Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft's Tokyo Game Show Showing
Microsoft's Tokyo Game Show press conference had quite a few choice revelations, above and beyond 1080p for the 360. Several 360 titles are now platinum with games like Kameo, Project Gotham Racing, and Perfect Dark Zero becoming available for about $30 in October. For those with Xbox Live, the first bring it home content is now available from TGS. Demos are expected later this week, but so far all we have to show for the event are some picture packs. The hopeful Xbox presentation, located as it is in Tokyo, has prompted some consideration of the 360's future in Japan. Despite the upbeat tone, the general consensus seems to be Microsoft has already lost the Japanese market, before the other systems are even on the market.
HD-DVD drive goes on sale for 19800 yen (~$170)
Blue Dragon goes on sale before Christmas
Blue Dragon 360 bundle hits stores the day Blue Dragon ships
Honestly, with how poorly they have performed I don't see Microsoft as having any chance of becoming a majory player in the Japaneese gaming market. With that said, with how poorly Sony is approaching this generation I think Microsoft has a real opportunity to make some inroads into Japan.
Keep dreamin'.
If consumers aren't buying the Xbox 360 when the PS3 isn't even on the market, what makes you think they will suddenly *start* buying the 360 once the PS3 is available? (Not even mentioning the Wii... which is still a wildcard IMO.) It doesn't really matter that there are going to be shortages and the prices will be high. Japan isn't exactly a third-world country living in poverty, for one thing - those who want a PS3 will find ways to afford one. They're also going to be inundated with PS3 marketing telling them how cool the system is (and unlike MS's marketing, it'll actually seem that way coming from a company that understands Japanese culture).
Once the PS3 launches, I would expect 360 sales to drop to near zero. They're already basically there, but the 1,500 or so people who are buying 360's each week are going to have even less incentive once the PS3 ships. Some of those potential customers will no doubt also buy a Wii instead; we just don't know how many. But the PS3 is the 800 lb. gorilla in Japan. (My bet is it eventually will be here too, fanboy arguments notwithstanding.)
The 360 is dead in Japan. Thinking otherwise is just denial. It's pretty much *been* dead for a while now, but this is about the point an ER doctor would give up CPR and resuscitation efforts and finally call it. The Japanese public just has no interest. It's not that they hate the Xbox 360, it's just that they don't know or care. It's not even in their consciousness, nor do they want it to be.
One minor correction to the original post here - the Tokyo Game Show is not in Tokyo, despite its name. It's in Makuhari, a city of 800,000 people located about 15 miles outside of Tokyo. It's a small point, but it's kinda like saying Giants Stadium is in New York. It's not; it's not even in the same *state* as New York. The Tokyo Game Show takes place in the Makuhari Messe, which is, as its name does imply, in Makuhari in Chiba prefecture.