GI.biz is
reporting that Japan may not get
Virtua Fighter 5 on the Xbox 360 because the console's install base is too low. Speaking with Tohru Murayama, lead designer on
VF5, they were informed that the decision is not final at this point, but with only 400,000 Xbox units sold in Japan, the Japanese may need to get a PS3 for the game. The PS3 is selling comparatively better in Japan with 1 million units.
VF5 is currently available on PS3 with one little thing missing that'll be on the Xbox 360 version --
online modes.
With any luck there will be enough of a hardcore following for
VF5 to make it to the Xbox 360 in Japan. That's what Murayama is hoping for anyway. Call us new-fashioned, but it just seems odd to have a fighting game in this day and age without online support.
{ Aug 29th 2007 at 10:00AM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Richard Mitchell @ Aug 29th 2007 10:05AM
The Xbox seems to have a real "chicken and the egg" problem in Japan. There aren't any games that appeal to the Japanese, so they don't buy it. Nobody buys it, so the Japanese devs don't want to make games for it.
Call me crazy, but isn't Virtua Fighter the kind of game that would *sell* 360s in Japan?
megaStryke @ Aug 29th 2007 10:07AM
Blue Dragon was supposed to "sell" 360s. Look how well that turned out.
jsn @ Aug 29th 2007 10:16AM
With the exeption of the Wii, it would appear that the Japanese are sitting out this war. Even the PS3 isn't selling well over there.
gullum @ Aug 29th 2007 10:43AM
That is the same problem the PS3 is running into here in the states. The only difference is Sony actually has some (arguably) talented studios to take care of the "no games" problem to build the install base but MS doesn't have that. Either they need to start throwing more money at Japanese devs to put out more exclusive games that the Japanese will like or just ditch Japan all together.
Wilhelm @ Aug 29th 2007 11:53AM
@ Megastryke
Blue Dragon sold somewhere near 100,000 Xbox 360s in Japan. That's 1/4 of the total amount sold, I'd say it turned out fairly well.
Red Pyramid Thing @ Aug 29th 2007 12:04PM
People need to forget about Xbox in Japan. If you want Japanese games, get a Japanese console. If you want American games, get an American games. If you want both, get both consoles. Problem fucking solved.
Fernando Rocker @ Aug 29th 2007 10:10AM
Its looks like Samus =)
hvnlysoldr @ Aug 29th 2007 10:14AM
I don't know. Zero Suit Samus looks sexier.
Joshua @ Aug 29th 2007 10:23AM
Yeah, I thought it was a version of Samus at first glance.
Joshua @ Aug 29th 2007 10:24AM
Oh, and hvnlysoldr, I agree with you, too.
Kye @ Aug 29th 2007 11:20AM
She looks better than Samus.
Peaefuloutrage @ Aug 29th 2007 10:20AM
Call me crazy, but I doubt if SEGA SAMMY approached MS to publish the game they'd have any problems.
Alex Miles @ Aug 29th 2007 10:29AM
They want to put it out on a console with a larger user base?
Might i suggest a low res waggle-o-wii version perhaps.....? Or would that make TOO much sense?!
Ethan Duffy @ Aug 29th 2007 10:32AM
When you have a completed game, and a seperate 360 version and japanese translation, it's patently obvious that squishing the two together will make a profit.
I don't own a 360, and I don't want this game (and I don't live in Japan), but if it doesn't get a release it'll be for nothing more than snobbery.
Jason B @ Aug 29th 2007 10:44AM
kinda funny...they seem to dislike most American/Western games but they sure love the white women.
Delta @ Aug 29th 2007 10:47AM
The problem is, the install base of the PS3 in Japan isn't much better. It really isn't enough to bother for either system at this point. Both systems are doing terrible in Japan.
What they should be doing is focusing on the Wii if they are concerned about unit sales. Perhaps even making a DS game.
Marty @ Aug 29th 2007 10:58AM
Wow, only 400k 360's and only 1m PS3's... even combined, that number is sad. I guess Japan only has time (and money) for DS these days, huh?
Kye @ Aug 29th 2007 11:28AM
Maybe I'm being ignorant, but wouldn't it make sense to translate the game and release it anyway.
Let's say half of the 360 owners (in japan) buy it, wouldn't 200,000 copies of a game be worth the translation costs?
It's like they're saying we expect this game to be a million seller and any country that doens't have at least 1 mil consoles won't get this game.
Then again, maybe I'm just showing my ignorance.
Evan @ Aug 29th 2007 11:31AM
Games are commonly localized for markets smaller than 400k. Some of Europe's language markets are smaller than that.
BPM @ Aug 29th 2007 11:36AM
Honestly, I think it is kinda silly to not release the 360 version in Japan. As Ethan Duffy already pointed out, they have the 360 version done (for America) and a Japanese version done (for PS3). It'd be of little effort to apply the PS3's Japanese to the 360 version.
What was the figure that gets passed around? That publishers need about 500,000 copies of a 360/PS3 game to be sold in order to break even? With the PS3's measly Japanese install base, that would need an attach rate of the game of 1 VF5 for every 2 PS3s! Very unlikely to happen.
(then again, I wonder if that figure meant worldwide sales, and not just regional sales...)
Yeah, 360's install base is small. But not releasing a game on it doesn't help. I mean, who knows. VF5 (with online play) might be the one game to convince some people to get the 360. Or maybe there are people who want the 360, but are waiting for more games.
xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Aug 29th 2007 12:05PM
Im with ya BPM maybe people are waiting for VF with Online play. This might be a system seller for them.
Microsoft and Sega would be dumb not to release this. You suppose to help the cause not hurt it.
Norm @ Aug 29th 2007 11:39AM
I think the arcade machines will make way more than the console versions in japan, anyway. Its so awesome, so many people play VF in Japan.
Phranctoast @ Aug 29th 2007 11:56AM
I tend to favor the ps3, but fanboy shit aside, There is no reason not to release a game that is already made for the 360 in Japan. What do they need to do? just put japanese voices and text. That should already be done anyhow with the ps3 version so the transition is there. This is Sega being lazy fucks once again.
Sorry 360 fans that wanted to play this in Japan. This kinda sucks and isnt right!
xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Aug 29th 2007 12:09PM
I prob still would like to have Tekken6 and
"Phat Bob" on my 360 but doubt thats ever coming lol!
Bobby @ Aug 29th 2007 12:24PM
Or please find a way to add online functionality to the PS3 version, I'm tired of the PS3 getting shafted all the time, 360 always getting the better ports, damn!
Marty @ Aug 29th 2007 2:00PM
Guess you shoulda got a 360 instead...
skunkworks @ Aug 29th 2007 12:30PM
I agree with one of the previous posters who pointed out sega prolly doesn't want the 360 version cutting into it's arcade profit. the Japanese that want to play on live will have to import and pwn us westerners on US gamertags. heh.
Snake2k7 @ Aug 29th 2007 12:35PM
Xbox doesn't needs VF5 we have DOA and if VF comes out on the 360 i would rent it not buy it, same with tekken.
Ska Oreo @ Aug 29th 2007 12:55PM
ummmm. VF5 is coming to the 360.
slackerdan @ Aug 29th 2007 12:59PM
In my honest opinion, Japan is becoming more and more irrelevant in the gaming culture. Sure there are some great studios there, talent, history etc. etc...... However, It sure isn't like it used to be when he who ruled Japan, ruled them all. Part of it has to be the players now. Microsoft doesn't even have to sniff a profit to stay in the game and drive the market. This is true to a lesser extent for Sony, even though I'm sure turning a profit would help them over all. Nintendo never seems to lose money, so there's that. My point is that if Microsoft wants this game in Japan, it will get it no problem. This seems more like a ploy to get some yen kicked in for the cost than anything else. The gaming culture has become almost counter productive these days, with quality games ( or atleast what I percieve as quality games ) sometimes struggling to get to market with production values intact and total crap (ie transformers) getting the green light with ease. I would like to see VF5 in Japan for just the simple reason of choice. Atleast the people who are willing to give 360 a chance should have the best tiltles to choose from. I don't know about Japan. Can't help getting the vibe that it smacks of racist pokemon collectors, turning their nose up at anything that didn't spawn there. I wish all the consoles would do well in the end, I am getting tired of the lame ass hand held generation with the disposable games. Guess, I ranted a bit at the end. Sorry... I'll grab the fire extinguisher just in case.