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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.
Wouldn't "Grant Theft Yugo" be a lot of fun?
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
"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'
This is coming from a place that just loves tentacle-rape Hentai.
...GTA3 hasn't been released in japan as of yet? truly bizzare.
moox. for a new generation.
that's the kind of game only an American would like
As long as they're tossing out generalities, what about games featuring animated rape and incest? There isn't much of a market for those over on this side of the pond.
by letting you dress up the main character and obsess over his blood type. I bet they'll also make it so that you can collect various accessories to decorate your cars and houses.
Seriously, I WANT to see a game that will offend the Japanese.
I know more than you drink.
better moral structure when it coems to sex?
you mean the 3 decades it took them to aprove a birth control pill while viagra took only 6 months
better overall moral strucure?
you mean the baatan death march and just as much rape, human experimentation and genocidal acts as the germans during world war 2 yet got away with a slap on the wrist
people are always bringing up the united states's sins of the father so why not japan's, oh because they're the poor defensless country we dropped nuclear weapons on to stop a war they started
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'"
Not enough tentacles, I guess...
10. "Grand Theft Auto, eh?" (Canada)
9. "Grand Theft UNIX Code" (SCO Offices)
8. "Grand Canyon Theft Auto" (Arizona)
7. "Grand Theft Electric Auto" (Ed Begley Jr's Garage)
6. "Grand Theft Item #6" (This list)
5. "Grand Theft Poland" (Nazi Germany)
4. "Grand Theft Evil Otto" (Berzerk! videogame)
3. "Grand Theft Exploding Auto" (Israel)
2. "Grand Theft Rickshaw" (China)
1. "Grand Theft Entire Country" (Iraq)
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
It also appears (and I don't like making generalities) that RPGs tend to do more successfully in Japan. According to the Gaming Life in Japan column at ign.com, the most anticipated game for the past few months has been Dragon Quest VII. That game appears to have a role playing style, as well as in-depth storytelling which is what Japanese gamers tend to want the most. Not to mention the immense popularity of games such as Pokemon, or Yugi which have no similarities to GTA in terms of gameplay, storytelling, or content. As someone has already stated, only the sales numbers will tell the tale as to whether or not Japanese gamers will go for GTA, but if the style of gaming that tends to sell over there is any precedence, I do not think GTA will be received well. Another thing to be curious about is how those who do buy the game will react to how the Japanese characters in the game are presented (the Yakuza).
I sincerely doubt that we can take the comments of two or three people and equivocate them to the beliefs or opinions of an entire country. Although their comments were stereotypical, let's not stoop to the same level in return.
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.
"..have been disgusted that such a game exists, and judgmental, as in 'that's the kind of game only an American would like'"
That smells more like somebody who heard all about the game on CNN as opposed to actually playing it.
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?
Really, most _Americans_ are appalled by the GTA series, once you get outside gamer circles. And even moreso if they've actually _seen_ the game being played. I mean, this is a game where you pull drivers out of cars, beat them to death, and run over pedestrians while trying to avoid the cops.
It doesn't exactly take a puritan to find that disturbing.
(I have played the game, and found it not to my taste. I don't mind that it exists, and hey, if that's what the market likes, so be it, but this is a far stronger case that the game has objectionable content than the typical anti-3D-shooter sentiment.)
-- Kate