@NitrousO:
Really? Guess I'm not that well versed in the genre. Still, the fact that a girl raising game (that's what it kinda is, right?) is what they're pushing the hardest is kinda depressing.

Demaar

You could remove all FPS titles from the 360 and produce only jrpgs, action, loli, and fighter games and the 360 wouldn't sell well. They'll never embrace a western system. Call it racism, bad taste, good taste, or brand loyalty or whatever, it's just how it is.

I'm happy as long as I get more titles like Lost Odyssey though.. The fact that it didn't do well in Japan proves to me that they don't care how good or bad a game is, but that it's not on a native system. Which is why you see so many otaku's calling it the "idiot box".

kyosen

When I clicked the link, I was kind of worried I wouldn't be able to tell! At any rate, pink is very stylish!

Waluigi

@MugiMugi: Nothing's surprising about it. Here's a hint: it's not surprising, it's FUNNY.

Every other Xbox website is shit brown - Japan has pastel pink.

(Insert national stereotype and laugh as it's confirmed.)

Explained now?

quen

I think what's so surprising is that the one stickout territory is dead in the waters. The 360 has been a mature vehicle around the world for some time now, and even got a big shot in the arm with Ace Combat 6. Seeing it all pinked out seems kind of... off message.

seishino

@yoshinatsu: ...

Bookburner

I bet OVER 9000 KOTAKITEZ ON THE PINK ONE !!!!

Dude From Dubai

What so suprising? Idol M@ster Live for you release in a few days in Japan, it's one of the bigger games there.

Also the other games on the other regions are games who released in thos regions at that moment.

Whats so supprising about it?

MugiMugi

Given the American people I know, if Microsoft releases an American version of the Idolm@ster the amount of noise made over the RRoD issue would drop substantially.

jamar0303

@AlKusanagi:
True

Garo

I don't see the problem since Idolm@ster is one of the few games in Japan that manages to move 360s.

AlKusanagi

I'm trying to figure out why Xbox.com Singapore is Xboxsingapore.com...

Byakko

@Bookburner: ...

yoshinatsu

@Irenicus-the one and only:
I'm not sure about the Japanese developer point. It's not like if MS fails in Japan, Japanese developers will suddenly forget about the 360. Gaming is a world wide market, and the 360 is strong in the US and the UK, the two strongest gaming markets.

gamadaya

@muu:
I think the reason they aren't advertising more actively is because they're totally disheatened. I would be to if I had to make the 360 succede in Japan. And "who the fuck cares about Japan?" That's the attitude that will crush a corporation (and has crushed many Japanes corporations, only they were saying "who the fuck cares about the west."). And the 360 definatly does not have a strong grip in Europe. They are competing with Sony there.

gamadaya

Lost Odyssey's so awesome, I'm glad to see it getting press on so many sites. DMC4's good too!

...I have no idea what the hell that is on the Japanese site though.

Archaotic

@slacker164: Good point, yet we buy cooking mama over here lol But yeah, you are right about japanese developers.

Irenicus-the one and only

@Irenicus-the one and only:
Nah, they can't really pull out. They need at least some presence there to help attract Japanese developers. And your idea really isn't all bad. It's just that with the FPS genre being the big draw, it's sort of like a Japanese company trying to sell dating sims and pachinko games in the US. It's just no going to go very well.

Japanese developers have managed to be much more diverse in what they produce though. They don't just make dating sims and stuff, but also games with really broad worldwide appeal. Which is why it's important to have them onboard for a console. Microsoft, and really all western developers, need to find ways to do the same. I think we're getting there, but it's gonna be a while.

slacker164

@slacker164: Well, they should keep pushing! :P Or maybe you are correct, infact, if I were MS I would pull out of Japan already and spend all that money on Europe where they are losing atm and they do have a chance to win the whole market.

Irenicus-the one and only

@Irenicus-the one and only:
I think they did try that approach much more with the first Xbox. It didn't work at all. FPS games are pretty much the biggest western genre, and Japanese gamers tend to hate them. There's just too big of a cultural gap to really make shooters popular in Japan. I do think it's possible for some western games to be made popular in Japan, but as long as FPS games are the dominant genre, it's a nearly impossible task.

slacker164

@cactaur: I hate to be a potential 360 buyer over there and all I see is that game all the time, if I don't like it. A bit of variety can't hurt.

Irenicus-the one and only

@gamadaya: The front page randomly goes through several games, only one of which is Idolmaster L4U (though it's also one of the few being pushed hard online, with voice actor interviews and the works). None of this is really advertising, anyway -- Microsoft Japan is making little to no effort advertising these on the idiot box, though it's not quite certain whether it's because of lack of motivation or funding.

I'm sure Bash, Witz and other Kotakites residing in Japan could confirm this, but I highly doubt there's any TV advertising going on, or is being planned, for the Imas game. Lost Odyssey supposedly didn't get much better of a treatment, so unless some heads start rolling I don't really expect this situation to change very much.

Besides, who the fuck cares about Japan? The 360 has a strong enough grip on the US/European market that Japanese developers can't just blindly follow the PS3. A comeback isn't happening, and they're just there for the leverage.

muu

@Irenicus-the one and only: The DMC4 sales compared to idolmaster probably don't justify replacing it.

cactaur

I wish microsoft would smarten up and release idolm@ster in the U.S or at least not region lock it >:(

JoeManNazi

@gamadaya: Thats my point :) Better to take the risk, not like they can loose more... they should try to get Japanese gamers to play western based and made games, better then what they are doing now, aleast advertise devil may cry 4 ffs.

Irenicus-the one and only

What's wrong in loving cute girls and not dark amnesiac guys?

Mayu-mayu

@Irenicus-the one and only:
That'd be risky. Japan, not just as a corporate culture, but as a country, has often been called conformist and slow to change. But, I don't see any other way for MS to succede in Japan. The strategy of trying to compete with Sony directly by putting Japanese games on their console is insane. Even if their games are much, much, MUCH, better, Japan still won't leave the brand that they know and trust, especially not of another brand that isn't even Japanese. Bottom line: I can't see MS doing very well in Japan, no matter what they do.

gamadaya

To be fair, some of the countries where Lost Odyssey wasn't being released DID have pink valentines colors for the Xbox top on 2/14: [imas.ath.cx]

Japan just happened to have a little more, uh, character.

muu

I kinda like the Australian one, despite the fact that it's advertising the Aussie Xbox soundtrack. (Although now it's moved on to GoW2). The Japanese one is impressive.

hrunting

I think they are making a misstake, they should try to push western made games more instead of trying to make 2 japanese games and advertise those for several years. Try to sell them on the idea of other types of games you know.

Irenicus-the one and only

After what happened to poor Ratchet to make him more "attractive" to Japan, nothing comes as a surprise.

brello

I also liked how they were listed in order, haha.

Torusan

Scary.

Kovitlac

The one that says 日本？

Torusan

Idolm@ster is it >_>

(didn't bother reading the comments here if I'm wrong or not)

Keanu

@Bookburner:
Me. Not really, but that's what I've thought thousands of times.

gamadaya

Bottom right.

Tenchuu

Wish the American Xbox.com was as flamboyant as the one on the bottom right. I would be so happy if it was.

GUNDAM-RX-78-2

@Demaar: :S I was under the impression that games like that were normal. Compared to the stuff I have heard about for the PS2, it seems totally normal.

NitrousO

They already gave up on DMC4 in Japan? Nice pink though.

atomos

This is the best article ever posted to Kotaku.

RFX

@deathsyth8888: I think it was from E3.

ceilingFANBOY: now with 100% more fanboy

Idol master is all MS really needs in Japan.
Its DLC is a money printing machine. It wouldn't surprise me if that's the only game that's ever on their front page :0

MetalGearMax

LOL

Xbox 360 in Japan = idolm@ster

icepick314

I guess Japan doesn't like shooters.

poser85

@ceilingFANBOY: now with 100% more fanboy: "Kotaku does not endorse or encourage betting in any way, shape or form unless the currency used is in Kotaku Points® which you can purchase at any Kotaku Kiosk® or at the Kotaku Store®" I think I read that somewhere.

deathsyth8888

Man, kinda sad that the 360 is pretty much the pervert machine over there. MS totally need better maketing.

Oh well, whatever sells hardware, I guess?

Demaar

I guess they really are taking steps to shake the western games/FPS image in Japan. ^^;

slacker164

...judging from the (rather faint) Kanji below the picture, I'm thinking it's the one with the pink at the bottom right. ^^"

Ashelia

lol, that's our Japan.

SpishackCola

Talk about sexy.

Sailorcancer

@Raziel3333: I wish it were so that the Martians would enter to oggle some number or letter. Still makes me laugh.

NitrousO

@Raziel3333: One of these things is not like the other. one of these things is ______. Good stuff

Rurik

One of these things is doing there own thing.One of these things is not the same. One of these things is doing there own thing. Now its time to play out game.

I bet 20 Kotakrulleans on the one in the bottom right.

jackal888

LOL lovin' the pink

sooiee115

日本万歳！！

108

wwww

mikeeb13

I bet 500 Kotaku points it's the one in the middle.

ceilingFANBOY: now with 100% more fanboy

what is this.....sesame street? i am suddenly having a flash back to....which one of these doesn't belong here.

Raziel3333

And who said Japan had horrible taste in games?

Bookburner