Japanese game devs "meh" at online gaming?

[Waylaid]

DOA4 aside, are Japanese game devs really that indifferent to online gaming, considering one game dev's refusal to put it in Soul Calibur III and the new Virtua Fighter?

[Mynd Hed]

You've also got to take into account that all of your examples are fighting games, and the fighting genre is an example of a sort of game where timing is so important that even the slightest bit of lag can have a dire effect on gameplay. Not being an online gamer myself, I've never really looked into the matter, but I think you've got to take into account a wider variety of genres if you want to determine Japanese developers' outlook on it.

[Kenshirou]

Most big and popular Japanese games aren't online-enabled because there wouldn't be a point. JRPGs have nothing to gain online except maybe extra side quests or something. And there ARE fighters online, it's just SOME people *cough* SCEA *cough* love to gut out that portion of a game because of their disdain for 2D. Some of the 360 Japanese devs ARE doing the online thing because MS makes it easier for them... I personally cannot wait for Bomberman: Act Zero, which will be budget-priced [in Japan, I have no idea for the US plans yet, but it will likely get released here]. MGS3: S has an online portion, and I consider this a big game as well. I guess it's just relative to what the dev can get out of the online portion. The Japanese don't seem as big into online gaming as North America, Europe, and Korea, so there is no incentive to include it. But in the above places, a lot of people BASE their purchases on whether a game has online or not. If an FPS has only SP, it's a rental to most. MP creates a longetivity, and makes you feel like you got your money's worth.

[Dr Crocodile]

You also have to factor in that from my understanding, Japan still has a very active arcade scene. Plus the companies that Japan supports in mass (Sony and Nintendo) have a much reduced online prescence compared to Microsoft and are only now starting to up the ante.

And wow [solid]snake, you've got to be the first person online I've seen who's actually looking forward to Bomberman: Act Zero. I don't mean any offense by that though, just making a note.

[Kenshirou]

Well I love Bomberman... What can I say.

[Nin-Nin69]

Well there is the rerelease for MGS3 next week. And that has online play. :p

[Kenshirou]

Well there is the rerelease for MGS3 next week. And that has online play. :p

Yea, I mentioned MGS3: S, which should be good stuff if you don't take it seriously.