It would take FF as a exclusive for the 360 to sell good in Japan.  And even then...

The Xbox 360 has 8.6% home console market share in Japan if you do the math. That's a big improvement from last generation. Obviously Microsoft isn't going to be big over there over night when Star Ocean and Tales were the biggest names they could secure timed exclusivity for. And it's going to take time for Microsoft to develop the popularity of their new first-party IPs (Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey. I'm assuming they're gonna take Infinite Undiscovery back to the shed and kill it unless Japan liked it. lol)

I'd like to see ms continue their pricing strategy not just in japan but in na and europe as well. The cheaper the system is for consumers the larger the network of gamers grows and the greater the online community.

Maybe they finally realized japan is pretty much a lost cause and will focus their resources on Europe and US. But they pretty much have USA locked down. The real battle will be europe.

Well, MS sees a potential market in Japan, even if they don't get them this gen, they may gain significant ground next, to pull out now would eliminate all chances of doing so.

Im not saying they should pull out. However they need to spend their money of games that people will want rather than buying timed exclusitivity for a bunch of mediocre JRPGs that usually have terrible sales (especially outside of japan).

I understand that, but I believe MS sees a large market they could tap into. by not offering games that do not sell well anywhere except Japan, they are appeasing to this market, and while the benefits may not be clear this gen, I think you may see an increase in sales next gen.

From a strategy perspective, M$ will stay engaged with Japan to ensure they force Sony to protect it's home turf, but ultimately, I don't see the Xbox family ever making any headway...Japanese consumer are simply going to be very resistant to buying foriegn products. Look at the Ipod...zero penetration...it's crazy when you go to Japan...I walk into electronic stores and it's all stuff I've NEVER seen before, unlike when you go to Singapore, for example. Maybe Natal will provide greater penetration into that market, but ultimately, I don't see Xbox ever gaining much more than 10-15% market share in any given generation.

pbroy said: Give away some free pussy...

LOL...that would sell like HOTCAKES anywhere!

I dunno, $ony has a strong hold there, no doubt. But MS may be looking at the future, and not the now, thats what they did with the origional Xbox, and look how that panned out. Just think of the potential if MS could effectively tap into that market.