Last week, Gears of War continued to rack up impressive sales numbers, to the figure of over 3 million copies sold in the short span of 10 weeks. But the Japanese market has classically been very resistant to shooters, tending to gravitate more towards RPGs and casual game titles
But with the release of Gears of War in Japan last week, and high ratings given by Japanese game magazine, Famitsu, Gears might be the first shooter to make it big in the Land of the Rising Sun. Early indications show that the title has sold out at electronics retail store chain, Sofmap, with the trend possibly looking to continue at other stores around Japan.
However, in addition to being a shooter, which is one of the least popular game genres in Japan, Gears of War is classified as a CERO-Z game (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization; category "Z"), which also places it in the same company as what are essentially X-rated adult games. Other titles making this dubious list are The Godfather and Dead Rising.
The resistance towards violent games in Japan and Europe makes the job of penetrating overseas markets very difficult for many American gaming staples, and it is doubtful that the game violence barrier can ever be fully broken down. But Gears of War may be the first step in cracking open the Japanese game market with its high production values and intense–albeit violent–action.
