As of late, numerous analysts, game writers, and internet trolls have called out the supposed fall of Japanese gaming.They (mostly) assert the opinion that the Japanese game industry is diverging from the rest of the world on both cultural and economic grounds.While that is probably far from the entirety of the issue, I think it is a valid stance for one to take.The types of games that the average Japanese gamer enjoys (linear rpgs, dating simulations) are vastly different from the preferences of most Western game enthusiasts (who generally consume shooters, dance, and open world titles).What worries me the most is how certain (smaller) audiences will feel when the dust settles on this whole conundrum.
It is a general fact that consumers like to buy what appeals to them.I wholeheartedly agree with this notion.Japanese consumers mostly just like Japanese games, and Western consumers mostly just like Western games.It makes perfect sense.If anything that means that gaming is becoming a little bit more like other media industries in terms of cultural variation.My question is, where does that leave Europeans and North Americans (like me) who like Japanese games?
Whether it’s because of Japan refocusing on Japan or Western developers finally attracting the bulk Western audience, Japanese games are losing sales and market share that is causing fewer and fewer of them to get localized.We’re already seeing it, and I think it’s setting a bad precedent for this industry compared to others, even as it reaches a sort of natural cultural state. Different countries all over the world have their own film and music industries.Some would say that Japan’s game industry is becoming like its film industry – sustainable but ultimately niche relative to the rest of the world.The difference here is the demand for their content worldwide versus how the supply is turning out these days.
With film, most fairly successful French, Spanish, and Japanese-language movies at least get a subtitled release in English somewhere for the small market of foreign film fans.This sort of thing seems to be a lot harder to do this for Japanese games. For the most part the reason appears to be that the sales expectations are way too low to justify an American retail release, in most cases.
Some people suggest that digital-only releases in the West can solve this problem.We’ve already started to see it with things like Arcana Heart 3 and Resident Evil 4 HD.However, that avenue seems to anger fans who are against digital distribution, and for some games it STILL just isn’t enough to cover the cost of localization, which tends to be much higher for games than for movies (especially games with voice acting).
On the other hand, the rest of the video game industry has not always been quite so globalized.One of the hightest selling games this year – Dead Island, is a Polish developed title.Even more niche games like The Witcher 2 are getting day-and-date English releases, however small their market share may be.
The thing is, the problem with Japanese games could just be Japan in general.I know for a fact that the declining state of Japan’s economy is having at least some effect on its games and gaming industry.Unfortunately, I don’t have quite the expertise to expand on that notion. Hopefully more companies like XSEED games and Atlus will be able to sustain a foreign game niche.Other industries can do this, so hopefully gaming can too.In the meantime, I’ll be counting the days until I can play the English release of Grand Knights History.
To read more of my musings on Japan and Japanese games, please visit my blog at http://themolloyboy.blogspot.com/.