Tecmo Koei to focus on Western market, support all platforms

Kenji Matsubara, CEO of Tecmo Koei, has said that the company plans to take advantage of the expanding European and US markets.

"The US and European markets are expanding very fast, so we have to focus on these markets," he told CVG, at a recent London event. "And our strategy is to expand our library. We have our current brands like Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive - they are very popular especially in the North American market. And we have Dynasty Warriors as well.

"We have to focus on expanding our existing brands, and in addition we plan to create new IP targeting the western market. So we're hiring developers not only within Japan but overseas too, like in Singapore and Toronto Canada.

"We are pretty much ready to develop titles focusing on a western audience, so that's our strategy."

The company is also currently at work on a Euro PS3 exclusive, and Matsubara say that focusing on all platforms is the proper way in to ensure market saturation. Therefore, he doesn't understand why Activision has threatened Sony with lack of support.

"I'm not sure what Activision means in those comments, but Activision sees that the PS3 is a very important platform," he said. "In the PS2 days, Sony was dominant, and nothing else came close. Now, in the PS3 era, I understand that the 360 is bigger, but the PS3 isn't small - it has a big share [of the market].

"So from a publisher or developer's view, focusing on a single platform is very risky. Instead we have to focus on providing every title for every platform.

"That's a key standpoint for Tecmo Koei."