While some North American gamers are eagerly anticipating
Tuesday's imminent release of the Xbox 360, reception for the original Xbox over in the Land of the Rising Sun remains
less than enthusiastic. On a brighter note, Nintendo's dual-screened juggernaut just keeps on keepin' on (outselling
the classic Xbox by a ratio of 406:1), while Sony's portable PlayStation chugs along in its wake. What's interesting to
note is that so far this year, shiny new handheld devices have easily doubled sales of current-gen platforms. Are
Japanese gamers in the market for a new console to adorn their living rooms? While polls indicate
rising interest for the 360 in Japan, we don't foresee
Nintendo's and Sony's stranglehold on the Japanese market relinquishing any time soon.
Japan seems to be a key battleground for Microsoft in the coming console generation, but can they convince the Japanese not to hold out for the impending PS3 and Revolution? With the busy holiday season fast approaching, we can't help but wonder if the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP will be more than enough to tide Japan over for several months to come. Hey, maybe Microsoft should consider a handheld of their very own...
