Steel Empire Chronicles (NSW & PS4)

[Neorebel]

I can't believe how long I've been waiting for Steel Empire Chronicles & Rainbow Cotton. I don't buy from SLG very often...

So is it the case that they don't move these titles into production until they sell out, and if the titles aren't as at all as popular as predicted that's the reason it takes YEARS?

[Jonpachi]

Came to say I just got the import version ;p

[TransatlanticFoe]

I can't believe how long I've been waiting for Steel Empire Chronicles & Rainbow Cotton. I don't buy from SLG very often...

So is it the case that they don't move these titles into production until they sell out, and if the titles aren't as at all as popular as predicted that's the reason it takes YEARS?

No it takes years because they ran out of money and hid the fact, blaming "market conditions" - during which time their parent company ININ were still able to get retail releases out. They're still relying on new orders to bankroll things in the production queue and, while they aren't openly admitting it, PS4 production times are faster (for whatever reason) so they're getting those done first. They haven't put out anything on Switch for ages.

[ojijo]

Came to say I just got the import version ;p

Does it have English?

Looks like standalone game doesn't: https://store-jp.nintendo.com/item/soft ... 0000057260

[Jonpachi]

Came to say I just got the import version ;p

Does it have English?

Looks like standalone game doesn't: https://store-jp.nintendo.com/item/soft ... 0000057260

The package includes:
Steel Empire HD Remake - JP
Steel Empire Genesis - ENG
Steel Empire Advance - ENG
Steel Empire Megadrive - JP
Steel Empire Advance - JP
Over Horizon - ENG

All of the menus and UI elements in the HD Remake are in English, but the attract cutscenes are in Japanese. You get full English roms for the other versions of the game (and Over Horizon).

[evil_ash_xero]

So, is SLG holding up the digital release of SEC for PSN?

Or are the people porting it having technical difficulties? It seems absurd... but hey, supposedly
you gotta have PS5 power for Armed Police Batrider. So, who knows?

[TransatlanticFoe]

In short, probably - the only release so far is physical and digital in Japan on Switch.

There isn't a Japan PS4 release for Steel Empire Chronicles, so it'll probably only drop digitally when the physical release happens. It is one they've said they're starting production for - but only the PS4 one.

[evil_ash_xero]

Maybe we'll see it in a couple of years. Maybe. I'm looking at my order for the cart of Over Horizon, from April 12, 2023.

[TransatlanticFoe]

Arrived in the post today! Gave it a quick spin.

Split into two games on the Switch menu - Steel Empire remake and "Steel Empire Classics".

The modern remake is entirely in Japanese, but who really needs a story anyway? Obviously ININ have held the translations back (the remake got a standalone release AGES ago) to discourage importing in favour of Strictly Limited's fucking whenever version.

The Classics collection is Over Horizon, Steel Empire MD (Japanese and USA versions), Steel Empire GBA (Japanese and USA versions). No PAL poverty's Empire of Steel though This collection has English or Japanese language settings for the menu, then the games are entirely native JP or English language.

Edit: Steel Empire GBA is like a spiritual successor to Kyukyokyu Tiger MD - damn it's claustrophobic!

[Jonpachi]

Obviously ININ have held the translations back (the remake got a standalone release AGES ago) to discourage importing in favour of Strictly Limited's fucking whenever version.

It's quite a pathetic little carrot to dangle isn't it? You can already read the full text in the older versions, and there's nothing going on here narratively that warrants some new translation to fix up plot holes or bad dialogue like an old RPG. It's just a few paper-thin lines of context and you're good to go.