indiegames
March 6th, 2010, 07:10
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2010/03/500x_old-world-map.jpg For several years now, Japanese developers have realized that there are bigger markets outside Japan — namely, the U.S. and Europe. Isn't that limiting?
In his new "Itagaki's Thought" column, former Ninja Gaiden designer and currently Valhalla Game Studios developer Tomonobu Itagaki is looking at the bigger picture.
"I'm doubtful about the Japanese game industry's stance these days," he writes. "Many say things like, 'How do we sell games to Americans?', 'What games sell well in Europe?', and 'How we should face the world as Japanese?'"
"However, to me, that just seems to be narrowing down one's own market," he continues. "I would like to ask, but what about Moscow? How about China? Mexico? Or even Sicily? Brazil?"
According to Itagaki, "I've always been of the belief that there's no nationality to entertainment. You need to make a game for everyone on Earth, one that anyone can enjoy. I have lived for a long time thinking this way, and it's only getting stronger."
Bet those living outside the U.S. and Europe are happy to hear that at least one game developer understands that the audience for games is truly global.
Valhalla Studios also has interview with some of the studios' programmers — all of which were programmers or lead programmers at Tecmo.
Valhalla Game Studios | Itagaki's (http://www.valhallagamestudios.com/en/2010/03/thought-2010-03.html) [Valhalla Thanks, Matt!] [Pic (http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/maps/old-world-map.jpg)]
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In his new "Itagaki's Thought" column, former Ninja Gaiden designer and currently Valhalla Game Studios developer Tomonobu Itagaki is looking at the bigger picture.
"I'm doubtful about the Japanese game industry's stance these days," he writes. "Many say things like, 'How do we sell games to Americans?', 'What games sell well in Europe?', and 'How we should face the world as Japanese?'"
"However, to me, that just seems to be narrowing down one's own market," he continues. "I would like to ask, but what about Moscow? How about China? Mexico? Or even Sicily? Brazil?"
According to Itagaki, "I've always been of the belief that there's no nationality to entertainment. You need to make a game for everyone on Earth, one that anyone can enjoy. I have lived for a long time thinking this way, and it's only getting stronger."
Bet those living outside the U.S. and Europe are happy to hear that at least one game developer understands that the audience for games is truly global.
Valhalla Studios also has interview with some of the studios' programmers — all of which were programmers or lead programmers at Tecmo.
Valhalla Game Studios | Itagaki's (http://www.valhallagamestudios.com/en/2010/03/thought-2010-03.html) [Valhalla Thanks, Matt!] [Pic (http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/maps/old-world-map.jpg)]
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More... (http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/pt7f48dNSLU/what-about-mexico-china-brazil)