Want to help localize Tales games in the west?

We’ve been in a situation lately. Since late 2008, the west hasn’t seen the release of any new Tales games while Japan has been flooded with release after release. It seems that every attempt to reach out to Namco Bandai on localizing these titles result in general “we haven’t announced anything” responses. That’s until just recently, of course.

Namco’s said in a recent statement that they’re currently “working with [their] Japan counterparts to determine if we’ll see US releases for these games”. This gives us hope, especially after Yuri Lowell voice actor Troy Baker confirmed that the cast went in for voice recording on the PlayStation 3 version of Tales of Vesperia, even mentioning the new character Patty Fleur.

While we’d like every Tales title to come to the US, we understand Namco Bandai’s financial situation. Here’s what we’d compensate with seeing arrive on our shores:

• Tales of Vesperia for PlayStation 3
• Tales of Graces F for PlayStation 3
• Untitled Tales for PlayStation 3

Three Tales games – one of which is supposedly already localized, if Troy Baker is to be believed. We picked the PlayStation 3 version of Tales of Graces due to the fact that like Tales of Vesperia on PlayStation 3, it’s most likely an improved port from the original version. Of course, the untitled Tales game for PlayStation 3 is the most important title of them all considering it’s brand-new developed from the ground up on a high-definition console.

Now, you’re probably wondering how you can help. There are two things you can do, and we suggest you do both if you really care about bringing these games over.

First: Tales Community forum member Eclisis has been running a survey since earlier this month on Tales localization. It’s already received over 2,600 responses but it obviously needs much more. Once enough surveys are sent in, the results will be sent to Namco Bandai. To make sure it goes to the right place, I’ve offered my help with sending it in. Fill out that survey here.

Second: Another idea the community has had is to have Sony publish PlayStation 3’s Tales titles in the west. There’s currently a PlayStation.Blog.Share idea running for that now. All you need is a PlayStation Network account to vote it up. Please do that here.

While Namco is “evaluating” which games they’ll bring to the US either way, showing your support in these surveys and ideas will only help them see how much Tales fans want these games in the US. If you really care, go ahead and complete these two tasks.