It's okay for a grown man to play Japanese video games

"I used to hide the fact that I played cartoony Japanese RPGs, but then I realized: it's okay."

[NukaCola]

Never thought it wasn't ok.

[Orange]

And if that Japanese video game is Dark Souls, it's okay for a grown man to cry.

[gamingdroid]

Well video games although made cool by Nintendo, still has a stigma. Japanese video games have an bigger stigma attached to it, due to the cultural differences between Japan and the West.

Let's face it, as an Asian, I still don't understand these things even when I'm very familiar with the manga/anime scene.

So is it ok? Sure, but maybe not with the general public.

[Keith Olbermann]

Just dont let your wife or girlfriend see you doing it. :)

[SaiyanFury]

Bah I've been playing JRPGs since the mid-90s, and I don't plan to stop anytime soon. My wife and I just had our first daughter, and I'm going to encourage her to get into them once she gets old enough. The author was right about western games. So many characters are huge, musclebound, steroid-injected men (think Gears of War) or oversexed women. I like the fantastical settings in Japanese RPGs, and I'll be playing them until I'm dead, I'm sure. :P

[Kurisu]

Eternal Sonata! How I wish I didn't trade you in :(

[rebirthofcaos]

lol

[CaptainMarvelQ8]

I think the writer is questioning himself,no one said it wasn't ok.

[jc48573]

jrpg has always been one of those in between type of genres, while Western games are straightforward. You look at Gears for a example, you know the game is designed for adults. Heck, there were times when I found Pokemon games to be quite intimidating.

Edit: I'm pretty sure any of us in the past has questioned ourselves about what is or isn't ok to play. You simply forgot or you're on denial. It's like the time when I questioned myself if it was ok to play Silent Hill even though I was already old enough to play the game or was I? In the end, any player can learn a lot from an rpg especially if you're trying to take a time off from reality.

[FlashXIII]

I picked up a copy of atelier rorona the other day, wasn't my proudest moment taking it to the counter when the woman serving was really hot.

I don't think it's wrong though.. my friends would tease me if they saw it but I'm used to that.

[MWH]

Eternal Sonata one of the most beautiful games i have ever played and if it wasn't for the bad bad ending it could've been something a bit memorable story wise.

[gillri]

Japanese games were king back in the 80's and early 90's

not so much now, I still play them though not as much as during the SNES era

Dark Souls, Bayonetta, Vanquish, Zelda,

[dcortz2027]

No, it's not. Don't even call yourself a man if you watch anime, read mangas, or play cartoony japanese video games.

[Sidology]

Says the guy with the Resistance 3 avatar.

[Lavalamp]

Lol at the insecure dudebro.

[ShaunCameron]

And you wonder why video games get no respect.

[ronin4life]

...are you being sarcastic?

[Tuxedo_Mask]

I'm a man, and I watch anime, read manga, and play cartoony Japanese video games.

[NovusTerminus]

I watch Anime, read Manga, and play JRPG's / Japanese games all the time.

I don't care what people 'accept', I just do what I enjoy. If someone hates me for it, fuck em! I am having fun so that's all that matters to me.

And plus I hate talking to people, so if I can run them off faster, all the better.

[GillHarrison]

Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. If you like them, play them.

[ronin4life]

Yep.

[ronin4life]

I read the first paragraph and stopped.
It sounded like he was bashing jrpgs, and wasn't helping his argument by rehashing all the false stereotypes of the genre right from the get go.

Edit- I also personally believe that there are more Japanese games that are truly "mature" than there are Western games.

[narutogameking]

Of course its ok unless you're racist.

[L6RD7BLU3]

Some people say that grown men shouldn't play video games at all. So when I turn about 30-40 and I still enjoy my games you know what I'm going to say STFU AND GTFO so there if you enjoy what you do everyone's opinion means shi*