LaylaLore

Fine, I'll take the bait. (although I don't think I'm an 'Xbot')

Firstly, winning the console war does not necessarily mean selling the most consoles. Of the three consoles, the 360 currently has the highest attachment rate. For Sony and Microsoft, their profits don't come from hardware. If Sony had an attachment rate of 1:1 (which it currently does), and Microsoft had an attachment rate of 5:1 (which I think is a close estimate), Microsoft will still be winning over sony even if twice as many PS3s were sold than 360s. However, while Sony has claimed to have shipped 2 million units, Microsoft has shipped over 10 million units. Therefore, in the eyes of game developers at least, the Xbox 360 is currently the leading console. Why does this matter? When third party developers decide to develop a HD exclusive game (or even multiplatform games), the Xbox 360 would be their platform of choice. And yes, that includes any Japanese developer that plans to sell games outside of Japan.

This is why, I think, Nintendo has become more of a competitor for Microsoft than Sony. IMHO, I don't think the two consoles are competing for the same market. The 360 is clearly a console for the hardcore gamer - this isn't bad, since hardcore gamers tend to buy more games over the life of the console than casual gamers. According the the 360's business model - where money is made only through accessories and games - they are doing very well in their chosen market. The Wii's main appeal is to casual gamers - who tend to buy less games and accessories over the life of the console than hardcore gamers. This is great for nintendo, since they are making profit on the hardware itself and don't need that many games to sell. I also think that they know that their console's life is going to be significantly shorter than that of the PS3 and the 360, and they don't care. They're still making a profit. In the end, their's clearly room for both the 360 and the Wii to succeed regardless of which one of the two ends up selling the most consoles.

Now, as for this Japan business. Yes, the 360 is not doing well in Japan. However, it's doing much better than its predecessor and I think that that's all Microsoft ever expected to happen in the first place. I don't think that Microsoft thought it was going to win this generation; considering how the first Xbox bombed, I think their best case scenario was that it would end up getting maybe 10%-15% of the Japanese market. This would guarantee a steady stream of Japanese games that would end up selling very well in other regions and lock in developer support for their next console, five years down the road.

If you ever listen to Microsoft execs talk about the Zune or the 360, you will see the fact they have 3-5 generation plans, where they plan to slowly build brand presence over several iterations of a product. I think that for them, if the 360 ends up with 30% of the market by the end of its life, it would have exceeded their expectations. In my opinion, however, I think that, at least in the US, the 360 is going to dominate the videogame market.

Not that I agree completely with Noshino, but I think the concern of some xbox 360 owners over its success in Japan is definitely valid. If you like JRPGs and driving sims, and you don't want to shell out the cash for a PS3, then your best hope is that the 360 doesn't completely flop in the land of the rising sun. I don't think that it needs to become a smash hit - it just needs to have a decent presence in order to keep those types of games coming.

Now, although recent comments about the Final Fantasy franchise has rattled me a bit (I'm a huge final fantasy fan), I do agree that as of this moment, I'm looking forward to Mass Effect much more than FFXIII (mainly because if FFXII was any indication, it'll take many more years for FFXIII to be released in the US). The fact that I adored Oblivion and am dying to get Mass Effect, however, does not negate my desire to play Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, or FFXIII in anyway. Chances are, I will play all of those games (yes honey, we're getting PS3 when FFXIII comes out...in like 2010). I also want more of those type of games to be made for the 360. While I can't play driving sims (since...well...I can't drive...and yes, I am over 21), I'm sure GT fans would love more GT type games on the 360.
So what are we poor souls to do but hope that the 360 doesn't completely crash and burn over there?

btw...giving a free 360 away with the purchase of Blue Dragon is an awesome idea!! just kidding :P

"Customers who have questions regarding this policy change or experience any hardware issues should visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/contact where they can check their warranty status," ... I went there, but it looks like we're gonna have to call them (or email).

Yeay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 140$ I can now spend on a DS :P (Please honey, pretty please!!!)

my boyfriend's getting this for me for X'mas :D!!!

I had a friend over for the weekend and my boyfriend and I played local multiplayer with her for hours on end. It was really fun and addictive and we easily put in 8-10 hours over the course of three days..
honestly tho, I wish the controls were a little tighter and I personally hate the moving levels. We had to ban my boyfriend from using Mr. Truffles because he would ALWAYS win!!

homosexuality?..I'm going to ignore those comments.

I don't wan't to go into a World War II debate here, but as for America never being the first country to attack, what was Vietnam? And no, just because we didn't choose to call it a war doesn't mean it isn't. And no, Ho Chi Minh did not attack the US first; in fact, he went to the treaty of Versailles signing and submitted a letter to President Wilson asking for support - we ignored him. And, FYI, the unprovoked Pearl Harbor attack is still being debated - we had an oil embargo against japan and told them that we would attack them if they tried to get oil from indonesia. We were also supplying the allies with planes, weapons, and soldiers; just because we weren't officially in the war doesn't mean we were completely innocent.

All this, however, was besides the point; I wasn't saying that Japan was guiltless in War - it wasn't. But neither were we, nor were any of the allied nations. Germany wasn't the only country that put people in concentration camps - we put thousands of Japanese Americans in concentration camps and confisgated their property. No, we weren't as bad as Nazi Germany, but we were far from guiltless. And them being as guilty as any other country doesn't mean that they can't hold a grudge against us for dropping atom bombs on them; they might even remember it more because some of them are still suffering from the radiation sickness that stemmed from those bombs. All I was saying was that if they are a little wary of foreigners, it is understandable why.

However, many other posts on this topic have shown that they aren't against foreign products at all. They have embraced Western culture, the ipod, western music, and a host of other products. There are more KFCs in Japan than there are in the US; so arguing that they shunned the 360 out of Xenophobia is moot. And there are PLENTY of alternatives to the iPod - Sony, Sanyo, etc - they just like the ipod more.

So please, please don't cast a bad name on all us 360fans by spewing out racially heated statements. Almost all countries are nationalistic to a certain degree- the US probably ranks among one of the most nationalistic states. Why can't another country's citizens be proud of their country and products without being called Xenophobic? Their products are good, their technology awesome, and depite being the size of Massachusetts, they are the 2nd largest economy in the world. They are one of America's largest trading partners because they can make products that appeal to us - all Microsoft has to do is make games and game consoles that appeal to them as well. They can start by making a Japanese version of Oblivion and Mass Effect!

I was gonna stay quiet, but I can't.

Of all the countries in Asia, (even those that were colonized), Japan adopted western ways , technology, and practices fastest and best. They sent diplomatic convoys all over the Western World to observe and learn the ways of what was then an invading force. They are definitely nationalistic, but to say that they completely shun foreign products is ridiculous. Japan is full of Technophiles, give them good technology and they will adopt it, regardless of the technology's country of origin.

Considering that America dropped 2 atom bombs on them, occupied them for several decades, wrote their constitution, and prevented them from having a military of their own (a choice politicians are now beginning to regret), I think they are entitled to a modicum of xenophobia. However, considering the demographics of the people buying gaming consonles, I really don't think that xenophobia is the sole reason preventing Microsoft's success.

So why don't they buy 360s?

1) The console doesn't have good JRPGs
2) Xbox 360 games are usualy American-centric. (and 99nights wasn't that good)
2) As a previous commentor observed, they are more cautious buyers and are waiting to see how the PS3 turns out.
3) Most of them don't own HDTVs, so next gen games are pointless to them

Now, to the people harping to the tunes of "America should buy the American Xbox" - what you are saying is contrary to all the free-market capitalist values America stands for. This country stands for Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness; people should just choose the console that makes them the happiest, regardless of its country of origin. This protectionist babbling is one of those things that seriously ticks me off!!

Btw, I love my 360, will most likely not buy the PS3 at launch, and am not from Japan. Hopefully, once they get to compare the 360 and PS3 heads on, the Japanese will come to the same conclusion I did - the PS3 is overpriced and the 360 (with the Wii?) will do just fine.

Sigh...if only i didn't sell my ps2 so that i could afford the 360.

*hides under the office desk and cries*

Seriously tho...I don't regret getting the 360, even at the loss of the FF franchise. Oblivion has given me more enjoyment than the Final Fantasy games ever did. I miss the style tho. Loved the story. But my boyfriend would hide FFX so that he didn't need to hear the battle music (it was a little annoying actually) but he actually asks to play Oblivion with me and doesn't mind watching me play.

Ahh...domestic bliss.

(Which will end once FFXIII comes out and I sneak away to buy the PS3 :P He can't escape Japanese games forever!)

I think the prices might just vary. I mean, if the game is multiplatform, I don't think they'll shoot themselves in the foot by pricing it above the 360. So, for those games we should get a 60 price point. If its a long-awaited PS3 exclusive like Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid, and Gran Tourismo, then they might just milk the title for 80-90. That's just my opinion of course.

The problem with this, however, is that it'll be a strong disincentive for multiplatform developers to make games for the ps3. I mean, the Cell is hard to develop for already, and they'll be able to sell it for less.