There has been a lot of talk recently about the decline of the Japanese videogame market, and several developers believe that in order to survive, they must "go West" and appeal to a worldwide audience. While chatting with Microsoft executive and part-time druid Aaron Greenberg, we asked what he thought about the state of Japan.
"Japan is a very important market for the gaming industry and home to some of the video game industry’s leading innovators," states Greenberg. "In many ways, I think what makes Japanese games so special is that not only are these the franchises many of us grew up playing, but Japanese creators have given us the games the world plays. I have spent a lot of time in Japan in the 10 years I have been on the Xbox business and I love the country, the people and their ability to create new experiences that could only come from Japan.
"The reality of the Japanese gaming market is that it is not the size it once was and at the same time we have seen gaming become the largest form of entertainment around the world. However, I don’t think this means that Japanese creators should be trying to come up with the next Halo or Call of Duty. I think there are ways to leverage their creativity with new tools like 'Project Natal.'"
He adds: "I also believe that there are ways for some of the popular Japanese franchises to become more approachable for a wider audience as well. As you know, at TGS this year, we held a 'Project Natal' Creators Panel with three of Japan’s leading creators, Kojima-san of Konami, Inafune-san of Capcom and Nagoshi-san of Sega and talked a lot about the future of creativity and their excitement around bringing new experiences to life with 'Project Natal.' In fact, all of the leading Japanese publishers have announced that they are actively working on games for 'Project Natal' and I can’t wait to see these come to life. I truly believe the future is bright for Japanese creators and publishers."
You'll notice that Aaron Greenberg was able to mention Project Natal four times in one answer here, as well as make it sound like the savior of the Japanese game industry. I told you this guy was good at his job.
Contest:
10:20 AM on 01.15.2010
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Hasn't gone as well as expected...
Anyway, I think most of it has to do with the amount of people playing games, or the lack thereof. Too few in Japan buy games from anything but the big publishers and franchises, while the Okami's and such go by without so much as a whimper.
Then again, that's most of the world. -_-
"By 500,000 units? Really? I was expecting more than that. You can be damn sure Sony were too!"
*pauses*
"But wait til next Christmas with 'Project Natal' on the shelves"
That term is highly offensive I hope you know. It would be like me calling you the "n" word.
That's one of the largest "problem" with gaming in Japan. Many are on the go, and handhelds make a lot more sense, not to mention a good number of games on them you can just jump right in and have fun with it.
While I think it's good for Microsoft to talk about the Japanese market, the 360 shows how little they've been able to tap into it.
While some may say, the Japanese market doesn't matter anymore!!! American hardcore! Keep in mind, that many a great game, and still a good number of games, come from Japan. The game market has shifted greatly there, with the choices and styles of games varying greatly. So what sells here, doesn't necessarily mean it will there.
Please tell me you're being sarcastic.
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The decline of the Japanese gaming market is definitely do to cultural boundaries. Americans tend to not give a shit about Japanese games. Unless of course it stars an Italian plumber.
i hope level 5, Kojima, polyponphify and team ico get outta there before that.
I think the success of the Wii and the success of the success of 2D Mario on the Wii boosting Wii's sales in Japan--and abroad--indicate that most people prefer old-school arcade-style gaming, not gaming as it has been in the last few years, where they are becoming more movie-like. That probably helps explain the success of the DS and the PSP's healthy sales, since most handhelds games focus more on old-school gaming notions.
If Microsoft wishes Natal do well at all, then they need to make games that embrace old-school arcade notions, if not, then it's gonna tank. Japan's population decline and economy isn't doing too well right now, which isn't helping the video game industry.
The reality of the situation is that most game companies are making the "wrong" kind of games. Long-term and recent history is showing us that people prefer less cinematics and less "story" in their games. They want games as games, where gameplay is at the forefront, not cinematics.
I'm pretty sure it was only 50,000 units.
what are you talking about...? remember the best selling game of all time was an american developed game (cod4).
i dont know if you know but there are a shit ton of japanese developers working on games for 360. just because the japanese games dont come out in america dont mean they dont exsist.
did you know 90% of all products are walmart are made in china? does that stop you from shopping there?
Outsold 50K in US, 500K in Japan. Don't know about the Europe number, but Europe is pretty much Sonyland.
@djvlive
Top 3 of best selling game of all time are all Mario.
Destructoid has become a long funnel for Microsoft to speak into and all we're hearing is the same bullshit echoed out the other end.
Greenberg and co will find out exactly how big the Japanese gaming market is in 2010, not through Natal, but by reading the sales figures for Gran Turismo 5.
Now watch this (http://www.gran-turismo.com/jp/news/d8925.html) and when you can finally admit just how awesome it is to have real GPS data captured and entered into a REAL driving simulator (GT5), feel free to write something positive about * video games * for a change and leave the fanboy rant articles to people who actually give a f***.