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Microsoft Plans to Roll Out Cheaper Xbox in Japan

Sagittarius   on 04 February 2008 - 22:06 · 14 comments & 22391 views

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Although the Xbox 360 has been, in many regards, a success for Microsoft, Japan has yet to embrace the console like the rest of the world, preferring instead Nintendo's Wii and Sony's Playstation 3. Tokyo-based Enterbrain, which publishes game magazines and tracks video game sales, says only 257,800 Xbox 360 consoles were sold in Japan last year, in contrast to 1.2 million PS3s and 3.6 million Wiis. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that MS has decided to start selling a cheaper model in order to woo gamers there. This entry-level offering, which went on-sale in the US last year for $279.99, goes on sale March 6 in Japan for roughly $260 - about a fifth less than the least expensive Xbox 360 now costs in Japan. Still, it's doubtful whether this move will help to spur sales of the machine in Japan; games are what sell consoles, and MS needs more games which appeal to the Japanese market to start making an appreciable dent there.

News source: AP

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(1 reply) #1 GOJI_GKing2000 on 04 Feb 2008 - 23:06
Bundle it with Ace Combat 6 and it ought to move a few boxes
#1.1 solardog on 05 Feb 2008 - 04:17
They need to bundle it with a WII or PS3.
#2 rpger81 on 05 Feb 2008 - 00:16
The last sentence says it all. Japanese gamers love RPG's and fighting games... not FPS and sports so much. The price drop will not help.
(1 reply) #3 +Xerxes on 05 Feb 2008 - 00:32
I can't see the price drop doing much for MS in Japan, it's not the price that is the problem to begin with! (look at the PS3) apart from Japanese been very brand loyal to thier own companies, the main reason (I believe) MS is struggling in Japan is due to the lack of games that appeal to Japanese gamers. It won't matter how cheap the 360 is, if it doesn't have games they wanna play they still won't buy it.

They really need to work hard on trying to appeal to the tastes of Japanese gamers and I don't mean just a few Japanese-oriented games I mean alot more of them, only then will they have a slim chance in hell of gaining acceptance there. This is my own opinion so take with a grain of salt!
#3.1 Magallanes on 06 Feb 2008 - 17:22
For raise the sales on Japan, MS can create a lolicon game / a character with ambiguous sexuality / a female character with big bust / to take a franchise from SHONEN JUMP comic / a mix from all.


#4 solardog on 05 Feb 2008 - 04:18
Either Im having a dejavu or they did thisd with the first Xbox as well.
#5 BilliShere on 05 Feb 2008 - 07:17
bundle it with dance dance revolution or summin like that. wait a minute. how about guitar hero. but nah. its gonna be too expensive.
(1 reply) #6 Volatile on 05 Feb 2008 - 17:17
They're doing this to compete with the PS3 and Wii in that country.
#6.1 Skyfrog on 07 Feb 2008 - 01:55
If they want to compete they need to release games the Japanese like. They can't seem to get that through their thick heads though.
#7 Kushan on 06 Feb 2008 - 00:38
This is a bit misleading, all they're doing is launching the Arcade in Japan, something they've done just about everywhere else in the world....
(3 replies) #8 Shaka-de-virgo on 08 Feb 2008 - 03:57
xbox is only alive in the USA.
#8.1 tablet_user on 09 Feb 2008 - 20:03
(Shaka-de-virgo said @ #
xbox is only alive in the USA.


and canada
#8.2 Kushan on 12 Feb 2008 - 15:48
I live in the Uk. I have a 360. My other housemate has a 360. My OTHER house mate WANTS a 360. My next house mate is getting a 360 for her birthday. My Uni partner has a 360, so does his brother. My other Uni partner has a 360. I don't know anyone with a PS3.
#8.3 pwaddy on 14 Feb 2008 - 02:50
i live in the uk, i WANT a ps3.

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