For what i've seen thus far -

MOST western developers are at least looking at the present or the future of games. They're pushing boundaries or at least "keeping up" with gameplay concepts, design, innovation, etc.

MOST eastern developers are at most only keeping up. Most are looking back and trying to relive the glory of their snes and ps1 days. Nostalgia is nice and all, but it doesn't make for a good argument that you're progressing. I can count the games that couldn't be done on previous consoles (graphic fidellity not included) from eastern developers with one hand AND i can count innovative game design from them with one hand also - all of them coming from nintendo's hardware creativity push.

What does it matter? If a game is awesome, a game is awesome. It doesn't matter where it came from. I don't understand why this is even an issue. Okami would have been no more wonderful if it was made in Turkey. Carnival Games would have been no less boring if it was made in Russia.

I just don't see why a game's origin should matter or why this is a concern.

More advanced games doesn't mean better. My favourite games are still made in japan. 5 - 10 years of development doesn't give you better ideas.

You are jaded, John B. Perhaps you don't follow the ups and down of the games industry and just play games, I don't know. Its not about a games origin as such, just that the japanese are slipping behind.

What Okamoto is saying is the truth though. I love japanese games, possibly more than western ones. I remember well once when western games were pretty average or lame in comparison.

The west has studied the japanese and learned a lot of good things, while also creating 3D tech and thinking forward. I say the PC market plays a big part in this in the west, whereas in japan, PC aren't as popular. A game like Portal was created by unknown talent, and graphics are always being pushed forward by games like Crysis.

Its true, many japanese developers are guilty of not trying anything different enough from what made them successful, we need only look at Square for evidence of this.

And if not Square, take a look at some recent japanese games. The most original games coming from japan seem to be on DS, Ouendan and Trauma Center. Both from Inis and Atlus, who are both small developers

Arc Systems are another developer, though small will try something new from japanese standards. Platinum Games again small in size but showing and creating cool stuff.

Perhaps its the case that large japanese developers/publishers want to take less chances, but this will eventually hurt them. On top of that, the lack of them building their own or investing in newer 3D engines also makes their work look very dated.

I'm glad some are waking up to the facts, and this isnt japan bashing either, just plain truth.

There are, in fact, only about three Japanese games, which they just change graphically for each release.

Companies like Capcom are certainly doing what they can to keep up

I laughed at that...well only cause Capcom is meh these days.

I can understand where he's coming from though. You didn't see many big time western games during the 90s and it was only so few that stood out. GTA didn't get so big till 3, FPS while only really big in the PC crowd, began growing thanks to their slow move to the consoles during the DC/PS2 days. Where the West seems to stick to graphic pushing and adding/changing gameplay, the Japanese are tending to stick to their usual good selling roots. Not saying it's a bad thing but a change wouldn't hurt.

But then you have to realize that Japanese don't like FPS and are big on Fighters and RPGs. Competitive fighing games are kinda dying in the US and RPGs apparently aren't as big as MMORPGs in America.

Capcom is awesome. Nintendo is awesome. Everything else from Japan has been rapidly going downhill. Et tu, Square?!

ya it's just different...and it should stay that way...

America wins!

@ Eternalplayer2345;

I agree with you. I don't want Japan to change the way it makes games, at least for the reason of 'the west are doing it better'. I'd rather allow them to change when they get bored with it.