A recent survey of Japanese video game developers revealed that a majority of eastern developers prefer games produced in the west (such as Red Dead Redemption and Heavy Rain) to their own creations.  What does that say about the state of the industry?  After all, the most memorable video games of the past twenty years have been mostly Japanese creations: Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Castlevania, Mega Man... the list goes on and on.  Has the west taken the mantle of video game innovation from the east?  This week on Power Button we gather to discuss the matter and try to figure out how this event came to pass.  The result is a fascinating fifty-three minute conversation that analyzes what may have gone wrong in the east and how the west has built upon the other's past successes.  Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, or subscribe via iTunes, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach all three of us via  and you can even follow all of us on Twitter at @PressTheButtons,@aubradley84, and @JoeyDavidson or for just podcast updates, @ThePowerButton. Next Week: The Nintendo 3DS has entered out lives and we're ready to talk about first impressions. Join us for audio in the third dimension!

Power Button - Episode 43: East Meets West