Close-up of a scientist holding a tray of petri dishes with purple cultures, wearing gloves and safety gear.

Our Method

Bridging cultures to unlock Japan's market potential

Your game deserves authentic insights from real Japanese players, delivered in a way that's clear and actionable. Our method combines gaming expertise, bilingual capabilities, and local access to transform research into actionable strategies for success.

01 | Strategic Discovery

01 | Strategic Discovery

01 | Strategic Discovery

Understanding Your Challenge

We begin by mapping your specific objectives against the unique demands of the Japanese market. Our bilingual team of in-market experts identifies critical adaptation points, establishes clear success metrics, and designs a research approach that will deliver the insights you need.

This collaborative foundation ensures every subsequent step generates maximum value.

Scientist using a multi-channel pipette to transfer liquid samples in a lab, wearing gloves and surrounded by lab equipment.
Scientist using a multi-channel pipette to transfer liquid samples in a lab, wearing gloves and surrounded by lab equipment.
Scientist using a multi-channel pipette to transfer liquid samples in a lab, wearing gloves and surrounded by lab equipment.

02 | Player Recruitment

02 | Player Recruitment

02 | Player Recruitment

Your Game, The Right Players

We tap our proprietary network to connect your game with exactly the right Japanese players – whether hardcore FPS enthusiasts, mobile casual gamers, or niche RPG fans.

Our gaming-insider team ensures participants are genuinely representative of your target audience, not just generic research panelists.

Silhouette of a researcher examining a slide under a microscope with a blue background.
Silhouette of a researcher examining a slide under a microscope with a blue background.
Silhouette of a researcher examining a slide under a microscope with a blue background.

03 | Bilingual Research Execution

03 | Bilingual Research Execution

03 | Bilingual Research Execution

Cultural Insights Without Filters

Our team conducts all research in Japanese while providing seamless communication to international clients. Unlike traditional agencies that lose nuance in translation, we capture the subtle cultural context that often determines success or failure in Japan.

You receive authentic feedback without language barriers.

A man in a white lab coat working at a computer, viewing a 3D model on the screen in a laboratory or office setting.
A man in a white lab coat working at a computer, viewing a 3D model on the screen in a laboratory or office setting.
A man in a white lab coat working at a computer, viewing a 3D model on the screen in a laboratory or office setting.

04 | Deep Analysis

04 | Deep Analysis

04 | Deep Analysis

Market Research Expertise Applied

We analyze findings through the dual lens of gaming knowledge and cultural understanding. Our team of passionate gamers – including professionally licensed esports players – recognizes gameplay nuances and player feedback that typical researchers miss.

This is how we ensure technically accurate and culturally relevant insights.

A man in a white lab coat working at a computer, viewing a 3D model on the screen in a laboratory or office setting.
A man in a white lab coat working at a computer, viewing a 3D model on the screen in a laboratory or office setting.
A man in a white lab coat working at a computer, viewing a 3D model on the screen in a laboratory or office setting.

05 | Actionable Implementation

05 | Actionable Implementation

05 | Actionable Implementation

Charting A Clear Path Forward

We deliver concrete recommendations with specific implementation paths, prioritized by impact and feasibility. Each insight comes with strategic options that empower your team to make confident decisions.

And we guarantee we'll get it done, hell or high water – that's the Carter commitment that separates us from typical research vendors.

A man in a white lab coat working at a computer, viewing a 3D model on the screen in a laboratory or office setting.
A man in a white lab coat working at a computer, viewing a 3D model on the screen in a laboratory or office setting.
A man in a white lab coat working at a computer, viewing a 3D model on the screen in a laboratory or office setting.

The methods we use to get it done

1 | Professional Playtesting

What it is: Structured gameplay sessions with performance metrics and recorded feedback.

Best for: Evaluating gameplay mechanics, UI/UX, and feature prioritization.

How it works: Players test your game in our Tokyo facility using high-spec equipment while our team captures both quantitative performance data and qualitative feedback.

2 | Focus Groups & Discussion Sessions

What it is: Moderated conversations exploring concepts, reactions, and preferences.

Best for: Concept validation, cultural adaptation, and marketing testing.

How it works: Our bilingual moderators lead Japanese gamers through structured discussions about your game, with real-time cultural context provided to clients.

3 | Ethnographic Research

What it is: In-home observations of natural gaming behaviors.

Best for: Understanding gaming lifestyle integration and social dynamics.

How it works: We visit Japanese gamers in their homes to observe authentic gaming setups, routines, and preferences, providing cultural context impossible to capture in a facility.

4 | Quantitative Validation

What it is: Large-scale surveys with gaming-literate design.

Best for: Feature prioritization, audience segmentation, and market sizing.

How it works: We deploy custom online surveys to our proprietary network of Japanese gamers, delivering statistically significant data to validate qualitative insights.