Ever since the first ever Mario game was released, Japan has been the center of the video gaming world. Heck, two of this gen's consoles are based in Japan, and both major handheld platforms.

However, Ryan Payton, (former) Assistant Producer at Kojima productions, believes that times have changed, and Japan no longer seems to be the center of video game development.

According to Payton, "it's not about the tech in Japan, it's about the games, it's about nostalgia." Considering all the Mario variants there are out there, I'd say that's fairly accurate. He says that:

The Japanese public seems to be disinterested in next-gen and high definition gaming. There is a stigma still attached to western technology there.

[...] It's apparent, everyone knows it in Japan. The developers here feel the pressure. They're starting to develop more with the West in mind and the tech is in the west now.

He goes on to say that he sees Square Enix's move to integrate Tecmo into its folds as "heartening," and perhaps a sign that they are trying to return to their "golden age."

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