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Tomorrow's Xbox 360 Japanese Launch

Posted by Zonk on from the not-going-to-be-any-shortage-problems-there dept.

rAiNsT0rm writes "The BBC has a great story covering the looming Xbox 360 launch in Japan tomorrow." Next Generation is reporting that, while there are no firm numbers yet, the 360 likely sold about 320,000 units in its first week on the retail shelf. From the BBC article: "Pre-orders on the internet look solid, but I don't think the retail stores will sell out of Xbox 360s in the first day ... Serious game fans will likely rush to buy them, but I think most people are going to wait and see."

31 comments

  1. Launch all they like.. by Dogers · · Score: 1

    If they don't have any in stock bar the first 15 the shops sell, it's kinda meaningless really..

    (still waiting for the UK to get some more.. :( )

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    1. Re:Launch all they like.. by -kertrats- · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Er...what would lead you to expect a sellout of 360s in Japan? The PS1 frequently outsold the Xbox throughout its lifetime in Japan.

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    2. Re:Launch all they like.. by Zangief · · Score: 1

      EVERYTHING outsells the Xbox in Japan. Even the original Gameboy advance (the one before the SP, with the dark screen).

  2. Size of the Xbox 360? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I haven't seen a 360 in real life, but the first Xbox didn't do very well in Japan because the unit was too big for the Japanese living space. I don't see it selling well like the Xbox 1 if it's roughly the same size, that and it's an American company selling it.

    1. Re:Size of the Xbox 360? by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      It's not much smaller, but the 360 has the advantage of a vertical alignment, much like both flavors of the PS2. It may take up the same volume of air, but less tatami mattage.

    2. Re:Size of the Xbox 360? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Other than the massive power brick which ends up probably taking up more tatami mattage. It's funny the photo on IGN in their Pre-Launch info doesn't show the power brick. And so far hasn't been updated, and there is virtually NO info about the launch so far even though the 360 was available 4 hours ago. I would expect SOMETHING in this internet age to hit the second people could start buying. I smell another xflop for the Japanese market.

    3. Re:Size of the Xbox 360? by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      "Other than the massive power brick which ends up probably taking up more tatami mattage."

      Yeah, but that can be hidden behind stuff, unlike the console itself. Having a separate external power brick seems to be little more than continuation of a trend started by the GameCube and followed up by the slimline PS2. I don't recall IGN showing the transformer for either of those consoles, either.

    4. Re:Size of the Xbox 360? by MeanderingMind · · Score: 1

      I don't think these people want to set their tatami mats on fire. Those things aren't cheap.

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  3. I wonder... by amrust · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Will the Japanese have the same problems with bundling, like those that purchased their 360s at Best Buy, in the USA?

    Do retail outlets even DO bundling over there? I don't know.

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    1. Re:I wonder... by badasscat · · Score: 2, Informative

      Will the Japanese have the same problems with bundling, like those that purchased their 360s at Best Buy, in the USA?

      Highly doubtful as nobody's expecting a sell-out as it is. With low demand, forced bundling would just reduce sales further. A customer can just walk out of the store and buy somewhere else, which was not really an option here.

      Do retail outlets even DO bundling over there? I don't know.

      I have never seen stores do it (factory bundles like pack-in games that come in the box are more common there, though), but that doesn't mean the idea won't ever catch on there like it has here. The Japanese have no problem copying ideas that they see have worked elsewhere.

      On the other hand, antagonizing consumers is still considered "bad business" in Japan, so forced bundling may never catch on.

  4. not interested by ShadowsHawk · · Score: 1

    Not really all that shocking considering the XBox only sold 10,000 units. I can't be the only who thinks $400 is way too much money to pay for a console. I certainly won't be looking at any of the next gen machines until they hit around $150-200.

    1. Re:not interested by GmAz · · Score: 1

      I second that notion. I bought my Xbox about 2 years ago now and it was only $150 and came with three games. Its still fun and several games have come out that are enjoyable to play. Until the 360 drops to $150 or so, that money will stay in my pocket.

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    2. Re:not interested by RoadDoggFL · · Score: 1

      The point is that the extra two years of system linked Halo and the year of Xbox Live titles would be worth the extra $150. If it wasn't for you, then great. But looking at it the way you are isn't really looking at it fairly.

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  5. He says he already got one! by ShamusYoung · · Score: 1

    I already HAVE a network-enabled gaming machine with a harddrive that is based on MS. It's my PC. If I'm going to shell out for a console, why not, you know, spread the love around?

    Looks Japaneese gamers might be coming to the same conclusion.

    Also, how dumb does a company have to be to under-stock just before Christmas?

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  6. huh? by the+computer+guy+nex · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I can't be the only who thinks $400 is way too much money to pay for a console.

    You do realize that the Xbox 360 is the cheapest major console ever to be release, when adjusted for inflation? You are paying less of your disposible income for this than your NES, SNES, Sega, PS1, PS2, Dreamcast, etc.

    1. Re:huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting


      So the $200 I spent on a Gamecube in 2002 is more than $400 in 2005 dollars.

      Right?

    2. Re:huh? by the+computer+guy+nex · · Score: 1

      It is more than the base console, which is only $300. The $400 version comes with about $220 extra accessories.

    3. Re:huh? by MorderVonAllem · · Score: 1

      obviously then the Revolution will be the cheapest major console ever to be release when adjusted for inflation as it will most likely be 200 bucks or 150...you've got to be kidding me...

    4. Re:huh? by badasscat · · Score: 4, Informative

      It is more than the base console, which is only $300.

      $200 in 2002 dollars is $213.49 today, according to the inflation calculator here. So, no, the GameCube was not more than the base X360 console.

      The Dreamcast also cost $199 when it was launched in 1999, and that's only $228 today.

      The Xbox 360 core system is not really more expensive than most, but it is hardly the cheapest ever at launch.

    5. Re:huh? by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      We can keep going back. $199 in 1991 dollars is only $280.82 today, and that got you an SNES, two controllers and Super Mario World. And you didn't even need two controllers for a two-player game of SMW.

      $199 in 1986 dollars ($340.89 today) got you an NES, two control pads, a Zapper, and the venerable Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cart. If you wanted the Deluxe set with R.O.B the Video Robot, that finally pushes things over the X360's price tag.

      Sure, it's not a Saturn or a PlayStation 2, but...

  7. From Japan... by dancingmad · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Xbox 360 is set to make exactly the same splash in Japan that the original Xbox made. Which is to say, not very much.

    There are ads for the 360 around - mostly in convience stores (Lawson's and 7/11, that I've seen). These are more like general stores in Japan - you can get games at some convience stores, its not considered a real hardcore gaming place. And the ads aren't even that big.

    I recently purchased a DS and in actual game stores there is next to nothing about the 360.

    On TV I've seen the commercial for Resident Evil 4 for the PS2 a dozen times in the last few days. I've seen exactly one Xbox 260 ad (for Perfect Dark) and that was at 3 a.m. (granted game commercials play mostly at those times, but I saw the Resident Evil/Biiohazard commercials during prime time too).

    The DS on the other hand is eating up the game market. It looks to be the next PS2 (and that is still running strong out here).

    I read the BBC article right before it was posted to slashdot and I don't think hardcore gamers here will buy the machine. There are zero Japanese interest games for the machine. Without even Dead or Alive, the machine's sunk. There's no interest that I can see here (granted I'm outside Osaka, and not Tokyo, but even considering Denden town, there's no interest).

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    1. Re:From Japan... by pappy97 · · Score: 1

      "The Xbox 360 is set to make exactly the same splash in Japan that the original Xbox made. Which is to say, not very much."

      Yes, but are we surprised? Sony and Nintendo are Japanese companies. Microsoft is an American company, perhaps an iconic American company.

      Something tells me that if Nintendo released the XBOX 360 (with a different name) of course, same name, same specs, same launch titles, it would do well in Japan, SIMPLY because of the name Nintendo.

      And that, my friends, is when you know that you have a video game market that doesn't really count. People in the US who know cars inside and out know that most Japanese cars are better than American cars.

      Why can't people in Japan accept that it's possible for an American company to make a console that might be better than something made by a Japanese company?

    2. Re:From Japan... by Neo-Rio-101 · · Score: 1

      I think the problem is more related to the fact that the Japanese have always stuck to their own home-grown companies when it comes to gaming. During the 80s, the Japanese had their own consoles which we could never get, and they were never interested in what the US or Europe was producing. I assume there is a subtle racism there. While the Japanese are accuse the Xbox of being underpowered in contrast to the up and coming still vapourware PS3, they couldn't use that argument for Xbox vs. PS2 - knowing the Japanese you'd have to assume bias there.

      Also, considering the game lineup for the best-selling Playstation and 100% backwards compatibility existed for the PS2 - it's hard to see how the PS2 could have gone wrong. The Xbox never had a strong following here, nor did it have a large library of games. The backwards compatibility argument is a lost cause.

      Thing is which really sticks out in my mind - the game launch line-up here in Japan is as bad as it was the first time for the Xbox - correct that - even worse. There's no Halo this time around, or smash hit game for the Japanese market. I haven't seen any TV ads. The PS2 release was covered by TV ads every day before the release reminding how long they would have to wait to play their new machine with release games.

      I do get the feeling though, that the Xbox 360 is really an Xbox 1.5 - the masses of PS2 users are going to wait patiently for their PS3 I feel, so they can play all their PS2 games.
      Microsoft had better develop a compelling reason to buy an Xbox 360 for Japanese gamers pretty darned fast.

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    3. Re:From Japan... by bugbread · · Score: 1

      While the Japanese are accuse the Xbox of being underpowered in contrast to the up and coming still vapourware PS3, they couldn't use that argument for Xbox vs. PS2 - knowing the Japanese you'd have to assume bias there.

      You don't have to assume bias there. You could, instead, assume that Japanese people looked at the shitty and miniscule game lineup, with a new game coming out every month or so (it seemed), and realize that the product wasn't worth buying.

      If you want to accuse Japanese developers of not jumping on the XBox bandwagon because they are latently racist, go ahead. If you want to accuse American developers of not making Japanese versions of their games because they are latently racist, go ahead. But the reason that Japanese gamers didn't buy the XBox is because the Japanese XBox had a horrible, shitty selection of games, and gamers aren't stupid.

    4. Re:From Japan... by MeanderingMind · · Score: 1

      You're right that if Nintendo released the Xbox 360 here, it would probably do well. But saying "simply" because of the name neglects the finer points of why the names Sony and Nintendo sell consoles.

      The reason why Sony and Nintendo as brands sell consoles is because they have a history of making good ones. The NES and SNES were killer, and while the N64 did not fare as well as its predecessors one need only peek into the windows of university clubrooms to see groups of people huddled around TVs playing Goldeneye, Smash Bros, and Mario Tennis. The Gamecube also had similar games which were just plain fun to play with your friends.

      The Playstation and Playstation 2 offered the plethora of RPGs that Japanese gamers crave, in addition to being incredible machines themselves.

      Because of the history these companies have, Japanese gamers trust them.

      It isn't impossible to touch the hearts of the Japanese. Disney has a strong hold on the Japanese, and that is another iconic American company.

      So long as you establish a history of good products, the Japanese will devote themselves to you and be very forgiving of even large mistakes. However, if you from the get go screw up royally, they won't look at you twice.

      When an American company reknowned for its monopolistic practices, buggy operating systems, and lack of connecting with their consumers attempts to squeeze into the market, and botches it, they have completely blacklisted themselves.

      The Japanese accept the possibility that American companies, or any foreign company for that matter, can make a competitive or even better product. The problem is that we haven't done so.

      You can argue the Xbox was a good system and I'd agree with you, for Americans. It was powerful, had all the nice sports games, racing games, and FPSs you could want. However, it was really the antithesis of what a Japanese gamer would want. The Japanese taste in games was rather unfulfilled in the Xbox. Live was not a big deal because most Japanese are entirely capable of assembling their friends together and having at it in person. And given that the Japanese typically live in small apartments (the number of people with houses of significant size is very small), something as large as an Xbox is rather difficult to find a place for (you know those new, smaller Monopoly boardgame boxes? I know Japanese who have trouble finding space for those).

      The problem for the Xbox 360 is that the Japanese consumers have already been turned off. Even if it is more powerful than the PS3, the past history of Microsoft in Japan coupled with the fact that the Japanese care less about power in comparison to fun and space efficiency have set the stage for a very large uphill battle for Microsoft.

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    5. Re:From Japan... by MeanderingMind · · Score: 1

      It seems entirely possible it wasn't even bias on the part of the developers, but instead could have just been that the Japanese developers didn't like the way Microsoft did business.

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    6. Re:From Japan... by bugbread · · Score: 1

      True. I certainly didn't mean to say that Japanese or US developer racism was a highly likely factor, just that I don't know enough about the developer end to argue either way about the subject, but on the consumer end, it was certainly not racism that kept people away from the XBox, but awareness of the dearth of games.

    7. Re:From Japan... by Neo-Rio-101 · · Score: 1

      All good points as above. The store space for Xbox games is tiny. They starte doff with a bang, but the shelves shrunk for ther original Xbox. I wonder how they're going to conquer the gamestore real-estate now when they're only got one shelf compared to the PS2's library. They had some Go and Shogi games for the Xbox Japanese market.... but there were millions of them for the PS2. Of course, the customer is going to go for the machine with the largest selection - that way if they buy a bummer, at least there's more to choose from. Going back to the past, the reason why the Commodore 64 and Atari 2600 were so popular was because of the vast software selections. Sure there were lots of crap titles, but it didn't matter when there were no shortages of them.

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  8. Money making opportunity. by Rowan_u · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yea, the good news is, after the the Xbox 360 launch fails miserably in Japan. I can import hundred of Japanese 360's (with Final Fantasy XI preinstalled), and make a fortune on EBay. Of course the unsuspecting buyers will have to . . . err . . . import all of there games from Japan as well, but a small price to pay for 4x full scene anti-aliasing.

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  9. Shortage Makes Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The shortage we have endured here in the States begins to make more sense if you view it as all building towards the Japan launch.
    All Japan has heard is that 360 sold out like crazy here and in Europe... so it must be hot and cool and new. (insert power brick joke here)
    Maybe this means that we can expect huge xbox shipments to the stores in America between the Japan launch and xmas. If that happens, the 360 distribution strategy might start to make sense.

    Some reports have the Best Buy 12/18 circular/ad promising +20 xbox 360s per store that Sunday, so maybe MS is ready to flood the distribution channels.

  10. Import XBox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just think, with how 'Popular' the XBox was in Japan I'm betting you should be able to import an XBox 360 from Lik-Sang before one is available in your local store.