Xbox Live Video Marketplace opening in Japan next year
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Dec 6th 2008 at 4:00PM }
According to Famitsu, the Video Marketplace will be landing on Japanese 360s sometime next year, bringing with it a new slew of Japanese films and anime. Simmer down, Naruto-ites -- said content will be region-locked, leaving you to make due with your unsophisticated American programming. Unfortunately, the service's Japanese release date is fairly vague -- is an anticipated quarter too much to ask for a launch window? Come on, Microsoft. Help a ?? out.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
noah @ Dec 6th 2008 4:05PM
Microsoft hasn't dropped the Xbox 360 in Japan yet?
jajaes @ Dec 6th 2008 5:00PM
epic fail :(
fffunfarm06 @ Dec 6th 2008 6:20PM
u know where you can learn more about japan and the xbox 360? the joystiq podcast. listen to the greatest podcast ladies and gentlemen! its the coolest thing you could ever watch.
its every friday, and listen to the last one! well have to study some more for case studies for clinical microbiology.
comment above fails of course, but you will become enlightened in the world of video games by listening to the joystiq podcast!
then join the facebook. JPAG.
amazing stuff.
-slycooper_rocker- (lorddshadow the amazing) psn: shahanasalam @ Dec 6th 2008 8:53PM
@ jajaes
wow. all you ever say is "epic fail" and "delaystation 3 is teh suxx0rs." mind adding some phrases to your vocab? kthxbai!
Archon @ Dec 6th 2008 4:23PM
Ummm... You talk about the US and Jap, is it available in the UK? I'm considering getting a XB360 soon as it is the only console I don't own, yet and I would definitely use that feature. Also, any recommendations on which model to get without going for the most expensive one, or is the Elite really worth it? (I'm not even sure how many SKUs are there. I'm sure about 3. Any more?)
Snowblind @ Dec 6th 2008 4:36PM
The video marketplace is available in the UK, but we of course don't get Netflix.
naxe @ Dec 6th 2008 5:31PM
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/holidaze-2008-xbox-360-sku-chart-revisited/
i'd say dont buy that P/O/S but if you must....... that chart should help.
get ready to spend CASH!!!
Jerk Face [GT:xJERKFACEx] @ Dec 6th 2008 5:31PM
I say go for the Pro. The 60 GB hard drive should suffice, and it has an HDMI port and comes with a wireless controller. If money's a factor, that's the one.
Archon @ Dec 6th 2008 5:39PM
The chart states that the 60 Pro does not include HDMI. Is that true or is that a misprint and Jerk Face (charming name) is right?
finnith @ Dec 6th 2008 6:14PM
It doesn't come with the cables but you can get those for cheap online, if that's what you're asking.
Cal @ Dec 6th 2008 8:32PM
All 60GB Xbox 360s have a HDMI port, then you can get a HDMI cable for about £3/$5 online (possibly instore too). Also don't fall for the 'better quality' HDMI cable scam, so long as the cable works, it will be just as good as any more expensive one.
joejo @ Dec 6th 2008 4:30PM
Fuck Naruto! That's all my little cousins talk about. I've read it and wathced the show, it's overrated, it's overhyped, it's just stupid. I'll stick with GOOD anime/mangas thank you.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Dec 6th 2008 5:59PM
...well I no longer understand people's fascination with animes/mangas anymore so what you just said is sad to me.
Mr Khan @ Dec 6th 2008 6:01PM
anime fans are, in this respect, worse than gamers, because anything that goes mainstream is immediately invalidated in their eyes
Naruto is fine, as are Bleach and One Piece (especially the latter)
michael @ Dec 6th 2008 6:35PM
dude, calm down. There are more anime out there, you don't have to like Naruto. Some anime don't appeal to me, Naruto is one of them. So what if Naruto is overrated, we need it so anime will keep it's popular culture in the US. Don't become a hater, you'll just be like Jack Thompson hating on video game. There's too many JT wannabes on Youtube when it come to anime hating. Anyway, anime has the right to be shown here. So what if there are fan of anime, that doesn't mean they are all weird, so saying that is like saying all video game are weird also. So chill out about Naruto, they don't appeal to most people including me and I don't hate on it.
Snowblind @ Dec 7th 2008 7:58AM
Naruto is the Halo of anime.
(as in it's hated for being so popular)
Vyse SOA @ Dec 7th 2008 3:04PM
i recommend soul eater its a great newer anime only 20 something episodes in.
Although i find One Piece to be awesome if they got rid of the goofiness it would be a great anime (could be said of most anime's though)
charles @ Dec 6th 2008 4:37PM
How about fricking canada?!
Brian @ Dec 6th 2008 5:30PM
your a idiot. canada has the marketplace
knighty (GT: ZeraKnight) @ Dec 6th 2008 7:56PM
Wow, 2 grammatic failures in 3 words. *thumbs up*
AirIntake @ Dec 7th 2008 12:31PM
Canada hardly has the video marketplace. It has no TV content whatsoever, and has a pretty limited selection of movies with no Netflix. Microsoft may call it a video marketplace, but if you walked into a real video store and were faced with that collection, you'd think they were having a going out of business sale.
Kud Dukan @ Dec 6th 2008 5:06PM
Canada DOES have the Video Marketplace.
Viridium @ Dec 6th 2008 10:26PM
I'd say it's more like Video Marketplace's retarded cousin. There ain't a whole lot in there I find interesting, and it's at crappy pricing.
STANNY @ Dec 6th 2008 5:50PM
And the uk get very little choice !
Ethan @ Dec 6th 2008 6:25PM
I think the video features are supposed to justify a purchase to a wider audience Microsoft, not the other way around! Build it and they will come etc.
Youthinized @ Dec 6th 2008 6:38PM
Japanese Gamertag here I come!
I really don't understand M$ here, we all know they're money hungry monstrosities and they can't see that western 360 users would love to have some foreign content to buy and watch.
Look at the RE5 demo. Its not that hard to make a JAP account. Region free it and more money M$!
Moorio - XBL: peacebyanymeans @ Dec 7th 2008 11:08AM
The problem is, it isn't their content to sell where ever. The content owners give Microsoft permission to sell their shows/movies in a country and only that country unless their contract says otherwise.
Jason Cartwright @ Dec 6th 2008 10:22PM
I really hope an Australian launch of movies and tv shows isn't too far away either. Right now our only real option for on-demand downloads is iTunes.
Premature ejaculation man @ Dec 6th 2008 10:48PM
It won't ever happen I think sadly =(
Plus they'd have to invest in local servers... That or their current ones are crap (downloads are always so damn slow don't ya reckon?)
matthew @ Dec 7th 2008 12:19AM
you do realize "kyoudai" which are the characters they used tends to just mean siblings rather than a direct translation to brother.
Taylor @ Dec 7th 2008 12:36AM
Wake me up when they give a crap about anything besides the States. I'm sick and tired of Microsoft overlooking Canada on everything. Zune, Video MarketPlace, Netflix or similar services, we're always shunned.
Premature ejaculation man @ Dec 7th 2008 2:09AM
Errr, your arguement would be a lot less stronger if you didn't mention Canada...If we are talking levels of shunning, Canada is fairly low compared to the rest of the world when it comes to Microsoft...
RUSKULL @ Dec 7th 2008 3:21AM
ok, but when they put so little effort into the Canadian video marketplace, then you know the Japanese one will be just as lame.
Until Microsoft begins showing effort online towards any non US country, I say "who gives a fuck?"
Snowblind @ Dec 7th 2008 8:01AM
To be fair, this has to do with movie liscening, which is far more complicated outside of the US, it's not really something you can blame on MS.
The US Cartoon Network site allows you to watch the shows online, but not outside the US because of the different distribution laws. So you can imagine how difficult it is for things like movies.
That being said, I think we have a decent enough selection in the UK, and I'm sure Canada must be pretty similar. Having Netflix would make it so much better though.
technofranki @ Dec 7th 2008 1:33PM
I'm still waiting for the Video Markedplace here in Norway. But since we are a so small country, I thing I have to wait for ever.
OCEAN 'CLAK' 20th LOL @ Dec 7th 2008 4:43PM
So many mario fans on an xbox 360 post