In response to troubling reports that Japanese tech retailers had begun reducing the amount of shelf space they're allotting for the Xbox 360, Microsoft Europe's Chris Lewis confirmed the company has no intention of giving up on the market. "No, of course we're not pulling out," Lewis explained in a recent interview with Eurogamer.
Lewis said that the going is somewhat tough overseas. "It's a challenging market. We are up against very strong competition there." He added, "We're very respectful of what Sony and Nintendo do and where they've come from and what they bring," but thinks the Kinect will help penetrate the nation's motion-control-friendly consumer base. Now, if only they could simultaneously reach the giant mech-combat community as well. Oh wait! They totally are.
Reader Comments (54)
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:45PM baddates77 said
Microsoft: Not pulling out of Japan since 2005.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:51PM Dance Mofo said
@baddates77
Microsoft: Not pulling out of Japan since 2002
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Microsoft: Not pulling out of Japan since 2002
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:43PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
@NaeemTHM
That's it Microsoft, keep tappin' dat ass.
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That's it Microsoft, keep tappin' dat ass.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:46PM Prinnywithascarf said
So much sexual in-your-end-o in this article.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:48PM Sponge said
Kinect won't work in most Japanese homes, they don't have enough room. They should buy that zoom lens thing and bundle it in Japan if they want it to sell.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:15PM KillerC said
@Sponge Apart from your latter comment that was the first thing that came to mind lol
I still don't have kinect and followed it ever since its initial announcement as natal, i have 5ft of space between my TV and edge of sofa and everywhere i've read min is 6-7ft, i would be sort of ok sat down, but no major games for that side exist yet (well no major games consist full stop imo for it yet) so i don't own one :/
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I still don't have kinect and followed it ever since its initial announcement as natal, i have 5ft of space between my TV and edge of sofa and everywhere i've read min is 6-7ft, i would be sort of ok sat down, but no major games for that side exist yet (well no major games consist full stop imo for it yet) so i don't own one :/
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:49PM baddates77 said
@Koya Xenophobic much?
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:50PM A Sandwich said
At least he doesn't sound like a total douche when speaking about his competition.
On the other hand, this article has certainly sexualized the console wars.
"Microsoft isn't pulling out, they're trying to penetrate the market."
On the other hand, this article has certainly sexualized the console wars.
"Microsoft isn't pulling out, they're trying to penetrate the market."
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:51PM A Sandwich said
@Koya
Right, you clicked on joystiq.com, not joystiq.us.gov. Douche.
Right, you clicked on joystiq.com, not joystiq.us.gov. Douche.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 6:16PM A Sandwich said
@jph89
Those damn liberal Republicans. They're almost as bad as the conservative Democrats ....
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Those damn liberal Republicans. They're almost as bad as the conservative Democrats ....
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:52PM TraceurRyuk Part III said
@Koya
I think how Microsoft is doing with the Xbox worldwide is plenty relevant. How isn't it? Joystiq is an American based site, you wouldn't be saying this if they said how it's doing in the UK, now would you?
I think how Microsoft is doing with the Xbox worldwide is plenty relevant. How isn't it? Joystiq is an American based site, you wouldn't be saying this if they said how it's doing in the UK, now would you?
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:54PM Dance Mofo said
Why don't Microsoft just put a some thongs on the Xbox 360 and pig-tails on the sides and put it in one of them vending machines.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:56PM eat it said
@Koya
well shouldn't you be on joystiq.co.uk
well shouldn't you be on joystiq.co.uk
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:56PM daraikenu said
@Koya well this is Joystiq, they're supposed to report on all things related to gaming. if they didn't, they wouldn't be doing their job. There are some articles that don't catch my attention, but it doesn't mean I'm going to rag on it. Just simply choose not to read it, guy.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:57PM Andrew12h said
@Koya
Yeah! Everything I access has to be FOR ME!
If a website only has a .com it HAS to be in English and have to only do about my country!
Who cares if there if there are people starving outside the country?
Who cares if there are natural disasters that devastate somewhere else?
It's MY internet and ONLY my internet!
If it isn't about ME then it doesn't matter!
Yeah! Everything I access has to be FOR ME!
If a website only has a .com it HAS to be in English and have to only do about my country!
Who cares if there if there are people starving outside the country?
Who cares if there are natural disasters that devastate somewhere else?
It's MY internet and ONLY my internet!
If it isn't about ME then it doesn't matter!
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:58PM blessrok said
@Koya a video game blog site reporting video game news? How dare they!
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 4:59PM JRock3x8 said
how exactly do you make kinect work in a japanese living space?!? have you SEEN their living rooms?!?
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:03PM Special Agent Bob said
@Koya
Whats wrong with japan i like japan its not a bad country so why all the hate koya.
Whats wrong with japan i like japan its not a bad country so why all the hate koya.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:05PM Sam Fisher said
They should make a Catherine bundle, where you get the game and a Catherine branded X-box 360 slim, kind of in the style of the Gears of War but instead of Gears its Catherine.
That'd get them to buy some units for sure.
That'd get them to buy some units for sure.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:06PM Shadowbender said
I'm in full respcect-mode for this guy because he avoided the typical PR tendencies of saying "our competitors".
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 8:29PM Vladeon said
This just in: instead of the new matte black finish for the 360, in Japan it will be constructed out of "used" panties and come with a body pillow depicting one of seven nearly naked anime girls complete with a back story and marriage license. Gotta collect them all.
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Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:18PM KillerC said
Dam, i missed the Koya comment, can only see all your replies :(
Guess it got moderated :o
Guess it got moderated :o
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:49PM arkweld said
@KillerC
So did I but we can still play.
@koya why don't you take that opinion somewhere else. It doesn't belong here and clearly you are wrong. All the evidence is against you and no matter what they say there is clearly some other point of view that contradicts everything you just said that more people will agree with. And really people shouldn't do that with bunnies anyway. That's just wrong.
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So did I but we can still play.
@koya why don't you take that opinion somewhere else. It doesn't belong here and clearly you are wrong. All the evidence is against you and no matter what they say there is clearly some other point of view that contradicts everything you just said that more people will agree with. And really people shouldn't do that with bunnies anyway. That's just wrong.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:19PM skbkoy65 said
I don't see Japanese games selling millions like western and European games do rpgs are a dieing genre and they've only got a few developers that are skilled enough to make games possible of selling millions one being cyber connect 2 platinum games square enix and kojima productions
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:29PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
@skbkoy65
Hm, maybe they sell millions in Japan? You are comparing two massive continents to one country -_- You do realize that?
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Hm, maybe they sell millions in Japan? You are comparing two massive continents to one country -_- You do realize that?
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:33PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
I'm glad Microsoft is pushing on, but they seriously need to change their marketing strategy, this half arsed business needs to stop because without a presence in Japan, Japanese developers would have lesser reason to make Japanese games for 360. Its would suck if 360 had fewer to no JRPGs and such as there are plenty of us overseas who adore them. Huge market lost :(
I knew they would push on, its the smart thing to do. Rather then taking the stupid mentality of some people here and saying "They are Xenophobic, lets not bother", if that's the case, stay the hell away from anything business related.
I knew they would push on, its the smart thing to do. Rather then taking the stupid mentality of some people here and saying "They are Xenophobic, lets not bother", if that's the case, stay the hell away from anything business related.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:45PM PN04 said
The Japanese bought nearly 5 times as many PS3s as 360s despite a huge price, a year delay and a hesitance towards the HD switch. They clearly just dont want 360s... frankly between the Wii and the PS2 and PS3 they just dont need them.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:52PM DSight said
Why is it that with every press release Microsoft has they make it seem like Kinect will be the saviour of all?
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:56PM PN04 said
@VideoGameConnection
It's even more than that, MS has a very selfish attitude that comes through in their style of business as much as their marketing and the result is they tick off the Japanese sensibilities, kinda like the way Sony was doing those super pretentious artsy ads in the US, that kind of irritation comes through in everything MS does, in the US we just see it as the status quo, while they see it is offensive.
It's even more than that, MS has a very selfish attitude that comes through in their style of business as much as their marketing and the result is they tick off the Japanese sensibilities, kinda like the way Sony was doing those super pretentious artsy ads in the US, that kind of irritation comes through in everything MS does, in the US we just see it as the status quo, while they see it is offensive.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 5:59PM PedoJokerBear said
man this thread was rape for me to comment.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 6:02PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
@PedoJokerBear
We know what you meant...
Reply
We know what you meant...
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 6:00PM whylekat said
It's not a true giant mech game unless there's 100+ buttons.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 6:24PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
@whylekat
Its funny you should say that :/ I'd actually like a Mech version of battlefield / cod, comes with panel controller.
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Its funny you should say that :/ I'd actually like a Mech version of battlefield / cod, comes with panel controller.
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 6:13PM TheShaper said
I love m 360 and all but... "It's a challenging market. We are up against very strong competition there."
Really? I'd but that in another way: NO CONTEST!
Really? I'd but that in another way: NO CONTEST!
Posted: Aug 18th 2011 6:57PM KungFuChaosNinja said
Japan is mad that they're not getting Lost Odyssey 2, duh! Seriously, what the hell, Microsoft? You make one fantastic JRPG and give up on it. Boo!








