Microsoft’s Not Giving Up on Japan (Yet)

Microsoft‘s Xbox 360 has been an unqualified hit in North America and Europe. The company’s on track to move a staggering 10 million 360s in those markets by November of this year. In Japan, though, it’s a completely different story. Over there, the 360’s barely sold 150,000 units to date – this in one of the most (if not the most) gaming-crazy nations on Earth.

Microsoft, though, isn’t about to run home with its tail between its legs, so to speak – that’s the company’s official line, at least. Shane Kim, General Manager of Microsoft Game Studios, says that the company’s committed to Japan for the long run. Don’t write off Microsoft’s foray into the Japanese console market just yet, he says; they’re just getting started.

Kim says that to succeed in Japan, game makers have to make games specifically for the Japanese audience. Microsoft hasn’t been slow to catch on in that department. One of Microsoft’s recent efforts in that arena, Ninety Nine Nights, has been out for a little while; although it hasn’t been doing all that well, at least the company’s got its foot in that particular door.

“We’re off to a solid but not spectacular start,” Kim claims. “… We don’t expect to ‘win’ in Japan [especially against Sony], but I do think we can ‘win’ the next generation.” As proof he says that bigger games are to come, such as the RPGs Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey. Plus who knows what else they’ve got up their sleeves? It’ll be very interesting to see what they’ll attempt – and how far they’ll go – to try to crack the Japanese market.

Via Kikizo

Microsoft‘s Xbox 360 has been an unqualified hit in North America and Europe. The company’s on track to move a staggering 10 million 360s in those markets by November of this year. In Japan, though, it’s a completely different story. Over there, the 360’s barely sold 150,000 units to date – this in one of the most (if not the most) gaming-crazy nations on Earth.

Microsoft, though, isn’t about to run home with its tail between its legs, so to speak – that’s the company’s official line, at least. Shane Kim, General Manager of Microsoft Game Studios, says that the company’s committed to Japan for the long run. Don’t write off Microsoft’s foray into the Japanese console market just yet, he says; they’re just getting started.

Kim says that to succeed in Japan, game makers have to make games specifically for the Japanese audience. Microsoft hasn’t been slow to catch on in that department. One of Microsoft’s recent efforts in that arena, Ninety Nine Nights, has been out for a little while; although it hasn’t been doing all that well, at least the company’s got its foot in that particular door.

“We’re off to a solid but not spectacular start,” Kim claims. “… We don’t expect to ‘win’ in Japan [especially against Sony], but I do think we can ‘win’ the next generation.” As proof he says that bigger games are to come, such as the RPGs Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey. Plus who knows what else they’ve got up their sleeves? It’ll be very interesting to see what they’ll attempt – and how far they’ll go – to try to crack the Japanese market.

Via Kikizo