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| Microsoft Corp., the second-largest maker of video game systems, sold 28 percent of Xbox 360 consoles on store shelves in Japan, according to preliminary figures from market researcher Media Create Co. Microsoft sold 41,817 consoles in the first two days since the Xbox 360 was introduced on Dec. 10 in Japan, Tokyo-based Media Create said in an e-mailed statement late yesterday. The researcher will publish revised figures tomorrow. * Microsoft Corp. sold 39 percent of its new Xbox 360 game console in the first two days it was available in Japan, the world's second-biggest market for video games, according to market researcher Enterbrain Inc. Microsoft, which started selling the Xbox 360 on Dec. 10, sold 62,135 of the 159,000 consoles it shipped, according to Tokyo-based Enterbrain. That compares with about 123,000 units sold in the first three days for the first Xbox, which debuted on Feb. 22, 2002, the report said. Delays in getting games like Tecmo Ltd.'s ``Dead or Alive 4'' may have hurt initial sales of the Xbox 360, as 62 percent of gamers surveyed by Enterbrain said they plan to buy the game system to play the action-fighting game, according to the market researcher. The game's release, which has been delayed twice, is now scheduled for Dec. 29. |
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| The train wreck that is the 360 Japan Launch continues. Unloved 360s consoles collect dust, and retailers are unable to return those unwanted Xbox 360s to Msoft due to contractual obligations. To cut loses and cover their arses, stores are left with no choice but to offer discounts. The originally 38,800yen (about $350 US) consoles have been lowered to 18,800yen (about $150 US) with Internet Service Provider contracts so that the shop could get some kickback money from the IP. And this is what, four days from launch? Eds Note: While this style of pricing is common in the US, electronics stores in Japan tend to do this to move inventory they cannot sell. |
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| Originally posted by Ogre King Yup, MS Xbox360 fails in japan only selling 41k in 2 days. Now every store in japan has cut prices to $150 for premium ( i think). Well MS didn't learn from last time. i mean WTF they should have had many japanese games but noo they have to have US games that japanse don't buy. Now i can see PS3 comming in and kick Xbox360 butt |
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| Originally posted by Bakuhatsu I've been lurking on these forums for a while now but I felt the need to register and comment after reading this. Regarding this topic I feel fairly qualified in that I live in Japan and experienced the Shibuya launch first-hand. This story is a load of bollocks. The Xbox debuted at 37,900yen which equates to about £180 so it was really cheap to begin with but it definitely HAS NOT been slashed in price further. In the last month you can't move anywhere in central Tokyo for adverts for Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Ninety Nine Nights and [eM] all of which are generating some serious buzz with many Japanese gamers, who are obviously known for their undying love of the RPG. Dead or Alive 4 adverts are also on TV constantly. Despite hating the original Xbox, approached this one with an open mind. After spending some time with it at TGS and the Xbox lounge that is opposite my uni I, like many other people here in Japan, decided to get one. I bought my 360 on launch day with PDZ and an extra pad and it came under £250. Bargain. I have had no problems with scratching (even when there was an earthquake whilst I was playing), no problems with noise or overheating - seriously, how did people do that? its only ever gets 'a bit warm' after several hours of playing. ...Anyway, that was my hyaku-en opinion. |