Xbox 360: Gears of War 2 to flop in Japan?
By Mike Ferro
Japanese gamers didn’t really care for the first Gears of War when it launched a couple of years ago. Many even criticized the game as too violent with no point. Even with all of the advancements made by EPIC Games, the question still remains will they like Gears of War 2?
A recent announcement (translated) indicates that Gears of War 2 will be heading towards the land of the rising sun. The game is currently being localized for Japan, meaning subtitles and voice dubs. This is despite previous claims that the game would not be coming to Japan.
According to Edge, Microsoft initially indicated that Gears of War 2 would not be coming to Japan but later stated “no comment.” The original sold around 33,000 during launch week, which isn’t that great, but it wasn’t too shabby for the Xbox 360 in Japan.
Japanese gamers have criticized that “western” games have way too much senseless violence. Honestly, I admit I play Gears of War for the senseless violence because it is so surreal. Who wouldn’t like to take the Lancer in Gears of War 2 and shove it through a locust horde’s spine and shred them in half?
However, I suspect that Japanese gamers are now starting to warm up to “western” games, not only through desensitization but also by the maturing of the “western” video game industry. Grand Theft Auto IV is a prime example of what I am talking about. In previous GTA games the stories were practically non-existent. Yes, there was a story but the real fun was in all the random acts of violence you could achieve in the open world.
In my previous story, I talked about how GTA IV became popular in Japan for the first time in history of the franchise. According to Media-Create, GTA IV sold something like a quarter of a million in a week. With GTA IV, Rockstar Games proved that they are capable of creating a great realistic game, while providing a compelling reason for the violence through the story. There are even moral decisions that need to be made to advance the story.
Gears of War 2 takes a much smaller, but similar type of leap in my opinion. In the original game there was very little character development and the story was paper thin. However, in Gears 2, there is a bit more background information revealed about the Delta Squad and goes a bit more into the plight of the inhabitants of the planet Sera from the Locusts.
Even though the step is minimal enough for many to call it Gears 1.5, it executes all aspects flawlessly to be like a summer blockbuster movie flick. There is definitely a good chance Japanese gamers will embrace the game this time around.
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December 23rd, 2008
The only people who call it Gears 1.5 are the Sony fanboys. Another piece of biased crap speculation from Mike Ferro.
December 24th, 2008
Stop being so defensive, it is very similar to gears 1.
However! Theres nothing wrong with being a sequal at all. Look at all 3 metroid prime games. They’re all really really similar, but all really really good.
December 24th, 2008
I like how Xbots can’t seem to accept that the Xbox is tanking in Japan.
December 24th, 2008
Yeah sachz, why are you so defensive of the 360 ALL the time. So the Japanese didn’t buy/like GeOW , big deal?
December 24th, 2008
Bourne and lock_down,
Are you two retarded? I wasn’t even mentioning Japan.
December 24th, 2008
Well i guess that shows your blind fanboyism then Harry seeing as the article was related to Japan.
December 24th, 2008
lock_down,
I think one of the main reasons Microsoft is doing poorly in comparison to Nintendo and Sony is because they are an American company, and the average Japanese videogame consumer is a lot different than the average American videogame consumer, especially when it comes to brand loyalty.
A second reason is that they have yet to market to the core Japanese gamer with games that truly appeal to them and are synonymous with their culture. There have been a few of these, but many more are needed when in comparison to say, Sony.
Microsoft’s marketing in Japan probably has the same effect as the PS3’s in the western markets.
The 360 is an improvement over XBox in Japan, so perhaps Microsoft is moving in the right direction. If Microsoft gets more games that appeal to the Japanese market and can advertise them properly, then they should do even better.
December 24th, 2008
I know Carl, I was just trying to cause some mischief…
It probably is the same in the US with the 360 compared to the PS3.
I don’t know why, but I sometimes get the feeling that if MS ever got a really strong foothold in gaming that Sony and Nintendo, given that they’re both Japanese, may try a collaborate and work together to usurp MS.
harry, yeah, I’m retarded.
December 24th, 2008
the iPod is popular in japan though……
Maybe in the jApan version they should make marcus look like a 12 year old girl. It’ll sell like hot cakes!
December 24th, 2008
“The only people who call it Gears 1.5 are the Sony fanboys ”
agreed. cliffy b made 300 adjustments just to the single player alone, per the G4 interview.
to say it’s the same as the first one is insane, or jealousy…or both.
December 24th, 2008
Yeah, you know all about fanboyism don’t ya kev…
December 24th, 2008
Sooooooo… when is Gears 1.5 coming to the PC?
December 24th, 2008
Probably after Halo 1.5 is released
December 24th, 2008
gaming/industry knowledge and facts = gamer
bourne, dwh, phranc, lockdown = fanboys.
hope this helps lockdown.
oh well, at least you got mgs3.5, resistance 1.5, and killzone 1.5.
December 24th, 2008
well by your criteria we know for a fact that you’re not a gamer
December 24th, 2008
phranc - don’t blame because you guys don’t have enough gaming knowledge to recognize facts when they’re presented.
count your posts and see how many are personal attacks. almost every single one.
maybe if the ps3 was a better gaming console with a better game catalog you wouldn’t be so bitter. but alas.
December 24th, 2008
Yeah, M$ know all about handing out personal attacks.
Their 360 press release’s deliver most of them.
December 24th, 2008
lock down - please link ANY personal attacks from ms.
liar.
it’s really sad when you ps3 fanboys have to resort to lies to feel better about throwing $600 out the window for a bluray player, that kinda plays games, too….
December 24th, 2008
That was Funny Kev
December 24th, 2008
Get off your pedestal! You have a personal attack in this post before any of ours. Ass.
December 24th, 2008
That was hilarious cad. Do you also laugh at knock knock jokes?
December 24th, 2008
Well just to calrify I was laughing at:
mgs3.5, resistance 1.5, and killzone 1.5
December 24th, 2008
Well just to calrify I was laughing at:
mgs3.5, resistance 1.5, and killzone 1.5
December 24th, 2008
phranc - hey, i’m still waiting for you or lockdown to post any ms press releases with personal attacks.
it’s funny, i give you a fact that cliffy b himself stated and i’m attacked for saying it. just…wow…
December 24th, 2008
Ahh today is a sad day. I packed up my Original Xbox and gave it away along with some 15 games or so. Well at least the kids will be happy. It was hard to let go but I got my 360 now so it’s not like the Xbox was doing anything. So long Xbox.
December 24th, 2008
kev, you mean you’re not aware of MS’s sniping at Sony?
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-execs-slam-sony-blu-ray-strategy
http://www.destructoid.com/microsoft-dumps-all-over-home-calls-it-outdated-114353.phtml
http://kotaku.com/5100645/microsoft-xbox-360-outsold-ps3-3+to+1-on-black-friday
Actually, don’t play dumb kev. You’re well aware that M$ is obsessed with Sony. Virtually every statement/release bashes the PS3 in some form.
I find it amazing that M$ touts the 360 as an “unqualified success”.
Although what’s even more amazing is that Xbots claim “they’re not bothered” by things like RRoD and disc scratching.
Man, you’ve got to wonder what some Xbots are smoking.
December 24th, 2008
ok cad. Forgiven. It was slightly more funny
December 24th, 2008
yeah. I gave my ps2 to by brother a While ago so he could play gow and gow2. Too bad he can’t play it on his new ps3. Stupid bc!
December 24th, 2008
Sorry kev. Can’t link shit from my phone. Just check out the last press release. Sony’s reeves does it too.
December 24th, 2008
lockdown - talking about a console is not a “personal attack” as a console is not a person.
pretty simple math..
December 24th, 2008
out for the weekend. merry xmas guys. thanks for a year a stimulating debate and downright silliness.
have a great one!!
PS… 360 FTW!
December 24th, 2008
HAHAHAHAH!!! kev calls me a fanboy… so what else is new…
as happy as I was with gears 2… keeping the good things and improving on the bad stuff… their multiplayer is still screwed… I expect better from Epic… but Id still pick gears 2 over Fifa… and Fifa is very special for me…
December 24th, 2008
it is a “personal attack” to all those who built the console kev… and all those who continue to support the console via updates…
how would you know?? youre so quick with the fact sheets… do you even spend any time playing on LIVE!!!
December 24th, 2008
dwh - that’s one of the silliest things i’ve ever heard. do you know how many engineers it took to put the ps3 together? maaaany.
where were you when kuturagi, hirai and harrison were talking smack about the xbox and 360? oh, but it’s OK for them, right? gawd…
December 24th, 2008
http://kotaku.com/5117229/a-very-special-kotaku-holiday-podcast?skyline=true&s=x
The Home podcast is pretty stupid… the others are really good… but why do they sound so weird on castle crashers??? sound high pitched… still… WANT TO PLAY CASTLE CRASHERS NOW!!!
December 24th, 2008
so… lets attack them since they attacked us right kev?? yeah… we cant take the high road… no lets sink to their levels and keep attacking their consoles…
that makes sense…
December 25th, 2008
Phil Harrison built the PS3 alone, with his bare hands.
December 26th, 2008
from Blu-Ray mithril ore.
December 31st, 2008
look, screw the retarded japs who hate GOW2. it is an awesome game and even if it does get bad reviews, i dont care. to put this in view, the Japs probabley wont like CODWaW (which is garbage) because you have to kill there “ancestors”. its a dam game, get over it.
January 6th, 2009
Yes. Really. The nerve. I can’t imagine how they wouldn’t love killing their ancestors. It’s not like they honor history anyway or have any culture. Get over a people’s reaction to a game that is not catered to them.