Late last night I read this fascinating NY Times interview with Capcom global head of production Keiji Inafune. Since 1987, Inafune has helped create some of Capcom’s best games. It was shocking to hear him go off on Capcom and the Japanese game development scene. Check out this opening salvo:
I look around T.G.S., and everyone’s making awful games. Japan is at least five years behind.
It’s like we’re still making games for the last generation of game consoles.
Capcom is barely keeping up. The ideas, game play, design — there’s no diversity, no originality.
Wow…just wow.
I hold Inafune in the highest regard, but I’m not sure that I completely agree with him here. Certainly the videogame business — particularly game development — has shifted to the West. I’ve always chalked that up to the popularity of first-person shooters (and Japanese developers’ inability to make good games in the genre) and Microsoft’s gaming efforts. Gaming has been mainstream in Japan far longer than it has in America. The types of games that are popular have changed since the Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox brought more Westerners into the mix. Personally, I’d love it if more Japanese developers made awesome turn-based RPGs…but perhaps I’m just old.
Read the entire interview if you have a moment. It’s really good. When you’re done, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Inafune’s words. Shout it out (please) in the comments section!
Actually, I agree with his sentiments, generally speaking.
I also agree with him. I think they take what on paper was a good idea and do not implement it well enough.
@smartguy Yes, but you hate Japanese developers. You know, with your "Miyamoto is out of touch" rhetoric.
*joke*
@Ray
Everyone no matter their past contributions can get left behind in their field of expertise or profession. Wii Music was a huge mistake on his part. I also found Pikmin to be less than acceptable. He did make up for it with SMG and SMG2 though. To be honest, I think you have to make a bad decision or in his case game in order to keep making great decisions/games. It helps to contrast and check the ego.
I don't hate Japanese devs. I think some of their games that are released in the US are not so good or I don't care for the direction in some of their recent titles. I can't get myself to play FF13 because of the female lead. I didn't play 12 because the main character was quite ambiguous. The main character in an RPG is very important to whether or not I play it.
On a tangent that could be why I'm not so fond of BioWare's RPGs. Their characters are unisex and they make you choose the tone of interactions with the NPCs. It feels too distant for me.
that was more than I intended to say but I did come up with my bioware angle. not bad.
@smartguy I don't really think you hate Japanese developers. I'm just poking fun at you for saying Miyamoto is out of touch but also really loving Super Mario Galaxy.
@Ray
I know that lol. It was just me running with a discussion lol.
i'm also gonna start playing SMG2 again soon. Best game this gen in my opinion. I have bought a lot of games this gen and I'm a huge Metal Gear fanboy.
I wish Snake Eater would be remade with the MGS4 engine.