Microsoft's Xbox 360 has enjoyed some success in North America, Australia, and the UK but Japan continues to remain elusive. Despite offering exclusive games from Japanese developers and multiple 360 pack-in bonuses, the new Xbox console is having difficulty gaining traction in the Land of the Rising Sun.
According to a Famitsu Marketing data survey, 113,000 Xbox 360 units have been sold in Japan this year. Over the past 11 months, Sony has sold 1.4 million PS2s. The new releases of PS3 and Wii have already trumped Xbox 360 yearly sales in just a handful of weeks. Even the Game Boy Micro, a niche collectible, managed to sell 150,000 units this year. To be fair, Xbox 360 outsold GameCube in 2006 as Nintendo's now-defunct console sold under 100,000 units.
Companies, particularly public companies like Microsoft, need to grow.
i mean its pretty simple, they spent close to 30 billion in acquiring activision, they thought they'd make it bk no problem, and that didnt happen.
its just shit that because of MS's miscalculation alot of people lost their jobs.
They are going to use AI for a large portion of the game development process. Upper management need bonuses and the shareholders need more money. So, people will lose their jobs.
They shouldn't have bought any studios. Some is okay...but they went on a shopping spree...stupid
The better question is why did Microsoft buy publishers for a service they were subsidizing they knew couldn't support.
And why are so many websites trying to make people feel sorry for Microsoft instead of truly criticizing the fact they are closing studios and killing jobs that would have been fine if Microsoft themselves hadn't gotten involved.
Quit feeling sorry for Microsoft and start feeling sorry for the industry and the all the gamers who are actually losing out.
THIS IS MICROSOFTS FAULT.
The first thing that happens after any major acquisition or merger is a consolidation of the whole new portfolio, which includes cutting any excess, bloat or portfolios that don't fit the larger MO of the big boy. So far, it's been par for the course with Microsoft and that's why gamers have been so against this acquisition. Tango Gameworks is the beginning. You think Microsoft wants to pay to keep small timers like Ninja Theory in business?
There is absolutely zero evidence to suggest that Microsoft will improve any of these studios, but plenty to suggest that they will get rid of what they don't need and hold onto the IP. The real agenda of the acquisition was always to acquire The Elder Scrolls, Diablo, Fallout, Call of Duty, Candy Crush etc. that will create millions in passive revenue stream for Microsoft regardless of where the games release. Microsoft simply wants their cut.
Because of Games Pass Microsoft has no interest in investing in new IP which is risky and requires creative talent they can neither nurture nor manage. Game Pass has also not grown in the way Microsoft expected it to, even post acquisitions. Therefore the logical thing to do, without serious money makers to release, is to cut as much cost as possible.
Backward compatibility works for many games on newer consoles, but titles such as The Simpsons: Hit and Run have been left out.
From base building to swinging willies, here are the best survival games around, which include a couple of less than obvious picks.
But Blue Dragon has changed chances
Just wait for the months to come
WHO CARES!? All the news is anymore revolves around Japan, I don't live their, I don't care how well the 360 is selling their, I would love to see Microsoft sell well their, but honestly, story after story day after day about how it's not selling is a little overboard people, quit posting these stories, we know it's not selling by now. Also, yes Mart Blue Dragon will help, but it wont make an impact like Microsoft hopes, if it was released in the summer and not 2 weeks after the PS3, it'd be a bigger difference
They have a slow month for news, so they repeat the same sh1t for the 50th time about how MS is fairing in Japan. However, they do so, right as Japan is starting to show interest in the 360, because of Blue Dragon and Lost Planet. If at the end Feb. '07, MS still hasn't sold 200k units in Japan, then this might be news....but it's pointless right now.
Indeed, why should I care. The Xbox 360 is a great console and is doing well world-wide. If the Japanese don't want it, thats fine to me. It's their problem, not mine.
More interesting is to look at the reasons. Lower price, better online service and exclusive games aimed specially on the Japanese market. Maybe they're just racists who'll only buy their own goods.
Im so tired of hearing about Japan seriously! 360 is by far the best console created to date and it looks like certain people will continue to miss out on this really great experience! For the next couple of years it's going to be all about the games on 360 whether people want to believe it or not!