Okamoto: Second 'Atari crash' possible for DS
by JC Fletcher 
{ May 2nd 2008 at 3:00PM }
Here, Okamoto is referring to the 1983 video game crash, brought about largely by a rush of third-party developers releasing junk games on the super-popular Atari 2600 system. He sees a parallel in the explosion of training titles being put together for Japan. Okamoto should recognize imitators when he sees them -- he is the creator of one of the most-imitated games of all time. We hope that the Japanese market can survive or even flourish from a glut of software, because we like the video game industry.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
schuyler @ May 2nd 2008 3:21PM
I don't see that happening because all the games being released by big companies are doing pretty well. all I can see happening is the little developers who don't make anything but bad games might go out of business... its not like Nintendo's making any E.T.s
Nigeria @ May 2nd 2008 3:27PM
While not seeing a catastrophic crash, I could definitely see a slowing of DS software sales. There's just too much crap in their market. Too many games ending with "training". Too much weak distractions which takes away attention from the real quality games. There's just too much.
As such, those gamers who may have been re/introduced to gaming through the DS may become disillusioned of sifting through the trough of sameness, causing them to, probably, move onto the newest thing. These gamers built the DS up and I'm sure they'd be able to cause a great software slowdown. Without that base, DS software sales of certain titles would plummet, and games/developers could disappear. The DS would be the poorer for it. Even if much of "it" is kinda crap.
Verythrax @ May 2nd 2008 4:09PM
It's bs. The real cause of Atari crash was the fact that flood of games were almost the SAME - the Atari had reached the peak of gaming possibilities with that hardware, that's why people got bothered and stop playing games.
Mad Martin Kinderhook @ May 2nd 2008 4:57PM
I assume that the gaming public is, on the whole, far-better informed when making a purchase than they were in 1983. The plethora of Japanese training games and "non-games" out there are selling due to interest and not ignorance, so the idea of a looming DS crash is fairly ridiculous.
hvnlysoldr @ May 2nd 2008 11:25PM
ET phone home! ET PHONE HOME!
Monodi @ May 3rd 2008 1:20AM
I don't think we are on that status, come on. Also as weird it my sound from me as a long time Nintendo supporter, I think we are lucky to have a hard competition as Microsoft and Sony these generations. Remember Atari was pretty much a monopoly in the gaming industry in the 80's, and since they were releasing lame games for it, the industry practically stopped in that era.
Everything we will get will be lower sales on the DS as it has been previously mentioned and he just can hope Ubisoft stops fucking releasing those gimmick games and gets back on making a good Rayman game that isnt just minigames. I am still waiting Razorbeard's reveenge.