Watch Gamers Heart Japan

Gamers Heart Japan is a 10-episode travel and gaming show that premiered in 2011, produced by ElecPlay and hosted by Victor Lucas, the founder of the video game review website, Electric Playground. The show follows a group of gamers and game developers on a journey to explore and learn about the video game culture and industry in Japan.

The team includes Peter Molyneux, a renowned game designer and former head of Lionhead Studios, Newton Grant, a writer and producer, and Andre Vu, a game developer and co-founder of Two Fish Games. The show is shot in documentary style, with the hosts exploring various parts of the country while also visiting game studios and attending gaming conventions.

The main focus of the show is on Japanese gaming culture, and the hosts provide insights into the way video games are developed and played in Japan. They visit a number of famous game studios, including Nintendo and Square Enix, where they interview game designers and developers about their work processes and inspirations. They also attend Tokyo Game Show, one of the largest gaming conventions in the world, and interview players and developers who attend the convention.

The hosts also explore the wider cultural influences on the Japanese gaming industry, visiting landmarks such as the Tsukiji fish market and Mount Fuji, and observing how Japanese history and society influence game design. They even visit a traditional Japanese dojo, where they learn about martial arts and its impact on game design.

Throughout the show, the hosts also play a variety of video games, both classic and modern, to highlight the differences in gameplay and style that distinguish Japanese games from those made in other parts of the world. They try out everything from shoot-'em-up arcade games to complex role-playing games, offering their own opinions and reactions to each.

One of the unique aspects of Gamers Heart Japan is that it shows how the Japan gaming industry is mutually influenced by the Western gaming industry. The hosts discuss how Japanese game design has influenced Western game development, and vice versa. They examine how the increasing popularity of mobile gaming has impacted the industry as a whole, and how Japan is at the forefront of this trend.

The show is well-produced with a visually engaging style. The hosts are knowledgeable and passionate about gaming, and their insights into the Japanese gaming industry are fascinating. The episodes are a good length, each running around 25 minutes, and the pacing of the show is excellent.

For those who are interested in video games or Japanese culture, Gamers Heart Japan is a must-see show. It offers an accessible introduction to video game culture and development in Japan, while also providing plenty of interesting insights into the wider culture of the country. The show is entertaining, educational, and will certainly make viewers want to book a trip to Japan to explore its gaming world for themselves.