Slashdot Mirror
Why Are Japanese-Developed Games Less Popular?
Thanks to GameSpy for their 'Sole Food' editorial discussing the decline of the Japanese-developed videogame in the U.S. console charts. The article doesn't deny there are still big Japanese-developed hits in the West, but suggests: "It's not uncommon for there to be only two or three Japanese games among the top 20 sellers each month; this would have been unheard of less than ten years ago." As for explanations, it's argued that "Western developers are doing a better job of servicing core genres that are popular in the U.S.", but a "financial and creative slump" in the Japanese games industry is also blamed - "A quick glance through the games shown at last weekend's Tokyo Game Show reveals little that is truly new."
Perhaps it's for the same reason that US developed consoles aren't popular in Japan:
It's cultural
If you could be anything you want, I'll bet you'd be disappointed.
... of 15 year old girls in miniskirts casting spells? That's the main reason why I stopped playing Final Fantasy games. Every other Japanese game is about some teenage girl where the camera occasionnaly makes a close-up of her breasts or gives off a camera angle that let's you see under the skirt. Okay, okay, maybe I exagerate, but still, I've found Japanese games more and more about great FMV's and girls in miniskirts and less and less about, well, games. I'm not saying there are no good Japanses games. Of course there are good Japanese games, but the one I always see on TV or people talk to me about seem to be these kind of games. Which makes me wonder if people play anything else on the PS2 in Japan...
That why I couldn't care less if Japan doesn't dig the Xbox or produce game for it.
One reason for this could very well be the funding behind the games. Here in the states, even though our economy isn't exactly doing the best, people still find the time/money for games. It's a huge industry, and is still encroaching on the film business. Because of this, those who fund games are willing to put more money behind them, and thus create better, longer, and more 'American Aimed' games.
Meanwhile, in Japan, their economy is doing much much worse than in USA. Worse to the point that people are buying less games, thus the funding is going down. Obviously, with a drop in cash, you take a hit in one way or another (shorter games, less-pretty graphics, etc.).
The other main reason, and this is totally my opinion, is that american game developers have finally caught on. No longer are we limited to the FPS genre. We have become masters of all genres, from RPGs (KOTOR) to inventing our own (GTA3). In part, we have Japan to thank for this, as they pretty much started the industry. We've just taken their ideas, run with them, and we are now beginning to surpass them. Metroid for the GameCube is a great example. A very terrific game, with a new spin on FPS mechanics, created by an American develompent team. What was once Japanese is now American. Maybe it's time that Japan start 'borrowing' some ideas back from us?
Go here for teh [sic] funny.
Wow, that is a very interesting list. It shows that some of the best selling Games in the US are very poor sellers in japan. For example Metroid Prime is number #26 on their list and #4 on ours. Star wars Rogue Leader is #78 and #7 on ours. Eternal Darkness is #57 on theirs and #29 on ours.
Metroid Prime is my favorite GC game, and they hated it in Japan.
"I can not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presents danger, the solution is ignorance" - Isaac Asimov
Funny, the inverse is true for me. The more anime looking a game it is, the more interested I become.
I can certainly see that Japanese-developed games are selling slightly less than usual, but as far as being in a creative slump...are these guys on fucking crack? Have they PLAYED Viewtiful Joe? I can't remember the last time a US developer took a HUGE risk - they're all pretty much sticking to defined genres. At last count the best sellers were still sports games. I don't see too much creativity there.
And yes, I am an import snob.
--Moo.