Japan sucks

[Diff-chan]

Since the gaming industry is as big as Hollywood ... they need to start advertising like Hollywood does (promotional trailers in movie theatres, toy tie-ins at fast food places, billboards, etc).

They do all of these things, chief.

Anyway, this article just tells me what I alreayd know - that the gaming market in Japan is irrelevant and will continue to be more irrelevant as time goes on. I wouldnt be surprised to see another 35% drop.

Really, the only reason why people care about gaming in Japan is because Sony is a Japanese company (so they cater to them). Thankfully, Microsoft has broken the stranglehold of Japanese console manufacturers, and if they were smart they would realize that they dont even need the Japanese market.

As for Japanese games? Theyve gotten worse and worse as time goes on while North American and European ones get better. There WAS a time, not too long ago, when Japanese games were consistently better in all genres on consoles. Now? No way. Not even close.

We Americans have simply taken back what is rightfully ours. Hoo-aaa!

[NeoZeedeater]

We Americans have simply taken back what is rightfully ours. Hoo-aaa!

To be fair, when comparing single countries Japan doesn't look so bad. Great Western games are coming from a variety of locations: US, UK, Canada, France, etc. whereas great Eastern games are almost entirely from Japan(Korea and Hong Kong aren't very impressive).

[gamevet]

I suppose certain areas run them more than others.

For example, I've never seen a buy two get a second one free EA commercial but I saw that Donkey Konga one about a million times.

Try watching ESPN. That's where EA spends it's money. It's a perfect fit, for the demographic they're aiming for.

If you watch football, EA spends money on Madden and NBA Live ads there as well.

[Diff-chan]

To be fair, when comparing single countries Japan doesn't look so bad. Great Western games are coming from a variety of locations: US, UK, Canada, France, etc. whereas great Eastern games are almost entirely from Japan(Korea and Hong Kong aren't very impressive).

What great Eastern games? What great ones are still coming out?

[Roufuss]

If you watch football, EA spends money on Madden and NBA Live ads there as well.

I never saw one EA ad the entire time I was watching football, weird =/

Can't really think of one I've seen in the last couple of weeks, except for that shitty NBA Live ad that I saw while I was flipping channels.

[Cheebs]

What great Eastern games? What great ones are still coming out?

I know they're still the same games they were in 1998 but...
Damn it, Bemani games still come out, and they rock harder than anything from any developer.

[Yoshi]

To be fair, when comparing single countries Japan doesn't look so bad. Great Western games are coming from a variety of locations: US, UK, Canada, France, etc. whereas great Eastern games are almost entirely from Japan(Korea and Hong Kong aren't very impressive).

I'm calling bullshit. Outside of BioWare and Rockstar North, what Western but non-US developers are making great games right now? Perhaps this is just ignorance on my part, but nothing is coming to mind.

[NeoZeedeater]

What great Eastern games? What great ones are still coming out?

Recently - Pikmin 2, OutRun 2, Astroboy(GBA), Otogi 2. They're probably not your thing though.

I'm calling bullshit. Outside of BioWare and Rockstar North, what Western but non-US developers are making great games right now? Perhaps this is just ignorance on my part, but nothing is coming to mind.

EA Canada makes good stuff although it's not my kind of thing. Ubisoft Montreal has Prince of Persia. France has Beyond Good & Evil and Kya(I think it's great, most haven't played it), I'm looking forward to Norway's The Longest Journey sequel, Finland has Max Payne, Starbreeze of Sweden made Riddick on Xbox.

[Will]

Recently - Pikmin 2, OutRun 2, Astroboy(GBA), Otogi 2. They're probably not your thing though.

And Devil May Cry 3 hopefully.

[gamevet]

I'm calling bullshit. Outside of BioWare and Rockstar North, what Western but non-US developers are making great games right now? Perhaps this is just ignorance on my part, but nothing is coming to mind.

Ubi Soft: BG&E and Prince of Persia.

Bizarre Creations: Project Gotham Racing

Visual Concepts: ESPN Football, ESPN NBA and ESPN NHL 2K5.


Looks like Neo beat me to it.