MS GM: 360 a failure unless it invades Japan

Wolf packs are dominated by the Alpha male and the Omega wolf is the most lame of all; no I’m not about to say that Xbox 360 is the Omega male of the console pack, they’re not even a wolf, they’re the rabbit that the wolves hunt to eat – at least that’s what I think MS general manager Takashi Sensui means in his recent statements.

This week saw Microsoft making serious marketing moves in an attempt to seize the Japanese marketÂ’s interest that has always been so elusive – to them. According to General Manager Sensui, Microsoft must make preemptive strikes (very Japanese-like) before SonyÂ’s PlayStation 3 launches in November saying that “One cannot call the Xbox 360 successful, as long as it’s not successful in Japan”.

Xbox 360 has fared quite poorly in the land of the rising sun because of its alleged big, heavy and unattractive design, not to mention the few titles developed for it. More Japanese players prefer portables or handheld consoles offered by Sony and Nintendo. Maybe Microsoft developed a console that was more proportioned to western races, forgetting that Asians are not so big and tall (thatÂ’s a hunch though). Whatever the reason is, Xbox 360 is just unpopular in Japan, plain and simple. But somehow, Microsoft is trying to reverse that thought, before all is too late.

Indeed, the past weeks saw Xbox 360 making huge steps with its Xbox Live introductions and upcoming titles with well-known developers like Mistwalker. Whether those moves are enough, only time (until November at least) will tell. Maybe if they include raw fish and sushi as freebies, their sales will improve. But then again, I donÂ’t think they would want to look that desperate (actually, they already are).
Wolf packs are dominated by the Alpha male and the Omega wolf is the most lame of all; no I’m not about to say that Xbox 360 is the Omega male of the console pack, they’re not even a wolf, they’re the rabbit that the wolves hunt to eat – at least that’s what I think MS general manager Takashi Sensui means in his recent statements.

This week saw Microsoft making serious marketing moves in an attempt to seize the Japanese marketÂ’s interest that has always been so elusive – to them. According to General Manager Sensui, Microsoft must make preemptive strikes (very Japanese-like) before SonyÂ’s PlayStation 3 launches in November saying that “One cannot call the Xbox 360 successful, as long as it’s not successful in Japan”.

Xbox 360 has fared quite poorly in the land of the rising sun because of its alleged big, heavy and unattractive design, not to mention the few titles developed for it. More Japanese players prefer portables or handheld consoles offered by Sony and Nintendo. Maybe Microsoft developed a console that was more proportioned to western races, forgetting that Asians are not so big and tall (thatÂ’s a hunch though). Whatever the reason is, Xbox 360 is just unpopular in Japan, plain and simple. But somehow, Microsoft is trying to reverse that thought, before all is too late.

Indeed, the past weeks saw Xbox 360 making huge steps with its Xbox Live introductions and upcoming titles with well-known developers like Mistwalker. Whether those moves are enough, only time (until November at least) will tell. Maybe if they include raw fish and sushi as freebies, their sales will improve. But then again, I donÂ’t think they would want to look that desperate (actually, they already are).