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Poll shows Japanese online gaming habits

  • By Walt Wyman, GameSpot
  • Posted Jun 20, 2006 11:55 am PT

More than one in three surveyed say they've tried playing online, but few are willing to pay for the experience.

Japan's largest online survey provider, Goo Research, today released the results of its Third Broadband Content Usage Survey. The survey was conducted in collaboration with Mitsubishi Research Institute and NTT Resonant Inc., and polled individuals regarding their online gaming habits.

Of the more than 40,000 responses factored into the results, 37.9 percent said they had tried online games, with each player participating in two games on average. Furthermore, 23.7 percent said they played every day, while over half played once a week or more. Dormant users, who once played but haven't done so recently, accounted for 23.3 percent of respondents.

As for means of access, 35.2 percent said they played online using a personal computer, 13.7 percent through a cellular phone, 8.6 percent on a game console, and 6.7 percent with a portable gaming device, such as a PSP.

Table and card games were the most popular genre of participants, being enjoyed by 41.6 percent of participants. Role-playing games were the next most popular at 36.4 percent, while puzzle games were close behind with 33.6 percent. When asked what genres they wanted to try next, 29.1 percent replied they wanted to check out online training/parenting simulations.

However, Japanese gamers proved pretty tightfisted when it came to shelling out for game fees and extra items. Nearly 70 percent of respondents stated they used games that were completely free. Only 17.7 percent played games that had a monthly subscription fee, and a mere 8.0 percent were willing to play games that charged them to purchase items. Furthermore, of those who play this last type of game, 17.4 percent said they never actually purchased items, choosing to make do with whatever was available in the game for no fees.

While cheating, game exploits, and real-money trading have hurt a number of online games, few respondents admitted to taking part in such dealings. Of those surveyed, only a few indicated they had participated in real-money trading, reverse engineering of game programs, data modification, or other such mischief. Less then 10 percent of the survey group expressed any interest in attempting such illicit procedures in the future, leading the survey's authors to conclude that potential troublemakers will be limited to a small subset of the total users.

As for the potential for growth in this market, almost half the respondents who hadn't tried online games said this was because they had no interest in games in general. Of the remainder, 32.5 percent stated that paying the fees was a hassle, while 27 percent simply didn't know that much about them. Furthermore, those who responded said they had little interest in trying online gaming in the future, 30 percent indicated they would try them if the security conditions were right.

73 Comments

  • soulknight63133

    Posted Jun 22, 2006 3:01 am GMT

    UltraWoody- lol..yeah, I get my butt handed to me in GRAW ALOT. I'm sorry I misinterpret what you were saying. I love single player games for that same fact. I haven't seen an online game that delivers the in-depth combat or great graphics seen in titles like Ninja Gaiden, God of War, Prince of Persia, or Oblivion. I believe it's just too much data for any server to handle. Single player titles are going to around for a long time. But to those who don't understand monthly fees, think of it this way. You pay $60 for the title Oblivion and you can play it with no online content what's so ever. It's easily the best game for that price considering the amount of hours it's yields to the gamer. However, when utilizing a "service" that requires more work such as updating new content, maitenance of running a server this is NOT included in the price of the original purchased title. Are you expecting for the people who make this happen to do it for free? I wouldn't. Online service is completely seperate entity and requires alot of effort and money to keep running. Just like cable, satelite,..etc, regardless if you use the "pay per view" feature or not you're still gonna have a monthly bill for the service. Or just rent the DVD.( service not included} P.S. For people who are tired of rude and obnoxious player online, I feel your pain. I try to just play with friends I know in real life and the few I met online in "private rooms" only.

  • UltraWoody

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 9:30 pm GMT

    To SoulKnight:

    I'm glad you disagree. It's nice to see thinkers in here. I never said online games were a terrible idea and that no one enjoyed them. I'm merely suggesting that top-quality games are found through 1-player games, like Zelda or Metroid.

    There DO exist some online games that are fun enough and I'll be the first person to say that it is fun to play with your friends; but I'm also willing to bet it's more of the 'community' feeling that people enjoy rather than the gaming by itself. And together it's good....unless you have to pay for it, that is.

    Think of it this way... for every one online game that is fairly enjoyable for a large group, there's probably exists about ten 1-player games that arrive as well. Are they all good? Of course not, but the numbers prove that they're overall more successful. Unless you're biased and will only play online games, which is fine if that's what you want.

    I myself used to play via XBox Live (Capcom vs SNK 2 EO) all the time. But when my butt was beat or I'd get tired of playing, my good ol' 1-player games like RE4, CoD, God of War or even Splinter Cell were there. Maybe it is just a matter of preference, but like I said before, the numbers speak for themselves.

    - UW


  • daqua_99

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 1:15 pm GMT

    Really, that reflects my view. i pay $100 for my game, why should I then pay $10 a month for it to play?!? Put advertising in or something.

  • faridmon

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 9:42 am GMT

    japan is really smart, just dont scream like little child if they arn't that stupid like the american. just FPS and FPS.
    thank god we have Nintendo and Atlus

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 9:23 am GMT

    Interesting results. I wasn't expecting results like this, but glad they took the time to research likes and dislikes nonetheless.

  • GKBeetle

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 7:13 am GMT

    Wow, I'm nothing like Japanese players. All I play is Magic Online, which has no monthly cost, but makes you pay for new cards, if you want them. Then again, I haven't paid for new cards in about 9 months. I think I would get along great with Japanese gamers, as I seem to like the types of games that come over from Japan, and I don't really get into the FPSs so much. I can't stand online FPS games because there are just too many idiots online. Every time I get on one of those games, it makes me depressed because I see how the world is filled with bunch of idiots. Why does everyone act like an ass when they are online?

  • Joelias

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 4:17 am GMT

    All I No is that PlayOnline/Square-Enix Need More MMORPGS For XBox I Play FFXI On The PS2 & XBox360 But In Japan got like For MMO FFXI

  • soulknight63133

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 3:38 am GMT

    I disagree UltraWoody, I thinks it's pretty cool to play with friends who either live out of town or can't come over to your house because of everyday life responsibilities. Online gaming is a nice convenience that's inexpensive feature to have { for me anyways}. Alot of people complain about the monthly fees (or annual} and blow 2 to 3 times that much in one weekend just on "fun" alone. So it's not that it's expensive, it's a choice on what entertainment they want to put there money on. And believe me alot of people spend more than $15 or $4 ( $50 annually) for XLive a month on enterntainment.

  • mhder

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 3:12 am GMT

    gamestar412
    No matter what they won't accept an mmo like WoW because they hate any N. American product that challenges their dominance i.e. WoW vs FF Online

    American products don't appeal to Japanese. It has nothing to do with not liking american products. There are plenty of American products that do fine in Japan. It's always an easy (or shall I say American) excuse to say, "they're just anti-american." Try making something that suits the market, don't try to shove things people don't like down their throat. Japanese PC prices and internet costs are still high. Internet gaming still has a long ways to go, especially when the home PC is - the home PC - for everyone to use. In North America, most homes will have multiple PC, usually with the game player of the house owning his own. Things are different in different places. Japan likes it's unique games/dating sims/rpgs .. and judging by this month's EGM, every second game previewed for PS2/3+Xbox/360 is some kind of shooter. So blindly following tends to happen everywhere it seems, just with different genres/games.

  • gamestar412

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 1:45 am GMT

    The general Japanese gaming populace blindly follow traditional franchises without fail, particularly FF and DW. Very few North American products are able to put a dent in the Japanese market with the exception of Apple. No matter what they won't accept an mmo like WoW because they hate any N. American product that challenges their dominance i.e. WoW vs FF Online

  • Sweendrix

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 1:08 am GMT

    Halo Music! Has anyone heard the Rock n' Roll version of the Halo Theme? I've never heard anything like it...it's awesome. If anyone knows the band that did it...please let me know...I downloaded the song and it plays on windows media player as "unknown artist"

  • jjyunaff

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 12:57 am GMT

    It's an interesting topic, but being in Japan for over 13 years,
    I think its been very obvious to me that people here just
    don't get into the online gming systems. Final Fantasy XI
    was probably the only online game that really picked up
    in Japan, only beacuse it has been a part of the culture itself.
    Maybe Japan will change throughout time, it will be pretty
    interesting to watch...

  • neerajkumar_4

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 12:42 am GMT

    i play CS online n Gunz The duel

  • alexgangur

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 12:18 am GMT

    drangel_jam:
    You want to see the Japanese gamers playing online games like the westerners? Publish World of Warcraft or WoW4, under the Final Fantasy brand. Oh, and tell that Square Enix, or some kind of Japanese developer actually took charge of the game. Don't tell them it's a Blizzard's masterpiece. Then you will see them playing great Japanese online games. Since right now, it's almost safe to say that they are none. FFXI feelsmore like work and it's too old.
    Well, you knowm its kinda funny then that the japanese never really got into FFO. When will you people get it through your heads that the japanese DO NOT avoid western products at every possible opportunity? Perhaps they really just do not like online games in general, as many other people have already suggested in the comments. I mean, look at the iPod selling like crazy over there.

  • ghostadv

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 11:26 pm GMT

    I agree with those in japan, I don't like having to pay online fees, which is probably why the only online game I got into was Diablo 2

  • Paulf001

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 10:42 pm GMT

    The only Japanese MMORPG is really FFXI they don't play much of any other game online that requires a monthly fee.

  • rootATdarkstar

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 10:39 pm GMT

    It is not the fault of the Japanese that they are superior to Americans. Deal with it.

  • javolk036

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:49 pm GMT

    I totally agree with you UltraWoody. People who are saying rude comments about Japanese culture should show some respect......you wouldn't like someone talking about your culture, wouldn't you?............so instead of criticizing, people should learn from them......being polite and respectful.
    BTW, if you think about it really carefully, is ridiculous to pay for playing online, so Japanese don't make their lives more complicated and just play free online games and that's it.

  • UltraWoody

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:23 pm GMT

    People, listen...

    You really need to think before you speak. Japan gave us NES, SNES, N64, DS, DS Lite, Playstation, PS2, PSP, and soon PS3. Most of you have enjoyed at LEAST one of these systems and have loved some of the games. The majority of games that people in the United States love are from JAPAN. Insulting a culture that delivers so much entertainment your way is ridiculous and childish, to say the least. Not to mention disrespectful.

    And on a personal note, I believe that if you have to pay a fee to play an online game that you've already paid for spells disaster. XBox Live will only be successful for so long - then it'll die out (like X-Band did). Online gaming should be FREE. Sony will eventually kill Microsoft in this area because most of their services (depending on what 3rd party developers do of course) are free of charge. I'm not a fanboy of Sony or Microsoft, but because of the greed that Microsoft displays, I hope Sony/Nintendo end up surviving.

    Any true gamer knows that the best games are one-player games. NOT online games, which most are garbage by the way. Examples? How about God of War? How about Resident Evil 4? Need I go on? You guys need to think before you speak. Otherwise you're just proving to the world how ignorant, greedy, and selfish Americans really are. Show some respect, PLEASE!

  • DS_fan_atic

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:45 pm GMT

    Ok wait, do people want to pay extra money to play video games now?

    Free online play makes sense to me

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:59 pm GMT

    exactly who wants to pay for a game after you already bought the game

  • Legendaryscmt

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:42 pm GMT

    They are crazy, but, we are Americans, so the world likes them more, lol.

  • letusgame

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:30 pm GMT

    that was pretty expected...

  • nintendorocks

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 6:49 pm GMT

    And you people that are saying that Japanesse people are 'crazy' are the most ignorant and idiotic people I have ever seen. Gaming in Japan is a lot different than the U.S. This is their way of life and this is your way of life. If you can't handle then that is pretty sad.

  • nintendorocks

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 6:45 pm GMT

    Online games are not very popular in Japan to say the least. Japanesse gamers like to sit down with a good simple game that they can have fun with. They arn't interested in making Molten Core raid time or figuring out DKP or upgrading their gear. And Japan does not like to pay a lot for their video games. In Japan, video games are a way of life. They do not want money to get in the way of their gaming.

  • rynmls

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 6:31 pm GMT

    why should gamers pay for their subscription monthly while playing if there is a game that is absolutely free...

  • thekey

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 6:31 pm GMT

    I'm willing to pay if its only one fee a year and the features are unlimited.

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 5:57 pm GMT

    i'm afraid i come closer to agreeing with asia_hills. most of the posts here are little more than thinly veiled anti-asian slurs. japanese games are usually the best. online cheating is mostly a bad thing for the gaming community and bad fps and tps (third-person shooters) are everywhere. and i wont pay for online extras either.

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 5:56 pm GMT

    Well that is pretty revealing about Japanese gaming right there. Freebies all the way!

  • Triplekill

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 5:35 pm GMT

    Osuwari!

  • crazyballer08

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 5:33 pm GMT

    ^tinted. you don't need the updates. also as you said its a 100+ hour game, so you don't NEED the updates. All you NEED is a bit of self control to not buy them. Also the horse aromr is for looks and to protect that horse you just paid for in-game,and if three dollars really bothers you that much you need a job.

    P.S i just wanted to say that while free online is a big plus in japan, the price tag and the fact that the majority likes card games and computers will probably hurt alot.

    P.S.S this is probably why the wii will rock japan.

  • rbarahona

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 5:31 pm GMT

    I Interesting results; In Japan there are a lot of on line game and there are popping more and more every month. However I think that Japanese gamers are more willing to spend more time in front of their home consoles or they mobile phones; instead Korean and Chinese gamers are more willing to spend more and more money in on line games.

  • asia_hills

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 5:31 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • TintedChimes

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 5:24 pm GMT

    I know I don't need the updates, I feel that the price should be indicative of the quality and quantity in which the original game cost. Though, I doubt that'll happen but one can dream.

  • TintedChimes

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 5:17 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • Zeraquor

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 5:07 pm GMT

    Tinted, you do NOT need the updates...

  • TintedChimes

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 4:53 pm GMT

    I don't want to pay for on-line games and "armor" as well. Give us real updates like Yuri's Revenge or Brood Wars. Just stop it with the micro-transactions for lame levels, that just turns me off. I was about to buy Oblivion after borrowing it from my friend for three days (he was out of town) until I heard about all of the charges with horse armors and additional levels. I mean, ITS A +100 HOUR GAME FOR CHRIST SAKE! So I'm suppose to pay 60 dollars for a +100 hour game and now you want me to pay around $3 dollars for a 1 hour level? Please, don't even get me started on the freaking armor, now if the horse had weapons where it shoot jello or something, yeah, $3 fine. WHERE'S THE LOGIC, I just want to smack the executives with dead smurfs and snorkels on the outrageous price tages. If you're going to charge money, at least make it worth it and interesting.

    Ooohh...how about a flying monkey that shoots watermelons for Oblivion! We know the game can sure generate watermelons. Now, that I'll buy for $3.

  • irunongames

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 4:42 pm GMT

    27 percent simply didn't know that much about them.

    *mouth drops open*

  • mhder

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 4:31 pm GMT

    To call them strange for having different tastes is rude. The fact is most people there don't have 1+ computers connected to the internet. It's a space, time, and money factor. And many Japanese don't use credit cards as well. If you've seen their cell phones, you'll notice that their TV, internet ~multimedia functions are years ahead of the North American ones.

  • Fralaf

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 4:14 pm GMT

    Once again I find myself having much more in common with the average Japanese player than with the North American gamer. Though I agree with DreamworkS12, we'd probably be surprised to find similarities if we were to poll players in the US... although I imagine first-person shooters would probably figure prominently.

  • thepeter

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 4:09 pm GMT

    i hear they play subsistence well

  • smollett13

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 4:05 pm GMT

    I tried playing with a few of the japanese on XBL. They were generally nice and if they called me a name, I couldn't understand it. lol.
    I agree though with the politeness thing. We gotta do something here in the US to teach some common social skills to the poor folks who don't have any. I suppose if you aren't face to face with someone, it's easy to let your pour parlers go to the dogs.
    Cap'n Smollett

  • Cartman86

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 3:56 pm GMT

    The fact is the japanese do have strange taste in certain cases. But so americans etc. I'm not going to list the games that I think are crap that we like, because I will just get flamed too hell

  • WolfSkill5544

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 3:52 pm GMT

    Japan is not ready for online gaming. If the companies really want to sell their online games. they should try China. That's where the money is.

  • Thakingk05

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 3:44 pm GMT

    i guess there going to be glad the ps3 is playable online for free! great job sony!

  • DreamworkS12

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 3:44 pm GMT

    Those percentiles would be echoed here in the states I bet, do some research. So much for Live eh, M$?

  • veracity024

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 3:32 pm GMT

    so who cares. if they wont pay, dont give them games.

  • ubj007

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 2:57 pm GMT

    Interesting

  • mikepanayi

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 2:34 pm GMT

    for all you people who say the japanese are crazy, think again. they brought us the playstation and the NES.

  • keinuveye

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 2:28 pm GMT

    Oh yes, all Japanese people are clearly insane. Let;s not care about anyone else besides us because we will blow everyone up and be the future anywayz. end sarcasm

    I would not pay a fee for anything other than Blizzard. but that should come down.

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