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Xbox Struggles With Lackluster Sales In Korea
Thanks to the Korea Herald for its article outlining the disappointing performance of Microsoft's Xbox compared to the PlayStation 2 in South Korea. The article notes: "Just a year ago, Microsoft Korea, a unit of U.S.-based software giant Microsoft Corp., envisioned a bright future for its spiffy Xbox video game console... [they] initially aimed to sell 150,000 units during the first year. However, sales have fallen far short of this target at just 60,000 units." In comparison, "The Korean market has so far snapped up 600,000 PlayStation 2 game consoles since its debut 22 months ago." The piece attributes Microsoft's problems to the Xbox lacking "killer titles that instantly grab the attention - and the pockets - of game lovers", but also notes that "some critics attribute the glaring failure of Xbox on the Korean market to Microsoft Korea's poorly managed marketing."
Microsoft still hasn't released that M*A*S*H* game for the X-Box.
As the article says- it would be amazing if the Xbox was not a success in Korea, due to their huge broadband penetration. (Really- why do we use the word 'penetration' here?)
From the article, it was difficult to determine if Xbox Live is already up and running in Korea- I think 'yes' (with 4,000 subscribers).
I wonder how much the service costs in comparison to the U.S.- is it the equivalent of $50?
Do they like games where you fly airplanes, and shoot at each other? Or tennis? Do they know the concept of a voodoo doll?
You know what the killer title would probably be for the South Korean market- the one they could really get into?
Freakin' Missle Command...If I was Microsoft, I'd release that one right away.
No reason to lie.
Back in 1990s Microsoft have numerous opportunities to jump deep into the gaming market. Specifically during the transition from 16bit (genesis/SNES) to 32 (PS1). I still have an issue somewhere of game informer with Gates on the cover. There was so much talk about M$ diving into gaming, but no consoles ever panned out accept an occasional release of age of empires.
They should have gone into the market and dominated then. Not now... with a scene packed with competitors especially sony the 8000 ton godzilla.... who was really just an 800 pound gorilla at one time.
They should have gone into the market and dominated then. Not now... with a scene packed with competitors especially sony the 8000 ton godzilla
Godzilla is not welcome in Korea. It is the territory of Yongary
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
This may be a little off-topic but who cares? I went out last night and finally bought a X box console, mainly because of the X box live feature. After getting home and checking out the 2 free games that comes with it, Star Wars and Tetris World, I was pretty excited because the gameplay and graphics were great(One could expect nothing less from Microsoft)although Star Wars and Tetris World aren't my kind of games. After playing for a little while I decided to go out and rent a couple of games. My first stop was at Movie Gallery, which to my disappointment there were hardly any games available, in fact there were nearly 3 to 4 PS2 games for every one X box game. So I left and decided that Blockbuster Video might be a better choice, and to my suprise it was the exact same way there. Now I know that PS2 has been out in the U.S. for a good while now and has had time to make plenty of games but give me a break. X box has been out for a few years now and there are hardly any games available for rent at rental stores. Now, I dont know about anybody else but I rent games before I buy them, seems pretty logical to me. Im not sure what the deal is, weither X box games are too expensive for rental stores to purchase games or it may be that X box isnt popular enough to buy many games for. My thinking is that this my in fact hurt X box sales. A person isn't going to buy a gaming console when find out that there are only a handfull of games, sucky games at that, at your local rental store. Just a Thought.
HaHaHaHaHa
I don't think it's necessarily a case of the XBox not penetrating the market because it's Microsoft.
Right now pretty much all the consoles take a backseat to PC games. Korea is very much a hotbed for RTS and MMORPG games. On the video game channels, they've been trying to bring in some more head-to-head deathmatch leagues using Halo and Smackdown (and some other Xbox and Playstation titles, I think, as well as some Counterstrike and Navy Seals), but those tend to fall under the category of more-fun-to-play-than-watch. Surprisingly enough, watching the Starcraft fights are entertaining, just because they've gotten SO good at producing and rushing and protecting the rush on the various RTS titles, and the commentators are pretty good at moving around in god-mode to wherever the best skirmishes are. Anyhow, that coverage has led to constant promotion of the PC platform and the games that are good for it.
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Bleah! Heh heh heh... BLEAH BLEAH!!! Ha ha ha ha...
Microsoft? Poor marketing? Does... not... compute...
The Live pack with 12 months of access and the headset goes for 60,000won, which is roughly $50.
Right now there's a bundle pack which has the system, Ghost Recon: Island Thunder and Splinter Cell, plus two months of Live service for 229,000won. (About $192)
The best deal is in Japan, though, where it's doing just as poorly. System, one additional controller, DVD kit, Halo and Project Gotham 2, plus two months of Live service - all for 19,800yen. (About $184)
The only strong selling point for the Xbox here in Korea is mod-ability. You can take it to the electronics market in Seoul (if you didn't just buy it there) and get it fitted with a modchip for about $40. The installer will also load you up with emulators, some roms and the region-free DVD hack - at no extra charge. Once that's done you can then buy any Xbox game for 15,000won. (About $12) You can also get emulators for nearly every classic console and have the ultimate retro-gaming machine if you want. The only people buying legit titles are the ones who haven't chipped their systems or if they want to use the game on Live.
'Cause if it doesn't play Starcraft, why the fuck would the Koreans want it?
Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
That's why they should just port it to the Xbox and stop selling anything else for the system in Korea...
Right? It's too bad that there are so many people on Slashdot that feel the need to bash a decent platform. Sagging sales in Asia haven't hurt the Xbox for me. In fact this Xmas there are more games for me to choose and I can't get my wife off Rainbow 6 on Live.
Are we going to have a story for the sales data of every console for every country now? I heard it's not big in Mesopotamia, when's that story going to be posted?
Because those guys over at Nintendo sure as hell never really had marketshare. They only made Gameboy long enough for kids to get the hang of a d-pad and buttons, so that they'be be ready for the Playstation controller.
There never is a vacuum in the video game power, except for that time in 1983 when Atari let the market down. You don't just waltz in and take the reins, you work your way into the market with a product that is chosen by consumers!
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Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.
Korean games market in "closer to Japan than the US" shocker!
The PS2 outsells the XBox roughly 10 to 1 worldwide, why shouldn't it do so in Korea? They may have had high expectations, but those expectations were frankly unrealistic.
"I Know You Are But What Am I?"
Just out of curiosity, does anyone who is currently living abroad or know first hand whether or not the XBOX is viewed as the bastard console system of the Asian-based market? I mean, Japan has been pumping out consoles for nearly two decades now, and they've been doing a hell of a job at it, so maybe XBOX is just seen by the "non-Western" world just as the French see our wine? Maybe it has sold poorly in Korea just because it seems laughable that the MS juggernaut is trying to cash in on something that has been done for so long as o much better already? I've always wondered this... I'm not trying to break things down to a simple "black or white" cultural perspective. I think its safe to say these "identities" exist for all products in a globalized capitalist system, so I just wanted to get some input into this. Personally, I do own an XBOX and have a blast playing it, but I gotta say when it comes to console games (particularly RPGs) I think the most acclaimed Japanese-based developers have a better track revord. Not to say every console game that comes out of Japan is flawless, but so many of the better game companies have already established such a great reputation for themselves.
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Is it me, or did it just get fatter in here?
...since many Koreans *really* do hate the Japanese. This has long resulted in a strong preference (in Korea) for American products over Japanese products.
The amazing thing is that PS2 is outselling Xbox in Korea by such a wide margin when Koreans have long been some of the biggest customers in the Far East for Microsoft products. The fact that Koreans like on-line games (where Xbox has a very strong reputation compared to PS2) makes it even more mysterious.
Eternal vigilance only works if you look in every direction.
Let me see... Same price as the PlayStation 2, fewer titles?
Yeah, Koreans are going to snatch that up... If they were stupid.
http://www.gamespy.com/gdc2003/korean/
[quote]After the ugliness of World War II, Korea banned many Japanese imports. The result? No Nintendos. No Segas. No PlayStation or PlayStation 2. In this unique space, the PC was it. It became the de-facto, be-all and end-all of serious gaming platforms. [/quote]
Koreans don't take consoles seriously.
I've experiments to run, there is research to be done on the people who are still alive.
Yeah!
Like me! I don't own a PS2 cuz I hate Japs! It's that simple!!!!
*rolls eyes*
You're a lackwit, a teenager, or both.
... is that they're too busy playing WarCraft III.
No, seriously. There's a level 50 player on the Kalimdor (Asia) ladder. US ladders are at something like 35. Koreans are known Blizzard fanatics. I believe there's a paid WarCraft III tournament that's happening in Korea either soon or recently.
Hmmm.... that still sounds like a troll. Oh well.
... enough of the Anime-style titles that are ubiquitous to Japan?