Spoiling PS3's launch

[Ritchie Nolasco]

Read

http://community.teamxbox.com/xbox/1522/Spoiling-the-PS3-Launch/p1/

[Gadfly2317]

I read your tremendous fanboy rant about how everything is roses for 360. But you cannot dominate the globabl videogame industry if you completely fail in one of the big three regions. Japan matters for so many reasons, including size of global installed base, and for development support. A lot of great game development happens in Japan first, and so many of the games we saw on coming exclusive to Ps2 in the US did so because it was easy for a second company to do a US version.

Just look at last weeks sales from Japan:

System Sales
DS Lite 89,790
DS 48,947
PSP 40,091
PS2 22,476
GBASP 4,235
GBM 3,020
GC 1,360
Xbox360 1,296
GBA 65
Xbox 63

The 360 is getting beaten by GAMECUBE for christs sake. 360 is a far bigger failure than even the Xbox, and this WILL effect the support it gets.

DS/DS Lite outsold all other systems combined. This is major systems-war stuff. If the differences were only marginal, then maybe what is happening in Japan wouldn't matter, but this has repercussions, and going into this fall I believe it will have reprecussions in the console world. Nintendo is generating a hell of a lot of good will and development interest in it's innovative hardware concepts. . . even though poopy-pants Glock wants to believe "innovation" is just some personal kick of my own.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

Well I don't know about the teamxbox thread, but your claims of needing Japan are wrong. Japanese support would be great, but it is not mandatory for 360 to do well.
There are tons of products that sell well in some countries and don't in others, who says game consoles must be different? The 360 can and likely will be popular in the states because American consumers are oblivious to what is happening in Europe or Japan. You think the Hummer is a hit in Europe?
All MS has to do is watch its cost structure and the 360 will be profitable. Its already selling games like crazy, 240,000 copies of GRAW the first week. That is Ubisoft's highest one week figure for any game they ever released across any platform including the mighty PS2 and the PC.
On top of that you had games like COD2 moving 262k copies in one week. 360 isn't even in a million homes yet in the states. So publishers will support, even Japanese devs, to get those kinds of numbers they will just do global versions of their games.

[Gadfly2317]

Thanks for bolstering my point: Complete failure in a major region for the target product.

Holding up an American auto manufacturer, especially you citing General Motors, is exactly the point. The US auto manufacturers wouldn't be eating red-ink if they made cars that could sell outside the US.

[Vgamer]

Microsoft has already gone on record saying that Japan does in fact matter, and that they were going to do everything in their power to make a larger impact in Japan than this previous generation. The fact is Japan has a good chunk of developers that make a lot of great games. Namco, Konami, Capcom, Square-Enix, Taito, Bandai, SNK-Playmore, Tecmo, Sega, the list goes on, and while many of them are in fact making a lot of games for the 360, this may not continue if the system continues it's downward spiral in Japan. Now if the PS3 has a good launch, and gains major support in Japan (which is a good chance of happening considering the insane PS2 fanbase there), you are going to see far more support from Japan for the PS3 and not the 360 no matter how good it does in America.

The problem is that there is not much on the system that is tailored to Japan's tastes, and the most popular game that people were playing there (I recently got back from Japan), was Ninty Nine Nights (which I must say looks amazing!), but that game isn't out yet. Other games that they were heavily advertizing for the system was Rumble Roses XX and well... not much else. The 360 looks to be an afterthought there, with many of the kiosks tucked away or on differnet floors, while the system that is getting all the attention in Japan right now (the Nintendo DS), is front and center in nearly every store I went into. (and the numbers speak for themselves, that system is on fire in Japan).

If this continues, it looks like MS will not have the impact that they originally wanted in Japan, and yes this will reflect on the software that we get for the system. Though N3 and Rumble Roses may sway some people, we will have to wait until the RPGs from Mystwalker make any kind of splash in Japan to make them sit up and take notice of the 360, but that is yet to be seen.

[T.Tashi]

Thanks for bolstering my point: Complete failure in a major region for the target product.

Holding up an American auto manufacturer, especially you citing General Motors, is exactly the point. The US auto manufacturers wouldn't be eating red-ink if they made cars that could sell outside the US.

American cars aren't even selling well in the U.S. I've had 3 American cars ( Chevy, Caddy, Chrysler) with so many problems I finally gave up and got a Honda. But I think it bolsters your point even more... Japan can come to the U.S., compete and compete well... MS on the other hand has no chance in Japan.

Btw, gas is $5 $6 even $7 a liter (not a gallon) in Europe. I don't think that's a matter like or dislike, but pure economics and that has effected the SUV market in the U.S. as well.

[VGV]

I read your tremendous fanboy rant about how everything is roses for 360. But you cannot dominate the globabl videogame industry if you completely fail in one of the big three regions. Japan matters for so many reasons, including size of global installed base, and for development support. A lot of great game development happens in Japan first, and so many of the games we saw on coming exclusive to Ps2 in the US did so because it was easy for a second company to do a US version.

Just look at last weeks sales from Japan:

System Sales
DS Lite 89,790
DS 48,947
PSP 40,091
PS2 22,476
GBASP 4,235
GBM 3,020
GC 1,360
Xbox360 1,296
GBA 65
Xbox 63

The 360 is getting beaten by GAMECUBE for christs sake. 360 is a far bigger failure than even the Xbox, and this WILL effect the support it gets.

DS/DS Lite outsold all other systems combined. This is major systems-war stuff. If the differences were only marginal, then maybe what is happening in Japan wouldn't matter, but this has repercussions, and going into this fall I believe it will have reprecussions in the console world. Nintendo is generating a hell of a lot of good will and development interest in it's innovative hardware concepts. . . even though poopy-pants Glock wants to believe "innovation" is just some personal kick of my own.

You make it seem as if the Japanese market is the <i>most important</i> video game market on
planet earth. Do you actually know just how important the Japanese market is when it comes
to overall video game sales worldwide ?

This is almost too funny to mention ... the Japanese market attributes for a whopping, um I mean
measly 4% of total video game worldwide sales. As far as console sales go, the Japanese importance
worldwide is again a dismal 20%.

So is Japan the most important video game market on the face of the earth ? http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/frown2.gif not even close !!!

P.S. About innovation : please stop confusing the terms quirkiness and innovation http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/sleep.gif

[Glockstar]

Microsoft has already gone on record saying that Japan does in fact matter, and that they were going to do everything in their power to make a larger impact in Japan than this previous generation. The fact is Japan has a good chunk of developers that make a lot of great games. Namco, Konami, Capcom, Square-Enix, Taito, Bandai, SNK-Playmore, Tecmo, Sega, the list goes on, and while many of them are in fact making a lot of games for the 360, this may not continue if the system continues it's downward spiral in Japan. Now if the PS3 has a good launch, and gains major support in Japan (which is a good chance of happening considering the insane PS2 fanbase there), you are going to see far more support from Japan for the PS3 and not the 360 no matter how good it does in America.

The problem is that there is not much on the system that is tailored to Japan's tastes, and the most popular game that people were playing there (I recently got back from Japan), was Ninty Nine Nights (which I must say looks amazing!), but that game isn't out yet. Other games that they were heavily advertizing for the system was Rumble Roses XX and well... not much else. The 360 looks to be an afterthought there, with many of the kiosks tucked away or on differnet floors, while the system that is getting all the attention in Japan right now (the Nintendo DS), is front and center in nearly every store I went into. (and the numbers speak for themselves, that system is on fire in Japan).

If this continues, it looks like MS will not have the impact that they originally wanted in Japan, and yes this will reflect on the software that we get for the system. Though N3 and Rumble Roses may sway some people, we will have to wait until the RPGs from Mystwalker make any kind of splash in Japan to make them sit up and take notice of the 360, but that is yet to be seen.

They have DOA4 too, don't they?

Anyways, this is another subject that really gets my goat. Back when MS first announced that they were doing a world-wide simultaneous launch - and then a little bit later when they admitted that weren't going to have enough systems to go around - I said I was going to be pissed if they allotted too many 360's to Japan. (And I said anything over 200k would be too many.) And that was before the big game delay hammer hit! Ninety-Nine Nights, eNCHANT arM, and one of the Mistwalker titles (Lost Odyssey or Blue Dragon) were all supposed to be launch titles - or launch window titles - at one point. When it became clear that these games weren't going to be available for awhile, MS should'd've scratched Japan from their worldwide-simultaneous launch plans - as it was obvious that there were now no games for the Japanese gamer to buy! Instead, they continued with their dumb plan and shipped over 500k units. I didn't say anything about it till now, because I was too pissed. Still am, actually. Obviuosly.

And still those games aren't ready. And still they wonder why the system isn't selling over there. :rolleyes:

[ThaMaskedGamer]

OBLIVION IS HERE.

You think anybody in N.A. cares whether or not the Japanese will buy Oblivion?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Will Oblivion make Bethesda and MS a lot of money? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

If cost are controlled can 360 be profitable without Japan by selling a bunch a games like Oblivion? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Now would it be great to have Japan on board? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

But that's up to them. MS can say Japan matters, but if Microsoft doesn't matter to Japan there is nothing they can do to make Japanese gamers change their minds. For example Medal of Honor was a crap game, people said Japanese gamers dont like FPS, but they bought Medal of Honor like hotcakes or ricecakes. So why wont they support Call of Duty 2 on 360? What's wrong with DOA4? Kameo? They like Gran Tourismo why not PGR?

This isn't about games, this is about an American company stompin' in a previously Japanese dominated market and they won't support the system no matter what! So really these arguments are a waste of time. You think MS really believes they can get significant marketshare in Japan, of course not, but they have to try. All they can really hope is it doesn't cost them a lot of money putting up a front.

[Ritchie Nolasco]

It seems that MS has finally responded to the first item of the above article, namely production/distribution. Click the new below.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146309.html

As we speak, Xbox 360's launching in Australia. Hardware aside, more games are coming out at last.

[folken001]

It seems that MS has finally responded to the first item of the above article, namely production/distribution. Click the new below.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146309.html

As we speak, Xbox 360's launching in Australia. Hardware aside, more games are coming out at last.

That only shows just how much fear M$ has for PS3.

It seems Xbox 360's timetable is entirely made around PS3's time table. Sony's stupid in this regard. If the PS3 was released today, the entire Xbox 360 staff would probably jump off the bridge because there's just about nothing they can do to fight against PS3.

[Mochan]

I'm actually with TMG on this one.

OBLIVION IS HERE. Enjoy my presence here while it lasts, I will be spending all my waking hours at home in Tamriel. Well, you guys will still see me here while I'm at work, but when I get home it's bye bye!

[Gadfly2317]

You make it seem as if the Japanese market is the <i>most important</i> video game market on
planet earth. Do you actually know just how important the Japanese market is when it comes
to overall video game sales worldwide ?

This is almost too funny to mention ... the Japanese market attributes for a whopping, um I mean
measly 4% of total video game worldwide sales. As far as console sales go, the Japanese importance
worldwide is again a dismal 20%.

So is Japan the most important video game market on the face of the earth ? http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/frown2.gif not even close !!!

P.S. About innovation : please stop confusing the terms quirkiness and innovation http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/sleep.gif

20%. 1/5th. Consider how much game development occurs there first as well; it's not just about the sales, it's about where the creative forces are. 20% of an industry that grosses billions annually. Go back to business school, boy.

And I don't confuse quirk with innovation. Thank you.

[VGV]

20%. 1/5th. Consider how much game development occurs there first as well; it's not just about the sales, it's about where the creative forces are. 20% of an industry that grosses billions annually. Go back to business school, boy.

And I don't confuse quirk with innovation. Thank you.

Most of us on this board are aware of the business model applied in the video gaming
industry. It seems you are about the only one who doesn't even know yet how business
is conducted in this particular market.

Console manufacturers (aka Sony, MS, Nintendo) produce their hardware (aka PS2,
Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube) at a loss. Why do they do this ? Because they get
royalties from third party developers per title sold on their platform (first party, second
party the full profits are theirs)

So uninformed one ... that 20% doesn't mean Jack !!! It merely creates the opportunity for
both console manufacturers and game companies to turn a profit ... what drives the video gaming
industry are software sales (as in games sold) for here both console manufacturers and game
developers/publishers turn their profits. In laymen's terms : I have 20% of the market share ...
this is not yet good me, for every console I sell I suffer a loss. If I don't generate enough software
sales for my console I'm fudged !!!

So how well is Japan faring in this all-important software sales category ? Seems you didn't get
it last time so let me repeat this once more : Japan attributes for a measly 4% (as in 1/25th)
to total software sales world wide. So is Japan the most important video gaming market on earth ?
Once more : hardly, not even close !!!

P.S. Hope you are now a bit better informed.

[trebor]

Console manufacturers (aka Sony, MS, Nintendo) produce their hardware (aka PS2,
Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube) at a loss. Why do they do this ? Because they get
royalties from third party developers per title sold on their platform (first party, second
party the full profits are theirs)

Wow, you are, like, so intelligent. Let me ask you this, professor - which territory do you think has the most popular 3rd party developers? I'll give you a hint - it isn't N. America or Europe.

[VGV]

Wow, you are, like, so intelligent. Let me ask you this, professor - which territory do you think has the most popular 3rd party developers? I'll give you a hint - it isn't N. America or Europe.

Oh ye of great intellect ... let me ask you this : why do you think 3rd party developers
create games in the first place ? Is it out of love ? Nope. Is it for the love of the particular
country they're from ? Nope.

Could it be that those 3rd party developers you mentioned are in it for a profit ? Answer :
YES !!! So ye of superior intellectual knowledge ... 3rd party developers don't give a damn
about countries, it's all about the MONAY baby !!!

P.S. I'm amazed you did not know this yet.

[trebor]

Oh ye of great intellect ... let me ask you this : why do you think 3rd party developers
create games in the first place ? Is it out of love ? Nope. Is it for the love of the particular
country they're from ? Nope.

Could it be that those 3rd party developers you mentioned are in it for a profit ? Answer :
YES !!! So ye of superior intellectual knowledge ... 3rd party developers don't give a damn
about countries, it's all about the MONAY baby !!!

P.S. I'm amazed you did not know this yet.

So, you honestly think that no 3rd party developer has ever designed a game that would only appeal to certain audiences in certain territories?

[Gadfly2317]

Oh ye of great intellect ... let me ask you this : why do you think 3rd party developers
create games in the first place ? Is it out of love ? Nope. Is it for the love of the particular
country they're from ? Nope.

Could it be that those 3rd party developers you mentioned are in it for a profit ? Answer :
YES !!! So ye of superior intellectual knowledge ... 3rd party developers don't give a damn
about countries, it's all about the MONAY baby !!!

P.S. I'm amazed you did not know this yet.

It's not about love of country, it's that Japanese developers have tended to make games in their own language first, and then the games migrate here. If the Ps3 has a huge japanese presence, and 360 has none it WILL hurt the 360 library just like it did for the entire current generation of console games.

And again, for gamers that like 'em some racin' and some shootin' and don't give a hoot about what Japan has to offer, this doesn't really matter. But if you want a console that plays BOTH the best that the third parties in both the East and West have to offer, it's probably going to be Sony.

[VGV]

So, you honestly think that no 3rd party developer has ever designed a game that would only appeal to certain audiences in certain territories?

And you honestly believe they don't do this with making a profit as their primary goal ?

[VGV]

It's not about love of country, it's that Japanese developers have tended to make games in their own language first, and then the games migrate here. If the Ps3 has a huge japanese presence, and 360 has none it WILL hurt the 360 library just like it did for the entire current generation of console games.

And again, for gamers that like 'em some racin' and some shootin' and don't give a hoot about what Japan has to offer, this doesn't really matter. But if you want a console that plays BOTH the best that the third parties in both the East and West have to offer, it's probably going to be Sony.

Well, gotta disagree again here. With the Xbox the JRPG genre (for example) was um ...
non-existent. But MS has learned from this mistake and with the Xbox 360 we'll get
plenty of those this time around IF they sell well ofcourse. Trust me, Japanese dev teams
will give full-fledged support to the Xbox 360 as long as they're turning a profit on the games
they develop for said platform.

[Gadfly2317]

Well, gotta disagree again here. With the Xbox the JRPG genre (for example) was um ...
non-existent. But MS has learned from this mistake and with the Xbox 360 we'll get
plenty of those this time around IF they sell well ofcourse. Trust me, Japanese dev teams
will give full-fledged support to the Xbox 360 as long as they're turning a profit on the games
they develop for said platform.

Well, at least you capitlized IF, because there are a LOT of big IF's with the 360, which is why I'll wait and see this time. I felt pretty burned last time around.

[VGV]

Well, at least you capitlized IF, because there are a LOT of big IF's with the 360, which is why I'll wait and see this time. I felt pretty burned last time around.

Overall I was pleased with my Xbox library, only genre though I wished was a bit better
represented was the RPG genre. With the Xbox 360 this shouldn't be a problem.

And as far as innovative gameplay goes ... well, since the Dreamcast there hasn't been
a console that could parallel Sega's last entry in the system wars. First console to feature
online play, Jet Set Radio, that game where you had to talk with that fish-guy (forgot the
name of that game) etc etc ...

[trebor]

And you honestly believe they don't do this with making a profit as their primary goal ?

Name me one company in this industry where making a profit isn't their primary goal.

I.E. Let's move past the moronic generalizations.

[VGV]

Name me one company in this industry where making a profit isn't their primary goal.

I.E. Let's move past the moronic generalizations.

LOL !!! Since when is a <i>fact</i> a moronic generalization ? Please ... that sounds
a bit too moronic http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/lol.gif

[trebor]

LOL !!! Since when is a <i>fact</i> a moronic generalization ? Please ... that sounds
a bit too moronic http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/lol.gif

No, you confused soul, stating that "3rd Parties are in it to make profit" is a moronic generalization, being as that everybody already knows this.

You act as if the concept of a business making profit is new to us.

[VGV]

No, you confused soul, stating that "3rd Parties are in it to make profit" is a moronic generalization, being as that everybody already knows this.

You act as if the concept of a business making profit is new to us.

Actually, the making profit part was geared towards <i>you</i> only and no one
else. Judging by your response to my post you were not aware of this fact.

[trebor]

Actually, the making profit part was geared towards <i>you</i> only and no one
else. Judging by your response to my post you were not aware of this fact.

Oh, I wasn't aware that 3rd parties try to make profit? Whatever you say, pal. :rolleyes:

Of course, you're the fool who thinks Japan isn't important to the videogame industry, so I'm not too worried about whether you think I understand something or not, given that particular fact.

[VGV]

Oh, I wasn't aware that 3rd parties try to make profit? Whatever you say, pal. :rolleyes:

Of course, you're the fool who thinks Japan isn't important to the videogame industry, so I'm not too worried about whether you think I understand something or not, given that particular fact.

Once again : maybe you'll get it this time : Japan contributes to 4% of total worldwide
software sales. So Japan is NOT the most important video game market in the world.
GET IT ??? COMPRENDE ??? Jeez !!! You are about as ignorant as they come.

P.S. If you don't get it this time ... I'm not wasting my time anymore debating with you.
Come up with a valid (read : not childish, moronic, ignorant http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/sleep.gif) response and we'll carry on.

[trebor]

Once again : maybe you'll get it this time : Japan contributes to 4% of total worldwide
software sales. So Japan is NOT the most important video game market in the world.
GET IT ??? COMPRENDE ??? Jeez !!! You are about as ignorant as they come.

P.S. If you don't get it this time ... I'm not wasting my time anymore debating with you.
Come up with a valid (read : not childish, moronic, ignorant http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/sleep.gif) response and we'll carry on.

You really are a simpleton, aren't you, especially since you can't even back up any of your "facts" with any proof.

Either way, you don't seem to understand that I'm not mentioning Japan because they buy games, Japan is being mentioned because they MAKE games. Can you get that through your thick skull, perhaps?

[VGV]

You really are a simpleton, aren't you, especially since you can't even back up any of your "facts" with any proof.

Either way, you don't seem to understand that I'm not mentioning Japan because they buy games, Japan is being mentioned because they MAKE games. Can you get that through your thick skull, perhaps?

OK, in your opinion Japan's importance in the video game arena stems
from the fact that it hosts your favorite game developers. Here's what
I have to say about that : These Japanese developers have one goal in
mind, to turn a profit (Seems you understand this by now) ...

So when it comes to Japanese developer support for the Xbox 360, it doesn't
matter if the Xbox 360 does well in Japan or not, for Japan's market share
in the video game market is miniscule. What matters to these Japanese Dev
Teams is : will they turn a profit ? That's what really matters.

P.S. Let's hope you get it by now.

[trebor]

So when it comes to Japanese developer support for the Xbox 360, it doesn't
matter if the Xbox 360 does well in Japan or not, for Japan's market share
in the video game market is miniscule. What matters to these Japanese Dev
Teams is : will they turn a profit ? That's what really matters.


Simple question for you, my clueless friend - since the Japanese 3rd parties only care about "da MONAY" won't they just opt to support the Playstation brand, since it's both successful in all 3 major territories and is also Japanese, over the 360 since it's utterly failing in 1 of the 3 territories?

Anywho, most 3rd parties are going to be releasing multiplatform titles on BOTH the PS3 and 360, so this argument is almost moot. Although, it's a safe assumption to make that the PS3, like it's PS2 forefather, will get the most exclusive support from 3rd parties.

[VGV]

Simple question for you, my clueless friend - since the Japanese 3rd parties only care about "da MONAY" won't they just opt to support the Playstation brand, since it's both successful in all 3 major territories and is also Japanese, over the 360 since it's utterly failing in 1 of the 3 territories?.

Simple answer for a simple mind : Be realistic ... let's take the Japanese example.
While the Japanese market share is only 4%, does it mean that it's completely ignored ?
No (Is it as important as the other territories ? No). Same holds true for the Xbox vs
PS2 argument (as long as there's a profit to be made devs will be there)


Anywho, most 3rd parties are going to be releasing multiplatform titles on BOTH the PS3 and 360, so this argument is almost moot. Although, it's a safe assumption to make that the PS3, like it's PS2 forefather, will get the most exclusive support from 3rd parties

About that PS3 getting most exclusive content remark ... Do you have a crystal ball ?

[trebor]

While the Japanese market share is only 4%, does it mean that it's completely ignored ?
No (Is it as important as the other territories ? No).

Hows about you provide us with some kind of proof that the Japanese marketshare is only 4%. Seriously, because spouting facts and figures only works when they are actual facts and figures that can be validated.

[VGV]

Attach Rates

GameCube
Japan - 6
America - 9
Europe - 8

Xbox
Japan - 4
America - 9
Europe - 8

PlayStation 2
Japan - 8
America - 11
Europe - 9

Console Sales

North America
PlayStation 2 32 million
Xbox 13 million
GameCube 10 million

Japan / Asia
PlayStation 2 19 million
Xbox 1 million
GameCube 3 million

Europe / PAL
PlayStation 2 29 million
Xbox 5 million
GameCube 4 million

Percentage of Japanese software sales

Total software sold worldwide :4,366 million (100%)
Total software sold Japan : 174 million (4%)

[trebor]

What year is this data from?

Even if the Japan territory only accounts for 4% of the total worldwide software sales, the fact is that Sony and Nintendo are based from Japan and most of the highest profile 3rd parties hail from Japan as well. So, yeah, maybe that 4% doesn't seem like a lot, but that 4% also dictates a lot of what the remaining 96% gets to play from the Japanese developers.

The vast majority of games from these Japanese developers release in Japan well before they will ever hit N.A. shores and if they aren't successful in Japan or deemed "too weird for Western audiences" they never hit N.A shores. Although I will concede that sometimes a game that isn't popular in Japan will be elsewhere and also, lately, it seems a lot of games release in N.A. before they hit Japan.

Either way you slice it or dice it, being a failure in the Japan territory severely limited the offerings of the original Xbox and it will do so again for the 360. Which means that anyone who is a fan of the more Japanese-centric games will be better suited with a Playstation then Xbox.

[DBS]

To be even more specific...Asia has the most gamers per capita and its market is considered very important. As far as what the 360 is doing....I still see no reason to own it personally.

[folken001]

Attach Rates

GameCube
Japan - 6
America - 9
Europe - 8

Xbox
Japan - 4
America - 9
Europe - 8

PlayStation 2
Japan - 8
America - 11
Europe - 9

Console Sales

North America
PlayStation 2 32 million
Xbox 13 million
GameCube 10 million

Japan / Asia
PlayStation 2 19 million
Xbox 1 million
GameCube 3 million

Europe / PAL
PlayStation 2 29 million
Xbox 5 million
GameCube 4 million

Percentage of Japanese software sales

Total software sold worldwide :4,366 million (100%)
Total software sold Japan : 174 million (4%)
I am interested where you got your data from. More so, where is rest of the software sale?

With your #s, PS2 sell less than 30% in world's 3 leading markets COMBINED. Where did the rest go?

And...how is Xbox 4% in Japan when Xbox is selling less than 100 units weekly? Do all Japanese owners buy every xbox games or something? There is a lot of confusion with these numbers. It can't be current, I suspect.

And...how is there 4366 million Japanese softwares sold around the world and only 174 million in Japan? That makes even less sense considering a lot of japanese games do not get ported outside of the country itself.

But seriously, where the hell did 70% of the sale figure go? Africa?

[VGV]

I am interested where you got your data from. More so, where is rest of the software sale?


Source: <a href="http://forum.pcvsconsole.com/viewthread.php?tid=18305" target=_blank>Attach Rates</a>

Source: <a href="http://forum.pcvsconsole.com/viewthread.php?tid=8498" target=_blank>Console Sales</a>

Rest of the software sales ? Folken ... Attach rates * Console Units Sold = Total Software
Sold (DUH !!!)


With your #s, PS2 sell less than 30% in world's 3 leading markets COMBINED. Where did the rest go?


Let's see ...

PS2 sales worldwide = 80 million (69 %)
Console sales worldwide = 116 million (100 %)

Nope, PS2 console sales are 69% of the world market. So why are you whining Sony
Fanboy ?


And...how is Xbox 4% in Japan when Xbox is selling less than 100 units weekly? Do all Japanese owners buy every xbox games or something? There is a lot of confusion with these numbers. It can't be current, I suspect.


See what happens when you put the Sony Blinders on ? The truth passes you by without
you even knowing this. Here's the updated figures for the Xbox (Through June 30, 2005)

America - 14.6 million
Europe - 5.5 million
Japan / Asia - 1.8 million
Worldwide - 21.9 million


And...how is there 4366 million Japanese softwares sold around the world and only 174 million in Japan? That makes even less sense considering a lot of japanese games do not get ported outside of the country itself.


No Folken ... worldwide 4.3 billion units of software (read : video games) were sold. In
Japan 174 million units of software were sold (read: video games)


But seriously, where the hell did 70% of the sale figure go? Africa?


I guess you are talking about that 30% figure you created ? Well here again :

PS2 sales worldwide = 80 million (69 %)
Console sales worldwide = 116 million (100 %)

[folken001]

Source: <a href="http://forum.pcvsconsole.com/viewthread.php?tid=18305" target=_blank>Attach Rates</a>

Source: <a href="http://forum.pcvsconsole.com/viewthread.php?tid=8498" target=_blank>Console Sales</a>

Rest of the software sales ? Folken ... Attach rates * Console Units Sold = Total Software
Sold (DUH !!!)



Let's see ...

PS2 sales worldwide = 80 million (69 %)
Console sales worldwide = 116 million (100 %)

Nope, PS2 console sales are 69% of the world market. So why are you whining Sony
Fanboy ?



See what happens when you put the Sony Blinders on ? The truth passes you by without
you even knowing this. Here's the updated figures for the Xbox (Through June 30, 2005)

America - 14.6 million
Europe - 5.5 million
Japan / Asia - 1.8 million
Worldwide - 21.9 million



No Folken ... worldwide 4.3 billion units of software (read : video games) were sold. In
Japan 174 million units of software were sold (read: video games)



I guess you are talking about that 30% figure you created ? Well here again :

PS2 sales worldwide = 80 million (69 %)
Console sales worldwide = 116 million (100 %)
Nevermind, i read it wrong.

[VGV]

Nevermind, i read it wrong.

I thought so too, but for the benefit of the doubt I gave you the figures.

[VGV]

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Either way you slice it or dice it, being a failure in the Japan territory severely limited the offerings of the original Xbox and it will do so again for the 360. Which means that anyone who is a fan of the more Japanese-centric games will be better suited with a Playstation then Xbox.

First of all, I think you meant to say : "Either way you slice it or dice it, being a failure in the Japan territory severely limited the JAPANESE offerings of the original Xbox and it will do so again for the 360." Um ... The most important Japanese developers/publishers are actively supporting the Xbox 360 platform : Tecmo, Capcom, Square Enix, Sega, Konami, Namco and Taito. Plus there's a slew of lesser known Japanese dev teams slaving away on 360 offerings. And yes ... as long as they're turning profits on the 360 platform they could care less about how well the 360 is doing in Japan.

Furthermore you remarked the following : "Which means that anyone who is a fan of the more Japanese-centric games will be better suited with a Playstation then Xbox.". Ok, I see you're using your crystal ball once again. Who knows how well the PS3 is going to fare ? There's a ton of factors that come into play when it comes to a console's success ... we don't even know HOW MUCH THIS THING IS GOING TO COST ! So your remark has absolutely no base in reality http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/sleep.gif


To be even more specific...Asia has the most gamers per capita and its market is onsidered very important.


Um ... I have a population of 1,000 people. All of 'em play video games. We therefore have the most gamers per capita. We constitute .00000000001 % of the video game market. So in essence you're saying that in my example my population of 1,000 people is very important 'cause we have the highest per capita gaming population http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/lol.gif
</tr></td>
</table>

[trebor]

First of all, I think you meant to say : "Either way you slice it or dice it, being a failure in the Japan territory severely limited the JAPANESE offerings of the original Xbox and it will do so again for the 360." Um ... The most important Japanese developers/publishers are actively supporting the Xbox 360 platform : Tecmo, Capcom, Square Enix, Sega, Konami, Namco and Taito. Plus there's a slew of lesser known Japanese dev teams slaving away on 360 offerings. And yes ... as long as they're turning profits on the 360 platform they could care less about how well the 360 is doing in Japan.

I think I know what I meant say, thank you.

Japanese gamers prefer Japanese game developers. If the 360 truly had Japanese developer support, as opposed to the lip service which it truly is, then more Japanese gamers would be on board the 360.



Furthermore you remarked the following : "Which means that anyone who is a fan of the more Japanese-centric games will be better suited with a Playstation then Xbox.". Ok, I see you're using your crystal ball once again. Who knows how well the PS3 is going to fare ? There's a ton of factors that come into play when it comes to a console's success ... we don't even know HOW MUCH THIS THING IS GOING TO COST ! So your remark has absolutely no base in reality http://forums.videogamereview.com/images/smilies/sleep.gif


Did you sleep through the current console cycle for the last 4 years? Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

[VGV]

Did you sleep through the current console cycle for the last 4 years? Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

The history of video gaming has thaught me this ... in this industry ANYTHING can
happen ! Atari once the dominating force in video gaming ... where are they now ? Big
N once basked in it's glorious lead ... where are they currently at ? Once again ... in
this industry ANYTHING could happen !

P.S. I would've agreed with ya if the vg industry was 4 years young, but alas it's been
around for a much longer while than that.

[trebor]

The history of video gaming has thaught me this ... in this industry ANYTHING can
happen ! Atari once the dominating force in video gaming ... where are they now ? Big
N once basked in it's glorious lead ... where are they currently at ? Once again ... in
this industry ANYTHING could happen !

P.S. I would've agreed with ya if the vg industry was 4 years young, but alas it's been
around for a much longer while than that.

Well, this is the first time that I've agreed with you in this entire thread.

But alas, the 360 launch in Japan was a complete disaster - selling less units then when the original Xbox launched. Given that alone, the prospect of a lot of Japanese support should be pretty grim for M$.

[VGV]

Well, this is the first time that I've agreed with you in this entire thread.

But alas, the 360 launch in Japan was a complete disaster - selling less units then when the original Xbox launched. Given that alone, the prospect of a lot of Japanese support should be pretty grim for M$.

With regards to the 360 not selling well in Japan ... I think Glockstar's post in this
thread brings up some very interesting points. Couldn't have said it better myself.