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Western Xbox Titles To Flood Japan?

Posted by simoniker on from the overwhelm-them-with-numbers dept.

Thanks to GamePro for posting an article discussing the fact that Microsoft may try to keep the Xbox alive in Japan by flooding the market in less territory-suitable, but already in-development Western titles such as Conker, Voodoo Vince, and Counter-Strike. According to the article, a Japanese retail chain "..claims that Microsoft is planning to release overseas titles in Japan without bothering to localize them for the local market - in other words, they'll release the original English version with a Japanese manual attached." The article suggests this is a sign that Microsoft may forget about the mass-market in Japan, and will be "..dropping its large-scale strategy [until Xbox 2], and concentrating on the 400,000 or so hardcore fans it's managed to scrape together over the past 16 months."

4 of 56 comments (clear)

  1. Japanese Market by jnguy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Microsoft is constantly making the same mistake. Because they are an american company, they can't seem to see the demands and needs of the casual japanese gamer. They made the mistake of going into Japan with out many Japanese games, hoping that localized Western games would be enough to drive the market. Another problem with Microsoft and the Japanese is Microsoft doesn't seem to understand the Japanese customs and culture. I heard from a business teacher that Microsoft would attempt to get deals and contracts signed on the spot, whereas the Japanese are used to going to lunch/dinner or something of that nature. With the failure of Xbox in Japan, I have my doubts that the next one will suceed

    1. Re:Japanese Market by amuro98 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      RE: How well do the Japanese understand English?

      This depends on which market segment you're talking about.

      Those involved with more technical fields, especially computers, will be a bit better dealing with English since most documentation and articles are written in English.

      End users (consumers) are another matter. They have no faith in their English ability, and will insist on the product being fully localized.

      Casual gamers in Japan might not take too kindly to non-localized games - even if the manual is translated. In game cutscenes, for instance, will still be in English.

      To put it another way, would you be willing to play a non-localized game from Japan if it came with an English manual? What if Square just translated the manual for FFX-2 and left the in-game dialog in Japanese? My guess is you wouldn't bother. My guess is also that most Japanese gamers won't bother either.

      Once again, Microsoft no baka.

  2. MS Leaving Japan... by gamgee5273 · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I knew this sort of thing was going to happen. When the WonderSwan outsells the Xbox, you seriously have to wonder if the Japanese are even interested in MS's product...which they obviously aren't. And, personally, I find the Xbox to be a major yawn-fest, wth Halo being the only exclusive worthwhile on there (and, even then, I've fooled with Halo on a friend's Xbox and wasn't that impressed).

    Xbox is dying its deserved death. I, for one, know there is no way I'm buying one unless Shenmue III is an Xbox exclusive. Even then, I may just borrow a friend's Xbox to play it...

    My prediction: there may be an Xbox 2, but there will not be an Xbox 3.

    1. Re:MS Leaving Japan... by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 2, Insightful

      MS wants to own your entertainment venue - gaming, PVR, web surfing, digital media playback. Think about it - what does an "Xbox" mean? A "PlayStation" clearly states "play"

      Oh please, as much as I disagree with the original poster's points about other consoles, I can't believe how many people are willing to think that Sony's intentions are better than Microsoft's in any way, shape, or form. In fact, with their home electronics products and their already-announced plans for the PS2.5, Sony's most likely in a better position to take control of your living room than Microsoft is. Not to mention that Sony's use of CD and DVD drives in their consoles was just as much geared at making it easier for them to sell more products (music and movies) as making it easier for developers to put their products on Sony's system.

      If anything, American corporations have a harder time becoming the monstrosities that Japanese (and many other Asian) corporations are, because there are many Japanese corporations competing in multiple (sometimes complimentary) markets. The US legal system likes to strike down those types of monopolies at least as much as the monopoly that Microsoft is perceived to be.

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]