Japan: Games that Could Save Xbox 360

It's no secret that the Xbox 360 could use a boost in Japan. Games like Blue Dragon, an upcoming shooter from Square-Enix and few other Japan-friendly titles may provide the system with just what it needs to appeal to Japanese consumers.

The truth is, if you ask me right now which console is the most enthralling, it's the Xbox 360. Microsoft's policy seems to be, loosely, to put out original games with beautiful graphics and sparkling concepts, with simple enough play and big enough budgets to qualify as entertainment first, videogames second. The queue of "Japan-friendly" games soon to release is now quite formidable: Lost Planet, Dead Rising, Project Sylph, Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Cry On (Mist Walker and cavia's positively brilliant-sounding action/adventure/RPG with Katamari / Shadow of the Colossus-esque elements), and the Gundam FPS by Dimps all look like spectacular games with texture and value. Trusty Bell, Namco and tri-Crescendo's RPG about the composer Chopin, will likely be very interesting as well, at the very least.

[Marty8370]

I doubt any game can save X360 in Japan,X360 is doomed to failure in Japan.

[shotty]

The xbox 360 will take off once the ps3 is released trust me. Sony is marketing gods, look at HD-DVD the sales were alright and right when blu-ray launched HD-DVD sales went up alot and now the players are sold out everywhere. Honestly as a gamer give me 1 solid reason to buy a ps3. The xbox 360 is the same as the ps3 but no blu-ray (a plus in my opinion since blu-ray will debut with the ps3 and something tells me the drives are going to be unrealiable), is also way cheaper and in my opinion has more and better games. It also has a solid online component. However I see the wii as the dominant console in Japan since they perfer inovative things as opposed to more powerful and the adoption rate of HDTV is pretty low there.

[Marty8370]

#1.1 - X360 has no support in Japan hence why Xbox/X360 is doin so badly in Japan.

[Gamer13]

once i got all next gen consoles im ok, who care about japan.

IM OUT.

[silent ninja]

i hate ppl who comment without backing up their comments.if you say "its doomed" give logical explaination.

otherwise you name says it all

[silent ninja]

MS policy's sound good on paper but lack in excution(that is delivering)at the right time.

[FadeToBlack]

The Japan gaming market has been shrinking while it continues growth in North America and Europe. I think Microsoft should concentrate more on the regions whihc produce more demond for its product.

[TheMART]

Don't agree. MS policy is good overall, but for Japan they miss the right games at this time.

It's Sony that's overpromising and underdelivering.

MS promises and delivers. In the west, the game line up is welcomed, Japan needs other games. Those are produced at this moment. So by fall there will be more, by Christmas it'll be up to meet the competition.

Furthermore, Japan isn't that a big of a game market anymore. It's declining. I say Wii runs with the most customers there.

As long as MS keeps me satisfied, that is the western world, I don't really care about Japan. I hope they put more money in Gears of War (and the sequal) and those kind of games then Blue Dragon (should the end boss be killing a BetaBluRay Drive? ;) )

[FadeToBlack]

Do you honestly think the xbox360 will compete with Nintendo in Japan? Especially it being an american product? Even Sony will have a hard time competeing with nintendo in Japan due to its rediculous price point...Just my opinion.

[TheMART]

Not really. As I mention, I expect Wii to be on top. But MS could do a really nice job getting 2nd position.

In surveys in Japanese game magazines 90% of all people thought the PS3 is too expensive. So the same graphics, more exclusives and by Christmas more Japanese games, they could go for a more affordable solution but with next gen games and graphics, the 360.

But Wii will be on top. Maybe they get a Wii and a 360 with it.

I am saying I really don't care. As long as MS will serve the larger market: the west/europa/USA and the rest of the world

[silent ninja]

would you care if the xbox 360 was selling tons in japan

[Nodoze]

Stop shipments of the 360 to Japan. Send these units to markets where the demand is not being met (US, and EU) allow the market share to continue to gain traction in these territories. Release the games and wait....if no sell through boost is received, cut the Japanese business unit expenses, and reallocate them to the US and EU. The US is hungry for the 360, whereas in Japan they could care less. Let MS take the same attitude towards the Japanese gamers. If MS adopts the we could care less policy, it will save them money, time, and efforts that are at this point wasted on a non caring audience.

[PS360PCROCKS]

These games will definetly help, if this Blue Dragon is anything like a final fantasy, that ONE game alone will sell consoles, Japan gamers eat that stuff up, it's like gears of war, that game will sell them around here and Blue Dragon if like final fantasy like that good will sell consoles no doubt in my mind, no final fantasy remake will outsell a new idea that is just as good, or maybe it will who knows but these will help.

[PS3sux360inchWiiWii]

He realises 360 don't even need Japan to have successful system, and Ken realized this... thus wanting to make games for 360 and actually not having a problem with it. I think more Japanese Developers should have his mentality. If Microsoft won over Japan that would be great for them, but they DO NOT need them to be a success! In Japan I can see them definatley picking a Wii over a 360 with ease, and because 360 has yet to flex their Jap game muscles... I think they are waiting too late to make their splash over there to get major sales going. Even at PS3's $600 pice point (the $500 don't count to me because it's absolutely inferior) it still may sway some Jap gamers just because of the companies past over there and their great reputation with delivering the games they want. Microsoft should focus more on the games over there, then how they are going to market it! Overall I have no problem with how they are doing otherwise. Just wish they wouldn't see Japan as high up as they are making them out to be, when they could easily dominate everywhere else where it already has a strong foothold!