XBox 360 launched in Japan

[one]

I don't know how any true RPG fan can pass up on the 3 Mistwalker titles coming up, the genre is stale with only a few developers really releasing great RPG's.

A "true RPG fan" sounds like "hardcore".

The japanese #'s are pretty poor that's for sure, but it's too early to count anything out. in the last 3 weeks 360 has sold about 20% of what the xbox sold over it's entire lifetime, it really depends on MS's big guns, the next year should see:
- Mistwalker(Sakaguchi) - Blue Dragon
- Q Entertainment(Tetsuya Mizuguchi) - Ninety Nine Nights
- Game Republic (Yoichi Okamoto) - Armored Core 4
- Team Ninja - DOA4

These are the men that MS has bought, to make 360 a success in japan. If 360 is too have any success in Japan this year, it rides on the shoulders of those developers, DOA is already out it's very good, but it's not enough.

Armored Core 4 is developed by From Software for PS3/Xbox 360. Game Republic (Yoshiki Okamoto) is making an untitiled Xbox 360 title while its Every Party sold 641(!) copies in its first week. DOA4 is already out and failed to make an impact as you see in the previous page of this thread.

As for Blue Dragon, it will help to hype up the console sales above 1,000 units a week unlike those of the original Xbox.

This week PGR3 and eM RPG were released, you'll see the result in the next week.

Are there really 80K people who didnt have a PS2 that now are buying one for the first time? I wonder if a lot of these people are buying 2nd systems, cheap DVD players, replacing old broken ones, etc?

The nature tells me, there are new children to reach a certain age each year, and it's the holiday season.

 

[dantruon]

I consider myself a true RPG fan, but first let´s see if those games are any good, no?

i agreed, the rpg name are unproven franchise even though the people behind it are genious but gamer need to play the game first. So just let wait and see. However i think the best chance of any success for the xbox360 in Japan is for them to released the game before the PS3 is release for obvious reason if not all hell will break loose.

 

[Nicked]

I think this is the last time this needs to be done in a while because the two signifcant titles were released this week with nothing else coming for a while (IIRC).

Sales are estimates, I'll edit in "proper" numbers when MC updates their site.

Enchart Arm - 13th on chart ~20k sales
Project Gotham Racing 3 - 18th on chart ~14k sales

Xbox360 ~5k units sold

http://eg.nttpub.co.jp/rank/total_rank.html

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Well, looks like nothing is going to save the X360 in Japan. Enchant Arm did better than I expected though.
I've thought about this a little bit and I don't believe it will have much impact on Japanese publishers releasing their normal western-centric games over here. It will make the X360 Japanese lineup a barren wasteland outside of MS's own offerings though.

 

[Powderkeg]

I think this is the last time this needs to be done in a while because the two signifcant titles were released this week with nothing else coming for a while (IIRC).

Sales are estimates, AND ONLY SHOW 3 DAYS WORTH OF eM AND PGR3 SALES.

Enchart Arm - 13th on chart ~20k sales
Project Gotham Racing 3 - 18th on chart ~14k sales

http://eg.nttpub.co.jp/rank/total_rank.html

I fixed that for you, and where is your link for the 5k systems claim? I would like to see the link that says that they've dropped another 2,500 units per week in sales despite releasing 2 games in the top 20 during the week. (2 games that made it to the top 20 for the week, despite only having 3 days worth of sales in that week mind you.)

 

[scooby_dooby]

Where's the 5k systems sold from?

Enchant Arm, 20k in 3 days is pretty good I think.

 

[mckmas8808]

Where's the 5k systems sold from?

Enchant Arm, 20k in 3 days is pretty good I think.

It is pretty decent giving the total number of X360's sold. But if the 5,000 unit number is true my god.

 

[scooby_dooby]

It is pretty decent giving the total number of X360's sold. But if the 5,000 unit number is true my god.

From the glass if half full POV, 3rd straight week they out-sold the original XBOX's #'s in the same week.

So, despite very poor initial sales, it looks to have more momentum in the weeks following launch. Which was totally predictable, but nonetheless a positive sign.

 

[Bobbler]

From the glass if half full POV, 3rd straight week they out-sold the original XBOX's #'s in the same week.

So, despite very poor initial sales, it looks to have more momentum in the weeks following launch. Which was totally predictable, but nonetheless a positive sign.

I don't mean to 'tip over the glass', but they still haven't beaten Xbox's original launch week sales. 5k units isn't exactly momentum. Those sales are laughable at best for a next gen console which has no real competition yet. Optimism doesn't have to replace being realistic -- the sales are horrible, but the important thing is that it gets some japanese support, right? (I imagine this is what you guys care about?) Having awful sales in japan doesn't necessarily preclude it from getting a lot more distinctly japanese titles. Mistwalker, Team Ninja, some capcom, some namco, and some square? titles will come -- I'd say they are doing better in terms of support, but lets not hide behind optimism.

 

[scooby_dooby]

Ya but the XBOX had a very strong launch line-up, and very good sales #'s in the first couple of weeks. It quickly died though, and do this day 1/4 of all xbox's sold were sold in that first week.

Nobody was expecting the 360 to match the XBOX's launch #'s in the first couple of weeks, it had a weaker launch line-up, and a bad repuation to boot.

It's expected that it will slowly gain momentum as more games become available, we're sort of seeing that as interest is already sustained beyond what xbox1 was able to generate, it can only be expected to increase as N3 is released soon (#29 most wanted) and BD comes out in a couple of months(#8 most wanted) and other games trickle out.

What they really need to hit though it more like 50k-100k/month, so this 20k/month is very weak, we'll see if it picks up or not.

 

[Bobbler]

Ya but the XBOX had a very strong launch line-up, and very good sales #'s in the first couple of weeks. It quickly died though, and do this day 1/4 of all xbox's sold were sold in that first week.

Nobody was expecting the 360 to match the XBOX's launch #'s in the first couple of weeks, it had a weaker launch line-up, and a bad repuation to boot.

It's expected that it will slowly gain momentum as more games become available, we're sort of seeing that as interest is already sustained beyond what xbox1 was able to generate, it can only be expected to increase as N3 is released soon (#29 most wanted) and BD comes out in a couple of months(#8 most wanted) and other games trickle out.

What they really need to hit though it more like 50k-100k/month, so this 20k/month is very weak, we'll see if it picks up or not.

And what do you expect to happen to X360 when PS3 and Rev hit?

Additionally, those "most wanted" lists often don't tell the entire story (as the sales of said games rarely reflect their "wantedness" on the lists -- it's also a small subsection of people who are voting). For example: PSP was the most "wanted" (planned to purchase during the holidays), and beat the DS by quite a bit in the poll... what actually happened was nothing like the poll suggested (I'm not suggesting that they won't sell, just that it isn't necessarily good to draw conclusions based of the polls).

Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to be negative here, but, it's hard not to given the topic.

If you want japanese games, why would you buy an Xbox anyways? I just don't understand -- why not buy a console that already has it in spades rather than hoping for the world to change... it's not very logical! I suppose similar oddities happen on both sides, though, so I can't blame anyone. I digress. (let me clarify: I'm not saying there aren't actual reasons to buy an Xbox, it's just Japanese support is not one of them -- incase anyone takes this the wrong way)

 

[Nicked]

Where's the 5k systems sold from?

Enchant Arm, 20k in 3 days is pretty good I think.

2ch, and yeah, I do too, but I thought it might have some impact on hardware sales. Btw, sales might be as high as 6k, these are just rough (early) figures.

It's expected that it will slowly gain momentum as more games become available,

Thats kinda being the point of these updates every week, these new games aren't having much impact.

Also, the Xbox sold 4.3k in its sixth week, its not going to be a massive difference either way.

 

[one]

From the glass if half full POV, 3rd straight week they out-sold the original XBOX's #'s in the same week.

That's negligible as the launch week sales of the Xbox 1 were 3 times that of the Xbox 360 and account for 25% of the total Xbox sales in Japan to this day. Now, there are no significant Xbox 360 games to be released in Jan/Feb. IIRC the Xbox 1 had $100 price drop 3 months after the launch in Japan, let's see what Microsoft plans this time.

 

[scooby_dooby]

That's negligible as the launch week sales of the Xbox 1 were 3 times that of the Xbox 360 and account for 25% of the total Xbox sales in Japan to this day. Now, there are no significant Xbox 360 games to be released in Jan/Feb. IIRC the Xbox 1 had $100 price drop 3 months after the launch in Japan, let's see what Microsoft plans this time.

You won't see a price drop, what you may see is N3, Rumble Roses, Chromehounds, and Blue Dragon released by march, and the sales steadily climbing...maybe.

Like I said XBOX had an extremely good launch, but no good japanese titles post-launch. It's the opposite situation now, with a very weak launch, yet quite a few japanese game post-launch, so we'll have to see how it plays out.

 

[one]

You won't see a price drop, what you may see is N3, Rumble Roses, Chromehounds, and Blue Dragon released by march, and the sales steadily climbing...maybe.

Like I said XBOX had an extremely good launch, but no good japanese titles post-launch. It's the opposite situation now, with a very weak launch, yet quite a few japanese game post-launch, so we'll have to see how it plays out.

Rumble Roses XX (3/30) may be as good as DOA4 in terms of sales stimulation, but Blue Dragon is nowhere near the release.

As MS doesn't sell Core System in Japan now, instead of a price drop they can release it. But with piles of Xbox 360 in stock in game stores now, it's unlikely for them to confuse the distribution further.

 

[scooby_dooby]

Rumble Roses XX (3/30)

lol...I wonder if XXX was just deemed too raunchy! So they toned it down to XX

On a related note:

January 19, 2006 - The Xbox 360 hasn't been performing all that well over in Japan, but perhaps things will turn around as new releases make it out to retail. This past week, we learned of release dates for two of the system's more anticipated titles.

First up, because it's probably a bigger draw for American audiences, is Rumble Roses XX. Konami will release the next generation installment in its all girls wrestling series to Japan on 3/30, 18 and up rating and a 7,329 yen price point in tow. The game features four player Online battles and two player Online play during story mode.

The second title probably won't make it to America, but we're sure gamers in Japan are excited about it. The Xbox 360 will get its second Japanese RPG on 3/23 in the form of Tengai Makyo Ziria. Unlike the recently released Enchant Arm, this title isn't original. It's actually a remake of a classic PC Engine CD RPG, a game that ranks among the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest titles as one of Japan's most favorite games of all time.

We'll have full coverage on both titles nearing their release.

What's the scoop on "Tengai Makyo Ziria" ? Hot....or not?

Edit: Ahh, "far east of eden" now I know what they are talking about. trailer:
http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/761/761526/vids_1.html

 

[Sis]

Thats kinda being the point of these updates every week, these new games aren't having much impact.

Even if we did see a blip in the hardware sales due to a particular game's release I would not for a moment consider it anything other than a blip. If come February/March Xbox 360 is still selling about 20k a month, I'd say it has the potential to explode. Of course, with the PS3 right around the corner, it probably won't matter.

 

[Nicked]

Maybe. It did drop down to about 10k a month in its third month until Halo was released then a pricedrop...so if its doing 20k with nothing maybe there is potential. I would want to hedge my bets though.

Btw, Media Create released their figures.

PSP 57,686
DS 54,284 (shortage)
PS2 39,076
GBASP 9,982
GBM 6,341
Xbox360 6,107
GC 5,465
GBA 233
Xbox 119

MC site

 

[mckmas8808]

Gamecube and the X360 seem to be going back and forth there in Japan. I wonder what next week will look like. The PS2 is still selling big time though MAN!

 

[avaya]

Gamecube and the X360 seem to be going back and forth there in Japan. I wonder what next week will look like. The PS2 is still selling big time though MAN!

PS2 sales have been rather flat since PS3 was announced.

 

[inefficient]

Maybe. It did drop down to about 10k a month in its third month until Halo was released then a pricedrop...so if its doing 20k with nothing maybe there is potential. I would want to hedge my bets though.

Btw, Media Create released their figures.

MC site

Interesting
Enchant Arm ($66) at #13
and PGR3 ($61) at #18
That's not too bad...

This is interesting too. The #5 game is a ps2 game which costs $111 USD
Gunparade Orchestra: White Chapter (incl. Limited Edition)

But probably most interesting is that DOA4, the game that was going to save the 360, did not even make it to the top50.