Being primarily an Xbox gamer (I also have a PS3 and soon a Wii U) in Japan is interesting. The system is supported quite well with releases for such a small system and used games are generally cheaper than their PS3 counterparts.
Other than RROD, MS did most things right this generation in terms of Japan. They have Monster Hunter, JRPGs, tons of old-school shooters, Idol games, and so forth. Their system is much sleeker and better designed than the original Xbox, and yet they have only made a little headway.
They aren't necessarily anti-MS either as the PC section at my local electronics store is massive and dwarfs the Apple section. Konami's Kinect-based dancing game is also quite popular in most arcades.
The big draws for the system in the West (Halo, Kinect, and Xbox Live) have just not worked as draws here. With Kinect, the size, and poor sound insulation of most apartments, limits the audience here.
Whether they can make improvements next generation depends on a million factors that we can not know. I think the key is that they have to have a couple of truly exclusive, series of must-play games, and what those will be for any of the new systems no one knows.
Japan is quirky too. After all, the Genesis/MegaDrive wasn't popular here, while the Saturn outsold the N64.
Existing User Log In
New User Registration
Register for a free account to gain full access to the VGChartz Network and join our thriving community.
