wasnt trying to be as I love the Japanese culture and people as they are awesome. I have played a ton of games online with people in the land of the rising sun.

 Yeah, that's correct. I left this entire part out of my analysis.

But that the market has changed doesn't mean it's shrinking. As a matter of fact, this change out to be a good thing for Japanese developers.

- The DS (and presumably the PsP) is far easier to develop for, takes less man-hours, and is cheaper overall. When these games sell more in Japan (I'll make a note about this in a sec), there's really no reason to keep making Japan oriented console games.

Note:  (handhelds vs consoles relationship was 55.5% vs 44.5% in Japan 08). Considering there were released over twice as many games on consoles, and that the average development price is bigger, there's no point in making the console games. UNLESS, these games also sell well in Americas/Japan. That leads us to the next paragraph.

- I'm not saying Japanese developers should go consoles only. I'm saying they have to choose.

Question 1.

Make a Japan oriented game, or a more western oriented game?

Question 2 A (Chose Japan oriented game)

Make for DS or PsP?

Question 2 B (Chose western oriented game)

Make for DS, PsP, Wii, Ps3 or X360.

Note to 2B: There ought to be less Ps3 and X360 games still, as they cost more to develop for, and even the western oriented games will need the Japan sales.

Of course, if it is a well established franchise, this doesn't count.

Bottom note: Thou shalt not make Japan oriented console games, and at least not Ps3 or X360 ones.

And Amniretz, why would I do it with consoles? We all know what the answer will be there. I actually proved something that most people think differently about (myself included before the post). I see no reason at all to waste 10 minutes doing the same for consoles only.

Hey, why not handhelds only? That would prove a major increase!

See, that wouldn't prove anything. What you want to do is ignore the major part of the Japanese industry. If developers do that, they will be in trouble.

Maybe the Japanese market is just more mature than our market. While our market is playing Mario Kart and Gear of War, the Japanese market is trying to get to second base with Rebecca Smith (she's soooo hot!). Someday our market will learn the pleasures of a woman!

It's only a matter of time. Once the first gamer gets laid, word that there's more to these girls than mere cooties will spread like wildfire.

It still was. But then again maybe you have some anecdotal evidence to share with us?

You seem to have zero knowledge regarding anything Japanese. Not only is japan the worlds second largest economy with a high GNP, it is also the leading country in terms of market proliferation of expensive/advanced consumer technology, many of which is still unavailable in the west.

my ex-GF is Japanese... she moved here by herself and stayed with her grandparents back about 4 years ago. She said she didnt like the males of her culture much and wanted tol experience the American way. Oh and yes, she did experience one of the American pleasures with me. =D

Poor girl :(.

MObile games also quite big in japan.

Onyny-

Yea I think people take the market is dead thing a bit too far, but 2 things I feel I need to correct you on ; ).

1. There is missing data that is Pre- VGC's birth in Japan, yea alot of the classic are there, but you will notice the absence of those mid major games that failed to sell a million WW, but might have done 200k in Japan or something, I guess games like, the Gundum ones now days. Then again you could be using famitsu and be totally correct.

2. When people talk about the dying Japanese market they are refferring to home consoles. Take out the gameboy and gba (terrible sw sellers - pokemon), and take out the DS (incredible SW seller) and PSP (in Japan it sell sw, ok, and a few games great). When you do that suspect that not only will you see no growth over the last 10 years in HC software sales, but actually shrinking sales the last few years. Combine that will the massive growth of the West, and Japan is looking pretty paltry right now.