Japanese Role Playing Games: A Different Spin

Yarukizero has just posted about the differences between Western and Japanese gaming cultures.  It’s extremely fascinating as it highlights exactly what I dislike about modern trends in gaming here in the States.  He makes a very long and detailed post, but here is a summary for those that are in a hurry:

** Quick character generation is often done with the concepts in simple “broad strokes” and lots of powers.  It’s fast and colorful.

** Role Playing Game books are targeted at people that have never played and that don’t necessarily know other gamers.

** Transcripts of games show how the game is supposed to flow.

** Pictures of actual game sessions give an even clearer conception of how these things work.

** Most games are targeted as being single shot scenarios covering a wide variety of settings and characters.  “Campaign play” rates a sidebar and is not the default.

** Much of the text in the game book is dedicated to making the overall intended flow of the game crystal clear.

It’s almost enough to make me want to learn Japanese.  I want these games!