This is tradgic

[njiska]

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/xbox-360-japan-launch-guide/japanese-shops-now-slashing-xbox-360-prices-142368.php

Only 4 days after launch and it's only going for $150 USD. Just sad.

[joshnickerson]

The only thing more tradgic is your spelling ;)

[njiska]

Man who type in hurry, not give shit about english. :P

[joshnickerson]

LOL

[Ed Oscuro]

/me pelts joshinhighknickers with a SALMON for grammar nazi tendencies

Wow, guess I'd better look into importing. :O

Edit: alright, who's the wise guy? It seems a lot of the price reduction is due to ISP wrangling. Not as cut-and-dry as you might think.

[Blanka789]

Can you mod one of these to play english games yet?

[njiska]

Can you mod one of these to play english games yet?

Whoa talk about jumping the gun. You've gotta give 'em about a week before you can start expecting things like that.

[RCM]

It's no surprise the 360 isn't doing well in Japan. Did anyone really expect it to? 360 is going to be a major competitor in the states and Europe. It's going to take a miracle to sell more than a million or two in Japan.

[Joker T]

Japan and America are opposite as far as 360 LOL

Thousands of dollars to buy a 360 now in the U.S the cost of a DS to buy a xbox 360 in japan.

I should also look into importing.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I remember once when I was watching G4 sometime around all the E3 05 coverage... they were in Japan to get the Japanese angle on the next-gen hype. They couldn't find a single Japanese gamer that wanted/looked-forward-to buying a 360. Most cited reason was "Xbox is American crap", paraphrased of course. Japanese are rarely that direct - though that is a direct quote from one guy they talked to... another group just did the ole thumbs-down gesture. Xbox is just a hard sell in Asia and MS wants to do well in that region... looks like they got an uphill climb. Don't think the lower price is gonna help matters much. Since it will, more than likely, reinforce the opinion of "American crap". **shrugs** At that price, it's worth importing IMHO.

[Lothars]

It's no surprise the 360 isn't doing well in Japan. Did anyone really expect it to? 360 is going to be a major competitor in the states and Europe. It's going to take a miracle to sell more than a million or two in Japan.

I agree fully, I doubt that it will be a million systems sold in the next long time.

but especially in japan they really are doing pretty bad. not surprising they don't have anything that stands out but who knows it might change.

[Niku-Sama]

huh this seems familiar...didnt the old sex box not do so well either in japan?

the way i see it if your console doesent do well in japan... your F-ed

[smork]

Xbox is just a hard sell in Asia and MS wants to do well in that region... looks like they got an uphill climb. Don't think the lower price is gonna help matters much. Since it will, more than likely, reinforce the opinion of "American crap". **shrugs** At that price, it's worth importing IMHO.

I completely agree about the Xbox in Japan, but it's not really the case in the rest of Asia. If you go to one of the big IT malls in Singapore the displays are all Xbox -- far less PS2 and virtually no GameCube to be found.

Here in Kuala Lumpur the Xbox is pretty popular -- pretty much every game store sells it. Less popular than PS2, but probably the same Sony/MS ratio you see in the states. But here's the kicker...

MS hasn't officially and won't release either the Xbox or the 360 in Malaysia!

It IS officially released in the rest of Asia, but the models sold here are all Sing imports ("Asia" model). It's a BIG gaming market here that MS chooses to ignore. People here like playing FPS, RPG, RTS -- the sort of games that are good on Xbox as well as PC, and clearly people like it enough to bother with an import, so why no domestic release?

[googlefest1]

at least the people there band together to keep thier Game industry alive

we should all boycott japanese game systems - give'em a taste of thier own medicine -- yea right too much selfishness here - not enough nationalisim

well they will miss out on some great games i guess

I guess this also means not many exclusive 360 titles from japanese developers -- sucks -- can't we all just get along

[blissfulnoise]

huh this seems familiar...didnt the old sex box not do so well either in japan?

the way i see it if your console doesent do well in japan... your F-ed

Yeah, look at Microsoft's XBox division now. They've practically bankrupt the company.

:roll:

The reality of the situation is that Japan doesn't really matter to have a successful console anymore. Likewise, Japan alone cannot carry a console. And that suits me just fine.

That said, it's WAY too early to start drawing lines in the sand. The 360 launch lineup was god-awful. Let's see what our friends across the ocean think a year from now.

[Ulticron]

The 360 isn't going to do well in Japan. Their first console crashed an burnt in Japan, so it shouldn't be a big suprise that this one is doing the same. It's just not attractive to the JP market, it's a FPS console, where as traditionally the JP market has liked RPG's and Puzzle games. It's all a matter of what you like. Today I don't see anything I really want on the 360, 2yrs from now when the price has dropped and the library has grown that story may change.

[njiska]

huh this seems familiar...didnt the old sex box not do so well either in japan?

the way i see it if your console doesent do well in japan... your F-ed

Yeah, look at Microsoft's XBox division now. They've practically bankrupt the company.

:roll:

The reality of the situation is that Japan doesn't really matter to have a successful console anymore. Likewise, Japan alone cannot carry a console. And that suits me just fine.

That said, it's WAY too early to start drawing lines in the sand. The 360 launch lineup was god-awful. Let's see what our friends across the ocean think a year from now.

The line up wasn't really god awful, but missing DOA4 really, REALLY hurt the sales in Japan. It'll be interesting to see what happens once DOA4 finally makes it to store shelves.

[Push Upstairs]

Why not wait awhile before declaring it "over"?

A launch doesn't mean shit if a really great game gets released later on and sells shitloads of systems.

[googlefest1]

i think they needed leggy topless girls dressed as anime characters dancing around the 360 adds with the occasional quick flashing xbox symbol behind them and a giant sticky ball rolling around the sales area

[RCM]

Why not wait awhile before declaring it "over"?

A launch doesn't mean shit if a really great game gets released later on and sells shitloads of systems.

That's true. MS has a lot going against it though. N-Gage sold better in in the states than Xbox did in Japan. They need a lot of help.

I really can't get over the fact that Japan rejected the Xbox. I know some of the main reasons but ultimately I thought they had taste. Rejecting the Xbox line shows doesn't demonstrate it well.

[s1lence]

OMG it isnt selling in japan. Maybe they need a hit like Toyko bus driver to fix things.

I think this was expected that it wasn't going to be a huge seller by most people and microsoft was just trying to be hopeful. They are offering basically rebates if you sign up for a different isp not a true discount. The fact is that Japanese aren't big fans of american companies (unless to own them) or american goods. (Raw materials not included). Look at their automobile market, the big american automakers are almost non existent.

The japanese like Nintendo and they like Sony (Local companies). They also like gaming on the go, as seen by the gaming that they can get on their cells phones compared to ours. Maybe if Microsoft made a true handheld with a game that makes you perform some job task they could have a hit in the asian market.

[RCM]

The japs like Nintendo and they like Sony (Local companies). They also like gaming on the go, as seen by the gaming that they can get on their cells phones compared to ours. Maybe if Microsoft made a true handheld with a game that makes you wash clothes they could have a hit in the asian market.

They also love being called "Japs" and racist comments about laundry games. Fucking asshole.

[s1lence]

Slow down there, I didn't mean to come off racist at ALL. I edited my post too, sorry RCM.

[neuropolitique]

The japs like Nintendo and they like Sony (Local companies). They also like gaming on the go, as seen by the gaming that they can get on their cells phones compared to ours. Maybe if Microsoft made a true handheld with a game that makes you wash clothes they could have a hit in the asian market.

They also love being called "Japs" and racist comments about laundry games. Fucking asshole.

Yeah, not all Japanese people wash their clothes! Some people just don't have a clue.

[blissfulnoise]

The line up wasn't really god awful, but missing DOA4 really, REALLY hurt the sales in Japan. It'll be interesting to see what happens once DOA4 finally makes it to store shelves.

When your top tier titles are Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo, and a port of a PC FPS, yeah, that's pretty awful in my book.

And I'm not trying to go off topic, but s1lence, that was straight racism in your post. Shame on you.

[njiska]

The line up wasn't really god awful, but missing DOA4 really, REALLY hurt the sales in Japan. It'll be interesting to see what happens once DOA4 finally makes it to store shelves.

When your top tier titles are Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo, and a port of a PC FPS, yeah, that's pretty awful in my book.

And I'm not trying to go off topic, but s1lence, that was straight racism in your post. Shame on you.

Hey that's one hell of a good port and you're missing other quality titles like PGR3 and Condemned. Now grantted these are not nessecarilly games that would play well with the Japs (and no i'm not being racist it's just quicker this way). Really in hind sight it was an awful launch for JP but not so awful else where. The big draws for the Jap audience were RR6, DOA4 and Oblivion, But because only one of those made it, yeah i guess it is shitty in japan.

[s1lence]

The line up wasn't really god awful, but missing DOA4 really, REALLY hurt the sales in Japan. It'll be interesting to see what happens once DOA4 finally makes it to store shelves.

When your top tier titles are Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo, and a port of a PC FPS, yeah, that's pretty awful in my book.

And I'm not trying to go off topic, but s1lence, that was straight racism in your post. Shame on you.

Yes, I see that it came off that way. And if you see I changed it. (Though I've seen the short form of Japanese in another 360 thread) I said I was sorry and I FIXed it. Ok back on topic.

I agree not having DOA4 has hurt the sales big time. I've seen that 1st person shooters are poor sellers overseas as well and the 360 has a TON of them.

[James]

Yes Xbox 360 has several FPS games so far which apanese gamers don't like as much as we do here and in Europe but I think give it time the system will be a good seller. Microsoft has Mistwalker on board to make some awesome original style Final Fantasy like RPGs with some of the original FF team on board to boot. DOA style fighters will help too, MS isn't too pleased with Tecmo's slowness to release DOA4 on time but whatever as long as the game is finished and plays well all is good.

On the plus side Japan's got Kameo which is a good adventure game and a Tetris game, every good system needs a Tetris game. :-P

[Kamino]

Fucking asshole.
I don't give two shits how offended you were, this was uncalled for.

[njiska]

Fucking asshole.
I don't give two shits how offended you were, this was uncalled for.

Pot. Kettle.

[snes_collector]

This topic makes Japs sound like racist. Anyway don't you think there kinda jumping the gun on that? I mean four days, FOUR DAYS!!!!

[s1lence]

True its been only 4 days, but the 360 couldn't be found anywhere after the 22nd in the States.

[DonMarco]

Did anyone actually read the article linked?


The originally 38,800yen (about $350 US) consoles have been lowered to 18,800yen (about $150 US) with Internet Service Provider contracts so that the shop could get some kickback money from the IP.

Saying you can get a 360 for 18800 yen is like saying you can get any new cell phone at Best Buy for $19.99.

The Internet Service Provider contract is (I'm guessing here) a two-year 24,000 contract. or something to that extent. By signing up, and paying for) the contract, the 360 can be had for 18,800.

The 360 hasn't had a price drop. God damn. If you import one, it will still be 38,800 yen. Much like the original xbox, no matter how badly it's frowned upon, it will be pushed and carried abroad. For one thing, it will (and time will tell on this) sell well enough for Sega, Tecmo, Capcom and a few other Japanese developers to invest making games in.

[njiska]

True its been only 4 days, but the 360 couldn't be found anywhere after the 22nd in the States.

After the 22nd? Hell they could barely be found on the 22nd. LOL

As for this thread making japs sound racist, that mere comment in itself can sound racist. The true is that Japan as a whole is a fairly Xenophobic country. It's not like this is anything new either as the Xenophobic, Japan first mind set has been engrained deep with in the culture for centuries.

[blissfulnoise]

People don't realize what a big impact FFXI could (potentially) have in Japan.

There are still huge numbers of Japanese people playing it on the PS2. Just an upgrade to a 360 just to play the game in high def may be enough not to mention the obvious graphical improvements.

And on a side note, I learned from my FFXI days that a respectable short form for Japanese/Japan is JP.

As in, "there are a lot of JP White Mages logged on right now."

Or, "I got the JP version of Final Fantasy X last week".

[RCM]

Fucking asshole.
I don't give two shits how offended you were, this was uncalled for.

I really don't care what you fucking think Kamino. If you have any further problem let's take it to PM's. S1lence and I did and there's no hard feelings.

[Joker T]

chill out guys @_@

I think that obviously DOA4 is an essential game for the Japanese audience. Apparently Ridge Racer 6 isn't enough.

[Crazycarl]

You would have to see this coming in many ways.
1) Not a lot of games that appeal to the Japanese (i think Kameo might be the only one). Japanese arn't fans of voilent video games, so the Amercinized video games don't take off their

2) MS basicly kicked them selves in the love button with the first Xbox. Would you want to buy an updated Edsel?

3) Americans accross the board arn't very liked by many people right now, even the japanese (who as i remember loved us) are really not on our side. So thank Bush for that one.

4) Even though the new design is Sexy, its doesn't do anything for the Japanese since it will take up too much room.

5) The Japanese have been screwed over by the the first system, that even with all the campaining in Japan it's still going to take some time for the Japanese to shine back on MS's systems.

[DonMarco]

People don't realize what a big impact FFXI could (potentially) have in Japan.
Or the impact FFXI could have had on the original xbox, a system with a hard drive and network card built in to the thing, unlike the PS2. Why didn't Squeenix release it back then (three years ago)?

The real reason is somewhere between "No one in Japan had the xbox" and "Becoming a developer could actually hurt their image." If they invested the money and actually released the game, the xbox version vs the PS2 version, which would have sold better? In America, please. Keep in mind the number of RPGs on the xbox, how tight Sony is with Square Enix, and how heated the xbox/ps2 competition has always been.

And who really cares? When World of Warcraft is released on the 360... DAMN.

[blissfulnoise]

Keep in mind the number of RPGs on the xbox, how tight Sony is with Square Enix, and how heated the xbox/ps2 competition has always been.

JRPGs is Microsoft's #1 focus in Japan. They're not playing the same song and dance with this system. I'm not preaching its global success or anything, but I assure you that this is a whole new ball game for MS in The Land of the Rising Sun.

[Ed Oscuro]

Okay, I was looking through some press releases and stuff.

Apparently certain lauch 360 titles aren't region locked, so you can play them on the Japanese 360.

Interesting...this is probably the sort of thing Microsoft wouldn't have wanted, but I might just import one and play US titles on that.

Is this workable (at all, at least for some games)?

[poe]

And who really cares? When World of Warcraft is released on the 360... DAMN.

Quoted from 1up.com (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3141477):

'Right now, Blizzard sees the lack of a keyboard and mouse holding back any console renditions of World of WarCraft. "Those are things that are not standard, they're peripherals, and peripherals have historically not done well for any of the console companies unless you're talking about additional controllers or memory cards," said Sams.'

So, unless they redesign the game from the ground up, to allow gameplay on a controller previously involving 20+ hotkeys on a keyboard and the degree/speed of motion allowed by a mouse, and Microsoft improves X-Box Live chat functionality for the number of people on an MMO (200+ in some channels doesn't allow for real-time chat, as far as I know), WOW 360 ain't happening. Even if it did, it wouldn't be a system seller, since it's been on the PC and Mac for over a year, now.

The aforementioned article does say " World of Warcraft landing on Xbox 360 seems a question of "when" more than anything else," but they base that on the assertion that FFXI has resolved the interface issues I mentioned above. Short of some Bizarro world subscriber figures getting mixed in with facts, I've never seen anything suggesting that SquareEnix has made money in excess of their development costs.

Summary: the improbable WOW 360 won't help in Japan or the US, especially since most MMO interest I've heard of is in mainland Asia, which I haven't heard Microsoft showing any interest in.

[Push Upstairs]

i think they needed leggy topless girls dressed as anime characters dancing around the 360 adds with the occasional quick flashing xbox symbol behind them and a giant sticky ball rolling around the sales area

That kind of show might talk me into a 360...but lose the anime characters (i know, the Japanese love them.)

But i probably would have just gone for the girls. :)


They are offering basically rebates if you sign up for a different isp not a true discount.

So what exactly is the status of Japan and thier ISP's? I've heard they are lagging behind us and europe when it comes to high-speed internet and whatnot.

Anyone?

[DonMarco]

And who really cares? When World of Warcraft is released on the 360... DAMN.
Quoted from 1up.com (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3141477):

'Right now, Blizzard sees the lack of a keyboard and mouse holding back any console renditions of World of WarCraft. "Those are things that are not standard, they're peripherals, and peripherals have historically not done well for any of the console companies unless you're talking about additional controllers or memory cards," said Sams.'

So, unless they redesign the game from the ground up, to allow gameplay on a controller previously involving 20+ hotkeys on a keyboard and the degree/speed of motion allowed by a mouse, and Microsoft improves X-Box Live chat functionality for the number of people on an MMO (200+ in some channels doesn't allow for real-time chat, as far as I know), WOW 360 ain't happening. Even if it did, it wouldn't be a system seller, since it's been on the PC and Mac for over a year, now.

The aforementioned article does say " World of Warcraft landing on Xbox 360 seems a question of "when" more than anything else," but they base that on the assertion that FFXI has resolved the interface issues I mentioned above. Short of some Bizarro world subscriber figures getting mixed in with facts, I've never seen anything suggesting that SquareEnix has made money in excess of their development costs.

Summary: the improbable WOW 360 won't help in Japan or the US, especially since most MMO interest I've heard of is in mainland Asia, which I haven't heard Microsoft showing any interest in.
Option 1: Bundle the game with a controller/mouse.
Option 2: Downloadable usb keyboard drivers for the top 100 keyboards? Or just limit it to ten. Or five. Jeez.

Not having a keyboard for PSO sucked. As it did with FFXI. I think I used the on-screen keyboard for two night before buying the keyboard ffor $24.99. Then I realized I could talk in Japanese... And I was addicted. Oh! How I was addicted...

Dammit, Blizzzard, I figure the biggest problem would be having the game require the harddrive. Which isn't really a problem, unless that's the "peripheral" they were thinking of. How many people bought the core, and actually don't want the hard drive? A few thousand?

Finally, it would be a system-selling game (note the hyphen). Whoever said that must have a sweet PC set up (running WoW with full textures and 2400x1900 on their $400 plasma-cooled video card that requires it's own power unit), or hasn't seen first-hand the cocaine-like properties of WoW. Besides, it's never about who already has the game, but doesn't. There's a good-'n-ready untapped market for console MMOs. Remember how Phantasy Star was almost unheard of before the Dreamcast game?

[segagamer4life]

Man who type in hurry, not give shit about english. :P


quote of the day... NICE

[CreamSoda]

Fucking asshole.
I don't give two shits how offended you were, this was uncalled for.

I really don't care what you fucking think Kamino. If you have any further problem let's take it to PM's. S1lence and I did and there's no hard feelings.

Man, somebody's PMSing! LOL

[diskoboy]

According to a list I saw in some mag recently, (I think it was Game Informer) Blue Dragon was on the top 10 list of most wanted upcoming games in Japan.

When SquareEnix and Mistwalker start poppin out games for the 360, then they'll probably start selling. 99 Nights, may help sell a few consoles, too. That game looks pretty fun.

[unwinddesign]

I think it's way too early to call it. As people have said, it's not a true price slash -- they did this with the Dreamcast too, if everyone remembers.

In any event, I don't think it's necessary for Microsoft to score in Japan to win the overall console war.

[mezrabad]

Then I realized I could talk in Japanese... And I was addicted. Oh! How I was addicted..

Hey, off-topic for a second, but could you clear that up for me. Are you saying that the game (FF XI on PS2) translated whatever you typed in in English? I thought it just had stock phrases (want to group? want to trade? etc) that were automatically translated into Japanese. Does it translate whatever you type?

[blissfulnoise]

Then I realized I could talk in Japanese... And I was addicted. Oh! How I was addicted..

Hey, off-topic for a second, but could you clear that up for me. Are you saying that the game (FF XI on PS2) translated whatever you typed in in English? I thought it just had stock phrases (want to group? want to trade? etc) that were automatically translated into Japanese. Does it translate whatever you type?

It's stock phrases and individual words, but it's pretty comprehensive. You can form some complex sentences, but they'll pretty much be referencing game mechanics and/or basic information.

[Poofta!]

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/xbox-360-japan-launch-guide/correction-xbox-360-price-cut-not-so-much-142898.php



the original was an error adn was retracted...

[njiska]

You mean that retraction wasn't posted yet? Man i need to keep a better eye on the threads i start. It's been like 3 days since that release i'm amazed no one posted it.

[DonMarco]

Then I realized I could talk in Japanese... And I was addicted. Oh! How I was addicted..

Hey, off-topic for a second, but could you clear that up for me. Are you saying that the game (FF XI on PS2) translated whatever you typed in in English? I thought it just had stock phrases (want to group? want to trade? etc) that were automatically translated into Japanese. Does it translate whatever you type?

It's stock phrases and individual words, but it's pretty comprehensive. You can form some complex sentences, but they'll pretty much be referencing game mechanics and/or basic information.
Yeah, all the stock phrases were auto-translated. You could write in english letters, "migi ni nani ka aru ka na", and if they could read romaaji, great. If they typed in hiragana/kanji, I could read it. If you had the Japanese PSO discs, you could write in Japanese. For the most part, it was limited. Still, I had a great experience.