Japanese analysts on X360 [UPDATE:They were right]

[Lord Nepenthean]

Check this out.  Japanese analysts are saying that Xbox 360 will essentially flop in Japan, just like the Xbox did.  The person who wrote the article below seems to disagree, but is not paying attention to something that is very, very important - the X630 software library.  Japanese people don't give a shit about Halo.  They think it sucks (which it does).  They don't care about Madden, or Tiger Woods, or Call of Duty, or any of the other first-person shooter, sports, or first-person shooter/sports combo games that are out or coming out for the Xbox 360.  They want mosquito simulators, dating games, and RPG's - all things that will never have much of a presence on Xbox.  (Please don't be a smartass and mention Fable or something like that.  You know what I mean.)

My prediction sides with the Japanese analysts.    I think X360 may do slightly better than Xbox did, but considering that last week Xbox had 0.6% of the market share in Japan, I doubt this new system is going to do much there.

Article: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3146136

Japanese Analysts Diss the Xbox 360
"Basic functions of Xbox 360 are inferior to Sony's next-generation machine."
by Jane Pinckard, 12/07/2005
0 of 1 users recommend this story.
Wow. Japanese analysts are just not buying the Xbox 360 hype. In a report released today from AFX, a financial news subsidiary of France-Press, securities and industry analysts in Japan are quoted saying some very pessimistic things about the prospects of Microsoft's Xbox 360 in the island nation. Woo Japanese consumers? Analysts say NOT - and the launch is supposed to happen this weekend, December 10th.

"We had previously thought that Xbox 360 could gain a major share of the Japanese market by taking some market share from front-runner Sony Computer," says an analyst for Mitsubishi UFJ Securities. "But we now think that such a prospect may not be realized, given the limited attractiveness of its titles and its lukewarm functions."

"No one -- consumers or software makers -- has been talking about the Xbox 360 lately, although we only have a couple of days before the release," said another analyst from Tokai Tokyo Research Center. "Given also the fact that basic functions of Xbox 360 are inferior to Sony's next-generation machine, and that there are not many newly-developed titles ready for the Japanese launch, Xbox 360 is not likely to become a must-buy console here in Japan," he added.

Wha-? Just where does he get that information? Do we even know the final specs of the PS3? Do they know something we don't? Once again I wonder, as always, just how do analysts come up with this stuff? Well, we'll know by Monday if they're right.

[CatchFiveBats]

I totally agree that Xbox 360 will do terribly in Japan, just like the Xbox did...because it's the same system with slightly more power and a few extra features that no one in Japan really cares about because they want a gaming machine, and not a media center.  Plus, IMO, the games suck, and I'm pretty sure that most people in Japan will agree with me.

And speaking of mosquito simulators, Mister Mosquito is awesome.

- Zac

[Hydrobond]

It has one more thing counting against it.  It's an American product.  If there is a Japanese product, the American product has to be far, far better than the Japanese one before they will consider purchasing it.  

Perhaps Microsoft would be better off putting some Engrish on the box itself?

[Lord Nepenthean]

Perhaps Microsoft would be better off putting some Engrish on the box itself?

Ahahaha.  That's a terrible stereotype, but so funny.

Regarding the first part of your post - Yeah, agreed.  It's very true.

[captain_nintendo]

There are several games that did show well when the 360 was revealed in Japan.  

I cant remember the list, but I think some were Jap only releases. (some RPG'S)

[Tynstar]

Plus, IMO, the games suck, and I'm pretty sure that most people in Japan will agree with me.

So 100% of teh games on the Xbox suck?

I agree the 360 wont do all that well in Japan. Why do they even bother to release it over there?

[Arrrhalomynn]

Didn't microsoft say they would get more japanese games on the 360? I vaguely remember reading something like that.

One the one hand I think Microsoft learned (at least a bit) from their mistakes in the past, and they will market it better towards the Japanese. But on the other hand they have to do very well to wash away the stench of failure that surrounds the xbos.

[Lord Nepenthean]

Didn't microsoft say they would get more japanese games on the 360? I vaguely remember reading something like that.

One the one hand I think Microsoft learned (at least a bit) from their mistakes in the past, and they will market it better towards the Japanese. But on the other hand they have to do very well to wash away the stench of failure that surrounds the xbos.

Yes, they did say that.  I think they have some minor agreements with some companies to bring more Japanese games to the system (maybe even Square Enix?  I don't remember), but there's nothing huge to speak of.  The system is still clearly geared towards FPS and Sports games, and the Japanese are not too blind to see that this is where most of the software support will come from.

You do make a good point about washing away the failure of the original Xbox.  It will be interesting to see if they can do that, because they definitely need to.  Dreamcast failed here because Sega didn't do a good enough job of erasing the memory of Sega CD, 32X, and Saturn.  Microsoft certainly has more resources to change things, but they have a huge uphill battle in Japan.

[yap]

I agree the 360 wont do all that well in Japan. Why do they even bother to release it over there?

I imagine because Microsoft wants income from 3rd party developers licensing.  Why would a 3rd party developer waste all the time / effort / and (most importantly) cash if Microsoft had no presense in the biggest console VG nation in the world?  They'd lose all 3rd party developers, and with the loss they're taking on each console would soon go out of business.

Videogames are a world-wide market now.  It is not enough to do well in just one market.

[shadaik]

It has one more thing counting against it.  It's an American product.

Worse - it's a MIcro$oft.
|D

[shadaik]

Didn't microsoft say they would get more japanese games on the 360? I vaguely remember reading something like that.

Yeah, but what exactly does M$ mean when saying japanese games? Most propably they talk games like Jade Empire. They are not bad, they may become japanese mass-markt - but they are too ordinary.

[Tynstar]

I imagine because Microsoft wants income from 3rd party developers licensing.  Why would a 3rd party developer waste all the time / effort / and (most importantly) cash if Microsoft had no presense in the biggest console VG nation in the world?  They'd lose all 3rd party developers, and with the loss they're taking on each console would soon go out of business.

Videogames are a world-wide market now.  It is not enough to do well in just one market.

Yeah I know. I wonder what the dollar figures are for each region of the world.

[CatchFiveBats]

So 100% of teh games on the Xbox suck?

No (I have 4 of them, soon to be 5), but I think all the Xbox 360 launch titles suck.  They're so bland and run-of-the-mill.  There's nothing there that makes me go "Man, I want to play that."  The only announced game on 360 that I can remember I want off the top of my head is Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and that's not even an exclusive title.  Then again, I haven't been paying much attention to 360 news.

- Zac

[Tynstar]

No (I have 4 of them, soon to be 5), but I think all the Xbox 360 launch titles suck.  They're so bland and run-of-the-mill.  There's nothing there that makes me go "Man, I want to play that."  The only announced game on 360 that I can remember I want off the top of my head is Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and that's not even an exclusive title.  Then again, I haven't been paying much attention to 360 news.

- Zac

Oh OK I thought you where talking about the XBox and saying all the games sucked for that. I would agree with you on the 360 launch titles. I think some look good but nothing OMG!!!!!!!1!!!!1! I have to get that.

[NDiddy]

I imagine because Microsoft wants income from 3rd party developers licensing.  Why would a 3rd party developer waste all the time / effort / and (most importantly) cash if Microsoft had no presense in the biggest console VG nation in the world?  They'd lose all 3rd party developers, and with the loss they're taking on each console would soon go out of business.

Videogames are a world-wide market now.  It is not enough to do well in just one market.

I dont know about the value of the japanese market but looking in retrospect most of the xbox's best games were made in america or europe so the third party arguement is debatable.