The main reason why Xbox doesn't sell well in Japan


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I've always pondered why and I just keep reading about how Xbox didn't sell well in Japan and now neither is Xbox 360.

I've already heard that the reason is simply because Japanese love Japanese and they hate American products.

Well, now I think I've got the right answer! Or at least yet another reason why......

Japanese don't like the Xbox, because.... it's an X-BOX....

You notice how, in the west, the X on PS2 controllers means OK, or CONFIRM or YES, whereas O means CANCEL or BACK or NO.

In Japan, it's the other way around: X (not only on PS2 controllers, but symbolically too) means CANCEL or BACK or NO, whereas O means OK or YES or CONFIRM.

So in Japan, Xbox symbolically represents WRONG, or NO, or CANCEL, something bad. Backwards thinking.. If you buy an Xbox, and you're Japanese, then maybe you're WRONG.

Everyone was saying how Nintendo should have researched the name "Wii" and it's interpretation in western culture..... Maybe It should have been Microsoft that researched the symbolic meaning of X in Japan before naming the Xbox, the Xbox. Maybe they should rename it to the OBOX?

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The Japanese prefer Nintendo and Sony because they are Japanese companies simple as that, they are very loyal to Japanese manufacturers.

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The Japanese prefer Nintendo and Sony because they are Japanese companies simple as that, they are very loyal to Japanese manufacturers.

That is the true reason. They would choose a Japanese console over anything.

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The Japanese prefer Nintendo and Sony because they are Japanese companies simple as that, they are very loyal to Japanese manufacturers.

I don't think that is the case.

ipod, windows, and Mcdonalds rule in Japan :laugh:

The main reason Xbox doesn't do well in Japan is because people other than hard core gamers don't really know it exists.

Microsoft needs to advertise the living cr@p out of their console, like nintendo and Sony does.

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I don't think that is the case.

ipod, windows, and Mcdonalds rule in Japan :laugh:

The main reason Xbox doesn't do well in Japan is because people other than hard core gamers don't really know it exists.

Microsoft needs to advertise the living cr@p out of their console, like nintendo and Sony does.

There's no major Japanese equivalent of the iPod, Windows or McDonalds.

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interesting idea but not true. X has no special meaning in East Asia, it's a latin character and thus doesn't carry the same weight as a local pictograph. people treat it the same as it's treated in romance-language predominent places.

the reason is as noted: a combination of bias or prejudice against non-Japan icons and a dearth of games that players there can relate to easily (which one is stronger of these two, i don't know).

i agree that Mickey D, Starbucks et al aren't good examples as counters...

A. there's no viable local substitute in Japan or Asia

B. those companies make every effort to mask their US origins and adapt menus etc. in fact, i'd wager at least half their patrons in Asia don't even think of them as "foreign".

as gunner, who i guess has lived in HK and Japan judging by his handle, likely knows and has noted, MS aren't really being aggressive with their advertising and have not made any serious attempts at adapting. i think the latter's a good thing...the 360 is what she is, if someone doesn't like her, they can go get a PS3.

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interesting idea but not true. X has no special meaning in East Asia, it's a latin character and thus doesn't carry the same weight as a local pictograph. people treat it the same as it's treated in romance-language predominent places.

the reason is as noted: a combination of bias or prejudice against non-Japan icons and a dearth of games that players there can relate to easily (which one is stronger of these two, i don't know).

i agree that Mickey D, Starbucks et al aren't good examples as counters...

A. there's no viable local substitute in Japan or Asia

B. those companies make every effort to mask their US origins and adapt menus etc. in fact, i'd wager at least half their patrons in Asia don't even think of them as "foreign".

as gunner, who i guess has lived in HK and Japan judging by his handle, likely knows and has noted, MS aren't really being aggressive with their advertising and have not made any serious attempts at adapting. i think the latter's a good thing...the 360 is what she is, if someone doesn't like her, they can go get a PS3.

I dabbled with a few Japanese classes at school and the X symbol is used to mark something as wrong and the O symbol marks correct (much like our ticks). It has nothing to do with Latin characters. So with PS2 games, they logically chose those to deny/confirm options.

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cleaver, i repeat there's nothing unique about X in east asia. that's not saying you're wrong or what you've observed isn't important, but it certainly isn't a strong enough factor. next time you're on XBL ask people from JPN what they think. just play any DOA game...

it's largely related to a nationalist psyche and the fact games are mostly Westernized in nature. it's a crying shame that prejudice still exists in this world like that. it's a very one sided relationship, since Japan-made products do very well everywhere.

and the nuke thing...yes, i'm pretty sure it figures in this somehow but is still part of the whole nationalist issue.

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we were just talking in another thread and i was reminded that a lot of the 360's cooler features are only available in the US. that's a major factor in putting off int'l gamers, for sure. something MS must rectify ASAP.

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