X-Box360 bombs on launch in Japan

[Archaic]

Full details of the launch from the perspective of a man on the ground can be had at the following link. I'll just quote the latest story.
http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/xbox-360-japan-launch-guide/index.php

The train wreck that is the 360 Japan Launch continues. Unloved 360s consoles collect dust, and retailers are unable to return those unwanted Xbox 360s to Msoft due to contractual obligations. To cut loses and cover their arses, stores are left with no choice but to offer discounts. The originally 38,800yen (about $350 US) consoles have been lowered to 18,800yen (about $150 US) with Internet Service Provider contracts so that the shop could get some kickback money from the IP. And this is what, four days from launch?

Eds Note: While this style of pricing is common in the US, electronics stores in Japan tend to do this to move inventory they cannot sell.

Not looking so unbelieveable that the Dreamcast re-release in Japan could outsell the 360 now...

Kind of scary actually, that the line for the sale was actually shorter than you'd expect to see from a line of Otaku waiting for the latest plastic figure of a girl in a short skirt.

 

[Trainer-c]

I honestly can't say that i'm surprized. With hardly any decent japanese offerings, theres no reason for them to even acknowledge, the release.

What does surprize me, quite a bit in fact, is how much faith (naiveté?) it seems the retailers had in the system. Did they honestly think it would sell, especially after the original XBox's lackluster sales?

 

[Doctor Oak]

*Imports Japanese 360*

The 360 was never going to be that successfull in Japan. For the simple reason that Microsoft aren't Japanese.

It's a pity that whilst the rest of the world can't get 360s despite the demand - the Japanese now have more than they'll probably ever want.

First point of the Next-Gen wars for Sony then - who have already polled top of the 'Must-Haves' in Japan for the PS3.

Not really that surprising when the PS3 will hit them in Spring but probably will take until this time next year to get out anywhere else.

 

[Misty]

It deserves to bomb for launching with five games.

 

[Kadabra]

Actually, from what I've read, the 360 has already sold out in Japan. Perhaps no one bothered to show up to the launch party becasue they didn't want to be made fun of..haha. But if this is true, then that's a rather bad thing, as it means that Sony can slack off even more, without fear of getting their asses kicked. Oh well.

 

[Archaic]

Given that this person has photos, and lives in Japan, I'd be much more willing to believe what they're saying than what you've heard.

While it *is* true that Microsoft have sold out of their stock in Japan, that's only because they put those retailers on contractual agreements so they couldn't return unsold stock to Microsoft, as mentioned in the quoted article.

 

[Habunake]

Bwahahaha! I personally hate the Xbox in general, so I really don't have anything to say. I'm telling you this though, the Xbox 360 needs to have more Kameo like games. That probably sold pretty good in Japan, right?