I’ve skimmed over and read most of these posts. I would just like to comment that, If you like it or not, the main reason people buy B games in the US is for Sex. Sure, us hardcore people who frequent these boards are different, but the vast majority are only interested in the sex. As for porting these games to PS2 or Xbox and editing the sex out I think you would be very dissapointed with the sales. the US and Japan are VERY VERY different when it comes to certain points about Pop Culture and Society. Say for example your playing a dating sim on the PS2. In japan this would be considered a normal activity, like playing a shooter game. If you tell someone in the US that you play dating sims be prepared for strange looks and rumors about you being a pervert with no life that can’t get a date. A teenage male wouldn’t be caught dead playing a dating sim in the US. Violent games aren’t popular because they are the only thing on the US market. They’re popular because they sell well and are “cool” to the kids. The day a Dating sim does well in the US market is the day hell freezes over.
True. When I first started I only played for the sex. I’d just click through the thing really fast until it got to the sex scenes.
quote:
Originally posted by Laslow:
Violent games aren't popular because they are the only thing on the US market. They're popular because they sell well and are "cool" to the kids. The day a Dating sim does well in the US market is the day hell freezes over.
But isn't that a self-limiting idea, that is they sell well and are "cool" thus they are the only thing that is heavily pushed for and that which other games must make room for on the U.S. market?
That is not to say they should not sell them, but would the world end if they tried and sell dating games in the places of shooter games in just one or two stores in some of the more liberal thinking areas as a sort of test?
quote:
Originally posted by Laslow:
I've skimmed over and read most of these posts. I would just like to comment that, If you like it or not, the main reason people buy B games in the US is for Sex. Sure, us hardcore people who frequent these boards are different, but the vast majority are only interested in the sex. As for porting these games to PS2 or Xbox and editing the sex out I think you would be very dissapointed with the sales. the US and Japan are VERY VERY different when it comes to certain points about Pop Culture and Society. Say for example your playing a dating sim on the PS2. In japan this would be considered a normal activity, like playing a shooter game. If you tell someone in the US that you play dating sims be prepared for strange looks and rumors about you being a pervert with no life that can't get a date. A teenage male wouldn't be caught dead playing a dating sim in the US. Violent games aren't popular because they are the only thing on the US market. They're popular because they sell well and are "cool" to the kids. The day a Dating sim does well in the US market is the day hell freezes over.
You're at once quite correct, and wholly wrong. In the short term, you're absolutely right; I know someone who would probably significantly revise his opinion of me if he knew I liked b-games (and h anime in general) - of course, he also basically told me to lie to him about it, so I have.
In the long term, though, tastes DO change. They change slowly, with people convincing others by word of mouth slowly, but they DO change. You forget Rock and Roll once garnered the same reaction; indeed, dancing was once regarded as a severe sin. More recently RPGs were only for "the uncool" a few years ago. (Well, RPG's have been big for close to a decade now, it isn't really accurate to say "a few years" anymore.) In particular fantasy books and novels are just now beginning their "de-nerdification", helped in no large part by Harry Potter.
Put another way - within the anime subcommunity, fanservice-heavy shows like Onegai Teacher would have had trouble finding a market even 5 years ago. It took time for people to get comfortable enough with anime, for them to be ready for something fanservice-heavy that wasn't out and out porn.
Over time, we (the plot enjoying minority) are the ones who most drive expansion of this market. Eventually enough people will be handed copies of Snow Drop and Private Nurse that dating sims will lose their stigma and become something that, if not openly tolerated like in Japan, is at least politely ignored and allowed to flourish (instead of being bottled up). This is, of course, assuming the market doesn't die off entirely. (Depending on who you ask, we were in real danger of that happening before G-collections came long.)
quote:
Originally posted by Peter Gilis:
That's EXACTLY the reason because we need translated bishoujo games ported to consoles. The kids nowadays just play violence-themed games. Why? Because that's the ONLY genre they have, that's the ONLY genre they know.
Yes but they WANT to play those games. Thats why the companies make those kinds of games. They wouldn't make them if kids didn't like those kinds of games. Also I'd like to bring up another question in terms of saying kids what age group are you talking about?
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Originally posted by tiger_of_the_wind2040:
Yes but they WANT to play those games. Thats why the companies make those kinds of games. They wouldn't make them if kids didn't like those kinds of games.
See my above post. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If the vast majority of games follow your preestablished expectations, then the vast majority of popular games will as well (at least until you get so out of touch that you go broke, as happened to the movie industry a few decades ago I think).
This exact same argument was used against RPGs long after it was, really, true. It was not until FF7 was a breakout hit that RPGs shattered this stereotype.
Harry Potter has proved that kids will read it. It isn't like most things that most kids read before J.K. Rowlings wrote it. Many people probably naysayed it, saying that kids would never read the books. The reasons I'm sure are just as sensible.
In short, you have made a good argument for violent games continuing to sell strongly. People like them, ergo they sell. This does NOT mean that people's likes are exclusive by genre. It is possible for people to like BOTH violent games AND b-games.
And now, it is late. I must sleep.
Interesting. You make a good point and as I haven’t thought up of any arguments against I have no more to say without repeating the same things I’ve already said so I simply say “No Response”.