Square-Enix Boss Wants to See More "Adult" Japanese Games

John Funk

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Dec 20, 2005
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Square-Enix Boss Wants to See More "Adult" Japanese Games



At the Tokyo Game Show, Square-Enix CEO Yoichi Wada exhorted Japanese game makers to focus on making "adult" titles, and he doesn't mean games like RapeLay.

The Tokyo Game Show is the big gaming show over in the Land of the Rising Sun, and as such the big players in the Japanese industry pull out all the stops. One of the major panels at this year's TGS featured the heads of the largest Japanese gaming companies - Capcom's Haruhiro Tsujimoto, Konami's Kazumi Kitaue, Square's Yoichi Wada, Sony's Shuhei Yoshida, and Namco's Shin Unozawa - discussing "Strategies and Visions of Top Makers in the Global Era," reports Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/24/square-enix-head-encourages-japanese-devs-to-focus-on-adult-ga/].

Last year, Square-Enix's Wada said in his keynote that he felt the Japanese gaming industry had marathoning Dragon Quest IX [http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20573] may have changed his outlook - somewhat. Wada pointed to the four million copies sold of DQ9 as an example of how things were getting better, but felt that there was still an underlying problem: Japanese developers weren't making many games oriented at adults.

"There are not many publishers that create games for adults," said Wada. "In the West, they tend to believe it's cool to play games, even adults." Not so in Japan, he lamented, where there is still a heavy perception that games are for youth, and an outdated ratings system results in games like Fallout 3 being censored [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/87365-Fallout-3-Edited-For-Japan] for violence. Though Wada does acknowledge that "game ratings [are] to protect children," he thinks that they do need to be revised in the country in order to bring about the change necessary for Japan to reposition itself as a leader in the global market.

So to be clear, Wada isn't saying that he thinks companies like Squeenix should make more "Platinum" games [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/93631-Japanese-Eroge-Company-Renames-Rape-Games-to-Platinum-Games], but rather more games like Fallout. I can get behind that.

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Amnestic

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Aug 22, 2008
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CantFaketheFunk said:
So to be clear, Wada isn't saying that he thinks companies like Squeenix should make more "Platinum" games [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/93631-Japanese-Eroge-Company-Renames-Rape-Games-to-Platinum-Games], but rather more games like Fallout. I can get behind that.
No complaints here. Only hope they don't screw it up.
 

cobra_ky

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Nov 20, 2008
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CantFaketheFunk said:
"There are not many publishers that create games for adults," said Wada. "In the West, they tend to believe it's cool to play games, even adults." Not so in Japan, he lamented, where there is still a heavy perception that games are for youth, and an outdated ratings system results in games like Fallout 3 being censored [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/87365-Fallout-3-Edited-For-Japan] for violence. Though Wada does acknowledge that "game ratings [are] to protect children," he thinks that they do need to be revised in the country in order to bring about the change necessary for Japan to reposition itself as a leader in the global market.
uhh, it doesn't look like Fallout 3 wasn't censored for violence so much as referencing a horrible national tragedy.

But seriously, it's about time we had JRPGs with characters old enough to drink.
 

Carnagath

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Wow, I didn't know Fallout was censored in Japan. In the home country of survival horror? Seriously?
 

The Magical Hobo

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NoMoreSanity said:
Sounds like a good idea to me. It always makes me amazed when the Japanese are okay with Tentacle Shit Porn but blowing heads off is a no no, and vice versa here in the States.
Just cultural differences, though when I was in Japan, the people there seemed better adjusted than alot of the people over here(meaning I wasnt hearing 8 year olds talking about how awesome it is to slaughter pedestrians in Prototype). But then again, I don't speak Japanese, so maybe everybody was talking about tentacle rape, and I just couldn't understand it.
 

AceDiamond

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cobra_ky said:
CantFaketheFunk said:
"There are not many publishers that create games for adults," said Wada. "In the West, they tend to believe it's cool to play games, even adults." Not so in Japan, he lamented, where there is still a heavy perception that games are for youth, and an outdated ratings system results in games like Fallout 3 being censored [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/87365-Fallout-3-Edited-For-Japan] for violence. Though Wada does acknowledge that "game ratings [are] to protect children," he thinks that they do need to be revised in the country in order to bring about the change necessary for Japan to reposition itself as a leader in the global market.
uhh, it doesn't look like Fallout 3 wasn't censored for violence so much as referencing a horrible national tragedy.
I hate to ...actually no I won't make the comparison I was going to make because it really isn't the same. The thing is though that games in Japan do get censored for violence. No More Heroes went bloodless and Mad World didn't even so much as get released. Unfortunately those are the only standout examples because in the past it used to be the other way around.
 

WhiteTiger225

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Amnestic said:
CantFaketheFunk said:
So to be clear, Wada isn't saying that he thinks companies like Squeenix should make more "Platinum" games [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/93631-Japanese-Eroge-Company-Renames-Rape-Games-to-Platinum-Games], but rather more games like Fallout. I can get behind that.
No complaints here. Only hope they don't screw it up.
*Snickers* The Boss of "Final Fantasy" wants more mature games?.... Oh god that is hilarious XD
I can see their attempts at making more mature games now...
Barret: I Want these muthafuckin Shinra, Off my muthafuckin Mako Cannon!
Tifa: Cloud... I think I'm pregnant.. And either you, Vincent, or Barret are the father.
Sephiroth: *Dropping down on Aeris* Shank dat *****!
Aeris: *Stabbed* Gah!
Yuffie: Hey cloud... want some underage poon? But only if you give me some materia in return!
Cid: Oh yeah.. shit just got REAL up in this *****!
Vincet: *Broods and cuts self*
Red XIII: Yuffie... I am in heat, mind taking care of it so I don't lose concentration during battle? *Evil hidden smirk*
Cait Sith: I'm USELESS! :D

All in all... I don't see their high fantasy style really doing good with mature content outside of a story line. I mean, look at "Return to oz" No blood, dark story, mature and gritty, yet still kid friendly
 
Feb 18, 2009
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That´s a rather misleading title you have there, Funk. A lot of cretins might get a little confused :)

NoMoreSanity said:
Sounds like a good idea to me. It always makes me amazed when the Japanese are okay with Tentacle Shit Porn but blowing heads off is a no no, and vice versa here in the States.
I don´t think the whole country is okay with weird stuff like hentai, but I agree that the differences between the east and the west are kinda perplexing also in the case of video games.

Still, I´d be interested in seeing Japan´s "adult" interpretation of western games like Fallout.
 

Manawa

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May 13, 2009
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WhiteTiger225 said:
*Snickers* The Boss of "Final Fantasy" wants more mature games?.... Oh god that is hilarious XD
I can see their attempts at making more mature games now...
Barret: I Want these muthafuckin Shinra, Off my muthafuckin Mako Cannon!
Tifa: Cloud... I think I'm pregnant.. And either you, Vincent, or Barret are the father.
Sephiroth: *Dropping down on Aeris* Shank dat *****!
Aeris: *Stabbed* Gah!
Yuffie: Hey cloud... want some underage poon? But only if you give me some materia in return!
Cid: Oh yeah.. shit just got REAL up in this *****!
Vincet: *Broods and cuts self*
Red XIII: Yuffie... I am in heat, mind taking care of it so I don't lose concentration during battle? *Evil hidden smirk*
Cait Sith: I'm USELESS! :D

All in all... I don't see their high fantasy style really doing good with mature content outside of a story line. I mean, look at "Return to oz" No blood, dark story, mature and gritty, yet still kid friendly
That is most hilarious parody of FF VII I ever read:D

But, yeah - Yoichi's words are wierd - I mean, CEO of Square Enix, the company that is currently making 3 games from Final Fantasy series, the series that is based on effeminated underagers, shallow if not irritating support cast, with story line overflowing with worn out motives of love and friendship that nowadays any shonen anime is full of (InuYasha, Naruto, Bleach etc.), he is telling that Japanese game companies need to make more adult games.
I don't see that coming. Even if, it will end with some lolitas in scary circumstances (fatal frame).
They may eventually end up making some open world, with dark aura and adult story... while maintaining main cast consisting of 12 year olds going like "No one understands me, imma gonna cut myslef with this big ass sword o'mine..." (main char), "Peace and LOVE!" (main love interest), "I gotta destroy the world, for the fuck sake!" (main villain), "YEAH! WOAH!" (support cast) - now THAT would be scary -_-
 

Stabby Joe

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Jul 30, 2008
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Carnagath said:
Wow, I didn't know Fallout was censored in Japan. In the home country of survival horror? Seriously?
I would assume it was more to do with the nukes than the violence.

Anyway I'm all for this if they can make some games without uni-sex teenagers as the bulk of the cast!
 

Amnestic

High Priest of Haruhi
Aug 22, 2008
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cobra_ky said:
CantFaketheFunk said:
"There are not many publishers that create games for adults," said Wada. "In the West, they tend to believe it's cool to play games, even adults." Not so in Japan, he lamented, where there is still a heavy perception that games are for youth, and an outdated ratings system results in games like Fallout 3 being censored [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/87365-Fallout-3-Edited-For-Japan] for violence. Though Wada does acknowledge that "game ratings [are] to protect children," he thinks that they do need to be revised in the country in order to bring about the change necessary for Japan to reposition itself as a leader in the global market.
uhh, it doesn't look like Fallout 3 wasn't censored for violence so much as referencing a horrible national tragedy.

But seriously, it's about time we had JRPGs with characters old enough to drink.


Just sayin'

Manawa said:
WhiteTiger225 said:
*Snickers* The Boss of "Final Fantasy" wants more mature games?.... Oh god that is hilarious XD
I can see their attempts at making more mature games now...
Barret: I Want these muthafuckin Shinra, Off my muthafuckin Mako Cannon!
Tifa: Cloud... I think I'm pregnant.. And either you, Vincent, or Barret are the father.
Sephiroth: *Dropping down on Aeris* Shank dat *****!
Aeris: *Stabbed* Gah!
Yuffie: Hey cloud... want some underage poon? But only if you give me some materia in return!
Cid: Oh yeah.. shit just got REAL up in this *****!
Vincet: *Broods and cuts self*
Red XIII: Yuffie... I am in heat, mind taking care of it so I don't lose concentration during battle? *Evil hidden smirk*
Cait Sith: I'm USELESS! :D

All in all... I don't see their high fantasy style really doing good with mature content outside of a story line. I mean, look at "Return to oz" No blood, dark story, mature and gritty, yet still kid friendly
That is most hilarious parody of FF VII I ever read:D

But, yeah - Yoichi's words are wierd - I mean, CEO of Square Enix, the company that is currently making 3 games from Final Fantasy series, the series that is based on effeminated underagers, shallow if not irritating support cast, with story line overflowing with worn out motives of love and friendship that nowadays any shonen anime is full of (InuYasha, Naruto, Bleach etc.), he is telling that Japanese game companies need to make more adult games.
I don't see that coming. Even if, it will end with some lolitas in scary circumstances (fatal frame).
They may eventually end up making some open world, with dark aura and adult story... while maintaining main cast consisting of 12 year olds - now THAT would be scary -_-
Might be channelling Bobby Kotick here but you gotta make what sells in a time when profit margins are tighter and if that is Final Fantasy MMLCXIV, then so be it.

Perhaps he wants more people in Japan to consider the adult gaming scene which doesn't consist of tentacles.
 

daz_O_O

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Aug 27, 2008
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This can only be a good thing from where I'm sitting. Begin to bridge the huge culture gap between Japan and the West bit by bit - we may even get some JRPG's with relevance appeal to today's culture and 20-something gamerbase.
Valkyria Chronicles was a step in the right direction but the Squeenix on board this could have some real potential.
 

GonzoGamer

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Apr 9, 2008
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Wait. In Japan they make games with kids who shoot themselves in the head to unleash magic powers but they had to censor Fallout 3?
He's right, they do need to revamp some of their regulations.

I'm all for Japan making more games like Fallout 3, especially if it's going to be as engrossing.

I know it's not the kind of thing he meant but I'm pulling for an Urotsukidoji game. I'm just not sure if it should revolve around Amano or Nagumo.
 

scotth266

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Jan 10, 2009
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Yes, yes, and more yes.

If the Japanese can shrug off their stigma on gaming violence, then perhaps we'll be able to shrug off ours about gaming sexuality.
 

Random Argument Man

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Incredible Bullshitting Man said:
Still, I´d be interested in seeing Japan´s "adult" interpretation of western games like Fallout.
I had a mental picture of someone using V.A.T.S on a JRPG character just now...
 

Proteus214

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Jul 31, 2009
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And they are just figuring out that there is a HUGE market for more mature themed games? Didn't most American and European developers figure that out in, you know, the mid-to-late 1990's?