20 Reasons Why The 360 Might Fail in Japan

1up.com has an interesting look at the forces ranged against Microsoft in Japan, as the 360 poises for a major push in foreign markets. From the article: "There are enough reasons (we have ten) to believe things will be different next round, and Xbox 360 will eat away at PlayStation's dominance in Japan. Yet there are those who still believe Japan will never embrace a non-Japanese game console (and we've got ten reasons why these arm-chair analysts are correct.) Warm up your typing fingers as we give you ten reasons why Xbox 360 could kick ass in Japan, and ten reasons why it could bomba bomba in Kutaragi's backyard."

Comments

I love the "might"

[fondue]

The Xbox 360 still has minimal support from Japanese developers. Of the titles that have been announced, you can guarantee that anything worth playing will be ported to the PS3.

All of this talk about 'nationalism' and 'aesthetics' is dodging the issue. Endless Tom Clancy and Madden crap doesn't appeal to the majority of US gamers (just the same ~2m or so male teenagers), let alone those in Europe or Japan.

Re:Does it matter?

[bigman2003]

I disagree that some of the 'best' studios are Japanese.

I have as much dislike for Japanese style games, as the Japanese (in general) have for Western style games.

To me, they actually have the worst studios, putting out the worst games.

Strangely, it is a French studio that is my favorite...Ubisoft of course.

Re:Still bad design.

[MBraynard]

So how exactly do you develop a game for Japanese gamers? Main characters with very small penis?