Industry Analysis Case Study

Falling Fortunes of Japanese Video Game Publishers: The Turnaround Strategies

OR

Abstract:
Ever since Nintendo launched its family computer for the US market in 1985, the Japanese video game publishers had dominated the global video game industry. But since the late 1990s, they had been losing market share to their western counterparts, especially in the crucial US market. To turn around their fortunes, the Japanese publishers have initiated several steps since 2003.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To understand the profile of the video game industry and the evolution of the Japanese video game industry
• To provide an insight into the reasons behind the downfall of the Japanese video game publishers
• To discuss the turnaround strategies being under taken by the Japanese video game publishers and whether they would be able to regain their leadership.

Keywords : Japanese video game publishers; Nintendo; Electronic Arts Inc; Leading video game publishers; Turnaround strategies; Falling fortunes; Restructuring / Turnaround Strategies Case Study; Video game industry; Loss of market share; Video game console; Sony PlayStation; Arcade games; Console games; Profile of average gamers; Mergers and acquisitions; Video games for mobile phones