While social networking and Web 2.0 have caused many a misanthropic headache (see Jonathon's weekly Fanboy Friday posts, for example), Twitter and Facebook can certainly be useful. On the rather heavy side of the spectrum, ther're great outlets for political dissent in (ahem) restrictive countries like Guatemala or Iran; on the lighter side, Orange Lounge Radio have harnessed Twitter in a grassroots effort to get Jorudan's Sukeban Shachou Rena Wii localized for Western markets.
Affectionately called President Cat, Sukeban Shachou Rena is an obscure Japanese title (of course) about Rena, the mascot of popular blog Nekopunch and CEO of the fictional Cat Queen, Inc. You play as an entry-level feline trying to work her way to the top, completing tasks to earn Rena's respect. Depending on how realistic the game is, those tasks might include making my entire apartment smell like catsh*t, stepping on my keyboard as my computer boots up (and entering DOS prompts that don't exist), and leaving the gallbladders of tiny creatures on my kitchen table.
At least, that's what my cat Tristan does.
Anyway, OLR (@olr) has started Tweeting about the game with the #presidentcat hashtag, and fans are catching on. The Rena account (@renawii) has started responding in both Japanese and English although they seem a little confused about all the positive feedback from us gaijin.
On the one hand, I'd love for a tiny, quirky game like Sukeban Shachou Rena Wii to make it to the United States. On the other, talking about the game on Twitter is a lot different than paying $40 to be a cat secretary. I'd hate for developer Jorudan to go through the trouble (and money) of localizing the game, only to have it rot in American bargain bins.
P.S. The game hits Japanese shelves tomorrow. All hail President Cat!
[Via Joystiq]
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9:30 PM on 10.21.2009
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