39% of Xbox 360 Stock Sold in Japan **UPDATE** [Archive]

Borys

12-13-2005, 01:53 AM

Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com) is one of the first portals that comes with the news about Microsoft's Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com) launch sales in Japan. As you can guess by now they weren't exactly high:

Dec. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. sold 39 percent of its new Xbox 360 game console in the first two days it was available in Japan, the world's second-biggest market for video games, according to market researcher Enterbrain Inc.

Microsoft, which started selling the Xbox 360 on Dec. 10, sold 62,135 of the 159,000 consoles it shipped, according to Tokyo-based Enterbrain. That compares with about 123,000 units sold in the first three days for the first Xbox, which debuted on Feb. 22, 2002, the report said.

Read the rest of the report by following this link. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aY7CnxoGtsMI&refer=top_world_news)

FYI: The original Xbox sold 122,000 units in Japan during the first three days of sales.

Editor's Note - Thanks to bean19 for submitting the exact same story.

Editor's Note - Story has been updated, the correct number is 39%. You can find the full story here (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aneIB1J7q2Ss&refer=top_world_news).

bapenguin

12-13-2005, 04:25 AM

Ya know Borys...for someone that doesn't care about Japan you sure seem to submit a lot of articles about it. ;)

Suicidal ShiZuru

12-13-2005, 04:26 AM

Not suprising.

fitbabits

12-13-2005, 04:26 AM

Hopefully these numbers will pick up when Final Fantasy is released. So far not so good.

fitbabits

12-13-2005, 04:27 AM

Ya know Borys...for someone that doesn't care about Japan you sure seem to submit a lot of articles about it. ;)
He loves the place! :)

Rirath

12-13-2005, 04:30 AM

In other news, water is wet.
I love Japan, but if they don't share the xbox love, their loss.

earthworm48

12-13-2005, 04:30 AM

well there have been plenty of Japanese titles announced for it so we will see what happens when Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey e.t.c. hit.

Eon

12-13-2005, 04:32 AM

Owch. Let's see how that third day goes - but I'd say it's looking like sales are down by half over the last gen hardware.

Now I'm not exactly an MS fanboy, but I thought they'd do twice as well this time round, not half as well!

Borys

12-13-2005, 04:33 AM

bapenguin & fitbabits,

I'm being 100% frank here:

this was my original comment under the story:

Since the general consensus was that our readers do care about Japan sales of consoles I decided to submit this story. FYI: The original Xbox sold 122,000 units in Japan during the first three days of sales.

Sounds boring and kinda like an apology, doesn't it?

I seriously DO NOT care but from reading the last 10 MS + Japan stories I gathered that I'm in a weird minority here.

Besides I just couldn't walk pass such a lovely piece of Xbox 360 news, now could I? ;)

Dr Quincy

12-13-2005, 04:34 AM

You mean a third as well?

Vandenh

12-13-2005, 04:34 AM

I guess most people are waiting for DOA. The games right now in Japan are not that hot. Couple of my Japanese friends got one (just to compete with me I think ;) but they didn't buy any games... they are waiting for DOA ;)

Well I told them to buy Geometry Wars Evolved... amazing game.

bapenguin

12-13-2005, 04:36 AM

I seriously DO NOT care but from reading the last 10 MS + Japan stories I gathered that I'm in a weird minority here.

Heh...just bustin your chops man. It could be worse...we could be like Kotaku and have 400 stories on the Japanese failure. And make up stuff like "slashing prices" etc.

Suicidal ShiZuru

12-13-2005, 04:37 AM

Yeah... anyways...

Borys

12-13-2005, 04:38 AM

Some people bought it for the packed-in FF11 beta alone, no additional games, crazy.

And for the love of God stay away from a similiar story on Kotaku - it is full of pure BS.

EDIT: Exactly, bap. That guy over there is fucking nuts with the hating.

Eon

12-13-2005, 04:39 AM

You mean a third as well?

Naw. They sold 120K (circa) units in three days for XBox1. They've sold 40K (circa) units in two days for XBox2. Assume (lovely word) that we can count on about 60K (circa) units on Day three by XBox2.

That would put them roughly at half of XBox1's sales figures.

Borys

12-13-2005, 04:51 AM

There should be a "At Launch" or "In the First 2 Days" in the title BTW.

I still can't get over the fact that Japan got a "universal pack" with standard HDD, $50 cheaper than the rest of the world. Plus they got some promotions (chosen places) with that pack being circa $10 less so that gives $340 for the Premium Pack.

What for?
They just don't care.

fitbabits

12-13-2005, 05:06 AM

bapenguin & fitbabits,Besides I just couldn't walk pass such a lovely piece of Xbox 360 news, now could I? ;)
Just pulling your leg, bozza! No harm, no foul.

And I second bapenguin's comment on kotaku.

phantomhitman

12-13-2005, 05:12 AM

oh the humanity, you could import a japanese 360 for less than buying an american version on ebay.

boratika

12-13-2005, 05:16 AM

FYI: The original Xbox sold 122,000 units in Japan during the first three days of sales.

Hasn't the Xbox only sold about 470,000 units in Japan? Does this mean a quarter to date were sold in the first 3 days? Or is my figure wrong?

Microsoft Corp., the second-largest maker of video game systems, sold 28 percent of Xbox 360 consoles on store shelves in Japan, according to preliminary figures from market researcher Media Create Co.

I calling that as a poorly written sentance. To me that makes it sound like Sony is a bigger company than Microsoft. (Also I think Nintendo has sold more Gamecubes, GBAs and DSs, combined, in that period, but thats just semantics, mostly it's the first point.)

Really no surprises. The 360 software outlook does look more japanese friendly than the Xbox has done to date. My guess is the 360 will do better than the orriginal in Japan. Heres hoping for productive competion in this generation.

Borys

12-13-2005, 05:25 AM

Hasn't the Xbox only sold about 470,000 units in Japan? Does this mean a quarter to date were sold in the first 3 days? Or is my figure wrong?

Yes, that is exactly the case. Quarter in the first 3 days, three quarters in the next 3 years.
Pretty embarrasing for MS Japan but, hey, what the hell could they do?

Hint: Buy out Square-Enix.

Heretic Machine

12-13-2005, 05:29 AM

28% is WAY better than I expected...

Valkyrist

12-13-2005, 05:39 AM

28% is WAY better than I expected...
ditto, but just the same I'm not suprised. There wasn't much MS love last gen, and there won't be this gen either. I honestly don't know how MS can change this. Someone a day or two ago posted the idea of MS publishing their console through a japanese company like Samsung. As cheesy as that is, it might actually work.

I'm steamed too that they got their premium kits for $90 cheaper. On top of that, they've got just bundles of them sitting around compared to the extreme shortages we have in the states. Sounds like it's time to get our import on ^.^

bean19

12-13-2005, 05:39 AM

For the record, my story was way better. :)

It included information on the mere 6 titles released for the system in Japan: Perfect Dark Zero, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Ridge Racer, Fifa '06, Every Party, and Tetris: The Grandmaster Ace. I did this to ask the question on whether or not the poor release is in response to Microsoft's poor support of the launch due to only having a small number of titles, or just Japanese nationalism. . . also tied in the fact that Dead or Alive 4 and Enchant Arm being delayed didn't help.

Additionally, I informed the reader that the Japanese release came bundled with a trial offer of Final Fantasy XI.

Kelegacy

12-13-2005, 05:42 AM

Pretty embarrasing for MS Japan but, hey, what the hell could they do?

Hint: Buy out Square-Enix.

Nooooooooooo!!

fitbabits

12-13-2005, 05:45 AM

Heretic Machine

12-13-2005, 05:46 AM

bean19

12-13-2005, 05:56 AM

For the record, your story was also submitted after borys'! :)

But still, thanks for the additional information.

lol.

I didn't interpret my original reply as my saying that the editorial staff sucked when I wrote it, but I guess it was pretty snarky. Sorry, that was so not intended as a swipe at you guys.

I just wanted Borys to know that I am WAY better than him. WAY better. TONS. ;)

fitbabits

12-13-2005, 05:58 AM

lol.

I didn't interpret my original reply as my saying that the editorial staff sucked when I wrote it, but I guess it was pretty snarky. Sorry, that was so not intended as a swipe at you guys.

I just wanted Borys to know that I am WAY better than him. WAY better. TONS. ;)
I know, and no offense was taken.

And I'll start selling tickets for the Borys versus bean19 deathmatch just as soon as you two guys say the word! :)

bean19

12-13-2005, 05:58 AM

Yes, that is exactly the case. Quarter in the first 3 days, three quarters in the next 3 years.
Pretty embarrasing for MS Japan but, hey, what the hell could they do?

Hint: Buy out Square-Enix.

Well, they have bought out Square Enix's talent. That's something.

Borys

12-13-2005, 06:00 AM

Hey, bean19, I was already submitting news here when you were building sandcastles in your neighbour's playground.

Besides I'm faster :)

Vandenh

12-13-2005, 06:09 AM

"Someone a day or two ago posted the idea of MS publishing their console through a japanese company like Samsung"

Please stop this madness!!! Samsung is Korean!!!!!!

Kelegacy

12-13-2005, 06:20 AM

Well, they have bought out Square Enix's talent. That's something.
That's yet to be seen.

No man is an island.

agentgray

12-13-2005, 06:31 AM

oh the humanity, you could import a japanese 360 for less than buying an american version on ebay.
Yeah, the
Japanese are missing out here. They need to be buyin' and sellin'

drakkarim

12-13-2005, 06:32 AM

all those resources they wasted on having units built for japan while people here are sleeping at stores to get one, marketing idiots.

and THEN even making them region locked, REAL fucking idiots.

OUX

12-13-2005, 06:41 AM

I don’t think that this is really a surprise to anyone. MS isn’t gonna win the console war on the launch but I don’t think they ever expected to. The only way they are gonna get Japan on anything close to an even footing with sony is to have 360s readily available to the market. I think MS probably has more hopes of a steady sales rate than trying to sell out in the first week. The only advertisement that is gonna sell 360s in Japan is word of mouth so it just needs a while to get established.

Meusli

12-13-2005, 06:45 AM

I would say it's a combo of weak launch and Japanese nationalism... though, mostly the latter. I have no doubt that if they had written "PS3" on the side and put a Sony brand on the box, it would of sold out in minutes. That's just the way things work over there.
Im in full agreement with this statement, I think they are just not as accepting of other countrys products as we are of theres.

saran_js

12-13-2005, 07:53 AM

Im in full agreement with this statement, I think they are just not as accepting of other countrys products as we are of theres.

Nah... It's probably because they know that the PS3/Revolution is way better than the Xbox360. ...Awaiting Flames... :D

Stormwatcher

12-13-2005, 09:17 AM

Well, These numbers aren't THAT important. We should debate how many X360s were sold in japan in about a year. Then it will be important. Right now, they don't mean much.

Phades

12-13-2005, 10:11 AM

I think there's a pretty easy explanation for the crappy launch.

The launch titles in Japan just plain sucked.

I don't really see a single big name game there that really caters to the Japanses market. It's a pretty pathetic lineup.

Perfect Dark Zero: Japanese gamers aren't big on FPS games.
NFS-MW: Pretty port of a game they can buy on their PS2, GC, or even Xbox.
Tetris: Should just be on Xbox Live Arcade.
Ridge Racer: They may like this, but it's still nothing special. Not going to make them rush out to buy the system.
Every Party: I'd be curious to see how big party games are in Japan. Still seems like an odd token Japanese game.
Fifa '06: Watered down port. Again, not a system seller.

Borys

12-13-2005, 10:11 AM

Are there ANY credible sources left on the internet?

I don't trust non-commercial sites and now I'll have to doubt even the biggest news portals like Yahoo, Bloomberg and Reuters.

Fuck that noise, I hate posting and signing fake shit with my own name.

jwbxx

12-13-2005, 10:21 AM

Everyone and their mother it coming. XBOX has no foothold in japan. Nintendo and Sony rein supreme in japan. It takes an eternity to gain market share between those two. When Nintendo and Sony heavily compete in that market.