Fall Lineup Evidence Of Lagging Japanese Influence
See Full ImageWestern game studios are dominating the industry, despite the enduring popularity of Japanese franchises that appear timeless.
But at least there's usually one or two massive Japanese offerings that add some flavor to a launch period. Last holiday season, for instance, we got Gran Turismo 5. But if you look at the spectacular autumn lineup for 2011 - here's part of the upcoming onslaught, which remains accurate minus Twisted Metal - what do we see? RPG fans will be quick to point out White Knight Chronicles II next month but let's face it, that's a minor release in direct comparison. The biggest games of the fourth quarter are invariably Western, with only a few small exceptions.
It's obvious that most gamers don't mind, as the majority of those big titles are bound to be insanely popular. It really does seem that few miss the Japanese icons these days, especially when such unbelievable excellence can be found in so many Western-developed titles. And in truth, if you look at all of 2011, that's just added commentary: Portal 2, inFamous 2, Crysis 2, LittleBigPlanet 2, L.A. Noire, Killzone 3, Dead Space 2, etc. It's easy to say, "we miss you, Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy," but even if we did have new installments in each of those franchises this year...they'd still be overshadowed. It's sad but true.
I still remember a time when if we saw a Western-developed game, we were immensely skeptical. It wasn't that long ago, was it?
Tags: japanese games, western games, game culture
8/15/2011 9:27:47 PM Ben Dutka
Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter
Comments (58 posts)
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 10:08:01 PM
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 10:05:34 PM
Reply
It's not as if they need to change anything, just make the same game series only better quality and with a few generational upgrades. Did Japanese people just forget how to make games? Where'd you go Tri Ace? You almost had a foothold on this gen.
Bah. I'm happy with the western games but I long for the good times. Looking very much forward to Lollipop Chainsaw insanity next year for a Japanese kick. Loved this trailer today http://www.velocitygamer.com/pt/Video-Lollipop-Chainsaw-Trailer-Pops-Up-To-Tease-Us/blog.htm
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/15/2011 10:06:12 PM
1 up, 1 down
Highlander
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 10:08:32 PM
Reply
11 up, 1 down
Dancemachine55
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 3:37:44 AM
0 up, 0 down
telly
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 10:09:14 PM
Reply
4 up, 0 down
Mamills
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 10:16:16 PM
Reply
sorry, im looking at you square enix
4 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 10:17:18 PM
Reply
6 up, 0 down
Mamills
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 10:47:11 PM
but to be honest GT5 isnt doing all that it can.
i mean they have the top gear license and didnt really do anything with it.
now Forza has it and is going all out.
where are the drag racing. the ability to place bets for races. the customization?
dont get me wrong i love GT5 but there is so much more they can do.
3 up, 1 down
Ignitus
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 11:10:21 PM
So true. It was 2010 and GT still doesn't have a livery editor. Even the original Forza had one since 2005. Even Polyphony Digital is getting complacent.
0 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 11:33:38 PM
In terms of realism, Forza is a joke compared to GT. Always has been, and probably always will be.
7 up, 3 down
Ignitus
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 12:00:05 AM
C'mon, when and where have you seen Pro races with stock looking cars?
The livery is an important, special, racing thing that some how it is still missing in GT, even after the last entry was five years in the making. Definitively, Japanese developers are getting complacent or do not know or don't care to improve, and yes, it's unfortunate.
3 up, 1 down
Highlander
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 3:05:52 AM
I don't *want* a livery editor in GT at all, I want realistic physics and graphics, which is what I get. If you want an arcade racer, go play Midnight Club.
4 up, 1 down
Highlander
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 3:06:40 AM
2 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 3:16:18 AM
1 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 4:36:50 AM
they have seemed to struggle when transitioning to the hd consoles. the only franchise i can think of that has not taken a hit in quality in one form or another is the mgs franchise. i also think some the major studios such as square and capcom have very poor leadership.
2 up, 1 down
Clamedeus
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 6:32:31 AM
1 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 9:05:03 AM
I am always perplexed by comments like yours in regards to GT5. Sure, GT5 isn't perfect in all things, but it is perfect where it counts.
The driving is second to none and until Turn 10 fields a professional driver in a real race, I'll trust what GT5 brings to the table.
Ignitus -
Your statement of PD getting complacent shows your ignorance on this subject. I am sorry to be so brash on this matter, but it's the truth.
PD specifically stated that the time spent was on the new operating system and physics engine. The superior driving alone validates that very point.
Ben -
You have a point. A livery doesn't hide a sub-par physics engine. It also doesn't mask the near automated tuning logic. Where Forza does deliver is it's tire engine, and as Lawless SXE has stated, it's more of game. That's fine, but GT5 has always been a simulator.
Highlander -
Bingo. Realistic physics and graphics is something that GT5 delivers, yet some can't get past a jaggies even though it is most likely excused in other games.
Excelsior -
If you put as much effort into everything GT5 DOES, your post would be even longer. Why sit there and focus on the negativity when GT5 does so much right. The actual gameplay (IE - the driving) is second only to some PC simulators.
Yes, the standard cars look bad in some cases, but really, there are 200 plus cars out there that put everything else to shame. Youtube interior detail on GT5, and then come back and tell me how much you "cringed".
Clamedeus -
Exactly. It IS all about the driving and racing in GT5.
Last edited by maxpontiac on 8/16/2011 9:08:05 AM
1 up, 1 down
Ignitus
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 9:05:39 AM
I don't like Midnight Club and I don't understand why I must play an arcade racer if I want to play the world GT tries to mimic.
I enjoy Formula 1 and the FIA GT championship (the later you can replicate in GT, sans the livery)and I also enjoy GT and it is just missing the livery editor to have the complete racing experience.
GT in its current form is incomplete. If other developers can include a livery editor I don't see how Polyphony Digital can not.
I understand that a livery editor might not be used by some if not most users but GT, being the cutting edge game for car and racing fans it tries to be, the editor should be included by today's standards. I know that would make a lot of race fans and gamers like myself very happy.
I know GT is a flagship franchise of the PS and we all want it to be perfect, but as this article states, japanese developers are getting behind and, sadly, Polyphony Digital is no exception.
GT is also getting behind and instead of pretending that it can not be improved, I try to point out an omission so that it can be adressed, so GT can be THE full, cutting edge, racing game, once again.
3 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 9:21:13 AM
Ignitus and everyone: And as far as I'm concerned, GT doesn't have to "prove" anything. It's a simulator. Thinking of it as a video game, and something that needs freakin' livery (this isn't Fast and the Furious; it's RACING; do you think pro racers care about livery?), or something that needs other useless bells and whistles, is a mistake.
It's a driving simulator. It strives to emulate the feel of driving and racing a vehicle. In this respect, it is unsurpassed and the reason why professionals will routinely give GT5 the nod in regards to authenticity. Forza has never received any such respect from large numbers of pro drivers. It can have all the livery it wants. It's a video game. GT5 is a simulator.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 8/16/2011 9:21:36 AM
2 up, 3 down
maxpontiac
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 10:15:18 AM
Question for you. Did you know that Kaz and PD said that it would be in GT6? You should take solace in that.
As I mentioned to Excelsior, if your effort in naming GT5 as a "incomplete" product was turned the other way around, you might be surprised. GT5 does more right then wrong.
You'll have to lead me to a link that shows PDI is "pretending" to do anything. Kaz himself has said that GT5 is not perfect and several of things he wanted to include in GT5 were not due to time constraints.
You also bring up "cutting edge" in your post. Sir, GT5 is LEADING EDGE when it comes to the driving. GT5 is a driving game right?
1 up, 2 down
Highlander
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 10:33:27 AM
You don't see why they can't or don't include a livery editor? It's because the game is about the cars and driving them. It's not about crappy vinyls, it's about beautiful cars racing. There are plenty of games that let you play with the decals and vinyls, but none of them aspire to be the driving simulator.
As for the other comments made by yourself and others in this thread, it seems to me that many of you want GT to be more of a racing game than Gran Turismo. Gran Turismo is about two things, the cars and the driving, it's not about game elements or flashy vinyls or anything like that. And whoever it was that brought up the 'standard' car models needs to retract their entire sentiment. the standard cars were included in the game as a bonus. The real cars for the game are the 'premium' ones rendered in full HD. The standard ones are bonus cars that re-use the graphical and physics assets from older games. If you can't accept or handle that concept, that's your problem, not the game's and not mine.
I can't believe how many supposedly thinking gamers buy into this kind of BS these days.
1 up, 3 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 11:22:46 AM
If you'd like to educate yourselves on the issue, feel free to read-
http://www.psxextreme.com/feature/666.html
I'm sorry, but simulators are just plain different than most all other video games, and that seems to go double when it comes to driving.
0 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 11:26:32 AM
you guys are right those graphical flaws have no impact on the racing, but i would argue the uneven presentation is a problem. if a game looks great in sections then not so great in others it just can't be ignored. sorry that's just how i feel about it. i question the wisdom of pd in going for 1080p 60fps. it should have been a 720p native resolution game. that way they would have more resources to clean up the problems i mentioned. i also think splitting up the cars between premium and non premium was a poor design choice becuase people get frutrated when their favorite car does not look as good or have the available options the premium cars do.
i'm not making any complaints about the gameplay or asking it to be more like forza i get its a simulator and have loved the gt series up until this game. all i can say is this is the first gt game that i was not blown away by its graphics. that bothers me to an extent. that's just my opinion about it.
i flat out disagree that most gamers and critcs aren't qualified to evaluate gt5. i always found that statement to be arrogant. it got called out on its uneven presentation and recycling so much content from gt4. all the other gt games scored great up until this game so i find the argument that all the sudden critics just did not get it pretty baseless.
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 8/16/2011 11:35:12 AM
3 up, 0 down
Ignitus
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 11:30:48 AM
Thank you for pointing that the feature will be in GT6. I didn't know that. Finally!! At last!! :)
And I don't think GT5 has anything wrong, actually I agree with you in that respect.
It does everything right, in my opinion and my rant is for a feature that is long over due.
Think about it, it has the cars, the circuits, the driving dynamics, why not the ability to customize your car livery (to copy that of the Pro FIA GT cars or to make one of our own)?
Yes, I also love the premium cars and love to race them in stock looking form but I also would love dress up like a Pro car when I race online with my other buddies in our "Pro" Cup, just like in the real world GT tries to simulate. The whole complete racing package.
Now that you just showed great knowledge about the GT developers, do you know if it's coming out for PS3 or will it be until next gen?
Peace.
0 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 2:37:08 PM
I understand where you are coming from and respect it. However, your continued highlighting of the negative aspects almost tells me that you may have not really sat back and enjoyed everything GT5 has to offer.
For example (one of many), some complaints towards GT5 is/was it's AI difficulty. GT5 like the previous GT's before it allow the user to make things as difficult as they want it. Using the restrictor plate and changing tire compound in relevance of your skill should be celebrated as a innovative feature. It allows any of the 6,000,000 users to create the perfect difficulty. Which racing game offers that?
Agreed big time. The standard cars are what have kept me seeing GT5 as perfection. The fact that I cannot change my wheels on my '64 Pontiac Le Mans GTO but can have my entire racing team wearing the same helmet and suit style baffles me. The aero options are not as important in my book since I love to make sleepers, which is something GT5 excels at.
I do not speak for Ben, but I believe his point is that most people FAILED to review GT5 as they should have. PD is not only involved in several racing leagues, it's president races several times a year, and WINS. That's an unmatched pedigree that people looking at GT5 as just "another console racer" have yet to grasp.
Last edited by maxpontiac on 8/16/2011 2:41:38 PM
0 up, 0 down
Nlayer
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 4:06:42 PM
2 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 4:21:12 PM
If you are not familiar with cars and racing, you are not qualified to judge GT5, which is entirely based around physics and driving.
0 up, 2 down
Lotusflow3r
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 7:54:40 PM
Many people enjoy/play GT without an interest in cars as the game involves a lot of strategy.
What an absurd comment, to be quite frank.
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 8/16/2011 7:55:41 PM
4 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 9:37:33 PM
How very...socialistic.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 8/16/2011 9:37:54 PM
1 up, 4 down
Ignitus
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 11:02:20 PM
Reply
But we also got so far Shadows of the Dammed and Catherine and Dark Souls is coming up. Seems like the Japanesse are experimenting. Isn't it?
I wish Mistwalker could develop a JRPG for the PS3 but I know that wishful thinking, now that I'm dreaming I would ask for Lost Oddissey II on PS3 only.
Last edited by Ignitus on 8/15/2011 11:03:45 PM
0 up, 1 down
gray_eagle
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 11:38:59 PM
Reply
maby its just the younger generation that just wants COD & FPS games?
0 up, 0 down
enjoi
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 11:52:30 PM
Reply
5 up, 0 down
FM23
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 1:45:24 AM
Reply
4 up, 2 down
maxpontiac
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 9:09:01 AM
By all means, please list where GT5 is "not moving along with the times".
1 up, 2 down
Highlander
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 3:08:39 AM
Reply
Last edited by Highlander on 8/16/2011 3:09:49 AM
3 up, 6 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 3:55:08 AM
8 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 3:20:00 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
___________
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 4:18:59 AM
Reply
they got greedy, the millions of fans they had were not enough, they wanted more.
so they westernized there games, people threw the sh*t at them, and now they have nothing!
moral of the story, you dont realize what you have till you lost it!
be happy with what you got, go seeking for more and you might loose everything!
7 up, 0 down
Kain81
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 5:03:05 AM
PS.: i know sorry for the caps Ben, but i only wanted to show my point^^
1 up, 0 down
Kain81
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 5:00:14 AM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @ 10:39:13 AM
0 up, 0 down
aaronisbla
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 6:18:09 AM
Reply
Last edited by aaronisbla on 8/16/2011 6:19:11 AM
1 up, 0 down
slugga_status
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 7:30:50 AM
Reply
Japanese devs have taken some of our favorite franchises and turned them on their heads. I just hope they realize this and go back to what they do best and give us quality games that are different than what we have here.
0 up, 0 down
79transam
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 10:49:44 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
tridon
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 12:01:31 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
tridon
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 12:02:05 PM
0 up, 0 down
Lotusflow3r
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 12:34:30 PM
Reply
WKC2 IS a big one for many and plus, it's a better game than many. Lack of advertising or what not doesn't negate that.
Ive said before, aside from some japanese developers, japanese games are still out in full force and are in full experimental mode. It's just we don't see them over here as much.
When one makes it over here eventually, Demon's Souls (more innovative than all western games that year, probably combined) or a Catherine (a brand new genre??) and even Yakuza (its own genre and genius....pure genius)...they live up.
We are just being dumbed down with rehash shit being shoved down our throats over here....for one reason or another.
You're not allowed to think in this day and age.
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 8/16/2011 12:35:35 PM
2 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 1:30:49 PM
You're completely right about Japanese developers and them continuing to work as normal. We simply aren't seeing the quantity of their output here, and what we do is diluted or re-constituted from the original. Rarely do we get their games intact. At least WKC is what it is. But people form opinions based on what they see, and their view of Japanese games, gaming and developers is formed based on the anemic and watered down releases we see here in the west.
Last edited by Highlander on 8/16/2011 1:32:52 PM
1 up, 1 down
Claire C
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 1:54:47 PM
What of the PSP version?
Last edited by Claire C on 8/16/2011 1:55:02 PM
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 2:42:28 PM
0 up, 0 down
tridon
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 3:20:16 PM
0 up, 0 down
Lotusflow3r
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 8:02:44 PM
The Japanese industry is not dead on creativity or dying of it like we're forced to believe. It's simply a case of those same products now being put on the back burner for the west.
We should be urging publishers to get back on them and not leave them to Atlus all the time.
WKC: Origins is iffy. There is much to be enjoyed out of it, but don't expect something too similar to the console version. It reminds me of Portable Ops gameplay in which you choose missions from your train base. Some move the plot forward and some are for grinding. The battle system is the same, but there is no turn circle, you just select your option and it does it straight away.
I haven't played it much so that's as far as my thoughts go.
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 8/16/2011 8:05:12 PM
1 up, 0 down
Claire C
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 12:39:01 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Teddie9
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 1:13:43 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 1:28:48 PM
2 up, 2 down
Cole
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 2:07:23 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Minishmaru
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 @ 3:36:48 PM
Reply
0 up, 1 down
hellish_devil
Reply
Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 9:57:37 PM
I hate to see these games with so low review scores because they are not COD and because you actually need to THINK to play them.
Last edited by hellish_devil on 8/15/2011 10:00:15 PM