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NWR Interactive => TalkBack => Topic started by: Dangerface on July 25, 2013, 06:21:56 PM

Title: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Dangerface on July 25, 2013, 06:21:56 PM

Indie developers outside of Japan can still apply.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/35015

Indie developers based in Japan cannot apply to develop applications for the Wii U at this time.

Despite the growing industry support for indie developers across the board, a Nintendo form on the GDC (Game Developers Conference) 2013 website states, in English and Japanese, that Nintendo is currently not accepting applications from Japanese indie developers.

According to a statement given to CVG by Nintendo, “The policy in question is the decision of Nintendo's department responsible for licensing activities in each region, and the licensing department of Nintendo is currently not accepting subject applications from individuals in Japan.”

Since no further details have been issued regarding Nintendo’s future plans for Japan based indie developers, it is uncertain if and when this policy will change. Nintendo will, however, continue to accept applications from developers outside of Japan.

Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Enner on July 25, 2013, 06:39:00 PM
Regional differences! Sigh.


The doujin (self-published) software scene of Japan is a different beast with different sensibilities than the small indies of the rest of the world. Still, it's disappointing that Nintendo is not being supportive. Doujin is where we get stuff such as Cave Story and Genetos.
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Soren on July 25, 2013, 06:40:46 PM
Great decision. I mean, it's not like Wii U is lacking in games/interested developers at this moment.
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: pokepal148 on July 25, 2013, 06:43:01 PM
i wonder if this is part of some philosophical difference between NCL and NOA

also who is going to rant first, broodwars or ian
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Leo13 on July 25, 2013, 06:46:56 PM
Does this mean Nintendo won't currently publish games made by Japanese Indie devs or does it mean Japanese Indie dev can't get their games on the Indie portion of the eShop?

Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: broodwars on July 25, 2013, 06:47:46 PM
Quote from: pokepal148 on July 25, 2013, 06:43:01 PM
i wonder if this is part of some philosophical difference between NCL and NOA

also who is going to rant first, broodwars or ian

*shrugs*

Eh.  What do I care?  We'd never see most of the games Japanese Indies would develop here in the States, anyway.
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Leo13 on July 25, 2013, 06:49:47 PM
Is it possibly because they want Indies to get Nintendo to Publish their games? Do we have a guess as to the reason for this? I'm new to all this Indie stuff and I'd like to understand
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Ian Sane on July 25, 2013, 06:55:31 PM
What?  NCL with their heads up their asses?  How is this news?
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: MASB on July 25, 2013, 07:15:39 PM
For such a Japan-focused company, you would think Nintendo would accept Japanese indie developers before they would Western indies. Such a strange policy. I don't see how Nintendo gains from this position at all.
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 25, 2013, 07:20:53 PM
In the west, this doesnt make a shred of difference since Japanese indie games rarely get localized anyways.
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: TurdFurgy on July 25, 2013, 08:28:58 PM
I would just assume that they haven't gotten everything set up over there yet. You know, legal and licenses and all that jazz.
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Ceric on July 25, 2013, 08:58:47 PM
Japanese has some weird laws regarding publishing of things.
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Enner on July 25, 2013, 09:28:54 PM
Quote from: broodwars on July 25, 2013, 06:47:46 PM
*shrugs*

Eh.  What do I care?  We'd never see most of the games Japanese Indies would develop here in the States, anyway.


Well, legally at least. Illegally, you can sample whatever weird stuff comes out of Comiket.


As for legal offerings, you have Carpe Fulgur localizing stuff like Recettear. Also, some shoot'em ups have made their way on to Steam.


Quote from: MASB on July 25, 2013, 07:15:39 PM
For such a Japan-focused company, you would think Nintendo would accept Japanese indie developers before they would Western indies. Such a strange policy. I don't see how Nintendo gains from this position at all.


They might not gain from having the opposite view, given current attitudes. From my limited perspective, most Japanese indies don't seem that hungry for fame and fortune as non-Japanese indies. A doujin game maker or makers seem content to sell several copies at one convention or release for free online. They don't seem to care or know to publish their works widely, even the games that aren't based on existing series or stories.


In a weird mirroring of bigger Japanese developers, Japanese indies are behind the curve in exposing their games and growing their audience. There are signs of change. The recent Bit Summit for Japanese independent game developers connected Japanese indies with Western media and publishers.


Hopefully, we will see NCL following NOA's and NOE's lead in fostering relationships with small independent developers.
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: pokepal148 on July 25, 2013, 09:39:54 PM
@enner then what the heck is nintendo doing not making any effort to court them over
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: azeke on July 25, 2013, 09:46:54 PM
There is no such thing as indie games in Japan as we know it. You can't self-publish (on any console). Yes, you have your occasional Cave Story and La Mulana but they all had to become actual companies or contact other publishers to publish their games.

Same with western indie developers who had to go to japanese publishers to publish their game on japanese eShop.
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Enner on July 25, 2013, 10:43:52 PM
Quote from: pokepal148 on July 25, 2013, 09:39:54 PM
@enner then what the heck is nintendo doing not making any effort to court them over

That would require Nintendo Co. Ltd. being progressive in regards to publishing a specific section of Japanese games. Cracking doujin games out of their shell would require Nintendo crack out of their shell. You can not expect a big and old company such as Nintendo to do that. Though, it would be absolutely awesome if they did. I'm sure there are doujin soft circles that would work well with Nintendo.
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Vahne on July 26, 2013, 02:16:13 PM
Aren't indies required by some law in Japan to have a publisher to get their games on consoles? That must be the problem right? Perhaps if Japanese indies devs were given as much freedom as western indies, Nintendo would allow them to develop for Wii U.
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Etopen on July 30, 2013, 06:21:07 AM
Anyone knows what exactly would be considered indie in Japan?
I assume a foreigner with a formally registered company in Japan wouldn't?
Title: Re: Japanese Indie Developers Cannot Develop for Wii U
Post by: Enner on July 30, 2013, 03:46:32 PM
Quote from: Etopen on July 30, 2013, 06:21:07 AM
Anyone knows what exactly would be considered indie in Japan?
I assume a foreigner with a formally registered company in Japan wouldn't?

I consider the self-published software by persons such as Pixel or soft circles such as French Bread Soft Circle to be the Japanese equivalent of indie.