Japan Sales Thread *renamed

[_xxx_]

Do you buy FPS games? Or are they too violent for you? LOL

Pretty much only FPS here, yeah. Those are almost all on the index here. If there are any human-like opponents or blood in any form, the game gets banned even before it's released or crippled beyond recognition (HL had robots bleeding oil instead of soldiers, Sin had boxes saying "censored" instead of scatered body parts etc.). That's why we have to buy abroad, since most stores don't even bother handling 18+ games.

Arwin: no, it's just that there are too many overly politically correct tree-hugger and church zealots here who think they have the right to speak for everyone and enforce THEIR opinion as the only RIGHT one. Hmm, kinda sounds familiar from somewhere...

 

[Arwin]

Arwin: no, it's just that there are too many overly politically correct tree-hugger and church zealots here who think they have the right to speak for everyone and enforce THEIR opinion as the only RIGHT one. Hmm, kinda sounds familiar from somewhere...

No, see, you're making the exact same mistake. Germany is different, the UK is different, France is different, Spain is different, even the Netherlands is vastly different - one of the few countries that wouldn't have required any modifications to Manhunt 2, after all.

 

[avaya]

LMAO!!! Germany is the second-biggest gaming market worldwide for PC games after USA. But we buy most of the games abroad because of the extremely stupid, mind-boggling censorship here. As for consoles, the interest here is way less for obvious reasons.

EDIT: btw. I usually buy games on Amazon UK

My argument is in the bold.

 

[scooby_dooby]

Don't overexaggerate your dismissal of the violence argument though. Not every country has an army like in the US or a gun culture like in the US, or have so many live veterans and professionals in their family, etc.

Last time I checked, FPS sold pretty well in Canada, and the UK as well.

 

[_xxx_]

As said, console market in Germany is not really big. Most people here play RPG and strategy games and PC is still king for those.

 

[_xxx_]

No, see, you're making the exact same mistake. Germany is different, the UK is different, France is different, Spain is different, even the Netherlands is vastly different - one of the few countries that wouldn't have required any modifications to Manhunt 2, after all.

Germany is THE worst in this regard, trust me.

 

[Arwin]

Germany is THE worst in this regard, trust me.

I know that. I'm just saying that I'm making comments that go beyond any single country. And at scooby, please I'm trying to be nuanced here. I'm not saying that FPS as a genre doesn't have a big appeal in many countries, but I'm pointing out that there are in fact variations per country, and that a certain acceptance or non-acceptance of gun-violence can play a (smaller or larger) part in those differences. That's all.

 

[DuckThor Evil]

Don't overexaggerate your dismissal of the violence argument though. Not every country has an army like in the US or a gun culture like in the US, or have so many live veterans and professionals in their family, etc.

I have to say though that us Europeans have pretty long history of warmongering on our own, and in my opinion we like violent movies and videogames almost as much as our brothers across the bond, certainly I don't think that's the explaining reason for the PS2 and Xbox numbers.

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

Most of our wars are pretty old and more of a historical thing to sometimes even be proud of like dutch kicking the arse of the english and all while most american wars are still ''new'' compared to those. But that doesnt really has anything to do with the discussion at hand.

 

[scooby_dooby]

And at scooby, please I'm trying to be nuanced here. I'm not saying that FPS as a genre doesn't have a big appeal in many countries, but I'm pointing out that there are in fact variations per country, and that a certain acceptance or non-acceptance of gun-violence can play a (smaller or larger) part in those differences. That's all.

Well, maybe recall what the original comment was, the one you seem to be supporting:

FPS is a specific genre in which violence is enacted through your own eyes. The immersion is greater. The gun culture is big in America, it's not everywhere else. I am 100% positive this is a very big reason for the Xbox's lack of success. The stigma associated with FPS is much greater than in any other type of genre.

There is no significant gun culture in Canada or UK, yet FPS remains one of the most popular genres, along with the usual suspects such as Grand Theft Auto.

So, as far as I'm concerned this specific theory does not hold water whatsoever.

 

[rekator]

When we was littles boys didn't we play cowboys and Indians, or Cops and thiefs, etc…
So now we play FPS, GTA…

 

[StefanS]

Friendly Reminder:

This is a Japanese sales thread. I am willing to tolerate a bit off-topic as long as it relates to Japan (though from the way the discussion went, I've seriously doubt about the quality). But you're drifting more and more off-topic.

So get back on topic and focus more on the original intent of the thread.

 

[Johnny Awesome]

Last time I checked, FPS sold pretty well in Canada, and the UK as well.

FPS is huge in Canada despite the heavy gun control. FPS would be popular in Germany if it weren't for the censorship.

I think the issue that Japanese gamers have culturally is that they seem to like to play other characters, not themselves in games. For instance, Western RPG is all about making YOUR character and customizing YOUR stuff and the freedom to explore the world anyway that YOU like. Japanese RPGs feature pre-canned stories, pre-canned characters, etc... you don't play yourself or your fantasy self. You play some other character. That's a huge reason why FPS doesn't fly over there IMO. Nothing to do with "gun culture" or too much violence. Less individuality. More conformity.,

 

[Johnny Awesome]

Most of our wars are pretty old and more of a historical thing to sometimes even be proud of like dutch kicking the arse of the english and all while most american wars are still ''new'' compared to those. But that doesnt really has anything to do with the discussion at hand.

Well NATO bombed the hell out of Serbia a few years ago. Not that long ago really. Not to mention that Dutch, English, Polish, etc... forces are all fighting in Afghanistan right now. The main thing for Germany and Japan is that their constitution doesn't allow external combat missions. Legal issues more than moral objections IMO.

To keep things on topic: I think FPS unpopularity in Japan has made it harder for the Xbox brand to gain traction. Not because of some notion that Japanese gamers don't like guns or violence, but mainly because it is more immersive and personal than they care for. They don't have a problem getting their macho on with games like GT, Devil May Cry and MGS, so I really don't think it's because Japanese gamers are only interested in silly dating RPGs. They like violence, fast cars, and plenty of it. They just don't care for the gameplay presentation of FPS. Which admitedly is cultural.

 

[rekator]

Allright for FPS, but based on a interview of a member of Kojima Studio, who put a 360 with Gears near the "Coffee machine" members of Kojima Team are please with Gears and take inspiration for the gameplay of MGS, Kojima san himsefl seem to like a lot Gears, so right Japan don't like FPS but like TPS, we have to look for the sells of Lost Planet on PS3 and western TPS on the Japan Market…
Are Gears make a up in 360 sells?

 

[Rangers]

Wow 360 actually tops PS3 this week in Japan? According to new Famitsu numbers:

DSL 80000
PSP 57000
PS2 11000
PS3 16000
Wii 41000
360 17000

Software:

1.Galaxy　256000
2.AC6　67000
3.FFTA2　52000（210000）
4.Nishimura Kyotaro　21000（96000）
5.SRT 2nd　20000
6.Pokemon MD　19000（1030000）
7.Nintendo Literature　19000（79000）
8.Wii Sports　17000（2074000）
9.Wii Play　16000（1632000）
10.Ar Tonelico II　14000（82000）
12.Kanken DS　13000
16.Dragon Tamer　10000
29.SangokushiDS 2　6600

Not translated but you can see Mario Galaxy did about 250k, and Ace Combat 6 I guess helped drive 360 sales, doing 67,000.

 

[pipo]

Not translated but you can see Mario Galaxy did about 250k, and Ace Combat 6 I guess helped drive 360 sales, doing 67,000.

Hell just froze over. It doesn't come as a complete surprise though, with reports of the Elite selling out and increased consumer attention at TGS doing the rounds lately.

BTW: 250K is good, but nothing shocking for Japan, right?

 

[Rangers]

Hell just froze over.

And 250K is good, but nothing shocking for Japan, right?

It's not good for Mario, no. Supposedly 700k were shipped, for example.

Apparantly Japan is not even a big Mario fan any more. I dont think Sunshine did that great either. Just like Zelda.

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

They dont seem to be a fan of 3d mario and zelda. new super mario bros for example sold over 5 million times in Japan but sunshine and even 64 didnt do that great either. The advantage SMG can have though is that usually the big nintendo titels have long legs, they dont reach FF or DQ numbers in 1 week and than drop off but keep on selling at a steady base for a long time. Ofcourse whether that will happen with SMG is another question but I wouldnt get to nervous just yet. If sales drop alot next week than nintendo is having a ''problem''.

 

[AlphaWolf]

Wii is back to its 40k range (helped along by smg no doubt) as said the SMG numbers are still lower than would be expected. Is this confirmation of many wii owners being not big gamers or just the aging of the Mario brand?

Is that 360 number right? Are we certain they didn't just add a 0?