• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Any reason why the WiiU *won't* dominate Japan?

Status
Not open for further replies.
First off, this isn't about worldwide and isn't about the US or PAL regions. I'm talking strictly Japan. And in my mind, MS doesn't even launch their next system there.

And I don't mean take it... or win it, I mean dominate it like the NES did.
Japan is a little behind tech wise and have concentrated on handheld tech along with many games staying in Japan so I feel that the WiiU is perfect for Japanese developers and they will flock to it making it their lead system. Take that they have Monster Hunter, Pokemon, and Dragon Quest so the only huge franchise is Final Fantasy but I feel that is just an announcement away. Japan for the most part has only been a one system region.

So is there any big compelling reason why WiiU won't dominate Japan this gen? How can they mess up with a full year with no competition and Western developers not in the picture along with most in the nation not caring about online.

Could a PS4 with a heavy Western game library gain traction after the WiiU has been established for so long? Will Japanese devs not named Kojima wait for a PS system over the easier WiiU?

This includes if handhelds have taken a huge chunk away from the home consoles as well.
 

Anth0ny

Member
It could. It certainly has the Japanese third party support to do so.

But Square, Capcom, Konami and Namco Bandai will still support PS4 with big titles that won't see the light of day on Wii U. I can't see an NES-like scenario playing out again.
 
Not enough supply... or Squeenix and Capcom (who're both bat shit crazy at this point) decide they no longer like to make money and will take DQ and MH off the system.
 
Wii fatigue. I don't think too many people understand that this is an entirely new console, and even if they do, many non-gamers who bought the Wii probably aren't interested in a new one.
 
But Square, Capcom, Konami and Namco Bandai will still support PS4 with big titles that won't see the light of day on Wii U. I can't see an NES-like scenario playing out again.

This is the thing that will be interesting to see unfold, and not just in Japan.
 

Currygan

at last, for christ's sake
only Nintendo can poop on their own party


NSMBU will be the final test for it. If Japan still loves it, then the WiiU won't have to worry for a long, long time

if it fails to create buzz and big sales then we have a problem.
 

ULTROS!

People seem to like me because I am polite and I am rarely late. I like to eat ice cream and I really enjoy a nice pair of slacks.
If it can market the casual crowd, sure.
 
I can't think of any at this point. MH and DQ at launch + at least a year head start are pretty strong indicators that JP is a done deal. Note that I still expect decent success from Sony regardless.
 

NeonZ

Member
It could. It certainly has the Japanese third party support to do so.

But Square, Capcom, Konami and Namco Bandai will still support PS4 with big titles that won't see the light of day on Wii U. I can't see an NES-like scenario playing out again.

That's the main problem. without some of the biggest third party titles to build userbase, like main Final Fantasies, certain genres like RPGs will have a low selling on the console, even if it is otherwise successful. The Wii showed that problem pretty clearly in Japan. Missing the "lead" game basically led to the console not becoming viable for an entire genre. There is (offline) Dragon Quest, I guess, but it usually comes so late it's pretty much a non factor.
 
If it manage to sell both hardware AND software, there's no reason why third-parties would avoid it unless of course they have an agenda against Nintendo.
 
Depends alot on what the competition puts out, I think a number of the biggest franchises from Japan are assuradely PS4/720(RE, FF, MGS) so whether or not they will also have WiiU versions aswell is important.

Potential reasons

Too many ports/not enough exclusive software to get people who have a current gen system to Jump in. Even in the case of Monster Hunter it will be 3ds first/multiplat

Possible repeat of the Wii's third party support without the Wii's runaway success up front.

Poeple who want tablet/touch gaming already have a 3ds/phone/tablet so the unique controller doesn't catch on
 
Did MGS4 pass a million in Japan? I don't remember but thought that the series was bigger outside of Japan.

It's not simply about the numbers they put up. Wherever FF and MGS go, the others tend to follow. Can't say the same about DQ or MH. Those franchises attract a certain group more likely to buy into other japanese franchises.

Of course, NSMB U could sell a trillion copies and Nintendo would dominate Japan again like the Wii. I'm not denying that. That doesn't mean all the developers will flock over there.
 
Depends alot on what the competition puts out, I think a number of the biggest franchises from Japan are assuradely PS4/720(RE, FF, MGS) so whether or not they will also have WiiU versions aswell is important.
Those franchises aren't anywhere close to being the biggest franchises in Japan.
 

Platy

Member
Some kind of meteor strike.

o5eKY.png
 
Those franchises aren't anywhere close to being the biggest franchises in Japan.

They don't need to be. The PS3 is at 8m now (compared to the Wii's 12m) and it has a grand total of 1 million seller. But it has quite a few games that push over 500k and those attract a diverse audience of gamers.
 
It's not simply about the numbers they put up. Wherever FF and MGS go, the others tend to follow. Can't say the same about DQ or MH. Those franchises attract a certain group more likely to buy into other japanese franchises.

Of course, NSMB U could sell a trillion copies and Nintendo would dominate Japan again like the Wii. I'm not denying that. That doesn't mean all the developers will flock over there.

FF is supported on the 360 and Square can't even barely get games out for the PS3 like versus or FFXIV. Why wouldn't they support the WiiU? Square and Nintendo used to be tight and NCL are all anout courting Japanese developers.

And again, not sure MGS is a big draw to Japanese audiences.
 
Those franchises aren't anywhere close to being the biggest franchises in Japan.

I didn't say they were, I said they were some of. DQ won't be getting a new instalment for a long time, MH is foremost a handheld title and then you have nintendo first party of which a mainline pokemon isn't going to be on WiiU. What am i missing really for third parties? Yakuza and Tales? probably on sony. Kingdom Hearts? not for ages.
 

Anth0ny

Member
I think mainline Final Fantasy is the one title that is really holding them back from true dominance. Mainline Resident Evil and Metal Gear would help too, but they aren't at that top level.

New Super Mario Bros
Mario Kart
Monster Hunter
Dragon Quest

is pretty godlike, regardless. I imagine something like One Piece Musou 2 would be primarily made for Wii U, given Nintendo and Namco Bandai's new relationship.
 
Really depends on third-party support in 2013 and beyond. MH and DQ are a start, but what about Japanese franchises that are actually relevant outside Japan? Ground Zeroes is unlikely based on Kojima's comments early this year, it's too late for a timely port of Rising to be announced, and there's still a substantial chance that Lightning Returns is PS3/360-only.
 

GorillaJu

Member
Home consoles already took a bit of a dive this gen in terms of popularity. I can see Wii U dominating in terms of market share, but we won't see numbers like we saw for PS2. 'Gaming' is synonymous nowadays with handhelds, in Japan moreso than the west.
 

Eusis

Member
I think it depends on how well the Wii U tablet addresses the TV sharing problem. Otherwise it'll be continued handheld dominance.
 

enzo_gt

tagged by Blackace
I would wait to see Sony's lineup, but Wii U is already boasting a ton of support for a lot of franchises Japan cares about most, certainly a great outlook in Japan.
 
I would wait to see Sony's lineup, but Wii U is already boasting a ton of support for a lot of franchises Japan cares about most, certainly a great outlook in Japan.

Does Sony have a big push of first party Japanese titles? Most first party exclusives from them are geared towards the West.
 
FF is supported on the 360 and Square can't even barely get games out for the PS3 like versus or FFXIV. Why wouldn't they support the WiiU? Square and Nintendo used to be tight and NCL are all anout courting Japanese developers.

And again, not sure MGS is a big draw to Japanese audiences.

SE, Capcom, and Konami aren't behind tech wise. They will keep up with what the west will be doing next gen. I don't see how anyone believes they of all japanese devs would settle with the Wii U when it comes to FF and MGS.

You missed my point about the sales numbers. I didn't say MGS is the biggest seller or draws in the largest crowds, I said those franchises attract a certain crowd that buys certain types of games. If I'm making the next Tales game, and I see Final Fantasy on the ps4, does it make sense to put it on the Wii U?

Wii U will dominate ps4, but not because of third party, which will be no better or worse than Wii.

Soul Sacrifice, Last Guardian and FF VS might have a thing to say about Wii U owning Japan

Not when everyone and their dog is buying NSMB.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom