John Greiner, former CEO and president of Hudson Entertainment, announced that he's established MonkeyPaw Games, a new publisher focused on bringing over "real Japanese games" to the Western market.
Greiner stepped away from the game industry in 2008 after spending 15 years at Hudson Soft, then five more years at the company's North American publishing arm Hudson Entertainment, which he helped launch in 2003. At the time, he said he was leaving to spend more time with his family and pursue personal interests.
Now founder and president of MonkeyPaw Games, Greiner says his company will bring the kind of "real Japanese games" that never made it to Western shores due to cultural differences. He argues that there is a sizable market for "games that feed into the fascination with Japanese gaming and culture."
The Hudson veteran, who was was once tasked with launching the TurboGrafx-16/PC-Engine in the States and bringing over many Japanese titles like
Adventure Island,
Military Madness, and
Bomberman, points out that there is a "trove of games" that never released in the West.
"Japan is a mecca of gaming lore and a crypt for many of the best games that MonkeyPaw is going to resurrect," comments Greiner. "Companies tend to underestimate the fervor that fans possess toward cultural idiosyncratic art, especially in overseas game markets. MonkeyPaw will finally give these games a chance to shine."
Greiner hasn't announced any specific titles or platforms that will introduce MonkeyPaw's goal of releasing "retro games with today's graphics and intensity", but he says that the company will make announcements at E3 catering to those "passionate about real Japanese games."
