Is Japan Behind?

[mobiusclimber]

But the two DS remakes/ports didn't sell very well either. Shame b/c they're my favorite titles on the DS. But yeah I can see what you guys are saying.

[AmishSamurai]

I'll say that Japanese games and Western games are both getting stale, but in their own way. JRPG menu-based combat is dull after a while, especially when you reach that point where strategy starts meaning little and it's just grinding your way to victory. The plots are also pretty boring too. We know the cliche of angsty pretty-boy teen has their hometown destroyed, teams up with group of people to kill Evil Overlord and/or God/Devil.

However, Western games have their own cliches too. Sandbox cover-based shooters with bald, gruff (space) marine type main characters and not a lick of personality become one-man armies and take out aliens/Russians/terrorists/Nazis.

It's a matter of getting between the two I guess.

[ZeroAX]

However, Western games have their own cliches too. Sandbox cover-based shooters with bald, gruff (space) marine type main characters and not a lick of personality become one-man armies and take out aliens/Russians/terrorists/Nazis.

totally agree, but western games don't have fanboys who will defend their crappy story and/or gameplay just because they are from the west.

ever tried to tell an anime/manga/JRPG fanboy (not fan, fanboy) that about 99% of all anime/manga/JRPGs are utter crap? (it is the same with everything imo, books/music/movies from whatever country of origin, but I have only seen console and J-thing fanboys rejecting that).




besides I'm getting a feeling that most of the best stuff (story wise) doesn't leave Japan. Remember these are the people that thought western gamers would be too dumb for RPGs (even though CRPGs at the time were waaaaaay more complex than JRPGs).



I hate mainstream thinking executives. They can't see that there is money in releasing cult hits, if done right.

[MrPopo]

besides I'm getting a feeling that most of the best stuff (story wise) doesn't leave Japan. Remember these are the people that thought western gamers would be too dumb for RPGs (even though CRPGs at the time were waaaaaay more complex than JRPGs).

7th Dragon is proof the best stuff isn't leaving Japan.

I hate mainstream thinking executives. They can't see that there is money in releasing cult hits, if done right.

Smaller localizers like Atlus USA have made a business model out of this, but even they can get burned if they over extend. Still, without them I wouldn't be able to play Etrian Odyssey III tomorrow.

[MrEco]

I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said. But long story short - I think Japan should stay the way it is (Although while still trying to constantly improve upon itself like any developer should). Japanese dev's have far too much imagination to be put to waste trying to cater to Call of Duty junkies.

I'll say that Japanese games and Western games are both getting stale, but in their own way. JRPG menu-based combat is dull after a while, especially when you reach that point where strategy starts meaning little and it's just grinding your way to victory. The plots are also pretty boring too. We know the cliche of angsty pretty-boy teen has their hometown destroyed, teams up with group of people to kill Evil Overlord and/or God/Devil.

However, Western games have their own cliches too. Sandbox cover-based shooters with bald, gruff (space) marine type main characters and not a lick of personality become one-man armies and take out aliens/Russians/terrorists/Nazis.

It's a matter of getting between the two I guess.

Very good point. Some developer should try making a game (A completely new IP - Not an existing franchise) that blends together Western and Japanese styles. And Eastern European too. The Polish and Russians have almost scary imaginative game dev's.

[AmishSamurai]

However, Western games have their own cliches too. Sandbox cover-based shooters with bald, gruff (space) marine type main characters and not a lick of personality become one-man armies and take out aliens/Russians/terrorists/Nazis.

totally agree, but western games don't have fanboys who will defend their crappy story and/or gameplay just because they are from the west.

Gonna disagree with you there. There are some diehard western game fanatics, but it's less "It's from the west, therefore amazing" and more "If it's not from the west, it's retarded weaboo bullshit and you're a retard for liking it".

[Bradtemple87]

This hits me in the heart pretty hard when I look at the changing times over the last 10 years. I looked at my cramped bookshelves of my collection and at least 90% of it has to be from Japan at one point in time or another. What drew me to Japanese games years ago was that they had a style to them that was all their own. I hope that they can capture this again and leave the race of western game style behind them. Megaman, Street Fighter, Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid, and many many more. The legacy is there, and I think if the right games present themselves developers will find that their fans never left their side.

[Octopod]

I think Japan is still king when it comes to certain genres, namely shmups. Though those are far and few between now.

Beyong that I personally prefer western style games as far as the current generation goes. In my mind there is nothing stale about FPS for one reason. FPS is not really a genre is a mechanic. At least that is how I think of it. What is the difference between a TPS and an FPS? The view. That is a mechanic not a genre seperation.

[ZeroAX]

Gonna disagree with you there. There are some diehard western game fanatics, but it's less "It's from the west, therefore amazing" and more "If it's not from the west, it's retarded weaboo bullshit and you're a retard for liking it".

oh ok. Just I haven't met any of those.


And Bradtemple, it's true that for the longest time western developers sucked at making console games. If you look for western gems from the 90s and until 2004-5 you'd have to look at PC games.

And that is the great advantage that western studios have. They have experience from the PC so when it comes to online features they have better ideas (and specially with the 360 online seams to be very important to its players). I think it was a mistake that all Japanese developers didn't bother with the PC (bar Sega ironically, which published games for the PC even when it still had the Mega Drive. That is why it is such a major player in the pc market these days (total war, and football manager are huge franchises in Europe).


Plus FPS games are the current trend, and everyone knows that the genre was the PC's greatest strength, and many developers have really important experience from the PC market.



Ironically, if ported and marketed right, I believe Japanese games, like JRPGs platformers ect. can do well on PC, since it is going to be a new genre, that many hardcore PC gamers will not have experienced. But when they release buggy ports, with horrible horrible controls (I still remember metal gear solid telling me to press select on my keyboard) and most of all, with a 6 month - 2 years delay, no one is going to pay any attention to their games.

[Pulsar_t]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010- ... ehind-west