Japanese Videogame Market Declines Further

Thanks to 1UP for its note discussing a report on the state of the Japanese videogame market in 2003, as tallied by the CESA (Computer Entertainment Software Association) trade body. The result was an "11% decline in total hardware and software sales in Japan, to 446 billion yen ($4.1 billion), in the past year", and apparently: "2003's sales figure represents a slide of approximately 40% since 1997, when the Japanese games market last peaked at the height of the PlayStation's popularity." The news story author goes on to suggest: "CESA's report blames a significant loss of audience for the continual decline of the Japanese games market, partially thanks to the increasing complexity of big-ticket games. The upcoming debut of new handheld platforms from Nintendo and Sony represent the industry's next chance to bounce back and regain their audience in Japan." What's the difference between the Japanese experience and the relatively buoyant Western gaming market?

Comments

Culture

[Qwaniton]

The difference is that of culture. In America, the gaming industry is quite buoyant because the typical American gamer is simply different than the typical Japanese gamer.

The typical American gamer is not "hardcore"; he is a casual gamer who plays with friends, or simply for light entertainment. He isn't "into" games like the typical Japanese gamer, who is, for lack of a better term, a nerd. He simply wants to play his Madden 2004 on his X-Box with his homeez.

That's also why the X-Box never took off in Japan. The demographic the X-Box is marketed to in America simply doesn't exist in Japan.

(oh and first post propz to gnaa etc)