Japanese Gamers React to Xbox One Changes

Kotaku: "After a big ruckus, Microsoft decided to change its Xbox One online policy. In the West, there were a variety of reactions to this change—mostly positive. But what about in Japan?"

[Godmars290]

So basically; no change.

[-Superman-]

"Still don't want one,"

Damage is done.

[UNGR]

What damage? People were butt hurt for a couple weeks? No damage was actually done, kids are just acting like immature kids, nothing more.

[JeromeNtheHouse]

@-Superman-

I'm good on xbox one man. This comin from a guy currently playing xbox, and have been on xbox live for 7 years. The damage is already done I think.

Not to mention, what's to stop them from adding some of those unwanted features back later on down the line anyway with a "mandatory update?"

[nick309]

360 barely sold in japan, japan only likes nintendo and sony

[vork77]

when you said that i pictured family guys sean Connery

[guitarded77]

@ UNGR

The damage of trying to screw over their loyal customers for a better relationship (and by relationship I mean more money) with publishers. Now they're having to backtrack and do what they knew they should have done in the first place. They had and still have a PR nightmare... that's damage.

[dale_denton]

don't scare the xbox trolls here with that comment, they only think xbox exists here in the states.

[DragonKnight]

@UNGR: The fact that they changed their policies is proof that there has already been damage. Otherwise they wouldn't have changed them.

[Haules]

"On website Amaebi, some were suspect about the changes. "Doesn't making these changes at the last minute," wrote one commenter, "mean they can add them back whenever?""

Exactly!

[sAVAge_bEaST]

---Microsoft---
- -Lies, Lies, cloudz /mirrors,. and more Lies..

They already said they don't need the gamers.. but now they are doing the One.Eighty

[zeee]

I am done too. After supporting MS for so long, I am done as well. I have 3 reasons:

1/ I can't trust their word anymore. They have lost their integrity.
2/ I can't stand the concept of always-connected Kinect
3/ MS was the first to jump on the PRISM train.

Never again MS. Never again!

By the way, I should let you all know that I game on both PS3 and Xbox 360 and I think Sony's got more software support than MS.

Supporting MS now feels more like getting back with a girl who cheated on you multiple times!

[BABYLEG]

Guy above me is very dumb.

and nick, I'm glad Sony and Nintendo does well in Japan. Because the Xbox does great in US Canada UK and soon to dominate in china and brazil. Who needs the rest when you've got the biggest. It's the American way. If you're not popular somewhere, why waste resources there. Switch focus on other countries who may like your vision. Japanese and Americans are nothing alike, especially in our video game tastes. Only reason there's so many people playing Sony, Nintendo, sega consoles was because there was no American console maker yet. As soon as the first American console maker came in, the industry hasn't been the same. And it's been for the better. Apple and google are planning entertainment systems as well. In the next 7 years, the choice won't be MS vs Sony Vs Nintendo. It'll be MS vs Google vs Apple in the video game and entertainment race. Sony and Nintendo should just become really big software companies. THEY JUST CAN'T HANG

Entertainment consoles vs video game consoles.

[Tyre]

We see them for what they really are now. The 180 turn confirms it. No way to change this insight they have given the gamers. Damage is clearly done. They wanted to hijack our hobbies and the whole industry in their closed system and control all. They are still not truthfull or open about it. They are lying through their theeth. They do not give a shit about the gamers but still they pretend to do so. Irreversible damage, all by their own doing.

[suicidalblues]

@ babyleg

It's ironic that you wrote "the guy above me is really dumb", then went full retard in your next paragraph.

Nothing against the 360, but it seems like they had success in spite of themselves. Make units that die, people bought more. Charge for online, the public loved it. Used old tech for storage, well you get the idea...

I'm glad there's competition in the industry, it breeds innovation - I'm just saying the average company couldn't use this business model and survive.

[badz149]

Japan is not even supported at launch, right? Or did that changed as well? Japan won't be getting the Xbone this year anyway

[zeee]

Babyleg: Thanks for calling me a retard. It's rather reassuring and comforting when someone like you call me names. That tells me I am right :)

That and the fact that it's coming from a guy who has lost most of his bubbles even though they reset the bubbles like a week ago. Tells you the whole "who's the real retard" story.

[indysurfn]

Okay at the start of this Microsoft fooled people by using terms. Like LEND/family/friends. Now they are being successful by using the term:
"offline game". Did you catch that, if you install a "off line game" then you will not be have restrictions, that is the condition. Watch

defins a "offline game" What if only one game has the label of offline game on it? Heck what percent of games don't have a component of

online to even the 360 games right now? Microsoft almost required it with few exceptions. If there is a term "offline game" as a condition.

Then that is a out, for for Microsoft to change nothing! Don't trust a company that keeeeeeeeeps making pot shots at your rights. And keeps

adding names like "offline games", otherwise Fooled you twice! Are you going to let that happen?

Microsoft qoute:An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games....If they where not trying to fool you it would read:An internet connection will not be required to play (any) Xbox One games. see the difference?

[ChrisW]

OMFG... There are so many Sheep acting like butt hurt Xbots that it's pathetic! You're the ones that are getting MS to change, not the Xbots!!!

[Sideras]

@UNGR Considering how disrespectful and arrogant they were last week and now take back everything they said and suddenly pretend to care about their customers would suggest that they are pretty damn butt-hurt if anything.
Was most amusing about this whole thing is that people like you would still support it.
I will never understand how you can be so goddamn blind.

[FrightfulActions]

@UNGR

I see someone follows Fox news.

How is life inside your bubble?

[Urusernamesucks]

Its japan. Damage was done after the ps3 and wii hit the market. Nothing has changed drm or no drm.

[Tony-A]

One person brought up a good point about how simple it was to just remove the restrictions.

I've seen one particular interview with Microsoft that told a slightly different story; how removing these restrictions are not where the future of the industry is heading and it wouldn't be that easy to just remove either way. Yet, a few days later, it's a done deal.

Now it's up to Microsoft to convince consumers that they wouldn't dare put it back on their console in the near future. They were misled and made to believe that DRM is here to stay and it's for the best, but suddenly are led to believe otherwise?

Consumers, and ESPECIALLY the devoted gaming public, are a brutal, unforgiving bunch. We are ones to know when we are being messed with and don't take kindly to it. Even worse is that we never forget a company's attempt to screw us over (online passes is a major example of that).

So this begs the question: as awesome as it is that they removed their restriction policies, would it have been more beneficial for them to have kept it? Sure, there was backlash, but which scenario would more likely take place? Would consumers not have bought a heavily restricted console? Or would they not buy one from a company that once tried to screw them over, lie in the process and expose their lies just a few short days later?

[Cryptcuzz]

You win, I have been basically expressing the same concern about this, although you express it in a much more thorough and concise way :)

My main concern is, if they have easily and swiftly removed there restrictions and DRM, whose to say they cannot and will not impose it again down the line when they think they have found the correct solution to the original restrictions and DRM?

[DVAcme]

I'm convinced that keeping their policies might have worked out more for Microsoft in the long run. They COULD have used the "we are the future" excuse and still gotten people to buy the system, but now with every decision they're going back on and imitating Sony with, they're just looking weaker and weaker and making people see Sony was right from the beginning.

Not only that, with the DRM policies and 24-hour online gone, now people will focus more on comparing the two systems based on money value and technical specs instead of policies, and realize that Sony is STILL ahead. And while Microsoft has been on damage-control mode, Sony hasn't needed to change a single thing about their business strategy, which must mean they're in a way better position to launch their system. It's impossible all the changes Microsoft is making are not costing them craploads of money and man-hours.

I'm predicting the XBox One's launch is gonna be VERY rocky.

[Sayai jin]

Yeah no change and don't expect one. This may be the same for other countries as well.

MS will never fair well in Japan. After living there for 6 years and still communicating with several of my Japanese counterparts and friends...I know that the Japanese are have nation loyalty for the most part. They buy based on what they want like most consumer, but also base there preference on what is made in their country. The electronic and auto industry is the "bread and butter" in Japan and keeps them having one of the worlds best economies. There are few devices, cars, etc that the Japanese will buy that made outside of the country.

[Godmars290]

So you're trying to present the nationalist argument?

Which is all but moot when considering that what most major manufacturing still isn't done in Japan is either in South Korea or China?

Hell, all our arguing only goes towards supporting Fox-Con and their slave wages and conditions.

[Sayai jin]

I am not trying anything. I am simply making a informed comment based on my experience while I lived in Japan.

Most manufacturing is done in China by most countries, but actually look at the numbers of Japanese manufacturing in China. The two countries actually despise each other. The same goes for Korea (South included). Anyways, even if most of the manufacturing was done in China the products still have a Japanese brand name and is engineered in Japan. It's hard to understand until you get a deep understanding of their culture.

At last, even if they do not manufacturer their products in Japan...the sales and proceeds of the products still go to Japanese countries so it is not a moot point.

Yes the vile Fox-Con...I agree with you there.

[rainslacker]

LOL. No basically their comments are pretty much the same things we're saying. All these "What Japan thinks" articles are just mirrors of this and other forums.

[Muffins1223]

Dose not matter lol....if it was 4 times more powerful than ps4 then they still wouldn't buy it lol

[SonyPS4]

MS will have a very difficult time recovering from their mess. If this thing won't sell more than a couple million (not including pre-order/launch sales) within the first two fiscal years they might as well take the Windows Vista approach and scrap the One, in it's place comes Xbox 4 and become the first 9th gen system. Then again that would be bad for PS4 and Wii U as they would become obsolete prematurely.

[Donnieboi]

Japanese are too smart to trust greedy American Microsoft.

The Japanese sell u a product WORTH buying, and expect to get their riches via customer demand.

American's use capitalism to crush all competition, then add restrictions to force you to have no choice but to buy only their own products.

I love my country, but I don't love it's business practices. THAT is why most of the wolrd doesn't import our goods. And that's also why we have a lack of jobs in this country--if no one is buying our crap (not even us--we buy from the Japanese, Chinese, Indians, and Koreans) then how are we gonna have jobs?

American corporate greed ruins all creative art forms (and the subsequent jobs it would've created). Even non-creative jobs get cut for the sake of amassing more money for the CEO's own personal bank account.

[fr0sty]

Japanese Gamer: "What is Xbox?"

[pixelsword]

Japanese Gaming: "Don't worry about it."

[fr0sty]

We're playing games due to Japanese gaming... They revived a dead market. It may not be what it once was, but they still put out some classics.

[JsonHenry]

Why would anyone think that they would ever embrace something other than Nintendo and Sony?

[Blankolf]

I think this quote pretty much sums the article

"Yesssssssssssssssssssss s. But, I'm getting a PS4."

[Unlimax]

Beating a dead horse .
http://images.wikia.com/unc...

[doctorstrange]

That looks more like a llama

[MariaHelFutura]

Beating a dead llama is much more badass anyway.

[pixelsword]

Yeah, they fart when you punch 'em.

[Sideras]

Beating a dead llama after it spat in your face. How fitting.

[linkenski]

Japanese people don't give a crap about the WestBox One

[sashimi]

They honestly don't care for it, as far as they are concerned its an overpriced inferior product compared to their own. Its not even made for them..

[NihonjinChick]

The problem is the Xbox rarely get games that appear to Japanese consumers. They don't have the influence in Japan to capture customers. There are tons of Japanese RPGs that are released on Sony consoles every year, most of them are in Japan only and will never reach state side.

Microsoft needs to replace everybody that works in the office in Tokyo. That branch has done nothing positive in that region. They should be working with some of those local Japanese developers. They need to do things and work on things that Japanese consumers like or want. What's the point of having a branch in Tokyo if you're not going to use it to reach those consumers effectively?

[swerve121]

I couldnt agree more

[WeAreLegion]

Were you being racist by writing "appeal" as "appear"? If so...that's the best placed joke I've seen in months.

[insomnium2]

"Microsoft needs to replace everybody that works in the office in Tokyo"

They should replace both of them.

[glenn1979]

people always bitching about this about that, for me the only that's worry me was the region thing because I live in aruba,i will still buy and xbox1 the online thing for is no problem im always online anyway,xbox 1 day 1 for me,thank god for digital download because games are like 110 us dollar over here very expensive shit

[swerve121]

Damn bro 110 thats damn near 2 games

[sAVAge_bEaST]

Posers,. or Rep.Mgmt. are the only one still on board with Micro.soft*- non-spine having muggs..

[alb1899]

X1 day 1 for me!

[Pope_Kaz_Hirai_II]

600$ + enjoy the inferior choice.

[BattleTorn]

I didn't know the PS4 is 500$ + !!!

/s

[DlocDaBudSmoka]

@Battle Torn, he said inferior, not superior.

[sAVAge_bEaST]

Reputation Management is thick today.. You would have to be spineless, to back track your policies, you so vehemently upheld at e3,..

[TechOne]

it's 2006 all over again!

[defyenz]

i dont really care about what japanese gamers thinks. never did liked any games that is animeish from japan.they just feel very kiddish and sugar coated so much that i feel like i'm getting a toothache. it's always little girl characters with big tits.it's so tiring.xbox all the way for me. i like my ps3 but what is it doing in my home right now? collecting dust.lol

[Theyellowflash30]

And nobody cares what you think.

[defyenz]

And nobody cares what u think either,little man.

[WeAreLegion]

That's 9 agrees. Clearly EVERY user who saw his post cared what he thought.

[Theyellowflash30]

Litte man? Aren't you a tough keyboard warrior? lol

[Urusernamesucks]

How Would phill phish say this, oh yeah

All their games Suck

[WeAreLegion]

I agree with defyenz. With such deep characters as Marcus Fenix and Skittles the Tiger, who needs those Japanese games?

-_____________-

[kreate]

lol

[kenshiro100]

Lol.

[HarryMasonHerpderp]

What a complete load of crap.
Some of the best games you've played were probably from Japan you're just to ignorant to realise that fact.
Let's not forget Japan were a big part of the gaming industry and have helped to shape it to what it is today. They struggled this generation, that's obvious but during the NES all the way up to the PS2 era they were pioneers.

[Angeljuice]

The UK were the real pioneers, just look at the early 1980's, the industry was dominated by British hardware/software. That domination may not have lasted long, but it was pre-nes era.

[HarryMasonHerpderp]

Oh yeah the UK were on a winning streak in the 90s also. Tomb Raider, Wipeout, Grand Theft Auto and lemmings all spring to mind.
People still assume GTA originated from America due to the high quality in the series.

[tommygunzII]

What does it feel like to have terrible taste in games? I would love to know the last 3 games you thought were good. :)

[DlocDaBudSmoka]

i didnt know Mario was a big titted lil girl, or Yoshi, or Donkey Kong. You obviously started gaming with the xbox back in 2001.

[ginsunuva]

The thought of even considering one never crossed their minds. Just like me

[Marugo]

For sure microsoft will put it back thats how the xbox one was meant to be and thats how it was built. And if ever microsoft didnt put it back, pretty sure in a different way that no one will ever notice

[defyenz]

I bet now that ps4 controller has a built in touchpad everyone whose always wanted to play games from japan that needs touch interactions will be "gamegasmic" for them. Like " ohhh-ahhhh, you like that baby? Lol

[MWong]

The most powerful part of this article to me is;

"On website Amaebi, some were suspect about the changes. "Doesn't making these changes at the last minute," wrote one commenter, "mean they can add them back whenever?"

This part is exactly what I am thinking, better read the TOS before starting up that console. Might be a part in there stating they can turn on certain features inside of the system hardware at anytime.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Being that its now not region locked i am sure it will get a small amount of traction but I don't think MS really cares about Japan at this point so its pointless to wonder if they care about the box.

[JohnS1313]

I don't see this thing doing much of anything in Japan. It will be a bigger dud than the 360 has been there I'm sure. The people who bought a 360 will most likely say not again.

[FlyingFoxy]

And PC gaming is still cheaper in the long run, for the people who moan about the cost.

Games = always £10 cheaper over console versions, no monthly/yearly sub costs and it soon adds up.

A few years of PSN/Live & 10 games minimum add up to the cost of a good gaming PC which you can build for £600+.

[Cuzzo63]

Ummmm. Wrong section. Might need to check the pc tab.... Dang my bad!

[pixelsword]

yeah, he's kinda right...

...now.

The worst part is that the $100 dollar difference won't make a difference in the long run between the PS4 and XBO because in two years you'll have paid the difference (although you'll still pay for the 360's online as well); so again, not much is in the way in terms of preference in respect of cost for consoles, but now, I think there will be a bigger surge in PC purchases in respect to multiplayer games.

[KrimsonKody]

Me nooo buy!
Uuuuum-umm.
No buy.

[worldwidegaming]

Reserved mine expecting something like this. Too late is being childish when the product is not out yet. Anyone can change for better or worse!
People need to relax a bit more. We get what we ask for! Thats a start and i like it!

[tommygunzII]

The industry was great when Japanese games dominated the market. You won't find hand holding in their games, and they are usually more challenging than western games.

Since gaming has switched from an art form to an industry (thanks to western companies) Japanese games have suffered the most, sadly.
I like my games hard as nails and the only people that seem to share that thought by the masses are the Japanese. So I tend to agree with them more when it comes to gaming.

[SpinalRemains]

Exactly.

Press B to win has become far too standard.

[cabinotier]

xbox is already dead in Japan.
xbox exlcusive titles ported to PS platform with additional contents.
every japanese already know "most of all xbox games (except MS publishing title) will come to PS platform very soon."

whatever MS does, it doesn't matter.

[KingKevo]

""Microsoft was thinking about [what's best for] the game industry, but Sony forced them to back down," wrote one commenter."

Let me correct that real quick: "Microsoft was thinking about what's best for their wallets, but Sony forced them to back down and to not milk their customers."

That's actually more appropriate.

[jon1234]

NOT! POSSIBRU!

[level 360]

I wonder which console is stronger in ( South ) Korea?

[grassyknoll]

It's all about PC in South Korea. Consoles are niche.

[knifefight]

Whichever it is, it's gonna get crushed by PC in Korea.

[Belking]

xbox one won't do well in Japan but it will outdo the xbox360 numbers.

[Knightofelemia]

Microsoft wasn't the only one that failed in Japan Atari did as well. But the XboxOne is pointless in Japan especially with the Kinnect. The avarage Japanese home is half the size if not smaller than the typical North American household. This wouldn't be the first Xbox to fail in Japan this would make it number three. But I always hear third times a charm but I also hear strike three and your out. Competing with Sony and Nintendo in the mother land will be hard for Microsoft specially with the PS4 coming out there. Still wish Sega would make a Dreamcast 2,

[JackVagina]

Japan isn't even one of the "21 country's list"

[cliffyboy21]

i dont see microsoft having a price drop right away if soo they would loose soo much money off of every console

[gamer7804]

the japanese might never come over to xbox, they are very brand loyal, especially to companies in their homeland. That said for the rest of the markets "time heals all wounds" just like we forgot about the playstation hack, in time this will be effectively forgotten.

[TheObserver]

I believe X1 is called "batsu ichi" in Japan. x, for wrong "batsu". 1 is "ichi". Wrong 1 refers to people who divorce once and it is not meant as a complement. Even Japan thinks the name is stupid.

[DestinyHeroDoomlord]

I wonder what Oprah thinks about X1...

[HalfNerdHalfAmazing]

The Xbox is DOne in Japan :P

[MikeyDucati1]

Not surprising at all.

[isyourhouseonfire]

The japs will be lucky if Microsoft even bothers shipping consoles there.