Microsoft goes first a lot. Unfortunately, that leaves Sony open to scramble up something to try to steal some of Microsoft's thunder.

Shin-san

@Murderdolls: I could bet all my money that they are trying.

FP_slomo788

Whoa it's you...Weird man...weirdI haven't seen you in forever @Warbuff6644:

Sorry to change the subject, but how do I bring attention to an old topic? Need that$300!

TWEEDLEDEEZNUTZ

@TWEEDLEDEEZNUTZ: You get logged out 'cause you're you! And yeah, XBOX is all ready getting Mii's, so why not a version of home to go with it.

Warbuff6644

Seems kind of weird for a non-Japanese speaker to be giving the keynote... unless he does speak fluent Japanese, and I'm unaware of it.

mfwahwah

@TheHeeyyy: Have they said anything about that? I would hope they would try to work on it being released in Japan especially with this new low price.

Murderdolls

Sounds like MS VERSION of Home...Why do I keep getting logged out when I post?

TWEEDLEDEEZNUTZ

Microsoft: "To all the Japanese gamers who wants to enjoy one of the biggest RPGs this gaming generation, Final Fantasy 13, without paying the high price of a PS3, the 360 is right for you."

Japanese audience: "Yay!"

Microsoft: "Sure, this game will be available on the 360 everywhere except in Japan, despite Japan being it's core fanbase, but we feel the knowledge that every other 360 owner in the world will get a chance to experience this great game will warm the hearts of Japanese gamers."

Japanese audience: "uhh...WTF?"

TheHeeyyy

Microsoft sure is tryin', Japan just needs to start buyin'.

HaydenTenno

You have to give a little bit of credit to Microsoft here. They are faced with an almost impossible task. PS3 owners are always quick to mention the one year headstart the 360 got over its competition. Correct me if I am wrong, but Sony and Nintendo had a bit of headstart in the Japanese market, and I believe it was a bit more than one year. Microsoft can't simply offer the same thing as their competition and expect people to buy their product. What they are trying to do, won't be easy and it won't be done in one generation. I wouldn't write them off if I were Sony or Nintendo.

Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii

I hope he speaks about the new Dashboard, i keep forgetting how excited I am about that

eddienoteddy

Keep dishing out them RPGs.

garytek

@Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii: No, Xbox had the same headstart in Japan.
December 10, 2005

vs
PS3 11 November 2006
Wii December 2, 2006

kakihara

@RealmRPGer: @TheHeeyyy: I just hope none of them break out in tears like the "noncore" Final Fantasy fans did right around E3.

Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii

@Shin-san: Ironic as Microsoft's big thunder comes from taking exclusives from PS3.

kakihara

@Stuart - The elite in every Japanese living room be hi hopes friend. Can't say I don't hope the same thing but that goal seems out of grasp

@mfwahwah: agreed - not sure why their doing that

@Kotaku - the gawker ad w/the racoon and the army guys kicks ass

TheLegendof_Erick

@Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii: "What they are trying to do, won't be easy and it won't be done in one generation."

Don't you mean... Won't be done in TWO generations? Don't forget about the Japanese XBox flop.

RealmRPGer

@kakihara: he OBVIOUSLY doesnt mean current gen consoles. Nintendo and Sony have been around since the famicon and Playstation.

ariete

"Correct me if I am wrong, but Sony and Nintendo had a bit of headstart in the Japanese market, and I believe it was a bit more than one year." Sorry, but you said correct me if I'm wrong. You were about the head start in Japan, so I posted the dates.

"What they are trying to do, won't be easy and it won't be done in one generation. I wouldn't write them off if I were Sony or Nintendo." They are trying to use their low cost model to capture the market. Offer everything at the lowest price-like Walmart. It should work sooner than later.

kakihara

@RealmRPGer: Yep, you are definatetly right there. They won't be doing it in two generations either. However, if they happened to pull out a miracle in the third generation, it will come from the work that is being done now.

I seemed to have ruffled a few PS3 fanboy feathers. When Microsoft does something in Japan they always get met with the "Why waste your time?", "What good is it going to do?", "Are they that stupid?" comments.

I am simply saying that Microsoft deserves some credit, because they are fighting a battle that will be tough, if not, impossible to win. People see MS at these Japanese events and laugh, but what happens with the XBOX brand in Japan in 5 or 10 years is a result of the work that is being done today. For that I give them credit. They know they have to go about this the long way. Simply matching the competition is not enough. What they are trying to do will take years, and lots of money....Microsoft has plenty of both.

Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii

@kakihara:If you don't understand what I said in my first comment I really don't think you are going to get it at all.

Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii

@phnord:
Hahah, yeah, and Sony's publishing :/

(Sony owns the rights to FFVII)

DustySword

@Đipic: lol I definately can understand that.

Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii

@phnord: Ha, wow, can I get it on that? I won't even have to start saving for a 360.

Đipic

@Swift_: Last Remnant is already confirmed for PS3, I believe. Though if SO4 is confirmed as 360 exclusive I will start saving my money for a 360 that day. =p

@Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii: I just have trouble sympathizing with a multi-billion dollar corporation that pretty much bought their way into "console race".

Đipic

@phnord: lol I wouldn't get your hopes up. I believe Sony owns the rights to FF VII. Regardless, in this case I don't care who does it, just do it. What a great game.

Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii

My money's on an exclusive 360 remake of Final Fantasy VII.

phnord

@kakihara: If you are going to quote me like that, will you please do a better job of seperating what I said from you.

I said "Correct me if I am wrong, but Sony and Nintendo had a bit of a headstart in the Japanese market" Never did I say the XBOX or a specific console in that quote.

I am pointing out that people make a big deal of the one year headstart the 360. I am simply bringing up that Sony and Nintendo have a huge advantage in Japan. Not only are they Japanese companies, they are Japanese companies with tremendously high brand recognition in the console market.

Microsoft entered the console business later than Sony and Nintendo. For this reason Microsoft can't just match Sony and Nintendo, they have to give customers a reason to drop the brand they are used to in the past. That sort of work can't be accomplished in one generation or even two and more than likely not 3 or 4. However, if they were to eventually crack the Japanese market it will largely because of the work they are doing now.

The fact that they continue with their plan makes me think they are dedicated to the business. It isn't easy for MS to continue on in a division they are getting trounced in. That is why I give MS credit here. They seemed dedicated and appear to be in this for the long run in Japan, because of the work that is being done now.

Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii

@ariete: Ok, my bad my bad. If that's the case, I was mislead by the specification of a lead in Japan. If you're talking total history, then Nintendo and Sony have a significant global lead on Microsoft. He said in Japan, not global.
Whatever.

kakihara

MS is probably about to tear Sony a new one again. What now, Star Ocean and Last Remnant confirmed exclusive? FFVII remake 360-only? Who even knows anymore.

Swift_

@kakihara: I am pretty sure he meant 'they are dedicated to the business, in japan'. If you had read his next sentence you might have caught on.

"It isn't easy for MS to continue on in a division they are getting trounced in." In other words, Japan.

Refused

@Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii: """I said "Correct me if I am wrong, but Sony and Nintendo had a bit of a headstart in the Japanese market" Never did I say the XBOX or a specific console in that quote."""

This thread is about Microsoft in Japan, what were you saying they got a head start on? The iphone? The Dark Knight?

Ok, you reiterated many obvious things. Makes sense.
""The fact that they continue with their plan makes me think they are dedicated to the business.""
What else would they be dedicated to? They are a corporation. They are doing better than ever in the gaming department, so naturally they have a big enough head to continue their efforts. They are not dropping any markets. The PS2 was an unprecedented success in part due to it's variety of games; namely JRPGs. Microsoft has made it perfectly clear that they know this with the exclusives they have thus far secured for the xbox. They want to keep a foothold in Japan; if not to win over the public yet, at least to keep on par with exports of games from Japan.

@phnord: You're money is a lie.

kakihara

@Đipic: That statement hurts my head. I totally understand your point but am completely baffled by how you qualify it. It's almost like you are saying that theirs other ways to get into the console business other then buying your way in; it's called an investment. Everyone's done it. You have to pay money for the retail channels, you have to pay money for the development partnerships, hardware partnerships, advertisement partnerships, patent partnerships, employees, facilities, research, certification, political lobbying, etc... You tell me which company hasn't had to do this to start a game company. Just because we don't like how business is done in this world doesn't mean we need to hold one company as a criminal in order for the rest to be saved. Microsoft isn't Jesus for goodness sakes! their entry into the game market has made the industry larger insuring that what we love will evolve and grow into something that will be around for our kids. I'm grateful to Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, and all the publishers and technology companies around them for insuring the future of this business. I don't agree 100% with any of their practices but they're in it and that's a good thing. God bless America cheese burger pie save the queen my ancestors BBQ Samuel L. MotherfuckingJackson cowbells damn it!

okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under)

@Refused: Just to make that clear, because reading back I am not so sure.

Obviously MS aren't doing well in Japan. And he was impressed with the way they are dedicating themselves to getting a foothold there. Nothing wrong with that right?

Refused

I doubt we'll see the announcement of the already leaked Halo 3 Mythic. Maybe MS will show up with a massive shipment of Tales of Vesperia bundles to sell at the show and distribute to retailers. Maybe they'll also start carrying blu-ray and stop charging for Live, who knows? They're pretty nondescript, giving out the standard "We have no plans" to do so and so.

Talleh

@Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii: I don't think they have rights do they? because in that case then whoever did the PC would also have rights.... am I wrong?

linked2thepast06

@Đipic: HERE HERE!!!!

linked2thepast06

@linked2thepast06:
They were just "allowed" to port the game to PC. Sony owns publishing rights to FF7 in NA/PAL. Square Enix owns the rights in Japan. So, it would never see the light of day on 360.

DustySword

Assuming there ever will be a HD VG market in JP, the market is still wide open. Neither HD consoles have established a sizeable market in JP yet.

Tyrannical

@linked2thepast06: I actually have no idea. I was told by many PS3 fans that Sony owns the rights to it. Keep in mind who my source is though. To Wiki we go.....

Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii

@linked2thepast06: yer sony do own the rights but there might be a clause somewhere hehe but come on you got to admit it that would be hilarious people all over the world would be buy left right and centre

holybarbie

@Shin-san: so true but look at E3 I would of said MS held it over on Sony
for example WOW god of war 3 yeh just more slashing and as for resistence 2 that playing demo that shown was terrible or is that the game's graphics enhine

holybarbie

@Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii: You have a point, just not much of one. Microsoft overcame the same Sony/Nintendo head start in the US in (respectively) two generations or just one; even in Europe, they overcame Nintendo's 'head start' in a single generation (then lost it again).

And Microsoft is a major, recognised brand name in Europe and Japan as it is in the US. Sure, that brand is for Windows, not game consoles - but when Sony launched PlayStation it didn't seem to hurt them that their brand name was about TVs and stereos not game consoles.

I don't know why 360 failed so badly in Japan (another handful of average RPGs is unlikely to save it now IMO; if average RPGs were going to save the system, they would have done so already, as it's had several more than PS3 let alone Wii). It could be something to do with the total lack of Japanese game support for the original Xbox, the crap ad campaign, the disastrous early failure rates (if you're taking a risk on a system you got metaphorically burnt by last generation, you don't want to hear that this time it will probably break down as well), the fact that its games initially appealed only to otaku, or whatever.

But it's not impossible to overcome a brand advantage, as Microsoft proved (vs Nintendo) with the first Xbox in Europe and the US. With 360 they are making a serious attempt to be seen as a player in the Japanese market - getting plenty of Japanese developer support and plenty of Japanese coverage of their games - and even though it won't work in terms of making this console a success, next time around they have a much better brand to start from.

quen