What the Japanese really think of the Xbox 360

Everyone knows the 360 hasn't made much of an impact in Japan. While the Wii and DS continue to fly off the shelves, 360 sales continue to disappoint. Why is this? What do Japanese gamers think of the 360? The latest Famitsu magazine carries a large feature on the console, with a run-down of the major titles, and endorsements from a selection of celebrities. The consensus seems to be that the 360 is very good, but people just don't know enough about it. Here's what they had to say:

[Marty8370]

And they are right. Thats why it don't sell very well in Japan, and never will.

[Auron]

Very informative. get real buddy

[Elginer]

which is of course why the PS3 is selling like wildfire over there huh? amirite lol

[Fart_Bubbles]

it's high price point, what's the brickbox 360's excuse?

[Xboxsuckz]

The 360 is crap,and it will always be crap!

The PS3 is pricier but at least it reliable,unlike the 180:)

[Ignorant Fanboy]

"The consensus seems to be that the 360 is very good, but people just don't know enough about it."

Just because you can read doesnt mean you can comprehend.

Go back to 3rd grade.

[Saint Sony]

They don't think it is crap, but they have never actually thought it would be good, those who have tried it, love it. MS just needs to lure people to actually test one. I bet most of us have experienced the same with some other product. First you think nah, it might not be good and you don't need it, but when you test it you're hooked and wonder how you managed without :)

[Fart_Bubbles]

wait till the japanese starts having 360's commit sepuku on them and microshaft will wish they never heard of the japanese market. They can be very vocal and the last thing the very flawed 360 hardware needs right now is more bad publicity.

[0LDSCH00L]

Your going to eat them words

[ben hates you]

on the 360, some are coming they look good but they're not established like games on the ps3, that is the truth

I agree with happy70 mass effect, just that one game will be enough to shut you up

[DeFFeR]

Once the developers decide they are going to make the games on 360 first and not get hand-me-downs from the Mortgage Payment -3, they will have a better following. We need a FF type RPG or an original IP (like a Katamari) that will have the Japanese interested. Remember, PS has 10 years into the market, and Japan has a higher sense of loyalty than we do, so we need better product to change their minds.

[CrazzyMan]

and this month 1 more jrpg will be released.

DoA4, LP, DR, RR6, BD - 5 released games interesting for japanese in 1.5 year? lol.

[Fart_Bubbles]

the 360 is primarily a FPS console, is it really any surprise it's doing piss poor in the japan??

hell I dont even understand the japanese gamer sometimes...lol

[predator]

interest is growing for the 360 in japan, look at pre-orders for enternal sonita. losst odd coming to, tecmo with ng2, once ms sorts its advertisements out in japan, 360 mite sell

[_insane_cobra]

Yeah, Fart, the 360 is primarily a first-person shooter console. Out of almost 200 Xbox 360 games released to date, you know how many belong to that genre? Thirteen, and that's counting tactical first-person shooters.

[CrazzyMan]

Correct me if i`m wrong.
For today we have:

After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 jrpg, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 1 jrpg. (Enhanted Arms)

After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 fighting, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 2 fighting. (DoA4 / VF5, T5DR)

After 1,5 year x360 has: 2 wrestling, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 0 wrestling. (Rumble Roses, WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007)

After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 survival-horror, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 0 survival-horror. (Dead Rising)

After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 racing sims, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 1 racing sims. (Forza2 / F1)

After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 slashers, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 1 slashers. (N3 / Genji)

After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 3D platforms, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 0 3D platforms. (Kameo)

I didn`t mentioned Sport, 1st/3rd person shooters, actions, racings games, because both system have them A LOT.

I hope you will agree with me, that less then 3 games of 1 genre is almost same, as absence of that genre on a console.
I mean, if you are fan of 3D Platforms, you play Kameo, complete it, and then wait another 2-2,5 years for Banjo.
Or you are a jrpg fan, you complete Enhanted Arms, and then wait 1 year for other nextgen jrpg.

p.s. IF you will disagree, then say why. =)

EDIT:
1-2) we are speaking about NEXTGEN games, PSU, FFIX doesn`t look nextgen. Same for MK3.
And BD is not available in eng, for 95% of people. If people can`t play thay game, then it`s just a teoretical presence.
3) condemned, just a pc game. If you are fan of Horror games, you won`t buy x360 just for DR and Condemned(which you can play on pc), am i right?
4) ok, MOTOGP06.
5) those games, are not like NG, HS, GoW, DMC, Onimusha, real fan of these games, wouldn`t play something like you mentioned.

BUT, x360 for MOST genres doesn`t even have 3 GOOD NEXTGEN games.

[_insane_cobra]

"After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 jrpg, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 1 jrpg. (Enhanted Arms)"

Not true, you forgot about Phantasy Star Universe and Final Fantasy XI (technically they're MMOJRPGs, although PSU also has a decent single player component). In Japan Xbox 360 owners can also play Blue Dragon, Far East of Eden Ziria: Tales from Distant Jipang, Spectral Force 3: Innocent Rage, Diario: Rebirth Moon Legend, Absolute Blazing Infinity, Super Robot Wars XO and Operation: Darkness. Likewise, Japanese PS3 owners can play Mist of Chaos in addition to Enchanted Arms. By the end of the year the difference will be even more apparent.

"After 1,5 year x360 has: 2 wrestling, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 0 wrestling. (Rumble Roses, WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007) "

More than enough. ;)

"After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 fighting, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 2 fighting. (DoA4 / VF5, T5DR)"

If you're going to count T5DR (a downloadable game), then you also must count Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Street Fighter 2, Yie Ar Kung-Fu (Japan) and perhaps even Senko no Ronde and Small Arms (and also Def Jam: Icon which is on both platforms). That said, Xbox 360 could definitely use more games of that kind, but Virtua Fighter 5 is coming (hopefully Soul Calibur 4 as well and maybe even Tekken 6).

"After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 survival-horror, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 0 survival-horror. (Dead Rising)"

Two survival horrors (Condemned), but there's more coming (Left 4 Dead, Alan Wake, all the multiplatform ones) so that genre will be rather well covered soon.

"After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 racing sims, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 1 racing sims. (Forza2 / F1)"

Not true (MotoGP 06) and even less so if we look at all racing games. GTR X360 and MotoGP 07 should be out by the end of the year as well.

"After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 slashers, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 1 slashers. (N3 / Genji)"

Not true, you missed Samurai Warriors 2, Samurai Warriors 2 Empires, Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires on the 360, Gundam Musou (in Japan) and Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom on the PS3. There are many hack 'n slash games coming to both platforms in the following months so the genre will be well represented by the end of the year.

"After 1,5 year x360 has: 1 3D platforms, ps3 after 0,5 year has: 0 3D platforms. (Kameo)"

Plus all those licensed games (TMNT, Meet the Robinsons and so on), but you're right, that's one of the areas in which both platforms are currently lacking.

I can definitely agree with you that the 360 still has a long way to go (the PS3 even more so), but I get annoyed when people call it the FPS platform when it's obviously not.

[_insane_cobra]

"1-2) we are speaking about NEXTGEN games, PSU, FFIX doesn`t look nextgen. Same for MK3."

Sorry, but that's a very silly thing to say, what they look like to you makes no difference for this conversation.

"And BD is not available in eng, for 95% of people. If people can`t play thay game, then it`s just a teoretical presence."

I never said it was, read my post again.

"3) condemned, just a pc game. If you are fan of Horror games, you won`t buy x360 just for DR and Condemned(which you can play on pc), am i right?"

No, you're not right. What's that condescending "just a PC game" nonsense? It's a great game. It doesn't matter if anyone will buy the 360 for Condemned, but it's there, you can't talk about survival horrors and not mention it.

PC and console audiences are still rather distinct entities and for most people it doesn't matter that it's also on the PC. We could also say that hardly any PC FPS gamer will buy the PS3 for Resistance when there are many more FPS games on the PC (and much better ones, to be frank), but that's hardly the point, is it?

"5) those games, are not like NG, HS, GoW, DMC, Onimusha, real fan of these games, wouldn`t play something like you mentioned."

Again, that's your tastes, but the games are there for people who do enjoy them. Personally, I think the PS3 has some excellent hack 'n slash games coming up (Ninja Gaiden Sigma and Heavenly Sword), but so does the 360 (Too Human and Ninja Gaiden 2). They'll both get some multiplatform massive slashers (Bladestorm and Dynasty Warriors: Gundam) and the 360 gets some more on top of that (Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom, Orochi Warriors and Sacred 2: Fallen Angel). I think fans of the genre should be covered on both platforms.

"BUT, x360 for MOST genres doesn`t even have 3 GOOD NEXTGEN games."

For most genres the PS3 doesn't have even a single game yet, good or bad, so what's your point? The 360 has games of many, many genres already, numbers and quality will come in time. It makes no sense catering to the more casual part of the market with such expensive hardware and Microsoft understands it. When the price goes down, more platformers and similar games will start to come out (at least that's the current plan, judging by numerous interviews with various MS representatives).

[Diselage]

The feature claims that Microsoft isn't doing enough advertising or isn't doing the right kind of advertising?

[jam9]

I don't see 360 ad these days in Japan. What I remeber as a 360 ad is the blue dragon ad. At that time, TV showed the ad very often and many Japanese bought 360 and blue dragon combo. Now, it's over.

[fjtorres]

Because its not japanese.
What else is there to wonder about?

They don't buy gaijin stuff if they can help it and as long as Nintendo is in business they're covered.
Long term its a good thing for the gaming world if they ghetto-ize themselves, anyway.
There's room for more than one vision of gaming, anyway...

[BIadestarX]

It would be great if they create a feature on this site that allows the block of any comments from famboys going into other articles and flaming it. I mean look at this comments.

"Japs Think 360 Is Crap"

"what's the brickbox 360's excuse"

"The 360 is crap,and it will always be crap!"

How are these comments helpful to anyone? It's just pure flame.

[tehcellownu]

Its the truth the 360 is junk..Each waking day its dying out on somebody.And most of the game on the 360 the japanese people just dont like at all..blue dragon came out there and vanish in thin air..The 360 selling barely 2k thats a big failure..

[wolfgang]

Yes ! it helps the little fangirl who wrote these feel better about themselves. They feel like they made a difference in this world, that they made another fangirl smile somewhere on the globe.

[Rockstar]

Newsflash!

That's all this site is now is fanboy fodder.
It sucks but thats the way it is, i've given up participating.
I'll just read from now on. The stories, not the comments.

Since this is likely my last post....My console preferences in order
1. PS3
2. Wii
3. Xbox 360

Spread the console love, you shouldn't hate any of them.

I'm out.

[ThaGeNeCySt]

=( the website won't work 4 me

[sumfood4u]

Maybe if the 360 made more games the Japanese play like GODZILLA for instant that would be there Halo! Problem Solved!

[Rims]

and the Japanese are smart enough to buy products of quality .

[artman]

MS needs to be more innovative, and use some imagination, rather than just improve something that is nothing new.
better graphic (YES is it) the best? (NO it doesn't)
improved controller? (YES) innovative? (NO)
HD movies? (YES, additional hardware/means more space needed. Japanese doesn't have big space of apartment)
Quality of Hardware? (sorry, honestly NO; noise, some red light, disc scratches)
BEST GAMEs? HALO 3 (only you love HALOs, sorry FPS games is not asian taste)
Price? (isn't it too pricey for DVD hardware? even the game is similar price with PS3's bluray)

okey... take my bubble out 360 fanboys... i know you love it.
I have 360, and I know what it is~ don't say that I don't have it. Sorry to tell you, but I'm not satisfied with it since xbox, but I still give it a try for MS, so I bought 360. If you don't like your PS3, I'm willing to trade with you. Coz it's hard to sell it here. They prefer wii.

[Rhezin]

Whatever I love my 360, it's got a simple and straight forward live interface, it's got great games coming out this year and next year, and PC-friendly games. I bought a PS3 awhile ago and within the first hour I returned it because it was soo freakin huge, overheated the first time I turned it on, and it was just a horrible choice because of the price consequences of it being 600 freakin bones, so f!ck that and f!ck the ps3 owners who think the 360 is crap because it has so much potential and is yet to show its true power.

[Nervsys]

Imagine trying to play gears on life if it was full of 9 year old japanese kids.

[Dreamworker]

if more japanese games jump ship maybe more xbox360 will sell

[Bloodmask]

Japanese gamers put the story and character development first. Their genre of choice is usually RPG or action adventure....with a well developed story of course. The US market tends to be more focused on graphics and blowing things up.(look at the most popular game on 360
and PS3....Gears and Resistance). Last gen with Xbox the only game that I can really think of that fits these tastes for Japanese gamers is Ninja Gaiden(Im sure there are more). Microsoft is slowly getting better though with the 360. They have learned a lot this time around. Nintendo and Sony will always be more popular in Japan. It is their island after all.

[BIGBAER]

Pre-orders at Amazon.co.jp
Checking Amazon.co.jp reveals some interesting things for video game sales.

The Xbox 360 game, Trusty Bell is currently ranked #3 with the Japanese 360 version of Oblivion taking the #6 spot.

The first PS3 game listed is Ninja Gaiden Sigma at #24.

All three are pre-orders.

Folk Soul, another PS3 pre-order, is ranked at #64 in popularity.

This re-inforces my belief that Japanese 360 owners are dedicated, hardcore gamers.

Furthermore, there are 7 Xbox 360 games listed in Amazon Japan's Top 100 list compared to 4 PS3 games.

An Xbox 360 Core System, bundled with Namco's Trusty Bell is ranked at #46, ahead of the PS3 game, Folk Soul, which comes in at #64 in the TOP 100.

There are no PS3 systems listed in Amazon Japan's Top 100.

Of course, Nintendo dominates the list. By now that should suprise no one.

The fact that the 360 has 7 games in the Top 100, 8 if you include the 360 Core bundle, IS a suprise. Particularly when weighed against the PS3's 4-game showing.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/...

[Why o why]

not sure if amazon is the best place to draw conclusions from. Japanese people have japanese sites to get games from. Cant people look past the west.

[jam9]

Why 360 dominates over PS3 on amazon.co.jp?

The reason is simple. Most of local game stores in Japan are not selling 360 games anymore since Japanese didn't buy 360 games in the past one year. Fact is 360 users have to buy their game from amazon, but PS3 users are not.

[BIGBAER]

Game Sales...
You need to look at all factors before concluding how the various consoles are performing in a particular market. Doing so can alter the overall picture:

"In Japan, Sony's home territory, lower than anticipated hardware sales have still allowed Sony to sell, in just over 6 months, nearly 2.5 times the number of PS3's as Microsoft's 18 month old Xbox 360 (934,800 vs 391,231), but Sony has yet to sell more games (1,195,052 vs 1,310,161). In particular, this shows that the average PS3 owner in Japan has only 1.2 titles." [ http://www.n4g.com/NewsCom-... ]

Hardware-wise, the PS3 handily outperforms the Xbox 360 in Japan, 934,000 units to 391,231.

But software-wise (game sales) the Xbox 360 has outperformed the PS3 selling 1,310,161 games to the PS3's 1,195,052.

Keep in mind that there are 2.5 times as many PS3s in the Japanese market as there are Xbox 360s.

The 360's attach rate is higher than the PS3's---even in Japan.

I have several Japanese gamers on my Xbow LIVE Friends List. They are all hardcore gamers. I suspect that a large percentage of Japanese 360 owners fall into the 'hardcore' category.

Here is a link to photos of Forza 2 custom paint-jobs. Most of the cars shown have been modified by Japanese Forza 2 players.

http://www.afkay.com/forums...

The detailed work leaves little doubt that the paint schemes were created by hardcore gamers.

While it's clear that the Xbox 360 has failed to move the masses in Japan, it seems to have captured a core group of dedicated gamers--who also buy a more software per console than is currently reflected in the PS3.

[candystop]

You know times are changing everyday and I must say that right now the 360 is what's in style! Now maybe in Japan the style change is a little slower but in time it's going to start changing and all this silly mans talk will change forever! I don't see why any 360 fan get's annoyed by ps3 fans because they honestly don't have any room to be talking about anything! This is the 360 era so just get used to it, sit back and watch as things continue change big time simply by word of mouth and games that showcase the systems potential!

[solidt12]

Me no like a xbot. It get a very hot and get a red ring of death.

[bootsielon]

Microsoft should get quality hardware first before attempting to make a sell out in japan.

[WilliamRLBaker]

At the end not buying an american product when 2 japanese made ones are there.

This is the simple reason the japanese wont. They are nationalistic (verging on racism) to a fault the only reason other US products sell is because either an japanese equiviliant cant be found or the pop culture appeal is too strong and frankly anything tech (of which a major portion of japanese economy is derived) is a threat to them so they shun it.

and if you dont believe me then do some research, why do you think the nazis and 1930s-40s japan got along so well because like nazi germany japan thought it was the superior race, all so go back further to the close off years when japan allowed no other peoples to come on shore and trade was restricted to nill because the people and government did not want outside racial or idealogical diifferences threatening their racial "perfection".

then again thats one of the reasons the economy has been crap for the past 10 years, the japanese racial, idealogical, and economical bias.

brought to you on a Wii.

[Adamalicious]

Japanese don't want American electronics. Heck, I don't want American electronics. Why don't they want Xbox? We may as well ask why Japan doesn't import much seafood from the US.

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

Yea they think their own products are the most reliable and best made. Not saying I disagree with them, just saying that they are biased towards their own domestic products. It's always been like this. 360 will never sell in Japan. It wouldn't have made much of a difference if M$ never released the 360 in Japan.