By: Richard BorysAri Flesch

Nick GuidaIrvin Chavira

Japan vs. America

Nintendo WiiUnique experienceInnovative controlsFocus on game playOriginal Characters

Xbox 360, Sony PS3Lots of horsepowerPhoto-real graphicsFocus on story Licensed titles

Cooking MamaWii PartyWii SportsBrain Age Crain ChallengeFlash FocusDDRTrauma CenterWarioWare

Halo SeriesHalf-Life SeriesGod of War SeriesGears of War Grand Theft AutoGrand TurismoMaddenCall Of DutyMedal of Honor

GAMES

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Arcades are thriving in Japan

Arcades are dying in America

American gaming is predominantly 15-30,Male

Japanese gaming audience is more mainstream, encompasses more age groupsand more females

A more diverse audience requires a more unique approach

AGE DEMOGRAPHICS - JAPAN

AGE DEMOGRAPHICS - AMERICA

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Dominant age and sex is 15-30 andmale

Arcade gaming is dying

Developers are looking for licensed titles because they already have a built in audience

Gaming companies are trying to meld with Hollywood in order to createmore involved stories, so they can branch out and create more sequels

Fundamental Difference in Philosophy

“Most Western games are made for the audience, whereas many Japanese games are made to invite the player into the designer's world," says James Clarendon of Red Fly Studios, who previously worked on Ion Storm titles like Deus Ex: Invisible War and Thief: Deadly Shadows.

Game Designer vs. Player Designer

Artistic Gameplay vs. Gameplay Freedom

Camera Control

Saving Game

Storyline

Game Designer vs. Player Designer

Stylized vs. Realism

Physics Art Character Design

Music

Western Design Eastern Design

Realistic vs. Stylized

Western Design Eastern Design

Realistic vs. Stylized

Western Design Eastern Design

Realistic vs. Stylized

Realistic vs. Stylized

Consumer Differences

Appeal•Seeing your character•Tutorial (pokemon guy showing you how to catch weedle)•Pacing (COD4 fight vs Chrono trigger fight)

Consumer Differences

Time•Casual gaming •Gaming on the go•Short term investment vs long term (halo 3 story vs MGS4 story)

We’ve looked at what is important to the consumer, but we must also consider what is important to the game designer.Is this different in the West versus in Japan?Cursory glance at what games are generally

produced may suggest this.However, the reality is that Western and

Japanese game designers have a lot more in common than you might think.

Interview with Jose ZagalArcades very prevalent in Japan. Arcades can take up multiple floors of

buildings. Game machines found in stores as well,

not just arcades.Variety of arcade machines/user

interfacesMachines designed with children in

mindNetwork playArcade machines where you buy packs

of cards that you manipulate on a board to control the game.

Importance of creating a unique, engaging experience for the user

Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto

Again stresses importance of conveying an experience or memory

Focus on creating an experience for the playerNot chasing after market research

Compelling game experience for player is paramount

Interview with Eugene JarvisWhat’s most important is creating impact on

player with something unique.That game “hook” can be great graphics, a

specific game mechanic, interface, etc.

ConclusionWhat Japanese and Western developers want

is the same: Make your game stand out and have an impact on the player

Graphics is one route, User interface (i.e. Wii) is another.