on that note.... has anyone successfully used the Dolphin emulator on their PC to run Wii games? I'm not talking about pirating games, I guess you would use the Wii disc in your computer and burn an ISO of it, or something? I saw Xenoblade playing at higher resolution on Dolphin, and holy crap it looked good.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

I would also like to know how to do this.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

I can't remember what tuturial I used. My softmod works wonderfully! I'll ask my roommate and get back to you.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Me too.

I also want to "pirate" the games I've bought on the VC, in case my Wii ever dies.

It's so stupid that VC and Wii Ware purchases tie to the console instead of to an account.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

https://sites.google.com/site/completesg/

Here is a good place to start. You can actually successfully softmod Wiis on System Menu 4.3U, E, and J now if I recall correctly using something called Letterbomb. All you need is to go to the site (http://please.hackmii.com/), enter your Wii's MAC address, copy the zip it gives you to the root of your Wii's SD card and the message will show up in your messages on the Wii menu.

After that you basically follow that guide to the letter. It also outlines any risks you run, but the process is practically idiot proof. Anyone can do it. It also outlines how to set up backup launchers for burned discs, or how to set up your console to USB load games from a hard drive, which I recommend because it not only loads faster in most cases, but it saves you from burning games if that's your thing. Theoretically owning game should make the backup launching through USB loading or burning legal. Theoretically.

Also quick note, the Trucha bug installer has a part where it asks you if you're going to use it for piracy or not. Say no. If you say yes, it doesn't install it and it's necessary to do all of the stuff required. The guy goes on an anti-piracy tirade and while I like to support the developers it's really annoying when he's setting up something that is blatantly used for piracy and then he blatantly restricts you from using it. It's stupid and a waste of time.

On Dolphin, Dolphin doesn't require a ridiculous PC to run games at 640x480 in a window, but once you want to start raising the resolution the requirements get a little crazy, but I've done it. Using a gamepad is a great solution for a game like Xenoblade with Dolphin since the game uses the Classic Controller as a method for input. If you do the softmod there's also a savegame manager app that converts Dolphin Wii game saves so that you can use them on a Wii if I remember correctly. So the saves are transferrable.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Joystiq also put up a guide to do it, given that you own a copy of the game.

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/ho...ica/#continued

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

http://nerdsontherocks.com/games/pow...hronicles-wii/

Here are my impressions after 2 hours.

Put in an additional 3 or so since then, and have to say really enjoying the game so far.

If I had any complaints
-The textures in this game are ugly.
-So are some of the models
-The collectapedia stuff has to be done manually which is just an odd design choice
-Death really doesn't serve any purpose in this game. You don't lose much progress, keep all your XP and money and equipment. Actually, healing as a whole takes place after every battle.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Here are some brief and updated impressions after sunking 33 hours into this game.

1) The game is MASSIVE, I mean from what reading online, I'm not even at the half-way mark, though not sure HOW true that is since my characters are level 39 right now.

2) The game is both stunning and ugly at the same time. As we know, or at least should figure out from my time on these boards, I don't mind playing Wii games or games in SD, but this game has such a strong visual flair about it, that reallly shines, but at the same time it just looks like its being held back because it doesn't have a higher resolution which would make it just look that much more crisp.

3) the characters play differently. Generally in RPGs, most characters have their own unique move and stuff, and there's always that odd ball or whatever that plays just a bit differently than everyone else. This game really does make each character feel unique and special. The problem can come in that everyone specializes in like one thing, which forces you to keep certain characters. Like only 3 people so far can actually heal, one does it on a huge level, one does it on a basic level and another does it uniquely is all I'm gonna say. And since this game doesn't use potions or anything, you are pretty much forced to have one healer on your team. Then there are the enemy specific traits that only the main character can really debuff at the moment, and he is pretty much forced as a main stay. Which I wouldn't mind if the game allowed for 4 player teams instead of 3.

4) the combat system is fun and evolving. One of the biggest beefs I personally have with RPG games is after a while, the combat usually feels like a chore because its just going through a menu and pressing a command. Rinse and repeat for 100 hours or so. This game keeps you engaged by making it real time, but also can kind of relax and just kind of auto attack/run around the field if enemies really won't pose much of a challenge.

There's more I want to say, but I will just finish with this. I have a long way to go, but so far, this has slowly climbed my list of top RPGs of all-time, and perhaps one of the best games I've played this generation, and I've played a lot of them.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

This game is really incredible, having a great time with it, lvl41 right now. I'm playing on dolphin in 1080p, and it looks fucking glorious. The art direction for the environments is stunning. This is likely one of the best games of this generation, and I gotta admit it's really being held back on the Wii, especially with Nintendo of America being a bitch and not releasing it here. What an asbolute shame and a true crime against their more hardcore gaming audience.

It's such an amazing thing for me to see that JRPGs still kinda sorta exist, and not just in the form of shitty Tales Of games, or what have you. Really makes me sad at the current state of gaming. I will remain hopeful that more games like this will be released some day, in the not too distant future.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Well Nintendo has two more RPGs to not publish in America. :lol:

But seriously, this really needs to be released here.

Probably won't light the world on fire, but one of their best games this generation, and the finest RPG this gen so far.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Hold on, hold on.

I just started doing some research on dolphin. Can you really just put a Wii or Gamcube game in your PC's dvd drive and play it? That's kind of amazing. If so I'm going to pick up a bluetooth USB thing this weekend and hook my PC up to my TV.

Wii games in 1080p sounds awesome.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Wait, what? Really?

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

As far as I know, the dolphin emulator takes a lot of power, but if you have a strong enough PC.

Yeah upscales Wii games into 1080p.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Dolphin works like a champ if you've got the stuff. I need a slightly better PC to do the beefier stuff in 1080p though, hopefully I can get a new one soon what with the new moneys I'll be making at my new job.

I don't get my first paycheck until the 30th though. Even then it's budgeting time to pay off the credit card.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

I'm probably going to use my work laptop, it's a beast.

I don't understand how a regular DVD drive can read Wii games though. Does that actually work, or do you need special hardware to rip them to an ISO?

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

I just downloaded the ISO from a torrent site. I own the game so it's not a problem, right. With the right PC DVD drive you can rip Wii games to ISO format, I didn't try it but I imagine it works easy enough. Also there are applications that can be used through the Wii homebrew channel that will load a game disc completely to a hard drive, not sure if it makes an ISO or what, but that could be an option for you if you don't feel like downloading 7GB (Xenoblade is a big ass file). Also getting Dolphin to work perfectly is a huge pain in the ass, it differs by system specs as well as the game you're playing, and also the Dolphin build that you download. To my knowledge, Dolphin is updated very often and builds are constantly changing. I was about 30 hours into Xenoblade before I got my dolphin settings tuned to perfection, before that there were some occassional sounds delays and black flashes that filled the screen.

It sounds very daunting, and it is, but Xenoblade is worth it. Plus once you have dolphin working and know how to make it run well, you can explore all the great possiblities it allows, like playing Wind Waker in stunning high-res quality, Twilight Princess without the horrible blurriness that an HD tv gives it, and so on. Perhaps even Skyward Sword will run well on Dolphin and it will become the definitive way to play the game, I know I'll definitely be trying it out when I get my copy.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Without spoiling too much for the rest, where are you in the game?

And how have you been doing with the sidequests?

I swear, I turn on the game to make some story progress and spend 2 hours collecting and doing some side missions just because.

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

Will my Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz with 4GB RAM and a GeForce 8600 GT (512MB??) be able to handle it? Because I'm really considering playing Skyward Sword on it (after I buy the Special Edition).

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

I think I'm going to give it a shot this weekend.

Also, I could probably find this if I googled enough, but is it possible to remap all the controls? I saw that you can use a 360 remote to play some games, but I was wondering if I could even do stuff like play Mario Galaxy and map "waggle" to the X-button, and "point" to the right analog, or something like that.

edit: OMG, it looks like it is: http://forums.dolphin-emulator.com/s...d.php?tid=2870

This is incredible. I can turn Wii games that had motion controls forced into them into real games!

Super Mario Galaxy...I will save you!

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

One of these days I will end you!

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

But I love trolling you so much! :D

Re: Operation Rainfall
 

I'm at Eryth Sea, BaB. Area is tight as hell, loving it. Bitch wasn't lying when she said it was vast though, daaamn. Place is huge. Angrist, I think you would do pretty well with dolphin on that setup. Processor speed is the biggest aspect of running dolphin properly, and the more cores the better.

I play Xenoblade with my Xbox controller for Windows, works flawlessly.