Japanese games on pc

[Strangelove]

Here's a question that just popped in my head - why do Japanese publishers release their console games on pc?

 

Yes, it has to do with Dark Souls. I dont care either way, but do people in Japan play console games on pc? Nowadays handhelds dominate over there, so they barely play games on consoles as it is, so do they release pc games mostly for the rest of the world?

And do those sell well at all? I never hear about people playing Super Street Fighter 4 or Dead Rising 2 on PC. Ever.

Its just something I never hear about.

[Cyber Rat]

Are we talking specifically about console games on PC, or are we talking about Japanese PC games in general?

 

First off, I think everyone needs to keep in mind that there is a real communications barrier between the West and Japan, despite this day and age. Here's a random example that's still fresh for me. You know how you can check out a page on Wikipedia and then click "view this page in other languages"?

 

Here's Shinobi III in English and in Japanese. There's actually info on the Japanese page about Shinobi III being released for Microsoft Windows in 2004. This doesn't exist on the English version. I've never even heard of a 2004 version, despite it being Japan-only. A few months ago, I found out that Typing of the Dead for the PC had a Japan-only sequel AND that there were multiple House of the Dead games which saw Western console releases, but the PC versions were Japan-only.

 

I know these examples would be counted as obscure today, but it still shows how much info we miss in regards to Japan's gaming scene. That's as far as ports go. As for actual games, the Japanese doujin games scene is very much active. It's a pretty common misconception that there is no proper PC development scene in Japan, so I suggest anyone interested in finding out more on the subject read this article: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/doujingames/doujingames.htm

[excel_excel]

Well because they sell well in the West on PC. That's pretty much it. Why not make more money by bringing your games to a wider audience? That's it really.

Its worth pointing out that quite a lot of these games that originate from Japan that are ported to PC, don't see releases on PC in Japan. Ninja Blade was ported to PC, wasn't released in Japan. It just happens, kind of the way some companies don't bother releasing Multiplatform titles on 360 in Japan cause the audience is so small.