Xbox 360: poll shows rising interest in Japan

by James Ransom-Wiley { Sep 22nd 2005 at 2:00PM }

Xbox 360 logo According to Famitsu Weekly, TGS provided a big boost for Microsoft, generating a huge Xbox 360 buzz in Japan. Japanese gamers' interest in purchasing the Xbox 360 nearly quadrupled after TGS, jumping from 6% to 22%. It's difficult to know if this new figure includes consumers that were previously interested in the PS3 or Revolution, or instead, were simply undecided—the Nikkei poll that first revealed a 6% interest in the Xbox 360 also reported that 21% of those polled were undecided about which next-gen console they expected to buy. In that case, Microsoft may have won over a number of previously undecided consumers by showing off Japanese-favorites like Armored Core, Bomberman, Gundam, Resident Evil, and Ridge Racer on the Xbox 360.

[Thanks, SiN ViCiOuS]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Useful_Arts @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

I am not into the boob logo.

Metalghosts @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

This simply backs-up the age old adage....games sell the system. Period.

Cyberclaws @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

We are sheep, we do what corporate dollars (advertising) tell us. We're mindless drones doing the bidding of our corporate 'queens'...

Sicknic @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

Thats good news! MS stole a bigt chunk of potential sony onwers. Which comes down to one thing: There is going to be major competition this generation, and with competition, we will be seeing some of the best games come out... At least in Japan anyways...

technicLee @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

Did i read that right? is the XBox 360 going to get a Gundam game. How does that pan out considering sony probably owns the music rights in some way? But a Gundam game would be awesome.

b @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

Why is sony so passive? They should even start a campaign for "buying national products is our duty". It could be huge in japan.

That is something that wouldn't work in the states though, in the car and videogame industry at least because everyone knows that a ford/chrysler/gm is a piece of shit compared to toyota/nissan/honda, same for consoles and games (excluding mortal kombat and gta).

Spartacus @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

A nice surprise to see a foreign product gain some favor in the land of the Rising Sun... It appears MS may be a world-wide contender after all.

Danny Boy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

From 6% to 22% in JAPAN!! They Didn't even show much at TGS. This is Japan people, The Hardest Games Market to Crack in the World.
Im starting to think that the Xbox 360 is gonna Fly off the Shelves

*Runs to Shop to Pre-Order his Xbox 360*

Ruari @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

You forgot to mention Revolution topped the poll which is probably the biggest part to the story.

wizard @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

"They Didn't even show much at TGS."

Maybe, but there were games to be played...

peopleintrees @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

take that 1950's society!

Nossy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

XBOX360 will fly in Japan, that's no question. Microsoft approach is similar to Sony's approach with the original Playstation. Good news to Microsoft.

MILES @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

Revo topping the Poll and Xbox 360 Popularity quadrupled, coupled with the News that Sony are is Major debt and are laying off workers and shutting down plants.. If Sony lose Japan to the Xbox 360 and Revo then I Think the PS3 will be their last console.

Osiris @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

Bah who says these results are accurate.
They are merely poll results for one gaming comic, i hardly call that an unbiased public opinion.

Sure i do think MS has taken some ground with the recent announcements etc, but i dont think the change was that significant.

funkonaut @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

All of the "polls" had Kerry beating the snot out of Bush in the 2004 election and look what happened.

In other words, don't ever trust a poll.

Michael @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

If they offer an HD Bomberman with >4 player support then I am all over it. Didn't the Saturn have a widescreen 10-player version that was never released?

metal_gear_jello @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

Seeing as this is the only next-gen console for sale in the next 2 months, I'm surprised they haven't garnered more support than that.

Of course, the numbers will be different once we near the release dates of the Revolution and PS3. At that moment in time, the 360 will be an afterthought.

"This simply backs-up the age old adage....games sell the system. Period."

So... The Xbox and game cube games suck? What's your point.

b @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

How much did Revolution get? Why is it so big that Xbox gets better attention? I mean of course, it's japan, so? Where are all the numbers damn it? :@

ZildjianKX @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

To the person who mentioned Saturn Bomberman, it was released, and had up to 10 players onscreen and had online play.

If I recall, there was only one map that supported that many players, and was really hard to see on a blurry 480i TV, even at 60".

Einhanderkiller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

What's so important about Japan?
It's really not all that big compared to Europe and the United States.

Or does Microsoft want more Japanese games?

Eskimo Bob @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

"You forgot to mention Revolution topped the poll which is probably the biggest part to the story."

Source?

metal_gear_jello @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM

"What's so important about Japan?
It's really not all that big compared to Europe and the United States."

Maybe because half the developers (the good ones) are in Japan. If you don't cater to their needs, then no one will care to develop for the X360. No developers? No games, therefore crappy console. MS learned that the hard way with the XBOX.