Silent Hill series composer Akira Yamaoka has admitted that he feels Japanese game development is in trouble when compared to the advances of American technology. Akira made the statement when talking about the American team he is working with on Silent Hill 5, a game that some are skeptical about due to the Western origins of the developers.
"There are of course advantages and disadvantages, but overall, I'm really impressed with the American staff and their technology," stated the musician and producer. "Their graphical and technical ability is amazing. There's a huge leap, actually. I look at what American developers are doing and I think wow... Japan is in trouble."
Is Japan really that far behind America in terms of games development? With software like Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy XIII on the horizon, it's not likely that we'll be seeing our Eastern friends throw the towel in anytime soon. If Japan does have anything to worry about, its a stuck-in-the-mud culture that won't accept new things and a bunch of business suits who are too mired in "tradition" to expand their horizons.
Oh, and the hentai. So much hentai.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
9:44 AM on 12.17.2007 | 
"If Japan does have anything to worry about, its a stuck-in-the-mud culture that won't accept new things and a bunch of business suits who are too mired in "tradition" to expand their horizons."
The same thing could be said about the U.S. side of things.
I do agree with the Hentai jab. Seriously tentacles...what the hell Japan?!
Individuality in being a gamer doesnt exist anymore. Either you're part of a core audience,or a cult classic. So in some ways, both sides are suffering from creativity. Don't try to change the subject, because its true.
It lets Japan win in all things
I would argue that Japan IS in trouble if the only two titles coming out of the land of the rising sun that anyone seems to talk about with any real excitement are those same two games over and over... and over again.
The only other Japanese publisher that has any clout anymore is Capcom, but they've been catering to American audiences for years anyway.
or at least how I see it. Japan love their jrpgs, most americans love the FPS. I don't see what the BS is about. Most americans just care about shining graphics, Japan...i'm not so sure.
either way though, Gaming in general is in trouble if we keep getting short ass games for 60 bucks or higher down the road. Stop pumpin that shit with graphic overhaul and give me some gameplay.
In America, we use real fake people for our porn.
Tecmo is a japanese company is it not?
btw, Ninja Gaiden is awesome.
If there was any part of Japan's culture I could neatly remove with the mere press of a button, it would be this creepy sexual repression that causes this sort of thing.
But anyway, I have noticed that American games tend to look much better in terms of graphics. Ir's not universal, of course, but I think it's pretty telling when even Japanese devs start using the Unreal engine.
Oh shit, spoilers!!11!1!1oneoneeleventyone!!111
Ninja Gaiden is awesome, but then so is God of War. So really, there's good stuff coming out of both the east and the west. It all comes down to what you prefer in your games.
In b4 someone mentions Spore like it's the 2nd coming.
Oh shit, spoilers!!11!1!1oneoneeleventyone!!111
Ninja Gaiden is awesome, but then so is God of War. So really, there's good stuff coming out of both the east and the west. It all comes down to what you prefer in your games.
In b4 someone mentions Spore like it's the 2nd coming.
On the technical end of things, I don't think Japan is in trouble, but you're DEFINITELY right when you say that they are a stick-in-the-mud culture that refuses change. All the people there want now are Squeenix spinoffs and Brain Age type games.