Mason said:
On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise me if they were dropped over here too, because it means extra effort for them to have two seperate English language versions.
Including Streets Of Rage into the European release of Sonic Gems Collection would not mean 'extra effort' for an alteranate English language version. There will be two different English language versions of Sonic Gems Collection, with or without Streets Of Rage in the European release.
Europe is a completely different territory, with a different TV system (PAL/SECAM as opposed to America's NTSC), and obviously many different languages. Including or not including three games which have all already recieved full European releases (thereby not needing translation from Japanese anyway) will not increase or decrease any 'effort' needed on SEGA's part. It should be little more than a simple case of getting the European ROM for Streets Of Rage, and popping it onto the GameCube disc.
I think that we will see the proper version of Sonic Gems Collection. However, there is the risk that SEGA will see Europe as just another western market like America, and give us the same package as the USA, just to avoid confusion. Or Something. Which I doubt. SEGA are, traditionally, lovers of Europe. Europe has been very kind to SEGA over the years, and SEGA has been very kind in return.
SEGA knows (or should do) that Europe was the Megadrive's strongest territory through the entire 16-bit era (it really kicked the SNES's arse, over here). The Megadrive held a consistant 75% of the European market during it's entire duration. Streets Of Rage was one of the machine's flagship games, and is easily one of the most popular in Europe.
SEGA knows this, and knows that not giving Europe Streets Of Rage (seminal Megadrive game, in the mind of any European gamer you're likely to find) in a Megadrive 'Gems' collection of sorts, would go a long way to killing it's appeal. People will be like "Where's Streets Of Rage?!". People will not flock to the collection half as much without the 'Rage.
It's explainable in America, as the Genesis (US name for the Megadrive) had a very poor showing in that territory, where it failed to tempt gamers away from their NES's, and then faded into obscurity once the SNES came along and dominated the American market. US gamers or far less likely to care about the 'Rage being missing (or even know what it is, in some of the younger or more casual gamers). Therefore, this move from SEGA is just an attempt at giving the collection maximum opportunity to sell in America. Anyone will be able to buy it, now.
In Europe, the inclusion of Streets Of Rage will make the collection fly off shelves. Even casual gamers in Europe have heard of Streets Of Rage. It was a major part of our childhood (if you where a child through the 90's)! Megadrive's where in most households up and down the country, and across Europe. In our territory, they needn't worry about a rating denting sales (it will not carry a BBFC rating, only the meaningless PEGI guidance rating). And even if it did, the mere fact that Streets Of Rage would feature would make people buy the game regardless.
I've gone on way too big of a rant there, sorry Mason. You get my point, however- There is nothing stopping SEGA including Streets Of Rage into our 'Gems (ie; 'Rage will not earn it a BBFC rating), and there is every reason for including it. SEGA pretty much have to include Streets Of Rage 1 through 3 on the PAL version of Sonic Gems Collection, and I'm pretty certain that they will
EDIT: Corrected slight grammer errors.
[ Edited by Oni-Ninja on 2005/7/8 4:06 ]