Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Fatal Frame shuttered in US, EU

  • By Staff, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 10, 2009 2:25 pm PT

Tecmo confirms that Nintendo has declined to publish Grasshopper-developed horror game outside Japan.

The success of Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition and House of the Dead: Overkill have shown that there's a place for horror games on Nintendo's latest system. Unfortunately, Nintendo is apparently unconvinced of that, given that Tecmo has confirmed to GameSpot that Nintendo has declined to publish the Wii installment of its survival horror franchise Fatal Frame in North America and Europe.

Fatal Frame is nothing if not spooky.

Fatal Frame is nothing if not spooky.

"Nintendo holds the publishing rights to Fatal Frame Wii, which was developed by Tecmo LTD. and Grasshopper Manufacture and released in Japan on July 31, 2008," Tecmo said in a statement. "Nintendo of America has since then decided not to publish the title in North America--consequently, the title will not be released in this territory. As the owner of the IP, Tecmo feels very unfortunate that the fans of the series in North America will not have a chance to play the game, but respects the final decision made by Nintendo of America."

As with previous Fatal Frame games, the Wii edition drops players into ghost-infested environments with a magic camera as their only defense. Players can damage the threatening phantoms by taking pictures of them. The longer a spectre is held in the frame before the picture is snapped, the more damage it does, and a limited amount of special film serves as "ammunition" for the game.

As of press time, Nintendo had not returned a request for comment on the decision not to publish Fatal Frame Wii in the West, or whether it would consider selling the rights to another company.

190 Comments

  • lamprey263

    Posted Jul 26, 2010 6:10 pm GMT

    why the hell did Tecmo ever give Nintendo control of publishing this in the first place?!

  • big_boss1988

    Posted Jan 19, 2010 6:28 pm GMT

    why the hell go nintendo when u got sony or micrpsoft

  • sumo1973

    Posted Jan 10, 2010 2:05 am GMT

    I'd rather have wiimusic 2 cancelled.

  • sumo1973

    Posted Jan 10, 2010 2:03 am GMT

    @kryton_brown> The link you are talking about came from a French magazine from 2008. This advert said that the game was indeed on its way to Europe in 2009, but it was quickly retracted and now Nintendo has said the game was on its way, but has been cancelled. Temco then said :
    "It is regrettable that Nintendo has decided to not publish 'Project Zero' for Wii at this time. But the only thing we can do is respect the company's decision no matter what reason they have". I'm disappointed that this game isn't coming out in North America or Europe but I'm more disappointed that this game has already been produced and that Nintendo can't sort things out to allow someone else to publish it if they can't over here.

  • kryton_brown

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 1:08 pm GMT

    Fatal Frame 4 looks to be getting a UK release in Feb 2010 and a North American release has been sort of confirmed see links below (copy and paste if not clickable). Feb UK confirmation - http://www.aussie-nintendo.com/forum/showthread.php?s=34910b4060ef919a39caa8e9c1b2db3e&p=399742#post399742 North America vague confirmation - http://www.gamegrep.com/rumor/16143-fatal_frame_iv_is_coming_to_the_us_sometime_soon/

  • Visa004

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 10:36 pm GMT

    it totally blows when original titles like fatal frame for the ps2 and xbox is ported to the wii and declined. what the fusk is wrong with them?

  • btlgearx

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 9:54 pm GMT

    i still have all the 3 fatal frame games and i was thinking to buy a wii just for this game. and then this happens. they should've just gave the rights to get it developed on the ps3 or 360. this series isn't advertised at all like those other big games but it has a solid fan base. i have loved all 3 games they've released on the ps2. they should've just considered that there are fans of this game that are waiting for it to be released outside japan.

  • sun_and_earth

    Posted Nov 28, 2009 2:00 pm GMT

    Figures. Good games for the Wii are in short supply. Is Nintendo afraid of money or something?

  • Love-Hina

    Posted Nov 24, 2009 12:02 am GMT

    I think wii is ok. but Tecmo shorn't gave the Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse it to Nintendo Wii. Fatal Frame games was only on Sony PlayStation 2 and Micosoft Xbox and it short of went to Sony Playstation 3 and Micosoft Xbox 360.
    I'm not saying that Nintendo Wii is bad but the Fatal Frame games as been on PS2 and Xbox for years. but i don't know how it will be good on a Nintendo Wii ?

  • santinegrete

    Posted Nov 23, 2009 8:00 pm GMT

    What the f*** is Reggie Fils Aime thinking?

  • chano7

    Posted Nov 12, 2009 5:50 pm GMT

    this is like give a kick in the ... to all the loyal fans of great videogames because there are people who don´t like this system and only buy for Special games like this or Tatsunoko and give it a cancellation this is big f%&(( jocke

  • GameShark9000

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 7:17 am GMT

    I'll say it is a safe guess that anyone at Nintendo of America that has any business-wise talent, or at least cared a little bit about the fans that supported them for more than 20 years, had fled the company due to a sudden yet huge wave of hired-by-sony/microsoft retards that come up with business decisions via throwing crayons into a fire burning printer paper.

  • xraystar

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 12:48 pm GMT

    Nintendo, now you know why the sales for Wii have stalled - because of crap like this. Don't forget it's the avid gamer that made you who you are - gamers who grew up playing NES and SNES!

  • Kleeyook

    Posted Nov 1, 2009 8:52 am GMT

    Nintendo sucks! Please don't support Wii! We must make them realize that us gamers aren't just kids who'll only play their childish games!
    The Grudge come out but not Fatal Frame 4.

  • evil_snuffkin

    Posted Oct 30, 2009 3:17 pm GMT

    After so many budget kids games, keeping console prices high for the uk when they're being lowered for the rest of the world and now refusing to make great games like this availible world wide I'm feeling pretty sick of Nintendo. I've probably played about every decent game they'll ever bring out so selling my Wii for a PS3 is looking pretty sensible right now.

  • Guuthulhu

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 11:43 pm GMT

    I had been hoping for a new Fatal Frame game for quite awhile now, and when I saw this, my heart fluttered only to break from disappointment. There's just not enough good horror titles and it seems really stupid that they should make such a decision. If I didn't already have a Wii, I'd have bought one just to play this game. Ugh.

  • Dshenlong

    Posted Oct 20, 2009 1:29 am GMT

    Really...you allow Cursed Mountain and The Grudge to come out but not this game, which is actually good? Someone should slap Reggie Phils Aims

  • GameShark9000

    Posted Oct 2, 2009 1:04 pm GMT

    @ kiramaski

    I hope Tecmo dosen't cut ties with Nintendo considering Team Ninja is making the next Metriod.

  • strike_77

    Posted Sep 18, 2009 8:15 am GMT

    would've been a good game.

  • strike_77

    Posted Sep 18, 2009 8:13 am GMT

    Nintendo is so unfair.this is one of the reasons people are trying illegal things (e.g. creating a translation patch and selling it in the Internet.)and also...JUST BECAUSE THE GAME IS IN A JAPANESE SETTING DOES NOT MEAN THAT GAMERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WILL NOT APPRECIATE IT!!!!!EVEN WE IN THE PHIL. LIKE THIS GAME!!!I CAN'T BELIEVE NINTENDO!!!IF TECMO WANTS TO SAVE THE SERIES FROM EXTINCTION THEY SHOULD MAKE THE GAME FOR SONY AND MICROSOFT CONSOLES AGAIN (PS2,PS3,XBOX,XBOX 360....PC,maybe?)!!!!!

  • 143C5

    Posted Sep 9, 2009 3:52 am GMT

    Wow that's sucks.... I hope they'll make an english this time next year or this year....

  • QtrArt

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 6:39 am GMT

    I think they do english next year dont all be sad

  • silveraddiction

    Posted Sep 1, 2009 1:43 pm GMT

    Lets learn japanese tho! lol

  • GameShark9000

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 7:31 am GMT

    This isn't Nintendo's [as a whole] fault, I blame NoA. It's obvious that they don't care about the fans that get margenilized just for them. But just like with Mother 3 they are too scared as in the pee-my-pants zone of lossing money when they have more money than a bank. I understand that this is a business but they are going to far! I say since they are to stubborn to listen to our hate mail we should launch the entire staff on a rocket to pluto since nethier Nintendo and it's fans will find rest untill they leave the planet! It is expensive, but it's for a good cost.

  • GameShark9000

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 7:18 am GMT

    Is NoA drunk?

  • Bballplaya8217

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 10:18 pm GMT

    Big mistake from Nintendo.

    The only thing that would be to argue the decision would be the sales in North America from previous titles. However, there would lie another argument that Temco and the Fatal Frame series has Never to my eye been advertised. I have Never seen one commercial depicting this game, and even though it is not heard of by many, everybody that DOES know this title has had a great time with it.

    Again, huge mistake by Nintendo, as this game is the hands down best in its class.

  • Claudu

    Posted Jun 17, 2009 9:23 pm GMT

    And I was wondering why this game still isn't around, I thought it was still in development... Nintendo sucks! I was thinking about buying a Wii for a long time now for a few games and Fatal Frame (Project Zero here in Europe) was one of them. There are still a few nice titles on the Wii, but I won't buy the console just to give Sucktendo my "screw you" vote on this one.

  • rynmls

    Posted Jun 17, 2009 5:32 pm GMT

    sad:-(

  • BlackenedSky719

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 3:05 pm GMT

    I think with this news I will be selling my Wii. This is ridiculous, I no longer even have a reason to have a Wii. The Wii is nothing but a joke and now I'm done. I'm pretty sure I'm done with Nintendo too.

    Fatal Frame fans---- e-mail Nintendo let them know what you think of this.

    http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/webform.jsp

  • Myke_Divino_8

    Posted May 28, 2009 8:33 pm GMT

    Inconsistent, Self-Centered A****! I would have bought myself a Wii just for this game. Techmo, has no idea how much of a loss they have.

  • Artivash

    Posted May 27, 2009 2:06 am GMT

    Respect their decision my a**.
    If they'd have given a decent reason, then maybe.
    But just a "no" and nothing else on the matter as to WHY exactly?
    Sorry, not good enough...
    At this point I hope Nintendo chokes and dies.
    What little respect I ever had for them is gone at this point.

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted May 25, 2009 6:28 pm GMT

    I am extremely disappointed. I would have bought this game without question....

  • supatips

    Posted May 25, 2009 6:12 am GMT

    Seems foolish that nintendo have declined to bring this game to the US or EU

    I am a fan of the series and am dissapointed that I wont get to play this particular installment (importing is out of the question for me due to language barriers) Nintendo should see sense and release it or let somone else do it

  • kiramasaki

    Posted May 24, 2009 6:42 am GMT

    another great move by nintendo, if i was tecmo id cut ties with them regarding any other games in this series - youd sell more games on the xbox and ps3, as 2 of the other 3 were multi platform

  • KillerOttsel

    Posted May 24, 2009 6:26 am GMT

    This game's graphics actually look really good.

  • Highblood89

    Posted May 23, 2009 5:51 am GMT

    Okay, Nintendo. This was a really clever move! *huge sarcasm* Many would have bought a Wii only for this game! Wow, Nintendo, you would have got 200, maybe 400, maybe even 1000 Dollars (or whatever currency) just because of that, and if you, Nintendo, would have been the publisher of this game, you would also have got some "extra money".

    I thought the Virtual Boy (VB) was Nintendo's worst move, now I think I was wrong... *sigh* I was really excited, not to say "hyped" for this game and now it doesn't come out in the EU and US. >_>

  • Marcster1994

    Posted May 22, 2009 1:49 pm GMT

    You know what? Someone needs to go to E3 and when Nintendo has their conference, they yell out."Brung Fatal Frame 4 to North America!"

  • GodlikeZidane

    Posted May 22, 2009 7:45 am GMT

    Any one think Nintendo has too much power yet? They just middle-fingered eaisly the scarist game franchise for the entire west... I sware, I just wanna go to E3 and uppercut the entire Nintendo booth...lol

  • YoJim8obaJoe posted May 20, 2009 3:21 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    YoJim8obaJoe

    Posted May 20, 2009 3:21 am GMT (hide)

    hope this gets released on PSN or 360 marketplace,cant imagine the game being a storage hog if it on the poo i mean wee

  • Dark152

    Posted May 14, 2009 6:37 am GMT

    I sent a message to Nintendo regarding this game. I truly hope they will read it, because it's a stupid decision not publish it in North America. It's like they are forgetting the true power of the games: have fans to play and enjoy them. The entertainment in kiddie games is over! C'mon, WII WANT FATAL FRAME 4!!!

  • vomer

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 10:16 am GMT

    Slightly off topic: It's nice to see Nintendo are still capable of getting excited about the survival horror genre, with the upcoming Wii remakes of Silent Hill and Resident Evil. That said, am I likely to want to stump up £40 to play a game that I completed nearly 10 years ago on the PS1, just because this version's got better graphics and a different control system? Probably not, to be honest. Trying to remember why I bought a Wii, because it all seems a bit pointless right now.

  • xangel_of_doomx

    Posted Apr 27, 2009 11:23 am GMT

    I bought a Wii JUST for this game. Sure the Wii is great and all, but I only bought it for the release of Fatal Frame IV. I own I-III and I even have a extra copy of I, well I have I for the Xbox and for the PS2. I know I've been wanting to learn Japanese since the release of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix I and II, but this is stupid! The one game that would really give Nintendo money is this game since it is so popular by all the fans. I hope Nintendo reconsiders because I probably will likely sell all my Nintendo products and stick strictly to Sony and MicroSoft.

  • BlueFlameBat

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 10:59 am GMT

    Tecmo may respect Nintendo's final decision, but I don't.

  • lyhthegreat

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 11:14 am GMT

    lol,not just japanese,but "advance japanese" so as to be able to read all the folklores and scrolls easily to fully understand and enjoy the game.

  • FatalEternity

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 5:43 am GMT

    That is what they said after I said this, "
    Why won't you release Fatal Frame IV in North America? You are making a HUGE mistake. You might as well let them release it onto the PS3. I am getting tired of Japan getting all the good games. Do we honestly have to learn Japanese just to play this game?" Lol

  • FatalEternity

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 5:42 am GMT

    Hello, At this time, Nintendo has no plans to publish Fatal Frame. Your feedback regarding this game is important to us, so I’ll make sure to pass along your comments to the appropriate department. If we get further information about this title, we will post it to our website (www.nintendo.com), so make sure to keep checking for all the latest news as it becomes available. Sincerely, R.M. Ricketts
    Nintendo of America Inc.

  • lyhthegreat

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 1:50 am GMT

    nah,i dont' think nintendo has the time to read your mails about bringing an already canceled game back,even if they would,they wont be able to any thing about it as it's only the staffs that will be reading the complaints,the final decision still lies with the higher ranking nintendo staffs.

  • lyhthegreat

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 1:12 am GMT

    I have to words to say to nintendo after what they have done to one of my favourite game "F.U"and i really mean it..

  • Dshenlong

    Posted Apr 19, 2009 3:15 pm GMT

    http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/webform.jsp

    If anyone really wants to complain about this stupid decision why not fill out this comment/suggestion form and send it directly to nintendo. Maybe if enough people show how disgusted they are by this decision, they'll change their mind. Or not. But it's worth a try. This is such a great game series, it doesn't deserved to be held up by NINTENDO of all companies.

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!