Is Japan now leading the games industry again?

Anything to do with games at all.

Who's "winning" this gen for you?

Japan
17
57%
The West
13
43%
 
Total votes: 30
NickSCFC

PostIs Japan now leading the games industry again?
by NickSCFC » Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:42 pm

Last gen it felt like the Japanese gaming industry was in terminal decline, Western developers got a head start thanks to the 360 launching a year early while Japan struggled to adapt to the 'HD era'. It even lead to threads like this...

t:has-japanese-video-game-design-declined?f=2

t:japanese-playing-a-new-video-game-catch-up

Fast forward a decade and it seems that the west is now struggling, successful AAA franchises from last gen such as Mass Effect, COD, Halo and Assassin's Creed have suffered huge drops in terms of review scores where as Japanese games seem to be going through a renaissance.

Here's just a few examples:

Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Persona 5
Bloodborne
Mario Kart 8
Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain
Dark Souls 3
Super Mario 3D World & Maker
Nioh
Resident Evil 7
Pinkmin 3
Nier Automata
Bayonetta 2
PES 2016/2017

What do you guys think?


Last edited by NickSCFC on Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:40 pm, edited 5 times in total.
HSH28
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by HSH28 » Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:45 pm

NickSCFC wrote:Fast forward a decade and it seems that the west is now struggling...


Nope.

EDIT - Top games released in 2016.

Uncharted 4
Inside
Overwatch
Forza Horizon 3
Titanfall 2
Dishonored 2
XCom 2
Doom
The Witness

Dark Souls 3
Rez Infinite
Fire Emblem Fates
Pokémon Sun/Moon

I think the Japanese games industry has a way to go.

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Mafro
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Mafro » Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:56 pm

It never stopped.

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Cheeky Devlin
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Cheeky Devlin » Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:56 pm

It's definitely bounced back (Aha!) but I wouldn't go as far as to say it's leading the industry again.

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Qikz
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Qikz » Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:57 pm

Without a doubt yes.

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NickSCFC

PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by NickSCFC » Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:58 pm


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Mafro
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Mafro » Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:20 pm

HSH28 wrote:
NickSCFC wrote:Fast forward a decade and it seems that the west is now struggling...


Nope.

EDIT - Top games released in 2016.

Uncharted 4 Shite
Inside Indie wank feels
Overwatch Very good
Forza Horizon 3 Zzzzzzzzz m8
Titanfall 2 Very good
Dishonored 2 Don't care
XCom 2 Don't care
Doom Pretty good but I've only played the first three levels
The Witness Indie wank from that knob Jonathan Blow

Dark Souls 3
Rez Infinite
Fire Emblem Fates
Pokémon Sun/Moon

I think the Japanese games industry has a way to go.

Fisher wrote:shyguy64 did you sell weed in animal crossing new horizons today.

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HSH28
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by HSH28 » Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:30 pm

Mafro wrote:It never stopped.


It never started.

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Trelliz
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Trelliz » Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:42 pm

I'll be happy when they start making/localising more mecha and/or initial d-style racing games and less fanservice-laden moeshit like Senran Kagura and Neptunia.

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That
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by That » Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:44 pm

Most of the games I'm looking forward to at the moment are Japanese. On the other hand, my most played game over the last year is (by a wide margin!) Overwatch.

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Floex
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Floex » Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:02 pm

The HD era seemed to leave a lot of Eastern developers scratching their heads. A couple of standout companies like Platinum and Nintendo were still delivering the goods but the greats like Capcom, Sega and Konami (outside of Kojima) were a shadow of their former selves.

But this is, it definitely feels it anyway, the first year where many Japanese companies seemed to have bounced back and produced genuine classics that are competing and bettering Western counterparts. Especially at a time when high profile Western titles like Mass Effect have failed to keep to the quality we expect. Are they leading? No. Are they are the same level? It's very much getting there again and thats great for consumers.

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rinks
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by rinks » Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:05 pm

Always with the division. Japan. The West. "Winning." Like it's some concerted group effort. Load of nonsense.

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Saint of Killers
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Saint of Killers » Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:42 pm

rinks wrote:Always with the division. Japan. The West. "Winning." Like it's some concerted group effort. Load of nonsense.


.

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Rax
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Rax » Fri Apr 21, 2017 9:26 am

rinks wrote:Always with the division. Japan. The West. "Winning." Like it's some concerted group effort. Load of nonsense.

:wub:

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Preezy
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Preezy » Fri Apr 21, 2017 10:07 am

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OrangeRKN
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by OrangeRKN » Fri Apr 21, 2017 10:28 am

Mechanically Breath of the Wild and MGSV are easily the two best games I've ever played

Western games and Japanese games are not distinct, unrelated entities, and both seem to deliver some of their best when they look to the other for inspiration and innovation.

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Qikz
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Qikz » Fri Apr 21, 2017 1:53 pm

If it wasn't for the fact my most played games are on PC, I wouldn't even be playing Western Games anymore.

The Watching Artist wrote:I feel so inept next to Qikz...
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Irene Demova
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Irene Demova » Fri Apr 21, 2017 1:54 pm

No

NickSCFC

PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by NickSCFC » Fri Apr 21, 2017 2:51 pm

Qikz wrote:If it wasn't for the fact my most played games are on PC, I wouldn't even be playing Western Games anymore.


I only realised yesterday that I've only bought 2 western games this gen where as last-gen I'd say 90% of my games were by western devs.

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Pedz
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PostRe: Is Japan now leading the games industry again?
by Pedz » Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:50 pm

Not really, both western and Eastern sides have good and bad gooseberry fool. Same as always.

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