Welcome

Welcome to Playongo.

This is not a Japanese RPG page, though I talk about those. It's not a quirky Japanese video game page, although I talk about those too. It's not an examination of the Japanese gaming industry, although I do that sometimes. It's all about Japanese gaming; what makes it different, fun, unique, and how YOU can enjoy it!

Don't expect to find the usual here. I go out of my way to show you the best and most interesting video games from Japan. Allow me to introduce you to games that you've never heard of before and more importantly, explain why you should care. I ask questions that deserve asking and consider what the answers are. I wonder how Japanese gamers differ from American gamers and why. I wonder why Japanese video game companies make the games they do. I want to consider these issues and share my thoughts with you.

I do not give games a score. A number with no consistent measure is meaningless. Instead I talk about; what elements are good or bad about a game, what makes it interesting, and most of all, what makes it Japanese. I do not criticize a game for catering to a fan base, on the contrary I find it refreshing. After all I'm a fan of some things and I bet you are too! I do not discuss whether I think a game is worth purchasing but rather what is fun about the game and why YOU might be interested in a game so you can make an informed decision of your own. You know what you like and what you don't like. A lack of quality English language resources about Japanese video games should not prevent you from exploring fun games that are out of the ordinary.

If you are new to Japanese games there are resources here to help you get started. If you are wondering if there are any games aside from first-person shooters, action, racing, and sports titles, I can assure you there are and you will learn about them here. If you are looking for games that are not violent I can help you find them and help you determine if they are what you are looking for. If do not speak Japanese and want to have an easier time playing Japanese video games, I can help you.

You'll find information here about Japanese video games specifically geared toward YOU, the English speaking gamer. The topics of discussion include games on any game console, but I naturally tend to focus on the Playstation and some PC games. Take a look at the covereage of Japanese PS3, PSP, and PS2 games as well as other games that I think you will find interesting.

So read on, game on, and play on!