Want Xbox 720 to conquer Japan, Microsoft? Make Monster Hunter 5 exclusive

OXM's Edwin writes: "At the time of writing, there is exactly one Monster Hunter game available for an Xbox console in Japan - Monster Hunter Frontier, released for Xbox 360 and PC in June 2010 to critical acclaim. Which just goes to show, you can have enough sofa change to wallpaper Buckingham Palace with £50 notes three times over, inside and out, and still be thicker than two short planks."

[vega275]

Why would MS need to conquer Japan, when they already prove that they don't need Japan to be successful. Plus I'm sure monster hunter will only give it a small bump of sales in Japan.

[Thecraft1989]

You don't get very far thinking like that. The point is getting some solid franchise that the Japanese like could make them even more successful.

[vega275]

"You may not get far thinking like that". Again MS has dome fine this Gen without Japan and I'm sure they will next Gen also. Japan has proven that no matter what MS throw out there, that they aren't interested and the few games that they were only did a small bump in sales like I've said in my first post.

So honestly why bother unless MS is looking to waste money out there. Hell even vita is having a hard time.

@blastoise
Yes a small bump in hardware sales for the next Xbox in Japan because people would just wait for the Wiiu version or the ps4 version to come out. Show me one game on the 360 that moved major units over there?

[sunnygrg]

@ title

Ahahaha, not happening.

[theaceh]

Make the controller smaller.

[Tr10wn]

so is true japanese peoples like small things?

[C0MPUT3R]

Successful? They are irrelevant outside of NA.

[DARK WITNESS]

@ C0MPUT3R

It's a good job that NA is one of the most relevant places on the planet then isn't it... or they would be in trouble.

[Solid_Snake37]

I dont know, since only like 5% of the people own a Xbox in Japan, it would probably piss a lot of gamers off

[humbleopinion]

MS tried to do it this gen: with exclusive JRPGs like Lost Oddysey and Blue Dragon from famed creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, to exclusivity on some very popular Japanese franchises like the Idolmaster, Dead or Alive and Ace Combat 6.

So as much as they tried to crack the Japanese market this gen, Microsoft is currently killing it in the US, at a tie with Sony in Europe, and far behind everything in Japan.
This strategy obviously didn't play very well, so why should they try the same approach next gen while the Japanese home console market is dwindling as everyone there is switching to mobile platforms anyway? Microsoft will be far better off focusing on their strengths.

[Prince_Dim-Lu]

A years worth of sales in Japan is nothing when you see that the holiday sales numbers in the USA almost equal in 1 month, what 1 years worth of sales equal in Japan.

Japan is not the gaming place to be anymore. Sony doesn't even win japan. Nintendo owns Japan, and it's not changing any time soon.

[Odoylerules000]

@humbleopinion: I was curious about overall console sales after you said that ms and sony were "tied" in Europe so I looked it up. If VG charts is accurate, sony has sold over 4 million more consoles in Europe. Unless you're a troll or a fanboy I imagine you want your facts straight. Here's a link to the source. http://www.vgchartz.com/wee...
If this makes you butthurt at all then at least rest assured that the 360 has still sold more worldwide.

[mewhy32]

the japan market is such a small fragment of the entire global market that it really doesn't even matter. It's much more important that it do well first in the US market and then the European market. If you want to through resources at the Japan market after that then go for it. But in the larger scheme of things it's just not that important that the xbox do well there. It's never done well there and it still has the second largest installed based behind Nintendo.

[Blastoise]

Small bump in sales? You underestimate Monster hunter...

[vortis]

This dude didn't just underestimate Monster Hunter it's like he stepped on Monster Hunter's shoes, called out his mama and then scuffed Monster Hunter's polyester suit.

You don't diss a pimp and expect to be taken seriously.

In Japan, Monster Hunter pimps you.

[Nevers]

I don't give a rat's @$$ if Microsoft even ships consoles to Japan, but I wants Monster Hunter!!! Though this "article" is about next gen... I really want a Monster Hunter game for either my PS3 or 360. I just want it to be a true multiplatform game. Been fiending for MH but my hunting buddy sold off his PSP/mem card/games and it's just not the same playing solo.

Yes, I am a round-eye and I love Monster Hunter!!!!

[Kingnichendrix]

Lmfao a round-eye? :L

[Nevers]

Yup, I'm totally a:

0.0

And most MH playerbase is:

-.-

But at some point no matter which you may be your eyes will end up looking like:

>.<

If we can't laugh at ourselves, who can we laugh at?

(^_^)d

[FAGOL]

It's not about "doing fine". Big companies like Microsoft are always looking to increase market share. And why would any business ignore an opportunity to make more money?

[Muffins1223]

We always need more money!

[Flavor]

The Japanese console market is small, and getting smaller, compared to NA. The money is still here in America.

[OMEGAZONE]

Because it's embarrassing to Microsoft's portfolio that Japan rejects them.

[linkratos]

Why would people in America or Europe care about how consoles sell in Japan? I couldn't think of a less relevant topic to people who supposedly don't care about sales. How at all does that affect you and your console?

[chrispen9]

Japanese developers usually focus on their demographic first and then ship it out to the West. Everything is interconnected. Why do you think there have been a lack of JRPG's being released for the 360 as of late? No one is buying the Xbox in Japan. That is why Tales of Graces never hit the console and instead was on Wii and PS3 and also Ni No Kuni isn't coming to the 360 either.

[chrispen9]

The 3DS boomed in sales when Monster Hunter came out for that system. The PS Portable brand used to be known for the Monster Hunter games but the Vita hasn't had any and the system itself is being beaten by its predecessor in terms of sales.

[BertlSenix]

Probably cause someday people get bored of Call of Duty and Halo.

The 360 is living through those 2 franchsises and the USA.This will not work again for 7-10 years.

But they won't get MH - Capcom will either give it Nintendo or Sony AND M$ > Sony still destroys M$

And yes Sony is destroying M$
Sony outsells the 360 for 4 years in a row now with their PS3 WORLDWIDE.
The most software sold NOW is on the PS3 too.
11 from 12 months the PS3 is doing a lot better and the only month the 360 is allways catching up is the CoD month.
But it got weaker with every CoD - Hopefully Next Gen this crap won't be the savior of M$ all the time.

[tokugawa]

lol whatever helps you sleep at night kid. you wrote a complete load of nonsense, what only really exists in your head and not reality.

wow so sony "outsold" the 360 for four years in a row. last gen sony sold more ps2s in 18months than microsoft sold xboxs in 4yrs.

sony is destroying no one kid. the mighty have fallen, and quite honestly, i dont think that they will ever get back that dominance that they once enjoyed

[andrewsqual]

Wanna do well in Japan Microsoft? X translated in Japanese is the same as "Fail" in Japanese. That is why the X button in most PlayStation games does what the Circle button usually does in our games "Cancel" or "Back". This can be seen even in the EURO and US version of FF7 where Circle advancced the text boxes and X cancels you out of the menus. So to sum up, DONT CALL YOUR MACHINE FAILBOX especially when that's what every machine did before summer 2010.
I hear PSVita is doing poorly in Japan again but its still selling over 10 times more than the FAILbox.
I am serious here, this is one of the main reasons it never took off in Japan.

[tee_bag242]

Lol interesting point. I cant argue either way but you're right about 'X' and 'O'

[Legion]

Japan has no aversion to the letter X. One of their more popular bands even used the X as their name. I lived in Japan over 10 years and that is bullcrap.

And they have totally gone crazy for the new X-Games sports. But by your logic it would be called fail games and they wouldn't accept? Sorry your theory fails.

[tee_bag242]

@ vega275 "I'm sure monster hunter will only give it a small bump of sales in Japan. "

Sorry, but you couldn't be more wrong. I teach here in Japan and have over 600 students. I always ask them about what games they are into. Alteast 95% percent of the males of all ages own Monster Hunter.
There is Monster Hunter everything here. Its ridiculous. It's more than a game now... Its merchandise too...and on a phenomenal scale.

I totally agree with the title of the article but it's not going to happen.

[Legion]

Yes but the fact is that regardless if monster hunter comes to xbox 360. They already have other systems that play monster hunter games. And Japanese are loyal to their systems.

[tee_bag242]

You're correct, but the article is talking about making MH5 exclusive to the 720 so Japanese folks are forced to buy the console.
Yeah either way, Im sure you know its a pipe dream.

[Shok]

That's actually ALL they would need to sell in Japan lol. Monster Hunter is like Japan's Call of Duty.

[dirigiblebill]

Monster Hunter is the reason the PS Vita exists. Without it, Sony would have given up on portable consoles long ago.

[Shok]

You mean PSP? Cause the 3DS actually has Monster Hunter 4, not Vita.

[dirigiblebill]

I'm saying Sony wouldn't have made it to Vita were it not for Monster Hunter games on PSP.

[CGI-Quality]

You really make too many ridiculous assumptions.

[ThePsychoGamer]

It would probably make the system sell better then the 360 did in Japan. But to be competitive with Sony and Nintendo in Japan they would need some more titles popular in Japan, games like Persona, Yakuza, Dragon Quest or even some Atelier games or Disgaea games.

Break the locks.

[Darth Stewie]

If Capcom backed out on Resident Evil 4 being exclusive to the Gamecube which is a major franchise like Monster Hunter than they would never make Monster Hunter 5 exclusive to the 720. Besides Capcom seems to be making Monster Hunter into a hanheld franchise since Japan loves handhelds and this game only sells well in Japan.

[fermcr]

Unless Microsoft pays for total development cost, i don't see Monster Hunter 5 becoming a Xbox exclusive.

[dirigiblebill]

Sure - but unlike Sony and Nintendo, Microsoft could probably afford to.

[THC CELL]

Well Mr ms afford to why don't ms pay for more IPs n development

[dirigiblebill]

Because they're already making pots of money off've multiplatform games and existing exclusives. I respect Sony for creating so many new IPs of late, but they're only doing it because they get a smaller share of multiplat revenues in the West and their established first-party brands aren't as profitable as Mario, Halo, etc. If Sony was in Microsoft's position, PlayStation would be Cashcow Central.

[CGI-Quality]

You have no idea what either Nintendo nor Sony can afford. Regardless of what you say about "revenues", profit" or whatever (all your own speculation anyway), Sony is providing new IPs late in the gen because it's what they do (see God of War at the end of last gen, a gen where they also provided the most successful console in video game history).

Back on topic: Monster Hunter would never be an Xbox exclusive. The idea of it may help them there a bit, but it's not happening.

[SilentNegotiator]

Nintendo couldn't afford the development costs of a monster hunter game?

Let me guess; you think they're bankrupt because they had one year in the red?

[d3nworth1]

You do realize that Sony is a bigger company than Microsoft right? and that Sony has 4 consoles on the market to Microsoft's 1. Yes the ps2 is still in production. And that Both Sony and Nintendo already have monster hunter games. Sony has 7, Nintendo has 2 and getting another 1 to make 3 and Microsoft only has 1 thats actually a port of an old PC game.

[Skateboard]

Microsoft can afford plenty, but does nothing. I would feel like #### to be a X-box fan.

[Solid_Snake37]

Son, Sony is huge compared to M$.

[tokugawa]

lol. sony is a fallen giant! it has lots billions off of its value, and is a shadow of its former self..

sony may have a larger corp than microsoft, but has not made a penny/cent in 6yrs, whereas microsoft has cash a plenty.

just look on the net before pressing disagree and pretending that everything is great

[Lord_Sloth]

No exclusivity for MH on consoles! Put it on all of them and call it a day!

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

Hell, add cross-platform and we have a deal.....

[Myst]

Or just bring out Frontier here. Throw it on PS3 as well and basically we have what was and still is FFXI. Still wondering why Frontier isn't on PS3 and still want to kick Capcom for not bringing it out.

[dubt72]

What's Monster Hunter?

[Old McGroin]

Ha!

[StreetsofRage]

Microsoft already owns in NA which is the biggest in the world. Japan is small fries. Those Japanese are hard core loyalists tho'...they stick to their own. They will never go to an American console no matter what.

They made a fair attempt on winning Japan this gen with many great titles and lots of advertisement and still nothing. Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon should of been monster hits but their impact was not as big as they expect it. Lost Odyssey was the creator of the FF series and Blue Dragon had great talent behind it like the artist of Dragon Ball Z.

They really want to make a huge dent in Japan? Create a Rape Sim with Kinect. Damn perverts!

[TheLyonKing]

But if you think about it MS loses more units than it gains against Sony when you take into account Japan.

So Japan is a vital part for MS.

[StreetsofRage]

That is incorrect. It varies per month but during the holidays the 360 usually destroy the ps3 by millions. So it either averages out or the 360 takes it.

Edit at below, I'm talking about NA vs. Japan. Think it was last holiday that the 360 outsold the ps3 by more than a million during the holidays and beats the ps3 every month. The ps3 outsells the 360 by around 100k a month in Japan. So again, the 360 takes it, or it averages out.

[pwnmaster3000]

Wow other then last year ps3 outsold the 360 sinse 08.

So your over exaggerating it by saying 360 outsell the ps3 by millions lol. More like thousands

[pwnmaster3000]

Create a Rape Sim with Kinect. Damn perverts!

Really? Pretty arrogant statement.

[StreetsofRage]

Really? Pretty ignorant statement.

The sexual culture in Japan is more than extreme. Their is no debating that. They already have a popular game called RapeLay. Quoting Wiki...

"RapeLay (レイプレイ Reipurei?) is a 3D eroge video game made by Illusion, released on April 21, 2006 in Japan. The game centers on a male character who stalks and rapes a mother and her two daughters."

It's a popular game in Japan. Like I said, DAMN DISGUSTING PERVERTS!

[vuzuki]

@ Streets of Rage
Yes and I guess this "game" sold more than Monster Hunter ?/s
Also, in the West we have holocaust simulators, does that mean than western gamers are all Nazis ?/s

[k-dillinger]

yet japan is the icon/mecca of modern gaming not America which is always been the smallest but the most important japan will never lose its grip on the gaming market last time America held it there was a little thing in 1983 called the crash which almost destroyed it so keep talkn troll and pray every night xbox doesn't lose there grip in America because if they do they are outta her (umpire voice)

[Dusdg]

Last gen Japan still was dominate; this gen they have done really bad. The west aka North America and Europe have taken over this gen.

[KMCROC54]

But yet they buy apple products(American company ) like they are made in the heavens or made by some god of sorts. Explain why are they drawn to that crap.

[Cybermeerkat]

Yeah but Sony owns in Europe which is also a massive market.

[SirBradders]

QUOTE:They really want to make a huge dent in Japan? Create a Rape Sim with Kinect. Damn perverts!

That truely tickled me PMSLx100 imagine the possibilties with kinect shout out GET The fuck on your knees bitch!!! and juice that cocktail sausage.

[Denethor_II]

Wow 'streets of rage' is full of rage toady. I bet your one of these daft racists that shouts, 'God bless America' lol.

[TheLyonKing]

If they call it 我々は、日本のボックス·ラヴ
and then give it jrpgs they will lap it up.

[Old McGroin]

My first experience with Monster Hunter was Tri on the Wii; I can honestly say whatever console gets this as an exclusive will get my cash.

[pwnmaster3000]

I wasnt planning to buy the next xbox like last gen and this gen, but if monster hunter goes exclusively to xbox, then im definitely buying one

[pwnmaster3000]

.

[Lucreto]

The 360 has Monster Hunter online in Japan. It didn't sell well.

http://cache.gawkerassets.c...

[DC1980]

If it was on PS3, they would've sold millions of copies.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

The Japanese market don't want BF, Ghost Recon , Halo and especially COD, those titles I guess "helps" but are 0 system sellers and bring no appeal to the japanese market (there American and Euro games). If MS wants to do "well" in Japan in next gen (Not own it) Then they need Lost Odyssey 2, Exclusive Tales game, Last Remant 2, Blue Dragon 2, and this game Monster Hunter 5 and a new japanese Ip. If MS kept it up this gen they would be in a better position. But nope, MS pulled out after 3 years of Exlusive jap games because the sales weren't coming in fast enough....SMH MS doesn't even know the mean of "It Takes Time."

[TheDivine]

Japan wont buy MS consoles reguardless if it had Monster Hunter, FF, Pokemon, and free blowjobs. They went hard for Japan this gen with huge big budget AAA jrpgs from legends and nobody cared. They brought tons of shmup's and manga/visual novel shit over there and nobody cared. They got kinect and alot of big Japanese dev's to make games Japan would like and nobody cared. The only conclusion is Japan hates MS and only buys local.

[dubt72]

Free you say?

[Omnislash]

Now why would Monster Hunter be an Xbox 360 exclusive?? When the best games were on the PSP and they were amazing! Then again this article is from OXM...

Anyway if anything it is more likely that its gonna be a PS3 exclusive or a multiplat...
PS3 players would actually play it...

[Psychonaughty]

If I was Microsoft I would completely boycott Japan, not the games developers though of course, that would be foolish.

[Young_ART]

why hasnt there been one for ps3???? i used to play MH online on my ps2 all the time, then the servers got taken down. wtf a ps3 monster hunter would have been beast. That was one of the nex gen sequels i was looking for to this gen. along with a nex gen socom which i watched crumble right before my eyes thanks to the casual/Call of Duty fanbase.

[palaeomerus]

Meh. Screw Japan. The good games come to us anyway now.

[YodaCracker]

Consider the fact that despite an almost nonexistent presence in Japan, the Xbox 360 still came out as the top-selling console worldwide in 2011. That alone shows how irrelevant Japan is to Microsoft's success. If you ask me, it's pretty remarkable.

[BABYLEG]

I dont see why that's hard for people to see. I've never played monster hunter and I really don't care for it. Japan is too small for the monster that is the next Xbox.

[Old McGroin]

You should try it if you can - I've only ever played Tri on the Wii and ended up putting in over 100 hours, best co-op game out there man.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Like xbox fans like to say... what took so long? It took up until 2011 to prove Japan's irrelevancy? Why didn't it happen in previous years?

[givemeshelter]

MS will continue to pump money into Japan...and get little in return.
Japanese will NEVER embrace a American console.
The saving grace for MS with this is the fact that Japan is no longer the mecca of the video game world. North America is.

[kingboy]

Wrong as far as they keep making the best consoles money can buy, they'r pretty untouchable in that regard and for ever will be the headquarters to gaming

[chukamachine]

Probably because said console kept breaking time and time again. Japanese don't like crap, not to mention hardly any decent games.

HALO,GEARS,FORZA,FABLE.

Just don't do it.

[givemeshelter]

Yet the PS1 and PS2 HAD DESIGN FLAWS AND ISSUES from overheating and warping the plastic CD tray that lead to DRE(PS1) To PS2's DRE that lead to a class action lawsuit. So your point of Japanese not buying consoles that do not break is actually false.

@Kingboy

"Wrong as far as they keep making the best consoles money can buy, they're pretty untouchable in that regard and for ever will be the headquarters to gaming"

Headquarters of gaming? You mean Japan?

http://n4g.com/news/966121/...

http://www.skilll.com/blog/...

http://kotaku.com/5810630/j...

"At the 2009 Tokyo Game Show, game designer Keiji Inafune, then at Capcom, said the Japanese game industry was "finished". At this year's E3, one Square Enix exec seemed to realize just that."

http://www.escapistmagazine...

"A Japanese videogame music composer said the nation's game industry is struggling."

Sorry to break the news to you but Japan is no longer leading the charge in video games as it once did in the 1980's and 1990's.
Obviously you have your head in the sand.

Take a look at all the games the past 7+ years and see how many were nominated for ANY awards compared to their European and North American counter parts.
Then read those links I posted and DIRECT quotes from ACTUAL Japanese game developers stating the same exact things.

You see...actual facts are sometimes better then wishful opinions that seem to populate N4G.com...
I know...I know...Saying this on N4G.COM will most likely get me banned and lose all my bubbles because what I posted is actually true.
Sometimes the truth will set you free....

[rezzah]

Still waiting for my MH on the PS3!

[chukamachine]

MS won't even be selling it's next console in Japan,lol.

Also Ms are a joke, advertising skyrim with kinect, rofl.

Kinect is the bigget pile of dung ever to grace a console.

Sheep will buy into anything.

Atm i'm selling invisibility cloak atm.

Doesn't work but it's only $100.

Only selling it in USA.

[Old McGroin]

Chill man; if you don't like it don't buy it!

[OmniSlashPT]

MS, the usual buying exclusives instead of making them.

[TheObserver]

When I occasionally play on PSN, I notice a lot of Japanese players with Japanese characters name an ID and no one really discriminate against them.

On the other hand, I remember a Japanese dude on Halo 3 being verbally abused on XBL by dicks and annoying kids. Making slanty eyes comments, we'll nuke you again, etc. Maybe it is an isolated case, but I think the American way of doing things in online games drive away the Japanese audiences on 360 games.

[BABYLEG]

That's because in America, we're all about competition so shut up. We talk shit to throw others off their game. I get made fun of every now and then, as does everyone. Just beat them in the match and they'll quit, if not, oh well.

[TheObserver]

I am an American as well you fool. Making the opponent losing his cool is one of the standard tactics. However, when you go towards racism, that's too far. Especially done by kids, that is not something you should condone. And it is not classy either. That is no way to represent the gamers of America when you play online. As if people don't hate the US enough already. You seem to make them want to hate US gamers too.

[vuzuki]

Ah, the *obvious* advices...

Last time they already bought THE GUY WHO MADE FINAL FANTASY and THE CHARA DESIGNER FOR DRAGON BALL/QUEST GODAMMIT, see how that worked out for them this gen!

[Jag-T1000]

I think it's pointless trying to sell something to the Japanese. They just won't buy anything made outside of Japan.

[sly-Famous]

It wont matter if they get MH to be an exclusive, the Japanese people just wont support M$.

[ChronoJoe]

Probably would boost sales in Japan but that's not really a good thing for consumers. It'll just give other developers a window of opportunity to take monster hunters crown when it's made unavailable on more popular platforms.

It's like if Call of Duty became a Wii U exclusive, the battlefield series would see a huge boost in popularity everywhere else. Battlefield would gain market share and Call of Duty would lose some... similarly making Monster Hunter exclusive to the platforms its unpopular on would be a bad decision for Capcom.

[SSKILLZ]

Sony just by the devs that make monster hunter

[Jazz4108]

That's funny. Sony is so wiped there at bankruptcys door. They will not be investing in studios anytime soon. Ms on the other hand could buy sony out 3 or 4 timesz and still be fine financially. How the mighty have fallen. This is 2012 not 1999.

[airforcex]

MS' best strategy in Japan is to hope Wii U sells a lot over there an steals market shares from Sony. They'll never support an American system.

[Unlimax]

Monster Hunter Belongs to playstation console .. How the F this game become Exclusive on the Next Xbox ... hmmm let's see , CAPCOM .... NOOOOOOOO !!

[shackdaddy]

I think that would just piss people off instead of sell consoles...

[olLANDSHARKlo]

Make stupid RPG games and underage girls in scantly clothes and underwear and the 360 or 720 will conquer Japan.

[SirBradders]

I think a bomb may have something to do with it. Would everyone buy a concole if it was made in iraq no matter how good it is do the math.

[GamingBuddha09]

Monster Hunter Frontier, did that one count?

[Corax]

I think it's still messed up how Capcom sh!ts on there fans not releasing ANYTHING on PS3 but just a remake from the PSP only to be released in Japan. Hey Capcom! You have Monster Hunter fans in other regions!

[MoveTheGlow]

I'd like to see Microsoft and Sony win some fans by supporting new, original intellectual properties, with these five-quels from the previous generation taking a backseat. One could only hope. Given the "This shooty gun game is like that shooty gun game, but with slightly more guns" stuff we saw at E3, it doesn't look like that'll happen, but one can dream.