Topic: Capcom to Focus More Game Development in Japan

[NWR_pap64]

Due to recent commercial failures, Capcom will outsource fewer games to other developers.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=21103

 Due primarily to the commercial failure of Bionic Commando, a title developed by Swedish studio GRIN , Capcom has announced that will focus more on developing games in Japan and less on outsourcing  their franchises to overseas developers.    

“Our experience with Bionic Commando has demonstrated the difficulty of outsourcing the development of new title to overseas companies,” Capcom explains. But they realize that collaborating with overseas developers is important, stating that "Nevertheless, we cannot develop a sufficient number of titles without using the resources of these companies. This is why we plan to continue using these alliances."    

Capcom plans to only send existing franchises with established fanbases to overseas developers, while the development of new titles will happen in Japan. "We plan to develop new titles primarily in Japan. Overseas companies may be used mostly to develop titles for existing game series with well-established characters and universal themes. Overseas companies will also handle certain parts and/or lineups of such games.”

[broodwars]

 

Isn't this the same company that previously stressed the need to develop for Western audiences because the Japanese market is so weak?  You'll excuse me if I have a feeling that this has more to do with Capcom trying to blame a bad game on the fact that it was made by a Western Developer, rather than Capcom just plain choosing a bad developer.

[Mop it up]

I'm surprised Capcom isn't finding a way to blame this on Wii...

[broodwars]

I'm surprised Capcom isn't finding a way to blame this on Wii...

I wonder how many people last year were complaining that Capcom wasn't bringing Bionic Commando HD to Wii, who now must be feeling rather foolish.

[Mop it up]

I'm not sure what you're point is. I don't know why somebody who wanted the game on Wii would feel foolish that it didn't sell well on another system.

[broodwars]

I'm not sure what you're point is. I don't know why somebody who wanted the game on Wii would feel foolish that it didn't sell well on another system.

Yeah, there was a point I was going to make in there somewhere (something about the massive envy of the games the HD consoles get, but for all the whining they often turn out to just be bad games the Wii's better off without anyway), but I think I lost my train of thought somewhere in the middle.  Need sleep...Jazz games run late over here on the East Coast.  Just disregard.   

[KDR_11k]

I wonder how many people last year were complaining that Capcom wasn't bringing Bionic Commando HD to Wii, who now must be feeling rather foolish.

I think they would have appreciated ReArmed more.

[Caliban]

Due primarily to the commercial failure of Bionic Commando, a title developed by Swedish studio GRIN , Capcom has announced that will focus more on developing games in Japan and less on outsourcing  their franchises to overseas developers.

Huh?



Wait. RE5 barely does as much as BC, yet BC is a failure?

[Ian Sane]

Japan makes the best games.  I don't know what it is but you're just less likely to run into junk if you stick with Japanese games.  American games are too inconsistent and European games are even worse.  So sticking to their own teams for new games is a good idea.  Hell farming off to other devs is a crapshoot anyways.  And looking up GRIN, they don't come across as anything special.  They're just a dev so they'll make just a game.

Capcom is only saying that they're going to focus on Japanese development, not the Japanese market.  Many of the most popular games in North America were designed by Japanese teams including, you know, Nintendo.

[KDR_11k]

I don't know what it is but you're just less likely to run into junk if you stick with Japanese games.

The high threshold for a western release that prevents most japanese games that don't find much consumer interest in Japan from ever reaching the west.


If you want an example of Japanese shovelware look at the Simple Series.

[vudu]

Due primarily to the commercial failure of Bionic Commando, a title developed by Swedish studio GRIN , Capcom has announced that will focus more on developing games in Japan and less on outsourcing  their franchises to overseas developers.

Huh?



Wait. RE5 barely does as much as BC, yet BC is a failure?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that chart represents sales for the last 9 months of 2009.  Since RE5 was released in early March the first month's worth of sales aren't counted in that chart, and half--if not more--of the game's total sales likely took place in March.  However, Bionic Commando was released in May/June so its entire sales history is included in those numbers.

[Caliban]

Ah. That makes sense to me. Thanks vudu. I thought those were the total 2009 sales, but since they like their fiscal years I should have known better.