Keiji Inafune is famously outspoken about the status of the Japanese gaming industry, saying that Western developers are way ahead nowadays. He’s now suggesting that Japanese developers are nostalgic about the past, and that new ideas and concepts are distant memories.
“The Japanese games industry has become like a frog in a well. It is very closed minded,” he said. “There is a conscience and desire to win missing. We, the Japanese, have forgotten all about that. Back in the day we grew used to winning. At some point these winners became losers, and not acknowledging or accepting that has lead to the tragic fate of Japanese games.”
He remarked that Japanese games feel dated these days. “It’s embarrassing, but it feels like Japanese games are just memories. It’s rare that we see anything new. They are now just great, great memories.”
“Perhaps the folks who are now running the show in the Japanese games industry are those who simply jumped on a bandwagon. The creations that measured up to global standards were crafted by our predecessors,” he continued. “There is something you must do to win. You must acknowledge your loss, and start over again. We are humans, and have our own pride, but we cannot win if we keep that pride up. We must believe ‘I will win.'”
Source: Develop
