Kotaku: Why Monster Hunter is popular in Japan (and struggles everywhere else)

[Deleted_171835]

Due to the nature of the game's multi-player system, particularly with the PSP and 3DS, when playing with others, you will almost invariably be playing with someone you know—more often than not, a friend. Most people seem to get their introduction to the game from the people around them. "My boss talked me into playing [Monster Hunter 3rd]" says Ryouhei, a 24 year-old clerk who would spend hours after work huddled together with his co-workers. "It's fun to work together with friends towards a mutual goal."

Part of why the game is more popular in Japan probably has once again to do with the sociological aspects of the game's multi-player. In Japan, playing multi-player Monster Hunter is a form of social interaction. You're not playing to get better equipment, you're playing to have fun and to socialize with the people you're playing with.

Like it or not, gaming is still largely viewed as a solitary pastime with interactions between people only occurring over the internet (You won't find groups of friends sitting around a table in a restaurant or fast food joint playing hand-held video games together in many other countries outside of Japan). This, and the fact that most of the Monster Hunter games for hand-held consoles released outside of Japan have been for the PSP, a console that gets half of its sales numbers from Japan alone, is a formula for trouble.

http://kotaku.com/5980436/why-monster-hunter-is-so-popular-in-japan-and-struggles-everywhere-else

In addition to the fact that the game lends well to local play, I would argue that a large part of it has to do with the lack of proper online functionality and the steep learning curve. The lack of voice-chat and other online social features really kills the appeal of Monster Hunter in the West. Even worse is that when most people try Monster Hunter in single-player, the lack of a proper tutorial (Tri somewhat fixed this) and the steep learning curve really turns players off. Hopefully Capcom can fix some of these issues with the release of 3 Ultimate and hopefully 4 in the West.

 

[Alexrose]

I'd say it's more a cultural thing. People don't wander round the streets with their handheld game consoles out, and there's a lot of social stigma attached to gaming as both predominantly masculine and childish.

 

[gamefan5]

I'd say it's more a cultural thing. People don't wander round the streets with their handheld game consoles out, and there's a lot of social stigma attached to gaming as both predominantly masculine and childish.

Trust me, They do in japan. Which is why Monster hunter and Pokémon are huuuuuge success.

 

[Alexrose]

Trust me, They do in japan. Which is why Monster hunter and Pokémon are huuuuuge success.

Yes, and that's what I just said. I was talking about the difference between the West and Japan.

 

[gamefan5]

Yes, and that's what I just said. I was talking about the difference between the West and Japan.

Oh than yeah. C'MON AMERICA! STOP BEING LAZY AND GO PLAY OUTSIDE!!!...

WITH YOUR 3DSes!!!!

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Because it's fucking terrible and Japan has the worst taste in everything.

 

[gamefan5]

Because it's fucking terrible and Japan has the worst taste in everything.

See, this is why a great number of GBAtempers (not me though) hates your guts. XD

 

[Arras]

Because it's fucking terrible and Japan has the worst taste in everything.

I wonder if a Guild post with a smiley generates less butthurt than one without one. I suppose we'll find out soon.

 

[Hyro-Sama]

See, this is why a great number of GBAtempers (not me though) hates your guts. XD

I'm pretty sure Guild has made it quite clear he doesn't a give a fuck.

 

[gamefan5]

I'm pretty sure Guild has made it quite clear he doesn't a give a fuck.

oh yeah, true.

 

[Hells Malice]

Guys don't feed the Guild.

Guild was half-ish right at at least. It doesn't do that well over here because the games are shit and have god awful, archaic controls. Among many other things, like them being far too easy.

 

[Deleted member 318366]

Cuz japanese fans will play anything.

 

[Maxternal]

Supposedly Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate being a Wii U release will have Miiverse (presumably on the 3DS as well) and the ability to connect Wii U to 3DS. I wonder how the online multiplayer will work with this. If you could put up "want to multiplay" messages up in Miiverse, that would be awesome.

 

[PolloDiablo]

... for the PSP, a console that gets half of its sales numbers from Japan alone

Because it's fucking terrible and Japan has the worst taste in everything.

now I get it

 

[Deleted-236924]

I had an UMD of Monster Hunter Freedom lying around, decided to give it a try.
2/10.

 

[the_randomizer]

Because it's fucking terrible and Japan has the worst taste in everything.

Bad taste? Surely, you don't mean Ultraman! Who wouldn't want a superhero in tights that shoots lasers from his hands?

 

[LockeCole_101629]

Japan taste is always weird in their own kind of way
They even trading used underwear... in public

 

[Terenigma]

Its because its been embedded in every japanese gamers head that they must fight monsters that are the size of godzilla

 

[Deleted_171835]

Among many other things, like them being far too easy.

What?

I've heard a lot of complaints levied against Monster Hunter but being "too easy" is certainly not one of them.