In fact, they like it more.  Its just that games sell better in America because we have, you know, 5x as many people here.  So everyone automatically thinks because the games sell better that means its more popular here.

There's actually a number of popular of franchises in Japan typically tied to stereotypiclly 'western' tastes.  Including sports, action games and even shooters.  Its funny how people overlook games like Winning Eleven, Ninja Gaiden and Metroid Prime when talking about these genres, as if Japanese developers and companies never even try.  And especially when it comes to shooters, Japan pretty much makes 100x more 'shooter' games a year when you consider all the various SHUMP, side scrolling shooters, third person shooters and FPS/action hybrids coming out of that country.

I think people aren't so much wanting 'western' games to get popular, but games popular in America to see the same success in Japan.  And well, I think that's asking a lot.  They're two different markets.  I mean, you don't expect 'Tamogachi Collection' or 'Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G' to come over here and have a repeated success just because they sold millions in Japan....right?

There's a good reason that pepole still play SF2 in tournemants to THIS DAY and there wasn't any big MK tournemant in the last decade.

These comments are so crazy...

Metroid Prime is made in Texas. Or Washington. I forget which.

Actually, the population difference is only a bit over x2 (127ish million in Japan, 300ish million on the US), and yet the gaming market in the US is FAR larger than the population difference ratio.

@Khuutra, I think it was Texas? I forgot too.

It's Texas for sure...

Well, I cannot say I am surprised. I have the same basic feeling towards Japanese made games. While not to the extent that I will never play them, but I do not own a single Japanese game(well, except Raiden Fighter Aces). Something about them just doesn't strike a cord with me. Perhaps it is because I come from a PC background and love online multiplayer. Or perhaps I do not particularly care about the genres that Japanese developers stick to(JRPGs are meh). It is just a matter of taste really.

I used to play JRPGs like it was my job, but these days, I don't know. Some of have some cool stories/features, but the WRPGs seem to hit home better. Someone said in another thread "I'm sick of seeing these FFXIII trailers where you just see everyone crying over something" and that's kind of how I'm starting to feel. I'm still going to buy FFXIII, but I'm very skeptical (FFVIII will make me forever skeptical of anything SE makes).

I really like Lost Odyssey though, and I'm picking up Valkryia Chronicles and Demon's Souls soon. But Bioware is the king of RPGs for me currently. The experiences from playing KOTOR, Jade Empire, Mass Effect, and DA:O are heads and shoulders above any JRPG I've played. The characters are better to me, I'm sick of main male characters that can cross-dress and easily get away with it (*cough* Cloud). I think WRPG storytelling has been taking leaps in various directions, and JRPGs are just staying within their formula.

Edit: Not that the formula doesn't work, but it's very predictable at this point, and it's like Japanese developers are scared to take risks.

You tell those Japanese how it's gonna be!

To sum up what Square is saying ... "Forget your culture and your taste in games Japan, open up so our company can make more money!!!" lol