I agree with everything you said, but it doesn't address the worry that people are bringing up in this thread, that the home console is becoming less and less relevant in Japan, and maybe elsewhere.
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Japan claims another victim (PS4)
- Thread starter SlipperySlope
- Start date
I agree with everything you said, but it doesn't address the worry that people are bringing up in this thread, that the home console is becoming less and less relevant in Japan, and maybe elsewhere.
Maybe 5 years ago... I'm not so sure about now. I hope it does though. I really want dedicated gaming devices to continue to succeed in Japan.
fvng
Member
Its waning popularity in the US doesn't necessarily mirror its popularity in Japan
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
That's true, but the series sales have been in general decline in Japan since FFVIII.
FreedomFighter
Member
We need a chalkboard already?
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
lol!
Go_Ly_Dow
Member
Another 1-1.5years tho. So until then its probably not gonna be pretty.
However as I said in the other thread XV will launch alongside a pricecut and bundle. It will cause a huge boost just as XIII did.
Are you arguing that the PS4 is its special little snowflake that can't be compared to other consoles?
I just thought about this: Are there ANY Japanese games coming out in 2014 only on PS4 and Xbox One? It seems like every major upcoming Japanese game this year coming to PS4 will also be on PS3. That's the case for most western games too, but this fall the number of 8th-gen-only games is looking to ramp up. I don't see that happening with Japan at all until Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts III, and we'll be lucky to get FFXV next year.
Basically, for the Japanese market, the only non-western PS4 exclusives seem to be at least 12 months away. Until then it's just gonna be a console for getting better-looking versions of PS3 games.
Basically, for the Japanese market, the only non-western PS4 exclusives seem to be at least 12 months away. Until then it's just gonna be a console for getting better-looking versions of PS3 games.
perfectsil
Member
what holiday sales? December is not holiday season in Japan
I love GAF's chalkboard meme haha. FFXV, MGS:GZ, KH3 ... hmm, what else?
entremet
Member
When is that coming out?
This picture says everything what's going on in Japan:
Japan is increasingly becoming a majority mobile country with no place left for the core console gaming many of us have grown up with. For someone like me (who has little patience for western "AAA" games or unpolished and/or uninspired and/or artsy-fartsy "indie"), nor do I like F2P/microtransactions, this could be the worst possible thing to happen to me as a gamer.
It's good to see others are aware of the demographic decline in Japan and how this is a bigger issue than most realize when it comes to gaming. The low birth rate means less new consumers (and those new customers are being introduced to gaming via a different route than traditional console/handheld gaming with traditional purchase/control structures). I'm sure there is still a market that prefers games on a console as opposed to a small mobile device, but this doesn't seem to be enough to sustain those quirky mid-budget games that we all know and love so much from the NES-PS2 era.
Sadly, apart from a few huge releases (MGS, RE, FF) and perhaps a few otaku-type games I predict the amount of Japanese games on consoles are gonna be even less going into the future. And I don't expect to see very many of those smaller titles that were my favorite things about the PS3/360 era appear (Resonance of Fate, Vanquish, Valkyria Chronicles, Lost Odyssey, Binary Domain, Dragon's Crown).
But then again, I think Japan is just a canary for what will happen in the west in a few years time.
Japan is increasingly becoming a majority mobile country with no place left for the core console gaming many of us have grown up with. For someone like me (who has little patience for western "AAA" games or unpolished and/or uninspired and/or artsy-fartsy "indie"), nor do I like F2P/microtransactions, this could be the worst possible thing to happen to me as a gamer.
It's good to see others are aware of the demographic decline in Japan and how this is a bigger issue than most realize when it comes to gaming. The low birth rate means less new consumers (and those new customers are being introduced to gaming via a different route than traditional console/handheld gaming with traditional purchase/control structures). I'm sure there is still a market that prefers games on a console as opposed to a small mobile device, but this doesn't seem to be enough to sustain those quirky mid-budget games that we all know and love so much from the NES-PS2 era.
Sadly, apart from a few huge releases (MGS, RE, FF) and perhaps a few otaku-type games I predict the amount of Japanese games on consoles are gonna be even less going into the future. And I don't expect to see very many of those smaller titles that were my favorite things about the PS3/360 era appear (Resonance of Fate, Vanquish, Valkyria Chronicles, Lost Odyssey, Binary Domain, Dragon's Crown).
But then again, I think Japan is just a canary for what will happen in the west in a few years time.
Yeah, it will only result in a sociological and economic crisis but at least your video games will be saved.
Honestly, this gives me more hope than anything else. If anything it's wesyern consumers who have embarrassed themselvea
Why would anyone buy a ps4 right now? It's expensive, lacks functionality, The games are poorly rated and western oriented, and it doesn't have much to look forward to
The tech was vastly inferior to that of gaming pc's at launch, which is why games struggle to reach 1080p at 60fps
What incentive is there to purchase it over handhelds?
Why would anyone buy a ps4 right now? It's expensive, lacks functionality, The games are poorly rated and western oriented, and it doesn't have much to look forward to
The tech was vastly inferior to that of gaming pc's at launch, which is why games struggle to reach 1080p at 60fps
What incentive is there to purchase it over handhelds?
hydragonwarrior
Member
Yup - and there's an expectation for AAA so it's less likely we'll have many titles available at launch. And most small developers have migrated to PC for kickstarter, steam or tablet/phone gaming anyway.
Back then there'd be a ton of games throughout the year since it wasn't that expensive to develop games for a system, and hence tons of choice.
Oh shit, didn't mean it that way. Reading it back... I will re-edit.
I meant to say that it's good to hear others are aware of the demographic decline situation and how it affects gaming. Usually it's glossed over in discussions like this.
Neff
Member
You know, as charmingly terrible as Altered Beast is, it's still more interesting and entertaining than anything released on PS4 so far.
And that's a really depressing thought.
Yeah, no. Just because you're a special snowflake doesn't mean everyone else is. I personally enjoy my time with AC4, Resogun, Outlast, and Don't Starve. I'd rather play those again and again than playing AB again.
Guardian Monkey
Member
I'm not really sure it matters. Japan's population is less 3% of worlds + globazation = who cares.
People who like Japanese console games on their consoles?
near
Gold Member
Anyone who cares about Japanese developers. Hardware sales are a relevant source for investment and risk assessment. Smaller Japanese developers are being forced into the mobile market and the bigger companies are following suit to minize losses. As the market begins to decrease for console consumers some of our favourite Japanese developers are having to reduce investments into console software. Some of the larger companies have tried to adapt to the western market but failed to understand its needs. It's a cause for concern if you ever really appreciated Japanese developed games it's sad to see that we won't be seeing as much content as we use to unless the market in Japan is reignited.
Neff
Member
Yeah, no. Just because you're a special snowflake doesn't mean everyone else is.
Don't give a fuck
I'm far, far from the only one disappointed in PS4's existing library though.
Don't give a fuck
I'm far, far from the only one disappointed in PS4's existing library though.
Yeah, amongst the 6 million purchasers, you guys are the refreshing winter wonderland we all need.
Astral Dog
Member
Can we stop blaming japanese developers? most companies just cant compete on graphics and resources with western companies, and their games will never have their mass market appeal outside a few franchises,sure, jp publishers made some very bad decisions but the current console market is just not healthy for anyone that is not an Indie or AAA western dev.
RadarScope1
Member
Great post. This is The Point, right here. For so many gamers who grew up in the 80s and 90s, this is a big deal. Or for people who like single player games, frankly. I would hate to see the day when every game is just a competitive online fracas full of F2P hooks. Fuck that.
Yeah, I agree. If that happens, I will just go retro.
I also grew up playing games in the mid-80's as a small child, & most of today's games can't even compare to most games being made from the 80's, 90's, & even from the early to mid 2000's.
I fail to see why this matters, it only means you'll see less Japanese games on consoles if they're really going in that direction. Japan will always play games though, you'll just find their games on portable devices. Doesn't mean the games are going to be diminished into the quality that we see on cell phones as the 3DS and Vita are more than capable of producing deeper experiences.
Rhazer Fusion
Member
Rhazer Fusion
Member
Yeah, but portables or mobile devices potentially replacing consoles is still depressing for people who want the definitive experiences of their favorite games. HD consoles are typically technologically more advanced than portables/mobile and imo that can provide better experiences and this is why the situation in Japan with consoles is disturbing. Yeah, you can cram a great and deep experience into a 3DS or a Vita, but it's like everyone ditching their huge 4K HDTV's or movie theater screens with surround sound for watching movies and TV shows on their 3.5 inch cellphones. To me, it just isn't the same.
You know, i'm one of the 6 mill purchasers and i am disappointed with PS4's launch titles.
Why do i have it? Cause even knowing that the whole out of stock situation is an apple like marketing trick of 'we are so wanted we can't produce units fast enough', i ordered a PS4 in the end of February to be sure i'll have it till end of March for MGSV. The result is that it arrived on March 3, just a week after i ordered it. I got it updated and stuff and now it collects dust till March 20.
Compared to Wii U where you had 2 great first party games at launch and a 3rd party exclusive that would blow you away, PS4 launch with KZ, Resogun (good looking but just a tech demo, not a game) Knack (...eh) and all the 3rd party multiplats, was obviously underwhelming.
I love mine, i can't wait for MGSV, but this launch does not deserve those sales.
Lepcis Magna
Neo Member
When the timing is right.
The Silver
Member
This wouldn't even upset me as much if Japan was flocking to handhelds like the DS/PSP days, now they're going to terrible world of mobile and F2P and microtransactions.
Capcom could've put a Onimusha game on the Vita and instead I get Onimusha Soul for mobile, god damn it.
Capcom could've put a Onimusha game on the Vita and instead I get Onimusha Soul for mobile, god damn it.
Poetic.Injustice
Member
I don't see how there will be a turnaround after XV releases when nothing changed for PS3 after the release of XIII.
Paracelsus
Member
PSV: Very, very niche core fanbase, such is the offer
Mobile: Bar a minute fraction it's nearly clueless mainstream, perfect for nickle-and-diming
Why would they want to go to PSV?
SalesGaf will confirm this to you, the problem isn't FF or DQ but the fact there's little or no midcard games to fill the drought. In between FFX and XII PS2 had like 150 Jrpg and God only knows how many little action games and the likes, now SMT is on DS, Persona is TBA2014 in a gen that's already over, several IPs including many not-Jrpg are gone.
The Silver
Member
um yeah, I'm lamenting the fact that the market has gone in such a direction
yurinka
Member
As happened with PS3 launch, its previous console is still selling strong there and getting a good amount of good games.
Once these big PS4 games will be exclusive and not also released in PS3 (or Vita) too then the Japanese guys will start making the jump to the next gen. It's just a matter of time, until now 'big' PS4 games have been launched in both platforms. It's just a matter of time.
Once these big PS4 games will be exclusive and not also released in PS3 (or Vita) too then the Japanese guys will start making the jump to the next gen. It's just a matter of time, until now 'big' PS4 games have been launched in both platforms. It's just a matter of time.