Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Plans More Japan-Specific Xbox 2 Games

Posted by simoniker on from the distribution-of-wealth dept.

Thanks to Bloomberg.com for its report discussing Microsoft's plans to recruit local developers to help the Xbox 2 succeed in Japan. Norman Cheuk of Microsoft Japan indicates: "A lot of what we're doing today is to position ourselves. We're looking at the future generations where we'd like to be successful", though efforts to encourage more Japanese Xbox exclusives (following on from Tecmo's Dead Or Alive 3/Dead Or Alive Ultimate) have recently been stymied: "Capcom Co., Japan's third-biggest game maker, has turned down offers from Microsoft in recent months to help pay distribution and development costs in return for more exclusive games for the Xbox, said Kazuhiko Abe, head of Capcom's corporate strategy division, without giving details." Abe also stated Capcom "isn't interested in developing more" Xbox titles, simply saying: "There are no plans... It's just not profitable enough."

3 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. Make More Dating Sims! by blueZhift · · Score: 3, Funny

    Seriously! One reason for failing in Japan was the lack of uniquely Japanese content, such as so called dating sims (Ren Ai games), various board games, work sims, and the oddball title here or there (think of Seaman). In addition to the absence of Japanese style RPGs. The other reason was that the darn thing was just too big and ugly for Japanese tastes.

    With a stable of local developers given a free hand to create games for the Japanese market and a redesigned console, they have a chance. Why is the Japanese market important? Well, even with game sales in decline there right now, it's still a lot of money on the table. Not only that, you can't really say you've been successful unless you can make it in Japan which in many ways is still the center of the video gaming universe. And that has implications for getting the best developers to write games for your platform which means more royalties for you.

    So bring on the Dating Sims!

    --
    To the making of books there is no end, so let's get started
  2. What does more japan-specific games mean? by Zed2K · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does that mean more games with characters with blue hair, big eyes, bad dubbing, and disco clothes? And stories about being good to the earth?

  3. Some advice to Microsoft: by GaimeGuy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't codename the Xbox 2 the Manhattan Project. Codenaming the X-box "Project Midway" didn't help your situation in Japan.