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[whalleywhat]

You mean Dredmor?

And Monkey Island.

 

[Famassu]

The 'there are also crappy games made in the west' argument doesn't even need to be stated. At all. Because no one is arguing that there aren't bad games here. We're all completely aware. The western industry seems to be doing better than the japanese industry though, so the question is why? Inafune tried giving his answer.

I think the core issue keeps getting muddled by branching topics and side issues. I think it sounds pretty childish of them to say 'oh yeah well western games suck too' as an argument to constructive criticism.

But the only criticism ignorant people aim at Japanese gaming industry is that they aren't making good games or "keeping up" with the western developers, when, in fact, Japanese have made some of the best shooters (Vanquish, Binary Domain), best platformers (Super Mario Galaxy 2 & such), most entertaining RPGs (The World Ends With You, Demon's & Dark Souls, Nier, Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, Xenoblade), THE BEST action games (Bayonetta, Devil May Cry 4), great music games (Rhythm Paradise, Ouendan, Theatrhythm, Rhythm Thief), great multiplayer games (Monster Hunter series, Anarchy Reigns), fun racing games (Gran Turismo 5, Outrun). addictive loot-whore games (Phantasy Star Portable 2), awesome fighting games (BlazBlue, MvsC3), inventive puzzle games (Catherine, Pushmo), entertaining strategy games (Little King's Story) and shmups (Sin & Punishment 2, Cave's games) within the last few years, many which exceed their western counterparts.

They aren't behind. At all. They have issues on some areas, but let's not pretend like that isn't the case with developers all over the world. Western devs perhaps suffer from other kinds of problems, but they aren't on that healthy of a basis either, given how many devs have had to shut down even within the last year or two, let alone within the last 5 years.

 

[Josh7289]

You people are crazy; who gives a shit?

 

[Fimbulvetr]

So this is like that other thread except without Peej?

You're supposed to call them P*.

Stop trying to make Peej a thing.

 

[gryz]

what's with the Binary Domain hate? The story is just over the top and comical, which is intentional. Its a lot better than the so serious emo grimdark bullshit in GoW or whatever, and it plays a lot better too.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

what's with the Binary Domain hate? The story is just over the top and comical, which is intentional. Its a lot better than the so serious emo grimdark bullshit in GoW or whatever, and it plays a lot better too.

hence my saying that it's so terrible that it's amazing

 

[TreasureHunterG]

There's two major problems regarding japanese developers:

1. Milking the hell out of their major franchises.
2. Focused on handhelds.

No wonder why Japan's biggest IP's are now handheld games (Pokémon, Monster Hunter and Dragon Quest, I'm not counting X because it's in a different league)

 

[Boss Doggie]

You're supposed to call them P*.

Stop trying to make Peej a thing.

But I kinda like Peej

It makes me think Platinum and Kara are one

There's two major problems regarding japanese developers:

1. Milking the hell out of their major franchises.

You mean like Westerners?

Also how is focused on handhelds a bad thing?

 

[Fisticuffs]

I feel that the dev decline is a universal problem.

 

[redcrayon]

There's two major problems regarding japanese developers:

1. Milking the hell out of their major franchises.
2. Focused on handhelds.

No wonder why Japan's biggest IP's are now handheld games (Pokémon, Monster Hunter and Dragon Quest, I'm not counting X because it's in a different league)

1) hardly unique to Japan when EA/Activision do it as their business model.

2) As opposed to western devs ignoring them? The Japanese focus on handhelds is because that is what sells, just as xboxes sell in the US. At least it brings variety- you can buy lots of decent home console and decent handheld games from Japan in any given year (even if they aren't to your taste), not exactly something you can level at most Western countries.

There are issues with both, but those two seem like odd criticisms just to level at Japan to me.

 

[KDR_11k]

The output of the AAA studios is already far too homogeneous, everything is an xth person shooter with emphasis on set pieces and cover shooting (or alternatively everything is Uncharted). Now I do like my FPSes but the lack of diversity is really impacting my interest in gaming. If Japan's game industry has the choice between homogenization or death I honestly don't care which one they choose, a few samey games more or less won't make a real difference. This generation has seen far too little variety compared to the previous generation with studios merging or being bought out and everything being dominated by a small number of games everybody apes.

As far as Quantum Theory goes, I can't really discern a difference in gameplay quality between Quantum Theory, Scourge Project, Spec Ops, Vanquish and Gears of War 3 (1 and 2 aren't sold in my country so if 3 is the worst Gears I can't make comparisons with the better ones) except that Vanquish has more boss battles than the other three. I liked shooters better when rocket launchers counted as primary weapons and avoiding damage was done by dodging shots so I don't like how this specific version of the genre is dominating.