Japanese Games Market Down A Whopping 25%

Global economy down 30-40%. This is non-news.

angelzero

@B33: They're busy banning those at the moment.

atomicstrawberry

@Kobun:

FUND IT

TheCorporate

@Strom Thurmond:

There is indeed. When you consider that it's only Japan's sales of the PS3 that have kept the platform going, and that it would've been an abject failure if it were reliant on Europe and America, this could be the final nail in the coffin for Sony's blighted offering.

TheCorporate

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!: That's fine with me, most Japanese game devs have been going downhill for the past two or three generations.

@Witzbold: You're right, StarCraft II will definitely have an impact on the Korean economy (good or bad? hard to know) and likely the PC market has little impact in Japan but I'm just going with the extrapolation that the Japanese downward trend may be symptomatic of a larger, world-wide issue.

@dipsetboy17: Go do other things. Maybe PC gaming like MMOs or something non-gaming.

sonicon

@somarix: The "overjoy" reaction was actually more or less sarcastic, as far as I recall. :p

I was in Akiba today and aside from DQ 9 all the ads were either for that new 360 Hostess game or for some Hatsune Miku/IdolM@ster type stuff. Can you say dead end?

Wiegraf_Folles

@lazesummerstone: Not finding something in Akihabara is nothing.

Using kakaku.com to find something only to see its all sold out or only high "resellers" got their hands on it is worrysome.

Never and I repeat NEVER use Akihabara as a point of measurement.

@mariospants: Thats the Koreans not Japanese

@Spiders88: Yet, for japan, the decline in the economy is just more of the 'same old thing' since it's been declining for years and years. Japan will more likely be hit by the declining population of young people

Naw, I think you're underestimating the power of games to sell a system, especially in Japan. When Monster Hunter for the PSP came out, you could not find a psp in Akihabara to save your life. I think when the heavy hitting RPG's finally make an appearance it'll be pretty powerful.

@sonicon: so where does that leave them to go?

so japan also avoids shovelware.

@K1NG EV1L: Oh boo hoo. That was exactly the idea, and I said I like JRPG's and action games. I don't like sports games period. I also said that I liked Western games that did not have the Halo/GTA/Gears Of War formula.

With the release of Diablo III and StarCraft II (did I get that right?) we're likely to see a return of the PC to gaming prominence. With the lineup shown at E3, companies are likely to do all right. They didn't mention that 2009 sales figures are still x% higher than previous years. Plus this isn't the housing market. You're not likely to have such a major softening as long as good product abounds, because let's face it: it's a $30-60 purchase for a new game.

@Bouchart- senior Fellow at the American Smartological Insti...: and not enough good ones.

@deanbmmv: Sony's E3 casual part: at some time they mentioned "Hanna Montana" or something, with pink PSP or something, the audience were overjoyed for whatever reason.
@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!: all else that Sony showed at E3 or have been doing till now is pure hardcore bliss.
Microsoft was keeping it hardcore for years, perfected the XBL utilities for gaming, made our beloved developers develop mostly for x360 and ensured the core flow of Western and Japanese games continues for years. So, Microsoft had nothing else left to do, and started developing casual stuff (but note: they have secured core laurels for years to come).
Ninty... well, they're keeping the core on life-support and besides they probably have no fresh risky ideas for the core.

@outlawauron: just a thought: with PS2 you could play any PS2 game even in the smallest room.
Another thought: PS2 contained the cheapest DVD player.
Another thought: surveys showed people play Wii mostly when grouped for a party. Reason dictates that not that many Wiis are necessary.
Another thought: PS2 was seriously bulky and heavy, had laser-faults, shelling more for a Slim isn't far-fetched.

I think I can bet Wii sales in JP will never reach PS2 levels.

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!: I hear you. I simply cannot get into Western RPGs and third-person W games. But there are many remarkable western games that to me feel as fun.
Obscure: Aftermath -> like a Resident Evil, very stylish graphics and familiar story/animation (I feel it's a JP game).
You remark about God of War makes me think you love the "cocky-but-hilarious slim protagonist with longer hair" factor.
LBP's cuteness, uniqueness and design made me think it can't be a Western game.
Crash Bandicoot, Ratchet and Clank, Beyond Good and Evil, SiN.

From western games that come to mind (non-FPS), protagonists are generally huge-breasted women or ultra-short-haired men, almost always mass-murdering psychopaths (LaraCroft makes up for it with extra boobage). Or bulky muscular barbarians.

JP games are almost always cheesy, but we love it for that cheese always comes around joys of life. In W games, you predominantly view through the black-and-white desolate soul of a psychopath being around other psychos trying to betray and kill you. Dude, I just watched the real-life news, gimme something joyous to wash my eyes and ears with, not a continuation with a murder-trainer bonus.

Sorry, I didn't import anything this year. You can blame work and basketball for that. And, well, my consoles broke almost at once, of overuse - around Christmas. (lasers... T_T )
But fear not, soon I'll be back to importing!

@beanspeppin: This'd be comment of the week for me if it didn't require two other comments to put it into context. Otherwise I would totally nominate you.

@Strom Thurmond:
Wow, geeze, thanks (sarcasm). Turn on the TV and "60% chance of storm ...". On Fourth of July too. :'(

@SoloGrave: Wrong person, the previous comment was meant for the fellow above you.

----

In regards to your comment.

Dont think this country has a saturation point.

Id chalk it up to more folks dont want to spend as much money as they used to.

@outlawauron: Technically anything and everything is comparable, but I get where you are coming from. However, I'd say that the market has changed within those few years- or at least, the technology has changed in such a manner where one of the main focuses of the MH series, online play, is doable on a more stable infrastructure than the PS2 provided (better hardware [at least on the server end], better internet providers, etc). But more sales are going to come from the user base they generated with the PSP crowd, which seems kind of odd, though in retrospect I've never really met a Japanese fanboy, that is, one who defends their choice console manufacturer and denounces all others. Seems they just go play the games they want and buy the systems they need if the have to.

That and by putting MH on the PSP it allowed kids to play the game without parents really seeing what kind of game it is (sure, it's not really violent compared to half the games out there, but knowing ten year olds that play it is a little disturbing, somehow, even most of the little bastards are hardly even G rank hahahaha don't I feel big and strong now), and as kids+parents money are quite a sizable demo (as well as being able to play the game online more often than us working adults), I think they'll see quite grand sales with MH3. Also helps that they chose the one console with the largest user install base (like they did with PS2), but also one that has almost nothing anyone bothers playing anymore (shit I gotta check my aquarium and see if i got any more fish!). The only thing I've been looking forward to for over an entire year, even after E3 and the reveal of quirkier, and hopefully better or more difficult, SMGalaxy game, is MH3. That's a pretty sad fucking state of affairs. I mean, if I'm playing Jinsei Game on a weekly basis I'll play pretty much anything.

@SoloGrave: Population Vs. Games says no.

I guess japan has reached its saturation point?

@Witzbold: Haha, I think it pretty much went that way here in Kentucky too. It was all BOOM here it is and then it dissapeared.

@MR. FAP☆FAP!: i just did a count, myself: Little Big Planet and De Blob. Both of which belong to the g/f. I have Deadly Creatures on gamefly, but sadly there isn't much from the west i'm interested in.

Maybe it's because almost everyone in Japan has a Wii, PS3 or 360? Yes?

*sigh* I hate to say "I kinda saw this coming" but...

Alright, it's like this: to me, gaming hasn't really been that incredible for some years. The 90s were great, Nintendo was doing fantastic with their first party IPs, and Sony got a WONDERFUL and successful foot in the gaming 'door.' Now... we're buying the same stuff as before, or rather, the same kind of games, with the only difference being those fantastic, realistic 3D graphics. While it has in a way revolutionized gaming, for the most part, the means of gaming has remained the same, for almost a decade now. SquareEnix is a fantastic example of this: putting out game after game of some 'series' that is essentially a bland turnbased system with some 'spin' on it. And what now? They're sticking to their guns, still shelling out game after game that is 'mainstream.'

Can you REALLY blame the developers though? No, they only make what they think the consumer wants, and if we keep buying these rather repetitive games, we're only supporting this. Now, I'm not saying "Shame on you for buying games like Bioshock or Fallout 3" because those are prime examples of gaming at its best nowadays. I'm just saying that gamers need to... well, expand what they play. Most people assume that the Wii 'haz no gud gamz' but I could guarantee you that you could find at least 5 excellent titles that you'd actually play FOR the Wii. The problem is that people don't look past either first party devs, or those damn 'mainstream games.' And the consequence, is poorer quality games. Why? Because they can still get a decent amount of money for a less than superb game if they just get it hyped up enough. Devs like SquareEnix start pulling 'mainstream games only' ploys that are supposed to save money, and do, but produce just the same old same old, with in a new universe, with new characters, a new storyline and a revised battle system. We need more artistic and fun games, like Okami or It's A Wonderful World (aka The World Ends With You), but we can still retain our nostalgic IPs, like Mario, Zelda, and the like. We just need to give these old IPs (I mentioned Nintendo IPs only, sorry >_<) something new, revolutionize them, make them so people remember "When Luigi picked up a vacuum and started sucking up ghosts," or "When they made a Mario Tennis RPG." What we need are games that live independently of their hype, that show that some unheard of third party company CAN produce fantastic games, games that amaze the world even if not everyone is looking their way.

And I can tell no one will read what I have said, or comment on it either. But, as a person who's been a gamer most of their short life, I feel like I owe something to all the people who've given me fantastic games, and something to aim for. I feel like its the least I can do.

@Strom Thurmond: Its name is Hurricane Pokemon Gold/Silver remakes.

It's a good storm.

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!:
Yeah, I'd pretty much be done for, myself if that happens.
Looking at my current collection of games from this generation, I can count on one hand the number of western developed games I own :\

People are getting over the Wii hype and its ugly graphics, but they don't want to spend too much on a PS3. And Japanese don't like buying American consoles.

sonicon

@Nullzero: Also keep in mind big hits in the US do not = big hits in Japan.

Just like how big hits in Japan do not = big hits in the US.

Lots of folks seem to forget that, then suddenly blame a whole culture for having bad tastes in games. (Not you in specific, but happens quite often here.)

@shouryuuken: Well not really. While its popular its not like folks are going to really go out of their way to buy the game. Also the people in UFC are totally different from most of the fighters in the existing leagues in Japan. So basically no dont think its going to be all that popular.

---

Boxing games in Japan never has and was popular really so dont think that Fight Night is going to do any better. Granted the Japanese do like boxing and have several "comic" series about boxing, when it comes to game time it just does not seem to do as well.

If anything in Japan wrestling games are the ones that used to sell. The Firepro series being the most famous / popular back in the days.

@Captain Pretty Good: Well lets just say this.

The movie did not last in most theateres for more than a week.

That was one of the quickest "in and out" I have ever seen in regards to a movie.

@cL9: Dunno. Most of the "too much" category exists on the DS. Since you would find some weird ass titles. Then again thats what makes the DS so popular too. Literally something for everyone.

@K1NG EV1L: Winning Eleven is still one of the rare sports games that does really well here in Japan. Not like it used to but still does quite well.

Also reciently (past couple of months?) dont remember the exact date but I think one of the Power Pro Baseball games on the DS also did quite decent. Either that or it was a small print run but doubt it since its Konami and that was sold out in various locations. That series too has been quite popular. Though why it sold so much on the DS Im not quite too sure.

Theres also Tennis / Golf. Vollyball is sorta popular but just doesnt show up in games all that much, same with the US I suppose. Though seems like lots of folks watch it on TV and in bars at times when they have the world tourny stuff. Forgot what its called.

@Spiders88: Well the anime industry is down also.

Then again the anime industry just like the game one still is gouging people with insane prices. Well more the anime one than the gaming one.

Im suprised that Ashcraft never reported on that since figures should be out there and would be related to the gaming scene showing that its not just gaming thats dying in Japan as for entertainment.

Pachinko parlors are closing up, game centers are dying, etc.

@lostbizzo: Aye, she be a fine waterborne vessel. Great for Famicom whalin'!

beanspeppin

@Captain Pretty Good: People want simple explanations, but there really aren't any. I don't see game output being any higher than it has been in the past decade plus, so I think the safe overlaying cause of the downturn is simply the recession leaving people without disposable income to buy the games.

Ouch with the japanese market being a very obsessed one at that, to see a decline shows how our poor economy has affected them as well. I would have no complaint if companies would slow down and just work on games that are good and stop releasing crap that we have to sift through. I also think if sony does release backwards compatiblity for the ps3 they will see a huge rise in downloads and gamestop will continue to conquer the world.

@Witzbold: Basically, a whole bunch of games that most people don't even want? That's familiar. I wonder if Japan is about to have something similar to North America's video game crash in the 80's.

@NoobKitten: Can it sail like a sega cd?

lostbizzo

@(Zombie) Goldwings: NO Mommy or Daddy will by an new Wii cause of the new Color.

I doubt that a new color whould boot up the Wii Sales that much.

@denki: Well, the PSP and Wii are incomparable. The console sales of Monster Hunter on a console and a handheld are completely different. Monster Hunter 2 on PS2 (highest selling on a console) sold 620k in its lifetime. Every PSP Monster Hunter has sold over a million with the second selling over two and 2G selling over three million.

outlawauron

@B33: That would actually be helpful if the games didn't sell like absolute crap.

outlawauron

@doughboyx: Can this attitude every stop? I know it's a joke and all, but the Wii hasn't even gotten to 1:10 ownership yet. (PS2 and DS are well past it and 1:5 Japanese people own a DS.)

outlawauron

@Spatula: Or because the economy sucks and every console is not selling well.

outlawauron

@(Zombie) Goldwings: I wonder how a PS3 pricedrop would affect Japan...

Well with the eroge fetishes ban, what's to be expected?
Oh you, Japan.

ViceOfFire

@Vanilla_Ninja: Great job at generalizing the western gaming market when you don't know any games past popular shooters. I'm assuming the first thing to come to your mind is halo, grand theft auto and gears of war? Oh and what's wrong with sports games? as if the Japanese don't have sports games as well? last I checked they were crazy about baseball and soccer.

K1NG EV1L

@Rozzlit: Not exactly national holidays but they have tried to do it on the weekend / non work days. To prevent ditching or late to work etc.

@denki: Yeah one thing a lot of people seem to be pissed off about is the removal of some weapons. While it does make sense with the addition of new "areas" well the underwater to be exact, still. Taking a step backwards is not a way to take a series forward. Even more so with the fans.

Though I can bet you a round of drinks that we will see shit return in whatever expansion they make to Tri due to just folks bitching to no end.

Ah yes sorry my mistake in the original post the Wii version is the Monster Hunter expansion G. Really dont see why they wasted resources on the project. It just does not make sense with how close the 2 were. 4 months apart from G comming out then Tri.

One thing though is I think if the series does not evolve enough people will get bored. Which is why a lot of fans were a bit let down with the fact that it will be pretty much the same of the old with a few new features. Folks want something with less zones and feels a bit more alive, yet keeps the skill level and gameplay people do love.

Also messing with the existing weapons was a bad idea on capcoms behalf according to my friend who follows this stuff real closely in the gaming communities in Japan.

Am sure the game is going to sell decent though. But at the same time too Im sure theres going to be a lot of fence sitters.

Love your last paragraph btw. Never lose that edge, its brilliant.

@Knoxximus ver. 5.66: I thought it was a Fatal Fury: TMP reference.

@Witzbold: Yeah. Though the thing with G is isn't it just a port of 2nd G? Or the first Monster Hunter? No idea, really. But just from what I've seen from 3 is that they are adding in enough new stuff to try to justify the purchase- which is all they have been doing since 2 though. So yeah, mostly the same monsters and standard missions, just some new ones tossed in. Likely, like before, they've also removed the standard "prey animal" (in MHP it was dinosaur like things, then in 2 or 2g it became those buffalo like things), and re-skinned other things. The only thing they've really added is the underwater parts, which will probably only give us a whole 2 new monsters anyway. But, even then, I'm looking forward to it, even though I mostly played by myself (har har) when I played MHP-MHP2G. Like Nintendo (and their Pokemon franchise), Capcom has understood from the beginning that their formula sells good and they are scared to change it too much- they just want to keep it interesting without scaring away the customers that have given them the dosh. Which is interesting then when some company gets a play style that people thoroughly enjoy (such as the Final Fantasy series, take any game) and then for the next version they change how everything works.

I'm not actually a sales analyst, because I would feel too bad ripping people off for telling them complete and utter bullshit a 10 year old could figure out. Actually, I wouldn't, it's just I don't know how to sugar coat it enough to make the dumb fuck clients think they are getting their moneys worth.

@Witzbold: Right. I was alluding to the way how some companies are putting out either too much product or a product that people just don't want.
Like yearly iterations of a car compared to yearly iterations of a game.
:(
I don't know. It's probably a lot of things, isn't it?

@Pizzaman: I was wondering, how do people in Japan feel about Hollywood mucking up Dragonball like that? Is it pretty much about how the late 90's Godzilla movie went?

@Vanilla_Ninja: *Kind

@Witzbold: That ind of thing sells to the very niche that's going to bring down the anime industry and take 15% of the game industry in Japan with it eventually.

@Captain Pretty Good: Toyota is still doing fine. Its because they invested smart in hybrids.

Now the US on the other hand. Well thats a totally different story.

@Thut: No because they turned the franchise into a MMO.

Truthfully though what would be brilliant is if they released a DSi specific version of Monster Rancher that uses the camera to take pictures of objects in the real world that become monsters.

Though I would give my regards to the programmer who would have to work on making such a system. Since they can kiss their personal life good bye.

@denki: Now if only I could make up shit for a living too.

Seriously though good post, yet at the same time though I wonder how well will Monster Hunter do on the Wii.

But there seems to be enough "new" features to lure the fans in with sweet sweet honey. But I suppose what will keep it alive is how well they made the online function with it.

Truthfully before I say anymore I should have gotten G for the Wii and tested it out myself since knowing capcom they are going to do their usual "cut and paste" programming job with code that can be reused. Which has lead to some quite INTERESTING problems with the PC version called Frontier.

Regardless of the fact you are right and Im sure that it will make capcom profits.

Yet at the same time though I did scratch my head at why they released G so soon before Tri(Again) was suposed to come out. Im sure you were too from a business perspective. I have not heard any word if data will carry over from G to Tri which would be similar how it worked for the PSP versions. You basically get tickets / money bonus for old shit from previous data.

Good post and do hope somebody nominates it.

Couldn't they release Monster Rancher Gold Omicron Vega 5 or something?

Thut

@B33: Japan, I give you, Milquetoast Rapist! The shy nerdy guy who just can't stop having his penis accidentally fall into the seven young attractive women* he conveniently has to live with against his will!

* Women may be children.

@Vanilla_Ninja: Hi I dont really know what Im talking about but will just make assumptions based off of shit I learned from 4chan!

Heres a secret

SEX SELLS

We are DEFINITELY gonna see the WiiHD next year if this trend continues.

@Strom Thurmond: Ninja Scroll reference for the FTW...though it was actually:

"There's a storm brewing...I'd better get moving!"

@(Zombie) Jolan: I think you may very much be correct. I hope your not but the video game market currently is getting too big again. The people it is being marketed at is fickle, and the games of the past decade haven't really shone as timeless classics.

@(Zombie) Goldwings: MS E3 and its reaction was one of the scariest moments of gaming history for a while. Natal is a casual device, It is not catering for MS's current userbase at all, Studios may want to use it that way but MS really want it for the casual's, that's why their ad was showing off the 'Wii-Family' doing the racing game n quiz, the couple watching Netflix, the teen dressing herself with it, then on the show floor a painting app n the Wii-Fit Ricochet game. The problem is how many of the core guys have somehow forgotten t hat, and MS saying they wanted the 60% untapped market, and thinking it will revolutionise core games. And then on top of that one of their other big E3 worthy announcements is Facebook n Twitter support. On top of Netflix next year.
Nintendo showed off the Vitality sensor, it's like these guys have seen the casual market, seen their wallets n want to tap it, even if they don't yet know why these people are coming to their consoles.

(and I want to put in some thing about Sony going casual to keep the thing balanced but I can't think of any E3 casual orientated announcement)

@SG79: Also culture changes too so dont forget that. Different generation different tastes different priorities.

@femaledwightschrute: No no I always appreciate folks who actually post articles and such. So was sincere in the sense of thanking you originally.

Well shovelware is already here. Risk taking yeah thats kinda an odd balance with Japan. Though what is good is that it seems more companies are trying to adapt. Such as Capcom being a positive example currently out of most of the other companies.

Stop pumping out pseudo eroge and moe crap for the PSP and DS and make some good games Japan! Make porn games for the PC or don't but don't just make a buch of hostess simulators and Miku Hatsune games

@Captain Pretty Good: Though in the end, I still bought it though. 1000 yen for a crappy movie-based game is a waste of money, but I still had fun for a day.

@Pizzaman: Yeah, I saw a game play movie of that. Ugh.

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!: "Most importantly I'm not a huge fan of shooting shit."
Bingo! make me a good high profile western game where I don't have to shoot shit, beat any prostitutes, play a sport or steal something and I just might enjoy it.That's when I usually like western games
I agree on the point of things feeling kind of clunky too

@Captain Pretty Good: More like us getting used to avoiding bad games.
Like the Dragon Ball Evolution game which sold a whopping 1200 copies on the first day.

@Witzbold: So it's too much stuff, and not enough people to buy that stuff? Amirite?

@Sutekh_Slain: ever heard of pride fc? the japanese mma league? japan loves their fighting.. big wrestling fans.. and theyre pretty keen on mma as well. so i bet ufc will sell okay.. i mean the game is made by a japanese developer.

theyre also the only devs that make wrestling games worth a crap.

I think it's ridiculous to expect the kind of growth we had last year no matter how you look at it.

Simply put the Wii sales are down and last year Nintendo were responsible for over 99% of industry growth in terms of raw sales of hardware and software with the DS and Wii.

Nintendo sales falling even a small percentage would have drastic effects on the sales considering that the Wii and the DS to put it simply actually sell.

Cinephile

the loss of ergoe games won't help next years numbers at all

Kougeru Matsuoka

@shouryuuken: also.. you listed pc games.. whats the point of console gaming at all if japan isnt involved.. a dumbed down version of what the pcs got to offer? no thanks.

@Mister Adequate: i actually dont really enjoy any of those games you listed.. im totally a japanese game fan.. and i feel just like d mitsuki... if japanese gaming entirely dies off.. im probably mostly done with games myself.

sure, i play fight night, ufc, and... well thats all that instantly comes to mind western wise... but a large source of my inspirations and experiences as far as games are considered is from the east.

its absence would really change me.

There are simply too many games.

@SG79:

Though incidentally, we're seeing recession effects in the west on a slower pace. It'll just take big releases to give the market a jolt until the economy gets back on track.

Aren't the release dates for Dragon Quest games national holidays or something?

Rozzlit

YEah, um, anyone did NOT see this coming, for like... the past five years, raise your hands...

WFROSE

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!: There is a problem though. Right now we are going into a tangent where everyone is attempting to tap into that next big casual trend. Sony, Nintendo, MS, Molyneux, RARE, Ubisoft, EA, etc all have stuff geared towards the casual and that is the "non saturated market" you speak of today.
I'm not saying everyone will go casual, I'm just saying don't be surprised when we might go though a time where there will be few risky-hardcore games and more casual stuff.

@Witzbold:

Not enough good software releases this year and lower Wii sales. Naturally the recession plays a factor as well, but with games, it's a combination of the aforementioned factors. Then there is the issue of the annual decline that the market there has faced for some time now.

Japan sadly isn't a stranger to recessions and the game market sales remained healthy overall.

@Kobun: I want to compare all of this to what has happened in the car industry.

@Spatula: I think the mercury is poisoning your brain. XD

@Captain Pretty Good: "-single- thing" Arg. Bad me.

"...to the point where you've got to wonder how much of an impact games like FFXIII and Dragon Quest IX are going to have on the overall figures."

C'mon Luke, those may be big games, and while they are both (theoretically) system sellers, only one of them is going to drop within a month- that being Dairy Queen IX.

But, you left out a game that has routinely destroyed sales records in Japan and is also, behind Final Fantasy, one of the nations most successful killer apps - (point of caution regarding the use of the language killer app- Nintendo doesn't usually produce games that are killer apps, ie the ONE game that you buy a system for. When people buy the Wii, they usually also look forward to all the other Nintendo crap, not just Wii Sports or Mario, but the entire ensemble. The forthcoming game I am about to mention is a killer app, at least in Japan) - one of the nations most successful killer apps, Monster Hunter, the oddly numbered "3rd" in the series coming out for Wii. In 27 days time. Which is just going to be incredible, at least in terms of sales data.

Because it isn't big in the west doesn't mean it isn't big here- and conversely the same. So the end of this year, starting in August? Wii sales jump and massive Capcom profits. And I can say this because I'm a sales analyst, in other words "some guy who makes shit up for a living."

@Kobun: Or it could be that a game bubble has burst and everyone has just been making too many games. Sounds crazy, I know. But how many me-too clones of more popular, established series do we need? I think the market is glutted with way too many things for game companies to expect people to buy every singe thing that comes out. Am I rambling? Sorry. :/

@Witzbold: Sorry about that, I was just trying to support your point.

My fear is that cost being a bigger element in decision making may lead to the release of shovelware and lame sequels and less risk-taking and innovation from the game designers and producers.

@(Zombie) Goldwings: There is a safegaurd against that though. Lets say all game companies follow your example. Not only does the "Petz" type market get saturated, but there is now a fully untapped market starving for a product. Good businessmen will capitalize on that, which will make trends attempting to capture the non saturated market.

@(Zombie) Goldwings: Dont think the PSP GO (Away) is going to be all that popular here.

That and most folks already have a PSP which still allows for downloads. So really whats the point.

*shrug* I've been mostly reading books for the last month instead of games... not because of money, but because I've run out of games.

Maybe if developers stopped wasting time on portables and stuff there'd be actual real games out to play.

GnatB

@Strom Thurmond: This industry has been booming for years, the bubble will bust.

AncientUnknown1

@(Zombie) Jolan: Problem is, the gaming audience has changed dramatically. Changed as in evolved into a more 1:1 for casual and hardcores. Look at those Petz games that Ubisoft is pumping out. That garbage unfortunately sells and if Ubisoft looks at that and goes:
"Gee our Petz game has sold more than Assasin's Creed and Splinter Cell combined."
They might forget about making more games pushing the envelope and develop games that are easy to produce and make money out of.
That example may be a little extreme, but it is still a scary possibility. Pushing the envelope usually means risks and risks these days costs millions of dollars.

too bad nintendo can't pump out some quality titles for it's systems for a change instead of new colors

desterion

@(Zombie) Jolan: Yes, but tell that to people like my brother, who will buy anything with Sonic's face on it.

Companies have started catering to audiences that seem to not be here to stay. Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft all have really abandoned the people who will pretty much always buy games. The hardcore gamers. Nintendo and Wii developers try to cater to the "casual", young children, old people, and people of the likes, while Microsoft and Sony with their developers attempt to cater to the frat boys, not the hard core.

The industry is becoming a capitalistic money making machine, and while these are businesses, I think people fail to realize the businessmen can exploit the industry until it's dry and leave, where will the developers go? After they are done saturating the markets beyond recongiztion, and making all the quick bucks they can and simply leave, what will your big companies who hid behind the veil of "we are companies that need to make money" go?

I think the way the industry is moving it's becoming sort of like music. Back in the 80's, 70's, and 60's music was so amazing that it was timeless. We still listen to tunes from back then. Now, everything is trying to appeal to a certain crowd, and not being made just for the sake of being a song. So the music dies with the fads. Games are the same way, we just don't get timeless classics like Sonic the Hedgehog 2, or Super Mario 64 anymore.

@Nullzero: Do the Japanese even care about UFC and Fight Night?

@yanipheonu: Nope its just you dont live in Japan and see how much shit fills the shelves.

Truthfully I think the amount of games here can put games in the US to shame. Just in numbers and not in design.

@Witzbold: But the gaming industry is "recession proof"! Magical money falls from the sky to keep it afloat!

@femaledwightschrute: Yeah I live here in Tokyo but thanks for the link regardless.

---

Back on topic overall I dont see it as a bad thing, since it will force companies to evolve and rethink strategies which isnt all that bad of a thing really.

@doughboyx: They've yet to really break into the chibi market though.

@Kobun: IMO opinion, I think the reason consoles as a whole isn't selling too much in Japan is because of their lack of interest in Console online gaming. Looking at the software charts in Japan seem to prove my theory somewhat and if you look into it a little more, a game like Monster Hunter brings that connectivity through its online. Like a lot of Westerners who might have first experienced their first fun time online with Halo 2's online (and later on making the online for the 360 one of its biggest strengths as well as Sony moving into that territory a little deeper on the PS3 with other 3rd publishers doing it for almost all their games), Japan didn't seem to have really gotten that game yet for a console, but it did for a handheld. That being Monster Hunter PSP.
To tie it off, to those who may be in a tight financial spot during this economic depression might not have a enough cash to buy a new HD console like a PS3 or Xbox 360 (Actually I think the 360 might be cheaper than the Wii now, but you know how it sells in Japan).

Quick, pump some more "awkwardly erotic" genre games into Japan's system post haste!

B33

I think it has to do with the fact that Japan isn't getting any good games. Or at least part of it.

All the big hits like Infamous, UFC, Fight Night, and several others, just aren't coming to Japan until fall/winter 2009.

Every week I check Famitsu to see whats coming out... and there's never jack shit.

Save it Nintendo! Square Enix!

Wii FF and DQ remakes quick.

Start porting PS2 games to the Wii.

New Mario/Zelda/Metroid/Fire Emblem/Pokemon/Earthbound/Kid Icarus/Donkey Kong games quick Nintendo!

SaanZ

This is somewhat relevant and written by a friend of mine named Jared for our blog.
"If there is something this recession has taught me, it is that life is cyclical. What goes up must come down. You reap what you sow. What goes around comes around. Insert any other clichés you can think of, but the point is, this isn't the first financial crash we've seen, and it probably won't be the last.

In 1983, the video game industry crashed. Warehouses were full. Stores had shelves and shelves of games they could not sell. Boys and girls did the unthinkable; they went outside to play. The industry had hit rock bottom due to a mixture of haphazard business decisions, poor game development and over saturation of the market. And unlike pinball machines, video games' untimely demise was not because something better had been developed, but because they were too stupid to see the eventual consequences of their actions. Ok, the rapid development of personal computers as a means of gaming may have been a factor. But, for the most part, these companies had no one but themselves to blame.

Oh, and just to refresh your memory, this catastrophe wasn't a two week fluke like Katie Holmes career. This depression went on for TWO YEARS. Not only was it solely responsible for the death of Atari and the extinction of the video game arcade, but '83 saw America thrown from the top of the video game heap. It took a Japanese company and their drugged-out plumber to shock the industry back to life.

So where am I going with this? If life is cyclical, would it not stand to reason that there could be another video game depression in the foreseeable future? As in 1983, the industry is embroiled in a console war. Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft continue to produce a high number of games while simultaneously trying to undermine each other. By comparing the conditions that led to the crash in '83 with the conditions we are living in now, it might be possible to shed some light on the future of the gaming industry.

Just as the Atari, ColecoVision and Intellivision feuded decades before, so now do Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft wage war on the electronic battlefield. To date, the three companies have sold nearly 100 Million consoles worldwide (with Nintendo outselling the nearest competitor 2 to 1). This doesn't even account for handheld sales or PC gaming. Meanwhile, work has begun on the next wave of consoles. As far as software, first and third party developers have produced thousands of games for these platforms and show no signs of stopping. As in the 80's, the market is flooded with products. How long before public interest begins to wane?

Then there is the question of game quality. Games like ET: the Extraterrestrial and Pac Man proved that Atari didn't care how shoddily the games were produced because they figured the public would buy anything. Modern companies are no less susceptible to this trap. For every good game there are five mediocre ones. Yet, with sales as high as they are, it can be very tempting to churn out 'just another game' to make a quick buck. And what about replay value? I could play Mario or Galaga for the rest of my life and they would never get old. How many games do you own now that you have played once and sold back, or that just sit on your shelf collecting dust (i.e. Bioshock)? Is this all sounding scarily familiar?

Now everyone calm down. I'm not suggesting that the end of the video game world is nigh. I'm just providing a kick in the balls to make sure you're still paying attention. If the Video Game Crash of '83 has taught us anything, it is that, like the government, there needs to be a system of checks and balances. The companies must continue to push the envelope as to keep consumers from becoming stagnant. On the other hand, the consumer must continue to ensure that the industry sells quality items. As soon as they stop innovating or we stop investigating, the system breaks down. Companies: If a game sucks, don't sell it! Consumers: If a game sucks, don't buy it! If we follow these rules, we can ensure that the past will never repeat itself."

@(Zombie) Goldwings:
"the Japanese economy may remain very weak and fragile until 2015"

[www.theaustralian.news.com.au]

@Mister Adequate: Alot longer than the Japanese game list. IMO anyway.

I still like alot of Japanese games! Don't set me on fire!

@Mister Adequate: Western games are fine, most are just not my cup of tea.

I like Mass Effect, and Fallout 3. Games made by Valve and uhh....a few other games here and there. I just am not into most of them. There is a completely different feel between the games. It's really hard for me to explain.

Japanese games have more fluid action'y seeming animations, generally faster paced battle systems, and more interesting stories. Western games just feel more clunky with there animations, more clunky, or not as smooth battle systems, and stories that bore me.

It's like, compare the look and feel of Devil May Cry to God of War. Not saying God of War is bad, I just don't like the feel of the whole thing. Or even look at God Hand, no western game has a system that flows like that.

Most importantly I'm not a huge fan of shooting shit.

@Trygle12 is FREE!... and waiting for Disgaea 2: But what about monster hunter? It sold a lot so what?

Wii fit sold a lot along with Mario + Mario Kart DS.

Well the Economy right now doesnt really help does it?

Y'know, they keep complaining that the Japanese game market is declining, but I keep seeing less Japanese games actually released. It's a vicious cycle?

yanipheonu

@Witzbold: ...but

...but

Monster Hunter! D:

@Witzbold: Ahhh, that's right. I think I did here it somewhere about Japan's economic state being one of the 2nd worst in Japan's history. Is this basis on true terms or did I somehow imagined it in my short ended mind filled with thoughts of "how to become better using Hakumen without spamming the circle button to win."

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!: Really? You've not played a single Western game worth the bother? X-Com, Fallout, Deus Ex, Sid Meier's Alpha Centuari, C&C, GTA, Diablo... the list is pretty long. We'd be losing out if Japan is harmed in the long-term, no doubt, but it seems a bit of an overreaction to suggest that there are no meritable Western games.

@(Zombie) Goldwings: I don't own a PSP.
If I wanted to purchase a PSP why the hell would I choose the GO? Honestly, I'm really not sure what the plan is with that thing. I see no advantage over the current PSP models, and the kicker is its priced MORE than the 3000!? What??

I'm sure there will be people blaming the lack of Squeenix product on the dominant consoles there, but the nation as a whole looks to be moving to portables by and large. I wonder if that's a legitimate shift in long term demand or simply facilitated by the current recession.

Wii sales should be declining by now; Every man, woman and child in japan already owns one or two.

doughboyx

No suprise there.

That and people well not having money like they used to could be you know another possible answer.

@Strom Thurmond: Correction. "Slowing (PSP,PS3,DS,DS Lite,PS2) sales down, Wii?" Because we all know that in Japan even without the Wii, the 360 would still sale like a Sega CD.

@NoobKitten: It's the... ApocaWiipse.

Yeahhh

Soon Japanese games will become obscure, and we will be stuck with western products mainly, or Japanese games trying to appeal to westerns.

Well gentlemen, it's been fun, but I think gaming is coming to a close for me. D Mitsuki, possibly singing off gaming.

@zach a mac rack alack: Borrow mine:
For BRAAAAAAAAINNNNSSSS!!!

My part-mercury, part-crystal ball tells me that it may be because there are not any good games out.

@Placentasaurus: HEEEEERE'S THURMOND!

No need to worry. Sony is bringing out the PSP GO and the Wii is pumping out a new colour to boot. Don't forget the (rumored) new Xbox 360 SKU as well.
You see? That is the new system sellers these days, colours and upgrades.
lol you thought it was the lack of games (XD) software was sooooo last generation Mr Plunkett and Japan is in a part of its time where one hasn't been released RIGHT NOW hahahahaha *cries* T_____T
I'm scared of how the game industry is slowly headed into a dark part in future history. PLEASE let me be wrong. Please...

@Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.: There's a Strom coming.

...Oh whoops, he's already here.

@NoobKitten: Only if it was "Slowing (other console here) sales down, Wii?"

@Strom Thurmond: You hear my battle cry!

@Strom Thurmond: For a second there, I thought you were saying that cuz your name was Storm.

Wii sales slowing down? I didn't know those words could be used in the same sentence.

@Strom Thurmond: The Calm before the Storm?

There's a storm coming.

@D Mitsuki : Gotta have guts kid!:
agree, The western market games alot (not all) have this gritty realism look on every game when as japan games have alot more colors and it's good to break it up every once in a while. I like shooters to don't get me wrong but that's the reason I got rid of the first xbox because that's all it had on it. At least the 360 has more to offer.

KuroKruiser

@GnatB:
AGREED! I don't own portable and no plans to get one. sure they're fun when you're 12 and your going on long trip. the only way I would own a handheld is if they looked (graphics wise) look the console's and that will never happen the closest it ever happen is the sega nomad which failed I might add.

KuroKruiser