Dead or Alive 4 Delayed

[bean19]

According to Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6140447.html), Dead or Alive 4 will miss the Japanese X360 launch scheduled for December 10th. It will drop a week to December 17th.

Earlier this month, From Software announced that its maiden Xbox 360 RPG Enchant Arm would be missing the launch, pushed back until January. Today, Tecmo announced that its fighting game Dead or Alive 4, already delayed from the launch lineup in America, would similarly slip a week in Japan, to December 17. The company cited unexpected last-minute adjustments as the reason for the delay.

But where the American launch was supported by 18 games even after the delays of 2K Games' RPG Oblivion and Dead or Alive 4, the 360 is now going to hit Japanese shelves with just six titles in tow, listed below. In addition to having fewer 360 games to play on their new consoles, Japanese customers will also have fewer original Xbox titles to choose from, thanks to the system's limited backward compatibility in that country. Japanese gamers will only be able to play a dozen Xbox games on their 360s, compared to more than 200 for American 360 owners.
While Gamespot's story does not speak about the American release, it appears to be delayed at least two days as well, as Gamestop (http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=200121) is now estimating the release date as 12/08. I called a local Gamestop and confirmed this later than expected date. However, Gamespot, EB Games, and Gametab are still reporting the original U.S. release.

Only six games at release, but one week isn't that long to wait. Microsoft has stated that they only plan between 100-200K units for Japan at release, so I'm still expecting units to sell out. They are still getting the highly rated Perfect Dark Zero at release, and will be receiving DoA 4 within a week. Also, while Enchant Arm is being delayed until January, I'm sure Japanese RPG fans are as used to delays as we are. After waiting for Kingdom Hearts II and Final Fantasy XII for literally years, I scoff at one month. In fact, I'd even describe my scoffing as derisive.

[Switcher]

Jesus man, which article did you read? While MS has done everything in their power to let everyone know the 360 existed, looks like they're already giving up in Japan. 6 titles huh, wowza, don't strain yourself guys! The whole point of paying off those ex-square employees to make those RPGS for the system, is that MS has to prove the system can sell. And I somehow don't think they're going to succeed at launch with a FPS, Need for Speed, and Tetris. DOA4 might move 50,000 consoles at the most the week after....and I'm being generous here.

[Heretic Machine]

Quite frankly, I just don't care about Japan. It's far from the largest gaming population, and Microsoft is going to be hitting the rest of the world quite strong. Japanese gamers are, and this is something I've always said, nationalistic. I'd say they are probably the same way with cars and other home electronics too. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing entirely, it's good to support your country's economy (and we all know Japan really needs that) but it's certainly not an indication of quality.

They aren't going to accept the 360. They never were going to accept the 360. You could launch with Dragon Quest IX and still not push the 360 on these guys, that's just the way it is.

[makkura]

You could launch with Dragon Quest IX and still not push the 360 on these guys


oh man you had credibility until you said that. :p

[bean19]

oh man you had credibility until you said that. :p

I have to agree. Great post Perigon. . . except for the underestimation of Dragon Quest in the Japanese market.

[RMan]

oh man you had credibility until you said that. :p
Well, technically he's likely right, if it was still on the PS2. If it was a 360 exclusive, then that's a different story.

[Heretic Machine]

Ya, I may of pulled a bit of hyperbole with that Dragon Quest thing... You could probably launch a console named "Boot Up Your Anus" with DQIX and still have it sell quite well in Japan. But name the second most popular title in Japan, and just put that in place of DQIX with what I said :p

[bean19]

Ya, I may of pulled a bit of hyperbole with that Dragon Quest thing... You could probably launch a console named "Boot Up Your Anus" with DQIX and still have it sell quite well in Japan. But name the second most popular title in Japan, and just put that in place of DQIX with what I said :p

I'd like to launch a system titled "U.S. pwns; Japan sux0rs!" with a DQ IX exclusive just to see what would happen. :)

[Serapth]

Ya, I may of pulled a bit of hyperbole with that Dragon Quest thing... You could probably launch a console named "Boot Up Your Anus" with DQIX and still have it sell quite well in Japan. But name the second most popular title in Japan, and just put that in place of DQIX with what I said :p

From some of the things Ive heard about Japan, calling your console "Boot up Your Anus" would probrably sell consoles regardless to if it had DQ or not! :D

[Serapth]

I'd like to launch a system titled "U.S. pwns; Japan sux0rs!" with a DQ IX exclusive just to see what would happen. :)

It would probrably get translated to "American gamer that blows Japanese gamers" and sell like hotcakes!

[aversion2k]

So

whos looking forward to the dead or alive movie *giggles*

[Hellstorm]

Is that a comment or an essay?

[Ervin]

I'm just really surprised about MSs effort in japan - like Switcher said, looks like they're already giving up. And I do care about japanese gamers, and especially the game developers there - some of the best stuff comes from Japan. And it's always better to have wide range of customers, so you're not stuck with just FPSs and racing games because that's all your customers are supposed to like.

[MrMeatshake]

Quite frankly, I just don't care about Japan. It's far from the largest gaming population.

exquise me? isn't japan the second largest 'gaming population' in the world after your good selves? so - it's patently NOT far from the largest...

[TRiLoGY]

exquise me? isn't japan the second largest 'gaming population' in the world after your good selves? so - it's patently NOT far from the largest...

yeah, I would agree with that.. :)

[KamaItachi]

Can we put the "Japan hates American things" arguement to bed, please? Or at least leave it on the GameFAQs boards where it belongs.

The reasons the bos failed are pretty straightforward.

1) It launched last of the three and was more expensive, Microsoft's grand plan on release was to have a special limited edition box that cost more and was hideously ugly and even bigger. At launch 2) It had one of the shittiest collection of launch games in existence. the PS2 and 'cube launches were far from stellar, but they still kicked the vile collection of smegma that was MS's trump card of games designed to capture the Japanese audience. Even Halo, the killer app for the U.S. and Europe wasn't released until a good few months later. 3) It had lipservice support from big developers, half-baked games that were supposed to show Japanese designer's dedication to the platform. When these failed to sell, other projects were cancelled and Capcom et all shrugged their shoulders and moved back to the PS2. 4) The mediocre line up didn't get much bigger, but got a whole lot worse. Very few of the big name titles ever made it over, no KotoR, the GTA series came out almost a year and a half later than the U.S. release to no fanfare. Plenty of low grade crap quickly ported over didn't help the public's opinion either. 5) It was marketed badly, pretty much the only thing that the console had going for it was the DOA series, which was milked with incredibly creepy Kasumi life-size pillow style limited edition machines.

In summary, the reason xbox failed was because MS themselves fucked it up very badly. The very fact that they have about 20% of consumers saying that they would be tempted to give it a try just shows the ground they've made in the lead up to the 360. I've mentioned this before, but at present there are between 2-3 games still hovering in the Most wanted List of Famitsu.

Will this delay hurt MS? Probably not too much. It's only a matter of days and other systems have launched with a much worse line-up than this. DOA has been getting a shit load of hype, but I think Ridge Racer will be the other big game over PD0.

[Heretic Machine]

exquise me? isn't japan the second largest 'gaming population' in the world after your good selves? so - it's patently NOT far from the largest...

I'm pretty sure the entire European continent comprises a bit larger portion of the gaming world.

Can we put the "Japan hates American things" arguement to bed, please? Or at least leave it on the GameFAQs boards where it belongs.

Queit down J-fan, go watch some more anime.

[Twigz'N'Berries]

Japan has always been hesitant to buy American electronics products. MS hasn't given up on the Japanese market, they have simply had some of their top games pushed back. That is like saying that MS gave up on the US market because they delayed Oblivion and DOA. If you are going to make a comment like that, please at least make it more sensible. They would have hurt themselves far more had they released their 2 RPGS as flawed crap....not to mention if the DOA game had too little jiggly.
But, everyone on this site is smarter than MS and a lot predicted that the US launch would not sell out. They stated that their would be plenty of $299 skus left on the shelf.

[Heretic Machine]

They stated that their would be plenty of $299 skus left on the shelf.


I always said that was bullshit. Even if the average consumer knew the difference between the premium and core packages, I doubt they'd care, especially when faced with this kind of shortage.

[KamaItachi]

Queit down J-fan, go watch some more anime.

Yeah, silly me for defending a country I live in from guys who would rather throw out ridiculously stupid unsupported theories about an entire other nation and their xenophobia.

Hey, All you Americans love guns right? Can't get enough of those guns!

[Heretic Machine]

Yeah, silly me for defending a country I live in from guys who would rather throw out ridiculously stupid unsupported theories about an entire other nation and their xenophobia.


Are you from Japan? If not, and you live in Japan, chances are good that you are one lucky little J-fan. But still, just a J-fan. You know all those white guys that run around wanting to be black? I see you as exactly the same, except you want to be Japanese, for whatever misguided reason.

I'm not bad-mouthing Japan here (I can do that another day, with much better ammo than the game industry) but they are very nationalistic when it comes to certain industries. They have no problem buying American clothes or music, but when it comes to games I'm pretty sure they only want Japanese games for the most part. Probably the same thing with cars too.

This is not something isolated to Japan, though in the US we have a much more open view with games because they aren't as accepted here. But we have a huge portion of the nation that will only buy Ford because it is an "American" brand. This can carry over to home electronics on occassion as well. Am I the only one that remembers how big "Made in America" was during the late eighties and early nineties?

Hey, All you Americans love guns right? Can't get enough of those guns!

No, we really can't.

[Serapth]

AThis is not something isolated to Japan, though in the US we have a much more open view with games because they aren't as accepted here. But we have a huge portion of the nation that will only buy Ford because it is an "American" brand. This can carry over to home electronics on occassion as well. Am I the only one that remembers how big "Made in America" was during the late eighties and early nineties?


First off, I agree with you on Japan being nationalistic, at least in area's they take great pride in. Gaming is of course one of them. I do think the XBox 360 (720, 1440, etc... ) are doomed in Japan for this simple reason.

However, I disupte that the US is like that at all. Oh, sure, there is alot of lip service, flag waving, etc... but in the end, America is more capitalistic then nationalistic. The dollar is king here, pure and simple. If it wasnt, you wouldnt see GM on the verge of chapter 11(and Delphi in it), and the big 3 offering insanely stupid incentives. ( I currently work in the automotive industry ). Point blank, every one of the big three is blaming Japanese and Korean automakers for their current declines.

Personally, now, "Made in America" means jack shit to the average American, or even worse, is a negative. Hell, im pretty sure the Simpsons has made that joke a few times "Eeeewwww, made in America... I dont think so". Other then the all mighty dollar, really what does made in America even mean anymore. Welcome to NAFTA... as many "American" cars are made in Canada or Mexico as are in the US. Perhaps in the 80s it was true, yet then again, in the 80's Japanese products were mostly shit and fast heavy tarrifs. Hard not to be proud of American made products when they are easier to buy and of higher quality. Now that that has change, amazingly so has the loyalty.

However, the movie Made In America was great! I really have to watch that again.

[KamaItachi]

Are you from Japan? If not, and you live in Japan, chances are good that you are one lucky little J-fan. But still, just a J-fan. You know all those white guys that run around wanting to be black? I see you as exactly the same, except you want to be Japanese, for whatever misguided reason.

You can see me as whatever you want. It doesn't make it true or add any validity to the arguement you just pulled out of your ass.


I'm not bad-mouthing Japan here (I can do that another day, with much better ammo than the game industry) but they are very nationalistic when it comes to certain industries. They have no problem buying American clothes or music...

Or food, drink computers, movies, theme parks, convenience stores etc...

No you're right, various Japanese markets are very nationalistic, like the gaming industry which has a long record of one recent failure of a foreign company in the last few years and the other one, which you're not sure about, but is "probably the same".

I'm not saying Japan is completely innocent of playing favourites, there are plenty of examples of the government stepping in to make sure their local industries are preserved, but to claim that the Xbox didn't sell without looking at any of the factors other than foreign vs domestic, is stupid. You say japanese gamers don't like foreign games, I'll argue that Japanese gamers don't like shitty games, or will at least expect a platform to be supported rather than thrown at them like kids playing hot potato.

The plain fact is that Miscrosoft misunderstood what it would take to get a foothold in the market and the money they could throw at the situation to make it better. You say the games/machine didn't sell because they weren't Japanese, I say they didn't sell because they were crap.

In the beginning, most of the games for the Xbox were Japanese, but they were all awful. No decent RPGs (the earliest one was PSO which is an entirely different disaster story in itself), a couple of shitty puzzle games, the only thing worth looking at for the first month or so was D.O.A.3. An expensive system with Dino Crisis 3, Metal Dungeon and Jet Set Radio Future is not going to topple an established console for which Metal Gear Solid 2, Final Fantasy X and Devil May Cry have just been released. The really good titles that eventually appeared (Ninja Gaiden, Otogi, Phantom Dust) were just too little too late to give the system a boost in the arm before it died.

[Heretic Machine]

You say japanese gamers don't like foreign games, I'll argue that Japanese gamers don't like shitty games, or will at least expect a platform to be supported rather than thrown at them like kids playing hot potato.

You say the games/machine didn't sell because they weren't Japanese, I say they didn't sell because they were crap.

Yup, that's not nationalism, that's fanboism on an international level.