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20 Reasons Why The 360 Might Fail in Japan 120
1up.com has an interesting look at the forces ranged against Microsoft in Japan, as the 360 poises for a major push in foreign markets. From the article: "There are enough reasons (we have ten) to believe things will be different next round, and Xbox 360 will eat away at PlayStation's dominance in Japan. Yet there are those who still believe Japan will never embrace a non-Japanese game console (and we've got ten reasons why these arm-chair analysts are correct.) Warm up your typing fingers as we give you ten reasons why Xbox 360 could kick ass in Japan, and ten reasons why it could bomba bomba in Kutaragi's backyard."
Kill my karma (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Kill my karma (Score:2)
The only fear I have is, that my gf will loose the controller somewhere.
Re:Kill my karma (Score:2)
Wouldn't be able to tell you what the 360 will use, but I'd hope they'd use rechargle controllers.
Re:Kill my karma (Score:2)
My friends and I chargle all the time. Then sometimes, we get really crazy, and REchargle.
It's like chargling, but TWICE as good.
Re:Kill my karma (Score:2)
Wouldn't be able to tell you what the 360 will use, but I'd hope they'd use rechargle controllers.
My eyes, MY EYES!
5 Hours is nothing, they will last way longer. (Score:1)
Re:Kill my karma (Score:5, Informative)
Wireless controllers don't have to suck, they just generally do. The Nintendo Wavebird is a good example of a non-sucking wireless controller. The batteries last seemingly forever, and I've never had any latency or interference problems. If Microsoft and Sony can pull off something similar, it shouldn't be a problem.
Of course that has very little to do with the 360's potential success in Japan, but I figured I'd mention it anyway.
Re:Kill my karma (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Kill my karma (Score:2)
Re:Kill my karma (Score:1)
Re:Kill my karma (Score:5, Informative)
The controllers come with a cable that hooks to the USB port. This cable will let you play wired instead of wireless if you want, and can be attached during play if the batteries lose their charge - you don't have to quit playing.
BTW, there will also be rechargable battery packs available, so that you don't have to keep buying batteries. And judging by how long the Wavebird lasted on just one battery, I wouldn't expect them to use a lot of batteries either.
Re:Kill my karma (Score:1)
I'll go back to acting like the rest of the Slashdot crowd and rant and rave with made-up facts about subjects I know nothing about. Will that help? Perhaps if I foam at the mouth in the post, and use the terms 'M$' and 'Evil Empire'?
Yeah, I should know better than to respond to trolls...
Re:Kill my karma (Score:3, Informative)
The wavebird is awesome, still haven't changed the batteries, unknown number of hours on it.
Same with my wireless logitech for my PS2.
All surrounded by my wireless 802.11bga wireless router and 2.4ghz wireless phone. Never noticed interference.
You make it sound like changing the batteries once a year if you're playing 8 hours a day is like being asked to climb mount Everest. If you need to change that often perhaps y
Re:Kill my karma (Score:1)
The Logitech PS2s are pretty good except they don't last. My friend frequently replaces the buttons on his Logitech.
They had wired TV remotes once... (Score:1)
Re:Kill my karma (Score:1)
I have been using this controller for a few years now and it has never once missed a button press or suffered any sort of interference.
So not all Wireless Controllers suck, perhaps just the ones you have tried sucked.
Re:Kill my karma (Score:1)
Still bad design. (Score:5, Funny)
Unless it actually has boobs, this isn't going to help. In the Japanese market, the main design flaw of the Xbox was its sheer size. It wasn't a masculine/feminine problem. Personally, I think it's still too big but being able to stand vertically helps.
Re:Still bad design. (Score:1, Interesting)
Heck, Sony's been setting up features that may or may not be great for gaming, but who cares when they have so many extra features to throw against the hype of the xbox.
Face it, the thing thats going to sell Xbox is either the loyalty gained by people impressed with the first one,
Re:Still bad design. (Score:3, Informative)
They've got every single major Japaneese developer on board (http://www.majornelson.com/2005/07/25/tokyo-xbox
Re:Still bad design. (Score:2)
The XboX fits nicely into American living rooms, but is far too large for Japanese homes. The 360 looks like an improvement, but not too much.
Look at the new Nintendo box (Revolution is it called?) -- ass tiny. That, and the Nintendo name, will help sell it.
Re:So sick of reading this bullshit. (Score:2)
Re:So sick of reading this bullshit. (Score:5, Informative)
Its not a matter of stereotypes, its a matter of reality.
1. With the original Xbox, who the heck wants to carry that thing from a store to their home ? Hint: most people won't throw it in the trunk. They have to hand-walk it out the store, down the street, into the subway, through x number of connecting subway and train lines, back up the street, and up the stairs into their apartment.
2. Most people *really* don't have room for something as large as an Xbox. Yeah sure, they have room for a TV, but thats one concession people have to make. Think they will make another concession for an xbox when they can just get a PS2 and keep what little space is left ?
3. The xbox is noisy as hell. Well the original PS2 was noisy too but they quieted it down. In a small space, noise matters.
Overall, size counts because as someone else said, people buy tons of devices and they are extremely frugal on space and cost.
Re:So sick of reading this bullshit. (Score:3, Insightful)
Spoken like someone who's never been to Japan, and never lived in a Japanese home.
Re:Still bad design. (Score:1)
Re:Still bad design. (Score:2)
Do they also design Dell corporate workstations? I swear I have one on my desk that looks just like it, but in black.
Um (Score:5, Interesting)
Come on editors, let's get on the ball.
The article has 20 reasons why the Xbox might Fail in Japan or not. There are 10 reasons why it might succeed and 10 reasons why it might fail.
Can someone fix the headline?
Re:Um (Score:3, Insightful)
From what I can tell in his bio, this is now Zonk's full time job... you'd think he'd put a modicum of research into the stories he posts.
Re:Um (Score:1)
Maybe Zonk is Colour Blind (Score:3, Funny)
Slashdot a little overzealous in M$ bashing...? (Score:3, Informative)
10 Reasons Why the 360 Might Fail in Japan
10 Reasons Why the 360 Might Succeed in Japan
Re:Slashdot a little overzealous in M$ bashing...? (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Slashdot a little overzealous in M$ bashing...? (Score:2)
Welcome to news, the Slashdot way. Where truth or an unbiased opinion are significantly less important than fanboy-ism, choosing sides, selective quoting, a little distortion of facts and karma whoring.
Face it, this is just an entertainment site. The news stories are just references to real news, and they are modified to please the standard stereotype ge
I realize... (Score:4, Funny)
How do I know this? Did I read the article? Bah! It's in the damn summary:
Warm up your typing fingers as we give you ten reasons why Xbox 360 could kick ass in Japan, and ten reasons why it could bomba bomba in Kutaragi's backyard
Does it matter? (Score:2)
Re:Does it matter? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Does it matter? (Score:2, Flamebait)
I have as much dislike for Japanese style games, as the Japanese (in general) have for Western style games.
To me, they actually have the worst studios, putting out the worst games.
Strangely, it is a French studio that is my favorite...Ubisoft of course.
Re:Does it matter? (Score:1)
I think, given the choice, 9 out of 10 corporations would prefer to do well in every market.
Re:Does it matter? (Score:1)
Re:Does it matter? (Score:2, Insightful)
Of the 360 "launch period" titles the only two games that look like they appeal to me are either coming out eventually for the PC (ES IV) or from a dev that u
Re:Does it matter? (Score:1)
Re:Does it matter? (Score:3, Insightful)
USA in 2003:
Population....................291 million people
Percentage playing games......50%
Hardware and software sales...$10 billion
Japan in 2003:
Population....................128 million people
Percentage playing games......37%
Hardware and software sales...$4.1 billion
The bottom line: The average Japanese gamer spent $86.50 on their hobby that year, while Americans only spent $68.70 the same year.
So yes, success in Japan DOES matter. While the
Oops! Screwed up my stats, sorry! (Score:2)
USA in 2003:
Population....................291 million people
Percentage playing games......50%
Hardware and software sales...$10 billion
Japan in 2003:
Population....................128 million people
Percentage pla
Re:Oops! Screwed up my stats, sorry! (Score:2)
The US made up around 55-60% of all game software sales in 2004, with everything else split in the various regions.
One good example of this is Capcom's economic forecast over the next 3 years... they view it as, "Share ratio by each software market; Japan 2 : North America 5 : Europe
Re:Oops! Screwed up my stats, sorry! (Score:2)
North America - 47%
Europe - 32%
Japan - 21%
Re:Does it matter? (Score:2)
Re:Does it matter? (Score:1)
Square Enix: Final Fantasy: Crystal Chrnoicles
Konami: Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
Capcom: Resident Evil Zero
Namco: Tales of Symphonia
Of course, that's by no means a complete listing of the support from each, but it is enough to prove there is support. (In a side note, I think at least some of the Nintendo handhelds had support from all of them, too, but I don't wanna find all those).
(NOTE: This is just to point out that hi
Re:And the number one answer is.... (Score:1)
Re:And the number one answer is.... (Score:1)
Oh, for the record, the quote (an audio clip of which can be found here [berrysmediahut.com]) is "Why do they call it Ovaltine? The mug is round, the jar is round. They should call it Roundtine."
The difference this generation (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:The difference this generation (Score:1)
They never sold those in Japan. (Score:1)
duh. no games! (Score:1, Insightful)
While Microsoft has signed on several big name developers to do games, none will have games ready for launch. By the time these titles do come out Sony will have the PS3 and it will be too late for Xbox 360. Also, only a couple Japanese titles really draw a lot of mainstream attention in Japan. The others are somewhat niche. Remember Jet Set Radio? Dead or Alive 3? Yeah, they really helped the xbox out.
http://forum. [pcvsconsole.com]
Re:duh. no games! (Score:3, Insightful)
To expand on your point a little, here's the thing:
It doesn't matter what names you have signed up to make games for you. What matters is the games they actually end up making. This was true of the original Xbox too. The Xbox (and the Xbox 360) has a real reputation in Japan as an American system, for Americans. (They don't really even think about Europe; they just think about where the system is
Which is better? (Score:1, Troll)
Choices, choices...
Re:Which is better? (Score:1)
I know, I know, we all "hate" MS, but they will not go away. They might diversify and restructure. DirectX is not "evil" tech, games run smooth, almost never crash on an Xbox. Has your XboX been infected with spyware/viri, ever? I personally hope they end up in more devices and get off our PCs. We have to make it profitable for them thoug
Good list (Score:1)
The biggest hurdle is Xbox 360 is American. Japan isn't fooled by a "we are coming out first". It might be good for a little time but Xbox and Gamecube both came out at the same time.
PS2 was going to be the clear cut winner when the PS2 was announced as it had the gamers and games lined up. Final Fantasy started the attention bu
Re:Good list (Score:3, Interesting)
The first of the current generation of video game systems was the Dreamcast.
The first of the generation before that (64 bit) was the Jaguar.
The first 8 bit system? Colecovision, which had the distinction of doing pretty good for an extremely short period of time untill the NES was released.
Re:Good list (Score:1)
Maybe you're thinking of the Sega Saturn?
Re:Good list (Score:2, Funny)
http://mo5.com/MHI/Firmes/Sega/megadrive.jpg
Re:Good list (Score:1)
btw, Dreamcast was pulled more because of piracy, not because it was a failed system, from what I saw of it, it's a decent system.
And it's iffy if Gensis is a 32 bit as someone else meantioned. Technically it was similar to the "cell" system where it had multiple systems. (or was that the saturn who had like two Gensis cores in it?)
Anyways I agree it's going to hurt MS more then help them by being fi
Re:Good list (Score:2)
The Saturn had two 32-bit Hitachi SH2 processors. Strangely enough, so did the 32x, although they were clocked slower.
Re:Good list (Score:1)
Good times. good times
Why it will fail in Japan: (Score:1)
Given the choice between guilt-tripping about feeding the American Mega-Corp monster your heard-earned yen, and providing needed greenbacks to your local silicon-pimp zaibatsu, the average Japanese will, simply, buy Japanese.
See, hegemony works two ways: for you, and against you. And until Microsoft do something about their utterly cheesy PR (yes folks, its true, people do actually see through the hype after the 3rd or 5th reboot..), and their general association as an utterly untrustort
Re:Why it will fail in Japan: (Score:1)
North American electronic engineers are too tall and clumsy, unlike their short and nimble Japanese counter parts.
Re:Why it will fail in Japan: (Score:1)
Re:Why it will fail in Japan: (Score:1)
and die.
Re:Why it will fail in Japan: (Score:2)
Not necessarily. The iPod is a prime example of an American product doing very well in Japan.
Though some Japanese might follow the "buy Japanese" principal, the same as Americans try to push the "buy American" agenda, many more do not follow that thinking. If you go to an electronics store in Japan, many of the electronics are labeled in English to appear more expensive and of higher quality. The Japanese also frequently purchase merchandise from other nations such as Korea, Germany,
Re:Why it will fail in Japan: (Score:2)
The iPod is a prime example of an American product doing very well in Japan.
For most customers, it's not about American or Japanese.
An iPod is small, stylish, simply a cool product from a cool company.
(At least the original) XBox is the exact opposite: big, ugly and from the most un-cool company you can imagine.
Re:Why it will fail in Japan: (Score:3, Insightful)
Tell that to all the iPod-owning, Windows-using, Levi's-wearing, Mariah Carey-buying, Starbucks-drinking, Gucci-coveting, McDonald's-eating Japanese people that partake in western products every hour of every day.
Re:Why it will fail in Japan: (Score:1)
Re:Why it will fail in Japan: (Score:1)
oh, yeah, it could be
Dog Fight Baaaby! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Dog Fight Baaaby! (Score:2)
Not that obvious! I look at the way MMORPGs and online gaming in general ate away the korean and US market. For a country that live and breathe videogames, Japan didn't embrace it nearly as much as I would expect. This is the same country that didn't like Gran Theft Auto. Even though it sold like hot cakes all around the world. Japanese markets and tastes are unpredictable.
Most Powerful? (Score:1)
Why does this matter? The PS2 was the most successful console of the latest generation, even though it had the worst graphics (not counting the Dreamcast,
Re: (Score:2)
I don't blame the Japanese (Score:3, Insightful)
American games feel like they were designed by marketers, not artists, because they are.
It does say they have "all" Japanese publishers on board this time...Maybe it'll be different then, I hope so.
PLEASE NOTE: The preceding was a generalization, there are some good american games. But clearly not enough that appealed to the Japanese market, or me.
--Proud Dreamcast owner, still has some of the best games ever.
Re:I don't blame the Japanese (Score:1)
the world is larger than Japan and USA (Score:3, Informative)
But you've also got to realize that the game-producing world doesn't consist only of USA and Japan. Ever heard for example of Bioware? You know, of KOTOR and Jade Empire fame? They're Canadian actually. Lionhead Studios, makers of Fable? They're in the UK. Etc.
So the XBox has plenty of games which aren't made in the USA. (And the PC even more of them.)
The USA actually p
Re:the world is larger than Japan and USA (Score:2)
Incidentally, Wired did an article that claimed that a large, large portion of Japanese buyers of the X-Box only bought it so they could play Dead or Alive 3, since it was an exclusive on that system. Obviously, that reduces
Re:the world is larger than Japan and USA (Score:2)
About the XBox itself, you raise a valid question. That's been my reason too to not buy
Re:I don't blame the Japanese (Score:1)
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: (Score:1)
Re:Why the Japanese hate US games. (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Why the Japanese hate US games. (Score:1)
For example, take the orginal Resident Evil, which was almready fairly unforgiving. It became such a sport to finish the entire game with nothing but the knife in Japan, that Capcom included the Tofu mode in Resident Evil 2, where you play with a big block of tofu that only has a knife to defend itself.
Also numerous Japanese RPG's just don't get accepted on the mainla
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Why the Japanese hate US games. (Score:3, Interesting)
American branch of a Japanese multi-nat (pretty good American presence) with many on-site Japanese-born executive and support staff, seasonals, and visitors, yeah, four years.
"having to speak Japanese"
It's still a struggle due to severe apathy on my part, but sure.
"and having to deal with customers/superiors in business situations as I have,"
Perhaps not as you have, but yes, with the additional relationships of having Japanese subord
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why the Japanese hate US games. (Score:1)
At least that's my experience.
Re:Why the Japanese hate US games. (Score:1)
Re:Why the Japanese hate US games. (Score:2)
Re:Why the Japanese hate US games. (Score:1)
New Gates Icon (Score:2)