Microsoft: Japan Isn't Important, Europe Is |
Ó
Recently, Matt Lee, a software developer who works at MS' Xbox Division gave out an interview that covered the usual stuff- his life as a developer in MS' Xbox Division, the Xbox 360 Architecture, and the gaming marketplace. It's basic stuff, nothing really new and eye-popping, except for one comment that he made.When he was asked about the somewhat disappointing launch of the Xbox 360 in Japan, poor sales reported by the retailers, and what does the Xbox team plan to do about that setback, Mr. Lee answered "Japan is obviously a very important market for us and one in which we have to work hard at. The main concern is getting the games that players in that market want to play."
He continued with this reply, "one thing to note, however, is that Japan is not necessarily the most important market for gaming these days. It is also not quite as large as the US and European markets. The Japanese market is very important to the Xbox 360 and we've got a whole bunch of great Japanese titles on the way from major Japanese developers. Both the Japanese and US markets are reaching saturation at this point. The big battleground for us (and for everyone) is going to be Europe."
Basically, his argument about Europe being more important makes sense. Europe is clearly the bigger market and has a stronger currency. With those factors at hand, you can't really blame them for that statement. I wonder how Japanese MS fanboys are going to react on this.
Other interesting points that were raised during the interview session was the overall future of the Xbox 360. When asked if the Xbox ever support downloading simultaneously with gameplay, the software developer answered that they've recently released " the Spring update that will deliver this feature along with many other nice new features for the dashboard and Guide. I've been beta-testing it at home, and it works very well. You can queue up a list of downloads and it just chugs through them in the background while you play games or watch movies." Although he declined to divulge some info about their plans on selling an increased capacity hard drive for the 360.
Contact Us:
The QJ.net Network |
 |
| Site | Feed |
| QJ.NET | RSS |
| Nintendo DS | RSS |
| PlayStation 3 | RSS |
| PSP Updates | RSS |
| Wii | RSS |
| Xbox 360 | RSS |
| MMORPG | RSS |
| Personal Computer Games | RSS |
| iPhone - iPod Touch | RSS |
| QJ.NET Forums | RSS |
Add QJ.NET
User Favorites - December
User Favorites - December
| Top Jumps | |
| Custom Firmware 5.50GEN-D3.. | (2709) |
| Custom Firmware 5.50GEN-D3.. | (1015) |
| Custom Firmware 5.50GEN-D3.. | (522) |
| Tiger Woods Wife Outrun Fl.. | (504) |
| MaGiXieN: 6.xxGEN is not w.. | (410) |
| MaGiXieN explains release.. | (358) |
| Custom Firmware 5.03GEN-C.. | (305) |
| PSP Homebrew: CFW 5.03 GEN.. | (210) |
| Custom firmware 5.50GEN-D.. | (171) |
| Wii homebrew - Custom IOS3.. | (109) |
| PSP Revolution v0.3 | (98) |
| Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate.. | (92) |
| No plans for custom firmwa.. | (87) |
| PS3 optional update 3.15 d.. | (85) |
| PSP homebrew - DaedalusX64.. | (84) |
| Resident Evil 5 patch 1.03.. | (83) |
| PSP Homebrew - PSPDisp v0... | (82) |
| PSP homebrew game: PSP Mar.. | (75) |
| Sony starts talking about.. | (73) |
| gpSP v0.9 for the PSP | (72) |
| PS3 is year's best platfor.. | (70) |
| PSPlayerMT For PSP - Direc.. | (67) |
| Sony files curious new tra.. | (67) |
| PSP homebrew - PSP Live TV.. | (66) |
| Sony sells 440,000 PS3 uni.. | (66) |
Categories
Archives
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
Comments
This has to be wrong! M$ not worried about the market in Japan, WTF!! This has to be a rumor or a typo, I love SONY, but even this is a new low in the bull crap department!!!
and Microsoft is right too. Of course Japan is a very important market, but not for Microsoft. They don't have the types of games or marketing that is important for the Japanese - and even if they did it would take at least two generations for Microsoft to have a decent market share. Just look at the gamecube. The XBOX did actually quite well for being the first Microsoft console and entering a market that is really saturated with ps/ps2 and n64. The Gamecube did sell well in Japan, the XBOX did not. It scored in America and Europe. This is still true for this generation. Neither Wii nor PS3 launched in either territory so Microsoft better build up some decent market share.
I think you just read the title of this post, where it incorrectly says "Japan isn't important..." If you bothered to read into the article, you would see where he clearly states, "The Japanese market is very important to the Xbox 360 and we've got a whole bunch of great Japanese titles on the way from major Japanese developers." Also, "Japan is obviously a very important market for us and one in which we have to work hard at." Please people, read before you comment. If you just come to this website to find out if you can pirate games yet or not, fine, but dont kid yourselves that marketing strategies are important to you.
I wonder do M$ realise that European gamers (and American gamers) actually like Japaneses games? I import titles all the time for my PS2, I even imported Shikigami no Shiro for the XBOX back in the day... I love my 360 for Oblivion, Hitman, GRAW etc but it will be Japanese games like FFXIII that lure me over to the dark Side this christmas
I do hope that all these companies stop catoring to tiny little japan. America and Europe are way bigger and deserve way more attention that 1 small country. I'm not sure how Japan became such an attention monger with games but it's time it ends.
It became an attention monger because of the only reason that matters. They is profit to be had in Japan. If there wasnt any money to be had wouldnt be any consoles.
for #4 for everyone like you, there is 10 people like me that could care less about japanese games i really just can't see the xbox 360 ever having a strong lineup of japanese titles, and i could care less because it's not why i bought the console some anime guy with spiky hair doing random ***** = boring, these are the titles i typically avoided on the ps2 anyways
MS cant afford not to try and get a market share in Japan. Its Huge, gaming in Japan is big. I dont care what MS says but its just as important to get a piece of Japan as it is in America or Europe. Japanese developers have made some of the best games on any console. They will only work on consoles that they believe is a benifit to their market share. When is the last time a Japanese company made a US or EU exclusive game? Not in a long time if ever. But the US and EU developers try several times a year by releasing certain types of games. Those who think Japanese market isnt good enough just need to look at the sales figures. The country is small, but a larger percent of the population accually play games. the US and EU are big, but when putting accual numbers next to each other, the JP, US and EU market are almost equally important. Can you go into into 10 homes in the US and expect to find a PS2 in most of them? No way, but you certainly can in Japan.
@7 I see what your saying, as I did not buy my 360 to play Japanese games either but what I am saying is that if they did try to cater for the Japanese market it may stop multi console gamers like me giving my hard earned money to Sony and maybe buy more M$ games. Also I'd like to add that I don't like games with spikey haired anime characters either but I don't just want to play FPSs all the time, as I also like Shoot em ups, fighting games, RPGs, Survival Horror and Mech Games (especially Steel Battalion) and last time I checked all the better examples of these games were being made in Japan. Wouldn't you prefer innovative games like Katamari and Okami to come out on 360, I know I would
We care about Japan, because Japan made gaming mainstream. Where we are now with gaming, Japan was 10 years ago, and if this was 10 years ago MS would not have said this. Nowadays though, gaming is just as big in NA and EU and with us having more people we are the bigger markets. It's almost out of respect and honor that MS cares so much. But I agree, they pretty much don't need Japan....i'm a big japanese "fanboy" I love the culture, the cartoons, the women and the games, but I totally agree with MS on this. Also i'm not such a fanboy that i'm blind to the fact that the Japanese are elitest c*nts that aren't buying the xbox primarily for the fact it's american and they know a japanese made console is on the way....
We care about Japan, because Japan made gaming mainstream. Where we are now with gaming, Japan was 10 years ago, and if this was 10 years ago MS would not have said this. Nowadays though, gaming is just as big in NA and EU and with us having more people we are the bigger markets. It's almost out of respect and honor that MS cares so much. But I agree, they pretty much don't need Japan....i'm a big japanese "fanboy" I love the culture, the cartoons, the women and the games, but I totally agree with MS on this. Also i'm not such a fanboy that i'm blind to the fact that the Japanese are elitest c*nts that aren't buying the xbox primarily for the fact it's american and they know a japanese made console is on the way....
nocomment
Read a little. This is NOT saying japan isnt important. Its just saying the US and Europe are more important. Which they are. That is all, get over it.
Yeah japan aint important......which is why they got so many launch 360's
most of the greatest games ever made are from japan like Metal Gear Solid , resident Evil ,Final fantacy, and some great games coming up like Lost Planet, DOA , and much much more. If they don't care about japan they think american and european games will be great and last I checked the best AM/Eu games that are cocidered great were GTA , and Halo so that is all we won't to play all those 5 years or more. Hell no if that the case I will buy the PS3 and the PS3 will gain so many cool games and so the will the Wii, so I don't think MS should forget about winning the next-gen war.
is going to have many Japanese titles, not as much as wii or ps3, but more then the xbox.
360 is lost in japan. They will never set camp there. I dont see why they waste money over there to get a couple extra gamers. Japan will always be dominated by nintendo and sony. The PS2 is still selling more than 360 and the PS2 has been out for 6 friggin years. Cant MS see they have lost. If they cant beat a console that has been out for 6 years with a new console there is no hope for them. They are digging themselves an even deeper hole. Ms pull the hell out of japan and focus on europe. Its as simple as that.
Add New Comment