In an exclusive interview with CVG the head of Konami's Kojima Productions was asked what he think of the Japanese market compared to the European and North American industry.

"One thing about Japan, and this isn't just games, is that things made in Japan are very much targeted at Japan, whether it's games, movies or novels," he responded.

"The curse in Japan is that a lot of media is made in Japan just for Japan - you go to the cinema and it's all Japanese movies."

Kojima said he was making it his mission to draw influence from western media when creating his games.

"My generation is now being exposed to a wide range of influences, that's why what I want to make is a little bit more in tune with what people in the West will like. I really like all the things that are being made in the West.

"When I come to shows like E3 and see the announcements and go to Comic-Con, I love all of the presentations, so really I've been thinking maybe I was born in the wrong country!"

In the same interview Kojima revealed his 'Fox Engine is built for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and can be used to develop on multiple platforms at once.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/353056/kojima-japans-curse-is-its-focus-on-japan/

I don't want Japanese games to change. What's the point in all games becoming westernised? There's something special about Japanese games that I don't think western developers are really capable of. I could never imagine a western developer creating ICO or Shadow of the Collosus. The Japanese have grown up in their own unique culture that I think grows a really special kind of creativity. Nintendo would definitely not produce the same games if they weren't Japanese. I think anyway. It's a different culture. And I really love what comes out of it.

I think this is what makes the 3 consoles so interesting and enables them to have their own solid fan set.

Nintendo is predominantly Japanese. Their 1st party games are mostly if not all Japanese.

Microsoft is predominantly Western. Most if not all their first parties are western.

Sony is a complete mix of worldwide studios. Their first parties reach all over from Japan, to Europe and America, which is why we see games range from ICO to Killzone, from LittleBigPlanet to Gran Turismo, from Heavy Rain to WipeOut.

I thinks that's why I like Sony the most. They naturally harbour the most diverse and creative minds in gaming, and the games we get are astounding and varied. You just don't see that level of variation from Nintendo or Microsoft.

-Shadow Flare

Turkish, I like it when you really put thought into the expression of your opinion instead of borderline trolling.

"I thinks that's why I like Sony the most. They naturally harbour the most diverse and creative minds in gaming, and the games we get are astounding and varied. You just don't see that level of variation from Nintendo or Microsoft."

That was great, and I completely agree. I think my preference to Playstation and PC gaming over Nintendo and Microsoft comes down to this.

The whole point of being in Japan is for the experience of it. Not the experience of something you can get in your own country. Besides, they have Western movies there, Western songs there, and Westernized games there too! No need for them to try to make it accustomed to people in the West when there are already things like it.

I agree with Kojima. When the Japanese take influence of the West (but keep some of their unique stuff) miracles happen. Miracles such as Dark Souls, Dragon's Dogma and Vanquish, who all are East meets West games and masterpieces.

Obviously good things can happen when Japan takes some Western influences when creating games.I love the MGS series and the Souls games. I loved Vanquish and have been debating about whether or not to get Dragons Dogma. At the same time though, i'm afraid of Japan losing it's unique flare. I don't want everything to be like a Western developed game, in fact i'm a huge fan of jrpgs but tend to think wrpgs are boring.

Basically in my opinion, the reason jrpgs aren't as popular as wrpgs (at least in this generation) isn't because of a problem with Japan, but rather a problem with everyone elses tastes. And yeah haha, I know that sounds terrible and I don't mean to step on any ones opinions. Personally though, i've always thought wrpgs are boring and unimaginative.

I never cared for Games like Skyrim or Mass Effect. My friends were really into them so I tried them (even waited outside for the midnight release of Skyrim). I desperately wanted to like and care about them so it could be something my friends and I shared, but honestly they just aren't for me. I much prefer Jrpgs like FF, Nier, and Valkyria Chronicles.

So back to the opinions of others thing, mabey it's just my opinion that is weird. I feel like my gaming preferences would be better accepted If I lived in Japan. Hmm, Hey Kojima, wanna trade?

Edit: Oh but I do love me some Western games too (just not rpgs). Uncharted, Killzone, Resistance, Battlefield ect :p

Rather than thinking of the two groups as distinct, one has to think transculturally. The issue for western developers is that Japan is a small enough market as to be negligible, whereas Japan needs Western sales, but the best-remembered Japanese games, past and present, are not identifiably "Japanese" and that includes many JRPGs. What's happening in j-development is a stagnation of ideas that has little to do with culture problems, because the West is going through this too (how many blockbusters don't involve Colonel Steroids shooting up terrorists or zombies in some sort of gritty urban center or wasteland or something?)

Vanquish is so Japanese it's almost hysterical, though

Not to say it isn't awesome, of course

Because it's super-awesome

Japanese developers are scared of being japanese when it comes to their global releases. I find it bizarre how Japan has dominated the Industry for 2 decades by making the style of games they known to make then all of sudden of this gen they cant figure out why they are being left behind while everybody but them are developing their IP's

look at this gen. All IP's developed with a western mindset suck or are not as good as the previous. Nearly every western developed Japanese game has been robbed of its identity and has failed to get the attention of new or old fans.

Ehh I don't know about that. Although I don't care about Japanese games in the slightest, you can't just westernize everything. The Japanese like their own style of game, so let them make it.