Japan is a country that enjoys gaming. Japan’s culture has created the conditions that later led to some of the most memorable franchises. Today, it’s hard to imagine video gaming with companies such as Nintendo and PlayStation, and if you are a true fan, then you would definitely know and appreciate the work done by Sega and Atari.
Sega launched the world of video gaming as we know it today in 1966 when the company introduced Periscope. The game was played in an arcade cabinet that would be the forefather of this game genre and become a massive hit in the United States, Europe, and understandably, Japan.
Early versions of timeless classics such as Duck Hunt and Missile appeared as early as 1969 and set the entire video gaming industry in motion. The decades to follow would be ones of rapid expansion and growth with Japan spearheading a true video gaming revolution.
Japan’s Video Gaming Industry Focuses on Export
Japan was an early originator of video gaming innovation. Even though today’s blockbuster games are mostly built in the United States and Europe, Japan continues to be a bastion of video gaming. But so far as its own place in video gaming goes, Japan is happy to quietly set trends without seeking much credit.
In 1972, Atari’s Pong debuted in the United States and unleashed a flurry of American manufacturers trying to develop their own arcade games. Even though Americans were inspired by Japanese ingenuity, they did not try to claim all the credit. Those early-day manufacturers understood that they would not be able to carry on without relying on video game makers from Japan, and many actually partnered with companies.
Interestingly, this had the reverse effect as well. Games built in America were as a result introduced to Japanese society and Western culture began permeating society. The period between the 1970s and the end of the 1980s was crisscrossed with many pivotal developments. Games such as Space Invaders (1978) Donkey Kong (1981) and Galaxian (1979) would not only elevate the quality of video gaming as a whole, but they would also become part of popular culture for decades to come.
Even to this day in 2022, we still cite some of these names as a pop reference. The 1980s though were marked by a “video game crash” and people even started calling video gaming a “passing fad.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Here are some that ring familiar:
- Super Smash Bros
- Pokémon
- Super Mario
- The Legend of Zelda
- Animal Crossing
- Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
- Resident Evil
- Souls
- Monster Hunter
The Arrival of NES Platforms and Timeless Franchises
The NES was a powerful instigator of change and innovation in Japanese society. In Japan, the Nintendo Entertainment System was known as Famicom in 1983. The original was redesigned in 1985 and introduced to the American market. Western influence was evident in the market. However, the country managed to find its own unique voice in building great gaming platforms.
Sony entered the market in 1994, admittedly a little too late, but at a time when gaming was undergoing a major shift towards higher-quality graphics, more sophisticated games, and an overall appreciation for attention to detail.
The arrival of the PlayStation platform proved that the traditional console experience may be elevated. Nintendo was struggling at the time to keep up, but fresh competition from Sony actually gave it a kick start. In the years to come the video gaming industry would evolve rapidly.
The Future of Video Gaming in Japan
PlayStation and Nintendo would both compete to release better platforms, calling each edition “next-generation.” This prompted competitors from across the Atlantic to enter and Microsoft released the Xbox in 2001. Fast-forward to 2018 and Japan formalized the professionalism of eSports gamers, and the eSports betting industry began to gather momentum.
Japanese were officially allowed to pursue careers as video gamers, something that was denied to the country in the past even though it de facto created the industry. Regardless, the present is very exciting. Nintendo, Sony, and Bandai Namco are some of the biggest game developers in Japan and they are set to create new experiences for players worldwide.
Even Atari is trying to restore some of its former glory, although the company has been admittedly challenged on many levels. The future of video gaming in Japan will focus on metaverse, virtual, and augmented reality and bring innovation beyond our wildest dreams. This is alright because that is precisely what we need.