Japanese Hardware War Now Officially Boring

@undefined:

I'm sure Sony is over the moon at this news..

oh wait, its selling nearly half of what PS3 is..

NOOOOOO!

B0MBJ4CK

The Japanese, don't like American hardware, they are so loyal to Japanese made products, unlike Americans, who (myself included) don't like things that are made in the United States. I do have a Xbox 360, and love it, but I would never buy a American made car.

Billy Seroyer

Just give it some time, WiiSports Resort, Monster Hunter 3, Dragon Quest X (and so on and so forth) are on the way.

Oh and then there is that one game filled with the metrosexuals and long winded plot points... err, I think the kids call it Final Fantasy XIII or something.

Avrum

@Paul_Is_Drunk: I'm not saying they love America. I'm saying they love American products.

Everyone loves to talk about how Wal-Mart is killing small businesses, but how many people actually stop shopping at Wal-Mart?

My logic is sound. If Japanese people love McDonald's, iPods and Boy Bands, then something tells me the Japanese do not ignore the 360 for being American.

Face the facts, the "Japanese people hate Xbox because it's American" argument is down-right juvenile, has no factual basis, and is just flat-out grasping for straws.

@the7k: I just spent 2008 in Germany living with people from Peru & Brazil. The German teens & my roommates loved American movies, McDonalds, etc... but they ripped on the United States all the time.

I mean, I love sushi, but that doesn't mean that I like everything from Japan.

Think your logic through.

Paul_Is_Drunk

@the7k: This. Unfortunately, people look at numbers and go, "Japan must be racist/xenophobic!" even though, in reality, the 360 is typically known as the console of choice for hardcore Otaku in Japan (You saw what happened after ToV was announced for the PS3 . . . ). I think the primary reason is that there's a more casual/hardcore market of gamers, but not necessarily to a degree that they're willing to buy a specific console for certain games like the Otaku do.

Instead, they lean towards the PS3 because of it's established brand, and multiple functionality - which is typically viewed as a huge plus when you're living in such cramped spaces (Would *you* really want an assload of electronics taking up space if *THIS* was your entire house? [i4.photobucket.com] ).

I do think western companies have to try harder to be accepted in Japanese society because of the overall mentality some people have, but I wouldn't place all that on being xenophobic. Have you seen their love for iPods? I mean, c'mon.

Kanji08

@Zunnoab:
The only thing I can find about the 30% figure is based on a small sample size (there's a Gizmodo article about it), so I don't know if that actually means the overall failure rate is over the 5-10% that Microsoft has claimed (now sure if they ever gave a hard number though).

That being said, my launch 360 has failed just once, I sent it away and had it sent back within a week, the exact same unit now in working condition. Having my Samsung TV repaired (had something wrong with the main circuitboard) was a much more arduous task.

TrjnRabbit

@TrjnRabbit: Sadly the issues have not been exaggerated. Until they nailed the flaw (I think they have right?) the failure rates were over 30%. That is an extremely high failure rate.

Zunnoab

How boring is it? Here's console numbers from a year ago

~a year ago
* PSP - 64,449
* Wii - 49,047
* Nintendo DS - 37,404
* PlayStation 3 - 9,071
* PlayStation 2 - 7,189
* Xbox 360 - 1,947

@the7k:

You seem to be the only one in this thread that actually knows what he's talking about.

It's true, Western stuff is very popular in Japan. In some cases, boy bands from America are more popular there than they are in the west. Kill Bill and a bunch of Disney movies are really popular there as well. I'd give more examples, but there's too many.

I think the main problem has to do with brand. Sony had 2 generations to prove themselves and they did. Microsoft last gen had pretty much nothing that appeals to the average Japanese gamer and that mindset has carried over into this generation.

cakeman19

To the guy who doesn't care about hardware sales charts...anyone who's owned a dreamcast, saturn, sega cd, 32X...sorry sega, would tell you otherwise; anyway, I forget where I was going with this, but some of us (sega fans) still think our systems livelihood is dependent on sales numbers.

BadTranslation

@TrjnRabbit:
How on earth did this end up here?

TrjnRabbit

@elmorepow: First off, it wasn't, and secondly, even it if were the case it has no relevance to my statement.

@nygiants10:
I guess we should start playing closer attention to the crucial Ohio market then.

TrjnRabbit

@hobob:
Except, the 360 hardware issues have been grossly exaggerated. Not to come across as a fanboy (although I probably qualify as one), but all it takes is a couple of people with a bad experience to vehemently bitch about something and all of a sudden everyone knows that the 360 failure rate is far too high. So if the Japanese aren't buying 360s because the hardware doesn't work, they're misinformed.

I'm still sticking to my theory that the Japanese aren't buying it because the majority of games targetted towards them are on the PS3.

TrjnRabbit

@jmeciar: Yet you are here, commenting on one.
Don't like 'em, don't read 'em

@elmorepow:

No it wasn't. It was invented in the U.S.

The Brown Box was the first home console game system, which was made by German-American.

Jinsenken

@Hardcore: eh?

@hobob: Add to that Microsoft losing most of their big name exclusivities like Ninja Gaiden, Tales of Vesperia, Last Remnant and others, and one can easily see why it's not selling.

Yas

@Nitro378: Older Japanese are "racist" (not really racism, xenophobia), but do you think Older Japanese people are the demographic MS is targeting?

I'd find it hard to suggest Younger Japanese are xenophobic, considering their love of Engrish, American Music and Fast Food.

@Zolbrod:
Yes, it is. I'm convinced at this point.

@hobob: maybe it's the fact that games aren't being released. If more JRPG's are released the consoles will sell, but they only get a JRPG once every 3 months or so, so there pretty much screwed.

Firemane

@nrXic: Because 360 sells so little? Come on. Console gaming was _invented_ in Japan.

elmorepow

@hobob: Yes exactly, you are right. Japanese are extremely cautious about buying nothing but only high-quality electronics. When it comes to products japanese buys the best rather than national.

There is even term called 'Sony-timer'. They believe some of the Sony's products are timed so that they will break up after warranty expires :D

elmorepow

@MDX: Yeah. I'm not an expert or anything, but judging from these numbers and various people talking on here, I'm guessing the Japanese are very proud. Perhaps a bit too much if they're ignoring the 360 outright like this.

Oh 360 you fool. Why did you ever enter Japan, where they only want to spit on you and only sales you get is from some random Windows fan office grunt.

elmorepow

Japan buys as many consoles as Ohio does..lol

nygiants10

@nrXic: Exactly and to be totally honest it being a Japanese made console never crossed my mind once when I bought mine. I have a feeling when a Japanese guy walks into a local game store he instantly writes off anything that has to do with America.

This obviously isn't the case for everybody but it seems to be the majority as they completely ignore the 360 month after month when it CLEARLY has the best/most RPGS on it.

MDX

An so, the balance is restored.

@Joshua Bell: But care just enough to post a comment about it.

@Lezard: Umm no... see us Americans actually buy the PS3 and Japan just ignore the 360.

far more Americans own a PS3 than Japanese own a 360.

MDX

@Lezard: It's not and all or nothing proposition, and the difference there is that Western countries have more readily adapted to Japanese hardware than vice versa. I'd say xenophobia and brand loyalty are major factors but cannot be stated as the sole reasons Japan has ignored the console with the most RPG games they generally love.

@Lezard: Huh? Do you know what "logic" even means? He didn't post any logic, he posted a conclusion.

Fact is, many Japanese aren't buying 360s BECAUSE it's made by an American company. You don't see Americans refraining from PlayStation products because it's Japanese. In fact, the US overall has been very open to Japanese products, from electronics to cars.

Gaming is dead in Japan, end of story.

@Joshua Bell:
The more I see (the more I see), the less, the less I believe

@Antiterra: That's what the Japanese use all that shovelware for. Who the hell plays all the crap that gets shoved out for the DS anyway?

Hardcore

@Cazamalos: I could copy paste a nice long quote from billy madison to sum up my feelings towards that post....but even that isnt enough to deal with the WTFness of it.

@MDX: Okay then. So by that logic, Americans that only buy 360s and play 360 games must be racist.

@Combichristoffersen: True Fantasy Online, how I desired thee.

@Combichristoffersen: No, no...it's the nationalism thing alright.

@Nitro378:
Honestly, I don't think it's as much blatant nationalism as the Japanese still being pissed because MS killed the original Xbox prematurely (wasn't there also some brouhaha over MS hiring a Japanese company to make an RPG for the Xbox, before they suddenly just decided to break the deal, leaving the company with a nearly finished Xbox RPG that would never be released?)

Besides the nationalism thing, I think the fact that Microsoft still hasn't gotten a handle on dying 360s is a big issue over there. The japanese are much more cautious about their purchases, chances are the RROD issue and now the E74 issue has left a bad mark on the microsoft's reputation over there.

hobob

@excel_excel: I actually don't think Ninty will announce a DS light price cut as that would necessitate sales...and DS light sales mean less DSi sales....

Unless they really will push both - in that case a price could at E3 would make a big headline...but I just don't see it.

Clearly the alien rape sim known as Mass Erect on the [SE]XBOX 360 has left bitter taste of blue ass in their mouths.

@Nitro378: As much as I didn't want to believe it when I first heard people saying it I think nationalism really has been what made them push the 360 to one side. I doubt it's the only factor though, when a new competing product comes in having a problem like RROD can quickly kill it's appeal. I do think it should be selling better than this but who knows what it would take to get the Japanese to buy it consistently?

xxXX_Insanities_Birth_XXxx

@Nitro378: I think they kinda are.

MDX

@Cazamalos:

what

MooglesInMyFace

@Combichristoffersen: Hell yea!

Speaking of Pies:

+ Watch video

I guess it's a new fetish. :P

@xxXX_Insanities_Birth_XXxx: I hate to say that the Japanese are racist... but...

Nitro378

@BillyTheRatKing: I think you guys are seriously over-estimating the Japanese market and it's effect on video games. The Japanese market used to make or break console wars, but now, eh, not so much.The Western Market and the Korean/Chinese Free to Play markets are giving them a serious run.

@Cazamalos: What? Go back to school you bum.

Nitro378

The only thing that could make this chart un-boring is a green slice the size of the black or grey ones, and we all know that's not happening anytime soon.

However, I'm fairly sure that the Japanese are now using PS2s as hot pads and DSs as wedges for wobbly furniture.

@xxXX_Insanities_Birth_XXxx: I agree. 360 does deserve some good numbers in Japan. If not soon at least in long run. It depends how Microsoft chooses to approach the Japanese market. Microsoft is headed in the right direction with plenty of highly appealing games, yet Japanese consumers aren't picking up on most of them. Shame.

@Masonvrocks: FFVs13 GOTY 2015: Yep! Hasn't gotten cheaper as far as I'm aware

Maybe those ME numbers will help boost up those 360 numbers next time we see the charts, assuming they weren't all bought from the existing user base. Then we can whip up the popcorn and zap all the ones that say "MS is on the rise in the land of the rising sun."

@MaxDragon7:
I bet you like some of that cherry pie

+ Watch video

I dont even care about hardware sales in my own country let alone a foriegn country.

System sales (or who manufacturers them for that matter to) dont mean a squirt of piss unless it has good games on it. And Im sorry but sales dont mean the system is chock full of good games, example: the wii.

@BillyTheRatKing: I agree, it's not really there fault though since they did bring some decent games to the japanese market (multiple shmups, Idol master, ace combat 6, VF5 with online, Last remnant, Infinite undiscovery, Lost odyssey, Star ocean 4, Dead or alive 4, DOAX, Rumble roses 2, Ninety nine nights, Ninja gaiden 2 originally wasn't on PS3, Naruto games, Lips, Katamari etc.) Then since there's multiple japanese exclusive games and Mass effect didn't do bad there I just think it's the case that the Japanese choose to ignore the console.

360 clearly deserved more success than it's getting.

xxXX_Insanities_Birth_XXxx

Pie charts are not boring! >:O

I find them to be a major turn on... :D

never never never never microsoft's console will sell " a lot" in japan

microRROD dont gol handled PLZ

@BillyTheRatKing: I honestly don't think that the Japanese market is really one they're horribly concerned about.

They probably should be, but I'm guessing they're not.

@BillyTheRatKing:
They spend shitloads of cash trying to penetrate the Japanese market, only to be beaten by a 9 year old console. You just can't make that shit up.

@excel_excel:

I think thats what always happens, as the new version of a system comes out you can often get the older one cheaper. Is Nintendo still producing the DS lite?

@BillyTheRatKing: indeed !

The more I see of Japanese hardware sales, the less I care.

Joshua Bell

if it is boring so much, stop posting these every week, pleeeeeassseeee :)

no ?

PS2 outsells 360, Microsoft must be facepalming right about... now.

Everything seems so calm in this week.

PS2 still holding its ground. Stead numbers.

DS lite is still selling very well considering that the DSi is going so strong as well. ahh poor 360. You'll do alright

at least it's still selling right?

@Nitro378: Its not because they are racist. Its because they hate unreliable products. I live in north america, and I will never buy a GM car or a 360, unless they became reliable one day.

Veltis

That's with no PS3 games in the top 30 and a bunch of wii games in the top 30.

@the7k: I personally think all of this teh racism crap is nonsense. Windows sells tonnes over there, iPods sell fuck tonnes etc. The japenese are usually quite passionate about their technology and hold strong social values and thus i expect many know of the 360s unreliability and thus dont stand for that. Sure some of the reasons could be out of nationalism but i really dont believe it to the extent that most make it out to be.

@TrjnRabbit: The issue was not their willingness to fix the problem (something Sony dodged with faulty PS2 drives that failed out of warranty, though that was less widespread).

The figure came from a poll of retailers reporting 30% failure rate in relation to their sold Xbox 360 consoles, back then.

Zunnoab