Japanese Gamer

[the_dude]

Just read this article:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=10077

The survey seems to be a little worrying for Xbox 360, in terms of support its going to get from the far east. But what's more dissapointing is the following:

80 per cent of those polled want to see major franchises on the next-gen systems, as against only 60 per cent who want original titles.

I know it's only a survey of 1000 people, but i thought Japanese gamers would want something original when it comes to the next gen. Myself would like to see more original content, like many gamers out there i would rather play original content than say: Metal Gear Solid 4, Gran Turismo 5, and the next gen Zelda and Mario. Although these are new titles, they are old concepts coated in next gen hardware.

some commentators have suggested that there is also a basic unwillingness among Japanese consumers to invest in a console produced overseas.

This is being stupid and childish, that's like people here in the west saying "i'm not going to buy a Sony or Nintendo system because it's made in Japan" and if we did, it would surely be worrying times for both of those company's mentioned.

I just hope that when the Xbox 360 get's released, Japanese gamers look beyond the western influence of the console itself and concentrate on the content it can deliver i.e. a load of original games in development (Japanese and Western), plus the chance to being part of the best online service a console can offer, i mean lets face facts here, Sony and Nintendo have got nothing compared to Xbox Live.


To take this subject in a different direction. You may be wondering why i want the Xbox 360 to do well in Japan,well the reason is this: I'm pissed off with having to own more than one console for the games i want to play.

I look around my room and have the following consoles: 2 PS2's (one Japanese, one US), Gamecube, Xbox, and DS. With barley enough time to play one console (due to work, my social life, girlfriend, and family), never mind 4, it's getting beyond a joke.

I mean if you had to own a certain DVD player to watch Disney movies and another to watch Warner Brothers movies, it just wouldn't happen. The DVD format as we know it, would be dead before it had even begun.

Anyway, i'm getting one console for the next generation (360) because a) It has load's of new content in development and b) has the best on-line gaming/service a console can have.

Even if the Xbox 360 doesn't have major Japanese support, at least i'll play and complete most of the games i get!

Cheers

[Molloy]

If you ask consumers what they want they'll always say they want more of something they've already had. They can't make that leap of imagination. That's up to the developers. Then the marketing chaps need to work out a way to sell that new product.

The games I like most are the ones that surprise me. That satisfy a need I didn't know existed. Problem is when companies start listening to what their customers want too much. Focus groups are a ****ing bane on every industry. You just have to trust your innovative types. Innovation drives growth in every market. Flogging a dead horse will keep you afloat for a few years but it's a bad long term strategy.

I think more publishers need to get their marketing right. They should be capable of selling something that isn't a ww2, sport or historical strategy game in large numbers.

[Zanza]

I assume you have used the next generation Sony, Nintendo, and Xbox online services before you came to the presumption that xbox 360 will be "the best on-line gaming/service a console can have" ?

I look around my room and have the following consoles: 2 PS2's (one Japanese, one US), Gamecube, Xbox, and DS. With barley enough time to play one console (due to work, my social life, girlfriend, and family), never mind 4, it's getting beyond a joke.

Do you think we are the only ones who dont want to fawk out for every console in a generation, just so we can play all the different game franchises? The Japanese have the same problem! Why should they go out an buy an xbox when it offers them a tiny ammount of games compared to the PS2. Sure Xbox 360 might have a few Japanese developers on board already, but their not making games for the japanese market, their making games for the global market, something that isnt going to make a difference unfortunately.

[Crossed fingers]

ed's deleted post

Draw your attention to this BBC report

[Kotatsu Neko]

I'm surprised that 60% want new games. I'd of expected the number to be much lower. Most people do not want original games or movies, they just want exactly the same as they have seen hundreds of times before. Why? No idea. Also don't expect the Japanese to be any different to the West on this stuff, they're very nearly as bad. Dead or Alive 4 anyone?

And the Japanese are indeed extremely racist. They do it in a polite way of course, they don't have racist thugs like the BNP as we do here, but the amount of racism in Japan is far beyond anything you would see in a Western country.

It's also funny you should say - "I mean if you had to own a certain DVD player to watch Disney movies and another to watch Warner Brothers movies, it just wouldn't happen. The DVD format as we know it, would be dead before it had even begun." ---- This is exactly what's happening with the next generation of DVD. The DVD comitee has an approved next DVD, it's called HD-DVD and it may be what XB360 is using if you believe the rumours. Then there is Sony's Blu-Ray (betamax 2 you could say), which they are sticking in PS3. Each format has it's supporters, so to see movies from all the studios you're going to need two players. Now isn't that smart, don't you just love it when Sony decides to make up another new standard that it can control!

[gingerj]

Anyway, i'm getting one console for the next generation (360) because a) It has load's of new content in development and b) has the best on-line gaming/service a console can have.

And you know this how? Maybe you should change your name to Mystic Meg, if the XBOX 360 is anything like its older brother than it'll be a continuous barrage of western junk. The launch sympathises with my viewpoint look at how many already rubbish racers/first person action games are in development...

[Zanza]

Exactly. If Microsoft want Xbox360 to make a scratch on the Japanese market then they need to tap into the source of 'Japanese' games that is currently dominated by PS2, and in the future the PS3.

Shootemup ports, hack and slash, Dating/Adventure games, drift racers, games based on Anime, Simulators, Beatmani, games based on Japanese history and culture, and more importantly RPG's (Japan has a huge RPG catalogue compared to the west). Microsoft made no effort to develop for this market on Xbox, they will do the same come Xbox360, and it will be their downfall in the Japanese market. Then again, thats not what they are really aiming at, the console is for the western market, anything else is a bonus I suppose.

[Gunstar]

Damn thats a sexy avatar Crossed fingers.

the_dude: "Myself would like to see more original content, like many gamers out there i would rather play original content than say: Metal Gear Solid 4, Gran Turismo 5, and the next gen Zelda and Mario. Although these are new titles, they are old concepts coated in next gen hardware."

Whoa easy there, the intentions of those sequels (can only really talk about Mgs4 and GT5) are not to be "old concepts coated in next gen hardware" they are striving for evolution. Zelda was already an established brand before the revolutionary ocarina of time(again in terms of design and open to opinion) whose to say an existing franchise can't give birth to something reveloutionary, Mgs4 has already stated it's intriguing gameplay concept that surely proves it's not aiming to be generic third person action title with next gen grfx. Those examples aren't the best choice for getting your point of not enough original titles. Evolution is an important part of design as is the more obvious original and unique concepts. I'm guessing your tired with everything else and just want more in the vein of Rez,Ico,Frequency etc. Which is fair, it's a shame that the people who want the same are a dot within a dot within a large circle.

[the_dude]

I assume you have used the next generation Sony, Nintendo, and Xbox online services before you came to the presumption that xbox 360 will be "the best on-line gaming/service a console can have" ?

Xbox 360 will have the best on-line gaming, due to the fact that it's building on what it's already got with Xbox Live. Sony and Nintendo have got major developing to do within the on-line aspect of gaming, i mean, come on, there on-line service is virtually non-existant as we speak.

And you know this how?

Don't you read the gaming press? Jesus...even my dog would know to do this!

[gingerj]

Err what the hell is that meant to mean?

Btw you do know that Nintendo were online during the NES days They've been waiting, till their plans are bullet proof...

[Vince]

I've been into games for long enough now to know that things will always surprise you and its really not worth even trying to speculate at this point. I'm sure there will be reasons to own all the consoles, as with all previous generations and i also agree that Microsoft will need to get decent Japanese developers on board if they are to suceed in the far east, but maybe they will, maybe the PS3 will be too expensive but maybe the Revolution will be miles better than either and put Nintendo back on top, you just don't know yet.

Also as far as online stuff goes you are right in saying that xbox live is currently the best service (bar using a PC) but both the others have said they are going to make a much bigger effort in this area, and given Nintendo seem to know alot about making multiplayer games then it could be very interesting in a couple of years time.

[Keitaro]

And Nintendo has experimented enough in the past with the Famicom's networking, the Base Satellaview for Super Famicom and RandNet for the N64. Of course that's no gurantee that their online services will blow us away - but it also means they're not exactly being caught with their pants down either.

Wait and see is the way to go.

[Castor Krieg]

Sorry, to bust in here, with all the Nintendo being great and so (for the record - I have a GC and a GBA), but SERIOUSLY, I don't know how anyone could hope that PS3 and REVO will beat X360 in on-line play. We know X360 will be basically XLive 2.0, what about PS3 and REVO? Any info on the structure, how the multiplayer gonna look like? Nope.
At the same time, I really feel sorry for X360 in Japan. First of all, the Japanese don't give a damn about online gaming. They have their jRPGs, Katamari Damacy, Denscha-de-go, so who needs multiplayer?
Recent article on Gameindustry.biz, 3 reasons to buy PS3:

"Respondents cited the Sony brand, along with a perception that the PS3 will have the widest range of software and a technological edge over its rivals, as the key reasons for picking the PS3 over the other systems"

Sorry, but I get kind like split-personality impressions. Sony brand? You mean crappy PS2 laser, PSP dead pixels and such? Not to mention whole line of TVs being faulty? Way to go Sony! Widest range of software - true, although it should be called "widest range of jRPGs and god-knows-what's-the-idea games". Technological edge - since when the Japanese care about "the edge"? Since when the DS sells horribly because it's a junk when compared to PSP? Get my meaning?

Things will probably end like this - Japan will be left out. Yes, I know Sony invented PSX, I know Nintendo is Japanese. But seriously, with Nintendo putting more importance on European market, and growing market in China, some producers might simply say: "Forget it". Sure, Japan will get the next PS56. But I couldn't care less. And I especially don't like this part:

"...but it's Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy themselves which Japanese gamers want - with the survey showing that 80 per cent of those polled want to see major franchises on the next-gen systems, as against only 60 per cent who want original titles."

Way to go! Let Sony drop another GT, EA go with FIFA/NBA/NHL/MADDEN. Really, those people should be blasted.

[Ginger Tosser]

So i can gather that because Xbox live is already out live 2 will be better. Personally i think that the free service will win. If the PS3 is online out of the box FOC then people will vote with their wallets. Isn't Playstation2 online already bigger than Xbox Live?

[Castor Krieg]

Isn't Playstation2 online already bigger than Xbox Live?

Ehhhhhh......no. I don't think it's even 1/5 the size of XBL. The amount of people playing Halo on Live, and the amount of people playing WoW proves that customers are willing to pay, if they think the trade-off is right.