Xbox360 in Japan

[Justin Buser]

I just posted 2 very contrasting news items.

Xbox360 Chances in Japan Slated

Japanese Developers on Microsoft in Japan

What do you guys reckon? Can Microsoft pull it off in Japan?

[Nomino]

It's fair to say that Microsoft made little to no impact in Japan with the original XBox, maybe even causing more harm than good with the huge black box and US/Europen games.

However, I'll say one thing for Microsoft. They learn, and the act on their past mistakes. Clearly the design of the XBox 360 and the interaction with all the services shows they have listened to the world. However, will Japan embrace it? I think so...maybe not to the extent that they would hope, but I certainly see Japan "allowing" the XBox 360 to succeed in their country. It's getting good Japanese developer support, and the unit itself looks cool!

I take analysts views and news items with a pinch of salt - best wait for it to launch before making any rash views on success or failure!

[pApA SmerF01]

i believe they will do much better in the asian market this time around. the problems with the xbox were not only the design, but also the games. there just weren't that many good games (if any) directed to the japanese gamers. they fixed both these problems with the xbox360, and they've launched a massive ad campaign in japan.

[Father Campfire]

Everyone is banging on about how the 360 may not succeed in japan, fair enough, but the asian market isn't just japan, korea is a big market as well. I can't see microsoft beating sony on their home turf this time either, the japanese are very loyal to their own brands and anything that is made outside of japan is seen with contempt or negativatey. Just look at the xbox the best of the 3 console and to be honest i have to agree it's very american, Big boxy and boring on the eye, black which is a dull colour anyway and a very uninviting cold colour and the games are dominated by what us western gamer like, very little in the line of rpg's which the japanese seem to love very much. Yeah the 360 has address most of these issues, but with the japanese being very skeptical about anything other than "japanese Made", the 360 has a major up hill battle.

As for that nintendo PR person, talk about utter rubbish, what she has said is to put it plain and simple bull****. Its like say that people in europe or american don't have any recognition of say the ps or nintendo branded consoles. Sounds like someone who is only doing their job and trying to rubbish their rivals.