Kitsune wrote:
He, considering the topic conversation in that other thread, maybe I could talk about the games where you fight the forces of poo as they invade and there’s an enemy called Anal Corn who actually dances. But I think might be pushing the limits of taste.
Kitsune, please tell me that was a joke. Please? Even if it’s not?*
Well, I made up the Anal Corn bit…though the enemy does kind of look like that…as for the rest of it, I’m afraid its quite true. :twisted:
Sean Tudor:
I’d like to read about the PC gaming scene if it exists in Japan. Surely there must be Japanese PC game developers who don’t just develop interactive soft-porn PC games.
There are notable Japanese PC games, but they are mostly either 1) older games, 2) independent games or 3) console-like in implementation (i.e. they use the mouse and keyboard to simulate a console controller instead of adapting it natively). Good idea though, I might do this. Though I really don’t think we have any flight simulators you’d like. :P They’re mostly about making it big in the airline industry.
Theo X DX: Dynamite Dude Version:
Tell me about Moon.
Oh yes. I thoroughly plan to. Especially with Chulip right around the corner. I wouldn’t dream of ignoring this classic.
BrewersDroop
Are games generally considered to be a children’s pastime or is there also a large adult gaming market (by adult I don’t necessarily mean sexual content)?
This probably isn’t worth a column to explore: there is a large adult gaming market and always has been since the early 80s. And yes, I don’t just mean “hentai.” Nintendo, seems to be assumed to be kiddy no matter where you go. The only difference is that I wouldn’t say one is embarassed to be caught playing Mario or Kirby. There are games aimed at much older users, but I don’t think the themes repel adults over here.
Has anyone come up with a virtual Pachinko game and, if not, why not? Given the popularity of Pachinko, there must be a market for it. What is the deal with Pachinko anyway?
There are tons of Pachinko games. One of them is bound to be one of this year’s bestsellers when all is said and done. What’s the deal? Hmmm, good question, I don’t understand the appeal of Pachinko myself. After all, just because its popular doesn’t mean everyone likes it. ;) Maybe I’ll investigate that.
oinkfs:
I’m interested in the Japanese view of christianity. A lot of games/movies I’ve seen from there have a good bit of talk about angels, or actual church dogma but it’s almost always wacky.
This is also really easy to explain: its basically flavor text. Angel wings and crosses and such are just way to be “cool” in a sense. Its basically just trendy. That trend doesn’t really have much to do with the actual Japanese treatment of Christian themes. Though I’ll not deny at all that in the rush to be trendy a lot of weird misconceptions are made, in games like Final Fantasy Tactics that really are interested in treating things like Christian relgion is a total different thing. What seems weird and maybe even sacrilegous is just artistic license in some cases there. Mr. Matsuno actually really knows his history and Christianity, if you’ve read interviews with him. Say, Breath of Fire II or Grandia II, however, are pretty much just flavor text on the old kill the foozle plot wrapped in a trendy Christian-esque foil. In almost all cases, it just results from a long-running fad.
yurislave:
I’d really like to know what you think the culteral difference is that makes gaming “cool” in Japan. It’s like Japan is a magic land where people can openly talk about gaming on the street. Here if you’re a gamer you’re either a kid, a nerd, or a psycopath or addict (if you read the mainstream news). Japan seems like a place where people can game out in the open without fear of social consequences.
While I could probably explain why gaming has been more mainstream over here, I hope you realize that if you seriously debate whether, say, gunners make FFTA’s balance broken on a forum, you’ll still get considered a nerd in Japan. If you say on a date that you think Kitase is a genius and you love what he’s done with FF, then most likely the only kisses you’re going to get are is a kiss goodbye to the chances of a second date. If you say, you’re going to see the Black Mages or the Namco Sound Team this weekend and you have an extra ticket, that’s no reason over here to be seen as a nerd. If you say to a girl, “Hey, why don’t go we see of there are any cheap two-player games for the PS2 and spend the night playing drinking games, pick up some groceries, cook a simple dinner and have a laid back night” there’s no cultural code that says, LOSER. But you can still be a gaming geek in Japan, so please don’t misunderstand.
IX Aszurom:
Why isn’t there a translated Super Robot Wars for PS2 available at Wal-Mart? I’d pay $100 for that. But, no. Is the American gaming market seen as a bunch of drooling retards with no appreciation for the really cool Japanese franchises? Do they think they’d have bad sales from a game with every cool mecha ever or what?
Hah! You know very well why! I do think you’re right though, Japanese did have the misconception that gaming doesn’t appeal to a mature market in the US for a long time. Though drooling retards is probably a bit extreme. BTW, have you played one of these games? The strategic wrapper is really shallow if you ask me. I guess it doesn’t matter if all you wanna do is bit shit up with a whole bunch of different cool robots though.
Anyways, thanks to everyone. I’m working on it. :)
-Kitsune
