pari
01-30-2006, 01:16 PM
http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=14350
Microsoft of Japan executive Yoshihiro Maruyama has admitted that Xbox 360 sales in the territory have been disappointing so far, with less than 110,000 units shifted since the console launched in December.
......
The Xbox 360 went on sale in Japan on December 10. Just over 62,000 consoles were snapped up in the first two days after launch, but sales then slowed and by January 15 only 107,800 units had been purchased. Worryingly for Microsoft, the original Xbox - which never succeeded in capturing a substantial share of the Japanese market - performed somewhat better, with almost 124,000 units sold in the first three days after launch.
Sony definitely has lots of time in its hand with the first mover advantage is slowly evaporating in Japan and might not be there, then MS definitely has big problem for xbox3
Maruyama went on to say that a failure to communicate the advantages of high definition had been a factor, stating: "We also received some criticisms toward our promotions, saying that people don't understand what high definition is. The Xbox 360's main appeal is high definition, but we couldn't successfully convey it."
Japanese consumers are very gadget friendly, without the next gen DVD drive the HD-DEF is not going to fly. Might be that is the reason MS execs have been talking about adding HD-DVD to 360. If Japanese consumer perceive HD-DVD not up to the mark, then even bigger problem. With the perception that Blu-Ray is going to win the market in US, Japan is not going to be any different.
However, Maruyama said he remains optimistic that things will pick up in the coming months. Two delayed titles - Dead or Alive 4 and RPG eNCHANT aRM - are now on the shelves, and other key games for the Japanese market such as Ninety-Nine Nights, Final Fantasy XI and Lost Odyssey are coming soon. Maruyama added that more titles designed to appeal to Japanese gamers are currently being developed and could be announced before E3.
SONY is going to keep its card very close to the chest until E3 and drop the bombshell like the previous E3. In last E3 MS execs were so confident that SONY would not be able to give any info about PS3 and SONY blindsided them. I believe its going to be the same in the upcoming E3.
And as always, all these are like reading the tea leaves.
Microsoft of Japan executive Yoshihiro Maruyama has admitted that Xbox 360 sales in the territory have been disappointing so far, with less than 110,000 units shifted since the console launched in December.
......
The Xbox 360 went on sale in Japan on December 10. Just over 62,000 consoles were snapped up in the first two days after launch, but sales then slowed and by January 15 only 107,800 units had been purchased. Worryingly for Microsoft, the original Xbox - which never succeeded in capturing a substantial share of the Japanese market - performed somewhat better, with almost 124,000 units sold in the first three days after launch.
Sony definitely has lots of time in its hand with the first mover advantage is slowly evaporating in Japan and might not be there, then MS definitely has big problem for xbox3
Maruyama went on to say that a failure to communicate the advantages of high definition had been a factor, stating: "We also received some criticisms toward our promotions, saying that people don't understand what high definition is. The Xbox 360's main appeal is high definition, but we couldn't successfully convey it."
Japanese consumers are very gadget friendly, without the next gen DVD drive the HD-DEF is not going to fly. Might be that is the reason MS execs have been talking about adding HD-DVD to 360. If Japanese consumer perceive HD-DVD not up to the mark, then even bigger problem. With the perception that Blu-Ray is going to win the market in US, Japan is not going to be any different.
However, Maruyama said he remains optimistic that things will pick up in the coming months. Two delayed titles - Dead or Alive 4 and RPG eNCHANT aRM - are now on the shelves, and other key games for the Japanese market such as Ninety-Nine Nights, Final Fantasy XI and Lost Odyssey are coming soon. Maruyama added that more titles designed to appeal to Japanese gamers are currently being developed and could be announced before E3.
SONY is going to keep its card very close to the chest until E3 and drop the bombshell like the previous E3. In last E3 MS execs were so confident that SONY would not be able to give any info about PS3 and SONY blindsided them. I believe its going to be the same in the upcoming E3.
And as always, all these are like reading the tea leaves.