East vs West which is better?

[Hopeless Loser]

In the spirit of the different consoles discussions I was thinking in gaming development which side of the world does it better. Surely throughout history the greatest games were from the East the biggest names the best characters all came from Japan before the America knew what to do, but now with the North America and United Kingdom’s game development boom that started in the PS1 days. of 1995 Now 14 years has gone by US gaming is on a constant steady rise with great game after great game, new franchises and characters of epic proportions is that enough to make North America strong enough to compete with the heroes of Japan in game development? Or is the grip from the land of the rising sun to bright to ever be shadowed by the developers of the west?

Is Japan better or is America better in developing hit games you guys tell me.

[Neko]

It is true that many japanese franchises such as Suikoden, Final Fantasy, Tales, Star Ocean, and others are plummeting downhill. But even though that was the case, American developers continue to show their lack of innovation. Now, lets judge this in the sense of DS titles. If you go search up the NDS library, almost ALL the games (and there are hundreds) that are worth playing on the NDS are made by japan and later ported into english. For some reason, the american made games just arent with the times with the GUI designs and game themes... It's as though they are still plowing at a niche that was discovered back in the elizabethian times rather than continuously look for a new one (as the japanese have always done).

For my first sentance, i know there will be lots of disagreements, fire away, because we all know its true no matter how much "true fans" will try to deny it

[Hopeless Loser]

Interesting, I have to agree with Neko that majority of the DS games very mediocrely made by the US but I am still not sold by the whole Idea of how eastern developers are able to be the best just by over dominating a market of portable gaming which RPGs are the gods of that system. You simply can’t get a good quality action game, or shooter, or RST on a portable device. (I do make an exception for the God of War game for the PSP very well done worthy to be a console quality but handheld) and the Japanese have practically perfected the market of RPGs.

However I disagree with Neko when he said that the western developers aren’t innovative. Surely many hits have been the standard shoot them up blood bath of either aliens, soldiers or some twisted mix of both in one. But I think that certain games though not well liked by me did fit into a innovative status.

“Little Big Planet” - by Media Molecule was highly innovative to me even though I never really enjoyed the game simply cause its just a platformer I was happy of the new ideas they are trying.

“Mass Effect” – by BioWare Corp. was a good game as a whole with a very deep lifelike narrative so deep I find the talking between shipmates very whole water cooler like when exploring in between missions. it was a rather unnecessary and pointless experience unless you were trying to get to the sex achievement.

"Portal" - by Valve Corporation was to my knowledge the first ever first-person action shooter 3D puzzle game. I don't know what possessed valve to make this but thank god they did. Simply put stellar gameplay. So simple an idea, yet so masterful developed. Truly a piece of fantastic achievement in gaming history.

"Fallout 3" - by Bethesda Game Studios. This game won some many awards it was amazing but not surprising it was a crown jewel of North American RPGs for 2008. With a fully customizable character from full facial structure customization, clothing, gender. Very detailed and very consequential for actions you perform with so many different ways to play out a situation. I played the game 3 times and I’ve been as a psychopathic shotgun wielding lunatic that happens to great sharpshooter with a sniper and would rather chuck a grenade at you then look at your stupid bullet riddled face, to moral honour bound stealth pick-pocketing lock-picking flaming Swordsman, to a Suave healer that’s a smooth talking ladies man that can chat himself out of any conflict while wearing a pyjama that resembles Hefner’s and Abraham Lincoln’s hat that carries an alien laser pistol and an attack dog for the guys that just refuse to talk.

Those are just some that pop into my mind maybe others can give some opinons too and a personal note to Neko hope you get to try Fallout 3 or Portal on your sister's xbox 360 I think if you give it a shot with an unbias mind you would end up loving these 2 games too.

[zhi]

western hit games are usually more epic, cause they have more budget than jap companies? =/
and i guess jap hit games are more detailed. makes sense when most of their employees have to work overtime to make everything perfect.

[Neko]

Japanese developers are not neccessarily "more innovative" than american developers. However, Eastern developers DO have to work with a budget thats ALOT LESS than the western developers AND having to face ALOT MORE fierce local competition... In North America, competition is not exactly too grand of an issue as only big companies/ big corporate sponsored projects will ever get a shot to make a hit (most western hits are the result of mass campaigning and advertising). Whereas in Eastern countries, everyone, every small firm, every group have an equal chance to go big. Really puts pressure on the "big companies" of the east to be innovative with all their projects as "one disappointment" can lead to their tumble from the market.