Eager to woo Japanese gamers, U.S. software giant Microsoft is slashing the price of its Xbox video-game console to 16,800 yen (U.S., $154) ahead of the Christmas shopping season.
The Xbox, which had been selling here for 24,800 yen (U.S., $228), has lagged in sales behind the PlayStation 2 machine from Japanese electronics and entertainment company Sony Corp. Xbox shipments total 9.4 million worldwide, 450,000 of them in Japan. PlayStation 2 global sales total 62.6 million and 14 million in Japan.
The Xbox price cut takes effect Nov. 20 and is possible because of the falling costs of console production, Yoshihiro Maruyama, who heads the Xbox division of Microsoft's Japan unit, said Tuesday.
Jtnguyen12
11-11-03, 10:07 AM
Still nothing in US :(
brianluvdvd
11-11-03, 02:08 PM
That's a pretty substantial price drop.
They are so far behind in Japan I doubt it will even be noticed.
Josh H
11-11-03, 02:13 PM
Originally posted by brianluvdvd
They are so far behind in Japan I doubt it will even be noticed.
Not unless they couple it with some kind of exclusive game the Japanese give a crap about (like a Japanese RPG or something).
Jeremy517
11-11-03, 02:42 PM
It might help them sell some units when Jade Empire comes out... but I doubt it. I think the people that will buy one for that would have bought one anyways (or already have one).
Josh H
11-11-03, 02:44 PM
That will be interesting to see. Asian theme, but American style RPG. I'd guess of KOTOR didn't sell well over there (I have no idea how it did) Jade Empire won't either as Star Wars is pretty big over there
balancer
11-11-03, 02:55 PM
I'm still really interested to see how Ninja Gaiden does here, and there.. I want to like it.. :)
Outlaw
11-11-03, 04:29 PM
I think Ninja Gaiden is pretty hyped and will do well here.
Thats a big price drop, almost $100, wonder if they are going to do it here too.
Speaking of X-Box in Japan, I read that they've recently started releasing American games in Japan that have not been been localized and are still completely in english including text and voices (probably to save time and money). They are basically the same as their US counterparts and are labeled "X-Box World Collection." Just thought it was interesting.
~~ PAL ~~
11-11-03, 04:55 PM
Originally posted by Outlaw
Thats a big price drop, almost $100, wonder if they are going to do it here too.
It is doubtful. And even if there's a price drop, it's not likely MS will drop it by $100.
RoQuEr
11-11-03, 07:13 PM
Does Japan have a huge christmas retail boost in Sales like we do?
RoQuEr
11-11-03, 07:14 PM
Originally posted by brianluvdvd
That's a pretty substantial price drop.
They are so far behind in Japan I doubt it will even be noticed.
I think someone said something similar about the cube price drop last month.
darkside
11-11-03, 08:02 PM
Originally posted by RoQuEr
I think someone said something similar about the cube price drop last month.
I don't think the Cube was being outsold by the PSOne in the US though.
Kumar J
11-12-03, 03:32 AM
Japan does not celebrate Christmas but New Year is the only one, and sales are not that good even they have a lot of sales at this time of the year.
Josh H
11-12-03, 12:33 PM
Originally posted by RoQuEr
I think someone said something similar about the cube price drop last month.
Apples and oranges. The X-box is way further behind the PS2 and GC in Japan, than the GC was behind the others here. It has very few games that interest the average Japanese gamers. (i.e. few platformers, no Japanese RPGs etc.). I think DOA3 and DOA XBV are the two biggest sellers over there.
Buy: