Real-time strategy and First-person shooters...why aren't they popular in Japan?

This is a very interesting quote I found in the Call of Duty 3 review from IGN when a Japanese developer asked this editor why FPSs are so popular in America:

"I was recently asked by a Japanese game developer why first-person shooters are so popular in America. Don't we get bored of doing the same thing over and over? At the time I was at a loss for an explanation, but after playing Call of Duty 3 I can answer that question. We don't mind playing scores of shooters because month after month we're presented with games in the genre that up the ante in terms of presentation, mechanics, and overall quality. For example, only a year after Treyarch brought us Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, they're back with another installment in the series. They've added enough to the successful Call of Duty formula that we were happy to once again join the battle for the free world." --IGN( http://ps2.ign.com/articles/746/746053p1.html )

But I think the real question should be the other way around and it should be the editor asking the Japanese developer, "Why aren't first-person shooters popular in Japan?" The answer to that question is something we may never really know. I would even throw in real-time strategy (RTS) games in that mix.

I think the whole argument that "games are hard" is a cop-out and not the whole truth to why games like these aren't popular in Japan. For example, what about Gundam games? Controlling a Gundam is more complicating than memorizing all the controls for Master Chief. Also, there are tons of anime games I played that had insane control schemes yet they found huge success in the Japanese market. So it's not that games are complicated to why they avoid FPSs and RTSs...I think it's something more than that. Also, the violence issue is also contradicted by Japanese games like Biohazard (Resident Evil), Metal Gear Solid, Onimusha, Devil May Cry, and any Suda 51 game. And anime/manga has tons of violence, so blaming western games for being all about "killing" is a little hypocritical, don't you think?

The surprising thing is, a lot of well-known and respected Japanese developers are fans of Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike, and Starcraft. Maybe it's because they're hardcore gamers at heart, but my point is, if they can like it than I wonder why the average Japanese gamer avoid or ignore these certain western genres?

Anyway, just thought I bring up a topic of discussion. I don't have all the answers, but I'm just throwing out possibilites, contradictions, hypocracy, and the "why" question to this complicated issue.

there's a stigma that if you play FPS's that your a mindless killing machine. That's why alot of FPS fans in japan are closet fans.

There's also a lack of unique on the spot strategy in Japan which is why competitive gaming there is almost nil except in game where timing is involved (like fighters, and many of the arcade style music games). RTS games are popular in the US because it builds our stratigic skills. Americans are great at changing their strategy to exploit the enemy while alot of Japan gamers I've seen will come into a game w/ a strategy but never change it, even if they realize they can't win with it.

As far as FPS shooters go most Japanese (though they won't say this) are too easily lost in such an open game. In most FPS the goals aren't really that clear and you have to figure them out on your own, and this doesn't work in the Japanese market. They really prefere being told what to do instead of figuring it out. The same thing over and over again is pretty much how older FPSs were though, and even today developers put a stronger emphasis on strategy then variety in FPSs.

I would like to bring up a point in this case.

We have 2 distinct families of RPGs, Eastern (Final Fantasy)and Western (Elder Scrolls), althoughI don't have the time so here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_differences_in_role-playing_video_games

Anyway, to answer your original question.

I think they're not popular in Japan because they are not in the perspective view to match their tastes. I mean, how many notable Japanese made first-person shooters are there? Killer7 for example. Maybe it'sin the market and the Japanese "have bad taste in gaming". Oblivion just came out over there. I can't really find an article on why they don't like FPS or RTS that much.

it's simple... it's because they are racist.

just messing around... i just wanted to be the first person in a topic about japanese tastes to say that for a change.

the real reason is more than likely... different cultures.

Why don't people in the US like JRPGs? Answering that question may help... although there are a lot of JRPG fans in the US. :?Funkyhamster

That's not accurate at all. jRPGS are extremely popular in America. The last5 or 6Final Fantasies have all sold over a million copies. Most don't sell quite that well, but I think it's fair to say many do half a million sold pretty easy. I mean take a look at Gamestop and see how many jRPGs there are for the PS2. There's a flood of them. If they weren't popular here, we wouldn't have so many for sale. A better comparison might be something like Dating Sims which while very popular in Japan, rarely see the light of day in America.

As for why this is, who knows? Why don't more Americans like to eat raw octopus? Why isn't Kancho a national past-time here? Our cultures are different, and that's what it comes down to. There's no need for everyone to do things the same way and like the same things. It's what makes us look interesting to each other.

The Japanese have a completely different culture and mindset to us westerners.zeus_gb

Simply put, Americans are more concious with their feeling. When they play a game, they wanna feel like they are in the game rather then playing it. They want realistic enviroment, sorta like virtual world. So to Western game developer, they need to concern about setting the game mood right.

Japanese are more focus on gameplay, in a sense of overcoming variety challange. They're well aware that they're playing a game and don't attempt to pretend they are the character they control.

This would also explain, why Western RPG like Elder Scroll focus on building a realistic world, but Eastern RPG like DQ and FF more concern about mini game.

This is a hard question to answer, but I'm sure it goes a bit deeper than just acouple Western-created genres. Why don't they buy Western games in general? Even the ones that fall within the genres they supposedly like?

It's a question that I doubt any of us here are qualified to answer.

I think that a lack of exposure to such games plays a much bigger role than anything else. FPS and RTS games were, up until only a few years back, predominately a PC-only affair. PC gaming is non-existant in Japan. When first-person shooters started to appear on consoles, the Xbox was home to most of them - a console that was a failure in Japan. The 360 is doing even worse. Most Western developers don't even bother releasing their games in Japan, it just isn't worth the effort. So how are the Japanese supposed to even be aware of these games?

I think that a lack of exposure to such games plays a much bigger role than anything else. FPS and RTS games were, up until only a few years back, predominately a PC-only affair. PC gaming is non-existant in Japan. When first-person shooters started to appear on consoles, the Xbox was home to most of them - a console that was a failure in Japan. The 360 is doing even worse. Most Western developers don't even bother releasing their games in Japan, it just isn't worth the effort. So how are the Japanese supposed to even be aware of these games?

UpInFlames

I don't even think it's a matter of Western devs feeling it isn't worth the effort...since it seems more like, from what I've researched, they've never bothered really trying to break into the market, probably because the returns they get from their current markets are enough to satisfy the budget needs they've had, so there's no need to penetrate the Japanese market.

i remember seeing a topic like this on another site, think it was kotaku, and some guy replied 'the japanese like taking turns killing each other' lol.

They're more concerned on the Anime and Manga

As far as FPS shooters go most Japanese (though they won't say this) are too easily lost in such an open game. In most FPS the goals aren't really that clear and you have to figure them out on your own, and this doesn't work in the Japanese market. They really prefere being told what to do instead of figuring it out.

jrhawk42

I highly doubt that by looking at the old JRPG's and the popular MMO's and action-adventure games *Zelda, Castlevania, etc* (though they aren't as popular their as in America*

Why don't people in the US like JRPGs? Answering that question may help... although there are a lot of JRPG fans in the US. :?Funkyhamster

Agreed besides Poke'mon, Final Fantasy, and Kingdom Hearts very few break half a million. Also why not shoot-em-ups?

They're more concerned on the Anime and Manga

DanMisfits11

:roll:

it's simple... it's because they are racist.

just messing around... i just wanted to be the first person in a topic about japanese tastes to say that for a change.

the real reason is more than likely... different cultures.

smerlus

Do you have ANY idea how often I hear that comment in System Wars?

Anyway to answer the question even further for Ask_Story, tell me WHY were Japanese games popular in the West? After the videogame crash all Western devs. did two things.

#1 Make games for PC

#2 Closed down their studio.

So when Nintendo miracally resurrected the home console market, there weren't any third party Western devs, so the Japanese devs saw the oppurunity to publish their titles and suceed. Hell most of the original strong supporters are still big today: Capcom, Konami/Ultra *one company*, Bandai, and Namco. However as time passed the games in the West started being more....well West. The SEGA Genesis had more "Western titles' such as Licensed and Sports titles. The N64 had many Western games from FPS's, Action, Sim., to Sports. With the Playstation, SONY brought many first party Western developers. Then the Xbox came and brought PC gaming, and well everyone knows the current. Yes Japanese gaming was once popular in the West but now it's almost or maybe even is "niche". However I think that's due to 3 things.

#1 The Japanese Core Gamer Recession

#2 Most Japanese Devs./Publishers are on the DS.

#3 The Xbox 360 is the current market leader.

However I predict that in the coming years we will see strong Japaense developers and publishers come strong *PM me if your intrested since I don't want to go off-topic*

So that's why Japanese games are even mentioned here, hell do you remember the Atari ages when everything had to be serious? MISSILE COMMAND! SPACE INVADERS! TRON! Yes there were some Japanese games such as Frogger and Pacman but you really couldn't tell to much of a difference and thought of it as "cartoony". Actually the majority of Japanese devs. then made games solely for the Western audience *Taito's a big one*.

Hey want a stranger question?

How come in Japan, American movies take the top spots in the box office, but you never see a Japanese *actually foreign* film in general doing well in America?

That's not accurate at all. jRPGS are extremely popular in America. The last5 or 6Final Fantasies have all sold over a million copies. Most don't sell quite that well, but I think it's fair to say many do half a million sold pretty easy. I mean take a look at Gamestop and see how many jRPGs there are for the PS2. There's a flood of them. If they weren't popular here, we wouldn't have so many for sale. A better comparison might be something like Dating Sims which while very popular in Japan, rarely see the light of day in America.

Robio_basic

^^^^Few JRPG's break the half million mark in America, FF, KH, and Poke'mon are the only ones from the top of my head that do.

Simply put, Americans are more concious with their feeling. When they play a game, they wanna feel like they are in the game rather then playing it. They want realistic enviroment, sorta like virtual world. So to Western game developer, they need to concern about setting the game mood right.

Japanese are more focus on gameplay, in a sense of overcoming variety challange. They're well aware that they're playing a game and don't attempt to pretend they are the character they control.

This would also explain, why Western RPG like Elder Scroll focus on building a realistic world, but Eastern RPG like DQ and FF more concern about mini game.

pmleumas

Highly agree. Western gamers want to be "IN" the game, while the Japanese gamers want to just "PLAY" the game, if that makes sense :P