Source: TeamXbox
Microsoft is trying to learn from the hard lessons experienced in Japan during the Xbox’s lifecycle to ensure that the Xbox 360 is at least more of a success than the original big, black box. Their Japanese strategy became a bit clearer today during their Pre-TGS Press Conference.
Yoshihiro Maruyama, Executive Officer and General Manager of the Xbox Division took the stage to unveil how Microsoft plans on bringing the HD Era to Japan. The opening video reinforced, yet again, the Xbox 360 as a true next-generation game console with it’s “always high-definition”, “always online”, and “always cutomizable” trifecta that Microsoft has been preaching since E3. Like in the U.S. and Europe, Japanese users will receive a Xbox Live Silver with their Xbox 360, along with an option to upgrade to Xbox Live Gold.
No credit card is required as consumers will have the option to buy Xbox Live points at retailers that can be used toward an Xbox Live Gold subscription or the Xbox Live Marketplace. Xbox Live will be offered in one month (780 yen), 3 month, and 12 month plans. Microsoft will be partnering with e-context to strengthen its broadband service in Japan.
Tetsuya Mizoguchi, of Q Entertainment (Nintety-Nine Nights) briefly spoke about how the Xbox 360 allows him to create all new experiences that aren’t compromised by technology. Soon after Final Fantasy series producer, Hiromichi Tanaka, talked about how excited he is to take advantage of the Xbox 360’s internal hard drive to provide gamers truly interactive experiences like that found in Final Fantasy XI.
The design of the console was another focus for Microsoft in their worldwide Xbox 360 strategy. Chiaki Murata of Metaphys’s Hers Experimental Design Laboratory elaborated on one of the design concepts his company used; that being the customization of the console – from the face plates to the user interface.
Finally, the final aspect of the video outlined that the Xbox 360 allows connections to a multitude of digital components, including a PC, digital camera, portable music players (iPod, etc.), and even Sony’s PSP. Nothing that we didn’t already know, but a good fact to reinforce nonetheless.
Over 100 titles are currently being developed for the Xbox 360 in Japan (over 200 worldwide), with most hitting the store shelves before 2006. Of those 100 titles, 66 have been announced; a much stronger showing from Japanese developers than the original Xbox’s launch.
Cliff Bleszinski of Epic Games took the stage to show the promising Gears of War to the Japanese media, although the demonstration was the same that we saw at E3 2005, with the main hero Marcus and his partner Dom, making their way through a Locust Horde infested downtown section. No matter how many times we see it, Gears is always impressive, and so was the case with this demo. If you’d like a more descriptive overview on Gears of War, be sure to check out our E3 preview here:
Microsoft is packing the ammo for this year’s Tokyo Game Show with over 80 Xbox 360 kiosks and a multitude of playable games on the show floor, a living-room like area (called the Xbox 360 Concept Zone) with HD televisions and 5.1 theater systems, and a curved 360 degree large video theater which will showcase a large assortment of upcoming titles, such as:
Bomberman – Act: Zero
Call of Duty 2
Chromehounds
Dead Rising
Dead or Alive 4
Enchant Arm
Every Party
Tengai Makyo Ziria
Final Fantasy XI
Frame City Killer
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
Mobile Suit Gundam
Kameo: Elemnts of Power
NBA Live 06
Need For Speed Most Wanted
Ninety-Nine Nights
The Outfit
Project Gotham Racing 3
Rumble Roses XX
Saint’s Row
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Sonic the Hedgehog
Test Drive Unlimited
Wrestle Kingdom
Sang Youn Lee of Phantagram then demoed the highly-anticipated Ninety-Nine Nights with the first look at the in-game action.
To close out the press conference, Microsoft dropped the final bombshell; the price and launch date of the Xbox 360 in Japan. Launching on December 10th at a price of 37,000 yen (approx. $350 U.S.), the Xbox 360 will be available ONLY with a hard drive in Japan. The console will also be bundled with one wireless controller and a media remote control. When asked if a Core package, like those planned to launch in the United States, would later be available, Maruyama simply stated that it is a possibility, but no plans have been discussed at this point.
So why is the hard drive standard in Japan? Maruyama commented that the broadband infastructure is stronger in Japan and thus it made sense to offer the console complete with a hard drive. With MMO’s already a huge success in Japan, this will make games like Final Fantasy XI more attractive to prospective Xbox 360 consumers. Although all Xbox 360 consoles in Japan will ship with a hard drive, Microsoft has specified to developers that all games must play without one.
Seven titles will be available at the console’s launch, with another six to hit store shelves before the end of January. The online beta for Final Fantasy XI will be offered at the end of this year, although it was unclear if this would be specific to Japan or worldwide.
Microsoft confirmed the rumors that they will be opening a Xbox 360 Lounge retail store in Japan this November. Certainly following the Apple Store concept, the Xbox 360 Lounge will allow consumers to have the full Xbox 360 experience; having playable demos of games on HD televisions, 5.1 stereo systems, and more. For more info on the Xbox 360 Lounge, check out our previous news post here:
During the short Q&A session after the press conference, a few additional details surfaced. The Xbox 360 will not be region free, so importers beware. Both games and movies will only play on region-specific consoles.
No announcements regarding total launch shipment numbers are available and Microsoft was unwilling to elaborate on how many Xbox 360 units would need to be sold before they see a profit.
The pricing of Xbox 360 games was not specified, with Maruyama simply stating that some games maybe more expensive than current-gen titles and some might be cheaper.
When faced with a question regarding HD-DVD technology, Microsoft once again took the approach that an HD-DVD is not currently “necessary” for games, but they will explore the possibility of offering an HD-DVD drive in the future if the technology is well adopted.
Microsoft said they have no current plans to enter the handheld market, because their focus is on providing a home high-definition experience.
