Kojima feels Japanese creators need to look outside Japan for inspiration

what do you say sw, is the big Kojima right or has be drinking a little too much sake?

vg247 Hideo Kojima believes the biggest problem with Japanese developers is that everything is catered to the Japanese market whether its novels, films or games.

Speaking to CVG at E3, Kojima said its his intent when developing titles to draw inspiration from mediums not just in Japan but in the west as well. ?One thing about Japan, and this isn?t just games, is that things made in Japan are very much targeted at Japan, whether it?s games, movies or novels,? he said. ?The curse in Japan is that a lot of media is made in Japan just for Japan ? you go to the cinema and it?s all Japanese movies.

?My generation is now being exposed to a wide range of influences, that?s why what I want to make is a little bit more in tune with what people in the West will like. I really like all the things that are being made in the West.

?When I come to shows like E3 and see the announcements and go to Comic-Con, I love all of the presentations, so really I?ve been thinking maybe I was born in the wrong country.?

Kojima is currently working on a title which contains real world issues he wants to address.

I agree with him 100%.

3 Years ago, I would've disgareed with him in a heartbeat . Now, he pretty much has it spot on.

Creative people should always draw inspiration from as many sources as they can.If you can't trust Kojima on this than who can you trust. His entire career is based on this.

His love for cinema + american action movies + his Japanese quirkyness = Metal Gear

It's a great combination.

Don't really care wtf they do, I just want good games damn it.

Just like Silent Hill Downpour right Kojima?

Kojima needs to do the same thing. One game in 4 years of the same franchise does not cut it. It isn't even a good game series at that.

Kojima needs to do the same thing. One game in 4 years of the same franchise does not cut it. It isn't even a good game series at that.

WarTornRuston

Just like Silent Hill Downpour right Kojima?

ZombeGoast

I can support the notion of wanting to get more outside inspiration. I agree.

it's not just him, Keiji Inafune has said the same thing in several occasions and many others too.

I disagree. 100% This very approach has ruined some Japanese franchises, namely Final Fantasy. Trying to appeal to western audiences instead of making there own games results in poor quality. Japanese games used to be good, until they all decided to 'look outside Japan for inspiration'. BibiMaghoo

And what Western influences does Final Fantasy have? That game is as Japanese as it gets; Ladyboys, crappy melodrama, you name it. FF13 was like a goddamn Japanese Soap opera. Bad game design is whats ruining FF not Western influence.

[QUOTE="ZombeGoast"]

Just like Silent Hill Downpour right Kojima?

soapandbubbles

No, but they focus a lot in the combat

[QUOTE="BibiMaghoo"]I disagree. 100% This very approach has ruined some Japanese franchises, namely Final Fantasy. Trying to appeal to western audiences instead of making there own games results in poor quality. Japanese games used to be good, until they all decided to 'look outside Japan for inspiration'. heretrix

And what Western influences does Final Fantasy have? That game is as Japanese as it gets; Ladyboys, crappy melodrama, you name it. FF13 was like a goddamn Japanese Soap opera. Bad game design is whats ruining FF not Western influence.

Couldn't agree more with this.

[QUOTE="BibiMaghoo"]I disagree. 100% This very approach has ruined some Japanese franchises, namely Final Fantasy. Trying to appeal to western audiences instead of making there own games results in poor quality. Japanese games used to be good, until they all decided to 'look outside Japan for inspiration'. heretrix

And what Western influences does Final Fantasy have? That game is as Japanese as it gets; Ladyboys, crappy melodrama, you name it. FF13 was like a goddamn Japanese Soap opera. Bad game design is whats ruining FF not Western influence.

[QUOTE="heretrix"]

[QUOTE="BibiMaghoo"]I disagree. 100% This very approach has ruined some Japanese franchises, namely Final Fantasy. Trying to appeal to western audiences instead of making there own games results in poor quality. Japanese games used to be good, until they all decided to 'look outside Japan for inspiration'. BibiMaghoo

And what Western influences does Final Fantasy have? That game is as Japanese as it gets; Ladyboys, crappy melodrama, you name it. FF13 was like a goddamn Japanese Soap opera. Bad game design is whats ruining FF not Western influence.

[QUOTE="BibiMaghoo"][QUOTE="heretrix"]That doesn't mean it was a bad idea, that just means that they did a bad job. You can draw from the well too many times, things start to get stagnant.

And what Western influences does Final Fantasy have? That game is as Japanese as it gets; Ladyboys, crappy melodrama, you name it. FF13 was like a goddamn Japanese Soap opera. Bad game design is whats ruining FF not Western influence.

heretrix

[QUOTE="heretrix"]

[QUOTE="BibiMaghoo"] FFXIII was stated as 'trying to appeal to western audiences', the same was applicable in part to XII. Every FF game prior to these were better. An example is turn baed combat. This is viewed as a no go in western audiences, but is fine for Japan. It changed the games dramatically for the worse. I would also point you towards linear corridoor maps, instead of open worlds. An abundance of CGI and graphical flourishes that delayed the development of the games, not to mention cost, as western audiences value it more. BibiMaghoo

I disagree. The turn based gameplay is very much the case. That's why you still have turn based games that sell far better in Japan than in the west. Show me a western turn based title that sells well? FF at its core is no longer turn based. It is essentially real time. BibiMaghoo

Civilization for starters.

[QUOTE="WarTornRuston"]

Kojima needs to do the same thing. One game in 4 years of the same franchise does not cut it. It isn't even a good game series at that.

soapandbubbles

I always feel so confused when this topics comes up -- it's like people call the Japanese gaming market stagnant, needs more of this and that, etc. But then collectively start crying when the "LOLOLOLOL ok were westernising your favorite games" movement begins. It's almost as if people are fighting against having variety.

Why not let Japan do Japan and the west do the west, etc.? You'll probably always get people who will eventually draw inspiration from the outside and make a amazing game(applies to movies and novels as well) with a vast appeal anyways. But inspiration is like attraction, it can't be forced. And you definitely can't force open mindedness, otherwise nothing truly great will ever come from it.

Yes lets look to generic shooters for inspiration.. I totally see where this is going.

[QUOTE="heretrix"]

[QUOTE="BibiMaghoo"] FFXIII was stated as 'trying to appeal to western audiences', the same was applicable in part to XII. Every FF game prior to these were better. An example is turn baed combat. This is viewed as a no go in western audiences, but is fine for Japan. It changed the games dramatically for the worse. I would also point you towards linear corridoor maps, instead of open worlds. An abundance of CGI and graphical flourishes that delayed the development of the games, not to mention cost, as western audiences value it more. BibiMaghoo

[QUOTE="BibiMaghoo"]I disagree. 100% This very approach has ruined some Japanese franchises, namely Final Fantasy. Trying to appeal to western audiences instead of making there own games results in poor quality. Japanese games used to be good, until they all decided to 'look outside Japan for inspiration'. captainqwark20

I always feel so confused when this topics comes up -- it's like people call the Japanese gaming market stagnant, needs more of this and that, etc. But then collectively start crying when the "LOLOLOLOL ok were westernising your favorite games" movement begins. It's almost as if people are fighting against having variety.

Why not let Japan do Japan and the west do the west, etc.? You'll probably always get people who will eventually draw inspiration from the outside and make a amazing game(applies to movies and novels as well) with a vast appeal anyways. But inspiration is like attraction, it can't be forced. And you definitely can't force open mindedness, otherwise nothing truly great will ever come from it.

TecmoGirl

I'm actually of the belief that Japanese developers trying to appeal to the west is what ruined a lot of Japanese games this gen. Wouldn't we have a wider range of appeal if western developers focused on western tastes and Japanese developers on Japanese tastes instead of everybody looking at the west?

[QUOTE="BibiMaghoo"][QUOTE="heretrix"]None of that is indicative of a western influence. CGIand everything else you've mentioned has been a part of FF for years. FF at the core is still turn based and none of that stuff is what makes FF bad or the fault of western design. FF is still a very Japanese franchise.

heretrix

I'm actually of the belief that Japanese developers trying to appeal to the west is what ruined a lot of Japanese games this gen.

Pikminmaniac

I'm actually of the belief that Japanese developers trying to appeal to the west is what ruined a lot of Japanese games this gen.

Pikminmaniac

Like what? RE? RE was always focused on the west, what else you got? FF13? That game is not western at all... what else?

[QUOTE="Pikminmaniac"]

I'm actually of the belief that Japanese developers trying to appeal to the west is what ruined a lot of Japanese games this gen.

BibiMaghoo

10 scoring. GOTY. 94 meta. Jelly confirmed. :cool:ispeakfact

10 scoring. GOTY. 94 meta. Jelly confirmed. :cool:ispeakfact

[QUOTE="ispeakfact"]10 scoring. GOTY. 94 meta. Jelly confirmed. :cool:captainqwark20

And both Mario Galaxy games even higher still :P

[QUOTE="TecmoGirl"]

I always feel so confused when this topics comes up -- it's like people call the Japanese gaming market stagnant, needs more of this and that, etc. But then collectively start crying when the "LOLOLOLOL ok were westernising your favorite games" movement begins. It's almost as if people are fighting against having variety.

Why not let Japan do Japan and the west do the west, etc.? You'll probably always get people who will eventually draw inspiration from the outside and make a amazing game(applies to movies and novels as well) with a vast appeal anyways. But inspiration is like attraction, it can't be forced. And you definitely can't force open mindedness, otherwise nothing truly great will ever come from it.

soapandbubbles

I see. Sounds about right. I personally don't mind if they added some new things or refine something already good and make it even better. But yah, I just don't think it should ever get to the point in which there is so much change involved that a series begins to lose it's image or the familiarity and tradition associated with -- basically becoming something nearly unrecognizable and something it never was to begin with.

While video game companies are in businesses to make money, hopefully they can find a way to evolve while still being aware of and maintaining the appeal that created it's initial audience.

[QUOTE="captainqwark20"][QUOTE="ispeakfact"]10 scoring. GOTY. 94 meta. Jelly confirmed. :cool:Pikminmaniac

And both Mario Galaxy games even higher still :P

[QUOTE="captainqwark20"][QUOTE="ispeakfact"]10 scoring. GOTY. 94 meta. Jelly confirmed. :cool:Pikminmaniac

And both Mario Galaxy games even higher still :P

[QUOTE="Pikminmaniac"]

[QUOTE="captainqwark20"] GTAIV is higher.Arach666

And both Mario Galaxy games even higher still :P

Japanese developers are doing just fine.

The only thing they need to do more of is localize more of their best games.

I hope that Japanese developer don't continue to try to mimic western developers.

Dragon's Dogma looks like Elder Scrolls and Resident Evil 6 looks like Gears of War.

We have western developers for those kind of games.

Japanese developers should continue with their own style.

I wish he would just shut it about Japanese devs.