I personally see it as a simple case of attrition. As one poster pointed out, the HD consoles are still providing more or less the same experience as has been had in the previous generation (and the one before it, and before it too). Had the Wii not come into existence as a system with a radically different and above all else usable new interface, then I suspect that this lack of impact for the PS3 would not be quite as intense as it is now. Of course, that's pointless speculation, as the Wii does exist, and thus we cannot know how it would really be if it did not.

I think the Xbox360 is failing because it is an xbox and the PS3 is doing poorly at the moment because of a lack of rpg type games. And the Japanese seem to like small cute things (like Nintendo's 1st party characters)...... or am I just imagining this? The price don't hurt either, I guess.

I think this topic for Japan is simpler than you think.

Games.

Games, not high tech numbers, sell consoles. Japanese games taste are obviously not centered on HD graphics OMG!!11. Instead, it is about the experience playing the game. Something only differentiated by the DS and the Wii. The others all offer the same experience rehashed over and over again. Whereas the DS and the Wii have given Japan a reason to play.

PS3 will do better due to its affordability and, arguably, best quality Bluray player; especially as prices continue to drop. However, similar to the PSP the attach ratio won't be stellar. In other words, it will sell on its non-game related avenues.

Alright, I'll give it my shot on Japanese culture, since I talk to people from the country on a regular basis.

360 - There really is no real hope to get this console moving. Most people think that MS should just stick to Windows. The first Xbox did alot of damage to their reputation. I don't think it will be more than a cult console.

PS3 - It will probably get rolling late like the PSP. Get their BC back in, make the console a little smaller, and get Final Fantasy out on it. Even though people may argue that Final Fantasy won't sell the systems itself for the game, it sets the image for the console.

What Rol said. Exactly. (Phew, that was close to spam...)

FinalEvangelion said: Alright, I'll give it my shot on Japanese culture, since I talk to people from the country on a regular basis. 360 - There really is no real hope to get this console moving. Most people think that MS should just stick to Windows. The first Xbox did alot of damage to their reputation. I don't think it will be more than a cult console. PS3 - It will probably get rolling late like the PSP. Get their BC back in, make the console a little smaller, and get Final Fantasy out on it. Even though people may argue that Final Fantasy won't sell the systems itself for the game, it sets the image for the console.

Add to that what superchunk said, and I agree.

Also, with due respect to Rol, it's becoming clear that although consoles are (of course) first, last, and always primarily for games, Sony's machines are also being used to significant extent for other purposes -- PSP as multimedia device, PS3 as Blu-ray player, even PS3 as special-purpose computing device. Unless I'm mistaken the PSP's hardware sales have been significantly increased by its other capabilities, despite the well-deserved failure of UMD. (If that doesn't happen in Japan -- I have no idea -- then I guess that's bad news for the Sony consoles and Rol will be right for Japan.)

NYANKS said: I think the Xbox360 is failing because it is an xbox and the PS3 is doing poorly at the moment because of a lack of rpg type games. And the Japanese seem to like small cute things (like Nintendo's 1st party characters)...... or am I just imagining this? The price don't hurt either, I guess.

 No you are right but not because of the cute thing, if they want cute, they can buy the DS which has loads to cater for this, the PS3 in Japan seriously lacks the JRPG that it needs and Disgraea(sp?) isn't the win all game for Japan.

 The games that are there seem more western orientated like the 360's games, and while the 360 will unlikely change for it's Japanese dead market, the Playstation can with great games. These are yet to come though sadly.

 Once it get's a few more well known titles on it (FF games, GT5, Tekken 6, maybe Star Ocean 4) it might start doing better.

yep......and nope

and what rol said. exactly.

I think the Japanese market is not so much looking for best graphics. they are looking for the technologically most advanced gaming experience. which funny enough is the wii. and i am not talking graphics here, but gaming.

Ok, a try:

1) Japanes are very "gadget happy". There's no denial that the DS is with the iPod the coolest gadget to have, even here in Europe. The Wii is became last years gadget to have. Everyone, even colleagues of 40 and girls, knows the Wii.

2) People that work have more money: they buy the big TV's AND the newest things. These guys grew up playing SNES and now have the change to buy a gaming machine without being childish. This contradicts the gamers view on the Wii, but for normal people the Wii is much cooler than the PS360, that are viewed as kids toys.

3) The trend is not HD, and Japan is always ahead of the trend. YouTube is enormous. We all look all day to crappy, low resolution films. DVD is good enough for most people, as is 480p. People DON'T buy the big TV's for HD, the buy it because then their TV is flatter and bigger than that of their neighbours. In Europe there aren't even channels in HD.

4) Controls: Japanes are always the first, and they have shown the future of gaming in DS and Wii. More and more games are coming from the west, but still the heavyweight of the industry is in Japan. The Japanese simply love the new control options and care less for graphics, which makes it hard for consoles which main strenght is graphics to reverse the trend.

5) Social gaming: In Europe PS2 was so enormous because of Singstar and Buzz, games that if they were on Wii would have been killed by the fanboy community. Gaming is getting mature and that means, just as in movies, there is something for everybody. The Wii re-invented social gaming with Wii-Sports, and as much as the hardcore tends to dislike it, it is a good thing. Japan, as can be seen in sales of WiiSports and WiiFit, again is ahaed of the west. Sony is to late, as Phil Harrison explained and why he left Sony angry, to see this coming.

If the PS3 kept Monster Hunter 3 or Dragonquest IX, I think Japan's future would be looking a lot less hostile right now.

Instead, those games now bolster the competition.

The PS3 isn't gonna win Japan, I don't know if its possible right now. The Wii's lead is much more significant, proportonately, and trendwise, in Japan, than in any other territory.