Why no Japanese-themed Games from the West?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9iZD4dDoTM

This video does have a good point. Western gamers have a tendency to call out on Japanese games for being "too Japanese." Japanese gamers probably feel the same way about Western gamers.

I would have loved to see a Western creator's take on the Edo Period, or , at least, Modern Kyoto or Osaka.

I especially would love to see a Western Developer's take on Youkai.

We always cater to what our kind likes. Why not something different for other kinds as well?

edited 2nd Dec '11 1:40:01 AM by asiacatdogblue

Yep, I'm still here.

Because in an age where games take several months minimum to complete, and have to meet budgets and sales goals, it'd be pretty hard for a big company to justify spending money on developing a game for a niche group that probably won't break even. You have to wrap it up in something digestable like the newest Total War title.

edited 2nd Dec '11 1:51:07 AM by MrDolomite

I think actual Japanese games fulfill the niche well enough that western developers don't really need to make Japanese-themed games. And anyway, those kinds of games being made by the culture they depict probably lends them an air of authenticity that a western effort would surely lack.

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Yeah, not to mention Japanese gamers, until recently, looked down on all Western games, regardless of theme or not. It's a niche on both sides - some people here really like JRP Gs and other Japanese stuff, others really like WRP Gs and standard Western fare.

I think Western developed Japanese-themed games would only work if they were done by folks who spent a lot of time in Japan, learning the culture and how it works now, and also its history and that of its people. Otherwise the developers would stand accused of stamping on cultural and political sensitivities.

I'd like to point out again that Shogun 2 is a delightful game meeting the criteria, at least if you like strategy games.

I know, but could you imagine a Western developer doing something like Shenmue, or Yakuza? Or even better, making the game a success in the Japanese market? Nope, me neither.

I think a western dev could do Yakuza. Probably better if they are dedicated in their research.

edited 2nd Dec '11 2:21:13 AM by MrDolomite

Because people a larger share of Western gamers would like to play games with settings they are familiar with?

"You want to see how a human dies? At ramming speed." - Emily Wong.

Cause there's no need for them to. Japanese developers get called out on it because they're far too insular, too culturally exclusive. Except for some FPS's, Western games are actually universal in theme, scope and appeal (notice how many people said Killzone was an American game when it was actually made by the Dutch)

I'd like to point out that Western-Europe and the USA aren't culturally that far apart from each other, and I can assure you that Dutch kids are raised on a steady diet of American TV and movies, since Dutch entertainment sucks balls most of the time*

. It would be more weird if they wouldn't be able to at least mimic the style in order to reach a bigger audience.

So yeah, I don't think that argument really means as much as you think it does. Now, if it were a Chinese or Korean company that did something like that, it would be more convincing.

Yeah, if a game from Europe is thought to be American, that doesn't mean that the games are universal. It just means that it's in the American style. I'm not saying that that is bad, by the way.

Not Three Laws compliant.

Jade Empire wasn't Japanese-themed, but it was Asian-themed, and it was made in Canada.

There's also Red Alert 3, which has an entire faction devoted to Humongous Mecha and Samurai.

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Oh yeah, I gotta try that one. And they said there could be a sequel...

"what the complete, unabridged, 4k ultra HD fuck with bonus features" - Mark Von Lewis

I'd be amused by a Japan themed western title more if they got everything wrong. In fact, lets make a game about Korea and pretend it's Japan just to see how badly we can troll them.

Pretty sure Mortal Kombat is an attempt at trolling all of Asia

Except [condescending response follows]. Because [sarcasm here]. You do understand [snark], right? POTHOLE TO SARCASM MODE

No, its a take off of martial arts B movies, which was Japan Trolling itself.

A lot of the big influences on Mortal Kombat were western martial arts movies: Big Trouble in Little China, Blood Sport, etc. I'm sure they both got a lot of stuff wrong.

Except [condescending response follows]. Because [sarcasm here]. You do understand [snark], right? POTHOLE TO SARCASM MODE

^^^^ You mean Kung Fu Chaos?

^ Or Ninja: Shadows of Darkness.

or Slave Zero.

or Godai: Elemental Fo-you know what, I'd like to know what western action game doesn't have an awesomely horrible portrayal of Japanese/Chinese culture.

edited 2nd Dec '11 1:21:19 PM by Glowsquid

About as many Japanese games that don't have a horrible portrayal of Western cultures.

Metal Wolf Chaos did a pretty good job of representing the USA, I think. Too bad it never made it over here.

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Seriously, what the hell? Its a game that involves the President of the United Goddamn States fighting people with a giant robot. I would LOVE to play that!

Most of the portrayals of the west (or at least, the USA) in Japanese games are kind of endearing even if they are stereotypical. Not sure if the Japanese are as forgiving.

What Western games are big hits in Japan, anyway? Are there any?

Except [condescending response follows]. Because [sarcasm here]. You do understand [snark], right? POTHOLE TO SARCASM MODE