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Japanese Not That Interested In Online Videogaming?

Posted by simoniker on from the land-of-the-singleplayer-sun dept.

Thanks to Video-Fenky for its weblog entry detailing the results of a Japanese survey about online gaming. When asked: "Have you ever played a premium online game?", 54.3% of the 300 Japanese net users surveyed said "No, and I have no plans to", increased from the previous year's survey and "now the majority." In addition, the question "What do premium online games need to become more popular?" elicits 56.0% suggesting "Better prices", and 20.3% want "Better payment systems." Apparently: "The [Nikkei-relayed report] concludes that while Japan's net infrastructure has improved greatly over the course of a year, work remains to be done on more useful payment systems and more interesting content."

3 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. What? by Kethinov · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yet FFXI has how many subscribers just in Japan alone? Far more people than this survey covered. Data == flawed.

    --
    You're right, I wouldn't steal a car. But if it were possible, I sure as hell would download one!
  2. That makes sense. MMORPGs cost too much. by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 4, Insightful

    (See subject.)

    Game companies were all going nuts over the obscene amount of money they could make via MMORPG subscriptions. Why Americans can put up with that crap, I'll never know.

    --

    There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
  3. Re:Broadband and the like by foidulus · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If anything, it is actually cheaper, this as an example keeping in mind that $1 = 108 yen about(though usually that number is higher), also they offer a lot more options in case you really don't need a ton of speed.
    However, I dont' know how many houses actually have broadband. I'm not sure on this, but I do believe that a smaller percentage of Japanese own computers versus Americans. With the advent of relatively decent data services on one's cell phone(email, entertainment listings etc) I don't think a lot of Japanese are actually interested in computers.
    Also keep in mind that Japanese age demographics are also different from the US. Due to a very low birth rate and very restrictive immigration, as a percentage, there are a lot less youths and a lot more elderly people in Japan than there are in the US.