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Microsoft Readies 360 Launch For China
The Xbox 360 was launched in Hong Kong in November of 2005, but the system is not officially part of the Chinese gaming market. Microsoft aims to change that this year, pending approval from the Chinese government. Gamasutra has the details on the deal, which will receive intense scrutiny from the country's culture ministry. From the article: "Looking to China specifically, the report notes that Microsoft has begun working with Chinese internet service providers and computer manufactures regarding the impending launch, and also plans to hire personnel to handle sales activities concerning the Xbox 360 on the Chinese mainland, though a specific time frame for these future hires remains as unknown as the launch itself. Likewise, a price has yet to be confirmed for the console as well, though the Xbox 360 sells for HK$2,329 ($300) in Hong Kong."
Unfortunately, the Chinese had already introduced a working clone of the XBox 360, and the Microsoft branded one was seen as a poor quality fake. The Chinese version had dna inserted to make it glow in the dark.
Always going forward, 'cause we can't find reverse.
I must be new here....
Seriously though.
Given that piracy is so rife in that area that they're going to sell 3 games, and the system relies on selling games to make a measureable profit, why bother to launch at all?
Especially as it seems they need to go through a lot of very expensive hassle to do so.
It seems a bit pointless, it's already widely available in the major cities (Imported from Hong Kong I guess). Then again, it's probably a part of a long time strategy of pouring loads of money into establishing themselves in China, and then reap the benefits in 10-15 years.
People worry about Jack Thompson wanting to censor content... at least Rockstar's Table Tennis game will sell well.
Yes. Especially in the countryside. But with a population of 1.3 billion:
all - most = more than enough to make it viable
Stand on any street corner in a place like Shanghai and you'll see plenty of people getting by on a few dollars a day, but you'll also see plenty of Benzes drive past.
No doubt it will be even cheaper again than the Hong Kong version...
The online potential of so many people really is big enough to get Microsoft into a territory where they had copied games the week after it came out.
;) ?
I live in Beijing and before I ever saw a system they had the games copied and on sale for a dollar fifty. Now they are down to a dollar. No one will 'buy' a game - but xbox live accounts are a different matter. I guess in this case Microsoft has nothing to lose as they at least get the hardware sale which should be turning a profit by now plus a subscription in some cases. Its an interesting business decision - I guess this would make them the first entrant into the Chinese video game market while it was still viable like... ever. Ninendo sells some funky controller N64 based thing with games built in in department stores - and thats the single legit example I know of. Everything else video game related out here is 3rd party and likely somehow shady.
Oh, except World of Warcraft. They have an ad on every Coca-Cola can in China thats been running for like a year now. Why do you think there are so many gold farmers
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Stand on any street corner in a place like Shanghai and you'll see plenty of people getting by on a few dollars a day, but you'll also see plenty of Benzes drive past.
You know. I always hear about how the Japanese generally dislike buying US over a Japenese product. I wonder if the average Chinese would rather buy US than a Japanese product. Japan invaded them in WWII there should be some lingering public dislike of Japan that US companies should be able to make a buck off of. I find highschoolers here in the US with a new found dislike of Japan after they learn about WWII and Pearl Harbor. But then again they don't think of Sony or Nintendo as foreign companies. They've always been here to them so what makes them foreign that their hq is in another country? Kids these days think alittle more globally than the adults do.
The iconic green logo has changed. The ring now displays all red and their first batch issue will deal with "That damn red, white, and blue ring of death" on their consoles.
In Soviet Russia, dots slash you!
Here in China, the product's quality is more important. People will generally say they don't like Japanese people (although they'll also say Japanese people are very hard-working, very polite, the women are very kind, etc.), but regardless of lingering racial resentment, Japanese goods are extremely commonplace and everyday. That's particularly true with small electronics like digital cameras or stereos.
Here in China, the product's quality is more important. People will generally say they don't like Japanese people (although they'll also say Japanese people are very hard-working, very polite, the women are very kind, etc.), but regardless of lingering racial resentment, Japanese goods are extremely commonplace and everyday. That's particularly true with small electronics like digital cameras or stereos.
Over in the US its price and performance. Sony, Nintendo, and Samsung are just as US to me as MS, IBM, Ford, and Walmart. I don't know maybe I just trust multinational companies that have always been here to me more than national companies.
I'm really looking forward to the release of Guqin Hero
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