Support NeoGAF

[robin2]

Years ago was plausible that they were unaware or simply dubious-cautious about it, but now it seems to me a little strange that they're still ignoring steam so much.

I wonder if Valve ever made a proper 'call to arms'? Like, I don't know: showing up in a big way at the Tokyo Game Show or something?

 

[TC McQueen]

Years ago was plausible that they were unaware or simply dubious-cautious about it, but now it seems to me a little strange that they're still ignoring steam so much.

Japanese business executives are extremely reluctant to take responsibility for anything, especially a risk like supporting PC gaming. Even though it seem like an obvious good thing to us, it doesn't to them because of their generally local market only approach to handling games. Plus they tend to screw over their overseas business partners in order to control everything about how their products are handled, which makes an open platform like PC seem unappealing even if piracy is dealt with.

 

[zeopower6]

Japanese business executives are extremely reluctant to take responsibility for anything, especially a risk like supporting PC gaming. Even though it seem like an obvious good thing to us, it doesn't to them because of their generally local market only approach to handling games. Plus they tend to screw over their overseas business partners in order to control everything about how their products are handled, which makes an open platform like PC seem unappealing even if piracy is dealt with.

For the most part, I think just about all Japanese->West digital distribution deals have to be negotiated by people who approach them and go through extremely long talks in trying to convince them to bring X or Y outside of the country. MangaGamer, NyuMedia, XSEED, etc... most of the games brought over by these companies are already on the PC so I can't imagine trying to convince them to license the games for release AND to port their games to the PC that were not originally playable on PC.

 

[RedSwirl]

Not that it would change much, considering how even when Japanese publishers release games on Steam, it seems to be common practice to region-lock Japan outside of the countries where that game is available.
I can't imagine the reasoning behind it, but it already happened several times.
I mean, one thing is to lack faith on the PC market in your country (maybe even with good reasons). Another is deliberately trying to suppress it.

Price control man. They want their home audience to pay $80 for the AAA games we're buying at $60. Same thing happens to anime blu-rays.

I think japanese devs and gamers have troubles wrapping their heads around DD a bit. I mean,for Christs sake, up untill recently most indie devs sold their games there primarly by making physical boxes and going to conventions.

It is changing however. But it's gradural process. It will take time before most japanese multiplats will also get pc versions.

This is a tragedy too because from what I've heard Japanese internet is fast as shit, and cheap too. Someone told me Steam downloads in Japan are actually smoother than in most places in the world.

Still, brick & mortar is probably still dominant over there because of high population density, at least in urban areas. You probably don't have to walk (or ride) as far to pick up a game at teh store and bring it back home.

 

[Metal Gear?!]

Maybe instead we should be asking Steam why no Japanese developers?

I remember back when GFWL was still a thing, one of the developers mentioned that GFWL had full Japanese documentation and support, since it was based off of their Xbox 360 efforts and Microsoft actually cared about getting Japanese developers on board with the 360. Meanwhile steamworks had no Japanese documentation or support.

Has this changed?

 

[RedSwirl]

Maybe instead we should be asking Steam why no Japanese developers?

I remember back when GFWL was still a thing, one of the developers mentioned that GFWL had full Japanese documentation and support, since it was based off of their Xbox 360 efforts and Microsoft actually cared about getting Japanese developers on board with the 360. Meanwhile steamworks had no Japanese documentation or support.

Has this changed?

I've heard a little. Valve has been at Bitsummit apparently, but I imagine it would take enough people at Valve actually caring about making inroads to Japanese developers. Right now it's mostly middleman publishers like XSEED doing that work.