Japan gets Xbox 360 Premium for $350? No Core system?

[jpr27]

Ok this has me a little more miffed over the whole two package deal for the Xbox 360 here in the states. After all the talk of the HDD MS was talking about, they state only one package (the premium equivalent no core) for Japan and it will include the HDD and cost $50 less ($350)? I always thought this would and should of been an acceptable price and package (should only have been one package outside of say bundles) here in the U.S. Thas just IMO though.

Maybe they actually took note of the "confusion" the two bundles caused here and didnt want that same "confusion" in Japan?

This is a great way to show the U.S. consumer appreciation as we are the ones who contributed the most to the Xbox and make way for the Xbox 360. We all know how well the 1st Xbox did in Japan. Well at least we get the Xbox 360 first (yeh :/).

Sorry I'm just venting and I already have my Xbox 360 preorder PIF but this just doesnt seem right in the end. Business or no business. Please no HDD arguments. We have had more then enough posted already.

 

[Leeco]

Don't be angry. Xbox was never popular in Japan, so MS tries to make the price of XBOX360 friendly enough to Japanese consumers to help them buy a "completly new" (to Japan) console.
If you would be in charge, would you make it really expensive for the country that does not really seem to care about it in the first place, just to "punish" them for not buying first XBOX which had the crappiest support of any console in the history in Japan?

 

[Sean*O]

What else can be said?

Perhaps MS strategy is one of convincing some Japanese that they are getting a better deal than Americans, thus strategizing that many will buy XBOX360 for the pleasure of pulling one over on the Gaijin?

 

[[maven]]

The problem (if you want to call it that) is a combination of politics (Microsoft wants a foothold in the Japanese market) and economics (it'll probably sell far fewer 360's in Japan than — say — the US and Europe, so they can offer a bigger subsidy on them).
It always feels bad knowing someone else gets something better or cheaper than you do, but unfortunately that's the way it is. We in Europe have been getting the shaft for a long time; we're used to it...

 

[Magnum PI]

If it can lower your sadness, let me tell you that in Europe the Xbox was sold 600 $ at launch.

 

[NavNucST3]

I think it has more to do with the style of games in Japan and the perception that a hard drive is mandatory for the JRPGs than anything else.
This way Japanese devs/devs targetting the Japanese market are guaranteed that their customer base (in Japan) has the hard drive.
This move also gives credence to the "HDD required" theories.

 

[onetimeposter]

they did it because Japanese developers will use the Hard Drive

 

[Sis]

they did it because Japanese developers will use the Hard Drive

I take it you have some internal documentation to prove this? Or perhaps a "source"?

The Japanese devs were told the same thing as all the other devs (I'm presuming--I don't have sources, just surmising after reading news articles): MS has stated that you cannot rely on the hard drive being attached (both in terms of the owner removing the HDD and in terms of MS releasing a non-HDD based SKU). Why some people believe that initially offering a single hard drive packed SKU will some how magically dispel this recommendation is beyond me.

.Sis

 

[onetimeposter]

I take it you have some internal documentation to prove this? Or perhaps a "source"?

The Japanese devs were told the same thing as all the other devs (I'm presuming--I don't have sources, just surmising after reading news articles): MS has stated that you cannot rely on the hard drive being attached (both in terms of the owner removing the HDD and in terms of MS releasing a non-HDD based SKU). Why some people believe that initially offering a single hard drive packed SKU will some how magically dispel this recommendation is beyond me.

.Sis

yes but Japan will give Xbox 360 RPGs which means greater streaming and caching which means HDD is important

 

[Sis]

yes but Japan will give Xbox 360 RPGs which means greater streaming and caching which means HDD is important

No doubt. If enough dev studios take advantage of the HDD, and enough consumers vote with their wallet and buy either the premium pack or buy the add-on (assuming Xbox 360 in JPN is mildly successful for MS to sell 2 different SKUs, but it holds true for EUR and NA), so assuming this, than I believe you can effectively treat the HDD as standard.

This is all regardless of whether MS has some agenda with regards to a single SKU, HDD packed JPN launch.

.Sis

 

[Powderkeg]

MS can offer that price in Japan because they won't sell enough consoles there to make a difference.

 

[jpr27]

Powderkeg wrote:

"MS can offer that price in Japan because they won't sell enough consoles there to make a difference."

Then wouldnt releasing just the core system with say a wireless controller and HD cables be more appealing at say $250 then $299? Offering the core system from the beginning as an alternative from a price perspective much like the argument has been here for the need for the HDD in the core system?

NucNavST3 wrote:

"I think it has more to do with the style of games in Japan and the perception that a hard drive is mandatory for the JRPGs than anything else.
This way Japanese devs/devs targetting the Japanese market are guaranteed that their customer base (in Japan) has the hard drive."

Then if history repeats itself and Sony does not include a HDD with the PS3 as many suspect, then it will be Xbox 1 all over again. Sony has been successful with not including HDD for most of their mainstream RPG's (providing as alternative for people) and although this may change in the future I think this just shows that the need for the Xbox 360 HDD as standard should not have been changed here in the states. MS should of just left it and Justified a $350-$399 (now premium package) as the rising costs of technology (similar to the justification to possible raise in game prices) and cant stay at $299 forever. I think there would be less skepticism about MS methods and reasons (for providing two packages) as there are now.

"This move also gives credence to the "HDD required" theories." Again I'm trying hard to stay away from this directly because its been argued before and I think in the end MS will show its true intentions for going this route.

 

[scooby_dooby]

MS has stated that you cannot rely on the hard drive being attached

You should read your sources again, because there's a huge difference between "can not" and "should not".

 

[Powderkeg]

Then wouldnt releasing just the core system with say a wireless controller and HD cables be more appealing at say $250 then $299? Offering the core system from the beginning as an alternative from a price perspective much like the argument has been here for the need for the HDD in the core system?

I think they could just about give them away for free and they would still be in 3rd place there. The good part for MS is that so few systems will be sold that the additional losses they take will be minor.

 

[Sis]

You should read your sources again, because there's a huge difference between "can not" and "should not".

In the context of the sentence, it makes no difference if it's "cannot" or "should not". The bottom line is that the HDD may not be there, so you can't rely on it being there. A game may require it being there, but it should expect that the HDD may not be available, and gracefully notify the player.

.Sis

 

[LunchBox]

I understand that they want to offer an ideal price for the Japanese Gamers, it's why they are offering the premium pack at a cheaper price than the one for the American Gamers.

However, I am wondering if it will cause a backlash on the American part...

seeing as the support for XBOX is quite adamant in that region...

now havng to pay $50 bucks more...

 

[Powderkeg]

I understand that they want to offer an ideal price for the Japanese Gamers, it's why they are offering the premium pack at a cheaper price than the one for the American Gamers.

However, I am wondering if it will cause a backlash on the American part...

99% of American gamers don't have a clue as to what's going on in the next town, much less what is happening in another country. I bet half couldn't point out Japan on a map.

 

[valioso]

I am not sure why it matters what Japan gets or not.. is it going to change what they are offering in your country? No.
Is it going to change the game being offered? no.

so whats the big deal? currency exchange, different marketing different cultures.. is never so easy as is $350 over there, it should be the same over here

 

[Johnny Awesome]

The point is that casual gamers will never know about any of the pricing outside their home market.

 

[avaya]

The point is that casual gamers will never know about any of the pricing outside their home market.

Yes they do.

Generally most consumers are aware of the cheaper retail prices of many consumerable goods outside of their own territory.

A lot of people know that electronic equipment tends to cost loss in the Far East. UK car buyers tend to realise that prices are cheaper across mainland Europe etc.