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[Rhindle]

Major Nelson has an audio interview with Peter Moore up:

http://www.majornelson.com/wp/index.php

Some of the more interesting points:

· Xbox design was one reason for failure in Japan -- it was perceived as “Incredible Hulk” in Japan
· Japanese gamers place value on sleekness, style, size
· For X360, they did extensive consumer market testing in Japan to find a design that’s attractive for Japanese consumers
· Their goal was for Japanese focus groups to give it “two thumbs up” – otherwise they would start over again
· The other goal was to make sure that RPGs are available in the launch window
· Other big problem with Xbox launch was the “scratched disk” problem on launch day in Japan – Japanese consumers have “long memories”
· Many more announcements are coming for Japan “in the next months”
· Peter Moore has a really odd accent

 

[Solid]

· Other big problem with Xbox launch was the “scratched disk” problem on launch day in Japan – Japanese consumers have “long memories”

Hehe.

 

[ourumov]

Can't wait to see what they have prepared for the JP market. If Konami/Capcom developed for it just at SS level, then I would consider its purchase.

 

[john tv]

That design doesn't look very Japanese-friendly to me, but what do I know. I also said the original Xbox was ugly as shit and would never work in Japan, but MS just scoffed at me!

That said, I can't wait to see what they do in Japan. Blue Dragon is an awesome start, that's for sure.

 

[gofreak]

My Xbox still scratches discs (well, ok, just Amped 2, but I've gone through 3 copies now, and it has scratched each one the first time I put it in :lol i can't be arsed bringing it back anymore )

Thumbs up to the Japanese thumbs up

 

[bloke]

· The other goal was to make sure that RPGs are available in the launch window
· Many more announcements are coming for Japan “in the next months”

Interesting. So who else could be working on 360 JRPGs besides MW, Sega?
Wasn't there rumor that ex-SMT producer has setup his own company and is working on 360 game aswell.

 

[McFly]

· Their goal was for Japanese focus groups to give it “two thumbs up” – otherwise they would start over again

Tastless focus group?

Fredi

 

[Odnetnin]

That design doesn't look very Japanese-friendly to me, but what do I know. I also said the original Xbox was ugly as shit and would never work in Japan, but MS just scoffed at me!

That said, I can't wait to see what they do in Japan. Blue Dragon is an awesome start, that's for sure.

maybe they thought the japanese crowd will pick it up thinking it'd transform into a gundam type robot or use it as a house.

 

[Katana_Strikes]

· Japanese gamers place value on sleekness, style, size

360 ain't gonna go down too well then... :lol :lol

 

[TTP]

Tastless focus group?

Fredi

Every time I think of focus groups I recall the Simpson episode where Homer got a chance to build his dream car. It turned out something like this:

 

[Bebpo]

Interesting. So who else could be working on 360 JRPGs besides MW, Sega?
Wasn't there rumor that ex-SMT producer has setup his own company and is working on 360 game aswell.

Well about 4-5 months ago in Famitsu there was an interview with basically the guy who created SMT and headed it at Atlus until just before SMT3. He had made his own studio presumably because he wanted to make non-SMT rpgs but didn't want to put Atlus at risk in case they bombed horribly, so he made this new company to take it on himself. In the interview he said he'll be able to talk about his first project 'very soon'....but it's been like 4 months since then and nothing

I could see them working on Xbox360, but after what Atlus pulled with SMT9 being a cover to steal money from MS in order to fund SMT3 for PS2...well if I were MS I'd be a little pissed off at them.

 

[byproduct]

THESE FOCUS GROUP PEOPLE ARE ASSHOLES.

Sometimes capital letters are needed.

 

[OniShiro]

MS should do drug tests on their focus groups. :lol

 

[SHOCKIE]

Mircosoft don't forget about the west!

 

[Mareg]

Mircosoft don't forget about the west!

Precisely ! Japan won't buy from a western company solely on principles :lol
Why can't we do the same for EA !!!

 

[Prine]

Its customizable, should hopefully be a hit with the japanese crowd. More than Xbox anyway

 

[trmas]

MS should fire their focus groups :lol

 

[Unison]

People who attend focus groups are slackers with nothing better to do. Why should they listen to them? :lol

 

[ThirdEye]

MS: Is this better?
Focus Group: Eh... yes.

Compared with the 1st Xbox, everything looks OK :lol

 

[u_neek]

That Major Nelson guy sounds so gay! :lol