Study: Xbox 360 sales start slow in Japan

Less than half of the estimated 159,000 consoles that were available in stores in Japan have sold, a survey finds.

The story "Study: Xbox 360 sales start slow in Japan" published December 12, 2005 at 11:30 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[Nocturnex]

Japanese gamers

judging from content that makes me an American gamer drool even over the simplicity and comicness of japanese games that never leave their shores, they like that market and so do we as americans like simplistic fun and keywords INNOVATIVE AND DIFFERENT games. The US market according to the game makers are a bunch of bloodthirsty savages who revel in gore and blood, and while i dont mind a bit of gta and Quake, not to mention im an avid CS player since 1.3, those games do get a bit old, and personally i believe its why nintendo stays the **** alive in this market in the US, because they DO bring a few wacky games over, i mean nintendogs wasnt my thing(nor gigapets/tamogachi for all you old fashioned gamers lol), but i saw a game on cinematech about being a sushi chef, that honestly in real life id rather die than do because frankly id look quite retarted, but just for a casual DIFFERENT experience, itd be a blast. im a hardcore gamer of course, but that doesent change the fact that while i do like bloodthirtsy games and trashtalk, i like them in moderation, i also like to add a bit of fun, and i have one of the few ability any gamer besides those out of asia have, the abilitly to game 24/7 and still have quite a nice social life, anyways just mine, and a couple million other possible opinions peace ~Noc

[pjianwei]

Frankly American console games are disappointing

the reason why Xbox did not actually catch up in Asia is due to the fact that Asian grew up on a staple of japanese games such as FF and dynasty warriors and american consoles game dun really appeal to asian gamers when u compared to e ****. PS3 is always likely to be ahead of Xbox

[SqlserverCode]

Considering all things

Considering all things I think MS did pretty well
It is very hard to make it in Japan if you are not a Japanese company. Take a look at the auto industry, how many Japanese people have an American car? In the end I do think that they will sell out all the XBOX 360 units

http://otherthingsnow.blogspot.com/

[Bill Dautrive]

Why would people in Japan buy american cars?

Off topic, but really, most Americans don't buy American cars because they are junk.

It is funny that Japanese car companies can build high quality cars in the US and the US auto makers have their crap built in Mexico.

Anyway, it is not a surprise that the XBOX 360 is not selling well over there. One reason in the differences in what gamers in both countries like. Another is that they don't seem to be as susceptible into being suckered into buying a game console with no good games for it, like the easily manipulated folks in the good old USA.

[aemarques]

Maybe it's because...

... Japan is a LEFT hand driving country (just like UK) and there are NO US CARS AVAILABLE WITH A STEERING WHEEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE - unlike European models, that have long been available for left hand driving...!

[SeizeCTRL]

Awesome!!!

Now I know where I can buy a 360. JAPAN! Since everywhere around here is sold out and not paying $2000 for one on eBay ;)