Japan and the xbox 360. Just crazy

[coffey7]

First of all I think if the xbox and the xbox 360 were made by a company based in Japan(with the same games) it would be a top seller. I find it hard to believe that not one single game is appealing to them. They don't think Oblivion is a good game? I can see that maybe the 360 doesn't have the games Yet but the Xbox 1 has tons of games. They didn't like the 1st xbox either. Most of the games that are on the ps2 are also on the xbox and the games look better on the xbox. I bought the first xbox and only had Halo for the first year. Now with the 360 the only game I own(for now) is Oblivion. You mean to tell me that splinter cell dosen't kick more ass on the xbox than the ps2. Of course it does. I thought the japanese loved golf. Tons of womans golfers on the LPGA are Asian. How about the Tiger Woods game? They don't like that. I understand that they don't like Halo or Grand theft auto. I don't like most of their stupid games. Come on! They don't even like one game. Thats bull.

[Mackilroy]

It's not made by a Japanese company. ;)

And you're forgetting RPGs, which the original Xbox lacked. Sure, it had a few, but the Japanese are insane for RPG games. The X360 is getting more, but I doubt it'll match how many the PS3 will undoubtedly have.

[AvSRoCkCO1067]

It's not made by a Japanese company. ;)

And you're forgetting RPGs, which the original Xbox lacked. Sure, it had a few, but the Japanese are insane for RPG games. The X360 is getting more, but I doubt it'll match how many the PS3 will undoubtedly have.

He knows it's not made by a Japanese company...:confused:

[etoiles]

He knows it's not made by a Japanese company...:confused:

Japanese tend to buy Japanese products over evil foreign stuff ;)

[steamboat26]

All true, plus everyone in Japan is waiting for a PS3 or a Wii

[srobert]

I think it has a lot to do with the difference between "easter" and "western" RPGs (http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=western+eastern+rpg&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8).

Japanese players prefer "eastern" style RPGs and there were hardly any on the original XBox. Things are shaping up to be a little better on the 360 but only marginally… not enough to swoon the Japanese market.

Also. Japanese players do not enjoy first person shooters, driving games and sports games as much as the american crowd. Those 3 game genre in my humble opinion formed the bulk of what the Xbox had to offer.

Maybe I'm all wrong. Any of our esteemed Japanese members willing to share their input on the subject?

I don't like most of their stupid games.

:confused:

[kevin.rivers]

Yeah, the Japanese can be very nationalistic. However, part of the problem is that the Xbox(both) does not satisfy the needs of the Japanese.

They don't play the same games Americans do. The Xbox is an American console, thus it has American style games.

Nintendo and Sony, being based in Japan and being run by Japanese people for the most part, makes it possible for them to make the games that Japanese people want.

[GFLPraxis]

Also. Japanese players do not enjoy first person shooters, driving games and sports games as much as the american crowd. Those 3 game genre in my humble opinion formed the bulk of what the Xbox had to offer.


That's the exact reason I never purchased an XBox, my dislike of Microsoft aside- the games did not appeal to me. I don't enjoy first person shooters (those few I play I do so on my PC, with keyboard and mouse) very much, I don't enjoy driving games (Burnout 3 & 4 and Mario Kart being sole exceptions, because they were action oriented), and hate any sports games. I've even refused to try the Mario sports games despite tons of recommendations (like Mario Kart they're supposed to have more of an battle oriented theme). The only one I've really enjoyed was Madden 07 on the Wii (walked away from the PS3 version).


I'm EXTREMELY picky when it comes to gaming.

[celebrian23]

That's the exact reason I never purchased an XBox, my dislike of Microsoft aside- the games did not appeal to me. I don't enjoy first person shooters (those few I play I do so on my PC, with keyboard and mouse) very much, I don't enjoy driving games (Burnout 3 & 4 and Mario Kart being sole exceptions, because they were action oriented), and hate any sports games. I've even refused to try the Mario sports games despite tons of recommendations (like Mario Kart they're supposed to have more of an battle oriented theme). The only one I've really enjoyed was Madden 07 on the Wii (walked away from the PS3 version).


I'm EXTREMELY picky when it comes to gaming.

maybe you're japanese and you don't know it :p

[GFLPraxis]

Never played a Final Fantasy game, so I can't be Japanese :) That's a prerequisite, isn't it?

[greatdevourer]

I don't really care. It means that less people buy them, so the prices go down, so I can buy my Japanese Premium Pack (for playing import games on) for £210 inc postage

[Dagless]

I know I flip-flop on the subject, but the way I see it Japan could either buy a 360 now, or it's super-premium counterpart with the PS3.

I find it a little patronising that the west just say "some Japanese developer needs to bring a killer app to Japan" as if they need just 1 or 2. Half the library would likely need to be Japanese games to do well. I can see it from their point of view. What is there on the 360? that online FF game? pah. My brother downloaded a trailer for it and I laughed at how feeble it looked. which was backed up by terrible reviews. Look at the DS over there, there are countless J-Games that never see the light over here and look how well the DS is performing over there! You don't need a handful, you need a mountain of these games where Japanese developers hover more around the Wii (creative and cheap) and PS3 (super power, next gen vid etc).

If MS want the 360 to do so much better across the globe, they need to drop the price (make it reasonable for a machine with no HDMI, no next gen video format, paid online service, no wireless as standard). again I just sit and think that MS really rushed out the 360 way too quickly.

[makku]

if the xbox and the xbox 360 were made by a company based in Japan(with the same games) it would be a top seller.

With that kind of thinking you will never be successful in Japan. It is like saying putting Coca Cola label on Pepsi will make them taste the same. Its not really about nationality.. well maybe it does have something to do with it. But its not because, like you say, Japanese does not enjoy the games because it is made by foreign company but really because foreign game companies fail to see what Japanese are interested in.
It is just like favorite color. Your favorite color is not necessarily same as other peoples favorite color, correct? So if you paint the product in color that the Japanese prefer, would it sell? No, now there is the shape you have to consider. Even if you change the shape, it will probably not sell. There are so many fine tweaking that is required.
Anyways you have to visit Japan sometime and see for yourself why. I am sure you will have a different opinion after you visit.

The reason the Xbox 360 is failing is closer to why the DreamCast failed :(.

[Phobophobia]

I find the blatant stereotyping in this thread offensive.

[coffey7]

So every single person in Japan only likes RPG's and they have zero interest in Golf games, Splinter Cell(like metal gear solid),baseball(they like baseball in Japan),etc. I find it hard to believe that every single person in Japan only plays Pokemon and games that let you roll into a ball and have things stick to you. Resident evil is going to the 360, along with a new spooky game made by the silent hill team. They don't like capcom games? I thought everyone loved resident evil. What about the fighting games on the xbox? I don't play them but I heard at least 1 is really good. I never let any fanboy stuff get in the way of my gaming. I own every system. I find every system has something I like. I just wait to buy systems used to save money.

[srobert]

So every single person in Japan only likes RPG's and they have zero interest in Golf games, Splinter Cell(like metal gear solid),baseball(they like baseball in Japan),etc. I find it hard to believe that every single person in Japan only plays Pokemon and games that let you roll into a ball and have things stick to you. Resident evil is going to the 360, along with a new spooky game made by the silent hill team. They don't like capcom games? I thought everyone loves resident evil. What about the fighting games on the xbox? I don't play them but I heard at least 1 is really good.

You keep thinking in absolutes.

I find the blatant stereotyping in this thread offensive.

Please feel free to educate me if I took part in the offense.

[coffey7]

I'm being sarcastic. Gamers in Japan have to find interest in other games besides Rpgs.

[Dagless]

I'm being sarcastic. Gamers in Japan have to find interest in other games besides Rpgs.

wow...

wow.

[Sky Blue]

Maybe the Japanese have taste?

[srobert]

I'm being sarcastic. Gamers in Japan have to find interest in other games besides Rpgs.

Maybe the Japanese have taste?

I don't like where this his heading *spider sense tingling* :p

[zero2dash]

I'm being sarcastic. Gamers in Japan have to find interest in other games besides Rpgs.

They do. Just nothing that appears on a Microsoft console.

You want more than rpgs as being "successful" in Japan?

How about the DS? The Brain Age series in Japan is huge; they're some of the highest selling games this year. New Super Mario Brothers has sold very well, and Animal Crossing: Wild World has also. The DS + DS Lite have outsold the Ps2 in Japan the majority of the year (except the few weeks that there weren't any on store shelves 'cause they were sold out).

Japan is huge on Nintendo portables.

As for your cons -
-Oblivion is not a standard fare rpg. Square Enix didn't make it. There's your two reasons why it hasn't done well in Japan. People in Japan like traditional rpgs; this is why a game like Final Fantasy X-II didn't sell well (notice the hyphen, I'm not talking about XII, I'm talking about X-II, the spinoff of FFX) - it wasn't a standard fare rpg (from what I've been told). Meanwhile the last several Dragon Quest titles have sold like hotcakes because they're good games.

-You've also got to realize that Japanese gamers aren't as nice to rehash games; they don't necessarily like sequels unless they change something about the game itself. From what I understand, Japanese people got sick of Resident Evil after part 2 because they all remained unchanged for the most part afterwards, except for RE4 which (IMO) is one of the greatest games of all time. I would believe that RE4 did well in Japan but I don't know, honestly. Most games released on the Xbox are geared for Western gamers...FPS, your Splinter Cells and other Tom Clancy games, and EA's proverbial sports titles. Japanese people don't really care about John Madden or "American football"; they like baseball. You've also got to realize that Splinter Cell probably never was popular in Japan because in Japan, the only stealth action game worth playing is the Metal Gear Solid series, which is now on (ta da) Playstation consoles.

You're just uneducated in gaming over there man...that's all. With most Japanese supported consoles, there's probably about a 2-to-1 ratio of games that come out over there vs games that are released in the US. Yes, seriously. I've owned 5 import (or import friendly/modded) consoles, and right now all I own for my Dreamcast is Japanese games (primarily 2d fighting games). When I had my Saturn (and god I miss my Saturn), all I had was Japanese games for that as well (again, primarily 2d fighters). Most games that come out in Japan are never released in the US, because they wouldn't appeal to US gamers (or are perceived that way). In the Xbox/360's case, this is reversed. Xbox/360 is an American bred, American developed console; it's the exception to the rule. The other problem is - Japanese people really don't like Microsoft. (Don't ask me 'why', because...I don't know. :))

[Dagless]

ah yes the DS. I was going to mention this before. Currently Mario Bros DS is kicking up a huge storm over there, Japan made it nice, simple and fun. Look what happened when America developed a Mario game, ouch. I get the impression of Mario Bros DS was American developed it would be full of stats and figures, an attempted and unnecessary leveling up system just to confuse players. or at least thats the way I see it.

Japan does what it does best - great games.
this post isn't necesarily about Japanese players tastes but more so the difference between US and Japan games. Europe games are too hard to pin down. Goldeneye, GTA, Rayman. broad spectrum usually revolving around art direction.

[GaseousPlatypus]

I'm actually quite happy that the Xbox 360 doesn't have a slew of eastern RPGs. Games can hardly get more fun than when you get attacked by enemies who you can't see (random encounters), who you then have to dispatch with attacks that you select out of a menu that take 45 minutes of CG to execute while they wait patiently for their turn to attack.

[srobert]

I'm actually quite happy that the Xbox 360 doesn't have a slew of eastern RPGs. Games can hardly get more fun than when you get attacked by enemies who you can't see (random encounters), who you then have to dispatch with attacks that you select out of a menu that take 45 minutes of CG to execute while they wait patiently for their turn to attack.

I can understand that the this type of game doesn't appeal to you but it does to a LOT of players. Thefore, it wouldn't be a bad thing to have more of these games on any console. It's not like they're forcing you to buy a game you won't like. ;)

[ChrisK018]

I don't like Oblivion, Tiger Woods Golf, and most of the exclusive 360 titles either. It totally makes sense to me that the 360 is not a hit in Japan, but regardless, why is this a problem? If you are playing games you like I don't think it should matter what Japan thinks.

Isn't that kind of like saying, "I can't understand why the whole world does not think [insert your crappy favorite band here] is the best band ever?"

[zero2dash]

I'm actually quite happy that the Xbox 360 doesn't have a slew of eastern RPGs. Games can hardly get more fun than when you get attacked by enemies who you can't see (random encounters), who you then have to dispatch with attacks that you select out of a menu that take 45 minutes of CG to execute while they wait patiently for their turn to attack.

Ah yes, FFVIII had lots of long Summons "cinemas". FFIX was much better, and FFX was pretty good also. Doesn't matter...FFIV + FFVI are my favorites. :D (Just beat FFIV again on the GBA version)

Random encounters don't bother me, nor does the frequency of them. Trudge through them, level up, and then decimate bosses with your overpowered characters. Since when is that a bad thing? :) (Except the aforementioned FFVIII, which had that stupid "a monster's level is high or low depending upon your party's level" system.)

[Fukui]

I find the blatant stereotyping in this thread offensive.
And slightly racist.

[moot]

I think the reasons have already beenn pointed out. It wasn't designed with Japanese tastes in mind.

if the xbox and the xbox 360 were made by a company based in Japan(with the same games) it would be a top seller.

Yes Japan is nationalistic. But I would consider America far more nationalistic. Japan is no more nationalistic than most countries.

The Japanese will buy "foreign companies" products if they are good. Look at the iPod, practically half of the people I see on the trains are listening to an iPod (mostly nanos).

You obviously don't know much about the real Japan to make that original statement.

BTW, I am British, but I live in Japan.

[gloss]

I find the blatant stereotyping in this thread offensive.

I find oversensitivity offensive. Go play in a sandbox.

Concerning the topic, it's purely a matter of the XBox not offering enough of the sorts of games the Japanese community is actually interested in. I thought this was a well-established fact.

[srobert]

:D

http://homepage.mac.com/srobert/.Pictures/WepPicPosts/doodoofan.jpg

[2nyRiggz]

MR is a great place to get on each other nerves right....its lovelyful.


Bless

[gloss]

And slightly racist.

rac·ism ( P ) Pronunciation Key (rszm)
n.
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

What? It might be racist if someone was entailing that everyone of Japanese ethnicity has the same taste in games, but there's nothing wrong with making a general, true statement backed by cultural fact. Don't be so quick to injury.

[gloss]

:D

http://homepage.mac.com/srobert/.Pictures/WepPicPosts/doodoofan.jpg

I concur. This is where I duck out.

[Dagless]

What I didn't like was FerretBoys "Gamers in Japan have to find interest in other games besides Rpgs."

You Americans need to find interest in other games besides 1 man can save the world Halo-esque trash.

^only saying to prove a point. Though I feel a little sick dropping down to stereotype levels.

[coffey7]

What I didn't like was FerretBoys "Gamers in Japan have to find interest in other games besides Rpgs."

You Americans need to find interest in other games besides 1 man can save the world Halo-esque trash.

^only saying to prove a point. Though I feel a little sick dropping down to stereotype levels.


YOU TOOK THAT WAY OUT OF CONTEXT. I WAS TRYING TO SAY "WOW I CAN'T BELIEVE GAMERS IN JAPAN DON'T LIKE ANY OF THE XBOX GAMES".YOU KNOW WOW "I CAN'T BELIEVE GAMERS IN JAPAN DON'T FIND ANY INTEREST IN ANY XBOX GAMES AT ALL". IT JUST CAME OUT AS ME SAYING "THEY SHOULD LIKE ARE GAMES DAMN IT". So don't take that the wrong way and if you don't like the thread don't post. I was trying to find out why the gamers in Japan dislike the xbox games. I also gave posts that nobody even read. i wasn't the person stereo typing anybody. Everyone else was saying they think japans gamers only like RPG's. I was saying that every game on xbox is not a first person shooter and I think its strange that in japan they would not like the baseball games or the golf games. What about Splinter Cell? What about the fighting games on xbox?Also halo is a great game. Don't be mad at Bill Gates just because he made it in life.

[Dagless]

These posts are excellent :)

"Don't be mad at Bill Gates just because he made it in life."

I haven't made it in life myself but I'm piggy backing off my parents who have until I finish university. but thats not the reason Japan, or I don't like Xbox games. If the Xbox wants popularity in Japan then better drop the price, stick in wifi, make it a better deal all round, and release games that will never see the light of the west. copy the DS's strategy and they will do fine. but they're doing things the same way again. ho hum.

[coffey7]

thanks for taking my post out of context. Do you understand now? some people are very jealous of rich people. its a fact. Its silly to hate someone just because they made it in life. People outside of the US stereotype the Americans like crazy. I'm sorry I am not like the people on mtv or in hollywood.Also we are not the cause of all the worlds problems.

[Dagless]

Funny, Sony and Nintendo have a lot of money too but they don't suffer the rich-owner problem? I've never had a problem jumping on a Virgin plane before as I don't have the billions of Branson, or stopped using my PowerBook because Jobs has a fair bit of dosh stashed away.

[Lau]

Maybe they don't like enough of the xbox games to justify buying the console. Even if one or two games appealed to someone (from any country) you wouldn't necessarily go and buy the console, especially if there was one, maybe two other consoles that had a range of games that appealed to you more.

[coffey7]

Maybe they don't like enough of the xbox games to justify buying the console. Even if one or two games appealed to someone (from any country) you wouldn't necessarily go and buy the console, especially if there was one, maybe two other consoles that had a range of games that appealed to you more.

I have a gamecube and I only have mario and resident evil. I only bought one because of the deal nin had with capcom.

Does anyone see how I was taken out of context?

[pcypert]

I can say living in Thailand that the Playstation is infinitely more poplular

1. Because it's more readily available.
2. It has more games they like to play

And this is the big one:
3. There are more pirated games available for playstation consoles. This is a huge driving force in the market in Thailand at least.

And to say that asians love playing rpg's is silly. You forgot soccer games :) Man do they love those...jk...but kind of not

Paul

[etoiles]

...as long as the stereotypes are blatant, there is not too much to worry about.

[greatdevourer]

IT JUST CAME OUT AS ME SAYING "THEY SHOULD LIKE ARE GAMES DAMN IT" And this comes out as me saying "you should like our spelling, dammit!". The combination of caps, pointless ranting about Bill Gates' money and appalling spelling mistakes loses every ounce of credibility, dude

[GFLPraxis]

Don't be mad at Bill Gates just because he made it in life.

Nobody's mad at Bill Gates for 'making it in life', they're mad for the illegal monopolistic actions his company does which harms competition and consumers, as proven in court.

I don't complain about a number of people on the world's richest list, but anyone whose fortune is associated with Microsoft gains my irk.

[gloss]

...as long as the stereotypes are blatant, there is not too much to worry about.

Heheh.

[asxtb]

I think its strange that in japan they would not like the baseball games or the golf games.
You ever think that the Japanese do enjoy these games. It's just that they enjoy their own versions of these games. The big selling baseball game involves the NPB (Nippon Pro Baseball) and not the MLB. Plus I notice that a lot of the sports games feature cartoon characters, not the high graphics Americans expect.

[gloss]

You ever think that the Japanese do enjoy these games. It's just that they enjoy their own versions of these games. The big selling baseball game involves the NPB (Nippon Pro Baseball) and not the MLB. Plus I notice that a lot of the sports games feature cartoon characters, not the high graphics Americans expect.

Cartoon graphics > realistic graphics.

Hot Shots Golf is so much more fun than any Tiger Woods game I've played.

[ChrisK018]

I hardly think Bill Gates making it in life is high on the list of reasons that the XBox & 360 are not doing better in Japan. That's crazy talk.

Look at any international top 10 selling games in Japan list. Not many Xbox titles show up on them. Why is so difficult to understand that a game might not do well in a different country? No matter how frickin' schweet a FPS like Halo2 might look, not everybody is going to like it.

The world is a better place as a result.

[CJM]

Well I can say I wasn't a fan of most of the Gamecube games. (Though, who can't love Super Smash Bros at a party full of drunk people? xD)


And yes, The FF series was fantastic. Admittedly, I think I played it for the environments and story but looking at the trailer of the latest one; FFXIV or XIII or whatever it is right now.. It seems to be getting silly. Mixing magic with technology and guns? Psh, keep it to one or the other, please.

I also find that I wasn't inclined towards many Xbox games. I like GTA and on the 360; Oblivion, but then again I'm not very fond of consoles full stop.

I like a game to take you a long time to complete and be extremely involving. I think that's why I love WoW ^^

[greatdevourer]

And yes, The FF series was fantastic. Admittedly, I think I played it for the environments and story but looking at the trailer of the latest one; FFXIV or XIII or whatever it is right now.. It seems to be getting silly. Mixing magic with technology and guns? Psh, keep it to one or the other, please. They've been doing this for ages, though :confused: The earliest one I've played is VIII, and that had space-ships and stuff in it. It's been sci-fantasy for a long time, now

[Dagless]

Since 7, I believe. From what I've seen of pre-7 they're all ye olde village type places. I prefer that myself. For some reason I'm reminded of the episode Time Keeps on Slipping in Futurama with the cannon guy "He's showing us what a guy with a cannon on his chest can really do", for some reason.

...maybe he'd look out of place. but a just pre-apocalyptic tech world gone bad would make for an excellent Zelda game. It can be done. It'd be a massive departure from the normal countryside of previous Zelda games.

[gloss]

I believe IX was a return to the more classic style.

I'm not a fan of this whole dark, moody, extravagant techno-future style that RPGs have slipped into. Give me Skies of Arcadia any day.

[chairguru22]

name all of the types of games you hate. and those are the types of games japanese gamers LOVE.

trauma center, phoenix wright, feel the magic, katamari damacy, japanese school girl rpgs, piano DDR, etc etc...

the xbox 360 has nothing of that sort, just FPSes and action games.

[Mackilroy]

I was just reading an interesting article a bit ago…

Like chairguru said, games we (Westerners) typically find weird are a huge hit in Japan. Games we like, the Japanese find weird.

[greatdevourer]

Sorry to bring back this thread, but I think one of the N3 dev team explains this very well:

And how important do you think it is for Microsoft to bring quality Asian-developed games to the Xbox 360 for the Japanese launch?

Sang Youn Lee: In my opinion, it is impossible to succeed in the Asian market without quality Asian-developed titles. This is because only Asian developers can really understand Asian gamers’ taste.

[ericsthename]

Canadians need to learn to play sports besides hockey, Americans need to learn to drive vehicles besides SUV's, Mexicans need to learn to like food without beans, the Chinese need to learn to build quality over quantity, the Greeks need to learn that Plato and Aristotle are thousands of years old, the British need to learn humility, the French need to stop liking wine and cheese (and those tasty croissants) and the Japanese need to learn to play games other than RPG's. Got it? Actually, I'm thinking of resigning my citizenship and moving to Playstationville in the state of XBOXland - part of the country of Nintendo. I'm just waiting for an anthem and a list of national holidays.

[Yvan256]

Cartoon graphics > realistic graphics.

Hot Shots Golf is so much more fun than any Tiger Woods game I've played.

You forget the north-american variable: cartoon graphics = game is only for little pre-school kids.

Look at how people trashed Zelda Windwaker over here (Canada, USA). But IMO that game was simply amazing, it sort of felt like the first Zelda game but in 3D.

Another (perfect) example: Katamari Damacy. That game is refreshing. Weird but refreshing. And fun! However, most people in north america just looks at it, says something along the lines of "lame", "gay", "too weird" and doesn't even want to be seen playing it ("everyone who plays that crap is a retard"). Most north-americans don't want to stray from the norm, which binds them into "Sports game 2007", "Game sequel #5" and "Yet Another First-Person Shooter 43".

People do seem to wake up a bit though, thanks to Nintendo... a japanese company. I'm extremely surprised to see "games" such as Brain Age being popular over here. I can't help but wish and hope that Nintendo will succeed with their revolution, after all. The gaming world sure needs it right now.

[skytown205]

YOU TOOK THAT WAY OUT OF CONTEXT. I WAS TRYING TO SAY "WOW I CAN'T BELIEVE GAMERS IN JAPAN DON'T LIKE ANY OF THE XBOX GAMES".YOU KNOW WOW "I CAN'T BELIEVE GAMERS IN JAPAN DON'T FIND ANY INTEREST IN ANY XBOX GAMES AT ALL". IT JUST CAME OUT AS ME SAYING "THEY SHOULD LIKE ARE GAMES DAMN IT". So don't take that the wrong way and if you don't like the thread don't post. I was trying to find out why the gamers in Japan dislike the xbox games. I also gave posts that nobody even read. i wasn't the person stereo typing anybody. Everyone else was saying they think japans gamers only like RPG's. I was saying that every game on xbox is not a first person shooter and I think its strange that in japan they would not like the baseball games or the golf games. What about Splinter Cell? What about the fighting games on xbox?Also halo is a great game. Don't be mad at Bill Gates just because he made it in life.

Based on the tone of the original post, this is a bit disingenuous don't you think? It's probably just a matter of tone, but the original post came across to me--and others, based on the responses here--as there being something wrong with the Japanese for them not liking the games you think are great.

Here's he original post:

"First of all I think if the xbox and the xbox 360 were made by a company based in Japan(with the same games) it would be a top seller. I find it hard to believe that not one single game is appealing to them. They don't think Oblivion is a good game? I can see that maybe the 360 doesn't have the games Yet but the Xbox 1 has tons of games. They didn't like the 1st xbox either. Most of the games that are on the ps2 are also on the xbox and the games look better on the xbox. I bought the first xbox and only had Halo for the first year. Now with the 360 the only game I own(for now) is Oblivion. You mean to tell me that splinter cell dosen't kick more ass on the xbox than the ps2. Of course it does. I thought the japanese loved golf. Tons of womans golfers on the LPGA are Asian. How about the Tiger Woods game? They don't like that. I understand that they don't like Halo or Grand theft auto. I don't like most of their stupid games. Come on! They don't even like one game. Thats bull."

To me, this comes across as not someone really wanting to understand why the Japanese have the taste/buying habits they do, and instead as venting frustration that their taste/buying habits don't conform to your expectations. Which is not so far from saying there is something wrong with them because they are not like you.

If the post came out in an unintended way it's not the fault of the people responding that they pointed out their discomfort with it. Are you suggesting that people shouldn't voice their reactions if they take issue?

Please understand that I'm not calling you a racist or criticizing you as a person; I'm simply saying the tone of your post brought out the responses it did for a reason.

Of course, yours wasn't the only post in this thread that caused these responses.

[ddrueckhammer]

I'm an American and actually like Japanese games quite alot. Actually, better than FPS, Sports, and Racing Sims that dominate American games. I am also 25 and grew up with Nintendo and Sega though. I think much of the stigma associated with games here is that video games in general in this country are seen as immature. I'm not saying that adults don't play games, just that there is a much larger market in the early 20's, teen and kid demographics here. Part of the reason why games like GTA and violent FPS games sell so well is that there is a taboo associated with violence and sex in this country and so of course, young people gravitate toward those subjects. I don't know if other cultures such as the Japanese are as "up tight" about these subjects but they are very well censored here. I'm not saying that it is appropriate to blatantly expose youths to violence/sex but by censoring them to the extent that we do in this country, we in effect make them more appealing. There are certainly graphic Japanese games but I think there are probably more graphic American ones, thus the appeal. As far as sports and racing games go, lets face it, Americans are obsessed with their cars and sports.

[XNine]

I'm an American and actually like Japanese games quite alot. Actually, better than FPS, Sports, and Racing Sims that dominate American games. I am also 25 and grew up with Nintendo and Sega though. I think much of the stigma associated with games here is that video games in general in this country are seen as immature. I'm not saying that adults don't play games, just that there is a much larger market in the early 20's, teen and kid demographics here. Part of the reason why games like GTA and violent FPS games sell so well is that there is a taboo associated with violence and sex in this country and so of course, young people gravitate toward those subjects. I don't know if other cultures such as the Japanese are as "up tight" about these subjects but they are very well censored here. I'm not saying that it is appropriate to blatantly expose youths to violence/sex but by censoring them to the extent that we do in this country, we in effect make them more appealing. There are certainly graphic Japanese games but I think there are probably more graphic American ones, thus the appeal. As far as sports and racing games go, lets face it, Americans are obsessed with their cars and sports.

Very, very true. The Christians and right wingers have been trying to hinder the progression of video games, citing violence, sex, and language to be the cause of our children's emoitional states. But the reason their kids are so ****ed up is because they have been keeping their children sheltered for so many years, and once they get a taste, the entire egg cracks.

Japan is much more open about it's sex and violence. But they also produce a large portion of the world's smartest workers.

Japan is a very different culture from ours. It's the lack of understanding for their tastes and cultural diversities that kills American companies over there.

[Sayer]

Very, very true. The Christians and right wingers have been trying to hinder the progression of video games, citing violence, sex, and language to be the cause of our children's emoitional states.

So Hilary Clinton and Joe Lieberman are "right wingers" now? Last time I checked, they were trying to become Federal Nannies, telling kids what they can or cannot do, for the poor dumb and clueless citizens of America.

I guess what the XBOX really needs is a lot more Japanese-friendly games that feature cartoon rape-porn, mind numbing RPGs with androgenous protaganists with ridiculously large swords and a bunch more Super Mario-featured games?

FYI: My favorite game besides Halo 2 is "Super Magnetic Neo" for the SEGA Dreamcast - a very original 3D action platformer. I have owned/played virtually every console from an Atari 2600 to all previous-gen XBOX/PS2/Gamecube. The games drive the sales of consoles, not the other way around.

[ddrueckhammer]

Hey, no need to turn this into a political forum. There are both Conservatives and Liberals who want to limit violent and sexual game content from being sold to children. IMO they are right to do so. It is debatable whether violent/sexual content harms kids or not but I don't really blame parents for wanting to err on the side of caution. If politicians want to keep illicit gaming content from being sold directly to children that is fine but I don't see that as a solution. The problem is that clueless parents buy these games for their children anyway and don't offer any supervision.

My earlier comment concerning violent/sexual content in American games was just an observation that just like drugs and alcohol, taboo subject matter will be appealing to inexperienced youths. Game developers targeting American kids want to put out subject matter that is appealing to the kids so they make more violent games and in some cases sexual such as in GTA (although sexuality for some reason is more taboo in this country than brutally murdering people). There are certainly Japanese games with these themes on the market but the prevelence is more pronounced in American games IMO. This is just an opinion so feel free to disagree.

[seenew]

name all of the types of games you hate. and those are the types of games japanese gamers LOVE.

trauma center, phoenix wright, feel the magic, katamari damacy, japanese school girl rpgs, piano DDR, etc etc...


Trauma Center, Phoenix Wright, and Katamri are great games...

[AppleinJapan]

First of all I think if the xbox and the xbox 360 were made by a company based in Japan(with the same games) it would be a top seller. I find it hard to believe that not one single game is appealing to them. They don't think Oblivion is a good game? I can see that maybe the 360 doesn't have the games Yet but the Xbox 1 has tons of games. They didn't like the 1st xbox either. Most of the games that are on the ps2 are also on the xbox and the games look better on the xbox. I bought the first xbox and only had Halo for the first year. Now with the 360 the only game I own(for now) is Oblivion. You mean to tell me that splinter cell dosen't kick more ass on the xbox than the ps2. Of course it does. I thought the japanese loved golf. Tons of womans golfers on the LPGA are Asian. How about the Tiger Woods game? They don't like that. I understand that they don't like Halo or Grand theft auto. I don't like most of their stupid games. Come on! They don't even like one game. Thats bull.

This just shows how you are totally in the dark about Japan...

First of all, The 1st X-box had trouble with disks getting scatched and bad customer support for that here when it lauched and lacked Japanese style games (yes its true - people here dont want to play FPS - shocking I know but they just dont want to play games where you are shooting people with a gun apart from time crisis) ...The X-box 360 is overpriced at 37 000 yen ! I know that the PS3 will be about the same price but the monthly video game magazine Famitsu does a poll once every two or three months about what system people want to buy next and most people stated that the PS3 would be out of their price range so people are looking to the Wii because Nintendo is back on track with the DS and the brain age style of games and it will be priced around 24,000 yen (nintendo's released the gamecube at this price)...

Yes - Japanese people buy Japanese products because they have the best support BUT they also buy Foreign products - The Ipod is an example - its huge in Japan and over the past year, Ive seen more and more people wearing one around their neck !!! so if you offer something of good quality and with Japanese products (itunes songs) available then they're buy !!

Look just face it the X-box 360 sucks here - It wont stop me buying one in a year or so because I want to play Star Wars games (the games arent so popular here on the PS2 even though the movie is hugely popular)

[Dagless]

Don't know if I've already said this, and sorry if I'm stereotyping. but Japanese gamers seem to like smarter team based games, rather than the whole "only 1 man can save the world" scenario that American companies pump out.

I've never liked Halo for that.

"Only you, Master Chief, can save the world. I mean you will do it. that's agiven. It might be a sacrafice, it migth not be. But by the end of Halo 3 EARTH WILL BE SAVED. Once more. by you only. Somehow, we still don't know how or why Chief, but only you can destroy massive alien armies with countless giant weapons and STILL fight against that old Flood enemy! amayzing!!!"

I just have that against games that try to be as realistic as possible, yet still, they're not. What are game devs trying to do?

[CJM]

*muses*

I want to go to Japan...

[Haoshiro]

"Only you, Master Chief, can save the world. I mean you will do it. that's agiven. It might be a sacrafice, it migth not be. But by the end of Halo 3 EARTH WILL BE SAVED. Once more. by you only. Somehow, we still don't know how or why Chief, but only you can destroy massive alien armies with countless giant weapons and STILL fight against that old Flood enemy! amayzing!!!"

Well there is a simple answer to that... he's the only one that can respawn. ;)

[Dagless]

Well there is a simple answer to that... he's the only one that can respawn. ;)

excellent! I LOLed :)