Gaming Japanese Xbox sales.

[Red]

[B]The Xbox has been on sale in Japan for roughly 2-3 weeks now, and has sold only 4,300 machines. Where in the same space of time, Gamecube and Playstation 2 have sold almost triple that amount and they have been out for a very long time in Japan.

I am saying this because I feel that microsoft could have done much better in selling the Xbox in Japan. One of the strongest factors is the size of the Xbox, I doubt many Japanese people who live in cities will want a console that takes up most of their living room.

Another strong point is the Japanese software enemies that Microsoft has made, for example Konami, who were not impressed by the console and were certain it was not going to sell well in Japan, also strong ties that Sony and Nintendo had already made with game software companies prevented Microsoft from getting any big games being ported to their console. (MGS2 is going to be ported to Xbox but it will be no different and the Xbox's power will not be used to make the graphics better.)



[/B]

[James]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by The Elite DBZ [/i]
[B][B]The Xbox has been on sale in Japan for roughly 2-3 weeks now, and has sold only 4,300 machines. Where in the same space of time, Gamecube and Playstation 2 have sold almost triple that amount and they have been out for a very long time in Japan.

I am saying this because I feel that microsoft could have done much better in selling the Xbox in Japan. One of the strongest factors is the size of the Xbox, I doubt many Japanese people who live in cities will want a console that takes up most of their living room.

Another strong point is the Japanese software enemies that Microsoft has made, for example Konami, who were not impressed by the console and were certain it was not going to sell well in Japan, also strong ties that Sony and Nintendo had already made with game software companies prevented Microsoft from getting any big games being ported to their console. (MGS2 is going to be ported to Xbox but it will be no different and the Xbox's power will not be used to make the graphics better.)



[/B] [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=royalblue]Hm, I don't quite see why you're putting this up.

I mean, I'm sure that by now, we are all aware of the Xbox's performance (or lack thereof) in Japan.

Microsoft obviously doesn't have the right formula (or perhaps the right ideology) to conquer the market there.

Still, there's really nothing new about this.

I mean, Microsoft are obviously going to have to create more Japan-centric games...and they're going to need many more exclusive titles.

Anyway, yeah...others can offer their opinion of what MS needs to do to be successful...I guess I just feel that this thread is perhaps a little redundant.[/color]

[Sephiroth]

after what tom green's been doing in japan, do you seriously think the japanese will buy an american console, lol....

[Zachary]

So there not selling well?

[Charles]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Zachary [/i]
[B]So there not selling well? [/B][/QUOTE]

Um, read the posts in this thread again. ;)

Well, I'm not surprised that it's not doing well. Like I said before, the Atari Jaguar and 3DO did pretty miserably over there as well. Then again, they weren't so hot in the U.S. either. Basically, the whole reason for the poor sales is because of the Japanese concern over the focus of American consoles. American companies usually focus on creating monster consoles and neglect to focus on the gaming aspect. I think James even said something along those lines, not too long ago.

[Sephiroth]

did anyone hear about how the console is doing in the US now? sales has begun to decrease while ps2 sales still remain strong, I don't like how this is going, the xbox needs to come out with some good games and fast, they can't just rely on halo, DOA3, project gotham racer, and JSR future to keep the console going....

[Charles]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sephiroth [/i]
[B] I don't like how this is going, the xbox needs to come out with some good games and fast, they can't just rely on halo, DOA3, project gotham racer, and JSR future to keep the console going.... [/B][/QUOTE]

Rallisport Challenge is really awesome. However, I doubt it has the name value to back up any real sales. As ashamed as I am to admit this, I kinda want to play that Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, game. It looks awesome.

Well, I suppose Blood Omen 2 might get a few sales too, but I doubt anyone would buy the system for it. First of all, it's not [I]that[/I] good, and secondly, it's out for PS2 also.

As for actual system sellers, let's keep our fingers crossed for the Panzer Dragoon game. I'm really looking forward to it, but Sega hasn't impressed me with its Xbox games thus far.

[James]

[color=royalblue]I think one of the biggest problems is that Microsoft is coming out with too many American-centric games.

I mean, nobody in Australia is going to want to play an NHL game...or really anything related to American sports (except perhaps NBA or something).

I was looking at the Xbox game library at my local game store today...and I played Amped for a few minutes on the demo unit.

I must say that the game lineup is too restricted...Xbox needs more Japanese RPGs and generally, more Japanese designed games. American companies are fine, but very few are really good with console software...most are suited to PC development.

I had played Halo quite a bit previously, but this was the first time I'd played Amped. And I have two complaints about it.

First, the visuals were very poor. Much worse than SSX: Tricky on PS2.

And second, the controller (as I've said many times), was simply unmanageable.

Now for this kind of game, perhaps I can get used to it. But the main stick (the left stick) is absolutely horrible...it doesn't have enough resistance. And the button placement on the right hand side is awful...it's too high up and too left-centered. I found my thumb almost rubbing the second stick several times.

I'm listing these concerns because I think these are issues that MS needs to consider.

The new alternative controller than MS is planning will hopefully go a long way to improving people's gaming experiences.

If the controller is good, then the point of interaction itself is good. And the point of interaction is almost as important as the game itself. Let's face it, no matter how good a game is, you won't want to be fighting with the controller the entire way.

So my main complaints are the controller and the poor game lineup. The controller isn't so much an issue in Japan (though I've yet to try a Japanese controller), but the game lineup is something which Microsoft itself could try to improve. It doesn't need third parties to pick up the slack -- if Microsoft is serious, it can truly focus its own first party studios on the task of broadening the game lineup.[/color]

[Adam]

I think the Xbox is poo poo.

[Adam]

Actually, I agree with James' assessment of the console. There are far too many American-centric games. Even AMERICANS dont like that many American-centric games.