Japan, MMOs?

[hanzou]

So, I am currently living in Japan, studying the language or something, and I have been dying to play an MMO.  But I really should be playing one in the Japanese language.  The problem is that the Japanese play awful MMOs.  Mainly the games they play are free with cashshops, and all look like bad Lineage 2 clones (as if Lineage 2 was good). 

However, I know LOTRO and EQ2 have some sort of Japanese support.  Does anyone know if the Japanese versions of these games have a population worth interacting with?  Are there other games I am overlooking? 

[Venkman]

WoW

[hanzou]

As, far as I know, you are incorrect.  But if you are correct, that'd be choice.  Link me?

[Venkman]

Hey, what happened to the ? mark I put after "WoW"?!

Anyhoo, WoW has not been localized in Japanese, but it is played often in Japan (in English). If you wanted native MMOs though (which you probably did thinking back), you could try Guild Wars and Granado Espada.

[Hoax]

I remember there was a Digital Devil Saga MMO that looked really fucking sweet.  I thought Japan had some decent Japanese AAA titles that did nifty stuff that I wished I could play?  While Korea/China are 100% cash shop internet cafe MMO-lite grindfests.

[Calantus]

So, I am currently living in Japan, studying the language or something, and I have been dying to play an MMO.  But I really should be playing one in the Japanese language.  The problem is that the Japanese play awful MMOs.  Mainly the games they play are free with cashshops, and all look like bad Lineage 2 clones (as if Lineage 2 was good). 

However, I know LOTRO and EQ2 have some sort of Japanese support.  Does anyone know if the Japanese versions of these games have a population worth interacting with?  Are there other games I am overlooking? 

UO has japanese servers with japanese characters enabled. I've never played on one of those servers though so I'm not sure how often they actually speak japanese in them.

[Surlyboi]

I'm pretty sure EQ2 is also localized. Though, if the crowd's anything like the EQ1 crowd, a lot of them play on english servers and just type in romaji. (Which is weird) FWIW, I started playing EQ when I was in Japan back in '99

[LK]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Final Fantasy XI.

[Dren]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Final Fantasy XI.

That's the first one that came to my mind.  Tons of Japanese played that when I played.  They alll spoke in Japenese, but would converse somewhat with English speakers using that ingame translation tool.  It was....interesting.

[Surlyboi]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Final Fantasy XI.

That's because it's not worth mentioning... 

[LK]

Zing? But I bet Japanese people have a better time with FFXI due to a different culture.  Maybe they are more about group play than solo play.

[schild]

Hoax was referring to Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine.



Play that.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-QXnwhEt1s

For some reason, I can't find the Cave page for it. Whatever, you can, the weaboo is strong here.

[schild]

Japan also has:

Nobunaga's Ambition Online
Dynasty Warriors Online

Really, any major game you can think of, has an online counterpart. We're talking old classics too. Unless you like Nintendo. In which case you're fucked until they realize Pokemon Online would be bigger than WoW.

[Hoax]

Yeah yeah, I heard Dynasty Warriors Online was hot shit.  Don't they have a Monster Hunter Online too that looked badass?  I remember being very very jealous of some gameplay videos I watched of AAA Japan-only titles.  I now expect at least one review of a Japan-only MMO from you hanzou, don't let me down.  You wouldn't like me when I'm dissapointed.

[Surlyboi]

Hoax was referring to Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine.

You can play Hunter S. Thompson and run around with chocobos, pokemons and Japanese school girls. That's got win written all over it. 

[WindupAtheist]

You can play Hunter S. Thompson and run around with chocobos, pokemons and Japanese school girls. That's got win written all over it. 

It's Schild Online.

[tmp]

It's Schild Online.

There's some gameplay movies from that on youtube. Seems to be click to move and generally dreadful.

But maybe the images of Moonwalker's Michael Jackson running around in that trailer with train of mobs twitching beside him scarred me in advance

[hanzou]

I thought Japan had some decent Japanese AAA titles that did nifty stuff that I wished I could play?  While Korea/China are 100% cash shop internet cafe MMO-lite grindfests.

Well actually, most Japanese titles are just localized Korean games, and that has majorly influenced the game designers here.  In fact, that Shin Megami Tensei game is a cash shop game  .  Speaking of which, my J-friends seem to think the game is bad.  They all play Rohan Online *quiver*.  Looks like I am going to wind up playing Rohan or trying to play some Japanese EQ2 and face wrath of hoax. 

Anyway I will totally review a Japan only title when they make one that appeals to me, or when I go native.     

[Hoax]

Dude you should really play some Gem Fighter, that game is hot shit.  Also Lunia if you are desperate as fuck, the clicky combat is fun for a bit.  Can you play Maborangi or whatever its called already?  Its got like in-game music playing and other really Koster-esque virtual world shit.  I'm not even sure what you can do beyond shearing sheep, playing RL songs and getting married in-game.  Seems like a great thing to write about.

[Moaner]

I've wanted to play that SMT MMO for a bit now, even if it does stink.  I'm a sucker for anything SMT.

Dynasty Warriors online?  Nobunaga's Ambition Online?  I'd try both of those.  I wish we got more love from Koei.