yea they do, Japan is very very important not just because of the sales but for this reason: Japan is quicker to join the new generation, and not only that but one console dominates once it takes the lead. This is so important because it's not like America where 3 consoles can sell well, in Japan if you are not #1 then you have a huge handicap right from the start. Since they adopt so early it's hard for the other markets to counter-act that, whether people like it or not the sales in Japan actually have a huge effect on the sales in the west.
No console has ever won Japan and lost the console war, the markets have a significant effect on each other. When the PSX started dominated in the west over the saturn that was the main reason why the saturn fell apart in Japan. It happened so quickly that they were both at about 4.2 million sold at one point, and PSX ended up with 19 million and Saturn ended up with 5.7 million.
As time goes on the global markets become more and more intertwined. Tastes are widening and more games are being released in all markets instead of just being made for 1 or 2.
currently playing: Skyward Sword, Mario Sunshine, Xenoblade Chronicles X
