Geography

Hardware gimmick or cultural innovation? Technological, cultural, and social foundations of the Japanese video game industry

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This paper examines the role of creative resources in the emergence of the Japanese video game industry. We argue that creative resources nurtured by popular cartoons and animation sector, combined with technological knowledge accumulated in the consumer electronics industry, facilitated the emergence of successful video game industry in Japan. First we trace the development of the industry from its origin to the rise of platform developers and software publishers. Then, knowledge and creative foundations that influenced the developmental trajectory of this industry are analyzed, with links to consumer electronics and in regards to cartoons and animation industry. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.

Publication Title

Research Policy

Publication Date

3-1-2003

Volume

32

Issue

3

First Page

423

Last Page

444

ISSN

0048-7333

DOI

10.1016/S0048-7333(02)00016-1

Keywords

creative resources, Japan, video game industry, video games

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