世論 What Japan Thinks

I’ve not been to an arcade myself for ages, nor have I really had the time (or quite frankly, the inclination) to play any games recently. To see what the Japanese are doing, MyVoice took their second look at game usage, although I’m not sure when the first look took place!

Demographics

Over the first five days of May 2008 14,373 members of the MyVoice internet community successfully completed a private on-line questionnaire. 54% of the sample were female, 2% in their teens, 15% in their twenties, 37% in their thirties, 29% in their forties, and 17% in their fifties.

The last two times we were in arcades (or game centres, as they are known in Japan), we spent all our cash on the UFO Catchers with nothing to show. That falls under the category of “prize games” in Q6, and before I next go I’ll be sure to study this video on how to win at them!

Research results

Q1: About how often do you play on games machines at home, excluding computers, mobile phones games? (Sample size=14,373)

Almost every day	8.1%
Twice or thrice a week	10.5%
Once a week	11.6%
Once a month	11.5%
Few times a year	17.5%
Don’t play on games machines	40.9%

Q2: What games machines are currently in use at home, excluding computers, mobile phones games? (Sample size=14,373, multiple answer)

Nintendo DS	43.9%
PlayStation 2	39.6%
Wii	19.8%
PlayStation Portable	12.4%
Gameboy	12.3%
PlayStation	11.1%
Famicon, Super Famicon	9.5%
Nintendo GameCube	6.7%
Nintendo 64	6.3%
PlayStation 3	5.0%
Sega Saturn	2.6%
DreamCast	2.1%
XBox 360	1.3%
XBox	0.7%
Other	2.3%
Don’t currently use one	6.1%
Don’t have any	22.2%
No answer	1.4%

Q3: About how often do you visit game centres? (Sample size=14,373)

Almost every day	0.4%
Twice or thrice a week	0.9%
Once a week	3.0%
Once a month	10.1%
Few times a year	29.9%
Don’t visit game centres	55.8%

Q4: Compared with a year ago, how has your usage of game centres changed? (Sample size=14,373)

Increased a lot	0.8%
Increased a little	3.7%
Not changed	13.4%
Decreased a little (to SQ)	7.6%
Decreased a lot (to SQ)	12.8%
Not visited an arcade this year (to SQ)	3.5%
Not visited an arcade last year	11.5%
Not been to arcades at all	46.4%

Q4SQ: Why do you use game centres less, or stopped going at all? (Sample size=game centre usage decreased people, multiple answer)

Don’t have time to go	25.6%
Costs too much to play	19.1%
Lifestyle has chaqnged	19.0%
No fun games	18.9%
Don’t have the money to go	15.4%
Dislike tobacco smells	12.0%
Been playing on games machine at home	11.3%
No games of my favourite types	10.5%
No arcades around me	10.5%
Children weren’t interested	9.2%
Been playing computer games	8.8%
No stuff I want to win on prize machines	8.3%
Got a new hobby, friends	8.3%
Gaming boom is over	5.5%
Don’t like the atmosphere in arcades	5.3%
Can play arcade games at home now	3.6%
Play games on mobile phone instead	3.4%
Game centre removed the games I played	3.4%
Can play physical games at home now	2.9%
Game centre became non-smoking	1.0%
Other	9.6%
No answer	0.3%

Q5: What genres of game do you play on your home games machines? (Sample size=games machine owners from Q2, multiple answer)

Role-playing game	44.3%
Puzzle	32.7%
Action	25.1%
Simulation	24.9%
Sports	24.7%
Study-related game	23.6%
Race	19.9%
Adventure game	15.6%
Table-top game	13.0%
Physical game	12.0%
Shooting game	11.8%
Action war game	11.0%
Quiz	10.3%
Music game	7.8%
Mah Jongg	7.0%
Pachinko, Pachi-slot	4.8%
Card game	4.8%
Gun shooting game	4.1%
Chess, shogi	3.1%
Typing game	1.7%
Other	7.3%
No answer	3.0%

Q6: What genres of game do you play at game centres? (Sample size=game centre users from Q3, multiple answer)

Medal (coin) drop	32.7%
Prize game	24.8%
Race game	20.3%
Music game	11.8%
Physical game	11.6%
Pachinko, pachi-slot	11.2%
Photo seal-related	10.8%
Gun shooting game	9.8%
Slot machine	9.8%
Shooting game	9.4%
Horse racing	9.3%
Bingo	8.6%
Action game	7.8%
Action war game	7.6%
Sports	7.0%
Quiz	6.8%
Puzzle	6.0%
Prize card game (poker, etc)	5.4%
Mah Jongg	5.4%
Card game	4.4%
Learning-related game	2.2%
Chess, shogi	0.7%
Other	9.8%
No answer	8.8%