Developers should create more games “that Japanese people like”

  • djsoren19@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 days ago

    On the one hand, yeah definitely export your own cultural weirdness. Part of the joy of having so many other cultures in the world is getting little peeks into them via art.

    On the other hand, some of my favorite games of all time have come from Japanese developers fetishizing American culture and trying to pretend it’s normal. Deadly Premonition, Metal Wolf Chaos, all the works of Hideo Kojima. I think there’s something to be said for the strange fusions that can occur when an outsider makes art in the style of a different culture.

    • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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      2 days ago

      The Souls games wouldn’t have happened without this either. I think both are good, but the fusion makes something special. You get all the best parts from both cultures. It’s the same for food or whatever else. Combining the best parts that different groups bring in creates something that no individual group could have done alone.

      • Jax@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        Devil May Cry comes to mind, as well. If I’m not mistaken that game was entirely developed with Western audiences as the target demographic.

  • ayyy@sh.itjust.works
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    2 days ago

    People who say Americans are lawsuit-happy clearly haven’t heard of Japanese video game publishers.

  • Tudsamfa@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    There is some aspect of Japanese culture I can really do without in my games, like everyone being either a high school student, just getting 18, or 60+. Especially when they then get into relationships.

    Then again, I can’t really say if that would sell. I’m certainly not deep enough into anime culture to gauge interest there.

  • Stovetop@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Well I can say with relative confidence that the Japanese game industry is the only one doing well right now, so they have a point.

    • ampersandrew@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      There’s definitely a point where a game is too Japanese. Kinitsu Gami didn’t seem to make its money back.

    • Sibshops@lemm.ee
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      2 days ago

      Really? I thought the big games have been coming out of China, lately, like genshin impact.

      • Stovetop@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Other than a couple notable exceptions like Genshin, most Chinese games tend to stay in China. Could always change, but the Chinese market has always been very insular.

        It was the first video game bubble pop in the 80’s that tanked the Western gaming industry and paved the way for Japanese consoles and publishers to make waves internationally, though, so who’s to say that the same couldn’t happen this time for China? But Japan’s industry is still healthy, so who knows.

      • Grass@sh.itjust.works
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        19 hours ago

        the only think that really kills me is when they make very u.s. or euro looking characters but they have very japanese mannerism animations or only the eyes look japanese, etc.

  • FrostyCaveman@lemm.ee
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    2 days ago

    Yep, the only thing that could use a bit of Americanisation is the video settings and performance side of things

  • mohab@piefed.social
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    2 days ago

    Yes, please.

    I have a lot of respect for some Western developers, and there also is a lot of trash that comes out of Japan, but I don’t care about your photorealistic graphics or whatever emotional story your team of wannabe TV/film writers cooked up: Japan just does fun better, IMO.

    • caseyweederman
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      2 days ago

      You know what they call Hunger Games in Japan?
      A screenshot of the scene in Pulp Fiction where John Travolta is telling Samuel L Jackson about the little differences between America and Europe
      Battle Royale with cheese.

    • shani66@ani.social
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      2 days ago

      Japan just seems to have more soul than America, either that or the language barrier does amazing things to entertainment.

      • Delphia@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Its not just Japan.

        Squid game, Money heist, Furies and a few other things Ive watched just on Netflix in the last few years just hit differently. Hollywood just has too many formulas that become obvious once you notice them, too many investors and networks wanting a safe ROI as opposed to pure creativity. Even the brits are a bit more willing to put “unconventionally attractive” people in leading roles and write things a bit dryer and grittier than a lot of American productions.

        Something about stuff not coming through that system just feels different.

        • FiveMacs
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          2 days ago

          I don’t think Hollywood has too many formulas, they have like 3…and it’s blatantly obvious in anything they slop out

          • Nasan@sopuli.xyz
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            2 days ago

            They retired/vaulted the rest because they don’t break double the production costs during opening week, or whatever unrealistic expectation they have for dumping everything into hype over substance.

      • samus12345@lemm.ee
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        2 days ago

        It’s easier to get a game made in Japan that’s the singular vision of a passionate developer. In the US they’re typically made by committee.

  • ABetterTomorrow@lemm.ee
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    2 days ago

    Capitalism = trash games. Focus on the few and just make them good. As in story, music, character development and very last gfx.