Japan: Xbox 360 Revisited

Last week's Japan column suggested a few games that could help boost the Xbox 360 in the region. Here, Tim Rogers delves deeper into the Xbox 360 situation after Microsoft Japan's head was vocal about his own uncertainties.

[mikeeno7]

Look, i'm f*cking had enough of hearing about Japan. If they are not buying it, they're not buying it! No one, not even Microsoft can do anything. Who cares about Japan? There's booming videogame economies in South Korea and India, and a growing one in China, so just expand there. Honestly, i feel like going to Microsoft Japan, and kicking their @sses to Korea!

[ACE]

If the 360 was made by a japanees firm and had 360 on it,, it would have sold like hot cakes but the japs only buy jap goods this is fact people...

so are the japs racist? towards western goods?

wierd fukers if you ask me

[specialguest]

because Japs are racist towards American goods?

that's the lamest excuse ive heard many Xbox fans throw out when they can't find a good reason why it's failing over there.

Japanese have been buying American products for decades. the Ipod is the most popular Mp3 player there, beating out some of their own products. when it comes to electronics, they're proud of what they've achieved.

so if they were truely racist, why would they prefer the American made Ipod over what they have? also, Levis jeans, American beef, Disney, etc. just to name a few.

this "Japs are racist" excuse has been brought up many times. instead, just say the Xbox360 doesn't have the games they prefer, that's all.

[gdblose]

I Agree with you #1. Evryone shut the F*CK with all that Japan Bullsh*t.

[PS360PCROCKS]

I agree to, to be honest. But we'll see if they can get those games out and their good they will sell a reasonable # of consoles and that's all they need

[Shadowstorm]

I disagree with you both, and find your statements very arrogant.

Japan has the potental to be a huge market for Microsoft. If you dig deeper into the Nextgen report from around 2 and a half days ago, you can see why Microsoft is trying to win the interest of Japanese consumers.

[Kekkei genkai Kid]

xbox needs japan they need capcom,square and other developer giants making games because
japan contributes to all markets

[omansteveo]

True but with higher developement cost thise companies cant ignore the fact that they are going to have to make games that appealt to other markets besides japan, capcom knows this and that is why games like dead rising and lost planet have western appeal
ex if 360 isnt doin great in japan and great every where else they are gonna want a hand in those pots its just good business and the smart thing to do

[BIadestarX]

You must be Japanese. The world is the most important market not Japan. Lets pretend that PS3 fails in USA, Europe, and everywhere else, but does well in Japan; do you think Japan will matter? I'm not saying that Japan it is not important but this does not mean that XBox will die without Japan. Also microsoft have the support of capcom; there are some developers that reflect how some Japanese developers prefer a Japanese console to be #1 i.e. square. Please don’t mention square's shooter coming for the XBOX 360; this is just square trying to maintain presence in all consoles as a backup plan in case the PS3 burns.

[NitrogenB]

Japan is aroun 25% of the gaming market....I'd say that's prety significant..

[omansteveo]

Those Companies alone cant srvive on just a japanese market if so why would they publish any game outside the country

[0ldb0y]

As the world's second largest economy after the U.S., Japan matters a lot. Sure MS won't "die" if they don't make Japan, but if they are able to make a market there then they'll be tremendously more successful overall. In the end, it's about making money, right? If a console does well in the U.S., Japan may or may not follow. But if a console does very well in Japan, I think the trend will likely take notice in the states.
You don't have to like Japan, but you have to accept the fact that they are a large lucrative market, especially for electronic goods in new technology. Plus, they have many new and innovative games slated for release, which I really hope find their way out west. I'm looking forward to Halo 3 as much as the next guy, but how many FPS games do we really need on the 360?

[BIadestarX]

I agree with what you said, "As the world's second largest economy after the U.S., Japan matters a lot. Sure MS won't "die" if they don't make Japan, but if they are able to make a market there then they'll be tremendously more successful overall."; but I would like to point out that many people view the 360 as a shooter only game; and I can see why since the system host the most successful shooters in consoles ever and will continue to; this mainly because it is what selling everywhere else but Japan.

2006 FIFA World Cup
Burnout Revenge
Dead or Alive 4
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Fight Night Round 3
Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis
Top Spin 2
Tomb Raider: Legend
College Hoops 2K6
Over G Fighters
Amped 3
Blazing Angels: Squadron of WWII
Condemned: Criminal Origins
Final Fantasy XI
Kameo: Elements of Power
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II
...

Also, coming soon:
Mass Effect
Saint's Row
Viva Piñata
Ninety-Nine Nights
Alan Wake
Samurai Warriors 2
Enchanted Arms
Test Drive Unlimited
Dead Rising
Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Sonic The Hedgehog
Superman Returns: The Videogame
Forza Motorsport 2
WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007
The Sopranos
The Siege Of Khe Sanh
Phantasy Star Universe
Too Human
Naruto
Lost Planet
Resident Evil 5
Fable 2
...

... well I'm tired of listing games. but you get the Idea. Just because the XBox 360 has the best shooters does not mean the system only have/will have shooters; that it is only what some people want other to believe.

[kingboy]

when it`s negative for them they B*tch up..maybe zune will come down from space to safe it`s @ss lol!

[super bill]

ps3 is king in japan,and you all know that.the xbox360 is sh@t and thats why its not selling in japan.

[THAMMER1]

I believe that the 360 can be #1 with out Japan. But Japan would help allot. I would like to see more games dev. for the 360 in Japan. Just look at Lost planet by Capcom. It looks almost as good as 1st party titles like Gears of war. If they beef up in Japan that means that my next gen games could be better. The only reason people get all bent out of shape is because Sony fan boys do not want to see the Wii and the 360 have an advantage over the PS3. The PS3 is killing itself more than fan boy lies and 360 and Wii put together.

[GitRdone]

The news story is quoted..."Pack in the HD-DVD drive. Pack in the video chat camera. Lower the price.
Include free -- this is crucial -- free Xbox Live Gold Accounts for all Japanese users"....if they do that it will be a slap in the face to all the people who already purchased the system...

[TheMART]

It doesn't matter at all.

Japanese like other things then we in the west. They also like strange games with little girls that are sexually abused. In the time that I owned a MSX-2, I want to a small gamefair and bought some Japanese magazines. A certain part of those magazines were filled with those games.

Really strange games, with objects to stick in underage girls. For real, that kind of strange thinking freaks me out. They're not able to read a normal Playboy because they would be ashamed for it, but these things in mangalike stile and so on are allright.

So I guess Gears of War, Forza 2 and Halo 3 won't work in Japan.

Wii with it's different approach will do fine over 360's and PS. The PS is found too expensive in Japan. They will be beaten up big time!

360 could win some market, because now they're working on their Japanese game line up. The coming months more and more Japanese market orientated games will launch. Well wii see

[Qofthedead]

Stick in some disturbed game and voila, Japan is yours!

[THELANDSOFSAND]

japan is the wii's territory. forget PS3, forget 360.

360 will have to make do with america and europe.

sony will have to make room in their garbage cans, next to UMD, PSP, betamax, mini disc and (OH!) blu ray.

;)

[kingboy]

don`t add ps3 on the mess when it`s not even been launched yet.. lol with that final fantasy next gen graphics for ps3 the japanese will pick up a ps3 for sure

[THELANDSOFSAND]

sorry couldn't help it ;)
rumors suggest Square isn't as happy with PS3 as sony want you to believe. but yes, your right- Final Fantasy will literally make some of the japanese go spend $680 just to play it- but! i think the cost will keep PS3 away from becoming mainstream, that is the wii's area.

[PS360PCROCKS]

Ugh I hate FF, Square can take that lame game and shove it, theirs more movies than gameplay by the time you actually get to do anything your ready to turn the stupid system off, the gameplay is so lame, I honestly dont see how anyone can play that crap to be perfectly honest. You play for an hour and you accomplish like 20 minutes of gameplay, not to mention isn't it played out by now, I mean what is it, like 16 or something now? Doesn't the same game get boring after practically 20 years.

[Say's you]

Knowing it wont matter if it was made in Japan it would still wont sell like hotcakes like in your dreams you day dream alot don't you come back to reality you douche its like those 70 system wars all over again like Atar vs. some other game company and that other game company one over Atari or something.