View Full Version : Should Microsoft give up the ghost with Japan
Should they give it up? I say they should just focus on U.S., Europe, and try to create other markets like they are doing with India.
Should Microsoft give up the ghost with Japan? Media Create Co. on Friday reported that the Xbox 360 sold just 1,094 units in Japan from Sept. 4 to Sept. 9. Not comparing apples to apples, but the Nintendo DS Lite sold 113,831 units, the PSP 29,141, and the PS2 19,882 units. As Xbox 360 owners, we all know the power of 360 over the hopelessly week PS2, but 1k vs 20k units sold tells me the Japanese market clearly doesn't like Microsoft.
In addition, Xbox 360 software has been unable to chart software in the top 50 for several weeks. With the launch of the Wii in Japan on Dec. 2 for 25,000 yen and Sony finally getting its ass into gear on Nov 17 with PS3, I can't help but wonder if Microsoft should just say to hell with that market.
The Xbox successor has performed better in the U.S. and Europe on strong action and sports offerings. Microsoft recently secured a deal with EA and Konami to have next-generation soccer titles exclusive to the 360 for one year.
http://www.xbox365.com/news.cgi?id=GGNLrGriHd09160652
pendinginsanity
09-17-2006, 01:41
Sorry, that article fails, both Konami and EA debunked the exclusive soccer games rumor.
MiNiMaL_sAnItY
09-17-2006, 01:44
MS trying to create new markets is an intelligent move IMO.
chopchopyep
09-17-2006, 01:52
But you know what the difference is?
That microsoft can still get great japanese games even without selling them in japan.
Lost Planet, Dead Rising, Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, Dead or Alive, Project Sylpheed, Ninja Gaiden etc. etc.
Most of the people outside of japan, don't care if it sells, they only care about the japanese developers and games coming out.And so far that is happening even without japanese sales.
narutoboy
09-17-2006, 01:59
No, all they have to do is continue to lie about having exclusives then they can easily optain Japan. *thumbs up* microsoft.
Tribunal
09-17-2006, 02:00
I don't think you should ever stop trying. You never know, they might manage something sooner or later.
There's no reason for them to give up. They should just look at their weakness and come up with a GOOD plan to turn it into a strength.
Most of the people outside of japan, don't care if it sells, they only care about the japanese developers and games coming out.And so far that is happening even without japanese sales.
Yeah, but it would help them if the 360 SOLD in Japan.
I guess to the Japanese, the 360 is an inferior product. That or they don't like the games.
pendinginsanity
09-17-2006, 02:15
There's no reason for them to give up. They should just look at their weakness and come up with a GOOD plan to turn it into a strength.
Their weakness is that most Jáps hate them, I don't see how that can be turned into something good.
DAMMIT STOP SAYING "jap".
That's racist. Say JPNs or something else dammit.
That's probably the damn reason they don't want a 360.
chopchopyep
09-17-2006, 02:26
haha, classic bypassing of the curse filter right there. :lol:
Microsoft won't quit, they will probably start from the beginning, relaunch the console with a new strategy, new games, and a new plan.
They're like diddy...can't stop....won't stop...
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/4772/pdiddywheellaunch2ic2.jpg
Well, the guy who played Lost Odyssey said that he thinks that that game can sell one million units in Japan by itself:shock: That's how much he believes in the game. I personally felt that it would at the very least sell 100,000 units across the lifespan of the console in Japan, a conservative estimate to be sure, but me feeling this way is coming from a guy who has only seen three trailers, some artwork, a few screenshots, and who knows what the story is about (ie a JRPG about a man who cannot die). This guy has experienced it though. He said it made him feel like Final Fantasy IV did when he was a young lad and Final Fantasy VII did when he was a young adult. For more info on Lost Odyssey, go here: http://www.ps3forums.com/showthread.php?t=27727
In terms of whether MS should just leave Japan, I would say no emphatically. If Sakaguchi has his way, he will do for Microsoft what he did for Squaresoft with the original Final Fantasy. And with the rumor that Yasumi Matsuno has left Square Enix for Mistwalker (the man who oversaw Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Vagrant Story) Microsoft may have yet another major feather to display in its cap. So no, they should stay the course in Japan. They should be building franchises that the Japanese grow to care about and that they can take into the next, next generation, and the one after that. I would love to eventually see a scenario where Mistwalker is challenging Square Enix for role playing supremacy, and it most definitely can't happen if Microsft pulls out of Japan.
Look, even if the 360 doesn't sell well in Japan, MSFT still need to try and keep hold of all the Japanese dev support they have gained (or should it be ahemboughtahem?) because it will help them sell units in NA and the EU. You can see it already with Dead Rising. Then there's Lost Planet which will sell big as well. The Mistwalker games are just destined to be great as well which will help sell units to RPG gamers in the west as well.
So even though they are fighting a losing battle in Japan, due to their efforts in that territory this time, they are gaining elsewhere.
Legend Killer
09-17-2006, 03:12
Has much as I hate MS I don't want them to go the way of the dreamcast I might just buy a 360 in the future but atm it just doesn't have any game that appeals to me the only game I'm interested in is Lost Odyssey other than that meh.
the poor sale in japan are starting to devs have second thoughts about the 360 and the PS3 and Wii isn't even out yet they already lost 3 exclusives to the PS3 how many more will make the jump.
Look, even if the 360 doesn't sell well in Japan, MSFT still need to try and keep hold of all the Japanese dev support they have gained (or should it be ahemboughtahem?) because it will help them sell units in NA and the EU. You can see it already with Dead Rising. Then there's Lost Planet which will sell big as well. The Mistwalker games are just destined to be great as well which will help sell units to RPG gamers in the west as well.
So even though they are fighting a losing battle in Japan, due to their efforts in that territory this time, they are gaining elsewhere.
absolutely agree, even if the X360 sales are not too good, MS should't give up, also who knows, maybe game like Lost Odyssey or Blue Dragoon, may change that.
udontneed2know
09-17-2006, 04:08
If Blue Dragon flops then yeah they should give it up. Blue Dragon should sell about 300,000 360's and be a top seller for awhile. Ala Oblivion here in the states.
But if it doesn't. And they only see a 50,000 console spike in sells for a few weeks. Then they are completely doomed.
They're like diddy...can't stop....won't stop...
Hahaha, yeah.
I agree with the Blue Dragon idea. M$ pretty much bought a creator of Final Fantasy for the sole purpose of making games for them. If THAT doesn't work for them in Japan, yeah...give up.
Kingofallpie
09-17-2006, 04:20
Apparently, there's going to be a Lost Odyssey demo at TGS, so I expect that to hype up the Japanese (at least a little bit) for the 360.
MS is trying hard in Japan. Whether they succeed is up to the Japanese public.
The /)octo/2
09-17-2006, 04:21
The mere suggestion that the 360 could go the way of the dreamcast is possibly the most retarted thing ever posted on these forums.
The **** just don't like American products. I bet if the iPod was 100% American they would not even touch the things.
If Microsoft give up Japan then they might as well give up the whole franchise.
Nocturne
09-17-2006, 09:15
The **** just don't like American products. I bet if the iPod was 100% American they would not even touch the things.
*Rolls eyes* there's always at least one post like this in every "Xbox is selling badly in Japan" thread. Why? It's just being ignorant and paranoid.
I know it has been said hundreds of times, but I may as well say it too. MS shouldn't give up on Japan and will start selling more consoles once they release more games aimed at the Japanese market.
skarekrow
09-17-2006, 09:32
The **** just don't like American products. I bet if the iPod was 100% American they would not even touch the things.
History tells me that Microsoft got its start in Japan. After making a deal with Steve Jobs to help him with his OS, Bill Gates took the operating system, modifyed it and started marketing it in japan and now look where hes at.
Its got nothing to do with predjudism, its got everything to do with building a half assed console. The console is there (barely in 360's case) but they still arent pushing for the titles they need. MS has money, would it be difficult to send someone over there or to bring someone into their office and do a study on what the Japanese want and develope something original and un-surpassed... MS is practically buying off every game studio there is, you would think they could offer more than just a few games... apparently not huh?
Makagoto
09-17-2006, 16:57
ms is doing good as far as developers are supporting the x360 even if the x360 sales in japan don't reflect it. devs know that there is more than just the japanese market out there. make a good game and sell it well overseas like happening with dead rising, even though thats capcom and your usual multi territory developer. it's not the ideal situation but it's a start. if blue dragon and lost odyssey blow, now then that would be a very bad sign for ms.
CashMoney
09-17-2006, 17:58
The **** just don't like American products. I bet if the iPod was 100% American they would not even touch the things.
Great post... Very well thought out... Listen, this "racist" card has to cease... Look... McDonalds, Ipod's, American Jeans Co's... ALL SUCCESSFUL IN JP... enough is enough...
BoT:
MS won't give up... but also, something like LO or BD isn't going to save them over there... yeah... they're games... but they're coming shortly after TWO major competitors launch new consoles... Regardless of how good they may be... Especially TRUSTED co's like Sony and Ninty... It's over in JP for MS... they just need to hold out without dropping support like they did last time, or else, future gens over there are finished...
The Relic
09-17-2006, 23:52
It’s not looking good for MS in japan. I’m not sure if it is true that Phantasy Star Universe is coming to the 360 (japan?) in December:
http://www.rpgsite.net/news/78.html
If it is true, then games like this will help 360 sales in japan, but it will never beat the Wii or PS3.
Here's how I see it in the Japanese Markets:
Wii: 37 million
ps3: 12 million
360: 3 million
Kingofallpie
09-18-2006, 00:00
Here's how I see it in the Japanese Markets:
Wii: 10 million
ps3: 5 million
360: 2 million
Wow, that's pretty optimistic for the 360 (quite honestly).
But decidedly not for a total. Is the Japanese market really shrinking that much? If so, MS's strategy of going for USA sales looks to be good.
alright new figures FINAL :lol:
Here's how I see it in the Japanese Markets:
Wii: 37 million
ps3: 12 million
360: 3 million
To answer the parent post: no, unless they want to lose Japanese developer support.
pendinginsanity
09-18-2006, 01:42
haha, classic bypassing of the curse filter right there. :lol:
Oh' really? I didn't notice that :no
Btw, I don't think saying Jàps is a bad thing really, it would've been different if I said góok or something but I didn't.
Saying Jàps is like saying Americans, imo.
Saying Jàps is like saying Americans, imo.
Go to Japan and say that. Racism at it's best...
No, all they have to do is continue to lie about having exclusives then they can easily optain Japan. *thumbs up* microsoft.
Thats my MS..just like with Vista!
The /)octo/2
09-18-2006, 04:03
Go to Japan and say that. Racism at it's best...
An abbreviation of a non-racist word cannot be taken to be racist.
Don't be over-sensitive for the sake of being over-sensitive.
You're obviously not even Japanese yourself, either that or you've been studying English for several years.
Let the Japanese defend themselves.