That makes no sense at all.

They didn't release it because it's non-cano-*shot in the face.*

Again CERO C: for 15 and up. It's all about thinking of the children.

Anyway, what I said before isn't exactly my opinion. Certain Japanese fans think so. I'd imagine they have a better grasp of it.

I still don't think it makes sense. Japan has the Battle Royale movie (and book) featuring young teens killing each other throughout. Is it different because of the (spoilers) adults killing the children?

i really doubt its because of violence japan has some pretty crazy violent films(like audition) so its probably not that. Maybe they heard how bad it was and decided they didn't want it

The Japanese version of Resident Evil 4 was toned down from the American version, so it's not that surprising.

thats weird. are u sure, i mean isn't resident evil a japanese game?

Audition and most of Miike Takashi's films are not meant for children. Video games, though, usually take children into consideration, and violence is toned down. I consider myself thoroughly jaded but I still had to look away from Homecoming on occasion because I found the violence a bit disturbing.

Eh? Audition wasn't exactly "crazy violent"... And, I wouldn't exactly consider Takashi Miike a part of mainstream Japanese cinema.

Yes, but it's one of those Japanese-developed games that were released in the US first due to popularity (basically, unless it's an RPG it's not going to be as popular in Japan). Metal Gear Solid and Castlevania are two other series that have games that come to the West first.

And people say the Japanese companies don't do any favors for those of us living in the West...

Wow i had no idea that some japanese games came out in the america first. I swear if america would have released its games in japan before america i would be pissed and a little hurt lol

They have a lot of SH stuff we don't have many of or at all, so they can just deal with it lol (jk, jk..)

Seriously though they did get the awesome real-life nurses and p-head for the film's release.

I agree with you. Whenever I talk to students or my friends about gaming they only talk about there Wii, DS or PSP. The most popular games in Japan are the Monster Hunter and Dragon Quest series. However, It is wrong to assume Silent Hill was/is not popular in Japan, it is simply not true. Two of my co-workers have the first 3 silent hill games. I have met them a number of times and gone through the games with them. In its prime Silent Hill was huge, it was at the hight of its success when Silent Hill 2 was released. I bought SH:HH on its released and there were nothing but problems with the game on my Japanese playstation. I simply think they weighed up the effort which would take to be regionalized (language/ fixing the bugs) vs. the financial sense of such a venture. I personally dont feel that the game would be very popular here, to be honest it is not a very good game. It cant be for lack of popularity with regard to the horror genre as Forbidden Siren is pretty big here (ironic)

That been said alot of my students I have bought Origins.

But tell me something guys, did Homecoming sell well in North America and Europe? Or was it a flop like SH4?

I don't know but I loved sh ona new gen console.

I have a very strong feeling that it also has to do with the fact that Silent Hill: Homecoming almost didn't sell at all, even here in the United States. The move to a Western developer, and what little of the plot/changes in the game that were revealed in the interviews with the developers, were anathema to all of the hardcore fan base. And then, I think the hideous box art sealed the deal. Even though I don't hate it as much as I thought I would, I never would've picked it up if I hadn't read the plot analysis detailed here.

Not only is it not being released in Japan, but production of the game has also stopped completely. After being out for, what, only a year? The price dropped very fast for a next-generation game (in an effort to sell it), but then Konami cut all fiscal ties to the game, because in all reality, they were probably losing money from it. Hold on to your copies, folks. If you even care, that is.

I really don't blame them for not spending even more money on localization, only to have it sell even worse in Japan than it did here.

Wow I really had no idea it wasn't released in Japan. That's unbelievable.

Last I had heard from North America it sold like 200,000 units or less, so it was a flop in this country