DVD Talk Forum - X-Box Release Delayed in Japan

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X-Box Release Delayed in Japan

Is the American delay next?

Here's the article, from the LA Times :

<a href="http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-000068596aug24.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dtechnology">http://www.latimes.com/technology/la...s%2Dtechnology</a>

Fairly stinging article, especially about it's E3 performance.

I think this was a bad public relations move , but a wise move money wise. They were not going to sell many units in Japan anyway so why spend the money and resources trying to crack the japanese market now. It flopping in Japan would only hurt US sales.

Of course if it is slow in the US at first they will be dead in japan and Europe for good so this launch better be good. Sony struggled with the US launch of the PS2 but had a great Japanese launch which helped them. Microsoft is leaving itself with no room for failure.

Quote:

Originally posted by gcribbs
I think this was a bad public relations move , but a wise move money wise. They were not going to sell many units in Japan anyway so why spend the money and resources trying to crack the japanese market now. It flopping in Japan would only hurt US sales.

Of course if it is slow in the US at first they will be dead in japan and Europe for good so this launch better be good. Sony struggled with the US launch of the PS2 but had a great Japanese launch which helped them. Microsoft is leaving itself with no room for failure.

well the fear was that the Xbox would be a hit here in the U.S. and fail in Japan. there hasn't ever been an American system over there that has succeeded. I think things are slowly changing, though. Microsoft just announced that Namco is putting their next Ridge Racer and Soul Calibur 2 on the system. Also, they got exclusive rights to the game Dead to Rights, which is like a John Woo cop type game. Also, Capcom is heavily on board as is Konami for Japan. I think Microsoft is really doing what they need to bring Japanese gamers to their system. By delaying it, it only helps to solidify the launch of the Xbox with some solid Japanese titles.

Quote:

Originally posted by Deftones17

well the fear was that the Xbox would be a hit here in the U.S. and fail in Japan. there hasn't ever been an American system over there that has succeeded. I think things are slowly changing, though. Microsoft just announced that Namco is putting their next Ridge Racer and Soul Calibur 2 on the system. Also, they got exclusive rights to the game Dead to Rights, which is like a John Woo cop type game. Also, Capcom is heavily on board as is Konami for Japan. I think Microsoft is really doing what they need to bring Japanese gamers to their system. By delaying it, it only helps to solidify the launch of the Xbox with some solid Japanese titles.

I agree the buzz was that it would flop in Japan. The problem they have is that if it sells slowly here and is not a success then they have sealed their fate in Japan. I also hear that although many Japanese Game companies have announced games they have not announced release dates. I believe they are only hedging their bets and have no intention of spending any time porting the games to the Xbox unless it is a hit.

Since I believe it will not be a hit I really think most of these Japanese games will never make it to the Xbox at all.

I really see this launch being horrible. I hope I am wrong since it will be a disaster for all those who do buy the Xbox.