Square Enix head encourages Japanese devs to focus on 'adult' games
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Sep 24th 2009 at 7:30AM }
Last year, Wada's assessment of the Japanese game industry was grim, noting that the Japanese industry had "lost its position." This year, he continued talking about the changes necessary for the industry to progress. With sales of 4 million units of Dragon Quest IX sold in Japan so far, Wada admits that things are rather good for now. However, he pointed to a growing problem: Japan's lack of adult-oriented games. "There are not many publishers that create games for adults," he said. "In the West, they tend to believe it's cool to play games, even adults."
Wada lamented that the perception doesn't hold true in Japan. He pointed out the outdated ratings system in Japan, which forces many publishers to censor many games, or avoid Japanese release altogether. While he agrees that "game ratings [are] to protect children," he believes it must be revised in that market. Should Japanese companies commit to change, "we can possibly lead the global market," he said towards the end of the panel. Of course, "it's hard to bring about change. Change is yet to come."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lucky @ Sep 24th 2009 7:53AM
Now let's all show the maturity of the gaming public by cracking jokes about 'adult games', shall we?
ybfelix @ Sep 24th 2009 8:07AM
Well, consider the coming Sony Wand and Natal, maybe this IS the time for "adult" games...
sonicspike41 @ Sep 24th 2009 8:23AM
You can waggle my wand any day. And yes, that is what she said.
WREturns(There was once a dream called Rome) @ Sep 24th 2009 8:48AM
'She' has a wand? Uh....
mahouneko @ Sep 24th 2009 8:57AM
Whoa, she's got some balls to go with what she just said.
Bluebreaker @ Sep 24th 2009 10:51AM
She's been playin with someone else's wand I hear...
ColorblindMonk @ Sep 24th 2009 8:28AM
Since there are more older people than there are younger people, it would help out the industry a little.
Although there's already enough anime porn games as it is. :\
Xizer @ Sep 24th 2009 12:37PM
There can NEVER be enough anime porn games.
smi04 @ Sep 24th 2009 8:31AM
Adult Japanese games; more strip mahjong games then?
mahouneko @ Sep 24th 2009 8:38AM
Um, did someone NOT give Wada the memo that the PS3 has a pr0n streaming channel added to it for Japan? Because from my point of view, that's where the "adult" games are headed.
Nigeria: Charmy Bee DF @ Sep 24th 2009 8:52AM
It's pretty disappointing that when execs talk about Adult games they're almost always referring to stuff like Gears. My guess is that's 95% of the time.
The other 5% is reserved for stuff like Doki Doki and those mobile strip poker games.
mahouneko @ Sep 24th 2009 8:58AM
But Doki Doki Majo Shinpan is loads of stupid fun!
Nigeria: Charmy Bee DF @ Sep 24th 2009 9:02AM
Yeah, maybe it...no, no. Bad internet.
Lucky @ Sep 24th 2009 9:48AM
Then what are adult games? Answering "artsy indie games" is pretentious bullshit.
Nigeria: Charmy Bee DF @ Sep 24th 2009 10:14AM
If I had a gun to my head and I was forced to give an answer, I'd probably nominate stuff like SimCity, Football Manager, and maybe those eroge games. I haven't given much thought. Though, I'm not too sure whether gaming is entirely there yet - depending on where 'there' is.
Then again, it wouldn't be for the best to start labelling games games 'adult' and 'non-adult.' It's the lack of imagination with the word adult that kills it for me, as adult can mean loads of things and not just sex and violence.
Petebot330 @ Sep 24th 2009 10:47AM
Honestly, I think RPG's are the more "adult" games. That and stuff like Portal, the upcoming Silent Hill that has no combat, and Heavy Rain. Especially Heavy Rain. I really hope that game sells well and I don't even own a PS3.
samfish [is sad there is no Gene in Tats v Cap =( ] @ Sep 24th 2009 9:04AM
" Japan's lack of adult-oriented games. "There are not many publishers that create games for adults," he said. "In the West, they tend to believe it's cool to play games, even adults." "
They might be over 18, but it's still quite debatable as to whether or not man-children REALLY qualify as adults.
Dan @ Sep 24th 2009 9:23AM
There are almost NO such thing as Adult games in America only late teen games. Adult games can be distributed on the PC but there are barely any of them and they are banned on consoles and banned to be sold in about all stores.
koehler83 @ Sep 24th 2009 9:53AM
So Manhunt and Pornography is the only thing you consider 'adult'?
Space @ Sep 24th 2009 10:26AM
GTA4, Uncharted, heavy rain, mass effect, fallout, oblivion, gears, god of war, maybe bioshock... there's a few off the top of my head
-Z- @ Sep 24th 2009 9:39AM
I think Japan needs to first understand that we don't really like RPGs that have prepubescent looking 17 year old males who are designed to be prettier and wear less clothing than the hooker down the street.
And please stop designing all these "unique" anime characters off the exact same looking character palettes.. they all look the same no matter what you do.
Uncontrol @ Sep 24th 2009 9:45AM
speak for yourself, i look like a final fantasy character irl and i get all the poon
koehler83 @ Sep 24th 2009 9:56AM
No fuck that. Just speak for yourself. The only article that refers to yourself in this instance is "I". Don't speak on our behalf. Thanks.
Space @ Sep 24th 2009 10:28AM
I couldn't agree with you more -Z- you have touched on everything I hate about japanese animation and character design.
mortegro545 @ Sep 24th 2009 1:49PM
We are in the middle of a war! A life and death struggle where many of our friends have died! It's a grim reality where if we fail, the whole world might end!
Aww look, it's our cute 8 year old companion Flippy! HAhaha! Look at Flippy do his dance! Oh this is so appropriate to my jaded sense of self! It's a good thing no parental groups see me bringing this 8 year old into battle! War is Hell but not when Flippy is around!
Lame.
Martin @ Sep 24th 2009 9:52AM
Just looking at a stage of powerful Japanese businessmen gives me the willies. With how ultra competetive and hard working they are, I can imagine those must be some of the most intense dudes on the planet.
G$ @ Sep 24th 2009 9:58AM
Somebody didn't get the no brown pants, wear a tie memo. SHAME!
Orion @ Sep 24th 2009 10:21AM
Haha, nice catch.
neoalec @ Sep 24th 2009 10:16AM
By "adult games" they mean games designed to be played by adults. Like God of War and Gears of War. Japan needs to be more open to that segment of the market. Make a rating that allows games like that to be released uncensored in Japan, and then such games can also be made in Japan.
atomicstrawberry @ Sep 24th 2009 11:29PM
They have that rating already - CERO Z. The problem is that it's generally marketing suicide to release a game with that rating. It's functionally the equivalent of getting an AO from the ESRB. Your game's not banned, but a lot of retailers won't even stock it. And even the Z rating is a bit more restrictive than the equivalents from the ESRB and the PEGI. Their ratings system is voluntary, but a big publisher like Squenix isn't going to even consider releasing unrated games.
However I think Wada's getting it wrong. Games pitched at a mature audience don't necessarily need to be piled high with gore and tits and other such - in fact I'd argue that that's immature, rather than mature. There's no reason why developers can't pitch their games at an adult player within the bounds of a lower rating. The point is that they don't because there's simply not the same market for it in Japan that there is in other countries, because playing games isn't viewed as an acceptable passtime for a productive adult worker cog in their giant corporate machine.
neoalec @ Sep 25th 2009 1:19AM
I don't things are that much different. Playing games isn't necessarily considered a productive pastime in the West either. Look at how game playing is usually portrayed in TV and movies (the player is usually a young man avoiding responsibilities). Things can change. I say this as someone who has lived in Japan and speaks Japanese.
Josh @ Sep 24th 2009 10:22AM
Yes, what they're saying is true, but I hope that adult games don't take over their industry (I hope that they don't try to imitate the West too much). Japan is pretty much the last place that ... Japanese games are made (outside of indie developers and such), and I don't want to see that go away.
TwilightSaga @ Sep 24th 2009 10:53AM
As far as I'm concerned we don't need so called "Adult Games." I'm very sick, disgusted and tired of all these gross so called "Adult Games" games like Grand Theft Auto, Halo, Modern Warefare, Metal Gear Solid, Bayonetta, Borderland, Left 4 Dead, Resident Evil, Wet and outright sickness like Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude!
Video games are not supposed to be pornographic, bloody and downright immoral.
Video games should simply be a source of enjoyment, fun and a time when the family can "gather round the good stuff", a time when you can come in from a bad day at work and enjoy a round of galactic platforming (Super Mario Galaxy) or hack and slash your way through the dark side in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
The video game world is quite an even playground; we've got something for everyone and we don't need to downgrade our morals and ethic principles with garbage like so called "Adult Games."
I agree with what you've said Uncontrol. I also like Final Fantasy. In fact Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts are my mainstay besides Nintendo's classic Mario, Zelda, Animal Crossing, Star Fox and their new creations. BTW -Z- you're wrong, many people like the emo characters Square-Enix gives us and I love the "unique" anime character designs.
What people have to come to understand is that porn and gore and immorality are not what make an adult an adult. Millions of children look at porn and do godless things. A real adult is someone who has matured, has a good and descent sense of right and wrong, understands the difference between being a good father/mother and man or woman who is never there for his family. A true adult is someone who has a caring and unselfish heart and will do anything to help others.
There are plenty of great games for "adults" such as Final Fantasy XIII, Star Wars The Force Unleashed, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Fable, Prince of Persia, Naruto: Clash of Ninja, Street Fighter, The Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft and Star Trek Online.
Lets not get caught up in foolishness and destroy our society by selling our morals for immorality and the "lust of the flesh." As Michael Jackson has said in his memorable songs lets "Make the World a Better Place," let us "Heal the World."
TreND @ Sep 24th 2009 11:43AM
god doesn't love you..
Franny @ Sep 28th 2009 6:53PM
who let in debbie downer?
emperorzeroxx @ Sep 24th 2009 2:05PM
Does this mean square will make a lot more Ratred M war games with extreme violence and shooting? I assume they couldn't actually mean sexual types of games because those games would never make it to America and DEFINITELY never Australia..... considering sex is considered worse in the media than gutting people and blood splattering everywhere.
LunarAura @ Sep 24th 2009 11:14AM
When they say adult games they must mean a game that is intuitive, fun, moderately challenging, and can be played in short time increments. They can't possibly mean games heavily infused with violence and sex because that kind of game is more suited for adolescents who want to be adults.
LunarAura @ Sep 24th 2009 11:20AM
I think USA needs to first understand that we don't really like FPS's that have steroid looking 40 year old males who are designed to be hyper masculine and equip more ammo than the redneck down the street.
And please stop designing all these "unique" western characters off the exact same looking character palettes.. they all look the same no matter what you do BIOWARE BUNGIE EPIC
Miku @ Sep 24th 2009 12:18PM
This.
Franny @ Sep 28th 2009 6:54PM
no one has more ammo than the redneck down the street... let alone the variety of guns.
Bluebreaker @ Sep 24th 2009 12:35PM
I thought stuff like Sudoku, Math Tables and Recipe collections were 'adult games' since no one under 23 would be caught dead playing them leaving them to the adults.
-Vexx- @ Sep 24th 2009 3:55PM
For reference refer to Shin Megami Tensei
sybnios @ Sep 25th 2009 9:18AM
Lets hope they listen!!
sybnios @ Sep 25th 2009 9:32AM
Please go to sleep!
sybnios @ Sep 25th 2009 9:33AM
The last comment was going to twilighsaga.