As a 12th year anniversary, Super Mario RPG is finally released on Wii Virtual Console online.

The game is infamous for it's RPG elements mixed with Mario and widely regarded as one of the best SNES titles released during the end of the lifetime of the SNES.

But here's the kicker - the game was never released in Europe - there's only the Japanese and an NTSC version of game cartridge. The game got released on the Wii in Europe making it the biggest time difference between different reigions, in the history of videogames.

When I said that usually Europe gets the little leftovers, scraps, bits 'n pieces that's left after being released in Japan and US first - and that the little breadcrumbs we get are sold for outrageous prices - I wasn't kidding. That's if we're even that lucky that the game gets a PAL-version at all.

How this game eluded the entire continent of Europe just baffles me. I've learned to accept some regional differences when it comes to launch titles - but this absolutely fucking rediculous.

You guys get the crappy over priced scarps? Look at Australia!!

Get games of ebay.

If the American econamy collapses (REALLY UNLIKELY) then MAYBE Microsoft will move to Australia.

How much is it on Wii? BUY IT! I still have my copy of that game. Great game. Sucks ass that you guys never got it, but you have it now. Besides, what else are you going to play on your Wii when Force Unleashed gets old?

I think loads of Europeans hate Harmonix at the moment, especially owners of PS2s, PS3s and Wiis because of the nearly-a-year wait for Rock Band to come out in PAL territories. Also, as much of a Megaman fan I may be, Japan managed to get Megaman Starforce 2 before we even got number one, it took over 6 months for Starforce 2 to be released in US, and we still haven't got it yet (thank god a shop had it imported from the US)

hey that sounds good. I thought some titles wouldn't even come here on Virtual Console, because they never got a real pal release

We do get horribly screwed in stores , sure, but STEAM had the rockstar pack for download this weekend for $35+tax, that's about £23.

GTA 1,2,3, VC,SA, Manhunt, Max Payne 1 and 2, Midnight Club and Wild Metal, for £23?

There's bargains to be had, while the pound is so strong!

Ugh, don't even get me started on Rock Band.
The game has started to flop already before it's been released - mainly do to the fact that the hardware for it is rediculously expensive ($300) and that's even if you're lucky enough to get it imported.

Also, I think things like Steam will make games easier to release across the world, so we should see less of waiting a year for a release, or never seeing one, in the case of the first Katamari game. ( tho I know it won't help console gaming.)

Fortunately it does all balance out. After all we get to live in the land of socialised medicine, education and welfare provision whilst also having complete (near enough) freedom of expression and a liberal society.

If we have to sacrifice a few late game releases I think I'll survive.

Considering that the European games industry is massively bigger than the US one, and Europe generates plenty of titles that are released late or not at all in the US and elsewhere, I'd say it balances out.

Besides, forgive me for saying this, but I find it difficult to care about a Mario JRPG anyway.

SenseOfTumour:
We do get horribly screwed in stores , sure, but STEAM had the rockstar pack for download this weekend for $35+tax, that's about £23.

GTA 1,2,3, VC,SA, Manhunt, Max Payne 1 and 2, Midnight Club and Wild Metal, for £23?

There's bargains to be had, while the pound is so strong!

Prices on Steam are altered according to the region of the user. For example, Europeans pay $20 more for Call of Duty 4 and $25 more for Bioshock . I used to think everything on Steam was deal of the century until I found out about the price fixing.

In answer to the OP, surely the worst example of European release silliness has to be the Xeno-franchise. They don't release Xenogears or Xenosaga: Episode 1 over here, yet for some reason they do decide to release Xenosaga: Episode 2. Then, when it doesn't sell well (surprise surprise), they refuse to release Xenosaga: Episode 3.

AngryMan:

Besides, forgive me for saying this, but I find it difficult to care about a Mario JRPG anyway.

Second.

Mario game? Meh
with RPG elements and guaranteed stupid story? I'm breathless with not giving a crap.

Most of the titles we miss out on are not my cup of proverbial tea, so I cry no tears for them! Although Virtua-On would have been nice for my pal dreamcast, it's just not a big deal.

AngryMan:
Besides, forgive me for saying this, but I find it difficult to care about a Mario game anyway.

Fixed and seconded. I liked Mario games, before they remade it 50 million billion times with different names and gimmicks dressing the same core.

And yeah, Australia has a LOT more to complain about it. They're practically a gaming ghetto: More expensive games, far longer release dates, they're pretty much screwed online cause they get shit ping EVERYWHERE and they have complete pillocks in charge who ban games for no good reason, unless you consider ego-circle-jerks a good reason, which I don't.

Well Its Not As Bad As The Aussie "Situation"

Hmm, anyone know how Israel does regarding game releases. I just now realized, it's probably not good. If I have to stay in the US just so I can get games...Damn. No one thinks about little old Israel. Maybe if they took over Syria people would pay more attention.

Israel is Region 2 so I would imagine most games are available close to the European PAL release date.

The reason Australians are so hard done by is because they practically have their own DVD region.

Ya know, I never understood the region issue, ESPECIALLY for digital distribution.

I almost feel lucky to be in NA. Almost.

Yeah, not to mention they absolutely hate Australia's guts. You can probably count how many games were released in Japan & PAL or just PAL on one hand.

I don't know what you people did to piss off the gaming industry, but I'd say it's time to move.

Nintendo and it's European fans have a sado-masochistic relationship. They do nothing but cause us pain, and we want more from them.

I actually have a place local that has a second hand american PS3 with rockband...

UK resident here.

Meanwhile I am glad this is finally on release in Europe but I already have my NTSC cartidge, with machine, imported.

rossatdi:
Fortunately it does all balance out. After all we get to live in the land of socialised medicine, education and welfare provision whilst also having complete (near enough) freedom of expression and a liberal society.

If we have to sacrifice a few late game releases I think I'll survive.

Your talking about England?

Ya may have a point , Harhol, but still, Steam has some fine bargains compared with going to GAME or the like.

Same goes for play, amazon, and many other online stores.

My love for games is what will keep me living in North America

CyberAkuma:
As a 12th year anniversary, Super Mario RPG is finally released on Wii Virtual Console online.

The game is infamous for it's RPG elements mixed with Mario and widely regarded as one of the best SNES titles released during the end of the lifetime of the SNES.

But here's the kicker - the game was never released in Europe - there's only the Japanese and an NTSC version of game cartridge. The game got released on the Wii in Europe making it the biggest time difference between different reigions, in the history of videogames.

"Old game was never released in Europe. Downloadable Wii version available in Europe." That kinda sounds more like an example of Europe being ignored in the past but now getting attention.

-- Alex

Well, time to wait for the Wii to cough up some more furballs to break the record.

How about Xenosaga 1?
That never got released. (I think that one even got an Australian release.)
I bet it'll be here in 2020.

Coming from the fighting game community, we're all very familiar with hacking consoles and importing stuff for exactly this reason. Everybody went haywire over FF5 back in the day in the US. Here stuff like that is business as usual.

That kinda sounds more like an example of Europe being ignored in the past but now getting attention.

Only now getting attention because it would look stupid if they blocked the game for an European release.
Maybe nintendo finally realized they couldn't do that, and of course, that they would lose out on all the delicious money of the people that never got to play the game all those years ago.

I'm just sayin' that examples of recent games not making it to Europe on time or ever would be a better illustration of the point.

-- Alex

Alex_P:
I'm just sayin' that examples of recent games not making it to Europe on time or ever would be a better illustration of the point.

-- Alex

Rock Band for starters.

RELEVANCE!!