Time to pull out of Japan.

01-04-2003, 05:08 AM

I think so at least. Xbox isn't selling at all and it won't get any better. Its yet another situation of japanese xenophobia. It's big, it's american, they dont want it. Fine, lets get the hell out and focus on the US and europe from here on out. I understand the need for japanese developers but the fact is, the games are selling in Japan. If MSFT is smart they will convince the Japanese developers to get over their egos and realize they will save an assload of money by keeping their games out of Japan.

I know, that's mental masturbation on my part, if the xbox pulls out of japan the developers are going to leave too, but I think the xbox might be better off (not counting sega and tecmo.)

Thoughts?

gekko · 01-04-2003, 09:52 AM

You're forgetting something. Xbox needs developers, developers don't need Xbox. PS2 games are currently selling the best in Japan, plus they have the largest audience to sell to. Most money to be made. Xbox is doing by far the worst in Japan, and it's Microsoft's job to sell the console, not the developers. If the Japanese don't like it (don't buy it), then they have no reason to develop for it.

Xbox is 1 year in, there are 4 years left. They're not better off pulling out now. You never know, there might be one game that just hits huge over there, and soon Xboxes are flying off the shelf.

They already put the Xbox out in Japan, they might as well leave it there. When Microsoft pulls out of Japan, it's a sign that the Xbox is done for.

Perfect Stu · 01-04-2003, 10:28 AM

Microsoft has to get its foot in the door in Japan at some point this generation if they want future consoles of theirs to really succeed. Spending lots of money to secure popular Japenese software fanchises (Dragon Quest, Xenosaga, any other popular Japenese RPG series) as exclusives may be an answer. They certainly have their work cut out for them, but throwing in the towell would be a collosal waste of all the time and effort they've put into the XBox in Japan so far, as well as the fact that it would diminish the chances of their future system(s) (XBox 2?) to ultimately succeed.

PuPPeT · 01-04-2003, 12:42 PM

Yep Microsoft have there work cut out for them in Japan but things are changing over there. Take From software they are loved in Japan (not so much out side of Japan) and they seem to think there is a place for the Xbox in Japan even calling it a hardcore gamers console. Well I don't think Xbox will ever do too well in Japan I do think it's making it's own little mark there in its own little way Steel Battalion, Murakumo any one!

Professor S · 01-04-2003, 12:53 PM

Well the Dreamcast and Atari japguar both made their little marks too, and look what happened to them...

Jonbo298 · 01-04-2003, 08:11 PM

I think developers have already noticed that the XBox is almost going to go nowhere in the future. Konami has already said that they aren't bringing a game to Japan since it sells so crappy over there. Kind of like what Sega said about sports games and the 'Cube. If it's not profitable, whats the point of bringing it to that certain console.

Dyne · 01-04-2003, 08:21 PM

It's kind of discouraging, because they've even revamped the Xbox over there in special editions. They look totally sweet, and even have keychains signed by Bill Gates. I don't know, I would have thought DOA was a good support for Japanese, but you can't please everyone. I want to see what happens to it in coming years, and maybe the Xbox Next or whatever that's called does better like the PS2, what with the features the japs want. Well, let's wait and see, it is too early to make assumptions like this.

Tombor · 01-07-2003, 11:24 AM

I think Microsoft should stick around. Xbox sales have been up the last couple weeks. They actually FINALLY outsold PSOne, GB Color, and Wonderswan and were pretty close to Gamecube simply because of the release of Orta. Famitsu posted some numbers recently that actually show that Xbox has a higher sell-through rate than PS2 and Gamecube. The ratio for games owned to Xboxes in Japan is roughll 6 to ever system. PS2 has 3 to 1 and Gamecube had something 2.5 whatever to 1. Obviously no consolation for the system there, roughly 310,000 in nearly a year, but it shows there's some audience for it.

What's weird, if you really look at it, Microsoft has done a few good things with the system there. Gates, I guess from some reports, personally meets with just about every development house there imaginable in hopes to getting someone signed, and they've managed to get From Software, sort of the Bungie of Japan with its Armored Core and King's Field series, and Sega to jump on board. Xbox has, already, and has a greater potential to be a niche system for a lot of these little development houses like KIKI, Takuyo, Dream Publishing, AquaPlus, MediaQuest, and Cave making games for it because of (a) the still bitch and a half development costs for PS2 (and its pretty pompus owner) and (b) the fact that there too the only Gamecube games that make any money are either from Sega, Capcom, Nintendo themselves, or some sort of licensed kiddie shovelware from Bandai or Konami (you don't see many Japanese developers all over Cube either). Xbox may be cheap enough that a Takuyo, or a KIKI, can sell 1,000-6,000 copies of Magi Death Fight or Triangle Again and turn a profit (christ, there's a Triangle Again 2 already...). And believe me, if you ever saw Magi Death Fight Takuyo could easily make money off of 50 sales.

Yeah, Xbox is done for in Japan. I mean, it really is. But that doesn't mean this is going to be the next step for Xbox Next. And like Brian said its been their a year already, you already have a handful of excellent games (Halo, Otogi, Tekki, Murakumo, JSRF, Orta, Phantom Crash and a few others) why not just keep it around for 4 more years. If I were Microsoft I would've just bitten the bullet, say **** it, and start pushing amazing non-Japanese taste games down their throats. Show them that Splinter Cell, Morrowind, MechAssault, Deathrow, Ghost Recon, Unreal Championship, and whateve else jumps to mind are amazing games. There seems to be a really hardcore market of Japanese gamers importing American games (Yo-Gi in Japan) and MOST are either interested in Xbox or already own modded systems. Carve a nice niche out and sit on that and try to expand further with the next system (knowing Microsoft they'll keep towing the hoe).

BigJustinW · 01-09-2003, 02:19 PM

How well did Rare games sell in Japan? I don't think MS should quit til they play thier whole deck in Japan. Like gekko said, who knows?

I mean, we can't predict the future... if things would have went this generation like I was thinking they would go, Xbox would already be dead in the states, and Gamecube would have passed Ps2 in world wide sales around this time.

certain games will come along that just can't be predicted... like GTA3 for example, I felt it would be good before hand, but I didn't think it would change the face of the whole gaming market like it did... likewise I thought FFX/MGS2 would be a much bigger success. Maybe it's just me who is bad at predicting things. *sigh*

Either way, methinks they should stick in the race... they have enough money not to become another Sega as far as hardare shelf-life.

Angrist · 01-10-2003, 03:45 AM

Yeah but will they ever be profitable in Japan?? That's the question.

I think they only stick in Japan because they need the Japanese developers. And if I were them I wouldn't produduce games for a system that's not even in my own country.

GameKinG · 01-10-2003, 10:20 AM

No, I dont think MS will be profitable in any market. I mean, not that I dont want them to be, but they blow so much money and lower console proce when they already lost so much at 300. They spent all this money of XBL and they cut the life of their console considerable to meet PS3 launch.

I also think the attachment rate for every console sold in japan is 1 game.

BigJustinW · 01-10-2003, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GameKinG
No, I dont think MS will be profitable in any market. I mean, not that I dont want them to be, but they blow so much money and lower console proce when they already lost so much at 300. They spent all this money of XBL and they cut the life of their console considerable to meet PS3 launch.

I also think the attachment rate for every console sold in japan is 1 game.

M$ isn't trying to be profitable this generation... or next generation, they are trying to get thier foot in the door. like the saying goes, it takes money to make money. Stepping into this Nintendo/Sony locked industry will take a huge blow to the wallet at first, no matter what.

I doubt any other OS would be able to step into the Computer world w/o blowing a massive amount of money either.

Perfect Stu · 01-10-2003, 01:25 PM

Microsoft don't expect to make money this generation. Do you know how hard that would have been? They've done an exceptional job in building a monster of a machine and have marketed it well enough to out duel veteren Nintendo's machine in NA and Europe as well as put some pressure on Sony.

They've made it clear that in their first few years in the industry, they just want to get their foot in the door. If they keep rolling, I wouldn't be surprised to see XBox 2 lead the industry at some point.

GameKinG · 01-10-2003, 07:57 PM

I would be. They will be paying for xbox even then (well, their profit on software more then enough pays for it) but in actually prfiting from their game division. I think sony will lead next gen, and after that maybe a MS or Nintendo...

Not that any of this matters, MS will still make so much money that they could buy every game company.

Bond · 01-10-2003, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GameKinG
No, I dont think MS will be profitable in any market.

Microsoft, as a company, is profitable in the American market, overall. They are as well quite profitable in the industry of Software & Programming. Also, if you like you say in another post: "I think sony will lead next gen, and after that maybe a MS or Nintendo..." Microsoft would have to be profitable in at least one videogaming market to lead that generation.

Quote:

I mean, not that I dont want them to be, but they blow so much money and lower console proce when they already lost so much at 300.

Have you ever heard of the theory in which you lose money on the console and gain it back on the games? I believe it is called the razor back theory. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo all use that same theory. Microsoft will sell more consoles at a lower price, hence selling more games. You lose money on the console, but make more on the games, completing the theory. Although keep in mind Microsoft did not come into this generation trying to make money (which you seem to have a hard time understanding), they came in wanting to make a name for themselves in the videogaming market (which Nintendo & Sony both had before this generation started). Next generation they will look to make money.

Quote:

They spent all this money of XBL and they cut the life of their console considerable to meet PS3 launch.

Umm.... Yeah... that made a lot of sense....

Quote:

I also think the attachment rate for every console sold in japan is 1 game.

If you're talking about the Xbox, you're wrong. If you're talking about gaming in general, you're also wrong. If you're talking about nothing in particular, you're still wrong.

Quote:

Not that any of this matters, MS will still make so much money that they could buy every game company.

I highly doubt that Microsoft could buy every game company.