Japanese development companies should embrace Project Natal in order to stay ahead of the game, says Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg.
In an interview with destructoid.com, Greenberg reiterated the notion that “Japan is a very important market for the gaming industry and home to some of the video game industry’s leading innovators” but said that, rather than trying to emulate the success of games such as “Halo” or the “Call of Duty” franchise, they would be better off spending their time trying to innovate with Microsoft’s much anticipated motion – and emotion – sensor.
“I have spent a lot of time in Japan in the ten years I have been on the Xbox business and I love the country, the people and their ability to create new experiences that could only come from Japan,” Greenberg says, while admitting however that “The reality of the Japanese gaming market is that it is not the size it once was and at the same time we have seen gaming become the largest form of entertainment around the world. However… I think there are ways to leverage their creativity with new tools like Project Natal.”
Greenberg rejects the notion that Japan is “over” in gaming, as Keiji Inafune of Capcom memorably declared at the Tokyo Game Show last year. “All of the leading Japanese publishers have announced they are actively working on games for Project Natal and I can’t wait to see these come to life,” he says. “I truly believe the future is bright for Japanese creators and publishers.”
