Still No Japanese Love for Xbox 360?

[TheBigL]

After getting a whooping 2 percent (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3531) of Japan's entire game-playing audience interested in their Xbox 360, the popularity of Microsoft's new toy continues to rise (or something like that).

The popularity of Microsoft's Xbox 360 is on the rise in Japan, but it's still far from competing with Sony's PlayStation 3, according to marketing research company Infoplant. The latest survey conducted by the market research firm has found that the number of gamers interested in the Xbox 360 nearly tripled over the past two months, with 5.8 percent saying they have interest in the next-generation console. In a similar survey conducted in early July, only 2 percent of respondents said they were looking forward to the Xbox 360.

The PlayStation 3 continued to be the top pick among Japanese gamers, with 72.3 percent saying they are considering purchasing the console. Nintendo's Revolution came in at second place at 21.9 percent, well up from the 8 percent in the previous survey.
Read the full story at Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/09/12/news_6132997.html).

[Bushido]

99% of all statistics are just made up.

[TheBigL]

Well... Lets face it. It sounds very accurate. Basing on the original Xbox and japan relationship right now.

[Orphiuchus]

The Japanese are a lot more loyal to local companies than we are in America.

Even if the Japanese companies do jerk them around and lie, and even if the hardware coming from over here is superior.

Not to say that microsoft doesn't lie, but sony has had quite a run lately.

[B_Money]

99% of all statistics are just made up.

84% of Americans know that.

[A-Team]

The Japanese are going to get it last this year anyway, so it really doesn't matter what the statistics show.

[Zeal]

The reality is that the Japanese people will support Japanese products at all costs. They can not afford for American companies to get their foot in the door; their economy depends on it. This is why an American videogame console will never succeed in Japan.

Then again, with the success of the Xbox worldwide, the Japanese game industry is becoming increasingly irrelevant to an international market. Microsoft can quickly make up their losses in Europe and Asia.

And guess what, if the 360 outsells PS3 everywhere but Japan (which it probably won't) they will become irrelevant.

A Japanese dominated industry is not good for innovation or progression. I would much rather see a Western or international driven game industry.

[TheBigL]

The Japanese are a lot more loyal to local companies than we are in America.

Even if the Japanese companies do jerk them around and lie, and even if the hardware coming from over here is superior.

Not to say that microsoft doesn't lie, but sony has had quite a run lately.

and

The reality is that the Japanese people will support Japanese products at all costs. They can not afford for American companies to get their foot in the door; their economy depends on it. This is why an American videogame console will never triumph in Japan.


Guys, guys you got it all are wrong.
Its not like that Japanese sapport thier own products, so thats why Xbox fails to achive anything in japan, its more like Xbox does not support Japan (almost) at all.

Why would anyone would like to buy a console, that have mostly games that does not appeal to them? thats the case with Xbox.
Microsoft knows that thats why they are making it this time Japan friendly.

Its really not Japanese people fault.

[NoName]

99% of all statistics are just made up.
Well 100% of the things you read on the internet is true!

As it so happens, I'm an attractive millionare plotting to take over the world.

[mkelehan]

Again, people are interpreting this wrong. The survey asks what console you're MOST interested in. Note how the percentages add up to 100. Just because they're interested in PS3 or Rev more doesn't mean they're not interested in the 360 at all. Most 360 owners will almost definitely have other systems too.

[Zeal]

and




Guys, guys you got it all are wrong.
Its not like that Japanese sapport thier own products, so thats why Xbox fails to achive anything in japan, its more like Xbox does not support Japan (almost) at all.

Why would anyone would like to buy a console, that have mostly games that does not appeal to them? thats the case with Xbox.
Microsoft knows that thats why they are making it this time Japan friendly.

Its really not Japanese people fault.

Considering 360 already has big name Japanese developers signed on and making games, and considering polls are essentially the same, your theory is wrong.

It's nothing more than brand loyalty.

[Kelegacy]

I think if maybe the Xbox catered to more Japanese gamers (Halo and GTA arent going to cut it) then maybe they'd be more liable to pick up the system. As it stands, most Japanese gamers dont enjoy Western games as much as we do (obviously). Plus, the original Xbox weighed about as much as an average Japanese person. They dont like their stuff big and bulky.

Still, to ignore Japan is idiocy. MS is trying, but it's not working. Doesnt matter to me, I'll be picking up a PS3 for the Japanese material alone. And later, an Xbox for western content. And a Revolution for 1st party goodness.

[TheBigL]

Considering 360 already has big name Japanese developers signed on and making games, and considering polls are essentially the same, your theory is wrong.

It's nothing more than brand loyalty.

Thats what I was saying. :D

Why would anyone would like to buy a console, that have mostly games that does not appeal to them? thats the case with Xbox

I am talking about the currect xbox.

Microsoft knows that thats why they are making it this time Japan friendly

Thats the case with xbox360 ;)

[Zeal]

I'll request Microsoft put in more underage girls and panty shots, then. Should help the system sell.

Let me get Bungie on a dating sim, too.

Oh, and can't forget the horse racing sims. Check.

[TheBigL]

bullseye Zeal ;)

But you forgot to check the anime series games.
and 3 billion Japanese RPGs lol :)

[Kelegacy]

I'll request Microsoft put in more underage girls and panty shots, then. Should help the system sell.

Let me get Bungie on a dating sim, too.

Oh, and can't forget the horse racing sims. Check.

Misconception. Just like the arguement that Japanese people are perverts with their tentacle hentai porn. That's a small(er) group of people that you are talking about. You cant lump everyone into the same category. To say they are all crazy anime, panty mongers is the same as them thinking we all carry shotguns, wear cowboy hats and American flag shirts, and talk like inbred hicks.

[Dirty Harry]

Misconception. Just like the arguement that Japanese people are perverts with their tentacle hentai porn. That's a small(er) group of people that you are talking about. You cant lump everyone into the same category. To say they are all crazy anime, panty mongers is the same as them thinking we all carry shotguns, wear cowboy hats and American flag shirts, and talk like inbred hicks.
wha chu talkin bout son?

[TrackZero]

And once again, it's a statistic where if I'm a Japanese gamer, they only let me choose ONE console for the survey. You can't buy two. Therefore the stat is skewed. Besides, all the 360 needs is 10% of the market to get it's foot in the door for it's launch. At that point it needs to win over Japan by having a great system with actual games once launched. The numbers will fall into line afterwards.

[Zeal]

lol besides the fact that hentai games make up a huge majority of overall Japanese game sales, but ok.

[Orphiuchus]

Eh, the xbox 360 may be amazing, but will it get the Japanese gamers away from their sex simulators and tentacle rape cosplay? I think not. The problem is that every single Japanese person is a sex pervert. Every single one of them. Right down to the kids and elderly. Even the dogs are all weird sex perverts(until they get eaten).

Now I know what someone is going to say, and I'll just address it now. No, I'm not expressing a disgusting destructive stereotype that devides us in a world where unity is all to rare as it is. Sex Perverts.

[MosBen]

I guess I'm the only one that thinks tripling your support in two months when you haven't even released anything is a pretty good step in the right direction. All Japanese have to base their experience with MS consoles on is the Xbox 1, which wasn't targetted very well for the Japanese market, so it should be expect that they're skeptical. It's the numbers 6 months and a year after release that I'm interested in.

[Zeal]

Look, man. They sell hentai games on the DS. Need I say more?

[KNOTE]

In the free market, it's the product that decides success. As Mircosoft will soon learn, if they acquired the correct products, then people will buy it. If you make something that people can live without, then you will not be successful.

My guess is the identified what they need to at least be competetive with nintendo over there and spent the money on it. They are not shooting for #1.

[splatstick]

two precent?

Guys, run it through Word or something before you post, that's just a little embarassing to be on the front page

[Kelegacy]

Look, man. They sell hentai games on the DS. Need I say more?

That should be perfectly fine. Animated porn. But here in America, we are too stuffy to release shit like that. Sex=the devil. I bet games that had sexual content would sell pretty good, if stores would actually carry the shit.

I'd like to see some huge retail gaming chain pop into existence and just put an adjoining room for adult games in the back of the store, for people over 18. They do that in video stores. EB and Gamestop are pussies and try to abide by ridiculous Wal-Mart rules, so if one store continued to sell certain games like the unedited GTA:SA and profited off it, the others would probably have to follow suit or be hurt. I know i'd shop there more often just to support a company like that.

[Crabby]

The mere fact that the Revolution has accrued so much interest simply by it's Nintendo brand name alone illustrates the rationale that drives the Japanese consumer. That is to say, if we're going to entertain the validity and sample accuracy of these numbers.

[Achilles]

Gamespot can believe what it wants (or find statistics to back what they want to believe, like this one). Japanese developers are much less interested in the PS3 than the 360. For gamers, they’ll go where the games are. Right now they’re most interested in the PS3 because Playstation has had the most Japanese games in the past.

[Chris_D]

6% is pretty good if you ask me, particularly in light on the past xbox success. The revolution numbers have also gone up a bit too. And most of you are spot on, more games like DOAXBV would push 360s out the door. It may be only targeting part of the market but it's definitely a big market.

The increase from 2%-6% also suggests that Microsoft's publicity campaign is having some effect. I really don't know what else MS could be doing. You could say they should just buy Square or something, but the reality is even if they did that then all the talent would leave and Japanese gamers would boycott the company anyway. It's better to take a softly softly approach, building up partnerships and alliances.

[KamaItachi]

Look, man. They sell hentai games on the DS. Need I say more?

Any pray tell what games are those?

[Achilles]

Any pray tell what games are those?I'm with you. Has there ever been a hentai game released on a Nintendo console? Saturn had most of them from what I recall. But usually they come out on PC.

[KamaItachi]

No, there hasn't. I'm sure he's thinking of that stupid Rio De Carnival game which was a Pachinko/Gambling simulator with some slightly dodgy mini-games. Most Hentai games are PC titles, not console.

On top of that, most the companies have cleaned up their act from the days of the PSX and Saturn, actually Sega especially cut down on all of that about halfway through the Saturn's life.

[bobbler]

Contrary to popular belief, Japanese people, much like European or American counterparts, will purchase products based on what they offer, not who it is made by. I'm not sure where you people get these crazy ideas about Japanese people. It's amazing the stereotypes that get plastered on japanese people on this forum, thankfully they aren't bad -- just a bit ignorant. If Xbox360 got enough developer support (namely DQ and FF series, which apparently isn't happening -- at least not the main series') you better believer Japanese gamers would buy one.

[KamaItachi]

Contrary to popular belief, Japanese people, much like European or American counterparts will purchase products based on what they offer, not who it is made by. I'm not sure where you people get these crazy ideas about Japanese people. It's amazing the stereotypes that get plastered on japanese people on this forum, thankfully they aren't bad -- just a bit ignorant. If Xbox360 got enough developer support (namely DQ and FF series, which apparently isn't happening -- at least not the main series') you better believer Japanese gamers would buy one.

I find your blanket statements about the Japanese being a rational and free-thinking nation ill-founded and ignorant.

sheesh, this forum... where the hell do people get the idea that other people in the world might actually be more similar to themselves than the media might portray?

[Deadend]

Get Square Enix to put Dragon Warrior 10 on X360. Or at least introduce Japanese companies to the concept of multi-platform simultanious releases. It will BLOW THEIR MINDS!!!

Really, japanese studio's are so anti-port it's aggravating, if it was just american/euro companies, only 1st party games would be system-exclusive.

MS would gain major marketshare if they could get out a SDK that makes it easy to try and port from PS3 to X360, just to make it easier for games to come on the X360.

[Zeal]

It's about exclusives. Besides, releasing FFWhatever on 360/PS3 at the same time wouldn't really do much, considering all of Japan would buy the PS3 version.

Also, as Gabe Newell has stated, Sony is making is as difficult as possible on developers to port PS3 games to 360. The code just doesn't transfer over right, and the architecture is too different. It also takes too much time and money to simultaneously develop the same game for both consoles.

Much like this generation, I expect big-name exclusive titles to decide the victor.

But on a positive note, I expect most multi-platform games to look almost identical this generation, simply based on the fact that the hardware is much closer in performance. Porting from Xbox to PS2 is usually a big loss in the graphics department, but it won't be the same with 360 to PS3 and visa-versa.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

I actually prefer that most games remain exclusive. This way they can cater to the particular strengths of that system. This last gen full of watered down PS2 ports really made me wary of any multiplatform titles.

[Paltry]

why are japanese such dicks

[Vandenh]

Just give a free iPod with every 360 in Japan. Bye bye Sony.

[Chris_D]

And that wouldn't make the ms shareholders scream blue murder :p. Nice idea though.

[Zeal]

Do the Japanese even embrace the iPod? Seeing as how it owned them and all.

[KamaItachi]

Do the Japanese even embrace the iPod? Seeing as how it owned them and all.

What?

In answer to the coherent part of your question...

They're up against stiff competition with sony's brand of MP3 players, but the iPod Nano seems to have sold out all over Tokyo in a matter of about 2 days. Apple goes down quite well over here.

[Kelegacy]

Get Square Enix to put Dragon Warrior 10 on X360. Or at least introduce Japanese companies to the concept of multi-platform simultanious releases. It will BLOW THEIR MINDS!!!

Really, japanese studio's are so anti-port it's aggravating, if it was just american/euro companies, only 1st party games would be system-exclusive.

MS would gain major marketshare if they could get out a SDK that makes it easy to try and port from PS3 to X360, just to make it easier for games to come on the X360.


I hate ports. I prefer exclusives. Porting usually waters down a product, either with the port or the original title, knowning that a port is inevitable.

[Eon]

Zeal

n 1: a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause); "they were imbued with a revolutionary ardor"; "he felt a kind of religious zeal" [syn: ardor, ardour, elan] 2: excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end; "he had an absolute zeal for litigation"


Quite frankly the irony is staggering. Now I'm just trying to work out if you REALLY think like that and you think it's a good thing, or whether you're playing a bizarre Reality TV style roleplaying game.

[Xerxes]

Ok if Tecmo was able to push hundreds of thousands of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive games, I'm sure with all the new support there getting not to mention Square being on 360 as well, the 360 should go over somewhat better than the original one day.

[Xerxes]

Here's soemthing I've been thinking about for a while...

Would Xbox be MORE popular if Microsoft had just spun off another company instead of slapping their name on it. Kinda like how Ford spun off Mercury. Hell all car companies have their normal line and another brand for there upper crust.

Just wondering if you didn't DIRECTLY say pfft that's microsoft, look at the MS stamp on the boxes, and on there website, and stuff like that would people not hate on it as much.

[saran_js]

Also, as Gabe Newell has stated, Sony is making is as difficult as possible on developers to port PS3 games to 360. The code just doesn't transfer over right, and the architecture is too different. It also takes too much time and money to simultaneously develop the same game for both consoles.

Gabe is a dick. WTF is he talking about... when he should know that the architectures of the Xbox360 and the PS3 are totally different. How can one easily port over to the other, if there is no basis between the two.
He is trying to promote steam not port games on to these platforms.

[MasterKwan]

Not quite hentai

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007SV6R6/ref=pd_bxgy_text_2_cp/026-5650566-5655633

[mister_slim]

They're up against stiff competition with sony's brand of MP3 players, but the iPod Nano seems to have sold out all over Tokyo in a matter of about 2 days. Apple goes down quite well over here.
Remember MS mentioning that Japanese focus groups thought the 360 could only come from Sony or Apple? Good design is universal. Not that it's helped Apple sell computers in Japan, though.

[KamaItachi]

I didn't actually read that but I'd like to see the article unless it was just a throwaway comment about the design. I'm not sure how well Apple computers sell here, but they're incredible popular nonetheless. They're very much seen as a luxury item and they're really frinking expensive, but the nerds clamour for them. The apple shops here are set up in a minimalist style, almost like boutique shops.

The most popular selling computers are actually probably the Sony Vaio because they're marketed as a simple, easy to use machine. It's weird... as technocentric as Japan is, they also have some of the most clueless people on the planet when it comes to things like computers. Sony sell the Vaio with the idea that since you can only use Sony products, so there's no confusion about anything. You need new peripherals, well you can only use Sony ones, so there's no confusion, no incompatability problems. Everything's very clean cut.

[mister_slim]

I didn't actually read that but I'd like to see the article unless it was just a throwaway comment about the design. I'm not sure how well Apple computers sell here, but they're incredible popular nonetheless. They're very much seen as a luxury item and they're really frinking expensive, but the nerds clamour for them. The apple shops here are set up in a minimalist style, almost like boutique shops.

The most popular selling computers are actually probably the Sony Vaio because they're marketed as a simple, easy to use machine. It's weird... as technocentric as Japan is, they also have some of the most clueless people on the planet when it comes to things like computers. Sony sell the Vaio with the idea that since you can only use Sony products, so there's no confusion about anything. You need new peripherals, well you can only use Sony ones, so there's no confusion, no incompatability problems. Everything's very clean cut.
I think this (http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20050712/sheffield_01.shtml) is the right article. That's the way all the Apple stores are. And it sounds like Sony is using the Mac bullet points for their Vaio marketing.