XBox 360 launched in Japan

[Laa-Yosh]

There hardly are any games available at all. For example, the only things I'd be interested to play are Call of Duty and Halo 2 + Jade Empire (with the compatibility)... I'm not into sports, racing games or platformers. So I haven't even tried to get an Xbox yet, especially knowing the shortage and the intial problems.
I'm waiting for stuff like GOW, Mass Effect; or maybe even a complete hardware revision to get rid of the noise from the cooling and the DVD drive before I'll buy one. On the other hand, some of my pals did all they could to get themselves an X360 (they've bought Core packs and all the required accessories as no Premiums were available). One of them have already put some 150 hours into PGR3 on Live... and is waiting for DOA4

Anyway, it may be a bit offtopic, but I guess it goes to show that there might be a lot of people who are interested in an X360 but decided to wait with the purchase. It could be true to Japan as well, who knows.

 

[mckmas8808]

Anyway, it may be a bit offtopic, but I guess it goes to show that there might be a lot of people who are interested in an X360 but decided to wait with the purchase. It could be true to Japan as well, who knows.

MS better hope that people don't wait too long. Sony and Nintendo are coming out with system too and it's right around the corner. We only have but so much money to spend.

 

[Laa-Yosh]

And what do you expect, how many must-have, 'truly next-gen' launch games will PS3 or Revolution have? Will they be completely free of initial hardware problems? Will someone be able to walk into a store and get one without reserving it in advance?
It'll be all the same with both of them. (well, maybe not with Revolution, but Nintendo seems to aim for a different market anyway...)

 

[mckmas8808]

And what do you expect, how many must-have, 'truly next-gen' launch games will PS3 or Revolution have? Will they be completely free of initial hardware problems? Will someone be able to walk into a store and get one without reserving it in advance?
It'll be all the same with both of them. (well, maybe not with Revolution, but Nintendo seems to aim for a different market anyway...)

Who knows. I have no idea. But we'll find out in a little bit.

And of course Peter Moore finds a way to spin the current sales of Japan.

GI: As far as your launch in Japan you sold less than half of the 360 consoles that you did the original Xbox at launch. Are you guys satisfied with that?

Moore: The numbers that anybody has given so far are speculation because we haven’t given any numbers, and I think Famitsu has maybe gone around and counted and then extrapolated. Because it’s a pretty unsophisticated market over there for recording. Yeah, I’m satisfied. It’s a solid if not spectacular start. But the way we’ve looked at Japan this time around is over a three-to-five year period developing deep role playing games. Clearly Sakaguchi with Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon being very important. Miziguchi with Ninety-Nine Nights coming up in the spring.

And as I’m fond of saying, it’s a marathon, not a sprint over there. While you would like to just walk it out of the gates, realistically, for an American company going in taking on Sony and Nintendo in their backyard coming off a disappointing first generation, and going in there and having to prove ourselves all over again. And the one thing, historically, you can bet on is you produce particularly a role playing game that is fresh, innovative, and from somebody the quality of Sakaguchi - that moves hardware. We’re still a ways away from delivering the first one, which will be Blue Dragon. Then it’s going to be great because probably less than six months later…

http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200601/N06.0106.1235.53927.htm

 

[Nicked]

Once good games are released (maybe Blue Dragon) then Xbox360 will be more desired but games available for today are more for Americans.

Well, I would call RR6 and DOA4 'good'. Even great. Certainly catering to their tastes.

The problem with relying on BD/LO is that by the time they're released the PS3 is probably going to be out or just around the corner. They could make the difference though, for sure.

And what do you expect, how many must-have, 'truly next-gen' launch games will PS3 or Revolution have?

I expect....
Revolution: 0 next-gen games period.
PlayStation 3: Mostly all NA launch games will be "truly next-gen", and I-8, Warhawk, MOH:A and Fight Night 3.5 all have potential to be must-haves (amongst other X360 ports), not saying any or all will be though.
For the Japanese launch, it is of course, likely to be 0 - unless you count Mahjong . Although one could always hope that Tekken 6 will be out at launch.
Actually, the Japanese lineup will probably include a few puzzle titles, a couple of obscure JRPGs, Ridge Racer and Hot Shots Golf 5. HSG and RR6.5 could be big.

Will they be completely free of initial hardware problems? Will someone be able to walk into a store and get one without reserving it in advance?

PS3: No on both counts, hardware problems and shortages likely, especially in Japan.
Revolution: Yes on both counts, hardware problems and (serious) shortages unlikely.

I do get your point though.

 

[Laa-Yosh]

PlayStation 3: Mostly all NA launch games will be "truly next-gen", and I-8, Warhawk, MOH:A and Fight Night 3.5 all have potential to be must-haves (amongst other X360 ports), not saying any or all will be though.

Wow, you expect it to be released in 2007 then?

 

[Hardknock]

Who knows. I have no idea. But we'll find out in a little bit.

And of course Peter Moore finds a way to spin the current sales of Japan.


http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200601/N06.0106.1235.53927.htm

Jesus could you please stop regurgitating everything retarded about GAF over here?

As if Peter is the only person that 'spins' anything. Please.

Wouldn't you expect Sony or Nintendo to spin it aswell if they were in the same position?

 

[dantruon]

Of course it's childish to dismiss the 360 after less than a month after launch. If it's still struggling this time next year, then we might start talking, but this is much too soon.

You accuse other forum members of being fanpeople and yet you make numerous controversial and aggressive posts like this one, based on nothing but conviction and zero facts... *shakes head* That's the textbook definition of a fanperson, and bordering on troll I might add.

Now im a fan boy when i just simply state the fact that the xbox360 is selling like garbage in Japan in comparison with other systems for the most important period of it lifecycle. Hey i do believe some game might sell the system over there BUT they are not gonna move in the millions as some might suspect. My post might be agressive but that is me im straight to the point unlike most of you here.

 

[Sis]

Now im a fan boy when i just simply state the fact that the xbox360 is selling like garbage in Japan

Actually, your quote was;

Dont change the subject you guys, the xbox360 is a total failure in Japan and everyone here who denied it is a total ******

.Sis

 

[inefficient]

Yeah, I’m satisfied. It’s a solid if not spectacular start.

I'm afraid "spin" is not a strong enough word to describe the above statement. I think this may have crossed the border to "outright lie" territory.

As someone who lives in Tokyo I can tell you the xbox360 advertising campaign here was just tremendiously massive. I have never seen an advertising effort by a non-Japanese corp that come even close in scale to what MS did. There were xbox posters and billboards on all the prime advertising locations. There were countless ads during primetime TV. The commuter trains here were starting to look like Microsoft press booths.

I think the one area MS did certainly did not fail was in making the Japanese people aware of the xbox360. It's a household name now. It's that hot american game console. Unfortunatly very few people actually care about having one in their household.

Two months or so back, I thought MS might just be able to pull this off this time. And if they did, it would be pretty awesome evidence that if you throw enough money into marketing something, you can capture the consumers hearts.

But the fact is, the product is not only not off to a weak start - It is off to a weak start despite one of the most costly advertising campagins the Japanese people have ever seen.

Spectacular start indeed.

 

[mckmas8808]

Thank you inefficient. It's an outright stupid thing for Peter to say.

 

[dantruon]

Actually, your quote was;


.Sis

well as i said earlier im very direct person, i stand with that statement simply because the xbox360 is a failure in Japan and who ever denied it a fan boy, simple as that. I like Bill Gates alot as an individual who is very generous with his charity contribution and have nothing against him nor his company Microsoft, so i dont hate MS, it just annoyed the hell out of me seeing the same people again and again who always go against Sony and its product while for some silly reasons.

 

[expletive]

I'm afraid "spin" is not a strong enough word to describe the above statement. I think this may have crossed the border to "outright lie" territory.

As someone who lives in Tokyo I can tell you the xbox360 advertising campaign here was just tremendiously massive. I have never seen an advertising effort by a non-Japanese corp that come even close in scale to what MS did. There were xbox posters and billboards on all the prime advertising locations. There were countless ads during primetime TV. The commuter trains here were starting to look like Microsoft press booths.

I think the one area MS did certainly did not fail was in making the Japanese people aware of the xbox360. It's a household name now. It's that hot american game console. Unfortunatly very few people actually care about having one in their household.

Two months or so back, I thought MS might just be able to pull this off this time. And if they did, it would be pretty awesome evidence that if you throw enough money into marketing something, you can capture the consumers hearts.

But the fact is, the product is not only not off to a weak start - It is off to a weak start despite one of the most costly advertising campagins the Japanese people have ever seen.

Spectacular start indeed.

Lets give all these PR guys a break for what amounts to "putting food on the table" ( in Peter Moore's case its probably a solid granite table with a mahogany base shipped in from a temple in indonesia but i digress). He's the head of marketing, he KNOWS the score. He knows how piss-poor the launch was and does admit he wished they had more games. These guys get paid big bucks for bad news to sound like good news, lets just let em alone?

 

[one]

Lets give all these PR guys a break for what amounts to "putting food on the table" ( in Peter Moore's case its probably a solid granite table with a mahogany base shipped in from a temple in indonesia but i digress). He's the head of marketing, he KNOWS the score. He knows how piss-poor the launch was and does admit he wished they had more games. These guys get paid big bucks for bad news to sound like good news, lets just let em alone?

Those who get paid are professionals, it's natural to evaluate their work, be it game development or PR campaign, to have a logical discussion. Both from consumer's standpoint and investor's standpoint, it's important to evaluate how every aspect of a corporate project works.

 

[Magnum PI]

The amount of people that didn't understand that expletive was being sarcastic is MINDBLOWING! Wake up people!

oops...

 

[centerofadmiration]

A fun fact is to tell people that the original Xbox sold 100,000 units at launch thanks to Dead or Alive 3 and the promise of Shenmue hitting the console.

The Xbox360 still not even breaking close to 100,000 should be worrying. Japan has been simply blitzed by Microsoft from before launch with lounges, entire freakin 360 statues being put up, playable Ninety Nine Nights at TGS, movies of Blue Dragon and Lost Oddysee, etc. etc. The system plain should be selling better right now. If a Playstation system was launched with Ridge Racer and the promise of Dead or Alive 4 soon after launch and future Mistwalker RPG's, you'd see them flying off of shelves faster then cell phones. But for some reason, the Japanese are looking at the 360 as a system that isn't worth it.

And theres one reason for that.

They are waiting for the Playstation 3. The console from the company that has actually kept their gaming appetites pleased for the past 10 years. Which is why the Sony brand is so popular in Japan.

 

[scooby_dooby]

It's funny that as soon as an X360 game comes to the top of the Famitsu list it's no longer deemed relevant, all of a sudden it's a 'hardcore' mag, and there's some conspiracy of all the hardcore xbox gamers voting for their console.

Maybe it's just as simple as it sounds?

Maybe...k I'm just gonna toss it out there.....Japanese gamers are ACTUALLY looking forward to Blue Dragon.

I know....I know...It's a little far out there, but maybe, just maybe they ARE excited about this game....just a thought

 

[scooby_dooby]

The problem with this poll is we don't know what percentage of Famitsu readers are XB360 owners, and we don't know what percentage of XB360 owners replied relative to other console owners. Like a TV poll that asks people to phone in at a cost of 25p+normal call fee on whether the death penalty should be brought back in the UK. If 90% vote Yes, we don't know if that's representative of 90% of the UK, or only 90% of the population who watch Channel 5. The result doesn't show either that perhaps the people who voted Yes are the sorts of people who want to spend 25p on a TV phone poll, and 90% of viewers who would mostly have voted no won't waste money on a phone poll. And still further what's the demographic of the people asked the question?
It could be that with a result of 90% voting Yes, 80% of people asked didn't care to give an answer, who would have answered no, and 90% of the country's population wouldn't watch Channel 5 if you paid them, and they too would generally vote no. It's possible for a small minority to hav a profound influence on poll results.

Look. You know that 18 out of 20 of teh games in this list are Nintendo or Sony.

You're overthinking it way to much. This is simply a very good indication of the most anticipated titles in japan, and BD is #8. As simple as that.

You can question the validity as long as you want, but truth is the very strong showing of Sony and Nintendo games show without a shadow of a doubt that this is not biased, And the simple fact is, if a 360 game was not in the top 10 these results would not be questioned.

It's pretty weak to see people scrambing for excuses as to why these polls are no longer valid, simply because they show strong support for a 360 game. Get over it! They are excited for this game! The world is not going to stop...

I don't see how a game can rank so high, in the most popular game magazine in japan, in a poll that is otherwise DOMINATED by nintendo and sony, and not have at least millions of gamers throughout the country looking forward to said game.

ps. the cheapshots at sakaguchi because of the FF movies are also a pathetic attempt to marginilize his skills as a developer. Sakaguchi's resume is littered with extreemly good quality innovative games, and the FF series it self has had more shitty games than good in the last 10 years, yet everyone is still very excited about the next FF games, so obviously a developer is allowed a mistake or two...no?

 

[OVERLORD]

Hardware/Software number from 28 Nov - 25 Dec in Japan courtesy of sarka @ revo-europe & cvxfreak @ ga-forum.

Hardware

DS - 1,447,719
PSP - 423,850
PS2 - 231,912
GBASP - 88,497
X360 - 81,770
GC - 71,473
GBM - 55,774
GBA - 2,669
Xbox - 548

Software (check the link below)

DS 3,813,469 (40.7%)
PS2 3,414,507 (36.4%)
GBA 1,052,516 (11.2%)
PSP 514,390 (5.5%)
GC 502,681 (5.4%)
X360 72,334 (0.8%)

http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=79552

^^ those are the software figure 1 - 100.

EDIT: Also, here are the JPN 2005 figures:

From 12/27/2004 - 12/25/2005

2005 TOP 10 SOFTWARE SALES
01 NDS Animal Crossing - 1,169,757
02 PS2 Gran Turismo - 1,022,000
03 NDS Brain Training - 1,011,341
04 NDS Nintendogs - 965,665
05 PS2 Winning Eleven 9 - 901,000
06 PS2 Dynasty Warriors 5 - 891,000
07 NDS Gentle Brain Exercises - 875,371
08 NDS Tamagotchi Corner Shop - 770,391
09 PS2 Kingdom Hearts 2 - 737,652
10 NDS Mario Kart DS - 669,575

2005 HARDWARE SALES
DS - 4,002,871
PSP - 2,225,799
PS2 - 2,134,863
GC - 305,000
XB360 - 81,770
XB - 13,186

2005 TOP 10 PUBLISHERS
01 Nintendo - 10,878,000 (includes Pokemon)
02 Bandai - 4,350,000
03 Konami - 3,530,000
04 SCE - 3,039,000
05 Square Enix - 2,969,000
06 Capcom - 2,590,000
07 Namco - 2,386,000
08 Sega - 1,825,000
09 Koei - 1,809,000
10 Banpresto - 1,530,000

Note: 28 Nov - 25 Dec

1. (DS, Nintendo) Oideyo Doubutsu no Mori - 834,332 / 1,169,757
2. (PS2, Square Enix) Kingdom Hearts II - 737,652 / new
3. (DS, Nintendo) Mario Kart DS - 669,575 / new
4. (PS2, Namco) Tales of the Abyss - 440,225 / new
5. (PS2, Capcom) biohazard 4 - 370,590 / new
6. (DS, Bandai) Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omisetchi - 368,436 / 770,391
7. (GBA, Pokemon) Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon: Aka no Kyuujoutai - 338,178 / 517,484
8. (DS, Pokemon) Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon: Ao no Kyuujoutai - 326,463 / 521,380
9. (PS2, SCE) Rogue Galaxy - 299,310 / new
10. (GBA, Capcom) Rockman EXE 6 Faltzer / Graygar - 241,834 / 432,119

11. (PSP, Capcom) Monster Hunter Portable - 233,783 / new
12. (PS2, Sega) Ryuu ga Gotoku - 232,650 / new
13. (DS, Nintendo) Nou wo Kitaeru Otona no DS Training - 215,731 / 1,011,341
14. (GC, Nintendo) Mario Party 7 - 199,145 / 329,633
15. (PS2, Bandai) Naruto: Narutimate Hero 3 - 194,372 / new
16. (DS, Nintendo) Yawaraka Atamajuku - 191,907 / 875,371
17. (DS, Nintendo) nintendogs Shiba / Dach / Chihuahua - 178,164 / 965,665
18. (DS, Square Enix) Slime Morimori Dragon Quest II - 176,218 / new
19. (DS, Bandai) Dragon Ball Z - 165,599 / new
20. (PS2, Hudson) Momotarou Dentetsu 15 - 149,550 / new

21. (GC, Tomy) Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen! 4 - 145,437 / 233,107
22. (DS, Nintendo) Dare Demo Asobi Taizen - 143,093 / 301,809
23. (GBA, Square Enix) Final Fantasy IV Advance - 134,148
24. (PS2, SCE) Ratchet and Clank 4th - 99,276 / 187,773
25. (DS, Sega) Mushiking Greatest Champion DS - 94,158 / new
26. (DS, Pokemon) Pokemon Trozei - 83,998 / 215,038
27. (PS2, Konami) Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence - 73,337 / new
28. (GBA, Nintendo) Super Donkey Kong 3 - 69,985 / new
29. (PS2, Konami) Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 12 Ketteiban - 64,354 / new
30. (DS, Nintendo) Super Princess Peach - 60,111 / 142,684

31. (PS2, Sega) Jissen Pachislot: Aladdin 2 Evolution - 57,1777 / new
32. (DS, Konami) Power Pro Kun Pocket 8 - 55,597 / new
33. (GC, Bandai) SD Gundam Gashapon Wars - 54,765 / new
34. (PS2, Namco) Taiko no Tatsujin Wai Wai Happy! 6th - 53,483 / new
35. (GC, Sega) BLEACH GC - 50,684 / new
36. (PSP, Koei) Geki Sengoku Musou - 50,684 / new
37. (PS2, Tecmo) Gallop Racer 8 Live Horse Racing - 48,726 / new
38. (GBA, Nintendo) Famicom Mini: Super Mario Brothers - 46,661 / 1,034,264
39. (PSP, Sega) Nouryoku Trainer Portable - 46,514 / 185,199
40. (DS, Nintendo) Jump Superstars - 44,223 / 464,076

41. (PS2, Bandai) Kidou Senshi Gundam SEED: Federation vs. ZAFT - 41,139 / 417,191
42. (DS, Nintendo) Sawaru Made in Wario 39,354 / 855,565
43. (X360, Namco) Ridge Racer 6 - 38,756 / new
44. (PSP, SCE) Minna no Golf Portable (PSP The Best) - 35,932 / 53,333
45. (GBA, Pokemon) Pokemon Emerald - 35,537 / 1,654,858
46. (DS, Bandai) Futari no Pretty Cure MaxHeart DANZEN - 30,048 / new
47. (PS2, Tecmo) Monster Farm 5 Circus Caravan - 33,876 / new
48. (GBA, Banpresto) Summon Night Craft Sword - 33,649 / new
49. (GBA, Sega) Mushiking - 31,743 / 629,902
50. (PS2, Konami) JLeague Winning Eleven 9 Asia Championship / 31,738 / 104,795

51. (PS2, Airem Software) Pachi Para 12 - 31,007 / new
52. (DS, Nintendo) Super Mario 64 DS - 30,845 / 814,108
53. (DS, Marvelous) Harvest Moon: Corobockle Station for Girls - 30,619 / new
54. (PS2, Genki) Ikusagami - 30,268 / 84,408
55. (PS2, Square Enix) Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (Ultimate Hits) - 30,075 / 80,709
56. (PS2, Daito Giken) Daito Giken Pachislot Simulator - 29,061 / 184,440
57. (PSP, Namco) Boku no Watashi no Katamari - 28,632 / new
58. (PS2, Koei) The One Jockey 4 - 27,157 / new
59. (PS2, Kadokawa Shoten) DCFS Da Capo Fall Seasons - 28,373 / new
60. (PS2, Namco) Soul Calibur III - 26,171 / 126,402

61. (DS, Nintendo) Tottoko Hamtarou DS - 25,723 / new
62. (PS2, EA) Need for Speed Underground - 24,157
63. (GBA, Pokemon) Pokemon Fire Red / Leaf Green - 24,122 / 2,580,513
64. (PS2, Banpresto) Yoshitsune-ki - 23,440 / new
65. (PSP, SCE) Talkman - 22,795 / 46,845
66. (PS2, Bandai) Kamen Rider - 22,605 / new
67. (PSP, Konami) Metal Gear Acid 2 - 22,234 / new
68. (GC, Pokemon) Pokemon XD: Yami no Senpuu Dark Lugia - 21,999 / 232,196
69. (PS2, Square Enix) Kingdom Hearts (Ultimate Hits) - 21,821 / 49,708
70. (PS2, Bandai) Dragon Ball Z Sparking - 21,207 / 532.690

71. (X360, Microsoft) Perfect Dark Zero - 20,760 / new
72. (PS2, Sega) Pachinko CR - 20,071 / new
73. (PSP, SCE) Piposaru Academia 2 - 19,789 / new
74. (DS, Nintendo) Touch! Kirby - 19,679 / 276,418
75. (PS2, SCE) Minna no Golf 4 (PS2 The Best) - 19,309 / 38,863
76. (PS2, SCE) Sarugetchu! 3 (PS2 The Best) - 18,860 / 33,569
77. (PS2, Konami) Prince of Tennis - 17,587 / new
78. (PS2, D3 Publisher) L-1 WORLD GP 2005 - 16,760 / new
79. (GC, Nintendo) Super Mario Stadium: Miracle Baseball - 16,604 / 211,661
80. (PSP, Konami) World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 Ubiquitous Evolution - 16,594 / 202,176

81. (DS, Konami) Croquet DS - 16,545 / new
82. (PS2, Konami) Akumajou Dracula Curse of Darkness - 14,877 / 42,926
83. (GBA, Konami) Yugioh Duel Monsters GX Mezase Duel King - 14,707 / 89,862
84. (GBA, Pokemon) Pokemon Ruby / Sapphire - 14,625 / 5,302,676
85. (GBA, Banpresto) Konjiki no Gashbell Dream Tag Tournament - 14,407 / 18,930
86. (GC, Konami) Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 12 Ketteiban - 14,047 / new
87. (PS2, Bandai) One Piece Pirate's Carnival - 13,990 / 22,918
88. (GBA, Nintendo) Mario Tennis Advance - 13,924 / 113,225
89. (GBA, Konami) Animal Yokochou - 13,616 / new
90. (PS2, SNK Playmore) Neo Geo Battle Colosseum - 13,243 / new

91. (GBA, Nintendo) Dr. Mario & Panel de Pon - 13,079 / 89,008
92. (DS, Tomy) Zoids Saga DS ~legend of arcadia~ - 13,051 / new
93. (PSP, Namco) Tales of Eternia (PSP The Best) - 12,985 / new
94. (X360, EA) Need for Speed Underground - 12,818 / new
95. (PS2, Sega) Puyo Puyo Fever 2 - 12,605 / 18,300
96. (PSP, Konami) Eyeshield 21 - 12,418 / new
97. (PSP, Namco) Ridge Racers (PSP The Best) - 12,410 / 17,040
98. (GBA, MTO) Ochainu no Bouken Jima - 12,301 / new
99. (PSP, Capcom) Irregular Hunter X - 12,038 / new
100. (PS2, Spike) - Kenka Banchou (PS2 The Best) 11,990 / new

 

[OVERLORD]

double post!