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

I don't think so.

[gklinger]

My Japanese girlfriend (29 years old, has been in Canada less than two years) and her brother (25, also newly arrived from Japan) both love GTA3. In fact, they like it better than all my other games (on any platform). He plays the game in the intended fashion, doing missions and generally causing mayhem while she enjoys driving around looking at the scenery and looking for packages. Heck, she even stops at lights and comes to a full stop before turning.

I don't usually go in for violent games but GTA3 has a certain charm and it is one of the most playable games I have ever encountered. I imagine that the Japanese market will react the same way everyone else in the world reacted to GTA3 -- they'll buy millions of copies.

More harm than good?

[amuro98]

Most Japanese think Americans are loud, violent gun-toting maniacs thanks to the movies they see in theaters and on TV...

"Yes you too can pretend to be an American in this realistic American city simulator!"

I wonder if they'll make the cars drive on the other side of the road?