1. Developer and Consumer Values of Game Design
By: Richard Borys
Ari Flesch
Nick Guida
Irvin Chavira

2. Japan vs. America Nintendo Wii Unique experience Innovative controls
Focus on game play
Original Characters
Xbox 360, Sony PS3
Lots of horsepower
Photo-real graphics
Focus on story
Licensed titles

3. GAMES Cooking Mama Halo Series Wii Party Half-Life Series Wii Sports
Brain Age
Crain Challenge
Flash Focus
DDR
Trauma Center
WarioWare
Halo Series
Half-Life Series
God of War Series
Gears of War
Grand Theft Auto
Grand Turismo
Madden
Call Of Duty
Medal of Honor

4. AGE DEMOGRAPHICS - JAPAN
Arcades are thriving in Japan
Arcades are dying in America
American gaming is predominantly 15-30,
Male
Japanese gaming audience is more
mainstream, encompasses more age groups
and more females
A more diverse audience requires a more unique approach

5. AGE DEMOGRAPHICS - AMERICA
Dominant age and sex is and
male
Arcade gaming is dying
Developers are looking for licensed
titles because they already have a
built in audience
Gaming companies are trying to
meld with Hollywood in order to create
more involved stories, so they can
branch out and create more sequels

6. Fundamental Difference in Philosophy
“Most Western games are made for the audience, whereas many Japanese games are made to invite the player into the designer's world," says James Clarendon of Red Fly Studios, who previously worked on Ion Storm titles like Deus Ex: Invisible War and Thief: Deadly Shadows.

7. Game Designer vs. Player Designer
Artistic Gameplay vs. Gameplay Freedom
Storyline
Camera Control
Saving Game

8. Game Designer vs. Player Designer
Stylized vs. Realism
Music
Physics
Art
Character
Design

9. Realistic vs. Stylized
Western Design
Eastern Design

10. Realistic vs. Stylized
Western Design
Eastern Design

11. Realistic vs. Stylized
Western Design
Eastern Design

12. Realistic vs. Stylized

13. Consumer Differences Appeal Seeing your character
Tutorial (pokemon guy showing you how to catch weedle)
Pacing (COD4 fight vs Chrono trigger fight)

14. Consumer Differences Time Casual gaming Gaming on the go
Short term investment vs long term (halo 3 story vs MGS4 story)

15. We’ve looked at what is important to the consumer, but we must also consider what is important to the game designer.
Is this different in the West versus in Japan?
Cursory glance at what games are generally produced may suggest this.
However, the reality is that Western and Japanese game designers have a lot more in common than you might think.

16. Interview with Jose Zagal
Arcades very prevalent in Japan.
Arcades can take up multiple floors of buildings.
Game machines found in stores as well, not just arcades.
Variety of arcade machines/user interfaces
Machines designed with children in mind
Network play
Arcade machines where you buy packs of cards that you manipulate on a board to control the game.
Importance of creating a unique, engaging experience for the user

17. Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto
Again stresses importance of conveying an experience or memory
Focus on creating an experience for the player
Not chasing after market research
Compelling game experience for player is paramount

18. Interview with Eugene Jarvis
What’s most important is creating impact on player with something unique.
That game “hook” can be great graphics, a specific game mechanic, interface, etc.

19. Conclusion
What Japanese and Western developers want is the same: Make your game stand out and have an impact on the player
Graphics is one route, User interface (i.e. Wii) is another.