DS horror game Nanashi no Game stopped from getting international release due to focus groups...

[LordGeo]

Siliconera Article (http://www.siliconera.com/2011/03/28/nanashi-no-game-was-considered-for-north-america-focus-groups-killed-it/)

Why, you ask? Well here's why:
We talked to a focus group and they thought it wasn’t good for the market, so we didn’t do it. Maybe as a downloadable title it’s possible. The opinion was you couldn’t shoot anything. Maybe we shouldn’t have been too concerned about it.

And here is a prime example of how not to use a focus group. Obviously the people in this group are the kind of people who would have never bought Nanashi no Game in the first place. Therefore, this group's opinion was useless. Now if maybe the group was more varied or at very least was comprised of, oh I don't know, horror game players then maybe the response would have made more sense.

Oh, but this is Square-Enix we're talking about... Of course they won't use common sense.

[Suwako Moriya]

The fact that all it took was people griping about not being able to shoot stuff to get them to pass on a game is sort of hilarious. Also, kind of depressing. That and it almost sounds like more of an excuse than anything else.

As for Focus groups. I always considered them a gamble due to the fact you need to make sure they actually have potential to like what you're trying to sell in the first place.

[Shibi]

thats terrible. But this is so ridiculous that it sounds a bit like an early april fools prank.

[Betenoire]

Sounds like The Simpsons episode where Homer got Mel Gibson to re-write the movie because of his complaints.

[ape2020]

While I find the reasoning of the focus group humorous, I doubt the game would have done well her anyways. There what like half a dozen Mature games on the DS with GTA: Chinatown Wars being the most successful of the bunch. And it was considered a flop! Of courses if the game isn't M-rated then it would seem more a Thriller then horror.

-ape2020

[Johnny]

Ugh yeah, such a shame :( As I said on GAF, no amount of faceplams do this news justice.

[DeadlyMessiah]

Oh great, it is Fatal Frame for Wii all over again.

[Ryos]

Does anyone else see the irony in most people complain how formulaic Square Enix games are when these folks complained that this game was atypical?

[Suwako Moriya]

Does anyone else see the irony in most people complain how formulaic Square Enix games are when these folks complained that this game was atypical?

Actually, what I see is a strong reminder of the reality when it comes to complaints in regards to things like that. Be ready for the truth that's depressing.

You will get lashed at by X for trying to be "different". You will get lashed at Y for trying to do more of the same. Sometimes, X and Y turn out to be the same person. Or at least it's what I suspect.