Xbox Struggles With Lackluster Sales In Korea

Thanks to the Korea Herald for its article outlining the disappointing performance of Microsoft's Xbox compared to the PlayStation 2 in South Korea. The article notes: "Just a year ago, Microsoft Korea, a unit of U.S.-based software giant Microsoft Corp., envisioned a bright future for its spiffy Xbox video game console... [they] initially aimed to sell 150,000 units during the first year. However, sales have fallen far short of this target at just 60,000 units." In comparison, "The Korean market has so far snapped up 600,000 PlayStation 2 game consoles since its debut 22 months ago." The piece attributes Microsoft's problems to the Xbox lacking "killer titles that instantly grab the attention - and the pockets - of game lovers", but also notes that "some critics attribute the glaring failure of Xbox on the Korean market to Microsoft Korea's poorly managed marketing."

A case of not serving the market

[Anonymous Coward]

Microsoft still hasn't released that M*A*S*H* game for the X-Box.

How can it not succeed?

[bigman2003]

As the article says- it would be amazing if the Xbox was not a success in Korea, due to their huge broadband penetration. (Really- why do we use the word 'penetration' here?)

From the article, it was difficult to determine if Xbox Live is already up and running in Korea- I think 'yes' (with 4,000 subscribers).

I wonder how much the service costs in comparison to the U.S.- is it the equivalent of $50?

Do they like games where you fly airplanes, and shoot at each other? Or tennis? Do they know the concept of a voodoo doll?

You know what the killer title would probably be for the South Korean market- the one they could really get into?

Freakin' Missle Command...If I was Microsoft, I'd release that one right away.

Godzilla not welcome in Korea

[AtariAmarok]

They should have gone into the market and dominated then. Not now... with a scene packed with competitors especially sony the 8000 ton godzilla

Godzilla is not welcome in Korea. It is the territory of Yongary [stomptokyo.com]

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

This is not "stuff that matters".

[Kris_J]

Are we going to have a story for the sales data of every console for every country now? I heard it's not big in Mesopotamia, when's that story going to be posted?