[quote=“Rune Lai”]
It’s likely not a question or retaining rights so much as they probably don’t have them. I’m sure that the original agreement for the first game would not extend to any future releases. That wouldn’t be good business on Sega’s part. (For one thing, if WD ever went out of business the rights would have gone into limbo.) It’s possible WD might have once had something along the lines of a “right of first offer [to localize the series],” but if so they probably lost it when they passed on Dragon Force II.[/quote]
You seem to be quite knowledgeable in this department, so I will take your word for it.
I remember when Dragon Force was initially localized. Magazines described games like Dragon Force as titles belonging to a “niche market” as if RPGs weren’t worthwhile games in the least. I’m glad those days are long gone.
I have no idea what Sega of America was thinking when it annoyed Working Designs to the point where it cut all ties with Sega. What kind of a company antagonizes another company that specialises in localizing Japanese RPGs? Anyone who thinks Camelot stopped making games for Sega because it’s too busy making games for Nintendo is in for a shock too.
The dreamer in me hopes that Sega will compile Dragon Force 1 and 2 (not to mention Shining Force III parts 1, 2 and 3) on a single disk for the Playstation 2, but the realist in me doubts that day will ever come.
They would make great Sega Ages titles that’s for sure. Also, the 2D graphics in both Dragon Force games have stood the test of time quite well.