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American Game Companies Target Asia

Posted by Zonk on from the lots-and-lots-of-customers dept.

Thanks to the BBC and GamesIndustry.biz for their stories on American game company expansions into Asia. Electronic Arts is opening a dev studio in China, hoping to open up the world's largest market to online gaming. PCBang style internet cafes are rapidly becoming big business there. Microsoft, on the other hand, is getting serious about the Japanese market. Their next gen console is already being hyped to Japanese developers. The form factor and design are going to take into account Japanese tastes, as will their marketing campaign. The next Xbox may offer Japanese and American consumers a fascinating new feature as well, with Bill Gates himself confirming the development of spectator mode for the Xbox. It's unclear whether that would be rolled out for the current Xbox console, or will have to wait until their next product.

21 comments

  1. Raises hand... by Spoing · · Score: 1
    Excuse me, but what is so special about this 'spectator mode' that makes it even worthy of comment?

    Most FPS or team games have this already. Isn't supporting that mode up to the developers of the game -- a feature that is fairly simple to add?

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    1. Re:Raises hand... by vijaya_chandra · · Score: 1

      From the article
      It's expected that the system will not only allow users to spectate on games - as has been possible with many PC titles for years - but will also provide additional graphics and displays, similar to a sports TV channel.

      However, it's still not clear whether Xbox Live TV will be implemented in titles for the current Xbox platform, or if it's planned as a feature for the next-generation Xbox console.

      Guess it'd be something that doesn't need any extra effort from the developers.

      Microsoft is my favourite company. No! not for windows but for this (which actually has a wonderful spectator mode, as well as a shared control mode)

    2. Re:Raises hand... by PeeweeJD · · Score: 1

      the only game i've seen that has a real spectator mode is ghost recon... ghost recon allows you to just ghost people... you dont have to pick a team or anything... oh yeah, RTCW has this also...

      all the other games basically just have a "dead" camera wheere you can see whats going on instead of just looking at your dead body...

      i'm thinking that this would be cool if you could check out some of the action going on before you even join the server... or a full server could have a waiting cue or grandstand type area...

      that has not been done on xbox yet...

    3. Re:Raises hand... by hollismb · · Score: 1

      Points to guy with raised hand.... cuz it's freakin' cool, that's why. Sure, other games allow you to spectate, even some on Xbox Live, but there's not really an option dedicated to it. We're talking about being able to interactively watch whole games unfold here, hopefully in new and really cool ways. Like in a FPS, for example, where maybe you'd be able to see a few peoples viewpoints, and locations on the map from an overhead view, all at the same time. Add into that ticker scores, not that unlike what EA does with their online sports games, and you've got some pretty cool virtual sports going on. If done right, it's really cool.

    4. Re:Raises hand... by Spoing · · Score: 2, Informative
      1. the only game i've seen that has a real spectator mode is ghost recon... ghost recon allows you to just ghost people... you dont have to pick a team or anything... oh yeah, RTCW has this also...

      I guess I'm spoiled. Savage has a really nice spectator mode as well as a unique commander mode and other views of the game.

      At any time, pressing TAB brings up the player stats per team, and with SEP (Savage Enhancement Project). While playing the game, pressing Alt and Ctrl bring up team damage details and current tech available. Quite nifty.

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    5. Re:Raises hand... by Spoing · · Score: 1

      If I understand what you're saying, I already get that with Savage The xbox feature would be without the game designer requiring it?

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    6. Re:Raises hand... by hollismb · · Score: 1

      My guess would be that it'll be standardized by Microsoft to allow much easier inclusion in the games. Obviously a game engine would have to support the mode, otherwise it wouldn't work. Microsoft would most likely provide the interfacing, and some functionality code to give to developers to include. Probably along the lines of how the Live interface on each game is pretty standard, with the friends list, optimatch, and, now, clan settings, voicemail system, and whatnot.

  2. Uh by lucabrasi999 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Why is this a story? Is there a company in ANY industry (from Steel to Cars to Lumber to Candy) that is not targeting the Chinese Market?

    1. Re:Uh by Shanoyu · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Pretty much everyone who makes stuff that China is already stocked to the brim with. Forget about any primary sector industries. The big deal about asia is the service sector, video games straddle the fence between two sectors what with online components.

    2. Re:Uh by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Will China actually allow Xbox Live? It's an online service that features games with portrayals of lifestyles dramatically different from those in China, and has a chat system built into it...

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:Uh by Deraj+DeZine · · Score: 1

      My company produces little American flags that people can stick in their yards/centerpieces to celebrate the Fourth of July. I can definitively say that there is at least one company that is NOT targetting the Chinese market.

      There is, however, red on the flags, which may be construed to be some sort of communist reference, but I categorically deny all such claims.

      --
      True story.
  3. Snipers coming by robotoil · · Score: 1

    I can see it now... Invasion USA. Or, Invasion Taiwan.

  4. Something New For Nielsen To Rate by blueZhift · · Score: 2, Insightful

    A widely available spectator mode on Xbox Live has some interesting possibilities. There have already been articles about how TV is starting to lose viewers to video games and the internet. Being able to tune in, so to speak, to live gaming on Xbox Live could help accelerate the trend. And where there are viewers, there's money, then ads... Of course ads are already starting the show up in games. Imagine my surprise that Red Bull was a real product after playing Wipeout the first time so many years ago!

    Hmmm, you know there's a reality TV show in there somewhere! Maybe the best FPS players can land a starring spot on a Sims 2 based reality program with sims modelled on their game personas...hmmmm....

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  5. Import by Gamelore · · Score: 2, Informative
    Similar to how Japanese companies release anime in the US for less than half the price in Japan, with the Japanese track included, perhaps these publishers will leave the original English language option in the Chinese versions.

    I've already seen quite a few "legit" Thai versions of games on ebay for like $18 when the US retail price is still $50.

  6. What is EA doing by superpulpsicle · · Score: 1

    They cannot bring anything EAsports to Asia. There is just a whole different sports culture down there. With the exception of FIFA maybe Live, there is no other sport quite fitting for the public.

    EAsports don't do Badminton, Ping pong, Tennis, Martial Arts.

    1. Re:What is EA doing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, Asians don't play "American" Sports http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/play ers/6615/

  7. Japnese vs western games by Neo-Rio-101 · · Score: 1

    The problem with "western" games is that most of them are unoriginal knock-offs with violence.

    Looking at the history of video games, most of the original game ideas have come from Japan.
    Most western game companies just aren't taking risks by trying to forge a new game genre.
    The Japanese are doing this 24/7.

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    1. Re:Japnese vs western games by bigman2003 · · Score: 1

      Through the 'history' of games, western game companies aren't doing anything new?

      Western companies created:

      Pong (first game)
      Zork (and other text based adventures)
      King's Quest (and other graphic adventures)
      Wolfenstein 3d (and other first person shooters)
      First Light-gun shooting game
      First home video game console (Magnavox)
      First vector graphics game (precursor to modern polys)
      First hand-held system (Microvision)

      The list goes on, and on, and on, and on...

      You could at least read something about the subject- even as simple as this:
      Gamespot's History of Video Games

      The world of videogames did not start with Nintendo!

      So please, do not think that Japan is the leader in videogame innovation. They may possibly be the center of the universe as far as your preferred video game genre goes- but the are far, far, far from the only ones innovating.

      Next you'll try to tell us that television was invented in Japan.

      --
      No reason to lie.
  8. Remember this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Peter Moore is the man that killed Sega.

  9. That's what ist is by koi88 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Spectator mode (C) is an exciting new feature that enables Bill G. and Steve B. to check what you're doing with your XBox.
    The attached camera, MS EyeExplorer(C), triggers an early warning system when somebody approaches with a Linux CD or a screw driver. Prepare for the black vans and helicopters to arrive quickly.
    Trying to turn off the camera or turning it to the wall is considered a breach of DMCA and a terrorist act. People who have something to hide are a danger to society. Consider yourself lucky if we give you enough time to pack your toothbrush befor shipping you to Guantanmo.

    --

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  10. Opening up large markets to online gaming? Or... by JavaLord · · Score: 1

    Electronic Arts is opening a dev studio in China, hoping to open up the world's largest market to online gaming.

    Or more likely, they are looking for programmers that will work cheaper than what they have to pay programmers in the USA. I for one am not looking forward to Madden 2006 "The Sweatshop Edition".