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Captain Obvious : The Xbox 360 is Struggling in Japan

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A Japanese videogame sales clerk has, via his personal blog, come forward to tell the world exactly what it knows already – The Xbox 360 is having a tough time in Japan.

Despite trying really, really hard, and securing timed RPG exclusivity in the region, Microsoft’s gaijin machine has failed to capture the hearts of all but the “hardcore” Japanese gamer.

According to said faceless blogger (Besides, they all the look the same to me, amirite?) Microsoft had nary an interesting thing to show of at the recent TGS- “But all in all, there was nothing," he postulated “Sure, there is Forza 3, but that game has already been announced.

"This year, the big, eagerly anticipated titles are Final Fantasy XIII on the PS3, New Super Mario Bros. on the Wii and Zelda(Presumably Spirit Tracks on DS – if there’s been announcement of a new Wii Zelda game then I’ve missed it), on the 360, there’s not much of anything."

"It might be very hard to change the domestic trend," the retail jockey asserts. "I really feel that it’s too late in Japan which seems to be bailing."

Not even the recent price cuts have been enough to get Japanese gamers to buy a 360; only 4000 units were sold in the week following the drop.

We’ve brought this up before, but let’s try it again – Hey! Microsoft! Stop throwing money at people who don’t care that you exist; How about a little bit of Xbox Live for us sub-Saharan Africans?

Source : Kotaku

Last Updated: October 14, 2009

6 Comments

  1. easy

    October 14, 2009 at 11:23

    why would ms give up on an economy the size of japan to make a ‘couple’ south african xboxers happy? i would reckon even just one prefecture in japan would thump the whole of sa in terms of generated revenue.

    tasty tit bit

    Reply

  2. Geoff

    October 14, 2009 at 11:35

    why would ms give up on an economy the size of japan to make a ‘couple’ south african xboxers happy? i would reckon even just one prefecture in japan would thump the whole of sa in terms of generated revenue.

    I’m hoping they might because I asked really nicely. :biggrin:

    Reply

  3. easy

    October 14, 2009 at 11:52

    I’m hoping they might because I asked really nicely.

    lol who could deny a request from such a worthy ninja :biggrin:

    Reply

  4. ewie

    October 14, 2009 at 12:15

    well what is the sales currently in south africa ?

    A few hundred xbox consoles a week, or maby 2000 to 3000
    a month, Japan is still outperforming us by a big margin.

    Reply

  5. LazySAGamer

    October 14, 2009 at 13:02

    well what is the sales currently in south africa ?

    A few hundred xbox consoles a week, or maby 2000 to 3000
    a month, Japan is still outperforming us by a big margin.

    I would be interested to see how much profit M$ has made from their Japanese operation compared to the SA operation. I would bet they made more profit locally thanks to the lower marketing and support costs

    Reply

  6. Someone

    October 14, 2009 at 13:23

    If you take in to account the cost of marketing spent in Japan.
    I guess a Country like ours would be more profitable.

    I’m guessing it will take less money for marketing in SA to sell more Consoles.
    Not only that, but our country isn’t as saturated with Games & Gamers as Japan is.
    So there’s way more room for growth…

    That could explain why Sony have had it so easy here.
    Only the “gamers” really know of the XBOX360 in SA.

    Most non gaming people know of PS1 & PS2 so PS3 would be an easy choice.

    Reply

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