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Xbox Japan Boss Explains New Price Cuts

Posted by simoniker on from the it's-like-this dept.

Thanks to 1UP for their article covering Japanese Xbox boss Yoshihiro Maruyama's comments regarding yesterday's significant Xbox price drop in Japan. Maruyama explained that the price cut wasn't a reaction to Sony's Japanese PS2 price drop: "This discount was in the works for the end-of-year shopping season before SCE's announcement. The timing was on our own terms, and we aren't simply following the leader here." He also tried to explain why the Japanese videogame market is shrinking, suggesting: "You see companies in the U.S. using a multiplatform strategy, developing games for several consoles at once, with Electronic Arts leading the way. However, Japan concentrates all its development on the top platform alone, so it's easy to run into dead ends."

37 comments

  1. Price Cuts by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 1

    Has anyone else heard anything about the PS2 price cut? I recall there were rumors of it going to $100. If that happened, and Microsoft followed, I would definitely buy an XBox - maybe two.

    --
    I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
    1. Re:Price Cuts by jester42 · · Score: 1

      I would rather go for the PS2 then. Or maybe i'd go for the XBox and set up a nice linux cluster.

    2. Re:Price Cuts by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 1
      I've already got a PS2 you insensitive clod!

      But yeah, my personal console priorities are PS2 then Gamecube then XBox. Of course, if I had to buy one console today - I don't know if it would be a PS2 or an XBox. I originally bought the PS2 because of GTA - now that's available for XBox. I do really enjoy Madden online so that gives a nod to the PS2. I haven't checked out Sega's and MS's football offerings so I don't know if that's a critical issue for me.

      All of this is moot since I already have a PS2.

      --
      I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
    3. Re:Price Cuts by drewmca · · Score: 2, Informative

      If you haven't tried them, Sega's sports titles are defintely worth a go. the football game is probably the best I've ever played. Sure, you can't change the price of hotdogs like you can in Madden. But the gameplay is dead on, the presentation is fantastic with its espn trappings, and the online play is nice. It's on both xbox and ps2 and probably worth at least a rent.

  2. FP by Kethinov · · Score: 1, Flamebait
    "You see companies in the U.S. using a multiplatform strategy, developing games for several consoles at once, with Electronic Arts leading the way. However, Japan concentrates all its development on the top platform alone, so it's easy to run into dead ends."
    The US has the right idea (kinda). Give people platform freedom and more people will buy your product. Restrict them to a single platform and they will boycott your product. I won't be buying FFX, for example, until I can rip the DVD and use an emulator and play it on my PC because I prefer to play all games on computer.
    --
    You're right, I wouldn't steal a car. But if it were possible, I sure as hell would download one!
    1. Re:FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      "The US has the right idea (kinda). Give people platform freedom and more people will buy your product. Restrict them to a single platform and they will boycott your product."

      I don't think there is a boycott mentality in the mindset of most American consumers. If that were the case, Microsoft wouldn't have that many Xbox customers, based on their shenanigans and poor track record of product quality in other industries. American consumers have poor long-term memory.

      "I won't be buying FFX, for example, until I can rip the DVD and use an emulator and play it on my PC because I prefer to play all games on computer."

      How many console games do you own then, considering there are no commercial-quality emulators for any of the current-generation consoles?

      Your point of view is in the serious minority - the "I don't buy things that do what they are supposed to do, so please meet my unreasonable demands before I consider your product" minority.

    2. Re:FP by edwdig · · Score: 1

      Give people platform freedom and more people will buy your product. Restrict them to a single platform and they will boycott your product.

      The US has only kinda gotten that point. Yes, a lot of titles are made for all 3 consoles. But from the start, most ports to the GameCube were done very half assed - worse graphics and load times than the PS2 version, despite having significantly better hardware. On top of that, the GameCube version is commonly released later than the others. Then the publishers wonder why the GameCube version doesn't sell.

      The Xbox only fares better because of the hard disk and having significantly more RAM than the other two consoles. Crappy ports aren't as obvious when you're porting to a system that much more overpowered.

    3. Re:FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Plus this is so simluar to those "I wouldn't buy it unless they do X, Y, Z, etc" type excuses. They probably wouldn't buy it even if you do meet their abusrd demands.

    4. Re:FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have actually never played a poor port from PS2 to GameCube. Could you give some specific examples, so I know what company's games to avoid?

      Me, going just by Namco's cross-platform games and ignoring American-developed games, I have noticed that the GameCube version of a game is pretty much always superior to the PS2 version. And I'm not just talking about Link vs. Heihachi in SC2 kinds of differences, I'm talking about more consistent framerate, less pop-ups, less jaggies, improved control due to the GameCube pad, and MUCH faster load times.

      I think your point about delayed release is very valid, but I've just never seen a case where a PS2 game was ported to the GameCube without being universally improved, unlike Metal Gear Solid 2 for the Xbox.

    5. Re:FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I won't buy FFX until it gives blow jobs.

      What a stupid demand. Use an emulator? So you'll buy it in 7 years? Or do you mean you won't buy it cause you want to just pirate the ROM?

      Parent is nothing more than a troll.

    6. Re:FP by Mike+Mentalist · · Score: 0

      but I've just never seen a case where a PS2 game was ported to the GameCube without being universally improved

      Try opening your eyes, then. If you limit yourself to such a narrow viewpoint (just Namco games), then you obviously won't see very much.

      --
      I put my books on Amazon, Smashwords, Demonoid, ISOHunt and Pirate Bay. Search for 'Michael Cargill'
    7. Re:FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, that was a rather brusque way to make your point. Do you do that often? If so, is it effective? Your default logged-in posting score suggests otherwise.

      Anyways, what makes you assume that my experience with Namco games is out of narrowmindedness? Should I assume that your experiences are borne of narrowmindedness as well, or is it possible that the fact that the majority of the multiplatform games I own are Namco games is purely coincidence, due to the fact that they make some great games, and are a major multiplatform publisher?

      You are free to post what you like, but neither you nor anyone else has responded to my sincere question about PS2 games that are superior in visual presentation and gameplay to their GameCube versions. If you've just trolled me, then I guess it's my responsibility to tell you that you can probably start wiping the semen off your keyboard about now, because you win, K THX.

    8. Re:FP by Mike+Mentalist · · Score: 0

      Anyways, what makes you assume that my experience with Namco games is out of narrowmindedness? Should I assume that your experiences are borne of narrowmindedness as well, or is it possible that the fact that the majority of the multiplatform games I own are Namco games is purely coincidence, due to the fact that they make some great games, and are a major multiplatform publisher?

      You basically said that there are no bad PS2 ports on the GC if you don't count American games and only Namco ones. That sounds like a pretty narrow selection to me...


      You are free to post what you like, but neither you nor anyone else has responded to my sincere question about PS2 games that are superior in visual presentation and gameplay to their GameCube versions.


      That isn't what you said. You asked for some bad PS2 - to GC ports.

      One of the worst examples is Medal of Honor - the graphics are TERRIBLE, and don't even look good for a PS2 game.

      --
      I put my books on Amazon, Smashwords, Demonoid, ISOHunt and Pirate Bay. Search for 'Michael Cargill'
    9. Re:FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "You basically said that there are no bad PS2 ports on the GC if you don't count American games and only Namco ones. That sounds like a pretty narrow selection to me..."

      What I actually said,

      "I have actually never played a poor port from PS2 to GameCube. Could you give some specific examples, so I know what company's games to avoid?"

      So I have never played a poor port from PS2 to GameCube. That includes all my Namco games, Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO (I have a joystick, and the GCN version is much closer to the perfect Dreamcast version than the PS2 version is), and a few others, including some that I have never played the PS2 version of (which I can't compare) and some American games that really are better than the PS2 version, like Baldur's Gate, Simpsons Hit & Run, DBZ Budokai (actually kind of fun), and Summoner 2. That's almost my entire sample section.

      "That isn't what you said. You asked for some bad PS2 - to GC ports."

      And wouldn't this still imply what I asked about later, games that are better on the PS2 in some fashion? If not, then wouldn't we still be talking about games that are better on the GameCube?

      "One of the worst examples is Medal of Honor - the graphics are TERRIBLE, and don't even look good for a PS2 game."

      Haven't played any version of Frontline yet. I have this still in the shrinkwrap for GameCube, bought the US version at an imports store that had it for $15 while the PS2 version was $10 also new. I got GC version because of my previous track record with better GC ports, and because of the additional deathmatch feature. But honestly I really picked it up because it was cheap, since I can only play FPS for half an hour at a time before I get bored. You say the GC version would look bad as a PS2 game, but how is the game itself better on PS2?

    10. Re:FP by Kethinov · · Score: 1
      What a stupid demand. Use an emulator? So you'll buy it in 7 years? Or do you mean you won't buy it cause you want to just pirate the ROM?
      I'd have bought it already if they released it for the PC. In my case, I played every one of the final fantasies from 1 to 9 on an emulator and rightfully paid for each one. I'm not saying I don't participate in my fair share of piracy too, but if they don't want to sell me a PC version then emulation and/or piracy becomes needed. My post was no troll. I stand by my anti-console beliefs.
      --
      You're right, I wouldn't steal a car. But if it were possible, I sure as hell would download one!
    11. Re:FP by Kethinov · · Score: 1
      Your point of view is in the serious minority - the "I don't buy things that do what they are supposed to do, so please meet my unreasonable demands before I consider your product" minority.
      Minority, yes. Unreasonable demands, no. The desire to play a game on a computer so that I can better control my gaming enviornment isn't much different than my desire to use Linux to better control my desktop enviornment. Keep in mind that my point of view in regards to gaming platform freedom is just as much in the minority as us Linux users ;)
      --
      You're right, I wouldn't steal a car. But if it were possible, I sure as hell would download one!
  3. Not really... by Bagels · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It goes without saying that the top console in Japan right now is the PS2. But hardly all of the development goes solely towards the PS2 - Nintendo's gotten a fair number of exclusive titles for its system (primarily from Capcom), and will be getting some more in the future (FF: Crystal Chronicles, anyone?). Sega has made some good GCN exclusive games (Billy Hatcher, the Sonic series, Super Monkey Ball), too. So what's Microsoft's excuse now?

    --
    --- Bwah?
    1. Re:Not really... by Babbster · · Score: 2, Interesting
      I think you missed the crux of his point, which is that non-Japanese developers/publishers tend to put out each game on multiple platforms. This means that Splinter Cell, for example, saw sales on all three platforms because anyone with a game console could buy it. On the other hand, Super Monkey Ball hasn't sold even one copy to non-GC owners (ignoring portable releases) despite the fact that it could probably make a nice chunk of change with a PS2 port.

      Of course, while this perception is indeed factually correct, the motive for pointing it out is obvious. More than the other three consoles, Xbox has the most to gain from multiplatform releases since, besides the political issue of online capability (see EA and others), multiplatform releases can look and play better on the Xbox due to its superior hardware. Sony doesn't benefit as much since they already get the lion's share of releases and Nintendo gains little because most GC owners bought the console in order to play Nintendo first-party games.

      It's chicken and egg. Developers are reluctant to publish games for the Japanese Xbox market because there are so few Xbox owners. There are few Xbox owners because there aren't enough compelling Xbox games for the Japanese market. The best Microsoft can hope for now is that they get enough Japanese gamers to provide decent word of mouth when they release their next console. I suspect this is the reason they've decided to send over a lot of non-regionalized titles. They're hoping that enough English-speaking gamers in Japan will be interested in a few of these games to get a better spark for the next round. It'll be fun to see how it turns out.

    2. Re:Not really... by unclethursday · · Score: 2, Insightful
      More than the other three consoles, Xbox has the most to gain from multiplatform releases since, besides the political issue of online capability (see EA and others), multiplatform releases can look and play better on the Xbox due to its superior hardware.

      I'll give you the look part, most of the time. I'll say the sound better part is there, even though you didn't mention it. But play better? I would say that is false. Most multi-platform games are designed with the PS2 in mind, and the PS2's controller as well. With the Xbox not having as many shoulder buttons as the PS2, it automatically loses functionality for games designed around the PS2 controller. Same with the GC.

      A perfect example is the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series. The GC and Xbox versions look much better than the PS2 version; but the game was designed around the PS2 controller, so it PLAYS the best on the PS2.

      This is true of 9 out of 10 multi-platform titles. They'll look better on the GC and Xbox, but generally be easier to use on the PS2, meaning they play better on the PS2. Graphics don't determine playability, nor does superior hardware, but the control interface the game was designed for.

      The only real exception I can think of is Splinter Cell, which was designed for the Xbox first, and then ported to the other 2 consoles. Thus, it most likely plays better on the Xbox than the other 2.

      Thursdae

    3. Re:Not really... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tony Hawk played best on Dreamcast!

    4. Re:Not really... by Babbster · · Score: 1

      1. My use of the word "can" was quite deliberate.
      2. The PS2 and Xbox controllers have an identical number of buttons.
      3. I could easily argue that better looks and better sounds can do more to enhance playing games than the controller. If it were purely based on the controller, people wouldn't go so gaga over Gamecube games with its bizarre (compared to the other two) controller (which I personally hate and suffer through only because GC has some great games and I'm too lazy/cheap to buy an adaptor - an option which exists on the Xbox to allow use of a PS2 controller, BTW).
      4. Any trick I can do on PS2 Tony Hawk, I can do on Xbox Tony Hawk. While I might have to use different button combinations, different doesn't automatically mean worse.

    5. Re:Not really... by DeadScreenSky · · Score: 1

      Capcom has released some cool exclusives for Xbox (Steel Battallion). So has Sega (JSRF, SegaGT, Crazy Taxi, House of the Dead 3, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Shenmue II in the US, etc.). So has Konami. So has From Software (Otogi), Atlus (Shin Megami Tensei NINE, though did that maybe go multiplatform eventually?) and Tecmo (do they support the GC at all? I don't think so, but I could very well be wrong.), etc.

      So what's your point? Both GC and Xbox receive a fair number of exclusives from various companies in Japan - and both of them remain dwarfed in this area by the PS2, which is the original (and correct) argument of the interview. The two Japanese console underdogs, along with many game developmental companies, would do much better business if they took a more multiplatform approach. The rapidly shrinking Japanese game industry needs to do something before things get even worse.

      And I wouldn't put Crazy Taxi 3 or House of the Dead 3 as examples of truly good exclusive games normally (though they aren't bad, per se). But you put some truly crappy games like the Sonic (though they have some cool moments) and Billy Hatcher (gah!) games on your list. :D And Sonic isn't even really exclusive, since the first truly new non-handheld Sonic game in many years is multiplatform. Previously released ports don't count as exclusives in my book, so long as they were released previously in the same country.

      --
      There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. -- Francis Bacon
    6. Re:Not really... by DeadScreenSky · · Score: 1

      I fail to believe that 9 out of 10 multiplatform games require heavy use of all four triggers on the PS2 in an action environment (no strategy or slower-paced games, since the Xbox controller has plenty of buttons for something like that). How many games truly need quick reflex-orientated button movements to the same degree as Tony Hawk? Maybe fighting games, maybe some sports games. Not 9 out of 10 multiplatform games, though!

      And I disagree about Tony Hawk regardless. The better D-pad on the Xbox controller, combined with some clever default button configuration (using both triggers simultaneously for a spine transfer simply feels a lot more intuitive than the dedicated button of the PS2 versions, IMO) negate pretty much any controller advantage, and for people with reasonably average hand sizes makes the Xbox version probably superior for controls.

      Agree with the GC controller problem though. A lot of games would be ridiculously hard to port for control reasons alone - the horrendous d-pad alone is enough to kill the play control of so many games. I can't believe games like Ikaruga or Soul Calibur II are ported to the GC...

      (And the fact that SCII on GC outsold the other versions shows that play control simply isn't that important to many gamers.)

      --
      There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. -- Francis Bacon
    7. Re:Not really... by HalfFlat · · Score: 2, Informative

      I can't believe games like Ikaruga or Soul Calibur II are ported to the GC... (And the fact that SCII on GC outsold the other versions shows that play control simply isn't that important to many gamers.)
      A percentage of people who take SCII seriously, play it with a joystick. In this circumstance, the default GC controller isn't important.

      Don't know how large this percentage is, but it's certainly large enough to make it economically feasible for Hori to make a GC-specific SCII arcade stick.

      For people who have access to both a PS2 and a GC, and who take fighting games seriously enough to use a stick, the only reason to buy the PS2 version over the GC version would be in the situation that they already have an arcade stick for the PS2 and don't want to buy a second for the GC. In every other respect (ignoring console specific characters, blech) the GC port is superior: better graphics, and, most importantly, free of the slowdowns that plague the PS2 version in some stages.

    8. Re:Not really... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      "Agree with the GC controller problem though. A lot of games would be ridiculously hard to port for control reasons alone - the horrendous d-pad alone is enough to kill the play control of so many games."

      Agreed here as well. The original GameBoy and all Nintendo consoles from the NES to the N64 had controllers with d-pads of the perfect size, shape, and construction quality. But the GameCube controller and all GameBoys starting with GameBoy Pocket all have pads that are too small for comfortable and effective use.

      "I can't believe games like Ikaruga or Soul Calibur II are ported to the GC..."

      I don't know why not, unless it's due to bias. Ikaruga for GCN uses the GameCube's excellent left analog stick (the industry's best in terms of lateral placement, height, accuracy, and hat feel). Soul Calibur II can use it too, or it can use the d-pad, just like the original Soul Calibur on Dreamcast.

      "(And the fact that SCII on GC outsold the other versions shows that play control simply isn't that important to many gamers.)"

      Note that the Dreamcast controller was pretty crappy for 2d fighters because its shitty elevated d-pad was difficult to rock in circular motions accurately, but that didn't stop Capcom and SNK from throwing full support behind the DC, and it didn't stop these games from being successful, arcade perfect ports.

      Besides, the fact that the Cube version of SC2 sells better than the PS2 and Xbox versions doesn't prove your point. Depending on whom you talk to, it may even contradict your point. For example, I enjoy using the GameCube controller for most games, and I don't have a midget's fingerspan, either. But when I'm using my GameBoy Player or I'm playing arcade ports, both of which are designed around more traditional controller schemes, I can use my Hori digital pad or my custom joystick for games that feel more natural that way.

      So, contrary to your assertion, I bought the GameCube version because it is better than the PS2 version in every important way, including the fact that the Cube controllers at my disposal work great for me. (I have similar multiple controller setups for each of my systems, because no default controller is perfect for every game.)

      I have the Playstation to GameCube adapters too, but really, I find that they were a waste of money. I could have bought a Wavebird for the price of these two cheapo dongles. The best tool for the job of playing GameCube games is hardly a Playstation controller.

    9. Re:Not really... by drewmca · · Score: 1

      Not necessarily true on the design platform comment. Splinter cell was the first mp game designed for xbox first, but there are others and there will be many more to come. One premier title that comes to mind is Starcraft:Ghost. I'll agree that the tony hawk games are designed with the ps2 in mind first, and a lot of EA's games. But beyond that, a lot of other major 3rd party developers are designing on xbox first. Ubisoft is one example, as you've already indicated. From what I understand, it's easier to port down than up. But I could be wrong. I do know that most of the time when you see an upcoming game's screenshots nowadays, you usually see the xbox version.

    10. Re:Not really... by bugbread · · Score: 1

      The point is exactly that! In Japan, there is a tendency to have exclusives, as opposed to multiplatform releases. That's the whole argument! Since most companies here (uh, I should clarify: Here=Japan) release for only 1 platform, it's a cinch to figure out which platform gets all the games: the PS2. If there were more multiplatform games, XBox in Japan would have more than the pitiful 120 games it currently has. For reference, the US XBox has 322 games. While most of those American games (Tony Hawk, Splinter Cell, etc.) are multiplatform, the vast majority of the XBox Japan games are XBox exclusives. If, like American game producers, Japanese game producers tended to avoid exclusives, there would be a much more appealing software library for the XBox, and, presumably, for the GC as well.

      Off topic (sorry), but just to give you an idea of the game localization situation for XBox Japan (sorry to go on about XBox, but since it's the one I own, it's the one I know): think of your favorite XBox games. They don't exist in Japan. Looking at IGN's top-rated XBox games (in ranking order):

      Halo - Released
      Prince of Persia - Not released in Japan
      Splinter Cell - Released
      KOTOR - Not released in Japan
      Tony Hawk 3 - Not released in Japan
      Dead or Alive 3 - Released
      Morrowind - Released but not translated
      GTA - Not released in Japan
      Madden 2004 - Not released in Japan
      NBA Street 2 - Not released in Japan
      SSX 3 - Not released in Japan
      Deathrow - Not released in Japan
      ESPN Football - Not released in Japan
      ESPN Hockey - Not released in Japan
      Rainbow 6 3 - Not released in Japan
      Castle Wolfenstein - To be released untranslated
      etc.etc.etc.

      I realize that different games sell well here, but this is ridiculous!

    11. Re:Not really... by unclethursday · · Score: 1
      Maybe fighting games, maybe some sports games. Not 9 out of 10 multiplatform games, though!

      Sports, racing, and fighting games tend to be the largets percentage of multi-platform games, you know.

      The better D-pad on the Xbox controller

      You're joking, right? The Xbox D-pad sucks, especially on that monstrous controller (though the Controller-S has a better D-pad than the original). The GC D-pad is only in the bad category because it is too small for most games; but both the PS2 and GC D-pads are far more accurate than the Xbox's D-pad.

      Both the Xbox and GC have better left analog sticks than the PS2, both in placement and in control (and the Xbox has a better right analog stick than both the GC and PS2, since the C-Stick on the GC is too stubby to be effectively used in games that require it used often, like FPS games). But the Xbox has the worst D-pad, since it isn't accurate at all, and doesn't feel right in the least when being used.

      combined with some clever default button configuration (using both triggers simultaneously for a spine transfer simply feels a lot more intuitive than the dedicated button of the PS2 versions, IMO) negate pretty much any controller advantage

      Maybe it feels more natural to you, but I'd rather have one button instead of two to do both the spine transfers and the reverts (both the GC and the Xbox also require both shoulder buttons to be hit to do the revert as well). Hitting one button is easier than hitting two, especially since you know that the button is for specific purposes, instead of the multi-purpose shoulder buttons on the Xbox and GC which spin you as well as do spine transfers and reverts. I generally can score 2-3x higher on the PS2 versions of the THPS games than I can on either the GC or Xbox versions; with comobos ranging into the 2-3 million point range on the PS2 versions, and maybe a million points on the GC and Xbox versions.

      and for people with reasonably average hand sizes makes the Xbox version probably superior for controls.

      About the only games I find the Xbox controller vastly superior for are FPS games. I'm not huge into sports games, but it also worked exceptionally well for Sega Sports' NHL 2K3. I also hear it works well for racing games, but I'm not into racing games. Other than that, I find it adequate, but not superior to the other consoles' controllers.

      I can't believe games like Ikaruga or Soul Calibur II are ported to the GC...

      Ikaruga works fine on the GC. Left stick moves, A button fires, B button switches polarity, and the R button fires your special weapon. Ikarguga has such simple controls, and it would work well on any console.

      I bought SCII on the GC for Link, I admit it freely. But, the control scheme actually works well on the GC. It took me all of 5 minutes to get used to the controls, plus they are customizable as well, so if the default controls don't work for someone, they can change them. Honestly, I think the game probably controls about equally on all the consoles, but I have only played the GC version. And I have yet to use the D-pad in SCII, the analog stick works fine.

      Now, games like Capcom Vs. SNK 2 EO or Mortal Kombat? I'd say they would control the best on the PS2, adequately on the Xbox (I have Capcom Vs. SNK 2 EO on the Xbox, and find it controls adequately, but the inaccurate D-Pad still messes it up now and then), and probably the hardest on the GC with the button layout and tiny D-pad.

      Thursdae

    12. Re:Not really... by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 1

      Don't know how large this percentage is, but it's certainly large enough to make it economically feasible for Hori to make a GC-specific SCII arcade stick.

      On a similar note, I finally found the SC2-branded arcade stick that was mentioned here on slashdot shortly before SC2 was released ( http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/14/ 040208&mode=thread&tid=127&tid=186&tid=211&tid=212 &tid=213 ). The particular GameStop I was in said that they had only received the one stick they had on the floor, so I bought it. To my dismay, the cable (which has a connector for each of the XBox, PS2, and GC) is the same length as the PS2 controllers' cables, so I have to go buy extension cables for my XBox and GC (XBox controllers' cables are long enough to reach my couch with some slack, I use WaveBirds on my GC, and I already have extensions for the 2 PS2 controllers) before I can use it on SC2 and Ikaruga. I've been using it in Amplitude, but find the stick a little too sensitive (it jumps 2 tracks almost every time I try to move to the next track).

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]
  4. Gold tone PS2 case? by molarmass192 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Why isn't that gold tone PS2 case available in North America??? Even better, put out a special edition platinum tone case.

    --

    Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws-Plato
    1. Re:Gold tone PS2 case? by Babbster · · Score: 1

      Even better, stop investing money in paint and color marketing and spend that money on game development.

    2. Re:Gold tone PS2 case? by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 1

      Jesus - you're right! I bet Sony is wasting tons and tons of money on paint testing! Think about how many great games that money could be put into to have even more clip scenes!! Honestly, Sony wants to keep their hardware sales up until the PS3 launches as momentum is a big deal in the video game industry - selling new editions of the case is an easy and cheap way to get some increased sales - especially in Japan where this type of business practice has worked in the past. Good job having no understanding of that tough guy.

      --
      I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
  5. For the unbias... by MMaestro · · Score: 3, Insightful
    For those who could care less about the Xbox vs PS2 vs GC war, heres a basic summary of why they cut the price.

    CHRISTMAS SALES. Anyone in retail knows what I'm talking about. The only one I don't see doing a price cut is GC and thats because they're already cheap and they're using the free game trick.

    1. Re:For the unbias... by bugbread · · Score: 1

      ????????? I repeat: ????????? Japan, a culture without a tradition of giving Christmas gifts, decided to lower its prices for Christmas sales?!?! Why not Halloween sales, or 4th of July sales? They would make about as much sense.

    2. Re:For the unbias... by djshiawase · · Score: 1

      Japan doesn't celebrate Christmas, actually it's a normal working day over there, but children do receive significant money gifts on New Year's Day which presumedly Microsoft is targeting with this price drop.

      Another gift-giving holiday in Japan is O-bon week. Perhaps if the X-Box keeps its lacklustre performance up, a further slight decrease in price may be what they might choose.

      --
      they made me do it
    3. Re:For the unbias... by bugbread · · Score: 1

      Yes, but O-bon is mainly observed by companies and middle-aged folk, and gifts generally consist of beer, ham, detergent, melons, and the like. I certainly can't imagine anyone giving a console for O-bon or Chugen.

      However, on review, though kids don't get enough money for Christmas even to buy a console, Otoshidama (New Year's gift money) might be something to target. Especially with the way otoshidama are getting bigger lately.