Arcade Underground: The Popularity of Japanese Video Games in America, 2003-2013

Abstract

This project centered around one historical endeavor: expanding understanding of Japanese video games’ permeation into American culture. Its thesis is that Japanese video games served as cultural transmitters in U.S. between 2003 and 2013, evident in localization trends and the esports scene. This was proven via examination of video games, news articles, online esports databases, ROM websites, and academic literature on Japanese and American gaming. Chapter I argued that the Dynasty Warriors series’ popularity was rooted in its humorous localization trends. Chapter II argued that the Evolution Championship Series facilitated the entrenchment of Japanese fighting games in American esports. Chapter III argued that the American fan translations of Fire Emblem games constituted uniquely American localizations that facilitated popularization while maintaining an authentic level of Japanese cultural odor. This project’s central significance is highlighting alternative avenues for understanding the entrenchment of Japanese video games in American pop culture.