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[Beowvlf]

With the delays of Enchant Arm and N3, MS has lost a big chunk of their attempted push to get as many Japanese gamers as possible caught up in the launch hype of the 360. Sure they've got another Dead or Alive, and this time they've got Ridge Racer 6 as well, but is that enough?

Do you think these delays will (or won't) affect the launch that much, and/or do you think MS would have been better waiting so they could go all out and deliver a handful of games that the Japanese gamers might have paid attention to?

And 360 fans, please don't take this as trolling. I think it's pretty much inarguable that the Japanese launch is looking pretty slim now, and considering the push MS is making in that region, I think questioning this is legitimate.

 

[Bebpo]

To be honest: They're fucked in Japan at launch...again.

The difference is that they have time to fix it this time around. If they can start to build up a good collection of titles before the PS3 even hits, a sizeable percentage of Japanese gamers might be swayed into getting an X360 while they wait for the PS3.

Best of luck to 'em, hopefully they can get at least a solid footing in Japan this time.

 

[Blimblim]

To be honest: They're fucked in Japan at launch...again.

The difference is that they have time to fix it this time around. If they can start to build up a good collection of titles before the PS3 even hits, a sizeable percentage of Japanese gamers might be swayed into getting an X360 while they wait for the PS3.

Best of luck to 'em, hopefully they can get at least a solid footing in Japan this time.

What he said.
Xbox 360 will sell a bit at launch thanks to the Dead or Alive and FFXI fans.

 

[M3wThr33]

I think this list is the reason:

http://www.xbox.com/ja-JP/games/backwardcompatibilitygameslist.htm

 

[Lakitu]

I really thought microsoft would have made a bigger effort this time round, and they have but they're still doing things wrong, look at that bc list -_-

 

[Juice]

Without reading your post?

*looks around*

Nope, Japan still doesn't want it.

 

[tetsuoxb]

.

 

[BlueTsunami]

As a user on TXB so gently put it "Who gives a fuck about Japan"

:lol

I don't know, even with more Japanese developers being brought on board it still feels like the region is being neglected. What MS really needs right now is one of the Mistwalker games.

 

[Ramirez]

As a user on TXB so gently put it "Who gives a fuck about Japan"

QFT,not my fault the Japanese don't know a good thing when they see it

 

[Funky Papa]

For some reason I can't help but think that MS is getting a lot of "false" Japanese support. Read: lots of shovelware and average games with a big name on the cover. Just like the Xbox launch but x5.

Please MS, prove me wrong.

 

[Bebpo]

QFT,not my fault the Japanese don't know a good thing when they see it

If the Japanese don't buy the system, Western gamers will barely get any Japanese games just like with the Xbox. So yeah, Western gamers should want the X360 to do well in Japan.

 

[dark10x]

Please MS, probe me wrong.

Damn, dude, I know you like XBOX...but I didn't think you were THAT into it.

 

[Beowvlf]

To add more to my post (now that I see I'm not getting flamed and actual, productive discussion is brewing; who knew?), I think a big part of the problem is that MS is really, really underestimating the importance of their launch. Sony doesn't have to worry, gamers have and will buy the PlayStation based solely on the knowledge of certain games that will release on it eventually, and Nintendo doesn't have to worry so long as they get as least one game out featuring their immortal characters; but MS really needs to hit strong, fast and deep.

Having some good looking titles upcoming is all well and good, but if they're not hitting right around the same time, they'll inevitably get lost in the shuffle. Hell, we're just hoping Enchant Arm, N3 and Blue Dragon will turn out to be good, let alone 40/40-in-Famitsu-good. Because without a score like that, a couple games a year (and let's face it, that's all they have set right now) that may or may not appeal to the Japanese is not going to cut it.

 

[dark10x]

Sony doesn't have to worry, gamers have and will buy the PlayStation based solely on the knowledge of certain games that will release on it eventually

It is the same situation for Microsoft in the US, though (which is impressive!). People will buy XBOX360 simply due to the promise of more great XBOX games.

XBOX failed here, though...yet they just don't seem to be taking the proper steps in order to achieve victory. They are screwing up again.

 

[HokieJoe]

Damn, dude, I know you like XBOX...but I didn't think you were THAT into it.

:lol

 

[Bebpo]

Also I think Japanese gamers need a guarantee that the console will be fully supported for its lifetime. I mean they look over at the Xbox and see like 10-15 titles being released a year and they have to wonder if the X360 will be like that in a year or two. Right now the Jpn release list is pretty dry after launch (which is already a lot smaller than the western launch list) and that's really not helping to re-assure gamers.

 

[scarybore]

I think this list is the reason:

http://www.xbox.com/ja-JP/games/backwardcompatibilitygameslist.htm

Least one country got all its games backwards compatible!

And yeah, I don't see MS fortunes in Japan turning around very soon if at all. Will have to wait a year or so till it all becomes clear what is in the pipeline, but it's a shame as I enjoy games from the east and the west in equal measure.

 

[bitwise]

i think there is some jap support that simply hasnt been announced yet.

but yeah for launch .. not too good

 

[James-Ape]

I saw my first Xbox 360 advert on Japanese TV last night, it was very stylish, but just seemed to be an American advert played in Japan, no Japanese in it at all.

I think they have made a bad start, I am gamer and one month from launch this is the first i have seen on TV, i also found one advert hidden away in a games shot. It really does seem like no one cares, i might pick one up just because it is so cheap compared to the other regions (and it includes everything) All the games still seem american tailored. American sports and shooters.

 

[Beowvlf]

It is the same situation for Microsoft in the US, though (which is impressive!). People will buy XBOX360 simply due to the promise of more great XBOX games.

Hmm, I don't know how much I'll agree with you on this (though I do to a degree), but still, it's only current Xbox fans who will do this, and compared to the PS2, that installed base of core supporters is much, much smaller.

Basically what I mean is that for Sony to simply carry over the same number of sales to a new generation, that would still be a huge success. But for MS, it would be a failure (somewhat) as there is no question they need/want to expand their install base over the original Xbox, especially if they want to become something more than that-console-from-America-that-is-sorta-like-a-PS3-lite.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

It's going to be just like last generation. Japan won't care and GAFots will insist there's "something big just around the bend" that will never materialize.

The question is, will the Xbox1.5 outsell the Xbox, or sell worse?

 

[bloke]

I think 360 might do even worse at launch than first Xbox, besides DOA4 I'm not seeing any titles that might sell over 100k, probably not even over 50k. And their first possible killer app (Blue Dragon) is still some 9-12 months away.

 

[Beowvlf]

I saw my first Xbox 360 advert on Japanese TV last night, it was very stylish, but just seemed to be an American advert played in Japan, no Japanese in it at all.

I think they have made a bad start, I am gamer and one month from launch this is the first i have seen on TV, i also found one advert hidden away in a games shot. It really does seem like no one cares, i might pick one up just because it is so cheap compared to the other regions (and it includes everything) All the games still seem american tailored. American sports and shooters.

Apologies if my assumption is incorrect, but I take you are a native Japanese gamer in Japan correct?

If so, impressions such as these are worrying, and at the same time maddeningly frustrating. Does MS still not realize how to properly treat Japanese gamers?

 

[Ramirez]

If the Japanese don't buy the system, Western gamers will barely get any Japanese games just like with the Xbox. So yeah, Western gamers should want the X360 to do well in Japan.

I'll own all 3 anyways,but I really dont think I own a single Japanese title on the Xbox and it's by far my largest library of games for the current gen consoles,so no big deal to me personally.

 

[Funky Papa]

Damn, dude, I know you like XBOX...but I didn't think you were THAT into it.

I blame my sausage-like fingers.

 

[Amir0x]

i think there is some jap support that simply hasnt been announced yet.

but yeah for launch .. not too good

think? Of course there is

 

[crunker99]

japanese gamers like things that gamers in general dont like here -- things like dating sims and pachinko

what i think ms is doing is trying to in essence bring the usa marketing strategy to japan, they think they can do it 100%. The definitely have done better this time around dont get me wrong, getting some serious developers and names on board. If they keep plugging away in 2-3 consoles time they may just have a marketshare in JP worth talking about. Then again if they need to realize jp gamers do not have anywhere near as much tolerance for crap like the US gamers do. Constant delays, missing features that should have been included, things of that nature -- are much less likley to get smoothed over in japan.

 

[Demigod Mac]

BC List for Japan:

????????™: High Road To Revenge™
Fable™
Forza Motorsport™
???????????????????
HALO® (????)
Halo® 2(????2)
Halo® 2 ???????? ??? ???
???? ????? ???????
NINJA GAIDEN
NINJA GAIDEN Black
???????????????????????
The Simpsons™Hit & Run™

Errmm....

 

[Orin GA]

I doubt many people will buy FFXI for the xbox unless they can somehow get their characters transfered. No ones gonna want to start their characters over again.

 

[James-Ape]

Apologies if my assumption is incorrect, but I take you are a native Japanese gamer in Japan correct?

If so, impressions such as these are worrying, and at the same time maddeningly frustrating. Does MS still not realize how to properly treat Japanese gamers?

hahha no, I am from Britain and work in Japan as a programmer.

Also, I was at uni here last year and I asked the people in my lab if they ever played PGR, all of them (quite avid gamers) looked bemused and said no. This was while we were playing the newest GT (i forget if it is 2 or 3?) PGR is one of MS flagship titles, and none of them had even head of it. I doubt their knowledge of the XBOX goes beyond the fact that it is made by Microsoft.

 

[Beowvlf]

I doubt many people will buy FFXI for the xbox unless they can somehow get their characters transfered. No ones gonna want to start their characters over again.

For anyone who has played FFXI for even a month (I was hooked for 14), it's pretty obvious that the vast, vast, vast majority of Japanese FFXIers play on their PS2's. This means by the time the 360 version hits, they'll have been playing the game for just over 3 and a half frakkin' years!

I will be surprised if FFXI on the 360 sells more than 10,000-20,000 copies. It's simply too old for them to care.

 

[Beowvlf]

hahha no, I am from Britain and work in Japan as a programmer.

Also, I was at uni here last year and I asked the people in my lab if they ever played PGR, all of them (quite avid gamers) looked bemused and said no. This was while we were playing the newest GT (i forget if it is 2 or 3?) PGR is one of MS flagship titles, and none of them had even head of it. I doubt their knowledge of the XBOX goes beyond the fact that it is made by Microsoft.

Oh. :lol

Apologies. Still, welcome insight. Appreciated.

 

[DarienA]

Least one country got all its games backwards compatible!

DOA isn't on the list.

 

[GhaleonEB]

MS make lots of mistakes in Japan, and while the support is not as strong as they would like, it IS better. Also, they are not launching nearly two years after Sony, have a sleeker system, controller, great online service and a solid launch package and price. They didn't have any of that (well, maybe the S controller) when they launched before.

Perfect? Heck no.

Vastly improved? Yes.

 

[SyNapSe]

I really don't understand why Japan would want the next MS console.. barring them getting DQ9 or something exclusive, and even then it would require getting a couple games exclusive probably.

Japan seems to be pretty much a one console place mainly, and Sony will always have more of that style of game I imagine (barring MS somehow gaining some insane early marketshare)

 

[scarybore]

DOA isn't on the list.

I'm sure theres quite a few games not on the list, was a joke after all as im sure you know, but yeah the lack of DOA3 is both significant and insignificant. Was DOA3 the biggest seller in Japan out of interest? (I can't imagine anything else really)

For anyone who has played FFXI for even a month (I was hooked for 14), it's pretty obvious that the vast, vast, vast majority of Japanese FFXIers play on their PS2's. This means by the time the 360 version hits, they'll have been playing the game for just over 3 and a half frakkin' years!

I will be surprised if FFXI on the 360 sells more than 10,000-20,000 copies. It's simply too old for them to care.

I guess it's possible to think that is SE can spend time to port it to 360, theres a chance it will go to PS3 as well. I imagine most players would rather wait for a true sequel now than buy a new console to play the same game, but then again I bough 5 versions of Phantasy Star Online so who am I to talk...

 

[Fuzzy]

Japan seems to be pretty much a one console place mainly, and Sony will always have more of that style of game I imagine (barring MS somehow gaining some insane early marketshare)

Exactly. Looking at the installed bases in Japan for the PS2 (~18.5 million), GCN (~4 million) and Xbox (~500K) I really don't see Japanese gamers becoming multi console owners next-gen all of a sudden. They'll wait for the PS3, end of story.

 

[SyNapSe]

Exactly. Looking at the installed bases in Japan for the PS2 (~18.5 million), GCN (~4 million) and Xbox (~500K) I really don't see Japanese gamers becoming multi console owners next-gen all of a sudden. They'll wait for the PS3, end of story.

The question is a big "duh" barring something ridiculous happening as far as popular Japanese game alignment.

I'd say Heian-kyo tends to post topics along that line. Still it's a good point.. I think the X360 will be a complete failure there.. maybe not quite as bad as the previous iteration but pretty close. The real question should be will Japan continue to have the same influence on gaming as it has in the past. Clearly, it's losing importance in total marketshare each generation.

 

[Mashing]

I actually believe the Revolution will make inroads on Sony's market next gen. The revolution has to be so appealing to them given the types of games that are popular there and especially in the arcades. The Revolution is going to be a great system for picture perfect arcade renditions on a home console. That's bound to sway some poeple who didn't buy Gamecube this generation. And as side effect it's going to hurt Microsoft attempt to gain marketshare as well.

 

[Dave Long]

IS Dead or Alive 4 going to be out at launch in Japan? I thought it got delayed past the launch now?

Also, are games like Ninety-Nine Nights coming out in the West? I've heard that title in particular is not even confirmed for US release. Is this true?

 

[Chiggs]

I don't even know why Microsoft even bothered to deal with Japan, personally. It's not like they're EVER going to win it. Besides, the real money's in America and Europe.

 

[Nester]

I doubt many people will buy FFXI for the xbox unless they can somehow get their characters transfered. No ones gonna want to start their characters over again.

When my wife and I used to play FFXI together she would play on the PS2 and I'd use my PC. When we got her a new computer she switched her account over to her new PC with no problems.

I don't see why it would be any different from taking a PS2 or PC character over to the 360. I wouldn't mind doing that so I can sit on the couch again when playing.

 

[Lyte Edge]

IS Dead or Alive 4 going to be out at launch in Japan? I thought it got delayed past the launch now?

As far as I know, it's still set for the launch of December 10th. Did the U.S. version get delayed again, pushed back even further from December 1st? I can't check the date here at work...

Also, are games like Ninety-Nine Nights coming out in the West? I've heard that title in particular is not even confirmed for US release. Is this true?

Isn't N3 supposed to be coming out much later than Japan because online play is being added to the U.S. release?

 

[WasabiKing]

QFT,not my fault the Japanese don't know a good thing when they see it

The key is to gain ground, not flatten out in sales. This should be the thought process for every hardware manufacturer.

 

[BorkBork]

Honestly, I believe it's already over in Japan for Microsoft. Limited software appeal (better than the original, but not enough) to the Japanese market and delays really killed what little momentum it had going for it. Another thing that people kept saying was that the size of the xbox was a big turn off to Japanese consumers. And now 360 launches. Pretty much the same size, and heavier with the power supply. We're going to get a redux "guy laughing at xbox" picture again, this time with a 360.

 

[Mr_Furious]

MS is retarded for making Japan any priority whatsoever. Every single one of their units should've been allocated to the U.S.

/bitter@howMSishandlingX360launch

 

[Joeholley]

360 Japanese launch: Is MS making the same mistake twice?

Attempting to sell their console in Japan? Yes.