Why Online Petitions Don't/Won't Work.

Before I say anything, I love Japan. I love what Sega is doing. And I love you Brad.

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, The Online Petition for Yakuza 3 won't work. As much as I am an optimist and like to believe and have Hope, this is a lost cause. Sega won't care how many people sign it. Actually, they will care, but we won't be able to get the numbers they would want. The problem is not that people don't care about the game. It's not that Sega wouldn't like to know that there are people excited about their game.

The reason why it won't work is because the numbers are skewed. By an online petition you cannot tell how many people are actually going to support the game by purchasing it, which is all that matters. First off, there can be tampering with. People can sign twice or even more. They can get friends, parents, relatives, family pets, whoever to help boost numbers. People will sign their name just because it's a good cause, not because they'll actually get their ass off the
couch to do something about it. It's the same reason why companies like GameStop require a 5 dollar deposit to reserve a game. It's enough of an investment that a person won't just reserve whatever it is unless they're actually interested in it or plan on picking it up. So instead of having a person add their name to a list because it's free and requires minimal effort, they actually have to put some sort of sacrifice.

So back to the petition, it's just a list of names. It might as well be a list of people who went to the grocery store last week. It's full of empty promises and faceless liars. Sega will take the time to translate the game, release it game here, and less than half of those people will actually buy it. Shame on you for lying to Sega. I bet two thirds of the people on that list don't even own a Playstation 3.

Then there is the other side. For all the people who signed the Petition and don't follow through, there are twice as many who haven't signed it because they don't know about it. Or worse, they won't think it will work. They've lost hope. Don't believe in the cause. Whatever, they don't believe. It looks bad guys. There is a big chance this game won't make it here. A lot of times it's easier and less disappointing to not try. Who wants to look like an idiot trying and then failing?

I'm an optimist. I'm not one to give up or one to say things won't work. I didn't write this post to discourage you. I want this game here. If not for me then for everyone else. I'll tell you how to get this game here. I can even guarantee that it will happen. Do you hear me? I can guarantee that we will get Yakuza 3 here translated for the PS3.

There are three ways Sega will release Yakuza 3 here.

A. Yakuza 2 sold extremely well or they can find a way to cheaply translate it and
cheaply distribute it, ie. PSN.

B. The Petition list goes way crazy and you get everyone in China to sign it. Those
are the kind of numbers it would need.

C. We do something different to make Sega see that their is actually a demand, not a want,
not a desire, but demand here for the game.

And here are the answers.

A. Pray to the heavens and hope for a miracle.

B. You've signed the Petition? You think you've done your part? Fuck you.
Get twenty more people to sign it and then sign it twenty more times yourself.
Then start to think that you might have begun to do your part.

C. We start a Sega Benefit Foundation. We start making the money to cover the costs of translating the game. Basically we pay Sega to bring the game here. I've divided it up into three different tier listings.

$1 Donations - There are just general donations. These will not be refunded and will be
sent to Sega strictly for covering costs to bring Yakuza 3 here. Anyone can
donate but that's it. Minimal risk, Minimal loss, but huge possibilities.

$5 Donations - Lottery. You're not sure that you want the game? Well 5 bucks can win you a copy. I haven't figured out exactly how many copies we'll give away. I think that more depends on how many people are in. The more people the more chances.

Full Paid - This is for people who will completely pay off Yakuza 3 here. You are basically giving Sega the money now for your copy of the game later. These will be fully refunded provided that somehow we aren't able to get Yakuza 3 here.

It seems like a big task. I don't know if any of you are up for it. But we need help if we're going to accomplish it, just as Yakuza needs help to get a translation. I'm looking for volunteers. Right now I need a webmaster to help make a site for the foundation. I'm thinking of calling it the BLES foundation. Named after Selvaria Bles from Valkyria Chronicles, who fought for love. Think of it as B.ring L.ove E.xcitement S.ega. I'm also open to suggestions and any other help you can offer. God knows we can't do this alone.

Not afraid to fail,
David - davidliao@4playerpodcast.com