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360 Backwards Compatibility Lacking In Japan

Posted by Zonk on from the fuzzy-end-of-the-lollypop dept.

Gamespot reports that the backwards compatible list for the 360 at launch in Japan is ... somewhat abbreviated. From the article: "While the US list of Xbox games playable on the Xbox 360 has more than 200 titles, the Japanese list only carries 12 games. Microsoft Japan notes that additional titles will be added to the list in the future, so it might be a matter of time before the remaining games from the American list appears."

12 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. Xbox in Japan by mrbaggs · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Given the extremely low sales of the Xbox in Japan this isnt suprising. Just let a few games that sold well play and dont worry about the rest is probably thier strategy.

    1. Re:Xbox in Japan by BigDork1001 · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Given the extremely low sales of the Xbox in Japan this isnt suprising.

      I'm going to take the opposite side of this and say it is surprising. Since the X-box didn't sell well in Japan I'd think they'd be doing everything they can to ensure stronger sales.

      --
      "Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home" - Cicero
    2. Re:Xbox in Japan by higuy48 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It absolutely is surprising. XBox division bigwigs are on record as saying that if they don't break into Japan this generation, they will consider the XBox 360 a failure. It's been on /. already.

      --
      And now, for a sig that's a complete copout.
  2. Betrayal by Golias · · Score: 2, Funny

    While the lack of some of these titles from the compatable Japan list is regretable, I just noticed that not even the more-complete US list has "DOA: eXtreme Beach Volleyball" on the list of compatible games.

    This new console is dead to me now. It hurts too much to even talk about. *sniff*

    Thank goodness I still have the original X-Box, which allows The Greatest Console Game Evar to run just fine. Ah, Kasumi... I haven't bought you anything lately, have I? No matter, a couple days of playing The Hopping Game at the pool, and I can get you those sunglasses you like. *twitch* *twitch*

    --

    Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

  3. Not surprising? by interiot · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The original XBox did quite poorly in sales in Japan, for a variety of reasons. Obviously MS is hoping to do better with the XBox 360 (eg. smaller footprint, launch in US and Japan at the same time, many more japanese publishers signed on), but one would naturally assume that backwards compatibility for the 360 isn't very valued by consumers in Japan, compared to the US. As such, it's only logical for MS to spend less money on that.

  4. Wow -- 100% compatability! by Kormac · · Score: 2, Funny

    As an American gamer, I'm pissed...

    Why did Microsoft go to such great lengths to get all of the original Xbox games that sold well in Japan to have emulation on the 360, while there are numerous popular American releases that are not playable on the 360? :)

    Kormac

  5. Moot point by the+computer+guy+nex · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you don't have enough room next to your TV for an xbox and a 360 then you probably can't afford a 360 anyway...

    1. Re:Moot point by Golias · · Score: 5, Funny

      If you don't have enough room next to your TV for an xbox and a 360 then you probably can't afford a 360 anyway...

      Hello? We're talking about Japan here. They probably turned the case of their old X-Box into a hide-a-bed for visiting relatives.

      --

      Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

    2. Re:Moot point by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Heh. This is japan, where everywhere has the land value of manhattan(or more) and space is at a premium. Plus, a 360 is only $400. Living anywhere in the US where cost is high and space is low, that's peanuts compared to what your rent would be.

      There are numerous reasons why a good month for the XBox in Japan was 4-digit sales figures, and size was one of them.

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
  6. Re:How does the emulation on the 360 work? by RebelScum · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yes, you will be able to update the emulator via Xbox Live, whenever they add support for more titles.

    Plus, I've read that MS will release updates via xbox.com , that you'll be able to burn to a CD, which you can then pop into the 360 and it'll update for you.

  7. Um by Premo_Maggot · · Score: 2, Funny

    People in Japan are buying Xbox 360's???

    --
    Good karma sticks to me like velcro on a piece of plexiglass.
    Move along, citizen.
  8. It's enough by bonzoesc · · Score: 3, Funny

    12 games, that's one game for every Xbox sold in Japan!