130°

Microsoft Gunning For Japanese Gamers.

Microsoft is putting all its stakes in the belief that the games for Windows Live service in Japan will push the waning sales of its gaming console, the Xbox 360. The company is trying all the tricks in the trade to push the sales of the console.

Early April, Microsoft had launched a new service called Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360. The aim of the service is to let users of Xbox Live friends lists to join those with Windows Messenger friends lists. This service hopes to kick start on May 7.

The service will allow users to message each other, regardless of whether they're using an Xbox 360, a Windows PC or a Windows Mobile device.

Microsoft is also planning to unveil a new text input device, which will attach to the Xbox 360's controller. This will allow users type messages using a QWERTY keyboard. At present if a users wants to send a message of this nature from his Xbox he will require an on-screen keyboard or will have to plug in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) keyboard.

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sda-asia.com
PhinneousD6220d ago

well japan is missing out. their loss.

kewlkat0076220d ago

then again there have never been an American made console to come out in that market, so whatever Mountain MS is climbing over there, quiting is not the Answer.

I think eventually the 360 will assimilate. I'm sure MS knows they are loosing money but I think they knew that from the very start so I guess they wanna stick to the plan until the tides starts to sway. Whatever is bought over there is always good news, after all, it is huge underdawg.

Well you don't come fresh into this industry not expecting to loose big cash. We all know why we didn't see a 3D0 2, or SEGA Saturn 2, or the Jaguar 128 bit console. MS will have another Xbox after the 360.

PS360WII6220d ago

Japan buys games that were made by American Companies. They buy alot of other American products and services. So to say they don't by the 360 because it's American is without any meritt. Maybe they just don't want it.. you know? I do agree with #2 as it's their loss, but they don't look at it that way.

kewlkat0076220d ago (Edited 6220d ago )

stop thinking about all the other american products japanese people buy and just think about Japanese and Videogames. We all know, there is burger king, dunkin donuts, and american movies in japan. It's all about brand loyalty. Japan has had 2 big names over there Sony and Nintendo, the last 20+ years.

Do you think MS is just gonna step in there and be king of the crop, hells naaaaw. They are not used to Xbox brand which is an american made video game system. Maybe they feel like it has not proven itself , who really knows, I don't live over there, I can only assume.

It's like here in the States, they are trying to make soccer more popular, but it will never happen. Not as long there is Football, Baseball, and Basketball. These sports are like religion to Americans. We eat, sleep and sh!t those sprts here.

(New England Patriots and Boston Redsox will win it this year by the way)

Now is the possibility there, for soccer to share some of the market, YES. Plenty of players and fans here, just not as popular as it is elsewhere around the world, so it's not an easy task.

Same thing with Japan, they have been eating, sh!tting, and sleeping Sony and Nintendo for the last 20+ years, it takes time, their flavor of games, and good support to break through. Whether it will who knows. All I know MS has the money to spend. As long as I'm happy.

On another note: The Dave Beckham deal here in the states, is equivalent to the Mistwalker deal with MS and japan. Wait to be seen if it moves people to watch more soccer here and the Japanese to play more 360 games...this will be a slow process.

PS360WII6220d ago

You got a positive feedback from me ^.-

You spoke my language as far as tieing soccer to football along with making it fit into the gaming world. I hear ya then and who knows 360 can really only get better in Japan seeing that it's all but gone now :(

gta_cb6220d ago

@kewlkat007

very nicely said, and thats what we ALL need to understand that MS has its work cut out for themselves, also i am impressed that MS isnt giving up so easily especially with it being such a tough places to sell products against Nintendo and Sony

FeralPhoenix6220d ago

...except for the part about New England and the Red Sox...I'm not a big baseball fan but everybody knows that the '9ers are going to go to win it all this year (stop laughing) nah, but seriously that's my favorite team and think they will be alot better this year than last.

OK back on topic....I agree with your comments, but my first thought after reading the entire news article was that all the new things and services mentioned wasn't neccessarily anything specifically aimed at pushing the 360 in Japan...its just pushing the 360's appeal in general everywhere, -correct me if I'm wrong but nothing mentioned was Japan specific, right?

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Says you6219d ago

They couldnt even sell a million windows vista in china they only sold like 244 and thats it. thats how terrible Microsoft is doing there a joke.

180°

Why Xbox believes it must cut costs and close studios

Companies, particularly public companies like Microsoft, need to grow.

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eurogamer.net
gold_drake6h ago

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.

Jingsing2h ago

This is exactly what many people said would happen including the CMA and FTC. Lies lies and more lies and they allowed a $69 billion buy out to happen.

gold_drake2h ago

oh yeh it was 70 billion. that was my bad haha even worse.

thesoftware7302h ago(Edited 2h ago)

gold,

You can't be serious, right?

Do you think that MS thought they would make 80bill in a year & Half? They haven't even released titles under MS yet, lol.

But in fact, that A/B revenue is already paying off, look at the last earnings call. That $80 billion is long-term money, my guy, no sane person/company would think they would make that back in any short-term situation, it's a long-term investment.

Let's play silly then. If MS's reason for laying off staff and closing studios was due(which it really was not) to the A/B deal, tell me what Sony's reason was for past studio closures, the recent 900-person layoffs, closing Sony London, shutting down Dreams, and closing Japan Studio? Zipper? Psygnosis? cuts at all their internal studios.

Keep in mind, you are claiming MS's reason is because of the A/B deal; please explain Sony's reason.

Hofstaderman2h ago

You actually still defending them? Sheesh.....

gold_drake2h ago

this is not a sony vs MS debate. dont make it something it isnt.

and of course not, but im pretty sure they thought they'd make more money after the deal. they didnt, and closed off some studios.

its pretty insane to think there is any other reason for the closure of studios in this case.

romulus232h ago(Edited 2h ago)

(It really was) due to the Activision Blizzard deal and the loss of physical sales due to gamepass. You keep bringing up Sony in all your posts about this, stop deflecting and trying to change the topic, this is about MS and what they are doing.

BehindTheRows1h ago

Has nothing to do with Sony. Stay on topic.

notachance1h ago

once in a while you see someone too invested in their make-believe console war that everything happened has to be connected to said war…

a bit of banter between fans is normal, this crusade you’re doing now isn’t.

Chevalier1h ago

Wow idiotic. You bring up very old closures not that there haven't been recent ones from Playstations, but, seriously stop deflecting. This has NOTHING to do with Playstation.

Does Playstation got $3 trillion behind them and daddies wallet? No they don't so stop making a fool of yourself.

Xbox has never been profitable really and they just keep losing money so between their worst hardware sales, terrible 3rd party sales and now terrible 1st party sales.

Gamepass numbers that are no longer being announced shows their numbers after 3 years of missed targets has flatlined. Plus their recent gains up to 34 million were ONLY because they folded Gold members in too. Absolutely take your idiotic rhetoric out of here. Keep on topic without deflecting.

S2Killinit1h ago

Ayayayay with these xbox/MS excuses.

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anast2h ago

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.

Skuletor2h ago

Maybe they were already using AI to make business decisions, which would explain why they closed Hi-Fi Rush's studio, then said they need more games like Hi-Fi Rush not long after that announcement.

Crows901h ago(Edited 1h ago)

They shouldn't have bought any studios. Some is okay...but they went on a shopping spree...stupid

Einhander19721h ago

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.

RNTody1h ago

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.

110°

7 Deserving Games That Never Got Backward Compatibility

Backward compatibility works for many games on newer consoles, but titles such as The Simpsons: Hit and Run have been left out.

90°

20 Best Survival Games of All Time

From base building to swinging willies, here are the best survival games around, which include a couple of less than obvious picks.

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culturedvultures.com
Vader821d 5h ago

No 7 days to die is criminal