Microsoft unleashes new Xbox in Japan to lukewarm reaction

Teuthida · 12-10-2005, 09:48 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051210...rmicrosoftxbox

Quote:

But despite its early market entry, consumers Saturday appeared muted in their enthusiasm in contrast to the excitement generated at the console's US debut on November 22.

Only some 10 people were in line when a central Tokyo outlet of the Bic Camera consumer electronics chain opened its Xbox sales counter at 7:00 am.

Customer reactions "are a bit subdued," a senior store official said, adding that fewer than 50 consoles were sold in the first two hours.

"It's not going to be a big hit in Japan," said 26-year-old Kentaro Okamoto, one of the first Xbox 360 buyers. "I buy every new game console... but normally Japanese customers only buy a machine when it's made by Sony or Nintendo."

Hard-core gamers overlap with heavy computer users and many of them have a negative image of Microsoft's Windows software because of its price, lack of after-sales support and unstable operating system, he said.

"Microsoft needs to make enormous efforts to overtake its Japanese competitors," Okamoto said.

Another buyer, Mayuko Taniguchi, 28, said she knew she was in a minority of Japanese consumers who would buy the Microsoft console.

"I think many people would rather wait for PlayStation 3 or Revolution," she said.

Jonbo298 · 12-10-2005, 10:05 PM

Doesn't surprise me its reaction wasnt "OMGWTFBBQ" as the US was

Neo · 12-10-2005, 11:46 PM

What surprises me is that Microsoft thought the results would be different this time around when they changed almost nothing with regards to their gaming philosophy.

GameMaster · 12-11-2005, 03:20 AM

Isn't the only reason Japanese gamers rejct it is because the company did not originate in Asia?

MuGen · 12-11-2005, 03:33 AM

No.... there are vast reasons...

Majority of Japanese gamers have a grown loyalty to the Nintendo and Sony brand. Microsoft has only been in this industry for one generation and Xbox 360 is their second offering. Also the Xbox 360's games don't appeal to Japanese gamers...

Being an Asian myself I can tell what asian gamers play most of... which are RPG's, Party games, and Adventure games...... which is what Sony and Nintendo offer to Japanese gamers....

For Sony theres their Final Fantasies, Katamari Damacy, Jak, and Ratchet games...
For Nintendo theres their Zelda, Mario Party, Super Smash bro's games..

Microsoft's launch lineup for the Asian market does not exactly quell Japanese gamers desires. I can't remember the last time Japan had a tailgate party for football...
************************

This is why I like Sony. Their marketing strategy in a recent interview with PSM magazine outlined that the reason they are looking towards a Spring 2006 release is because they are allowing the developers to create a launch lineup that would be available to all regions and that would appeal to the regions. Kaz Hirai told PSM that he's not worried about Microsoft's early release and that the PS3's launch would be worth the wait.

Neo · 12-11-2005, 11:34 AM

They also have a negative impression of MS in general. They think of an operating system which has numerous bugs and an original xbox which scratched discs. Plus the whole "giant PC" approach just isn't the style of Japanese gamers.

Professor S · 12-11-2005, 02:04 PM

Lets be honest. The Japanese are a extremely nationalistic people. They generally look down on any foreign products and they view their culture as greater than all others. They refer to all foreigners as "gaijin", which is an insult and not unlike a white person calling a black person a "nigger".

The fact that an American/foreign company makes the Xbox may not be the only reason why the Japanese reject the Xbox, it is a very big one, and it is also why the Japanese reaction to the 360 doesn't surprise me at all. In fact I was expecting it.

Ginkasa · 12-12-2005, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sony

Being an Asian myself I can tell what asian gamers play most of... which are RPG's, Party games, and Adventure games...... which is what Sony and Nintendo offer to Japanese gamers....

I don't mean this negatively or anything...

But are you really an Asian, or a North American of Asian descent?

/me shrugs and walks away

Xantar · 12-12-2005, 01:53 PM

The real test will be when Hironobu Sakaguchi's game comes out. Such a game would automatically be a mega-hit on a Playstation console. Hell, it would probably do quite well an a Nintendo system, too. So we'll just have to see if the Japanese are just too insular to get an XBox 360 for the father of Final Fantasy's next game.

Dylflon · 12-12-2005, 02:06 PM

I'm not inclined to buy an Xbox 360 either.

I wonder if that makes me asian.

...or a racsist.

MuGen · 12-12-2005, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor S

Lets be honest. The Japanese are a extremely nationalistic people. They generally look down on any foreign products and they view their culture as greater than all others. They refer to all foreigners as "gaijin", which is an insult and not unlike a white person calling a black person a "nigger".

The fact that an American/foreign company makes the Xbox may not be the only reason why the Japanese reject the Xbox, it is a very big one, and it is also why the Japanese reaction to the 360 doesn't surprise me at all. In fact I was expecting it.

Thats a very old fashioned and traditional view of the japanese people...You may be safe saying that about the older generation, but the newer generation is very open. And stop with the friggin nonsense. Gaijin is directly translated to 'foreigner' and has nothing to do with race or ehtnicity. So don't go comparing japanese words you don't understand to racial slurs.

And if someone from japan called you Gaijin with a hostile look... it was probably you.

edit: i didnt seek ur question link... i'm of course of asian descent. been to japan couple of times though and the markets are cluttered w/ rpg's and mario party ads,

Perfect Stu · 12-12-2005, 09:07 PM

ha! ha! ha! and may godzirra stomp on that yankee doodle trash!

Professor S · 12-13-2005, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sony

Thats a very old fashioned and traditional view of the japanese people...You may be safe saying that about the older generation, but the newer generation is very open. And stop with the friggin nonsense. Gaijin is directly translated to 'foreigner' and has nothing to do with race or ehtnicity. So don't go comparing japanese words you don't understand to racial slurs.

And if someone from japan called you Gaijin with a hostile look... it was probably you.

edit: i didnt seek ur question link... i'm of course of asian descent. been to japan couple of times though and the markets are cluttered w/ rpg's and mario party ads,

I've never been to Japan, but I know wrestlers who have lived and worked there. They are referred to as Gaijin, and it is not a general term no matter what the literal translation is.

Gaijin are looked down upon. Sorry if you don't want to see it that way. Maybe the youth are different, but those that actually run things see it a different way. A traditional and nationalistic way.

Neo · 12-13-2005, 11:24 AM

More dismal numbers from cnn...

Quote:

Microsoft sold 62,135 machines over the weekend, or just 39 percent of the 159,000 consoles it is estimated to have shipped to stores, according to data from market researcher Enterbrain Inc.

The figures indicate a slower start than the original Xbox, which failed in Japan.

MuGen · 12-13-2005, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor S

I've never been to Japan, but I know wrestlers who have lived and worked there. They are referred to as Gaijin, and it is not a general term no matter what the literal translation is.

Gaijin are looked down upon. Sorry if you don't want to see it that way. Maybe the youth are different, but those that actually run things see it a different way. A traditional and nationalistic way.

And which people would be the ones who would most likely buy an Xbox 360 is at all? The youth....

Yet your rationalization of Xbox 360's poor selling performance in japan was because Japanese people have a superiority complex....

You've never been to japan and you do not understand it's culture. Same goes with japanese people's perspective of foreigners. How do you know if it's "looked down upon" or just "fear"

Human nature tells us we always fear what we can't understand. And don't take the perspective of wrestlers you knew who were there. Ultimately it comes down to your experiences and what your opinion about it is. I bet you if you went to Japan you'd have a blast. No one would get in your face without a reason. Wrestlers face animosity wherever they go, from fans who don't like there character to rival fans.

My advice to you is to visit Japan and see how their culture works and how they go about their lives before making a stereotype about them. Remember... they came from an Imperialistic origin with Emperors and a Monarchy. You could say their stubborness roots from that, but today things are a lot different. How do you think they got their clothes, their start in technology and their industrialization? The WEST....

they are what they are today because they accepted western philosophy. If not you'd still be seeing samurais....