Slashdot Mirror
Xbox 360 Core System Going to Japan
Grooves writes "Microsoft is bringing the Xbox 360 Core System to Japan a week in advance of the PlayStation 3 launch. Previously only available in North America and Europe, the Core System will cost 29,800 Yen ($256), approximately 10,000 yen ($86) cheaper than the premium Xbox 360. They're also throwing in a few games. From the article: 'According to a Microsoft spokesperson, buyers of the new base system will also get two free games for a limited time: Project Gotham Racing 3 and Ninety-Nine Nights. Microsoft will additionally announce the release of three other Platinum games which will be priced at 2,800 Yen, or $24.'"
Ninty Nine Nights? That game was garbage. They're not going to convince Japan to cross over with that. If you're going to make a package, at least put games they'll actually care about in there!
- Base Console unit with chrome trim on the DVD drive
- Wireless Controller
- Component Video hookups
- Composite Video hookups
- Japanese-D connector hookups (an HD connection similar to VGA used in Japan)
- external power supply
- 6ft ethernet cable
- headset
- 20GB HDD
- 3 1month Xbox Live Gold Trials
- as many Xbox Live Silver accounts as you want
Xbox 360 CORE: speculated Japanese price of ~$250US (US Price of $300)- Base Console unit
- USB Controller
- Composite Video hookups
- 3 1month Xbox Live Gold Trials
- as many Xbox Live Silver accounts as you want
- Rumored that the version in japan will inclde Project Gotham Racing 3 and Ninty-Nine Nights
The biggest problem with the CORE version is that without a hard drive you'll need to buy a memory unit to save your games. Memory units go for $40US (no idea how much in Japan). The price of the harddrive alone in just about every country is exactly the same as the price difference between the core and the premium. So in most places it's only a $60 savings and you miss out on a lot of accessories you might otherwise get. Considering though that these are gamers that didn't buy the Xbox 1, so they don't see the savinging of not having to buy a memory unit. Also with the included games, it might actually do well in Japan, it certainly couldn't do much worse.Collector's Edition
Microsoft should make a deal ($$$$$) with Sega and call it a Sega Xbox 360 in Japan. Have a few cosmetic changes and have some Japanese engineers oversee the production of consoles sent to Japan. Japanese gamers may feel that it is Japanese enough to purchase. It is a very large console (until the 65 nm manufacturing sets in), but it is still smaller than the PS3!
Microsoft will have to approach Japanese developers who are creating PS3 exclusive games, but who are not under exclusive contract to Sony. With the fear of a inexpensive Wii and an overly expensive PS3, Microsoft offers them 1.5 x amount of money where x is the cost of porting the PS3 game over to the XBox 360. The developer makes more than their money back on porting it to the Xbox 360 and Microsoft can build it's Japanese game library. Even if this was wildly successful I don't see Microsoft building more than 20% of the Japanese game console market.
Has anyone else seen the ign footage of the Wii in action. It looks kind of interesting, but apparent from Red Steel, all of the games had a kiddie look to them. That WILL hurt the Wii among some gamers.
Staggering. I'd hardly call the 360 a "dumbed-down version of a console that no one wants". It's selling just fine here in the US, and (at the moment) it's the best thing out there. It plays the most of the old xbox games and the newer games have some pretty good titles, too. Oh, and the "dumbed-down" interface and xbox live system is second to none. That I can start the thing, shut it down, check with other friends online, stream video/music from my server PC to any room in my house I've got it plugged into -- Microsoft finally got it right. So, no, the 360 is hardly a "dumbed-down version of a console". Your comments (and many of the MS haters above) show little experience with the 360. I'm no MS fanboy, but I've had a 360 since January and I get more impressed with the interface and useability each time I use it. Not quite as usefull as a modded xbox, but nearly so, with very nice user interface. The wireless controls are exceptional. As for "technologically concious" -- the Japanese like their electronics, but god help me no Sony 200 button remote is good design -- and you can't convince me ANYONE wants that. Yet the Japanese buy it anyway -- why? The xbox360 features both a high level of technology and good design. If more Japan-only games were developed there would be no excuse for not having higher sales figures
Microsoft HAS TO release it in Japan -- wether they want it or not. A market boost is almost irrelevant -- they need to get it IN the market. I think the previous revolt against the xbox in Japan was enough to show the Japanese bias. No Japanese style games? -- GET A JAPANESE DEVELOPER TO MAKE SOME! Come on! I won't argue that MS didn't have some PR issues in Japan with the original xbox launch, but the reasons that get cited (non-Japanese centric, not enough Japansese titles) are rediculous and easily remidied. There seems to be a lot of anti-MS bias in Japan (hell -- even here in the US) and they seem to take their electronics purchasing to a new nationalistic level. Don't think people really buy stuff that way? Know any Americans that will only buy Ford's or Chevy's? Yup -- I know quite a few that are so restrictive in their purchasing abilities. The Japanese seem to be the same about their electronics.
Then we're going to compare the Wii and the DS and think becasue the DS is such a hit in Japan, the Wii will be the same? THey're in two totally different markets! With totally different target markets! You can say the Wii is targeting the casual gamer much like the DS -- but I can't take it on the train, I can't take it on the bus, I can't take it in all these urban public transit places that the DS thrives on. I like the Wii, but I'll make no such comparisons. It's success will in no way depend on the DS or the market it serves.