Velops

[en.wikipedia.org]

Billkwando

@badmoogle:

Nice trolling/derailment attempt. Fail.

@dozogovi: being a game developer i can tell u are too busy to use punctuation. just because time is of teh essence.

@jambe: They localize Japanese games in Polish? I never knew!

:P

Billkwando

Actually I don't want to sound like I dislike anime or manga, hell I'm a bigger Otaku than most here I'm sure. And I do like some J-games. I was pointing out the attitude of most anime, and certainly most games from Japan, isn't very what we in the West would call "badass". For every Solid Snake or Ghost in the Shell there is like 20 CLAMP rip-off touchy feely young men with perfect hair and dubious taste in clothing.
I mean I like CLAMP, but nothing those ladies do is what I would call 'badass'.

Impurethinker

Fumasu

digitalmorphine

The UFO game is called Nippon no asokode (basically　There in Japan). From the stuff I've seen it's basically a kind of a cartography of sightseeing in Japan with customization possibilities from people uploading their personal spots online with mini-games.

seppukake

I mean if you look at one of the MMO's that has fared well in Japan is FFXI, yes it is a Japanese brand but at the same time it had one of the more developed stories for an MMO and basically advancement in the game depended on following the story.

Gaming is also not as mainstream in Japan as it is in America. Gamers are still considered "otaku". While it's a huge industry here people who would be considered 'gamers' are not exactly proud to say it.

Also it's a very commuter based society so the hand-held systems are far more popular and there's a variety of different genres of gaming types. I would actually say Japan is far ahead in developing games that cater to a much wider audience. (ie; take a look at some of the DS and PSP offerings in Japan)

seppukake

@Wolfers: "I think Japan needs to bring itself to the PS3! I'm joking, but really! Look at a list of the 50 highest ranked games on the PS3 and count the ones developed in Japan. Where's the love?"

Coming in June? :P

Replica23

It's insane to assume that Japanese publishers aren't well-versed in CERO's rating standards. If they really "dreaded" the Z rating, they would either censor the offending content or not produce/localize risky games in the first place.

Number41

By contrast, Z games are commonly published in Japan and found in just about all stores that sell games. Big difference there.

Number41

Is it wrong of me to laugh maniacally (just a little) now that the shoe is somewhat on the other foot, and the Japanese are waiting for slipshod localizations of big western games?

Count_Elmdor

The Tau Empire disagrees with you. They are seriously just one J-Pop song away from being more Japanese than most Japanese.

JustThisGuy

1. "...you're generally making games for a younger audience, or for people with nostalgia towards school-days. Most of this applies to anime plots, too."

I find this to be utterly true - and moreso every day that passes, sadly. While there are things to look forward to as you get older, there's always that feeling that your golden years have passed once you graduate. There is a whole genre for anime that tends to cater to this nostalgia... the "slice-of-life" genre. A lot of the time, the settings in those series tend to take place in the middle to high school years. I am a few years past that, but I find that genre increasingly enjoyable for the reasons you mentioned. The fact that some of those same slice-of-life anime series are based off eroge/visual novels can also (somewhat) explain the huge popularity of eroge/visual novels in general in japan, although I'm sure the female-starved otaku hordes make up a good portion of those sales as well.

2. "You want to know why people love JRPGs or those slideshow-like JP games? Character development, hopefully backed-up by a great overall story. JRPGs like saving the world, because generally people's character only improves in dire pinch. Having a world to save - gives a lot of headroom."

Note the portion I've highlighted - "Character Development". I find this to be THE MOST CONSISTENT part of almost all the japanese media I come across, from JRPGS to anime to visual novels to manga and ,hell, to a lesser extent, drama CDs. From what I've seen, above all else, the japanese seem to love character interaction and development, and so do I, which may explain why I prefer JP developed games. I also find this to be one of the most misunderstood points by many (western) game reviewers (and a personal pet peeve of mine) - they mistake story/plot for character development, not realizing that one can be weak and yet at the same time, the other very strong.

Many, many times in a JRPG/anime/visual novel, I've seen story emphasis fall by the wayside, entire plots becoming paper thin, carried only by the development and interaction of the main characters. Much like you said, the plot is ONLY there to create the "pinch". And yet, many of those titles still manage to succeed admirably with the player, only to garner reviews that say they're typical cliche save-the-world fare.

Example: once such JRPG I've played of late, Ar Tonelico, very much falls into that category. Its actual gameplay (and review scores) was rather average, honestly, however, I don't think I've EVER gotten to know two particular characters in any RPG so well before (and I've been gaming since the NES days). It wouldn't be far fetched to say that by the end of the game, you will know how those two characters tick better than they know themselves. This was the real triumph that the game managed to convey.

It also helped that the soundtrack was absolutely outstanding, and that's another point I want to make on the western vs JP games debate. Many OSTs from JP game franchises are available seperately, and for good reason - they are an integral part of the experience. How many famous JP game composers do we know of vs western game composers?

That's not to say western games have crappy music, many are very memorable and very fitting to the game setting (Diablo comes to mind - and no, that's not the only one and GH3/RB/licensed music does not count). But the emphasis on good/inventive music to go with your game experience is just not as consistently high (at least to me) on the western front.

Cubby

I never said anything about "you should quit playing games", why respond so roughly? I have found the genres and types of stories that entertain and move me a lot; I probably am missing some entertainment a bit here and there, but I have enough. And just because you like other things, doesn't mean I should stop playing altogether. Next time when posting such remarks, think.
Btw, this topic is not "whose country's games are better"...

somarix

They shall be my finest warriors, hese men who give of themselves to me. Like clay I shall mould them and in the furnace of war forge them. They will be of iron will and steely muscle. In great armour shall I clad them and with the mightiest guns will they be armed. They will be untouched by plague or disease, no sickness will blight them. They will have tactics, strategies and machines such that no foe can best them in battle. They are my bulwark against the Terror. They are the Defenders of Humanity. They are my Space Marines and they shall know no fear.

Now I have a good (well okay fanboy) reason that I put that in there. It doesn't seem to me that the East is terribly fond of badasses. By which I mean whatever characters they have, regardless of how much ass they actually kick, all look and act like pansies. Sure they are exceptions (well Solid Snake I guess). But I'm going on what sells here.

And Adeptus Astartes (and 40K in general) seems to be the anti-Japan really. Just pointing that out.

On a parting note: why don't we see more Japanese 4X games hum?

Impurethinker

Linear story...just how I like it. :D Like you said, it's a difference in culture, and a matter of preference. I personally don't think jRPG's are like interactive movies. You still have the option to do side quests, look for hidden items, explore hidden dungeons, etc. The open endedness is still there. Some jRPG's step outside of the box (Chrono Trigger, Star Ocean), and have multiple endings and outcomes depending on the choices you make in the game. Once again, it's just a matter of whether you prefer a linear story, or an open ended one. I'll take linear anyday, personally...I feel like I have too much freedom in an open ended game. Call me lazy, but I love being told an epic story; I don't want to be the one who has to make it.

Oh, that brings me to another point that I left out in my previous post: many characters in western RPG's lack personality. Which is a given, since YOU are essentially the character. I don't know about most people, but I love RPG's that has an well established, memorable cast of characters.

y2kenjination

Also while a CERO Z rating and a ESRB AO rating are technically similar (you have to be 18 to buy either a Z or AO rated game), the fact is that many Japanese retailers have no problems selling CERO Z rated titles, while no mainstream US retailer would ever touch an AO rated game. So the US's equation of 'AO rating=zero sales' doesn't hold for a Z rated game in Japan. So while the two ratings they may be similar in their restrictions, their actual marketplace functionality are significantly different.

K_G

kingclip

On the contrary my friend. If you can't see why this is a great game, then maybe you should quit playing games altogether. But please tell me how this game is mediocre...I would like to know, and what JP games (besides Ico and Shadow of the Colossus) are better and why?

Because you basically said that game sucks(but not why) and you said there isn't any rhyme or reason to what games you like. fair enough...just don't criticize western games for not having something that you don't even know what it is.

Cpt_Bongwater

So, sorry if you can't understand the culture, don't know why spiky hair is preferred, why men look like women, what the difference between the JRPGs are, and so on. Just don't try to continue preaching on this subject, as you are blind to so many wonderful things. It's hilarious.

somarix

Wolfers

1). Net access is fast, cheap, and everyone has a broadband connection (something like 90% of the population is connected).

2). Frugal mindset. Consider the MMO; while a lot of folks might go "bleagh" and think endless grinding, many Koreans see endless entertainment value. It's cheaper to pay $10 to $15 a month for a game you'll play for years rather than plop down $50 a week for a new five-hour game. (That said, I HATE HATE HATE MMOs.)

2a). RPGs are very popular as well, for similar reasons. Many Koreans (including myself) love the long gameplay, all the hidden and often useless crap that we have to collect to 100% it*, the character customization involved, and the number-crunching powergaming that it all essentially boils down to. (I'm sure there's an Asian accountant/spreadsheet joke to be made here, somewhere.)

*In his SMG review, Yahtzee jokes he would never collect all the stars because he's not a basement-dwelling loser or Korean, or something to that effect. I laughed because it's true. I don't know why many of us have this near-OCD condition.

2b). Koreans are hyper-competitive loud-mouthed bastards*. For example: while the typical image of the Japanese is of quiet, reserved reticence, Korean culture is generally loud, boisterous and relatively uninhibited (in comparison to our neighbors). We love to pwn and shit-talk.

*We are also, apparently, bat-shit insane. See: fan-death, immolation in appeal to the footie gods, self-mutilation/finger-chopping in protest, etc. etc. etc.

3). Massive PC gaming install base. Korean people love video games, but hate the Japanese*--so for a very, very long while, not many Japanese systems managed to penetrate the peninsula (the TG-16/PC Engine being the sole odd exception). So they turned to their PCs. I think the PS2 actually managed to dent and succeed in the Korean market, but most other systems before Sony's beloved behemoth tended to fail miserably.

*it's been much, much better for the past several years, especially among the younger generation. But relations are still frosty on both sides of the pond: just ask any Zainichi in Japan or the rare Japanese living in SK. Hell, my mother nearly threw herself out the window when she found out that the nice Asian girl I was finally dating was actually half-Japanese. And her mother treats me as if I was the cultural equivalent of trailer-trash. Fun times, all around. Our fathers, however, being ex-U.S. marines, get along splendidly.

4). Don't even get me started on Starcraft. That shit just gets stranger and stranger the deeper you dig into it.

5). And there are probably some weird cultural reasons that I can't fathom involved here. Compulsory military service, living under the fear of imminent death (nukes or not, Pyongyang has enough artillery pointed at SK to level the entirety of it in less than 20 minutes), a pronounced superiority complex, rigid fear of failure, etc. etc. etc.

Mind you, this is all just speculation from someone who lived in Seoul until the age of 14 (and went back to teach for two years a decade afterwards). I am neither a cultural historian or sociologist, so take all this with a grain of salt.

JustThisGuy

y2kenjination

The games you mentioned can hardly even be considered "hits" in the US (aside from Final Fantasy, obviously). They're all niche titles, and mostly hardcore gamers are the ones that appreciate these types of games, due to their open mindedness. Think of your typical US jock gamer...do you really think he's going to be playing Katamari or Okami on his spare time? More like Halo, GTA, Guitar Hero, or Madden. I work at GameStop, and I see close minded gamers bashing on niche titles all the time at my store.

I think another problem with western games is that a lot of them are too open ended. I personally get annoyed when there's too much freedom, 'cause it feels like there's a lack of direction. It seems that Japanese gamers enjoyed being told a story, rather than being the ones who make the story. This is probably why MMO's don't do too well in Japan...aside from Monster Hunter, which isn't really an MMO, but quite similar. I really can't explain the success of Monster Hunter; that's a whole new question in itself.

Titles like Final Fantasy or Zelda or more universal since they're usually in western settings, with western characters.

y2kenjination

somarix

Wolfers

rentson

Similarly in the US games with adult main characters (say GTA4, whatever) are very popular among teenagers. You don't have to be the age of the main character in order to identify with them, or enjoy a game.

Incidentally while we're talking about aging characters shouldn't somebody have mentioned MGS4? Maybe they did and I missed it, but um... I think that game should put the lie to any stereotype that Japanese games are only about cute teenagers. No offence but that guy is neither.

quen

first of all, what you're saying here is a perfect example of someone completely unfamiliar with what they're talking about.

This is merely the JP stereotype of western games. No story, character development, mindless killing. It sounds as if the only western games you've played are Halo, and quake 4.(2 of the very worst IMO quake 1 was epic...claustrophobopolis FTW)

So, allow me to direct you to some games which will change your mind:

Beyond Good and evil. Simply the best game ever made. (And ironically enough, it owes a LOT to Zelda)

Grim Fandango: You want story? check. You want character development? check. You want imagination? check. Atmosphere? check. This game has all of those things...but you've obviously never heard of it.

Psychonauts: No mindless killing, imaginative story, wildy inventive environments and gameplay (Yeah I guess I'm a schafer fanboy)

The Longest Journey -another example of great storytelling.

Rayman -Imagination, environment, gameplay.

Civilization/Sim City -These games started their own Genre of games!!! Some of which JP developers have began making themselves.

(I'm trying to limit my games to post 2000...Twinsen's Odyssey NE1?)

look, it's pointless arguing, saying this or that Country's games are better because it simply isn't true. All I'm trying to point out is that there are a LOT of untrue stereotypes about both western and japanese games, and for everyone who says All US games are space marines killing aliens" there will be someone else saying all Japanese games are boys in tutus with fighting random abstract monsters in a close environment. (Yeah JRPGs again)

Cpt_Bongwater

Mavwick

Great article, bash!

PissedPS3Fan

@beeporama (brian.j.parker): Yup, generally after you graduate there, afaik for most Japanese their life feels like it takes a steep turn downwards. They are pressured by parents to graduate some university (most students just sleep in classes!) then immediately get a job at some corporation. Work there is generally too exhausting and monotone, and worst of it - they feel insignificant there! To anyone in that position, the teenage years will feel nostalgic.
But also, once you start working there, you only feel like you have enough time to go to bars with friends. A JP friend of mine was a hardcore gamer (he loved western stuff , too! ) - and once he graduated and started working... he hasn't played any games for 2 years so far. Worst of it, when I mention to him about games now.... I get a reply like "well, I don't like games". Huh?! As if I had been chatting about games we've played with a completely different person!
So anyway, you're generally making games for a younger audience, or for people with nostalgia towards school-days. Most of this applies to anime plots, too.

Btw, the peculiarity of Japanese gamers not buying Western games was already explained in an article here, that JPs don't meaningless shooting/killing. (though as you know from JRPGs and GTA3, escaping foe-encounters justifies it). Though, I think western games aren't liked there for the simplicity of characters, or hollow plots. Unlikable space marines on one side,
dirty orcs and dorks fighting in mud for a piece of meat on the other.
Yeah, I know the orcs and dorks generally get a very deep story of conflicts and treachery (ugh!), but once you add a little bias to such games, they looks like utter crap. Most of all, there is NO character development in western games. You want to know why people love JRPGs or those slideshow-like JP games? Character development, hopefully backed-up by a great overall story. JRPGs like saving the world, because generally people's character only improves in dire pinch. Having a world to save - gives a lot of headroom.
Other games JP people like are generally with solid fun gameplay. (btw this also makes JRPGs take less encounters to level-up enough for upcoming boss-fights).

Btw I'm a Japanese gamer by heart :). (though I also like something JP gamers hate - competitiveness, especially in FPS)

The two thumbsticks problem... Simply look at people's size of hands. Few JPs can use an xbox controller for this reason. (btw, my JP friend is 172cm tall, and on class-photos he looks like a giant next to his classmates ww)

somarix

People prefer different things in games. Yes, I'll play Final Fantasy Five Billion before I'll take a go at Halo 3 - that doesn't mean I can't accept that /other/ people will prefer Halo and that they have valid reasons to do so. And yes, these preferences /will/ extend across cultures; that doesn't mean that one is inherently hateful of the other.

Achenar

Cpt_Bongwater

blackcube123

天雷

ara

Haf

Parsifal

and I really do enjoy japanese games being in japanese with subtitles. I never played Yakuza, but the games that have had the options to be subbed have been better for it, like Naruto on Xbox 360.

kathartik

I admire that in a person.

Great article.....very enlightening.

Billkwando

Regarding challenge in video games, the Devil May Cry series and Ninja Gaiden would like to have a word with you. Incidentally, it would be trivial to make a computer opponent more challenging than an actual human player because the AI isn't bound by the physical limitations of a human player, however, it would not make for a terribly fun game.

Powerlurker

fuchikoma

shouryuuken

One possible reason is that the Japanese gaming population seems to have a lot more women.
This might be due to the fact that many women go to the arcades (usually on dates).

So going back to the whole point of why characters are young, cute etc. It might be an extension of this.

In fact, a strong reason why western games aren't as accepted in Japan actually might be because of that. They just aren't hitting a large part of the demographic that buys games - women.

As for the whole buckling down after graduation... not really. It's probably as true as here.

If you want to make a game that's successful over there I think the options are:

1) make a game for women
2) Use cute characters (Disney, LEGO Star Wars, Harry Potter)
3) Puzzle based (Tetris etc)
4) Works on mobiles
5) Use a known quantitiy when modelling the character or dubbing (ie use Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Beckham etc). This also works in the advertising of the game
6) Interactive (Guitar Hero)

In terms of Guitar Hero, or Rock Band, why don't they make one with J-POP songs. I bet it would sell like crazy...

yoda_123

ashcraft, the first paragraph or so sums up why ive been telling ppl ive started to have a lack of interest in gaming the last few years or so. im definitely an arcade gamer, and i never enjoyed titles on the pc. not that i ever thought anything was wrong with pc games, i just dont care for realistic games, or most fps/rts at all. plus the western rpg bores me, although im not wild about rpgs in general, the fantasy elements of jrpgs is just more appealing to me. so when the xbox came out, and more and more i saw a shift from fantasy to realism, i started to become less interested in gaming. 2008 looks wonderful though thanks to the flurry of fighting games.

good article though bash.

shouryuuken

jambe

It's hard to define gameplay in general, but I kind of liken it to an action figure. To me, Japanese games are like old GI Joe action figures with their billion points of movement. It's simple and yet completely sophisticated. While I liken western games more often than not to McFarlane figures...they look great and they're really 'in your face', but they aren't as fun to play with (you took it out of the packaging?!)

I don't think a challenging game equals good gameplay. There's more to it than that. I'd say compared to Mario Galaxy, Zelda TP or RE4, games like GTA4, Mass Effect or Uncharted just aren't as fun and feel really clunky.
To use another analogy, I liken the latter examples to driving the Batmobile. Yes, it's fun to drive it because it's the freakin' Batmobile, but in reality it only goes about 90 mph and handles like ass.

I guess it has to do with, as noted in the article, the arcade element to Japanese games. They just click and you're having a good time. You could definitely define that as casual, but it's a totally different meaning than what it means when compared to more recent definition of casual.

Mr. Fap☆Fap!

Now how about an article about European game developers?

Kenofthedead

The PS3 doesn't have its RPG's yet and has mostly western games on it at the moment. For the Wii, Zelda, Mario and most of Nintendo's staples undersold, and the 360......well.

Are they just playing DS and PSP games?

M.A.S.

You didn't even mention the whole "circle means OK, X means go back" thing either...

The_PoT

kingclip

I'm a minority gamer, I enjoy playing the latest Final Fantasy game as much as I like playing the latest Call of Duty game. Some genres I don't enjoy at all like stealth games, no mater if it is the newest Metal Gear game or the latest Splinter Cell game. Blaming the region it is created in would be silly.

iamspoo

Pinhead

News Flash: Videogames are western. They came from the U.S.

NoBullet

MightyKAC

kingclip

This is a great question. As I'm getting older (30... something) it's harder to identify with the teenage protagonists of the JRPGs I love. So I'm wondering, is it that Japanese gamers (at least for console RPGs) tend to be much younger?

I think there might be cultural implications. I get the impression that the Japanese fetishize youth, with the feeling that after you graduate you buckle down and put away your personality, so only teenagers can acceptably be rebellious and spirited. That's a lot of reading into a culture I don't know well, however.

beeporama (brian.j.parker)

dead_red_eyes

@Cpt_Bongwater:
Good comeback, if I had actually pidgeonholed Western games. All I said was "try selling a game like Tokimemo to the space marine crowd!"

On the other hand, you tore a strip off JRPGs, then your comment was "And funny I can't see how there are so many more genres of japanese games than western. This just isn't true."

There's origninality on both sides, I'm just not blinded to one of them. Portal, Flow, Braid, Gish, Aquaria, Tetrisoid, Rom check fail, etc...

fuchikoma

People forget that the Anime/Japan/general Asian influence on art in America didn't happen overnight. It began way back in the day with small groups of college students swapping VHS tapes and adding their own subtitles when they could. Not to mention Harmony Gold pushing shows to small networks around the country. Let's not forget the small number of gamers who decided to take a chance on a JPRG on the NES and began to tell their friends about it. Eventually this all turned into the Pokeman/Power Ranger hell and general artistic slant of America today.

There may be a few Japanese that like Western games, but who knows how big Western gaming will be in 10,15,20 years?

Tepoz

"They usually have a stronger emphasis on actual gameplay, which means they're actually FUN to play"

So you are saying that Japanese games as a whole are more "fun" than western games? I find it the total opposite because that is my personal taste. I think what's popular in Japanese gaming has become more casual. Western gaming has pushed the envelope in gameplay and has made it more challenging for gamers who want more challenging gameplay. That is why online multiplayer is more prevalent in western audiences, because what is more challenging than another human opponent. All my friends I grew up with played video games, those who want to be challenged play games like GTAIV, Halo 3, COD4, Gears of War, Crysis games that require consistent amounts of dexterity. My other friends who are a little more casual picked up games like Katamari, Final Fantasy, Phoenix Wrigt, other popular Wii games. If they tried playing Halo 3, COD4, Gears of War they would stink horrendously, but if my hardcore gamer friends would play those other games not only would they be proficient at them from the start but would probably be bored senseless pretty quickly.

In the end I think Japanese gaming has move farther from true "gaming" to visual narrative. Which is not a bad thing, but we should stop calling certain Japanese video games...games. They just aren't.

Leobebes

dozogovi

Orientalism in critical gaming journalism. Way to promote cross-cultural understanding!

bluetom00

Cpt_Bongwater

dozogovi

Lixie

Then there's the free ps3 'game' Mainichi Issyo -- which seems to be this ultra-cute social networking, news reader thing that the language barrier prevents me from figuring out, but is certainly unlike anything anyone has seen here.

kingclip

Personally, I tend to like Japanese games much more...except RPGs. They usually have a stronger emphasis on actual gameplay, which means they're actually FUN to play. A lot of western games aren't fun to play so much as...I dunno...interesting to play, for lack of a better word.

Mr. Fap☆Fap!

Or consoles that have a big failure rate.

badmoogle

nikolaj

- It took us like 10 years to get games like Guitar Hero here when Beatmania/Guitar Freaks/Drummania/Keyboardmania/Taiko no Tatsujin had been done to death. Though we did get Taiko... a curious choice in this market; I can only imagine what songs we had since there was so much J-pop in the original... DDR did well too, I was amazed it stopped there. (Beatmania USA was way too little, a decade too late.)

- Pokemon collection/battle raising games. Unless I'm mistaken this is an analog of kids collecting various beetles, isn't it? Do they actually battle them in real life?

- Virtual pets from Tamagocchi to Seaman.

- Teaching games like Graduation, or Doko Demo Issho.

- "Just being/exploration" games. I've seen EXTREMELY few anyway, but I can think of LSD for the PSX, and Portable Island: Te no Hira no Resort for PSP.

fuchikoma

then you seem to be overlooking the fact that most japanese games have basically been final fantasy, metal gear, street fighter, or Resident evil sequels.

how's that for innovation? And the space marine is merely the west's answer to the androgynous male lead character of every canned Japanese RPG out there.

Cpt_Bongwater

vhd244

It touched on the whole compare contract the differences between the two markets.

Of course, there are alot of exceptions. The third person shooter Gear of War didn't meet with success and it hits more or less all of the japanese 'success' points. Sometimes, there are no 'rules'

huginn

Enkur

Salen

And funny I can't see how there are so many more genres of japanese games than western. This just isn't true."

Do you honestly think all the Japanese games that make it to the US are the only games made in Japan plus some weird dating sims?

That is a typical uninformed response.

Even out of the basic genres westerners don't venture into fighting games let along 2D fighting games and they certainly don't do 2D shooters, it's all about space marines in the FPS view and that's not even covering a fraction of the genres out there.

chiefpoopingpants

WoW and starcraft.

globones

kingclip

globones

Not to sound corny, but I think we can learn about another culture through their games, just like we can through their art, music, and language. Anything that promotes a dialogue between two cultures is a good thing in my mind. I'd like to see what challenges game developers see localizing for other cultures, i.e. India, China, Middle East, Africa...

Good stuff. Articles like this and alot of Maggie's stuff raise the level of discourse on this site.

rawg

Things like A.I. and programming is where Western devs really shine, while Japan picks up the slack on things like textures.

Seems to be a very broad interpretation, considering they wildly vary.

I can think of a lot of Japanese games that are both technically and artistically superior to anything else on the market upon release. RE4 comes to mind, and even Capcom approach to multiplatform development is great. Problem is, they just don't have the capacity to outsource the engine.

I guess I can sum it up with the sentence I started with.

SG79

Witzbold

Orionsaint

And funny I can't see how there are so many more genres of japanese games than western. This just isn't true.

Cpt_Bongwater

I still can't believe that people think Japan hates everything Western. Seriously, go there. Or read a book or something. They totally embrace Western stuff -- just not video games. That said, it's a different culture with different tastes. You want to have some fun, go to the Japan PSN store and download demos and videos -- it's a whole different world, and frankly, one I find highly entertaining. You can battle over system specs and crap like that, but I bought a ps3 because it was the more 'Japanese' of the consoles, and in the end, I'll have more stuff that I'll want to play on it. At least now I understand why I like GTA too now!

kingclip

Leobebes

SkutSkut

greeble

Dont know about that since so much shit in the US now is all SPACE MARINE everything. They even managed to get space marine in my turok.

Witzbold

Anyway, interesting article. It's always neat to hear another view on why FPS never caught on in Japan - I mean, it's one of the most immediate genres of game available, you just pick up and play and it's obvious what to do.

Lov3

Leobebes

...and no, that's not an excuse for people start raving on with pithy lines about a Blizzard-made RTS. I'm kinda intrigued at why MMOs have hit the big time over there.

Good article, Bash. I'm doing my part by digging into Crisis Core.

pylon_trooper

Also, I don't really care about the new 3D BC game, but Re-armed looks HOT.

Also, if a game is released buggy, spare it no criticism when it's reviewed. Actually, I think even if there are patches, the version on disc should be the one reviewed, and the reviewers should have no obligation to go back and review the patched version. If it's released broken, too bad... If they want to go back and spend the time rereviewing later, that's fine, but they should have to note the version when they do.

@NukaCola:
Games where you have to babysit the camera constantly with one stick make me want to kill things - but not in that game! Though I've seen plenty of Japanese games where this is a problem too...

fuchikoma

No one should be accepting of broken games. I don't want to fill my HD with patches. I wanna fill it with new content.

I would also imagine western games typically look boring. Westerners focus on fewer genres and get a hard-on over space marines. What fun is it to play the same story over and over?

Hollywood isn't even as bad as the US games market. They need to sort themselves out.

chiefpoopingpants

You think Japanese people always walked around in t-shirts and jeans, drinking cafe lattes and listening to mp3's on their iPods? No, that's all western influence. They specifically sought out western influence, in fact, during the Meiji period, and other than WWII they've basically never stopped their westernization since then.

Even video games in general they took from us. You think Nintendo came up with the Famicom independently? No, they'd been importing all the American systems for years trying to figure out ways they could market similar products there. Other companies were doing the same (Bandai sold the Intellivision in Japan, for example, as a Bandai product). Their entire game industry exists because of us. The fact that the tables have turned now doesn't really change that.

They love western stuff. Love it. They don't like stuff that they think sucks. Doesn't matter where it's from.

badasscat

I say subtitles across the board on ported games.

3xch4ng3

As games get more complex in story and control style; the divide starts to develop.

jp182

Metropolis

Mommar

Keep em comming Bash!

Witzbold

Cpt_Bongwater

NukaCola

They should have Ben Judd retranslate Breath of Fire I & II!

NukaCola

Pombar

Just wanna know if there is some Japanese nerd out there who once said "oh gosh, I just imported a copy of mass effect and it freaking rules" and then his other nerd friends shrug him of as liking lame ass western games, but like we do in America to our one friend who is totally into that japanese stuffs. Everyone knows one guy that is way to into it... ya? no? just me?

Derigor

Pombar

Cpt_Bongwater

Sure this new generation I see many Western developers come out with some buggy stuff but a large part of it is that the Eastern developers aren't doing what the West is doing as far as visuals and open environments. Japanese gamers are not buying the west's games because of bugs...

iamspoo

But don't the Japanese hate just about anything from the west? I always got the impression that they didn't wanted "there space invaded" by any western "garbage" and ideas about gaming. Japan has a strong "Get off my lawn!" philosophy.

StormdragonBlue

Great article Bashcraft.

MrMcdoobie: I don't do drugs

HADOOOOOKEN!

Derigor

HurricaneDave

I remember you mentioned "In the Mood for Love" in one of your previous entries. The movie is a wonderful and moving piece, but most American audiences don't get the movie at all. This isn't just true moving from east to west either, the same thing often occurs within Western cinema. A Macedonian film titled "The Great Water" used a type of magical realism that is unique to Eastern European film to tell an amazing story, yet most in the the US consider the movie dull and confusing.

I think the transfer and reception of art between different cultures is fascinating. Well done BAshcraft.

Kozalicious

greeble

Cpt_Bongwater

lionkitten

Fun fact: the Capcom language consists entirely of the words "sequel" and "remake".

rannic

Why is it necessary to bring the west to Japan?

balls187 upside yo head

Nintendo used to be preety good at this gap, tough, Mario and Zelda were at home anywhere in the world, but as of late, even Japanese people have a mixed reception to Nintendo's classic franchises, embracing this whole new "blue ocean" of casual & family oriented software.

Let us wait and see what other developments in the future will change this East vs West side of the industry. ^_^

Shiryu