Microsoft Plans More Japan-Specific Xbox 2 Games 31
Thanks to Bloomberg.com for its report discussing Microsoft's plans to recruit local developers to help the Xbox 2 succeed in Japan. Norman Cheuk of Microsoft Japan indicates: "A lot of what we're doing today is to position ourselves. We're looking at the future generations where we'd like to be successful", though efforts to encourage more Japanese Xbox exclusives (following on from Tecmo's Dead Or Alive 3/Dead Or Alive Ultimate) have recently been stymied: "Capcom Co., Japan's third-biggest game maker, has turned down offers from Microsoft in recent months to help pay distribution and development costs in return for more exclusive games for the Xbox, said Kazuhiko Abe, head of Capcom's corporate strategy division, without giving details." Abe also stated Capcom "isn't interested in developing more" Xbox titles, simply saying: "There are no plans... It's just not profitable enough."
If I were Japanese... (Score:5, Insightful)
In the U.S., a person who can only afford the hardware and games for one or two systems has a more difficult decision to make between the Big Three. While the PS2 does win in sheer size of its game library, the Gamecube and Xbox have better games in certain categories.
In Japan, where Sony and Nintendo have been household names for decades, it'll be much more difficult for an American company with a smaller game library to find a place in the market.
So unless Microsoft makes some shady exclusivity deals with a good number of developers over there, I just don't see Xbox [insert number here] doing well at all in Japan.
Re:If I were Japanese... (Score:5, Insightful)
And Microsoft is not likely to get the exclusivity deals they need (even shady ones) unless they're willing to absolutely hemorrhage money at Japanese developers. Why should Japanese manufacturers want to make games that will be exclusive to a highly unpopular console unless they're guaranteed to turn a profit before development even begins? Especially when other Japanese companies will probably bribe them more simply not to take MS's bribes?
MS doesn't seem to have done anything to persuade the shrinking Japanese gaming industry that they should be allowed to have a share of the profits, anyway. Until MS is willing to play ball with the companies already there, the doors they need open to make the X-Box big in Japan will not be opened. The "lone cowboy with the biggest technical specs and his own proprietary apps" schtick isn't going to fly in the incestuous Japanese economy.
Re:If I were Japanese... (Score:1)
Well, I was faced with that same question, until I looked at the price points. The Xbox is horribly unpopular here, which means it needs to lower its price to succeed.
The Playstation2 STILL costs around 18000 Yen (180 USD). Even used, you can only find it as low as 17000. By comparison, I got my Xbox for 15000. I got two controllers, 2 months of xbox live, a DVD Remote (the reaso
Re:if you are serious about japan (Score:3, Informative)
Rob
Forget Japan (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Forget Japan (Score:2)
Forget the price of the console. It's the price of the games that concerns me more. If games were 30 euros instead of 60 euros, I'd buy one a week, instead of one a month. 60 euros is a big risk for something that could be crap.
If MS want sales of their console to rocket. Cut game prices in half. I'd buy an Xbox tomorrow if they did.
Re:Forget Japan (Score:1)
Pssss...Capcom....... (Score:4, Insightful)
Call me crazy, but maybe Capcom should try making xbox games for $50 instead of, you know, $200 [capcom.com].
Re:Pssss...Capcom....... (Score:2)
Not really. You'll have to have bought the $200 original Steel Battalion and controller, which means for anyone not owning the original SB, Line of Contact will pick your pocket for $250 to play.
What about the ones listed for $30?
Well, let's see. Using gamerankings:
Auto Modellista - 54%.
Capcom v. Snk 2 - 80%
Group S Challenge - 54%
Dino Crisis 3 - 56%
Genma Onimusha - 80%
Pro Cast Fishing - 43%
So, the highest scored Capcom Xbox games are either ports, or
Wrong types of games? (Score:2)
Ummmm.... (Score:1, Interesting)
And then they try to pull "More" Japanese exclusive titles? COME ON!!! The Japenese market is one of the most saturated markets on Earth, game wise, and the bloody statistics show that not only are fewer games being sold there, but there is less interest in new titles than ever before. The only thing still alive over there are well established franchises and the "Quirky" gam
Re:Ummmm.... (Score:5, Insightful)
I wouldn't call Boon-ga Boon-ga a popular game. It is just a quirky niche game - it isn't the next Street Fighter II or something! And the country that invented games like (the tremendously popular in comparison) Mortal Kombat or Custer's Revenge probably shouldn't criticize other countries for their tastes in gaming. Some developers are just going to make disturbing, 'gross' games - it doesn't reflect on that country's whole gaming market! It isn't like every Japanese or American gamer gets together and votes for a "poke your boss' anus"game or "rip off a woman's head for bonus points" game.
The rest of your less-trollish analysis isn't necessarily wrong, though you probably overstate how much "quirky" games sell there. They are made more over there (easier to get published), but they usually don't sell well. Japanese gamers mainly buy franchise games, just like Western gamers do. They are just different franchises in many cases.
MS has been actually doing a pretty good job going for Europe from the start (some of the Xbox's best games are European developed and focused, like the Project Gotham and Rallisport Challenge series), but I agree going for it more wouldn't hurt.
Re:Ummmm.... (Score:2)
We're talking about Japan. Boonga Boonga is a Korean game. Only 200 units were sold to Japanese arcades, which is absolutely nothing (one unit for every 20 towns or so in Japan, if that).
Make More Dating Sims! (Score:4, Funny)
With a stable of local developers given a free hand to create games for the Japanese market and a redesigned console, they have a chance. Why is the Japanese market important? Well, even with game sales in decline there right now, it's still a lot of money on the table. Not only that, you can't really say you've been successful unless you can make it in Japan which in many ways is still the center of the video gaming universe. And that has implications for getting the best developers to write games for your platform which means more royalties for you.
So bring on the Dating Sims!
Re:Make More Dating Sims! (Score:2)
Obligatory Simpsons quote: "I want to try the yard work simulator!"
What does more japan-specific games mean? (Score:4, Funny)
Some advice to Microsoft: (Score:3, Funny)
Across the ocean (Score:2)
So, this make me wonder, are the games that get sold in japan going to be toned down american games, or perhaps the opposite,, they will be toned up with a lot more sex and violence. Dont forget the tentacles!
A good idea to rank up sales! (Score:2)
2.-Get square enix to sign just picture this: Final Fantasy X... BX!
3.-Convince capcom to port megaman, viewtiful joe and DMC
4.-Change every single football game in development for dating sims and every FPS (except halo2) for RPGs replace blood and gore in adventure for cutesy hamsters, girls with eyes the size of the moon and hair every color of the rainbow and
Re:A good idea to rank up sales! (Score:2)
The unquestionable truth that slashdot is full of geeks perhaps?
Its just a phrase someone started using to mock MS business plans funny thing is that it turns out you can use it in just about everything, is kind of Slashdot's own "all your base" phrase and its funny to use it, try it sometime. And losen a bit ok? these are comment posts, not PHD thesis, they are not even articles.
what Microsoft needs to do (Score:2)
As cited, simply trying to get them to make xbox only games wont work, microsoft needs to actually buy someone in japan then they will have xbox-only japanese titles.
Perhaps Square Enix, they are HUGE in japan or something (something to do with some RPG series or something). Although I am sure that even if Microsoft threw every cent it has at buying them (square enix) out, they still wouldnt be able to do it (and not because they dont have enough money, no amount of money