We have official news on the NA release of DOD3! And they will release a special edition box with a bunch of goodies, although, it’s lacking some of the best goodies from the 10th anniversary box like the art books and scripts. Here’s some more information:
Pre-Order Drakengard 3 today exclusively at the SQUARE ENIX ONLINE STORE!
Street Date: 05/20/14
SHIPS EARLY FOR LAUNCH DAY DELIVERY
Only 5,000 copies of this exclusive item will be produced, so pre-order now to reserve your copy while supplies last! Pre-ordering this version also locks you in for three free bonus items:
1.) Japanese VO DLC
2.) Revealed on March 4th!
3.) Revealed on April 9th!
The Collector’s Edition also contains:
• Premium Packaging, featuring the Japanese Product Art
• The Complete Prequel Novella
• Soundtrack Sampler Disc
• Double-sided Collectible Poster
• DLC Code for the Caim Costume, based on the protagonist of Drakengard
• DLC Code for a prequel stage featuring Zero’s sister, One as a playable character
• DLC Code for the Giant Baby Hat
A prequel to the original Drakengard, Drakengard 3 transports players to a medieval world where six sisters wield special magical abilities as the “Intoners.” These sisters have brought peace to the earth with their power to manipulate magic through song. Harmony is disrupted, however, when the eldest sister, Zero, attempts to murder her younger sisters with the help of her dragon companion, Mikhail. As the story progresses, players find themselves in a battle to unravel the mystery of Zero and learn her true intentions.
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*Launch day delivery not guaranteed. Final product may vary
Wow, surprised it’s even getting a Collector’s Edition at all. When I first saw 2 discs on the promo pic, I was like – please be a bluray disc from 10th Anniversary Box… nope, would be too good to be true, it’s just a soundtrack sampler CD. Oh well, maybe I’ll find that bluray on JP auctions or something.
But hey, Japanese VO is totally FTW! Even if it’s a DLC, I’m glad we’re given that option at all.
As expected the books from 10th Anny Box didn’t get picked up for localization. That would be too much work. Besides Square Enix probably thinks that people in United States don’t read books so… and it’s true, we don’t.
Prequel Novella’s inclusion is nice though. Thanks SQEX.
Pre-ordered CE.
I don’t know why they cannot simply release a full international version of the soundtrack, among other things. Do you really think it has to do with copyright or is it solely due to production costs? 😛
Well, it all depends on what the publisher decided to do with it, I think. The copyright is not much of an issue since it’s not up to people who made the music to decide how & if it gets released. It’s owned by a publisher company, in this case Square Enix.
If they wanted to, they could release a 2CD soundtrack in all regions of the world at once, not just Japan. But stand alone soundtrack releases for JP games outside of Japan are still kinda rare, probably cause there isn’t much of demand for them.
Or they could include a bonus soundtrack CD with collector’s edition for each region. Physical releases of CE for Europe, US, JP.. they could make it happen. For example how Dead or Alive 5 did it.
It all comes down to production costs and whether they think is worth the effort for each region. Probably each branch looks at their budget and decides how they going to release stuff.
@MILO just look at all the statistics about adult literacy rates or look at the gamefaqs message board for Lightning Returns. People actually defend the terrible writing of the original XIII, or the responses you get from those who didn’t like the original game but can’t point to anything specific as being poorly done. I feel really bad for the EU folks. Apparently they’re not getting the CE and it really sucks that they’re getting shafted like that so hard.
Not gonna lie, I haven’t looked at gamefaqs board of Lightning Returns, but I know pretty well how discussions over there can go south. FF is not my thing, never really was. I did play XIII back when it came out, didn’t think much of it, never got far. The series have evolved into some kind of pop art that I just can’t stand. It’s like everything in that world is done for the sake of visual appeal, rather than some kind of logical that holds it together. Hence I don’t expect decent writing from it.
People who defend it probably like it for more obvious qualities, such as elaborate visuals and designs, I mean it’s Final Fantasy series – of course.
And when everything around you is so pretty the other flaws such as bad writing can be forgiven… or can it?
“It’s like everything in that world is done for the sake of visual appeal, rather than some kind of logical that holds it together. Hence I don’t expect decent writing from it.”
Yeah, this is usually when I bail. I have nothing against the visuals in FF–it is quite beautiful, but when it comes at the expense of good writing and dynamic characters, sorry… As a writer, I cannot honestly pay into that hype. Especially when this seems to be more desired than a unique, well-constructed storyline.
I haven’t played anything after FFVIII and I don’t have much interest in playing anything else…but some of those visuals in FFXV do look very delicious…
Yeah, digital distribution only for the PAL regions;
http://eu.square-enix.com/en/blog/drakengard-3-ps3-releasing-may-21#comments
It would be genuinely great if somebody could explain the potential logic behind this, a FIGS localisation issue maybe? If it’s an indication they don’t think it’s going to sell then why even waste the resources on any form of EU release?
Don’t want to be petulant and still gratefully shocked we’re getting anything at all but as SE NA excludes shipping to Europe they’ve created a captive market where I literally can’t give them money. Still Drakengard 3 though, woooooo!!
Thanks for the awesome site and resources!
To answer your question – “if they don’t think it will sell then why even waste the resources on any form of EU release?” – They probably think it will sell but not enough to justify physical costs. Digital release is easy, not much is wasted here.
The thing is – there’s still enough time till release day, so perhaps with enough public outcry they will have to take a note of it and adjust their decisions.