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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!
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.