Capcom 360 Titles Getting No Love From the Home Team
1UP, having taken a look at Capcom's 2006 fiscal year figures, noticed that both Lost Planet and Dead Rising, two of the 360's biggest titles, haven't fared nearly as well on the big C's home turf.
Quote:
Capcom's been one of the biggest success stories on the Xbox 360 so far. The traditionally Japanese-focused company has seen enormous sales on the platform through Dead Rising and Lost Planet. Much of that, however, has come from sales in the United States and Europe -- as much as 90% of sales totals, actually.
The company's fiscal year 2006 results show that both games are worldwide million sellers, but neither has managed to clear 100,000 sold in Japan. Compare that to US numbers -- Lost Planet at 810,000 and Dead Rising at 730,000 -- and it's completely possible each game will garner themselves one million in the US alone.
Why's it gotta be like that Japan? Europe likes bugs and zombies just fine, you saying you're better than Europe?
But really, no idea why it seems that North America and Europe have no problems playing and loving Japanese games, but the Japanese won't fucking touch anything not made in Japan.
Well it certainly isn't going to help that there aren't that many 360s in Japan. :P
Having said that, the Japanese are extremely xenophobic gamers. Always have been, always will be. Dead Rising is definately a very western game... the protagonist, the setting... none of it really speaks to the Japanese psyche in the same way Resident Evil does.
Lost Planet has me at a lost though. It has mecha and very Japanese visual design. Perhaps it was seen as too much of a straight shooter? I don't rightly know.
Dead Rising I understand, Lost Planet not so much.
__________________
Writer: PC Powerplay - Australia's biggest selling PC games magazine.
Follow me on Twitter - Catch the inside story on life as a freelance games critic.
But really, no idea why it seems that North America and Europe have no problems playing and loving Japanese games, but the Japanese won't fucking touch anything not made in Japan.
But that's the thing, they were made in Japan. Hence the disconnect. I'd wager it's more an issue of install base than anything, given how poorly the 360 is supposed to have done in Japan, those are probably phenomenal sales numbers. But 1UP didn't approach it from that angle and I'm too lazy to do the research.
Maybe this is why Capcom decided to bring Devil May Cry 4 over to the 360. Perhaps it could be that Lost Planet & Dead Rising are a little too "western" for Japan. Lost Planet is, at heart, a shooter (a good one) and Dead Rising definitely has an American flavor to it. Could just be stubborn Japanese pride to support an American made system. Crazy when we wholeheartedly embrace all types of games. Wether shooters, JRPGs, Action. If the game is good, that's all I care about...
But 1UP didn't approach it from that angle and I'm too lazy to do the research.
Okay, curiosity killed the cat and I did a bit o' half assed checking. According to the Wiki, the 360 has sold, NOT shipped, but actually sold to consumers 330,091 units as of 3/4/07. So the fact that nearly 1 in 3, 360 owners owns both of their titles ain't half bad.
So a company should just focus on 360 games for the US and Europe, DS games for Japan, and Wii (party) games everywhere and they'll be set. If Japan doesn't want the 360 that's their loss.
So a company should just focus on 360 games for the US and Europe, DS games for Japan, and Wii (party) games everywhere and they'll be set. If Japan doesn't want the 360 that's their loss.
As I recall, Dead Rising was rated as a mature title, meaning that it would not feature prominently at retail shelves (i.e. department stores). Based off of Japanese forums and blogs, it seems that obtaining a copy in Japan meant finding a store that carried it, and oftentimes approaching the counter to ask for it by name. So, I imagine Dead Rising's exposure was pretty neutered from the beginning.
As for Lost Planet--I believe Takeuchi specifically mentioned that the title was a risk since they understood that shooters were not popular in Japan. Despite its Japanese appearances, it ultimately was not of a genre that is well-sold.
And of course, both titles are on an American-manufactured system. This stigma's depth would be best measured by how well Devil May Cry 4 sales would be if it were an Xbox 360-only title. Truly, until a popular Japanese franchise appears exclusively on the 360, the level of xenophobic buying tendencies in Japan will not be properly measured or recognized.
__________________ GAMERTAG: fatefodder
PLAYSTATION 3 ID: fatefodder
Could just be stubborn Japanese pride to support an American made system.
I've heard this theory tossed around a lot and I continue to have a very difficult time believing it. In my experience, no other element of Japanese popular culture displays such xenophobia. American movies and music dominate in Japan, outselling their domestic counterparts. I doubt the problem is with Microsoft, as Windows is the dominant OS in Japan (although that's not saying much).
I think it's much more realistic to conclude that the Japanese continue to view the Xbox platform as a system that does not offer the kind of games they're interested in. With Blue Dragon, I think this perception may finally be changing. Still, it will be a while before the platform actually has the widespread appeal of the Wii or the DS.
uhm fatefodder... i've been to tokyo and they have no problem selling adult games... and no shortage of adult game stores... shit i couldn't enter a fucking game store without being barraged by adult/porn games. even the arcades had women touching themselves on the screen.. some game stores had women getting violated in every... ok thats too much information for a forum... but of course interestingly enough there were always black pixelated blocks blocking just enough.. (it illegal to actually show penetration i believe)
it was an eye opening experience... and enjoyable in the fish out of water type of way.
uhm fatefodder... i've been to tokyo and they have no problem selling adult games... and no shortage of adult game stores... shit i couldn't enter a fucking game store without being barraged by adult/porn games. even the arcades had women touching themselves on the screen.. some game stores had women getting violated in every... ok i'm going to far... of course interestingly enough there were always black pixelated blocks blocking just enough.. (it illegal to actually show penetration i believe)
it was an eye opening experience... and enjoyable in the fish out of water type of way.
Violence in America:Sex in Japan::Violence in Japan: Sex in America
I wouldn't say they don't like selling violent video games. However, in the last five years Japan has become much more concerned with monitoring violence in video games. Crime is on the rise in Japan, and some commentators have, of course, looked at the usual suspects. Thus far, I believe all censorship has been self-imposed by the game companies and stores themselves.
Some examples of this include the Japanese RE4 being slightly toned down, and the newest Samurai Shodown (Tenkaichi) lacking any blood. I'm sure there are other examples I'm forgetting.
