Capcom president creates more controversy?
by Nick Doerr 
{ Mar 30th 2007 at 1:00PM }
The subject line may be very slightly misleading, as the subject of the president's quote isn't about creating more controversy, but we're not going to ignore the implications of the whole Devil May Cry 4 debacle. Anyway, Capcom president Kenzo Tsujimoto talked about the company and how they've been able to maintain their prominent position in the gaming world.What made the whole thing interesting, however, was his comment about American game developers versus Capcom: "The chief difference between American and Japanese game publishers: In the United States, publishers are very successful – they're run by professional management. They focus on money, not making great games. On our side, we always operate under the assumption that there's a high possibility of losing money, but that's just our style. American publishers make games so everyone can play. The Japanese – especially Capcom – favor the hardcore gamer." Hmm, that sounds like a big argument the PS3 Fanboys make against the whole DMC4 thing -- but at this time we find it useless to keep talking about. Still, discuss what this quote means to you! Is Capcom turning into an American game publisher, in theory?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Virtua Fanboy @ Mar 30th 2007 1:15PM
-"The Japanese – especially Capcom – favor the hardcore gamer." Hmm, that sounds like a big argument the PS3 Fanboys make against the whole DMC4 thing...-
Yes, because only hardcore gamers play PS3. Ok, lol. Why is the DMC4 thing a debacle? Your still getting to play the game right?
Joshua Campbell @ Mar 30th 2007 1:17PM
Boycott CapcUm
Draco @ Mar 30th 2007 1:21PM
How can something be "very slightly misleading"? is that the extreame version of slightly misleading just before misleading?
/shrug
if that is the Japanese way of doing business it's not healthy.
shase @ Mar 30th 2007 1:23PM
I am more worried about him saying American companies favor money over great games... I hope that is not a hint of Capcom becoming EA.... But then again from the business prospective making money IS more important than making a selected group of people happy...
I think part of the problem is the new consoles... New consoles introduces new tech and thus increases game dev cost and kinda "forces" companies to reduce the quality and go for quantity- and it will be worse next and next next gen. I wouldnt mind if Sony and Nin merged and just have 2 consoles... or all 3 become happy family and give us great games...(of course it aint gonna happen)
MIKE @ Mar 30th 2007 1:38PM
LoL YES I WILL BE Boycotting CAPCuM
naruto007 @ Mar 30th 2007 2:11PM
this guys of capcom are hypocrite first they said they want to deliver their games to most gamers so they make them multiplatform and now they said they
"American publishers make games so everyone can play. The Japanese – especially Capcom – favor the hardcore gamer."
why they dont said the truth? they want to earn money fans would'nt get mad at them if they just speak with truest instead of all this bullshit
FrankTheCrank @ Mar 30th 2007 2:29PM
It pisses me off that Capcom made MILLIONS from the Playstation brand and now their turning their back on Sony. What a bunch of pissheads.
yeah, sure the installed base of the PS3 isn't at 10 million yet, but how about throwing us hardcore gamers, who don't own 360, a bone?
Idiot!
Joe @ Mar 30th 2007 3:13PM
All I got to say is Clover. They made some awesome games may be did not bring in the most money and now they close them done. Sounds like to me they are doing the same thing. They only care about money.
OrganicShadow @ Mar 30th 2007 2:40PM
They've basically confirmed that they are moving toward the 360 because they will make more money, and that they need to focus on making money instead of good games. There's really no debating what they have just implied there. Japanese devs have been commenting so much lately about how western devs are leading the industry, it makes sense that they want to start modeling themselves after money-making companies.
Justin @ Mar 30th 2007 2:54PM
Does his face have douchebag written on it?
commariodore64 @ Mar 30th 2007 3:05PM
They've basically confirmed that they are moving toward the 360 because they will make more money, and that they need to focus on making money instead of good games
Why would Capcom making 360 games mean the quality of their games would decline? Dead Rising and Lost Planet certainly spring to mind as quality original IP's by Capcom ...and for the 360, at that.... And both great games are QUALITY games in every respect.
If anything Capcom will be able to take more risks with major releases drawing in more income by multiplatform releases.
I didn't get the idea he was talking about marketing strategy as much as he was saying that american companies dumb-down their games for mass appeal - while Capcom (and other Japanese companies) won't do that. Nothing about platform - everything about development ethics.
commariodore64 @ Mar 30th 2007 3:13PM
Wow.
commariodore64 @ Mar 30th 2007 3:16PM
Where do you read that he is saying Capcom is going to cheapen it's games by supporting the 360?
Sounds like he is saying Capcom is hardcore and won't dumb down games for mass appeal.
Anyone actually play Dead Rising or Lost Planet? Hardcore games - look at the reviews. Most people are split on Dead Risings save system because it is brutal to casual gamers.
THe best risks Capcom have made in years have been on the 360 - and both are HIGH QUALITY GAMES.
SharK @ Mar 30th 2007 3:33PM
More for the hardcore gamer?, not interested that much in money?
what about the megaman series? that series is like 9 games for the classic, another 8 for the X series and a lot of games that have nothing to do with Megaman but has a Megaman title in it like EXE and the new one that is comming up. Capcom is now an american company...
commariodore64 @ Mar 30th 2007 3:42PM
I could argue Megaman is still for hardcore gamers. Most casual gamers would avoid jumping in a series after part 2, let alone part 8.
Seriously though - Megaman games are usually challenging, sometimes tedious, and often repetetive. 2 qualities casual gamers hate.
As for the money issue - you have to have a stable income to take risks. I always viewed megaman as a cheaply (albeit, enjoyable) developed product with a gauranteed audience.
Blue @ Mar 30th 2007 4:38PM
10.
Key members of Clover left to form their own company. Not because Capcom closed them down.
Anonymous @ Mar 30th 2007 6:27PM
Some of the above comments are examples of why I hardly ever read PSYfanboy anymore. The sheer amount of trolls at this site is mind boggling. If you have a PS3, you still get to play the game. You aren't being put out by the game coming to the Xbox 360 as well. There are no true Sony fanboys on this site, only trolls pretending to be fanboys. It's disgusting.
Alan @ Mar 30th 2007 10:36PM
Really I can care less. If you have a PS3 and a Japanese user account you can watch two gameplay videos for DMC. They look awful. Definatley first gen next gen. Nothing cutting edge here. Just made my boycott decision that much easier. When the PS3 is running high on number one again I hope Sony gives a little back to them. Capcom is a joke. They have nothing original. What is Dead Rising. Just another damn zombie game. Come on. Come up with something that is trully next gen. Over the next five to ten years we are going to see many changes in game development and I am sure it may lead to Capcom faltering.
Extinction @ Mar 31st 2007 3:27AM
That explains the Wii and the 360 perfectly. Wait, no it doesnt!
VampireHunter Z @ Mar 31st 2007 12:11AM
Regardless of what anyone says Capcom is hands down the best 3rd party company out there. No other company can boast a deep library like them. I remember seeing a list of the top ten selling game franchises of all time. Capcom was the only 3rd party company on that list with 2 games.
The fact is they are supporting every console. Both 360 and PS3 get DMC4 and RE. The PSP recently got Monster Hunter. You can't blame Capcom for spreading their wings.
atsui @ Mar 31st 2007 2:54AM
To the guy calling everyone here trolls, grow up.
I don't call myself a fanboy, because I've enjoyed every system I owned and I've own all the past and recent major consoles. You must be the extreme fanboy that hate to hear facts about qualities from other systems besides your precious one since you say you are disgusted on the opinions so far, when not even one of them seems that extreme.
I come here to share my opinion, as well as the other blogs for major systems. Even though I'm not much of a fanboy, I like these sites because they have updates that you wouldn't have found on ign or gamespot.
And I don't see how Japanese gamers would be hardcore when most gamers in japan enjoy dating simulation games, and the wii designed for everyone was made by a japanese company, with most of the games being very simplistic(along with most nintendo games)
You know how many picture games exist in japan? Thousands. Most of them being dating sims, so I don't think these japanese developers could call themselves hardcore. They make hardcore games, sure, but america just tramples them with hardcore games.
Japanese gamers don't even like first person shooters, so all this hardcore talk to me is BS. He can't generalize really what we are and what they are especially with his lack of examples, but I could maybe be closer since I don't just use "just because" reasons.
GL @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:18AM
CAPCOM = EA
Gamers lose.