XBOX 360 released in Japan today

[Canuck]

I wonder how it's going to do.  I've neither seen or heard any hype whatsoever although I'll admit I haven't been looking very hard.  MS has set up an Xbox 360 cafe in Tokyo where you can walk in and play the games.  They had a full page article in the paper today about it.

[Hetz]

I think the delay of DOA 4 is going to hurt BIG in Japan.

[TheMissingLink]

You mean, other than the fact that the Xbox 360 includes the word "Xbox" in it?   :lol:

Seriously though, what's the deal over there, are they anti-Microsoft?  Or were there just no appealing games for them on the Xbox?

[CeeKay]

You mean, other than the fact that the Xbox 360 includes the word "Xbox" in it?   :lol:

Seriously though, what's the deal over there, are they anti-Microsoft?  Or were there just no appealing games for them on the Xbox?

Well, look at the games that sell over there, and then look at what genre the X-Box lacked.

[CrayolaSmoker]

Well, look at the games that sell over there, and then look at what genre the X-Box lacked.

Yeah, Microsoft is totally lacking in the "freaky and/or weird-ass shit" genre.  Not nearly enough games where you poke people's posteriors with an oversized finger.

[Nth Power]

MS isn't off to such a hot start with a what looks like a paltry line-up of only six (really...six?) games at launch, no DOA4 and no RPGs.  How is that winning over the Japanese market?  It sounds like there could be some good stuff in the future, just not at launch.  I'm interested to see what happens.

Well, look at the games that sell over there, and then look at what genre the X-Box lacked.

Yeah, Microsoft is totally lacking in the "freaky and/or weird-ass shit" genre.  Not nearly enough games where you poke people's posteriors with an oversized finger.

It gives a whole other meaning to the saying "Fun is where you find it."  

[wonderpug]

Seriously though, what's the deal over there, are they anti-Microsoft?  Or were there just no appealing games for them on the Xbox?

It's not just Microsoft, pretty much every non-Japanese company is shunned.  Besides McDonalds, KFC, and Coca Cola (although Coke seems to sell way more green tea than soda over there), the only American product I saw over there was the iPod.

[Hetz]

It's funny I was playing PGR3 online last night and I was kept hearing a bunch of Japanese people talking whenever I would join a race....so at least some people got the system!

I still think that delaying DOA 4 until the end of the month is a huge mistake in Japan.

[Hetz]

Oh and here is a story from Gamespot about the launch in Japan...it's pretty positive!

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6141063.html

It sold out in half an hour. I wasn't expecting that at all.

[Canuck]

Hetz you really do see the Xbox world through rose coloured lenses don't you?  Of course it sold out.  Tokyo is a city of 12 million people after all and just how many Xbox's did they have available for sale anyways?  Probably a hell of a lot less than what they had for the US.

[wonderpug]

It sold out at that event.  Elsewhere...

"Lukewarm Reaction to New Xbox in Japan"

But despite its early market entry, consumers in Tokyo appeared muted on Saturday in their enthusiasm in contrast to the excitement generated at the console's US debut on November 22.
...
Customer reactions "are a bit subdued", a senior store official said, adding that less than 50 consoles were sold in the first two hours of the launch.

"It's not going to be a big hit in Japan," said Kentaro Okamoto (26), one of the first Xbox 360 buyers. "I buy every new game console ... but normally Japanese customers only buy a machine when it's made by Sony or Nintendo."
...
Another buyer, Mayuko Taniguchi (28), said she knows she is in "a minority" of Japanese consumers who will buy the Microsoft console.

"I think many people would rather wait for PlayStation 3 or Revolution," she said.

[Gratch]

Well, look at the games that sell over there, and then look at what genre the X-Box lacked.

Yeah, Microsoft is totally lacking in the "freaky and/or weird-ass shit" genre.  Not nearly enough games where you poke people's posteriors with an oversized finger.

Until the 360 gets some Japanese style RPG's, I can't see it being all that successful.  Remember, this a country that banned releasing new Dragon Quest games on weekdays because of the economic impact of the entire country skipping work to play the game.

Crayola gets a golf clap for the 'oversized finger' comment, though.

[Roguetad]

They still seem to have a strong sense of nationalism when they consider purchasing products.  Even if the 360 launched with games featuring big headed, little bodied, effeminate teen characters that looked like 8 year old boys and girls, MS would still have to overcome the huge hurdle of not having a Sony or Nintendo label on their machine.

[Hetz]

Hetz you really do see the Xbox world through rose coloured lenses don't you?  Of course it sold out.  Tokyo is a city of 12 million people after all and just how many Xbox's did they have available for sale anyways?  Probably a hell of a lot less than what they had for the US.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting it to sell out anywhere in Japan, given the Xbox's track record there. MS has to be pretty pleased with the launch so far over there, with no DOA 4 to back it up. When DOA 4 is released, expect a bunch more purchases.

[Destructor]

Until the 360 gets some Japanese style RPG's, I can't see it being all that successful.  Remember, this a country that banned releasing new Dragon Quest games on weekdays because of the economic impact of the entire country skipping work to play the game.

I still shake my head in amazement every time I hear that. One of the crazy little facts about gaming life in Japan.

[Dafones]

Until the 360 gets some Japanese style RPG's, I can't see it being all that successful.  Remember, this a country that banned releasing new Dragon Quest games on weekdays because of the economic impact of the entire country skipping work to play the game.

No. Fucking. Way. That's insane.

[Gratch]

Until the 360 gets some Japanese style RPG's, I can't see it being all that successful.  Remember, this a country that banned releasing new Dragon Quest games on weekdays because of the economic impact of the entire country skipping work to play the game.

No. Fucking. Way. That's insane.

About halfway down the page on this site:

Dragon Quest III made one critical mistake that changed the fabric of game history forever in Japan though: It was released on a weekday. This lead to anarchy for a day as millions called in sick, waiting in line just to get the game. Japan's legislatures were not slow to act, enforcing a now historic law that bans Dragon Quest from ever being released in Japan on a weekday. This law is still in effect today, as each Dragon Quest entry is met with millions still copping out of a day of work.

From another site as well:

Its popularity is hard to imagine for us western gamers. Dragon Quest III was released on a weekday and many kids skipped school and workers called in sick to purchase and play their copy. Lines at game stores grew several blocks long. Some people were even mugged by disgruntled customers desperate to get their hands on one. There were even complaints that Dragon Quest slowed the country's productivity which resulted in a DQ game only to be released on a weekend or holiday. There has yet to be a game in North America that has reached the cultural phenomenon status that Dragon Quest has. When Dragon Quest IV was released, a celebration was held and "hoimi" (the game's basic healing spell) became an official Japanese word.

Insane is right.   :shock:

[Sarkus]

Not that it's at the same level, but the annual Madden release has started having a noticeable effect in the US as well.  Major news organizations had minor blurbs on it this year.  Plus, there was some similar talk around Halo 2's release as well.

[Turtle]

Don't forget the Civ series.

Just how large is Japan?  I mean looking at maps it's about the size of one large US state, with a population that's even more packed than US cities.

When you consider how crazy things can get for a state sports game, the Japanese past time of gaming and the calamity from a game's release doesn't seem that bad.

[TheMissingLink]

http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=75548

LOL, those pictures are priceless.  Ship some of the leftovers over here!

[wonderpug]

Just how large is Japan?  I mean looking at maps it's about the size of one large US state, with a population that's even more packed than US cities.

It's a little bit smaller than California, with a population greater than California, Texas, New York State, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania combined.

[CrayolaSmoker]

Just how large is Japan?  I mean looking at maps it's about the size of one large US state, with a population that's even more packed than US cities.

It's a little bit smaller than California, with a population greater than California, Texas, New York State, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania combined.

If you count the robots.

[Gratch]

Godzilla counts as at least 2, right?

[wonderpug]

Just how large is Japan?  I mean looking at maps it's about the size of one large US state, with a population that's even more packed than US cities.

It's a little bit smaller than California, with a population greater than California, Texas, New York State, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania combined.

If you count the robots.

Just because Texas votes Republican, it doesn't mean they don't have free will like the rest of us.

[stiffler]

http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=75548

LOL, those pictures are priceless.  Ship some of the leftovers over here!

Awesome pics.  The captions were wonderful.  "At 6:45 AM, the line outside AsoBit City stretched to 4 people. One of whom was a foreigner."  I think that pretty much sums it up right there.

I could taste the despair!

[Dafones]

http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=75548

LOL, those pictures are priceless.  Ship some of the leftovers over here!

Brutal!

[Hetz]

http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=75548

LOL, those pictures are priceless.  Ship some of the leftovers over here!

You forgot the disclaimer at the bottom of the post...

(Disclaimer: "Disaster" is a bit of hyperbole; the Xbox 360 seemed to be selling reasonably well throughout the day, if nowhere near the U.S. and European sell-out riots. Still, outside of the official Shibuya event, gearing up for a 7:00 A.M. Saturday launch in near-freezing weather seems to have been Rather Not A Good Idea.)

[TheMissingLink]

Either way, I seriously doubt places looked like that in the U.S.  Just thought it was funny, that's all.

[depward]

http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=75548

LOL, those pictures are priceless.  Ship some of the leftovers over here!

You forgot the disclaimer at the bottom of the post...

(Disclaimer: "Disaster" is a bit of hyperbole; the Xbox 360 seemed to be selling reasonably well throughout the day, if nowhere near the U.S. and European sell-out riots. Still, outside of the official Shibuya event, gearing up for a 7:00 A.M. Saturday launch in near-freezing weather seems to have been Rather Not A Good Idea.)

Someone struck a nerve . . .

[Hetz]

http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=75548

LOL, those pictures are priceless.  Ship some of the leftovers over here!

You forgot the disclaimer at the bottom of the post...

(Disclaimer: "Disaster" is a bit of hyperbole; the Xbox 360 seemed to be selling reasonably well throughout the day, if nowhere near the U.S. and European sell-out riots. Still, outside of the official Shibuya event, gearing up for a 7:00 A.M. Saturday launch in near-freezing weather seems to have been Rather Not A Good Idea.)

Someone struck a nerve . . .

What? I am just pointing out that it's not the dismal failure in Japan that some are hoping it is.

[depward]

It was a picture dude.  A funny.  The caption was meant to be funny, not point out how shitty the Xbox360 is doing.

[wonderpug]

What? I am just pointing out that it's not the dismal failure in Japan that some are hoping it is.

Who here said anything about hoping the 360 fails in Japan?  Everyone seems to just be munching popcorn and seeing what's unfolding over there.

[Roguetad]

Ship that surplus product over here!  I think they use NTSC format, so you'd just have to change the language on the dashboard?

[Dafones]

What? I am just pointing out that it's not the dismal failure in Japan that some are hoping it is.

Who here said anything about hoping the 360 fails in Japan?  Everyone seems to just be munching popcorn and seeing what's unfolding over there.

I was gunna say the same thing. I don't think we want any system to fail, but I am morbidly curious to see how well the 360 succeeds in Japan.

[TheMissingLink]

Ship that surplus product over here!

WHY WOULD THEY, IT'S SELLING OUT OVER THERE, THOSE PICTURES ARE BOGUS PROPAGANDA AND NOT FUNNY.

 :wink:

(I agree, us Americans want more 360's, so come on now, give us more)

[Hetz]

Err....ok.

Look, I was just pointing out the fact that it is not a huge failure in Japan, even the guy that posted the shots admited that.

Does that mean it is a huge success? Hell no. It will never do as well in Japan as in the USA. The shots were funny and I did get a laugh out of them, but whatever.

I now will leave you to your regularly scheduled "nobody is buying the 360 in Japan! OMG OMG LOLOLOL"  thread....

[wonderpug]

What was the reason Microsoft gave for offering only the Premium version in Japan?  Imagine if they did offer the Core system at the same discount.  A 360 for $215 would definitely convert a lot more Playstation loyalists over there.

[msduncan]

I can't believe they offered the premium for 330 bucks.    And I also can't believe that what should be MY fucking Xbox 360 might be sitting on a shelf in a society that is extremely archaic and closed minded about foreign countries.

[msduncan]

There -- that ought to spark a gold old fashioned GG type discussion in here....

[Ralph-Wiggum]

I don't think the Core system would go over so well in Japan. Many of the Japanese gamers play MMORPG's (as evidenced by the fact that the 360 came with a FFXI demo). Since online games can't be played without a HD, it makes sense that they would only supply one system. Plus, considering the amount systems/games cost over there anyway, I doubt there's the same pressure to release a console at a lower price point.

As an aside, I heard some circumstantial evidence (i.e. Europeans on various message boards) that MS released a lot more Core systems than Premium systems in Europe.