Capcom Takes Grand Theft Auto To Japan

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a press release announcing that Capcom will publish the phenomenally successful Grand Theft Auto 3 in Japan. It appears the big Japan publisher will "..localize, publish and distribute.. Grand Theft Auto 3" for both Playstation 2 and PC, and "Grand Theft Auto 3 is scheduled for release in the Japanese market in Fall 2003." Interestingly, one commentary about GTA3 in Japan says that the author's Japanese friends "..have been disgusted that such a game exists, and judgmental, as in 'that's the kind of game only an American would like'", but the game's suitability for the Japanese market will only be definitely proved/disproved by sales figures.

Comments

American - Japan conversions

[Chris_Jefferson]

Traditionally American -> Japan conversions have not done well.. Mortal Kombat and Doom/Quake (three that pop to mind as selling well in Europe / USA) did very badly in Japan.

The Japanese have a lower tolerance for pointless violence than we do in the west. Before anyone complains, I'd note that have a much better tolerance for the kind of sexual acts that two (or more!) people can legally perform in their own home, so I think it's quite clear who actually has the better moral structure set up...