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[Bebpo]

One of the nice things about online gaming has always been that whether it's a week or 6 months after a game's release, someone will be online to play against.

But with the tiny Xbox user base of Japan, and the even smaller percentage with live I'm finding this isn't holding true. With brand new games like Halo2 or DoA:U there's usually like 2-6 Japanese games running at any time. But at least in those games you can play against people elsewhere in the world.

So what happens to Xbox live games only released in Japan? Well I bought Phantom Dust during my xmas shopping spree and when I got home and gave it a try I found ZERO players... I tried again the next day at a pretty normal time ~8pm and again it connected to the live setup and everything worked fine but, again, no players. PD is less than 6 months old and was a top-scoring game in Famitsu (36 IIRC) and yet there is not a single person to play in Japan anymore.

Really, I can't see any Japanese developers making xbox live games if a US release isn't assured at this point. Which pretty much sucks ;_; I mean why spend a ton of development time on a online mode when it will be unplayable within 4 months of release? I hope MS gets on the ball with getting Xenon to take off in Japan and getting the online service in people's households, as I'd really like to see more Japanese games attempt online modes.

Ok, end of rant. Just was a little sad that I can't even try the damn MP mode in PD and that's its main selling point ;_;

 

[StRaNgE]

same thing happens in the U.S.

i got my kid magic and he has yet to find anyone to challemge on live.
same goes for tron 2.0 i think we only once found someone. hard to make time to keep checking back when pgr2 and halo are safe bets knowing you will find competitors readily available.

 

[PhatSaqs]

There havent been ANY games of Phantom Dust to play since New Years. There were alot available during the week of christmas but since it seems everyone in Japan has just dropped the game.

Oh well. Just wait until the end of February .

 

[BuG]

I was on a Big Team Battle team in Halo 2 earlier with what appeared to be seven Japanese people, either that or they just spoke Japanese very well and were putting on a performance of some variety. It felt very strange, though, if only for the fact that I was playing with seven Japanese people in a first-person shooter on the Xbox.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

I was on a Big Team Battle team in Halo 2 earlier with what appeared to be seven Japanese people, either that or they just spoke Japanese very well and were putting on a performance of some variety. It felt very strange, though, if only for the fact that I was playing with seven Japanese people in a first-person shooter on the Xbox.

Yep. I've played a number of Japanese parties on H2.

 

[Minotauro]

Yep. I've played a number of Japanese parties on H2.

Have you noticed a time of day they usually play during? I love waiting until like 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. and playing with people from the UK and I would imagine it would be even cooler playing with Japanese gamers.

 

[Wintermute]

I'm in Japan and I have a Live subscription ready to go but my internet settings for some reason doesn't allow me to connect to the network. I am thinking of changing my provider to Yahoo BB (an extra 2000yen a month though and money is tight now that I'm already paying more rent - I swear I have no luck in life). My friend uses it and hasn't had any problems with it.

 

[Suikoguy]

There are xbox live users in Japan?

 

[Kseutron]

there are 3, i heard

 

[Odnetnin]

Is Xbox dead in Japan?

fixed

Unless DOA has an online mode where you get to trade underwear/skivvies - unlock via playing online. You can do nothing but expect it to be dead. Seriously. Panties and perverts kept the xbox afloat in japan.

 

[duckroll]

I wish DOA had an online mode where you get to trade underwear/skivvies - unlock via playing online. You can do nothing but expect me to be a perv. Seriously. Closemindedness and perversion keeps my dick hard.

Fixed.

 

[DDayton]

Doesn't something have to be alive in the first place before it can die?

 

[novery]

I usually find opponents in Phantom Dust around 9PM or 10PM Tokyo time. There's still a dedicated community for the game despite the fact that only 5,000 people in the whole country bought it.

But like PhatSaqs said, everything will change in February when the game hits North America. It's going to be insane.


-rp

 

[Kanbee-san]

Its really best to maintain a current friends list, it sucks how games drop off, its almost as if peeps just rent the games.

Thats a real problem MS have to deal with next gen. They gotta find ways of keeping the game fresh. Maybe they could actually "release" DLC.

 

[Bog]

But like PhatSaqs said, everything will change in February when the game hits North America. It's going to be insane.

Then your definition of "insane" isn't the same as anyone else's. I can guarantee it will not be insane.