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The Xbox 360 Is Dead In Japan
Xbox has a long history of failing to make any kind of impression on Japan. To Bill Gates' credit, Microsoft continues to cling to the Japanese market with a bulldog grip, but word has started coming in about Japanese retailers phasing out the Xbox 360. It looks like the Xbox 360's time is up in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Though Microsoft did in fact move 1.5 million units by last June, that's still a pretty pitiful number when you take into account that the Xbox 360 has been available in Japan since 2005. Even the PlayStation Vita, which everyone has been making doomsday forecasts about, has sold approx 500-600k in just three months.
Moreover, the Xbox 360's last high-profile system exclusive, a pop star management game called The Idolmaster 2, didn't make a sizable dent on the sales charts, which has led to Namco-Bandai to announce it will be porting the game to the PlayStation 3, DLC and all.
If you live in Japan and you want games for the Xbox 360, look no further than the bargain bins, where games can be found for as low as 100 yen (about $1.30 USD). Given the Xbox 360 is reaching the end of its lifespan, and considering Kinect did little to tempt new adopters in Japan, it's safe to say this is the end of the line for the Xbox 360 in Japan.
It's a shame, because Microsoft went for it this generation. They were adamant that they would take the fight to Sony, and paid lots of money to make prominent Japanese franchises exclusive to their system. Coups of this nature included Tales of Vesperia and Star Ocean 4, while Mistwalker's original titles would also be Xbox 360 exclusive. They even tied-up deals with Square Enix for new titles like Infinite Undiscovery and The Last Remnant.
It's easy to say the platform performed miserably in Eastern markets, because, frankly, that's the truth. Despite a brief sales boost that accompanied the launch of the Xbox 360 Slim, Microsoft's entry in the console race was simply not destined to thrive in the long term.
So what comes next for the Xbox brand in Japan? Most likely, whatever comes next for North America. There's little doubt Microsoft will roll up its sleeves and take another swing at the Japanese games market. The Xbox 360 did poorly overall, but it did gain a bit of recognition. Hold up those 1.5 million 360′s sold against the mere 500,000 original Xbox systems that found homes in Japan, and hey, you have a slight improvement.
The real question is, which will run out first: Microsoft's resolve, or Japanese retailers' trust in Microsoft's products? Microsoft keeps stepping up to the plate, and that's admirable, but will that be enough to convince Eastern shops to stock the next Xbox and its games?
Ask again in a few years and you'll have your answer. In the meantime, RIP Japanese Xbox 360s.
The Xbox 360 Is Dead In Japan
Xbox has a long history of failing to make any kind of impression on Japan. To Bill Gates' credit, Microsoft continues to cling to the Japanese market with a bulldog grip, but word has started coming in about Japanese retailers phasing out the Xbox 360. It looks like the Xbox 360's time is up in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Though Microsoft did in fact move 1.5 million units by last June, that's still a pretty pitiful number when you take into account that the Xbox 360 has been available in Japan since 2005. Even the PlayStation Vita, which everyone has been making doomsday forecasts about, has sold approx 500-600k in just three months.
Moreover, the Xbox 360's last high-profile system exclusive, a pop star management game called The Idolmaster 2, didn't make a sizable dent on the sales charts, which has led to Namco-Bandai to announce it will be porting the game to the PlayStation 3, DLC and all.
If you live in Japan and you want games for the Xbox 360, look no further than the bargain bins, where games can be found for as low as 100 yen (about $1.30 USD). Given the Xbox 360 is reaching the end of its lifespan, and considering Kinect did little to tempt new adopters in Japan, it's safe to say this is the end of the line for the Xbox 360 in Japan.
It's a shame, because Microsoft went for it this generation. They were adamant that they would take the fight to Sony, and paid lots of money to make prominent Japanese franchises exclusive to their system. Coups of this nature included Tales of Vesperia and Star Ocean 4, while Mistwalker's original titles would also be Xbox 360 exclusive. They even tied-up deals with Square Enix for new titles like Infinite Undiscovery and The Last Remnant.
It's easy to say the platform performed miserably in Eastern markets, because, frankly, that's the truth. Despite a brief sales boost that accompanied the launch of the Xbox 360 Slim, Microsoft's entry in the console race was simply not destined to thrive in the long term.
So what comes next for the Xbox brand in Japan? Most likely, whatever comes next for North America. There's little doubt Microsoft will roll up its sleeves and take another swing at the Japanese games market. The Xbox 360 did poorly overall, but it did gain a bit of recognition. Hold up those 1.5 million 360′s sold against the mere 500,000 original Xbox systems that found homes in Japan, and hey, you have a slight improvement.
The real question is, which will run out first: Microsoft's resolve, or Japanese retailers' trust in Microsoft's products? Microsoft keeps stepping up to the plate, and that's admirable, but will that be enough to convince Eastern shops to stock the next Xbox and its games?
Ask again in a few years and you'll have your answer. In the meantime, RIP Japanese Xbox 360s.
Report: Obsidian hit with layoffs; South Park team affected, future next-gen title canceled
by Alexander Sliwinski on Mar 14th 2012 11:00AM
Obsidian Entertainment reportedly experienced a round of layoffs this week, with the extent of the damage not entirely clear. The company's forums lay out an idea of the body count, with messages on Twitter filling in more details.
"Another project canceled, this time for a future next-gen project and the layoffs impacted that team, plus the existing South Park team," a tipster wrote Joystiq. "Approximately 20-30 people from all disciplines, including one person who started yesterday, as well as one who started last week."
It was around this time last year that Obsidian also let staff go. We've contacted the company for an official statement.
Update: "We are always happy to talk about our announced projects, gaming and the industry as a whole. However, it is our policy to not comment on stories regarding our staff," Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart informed us this afternoon.
by Alexander Sliwinski on Mar 14th 2012 11:00AM
Obsidian Entertainment reportedly experienced a round of layoffs this week, with the extent of the damage not entirely clear. The company's forums lay out an idea of the body count, with messages on Twitter filling in more details.
"Another project canceled, this time for a future next-gen project and the layoffs impacted that team, plus the existing South Park team," a tipster wrote Joystiq. "Approximately 20-30 people from all disciplines, including one person who started yesterday, as well as one who started last week."
It was around this time last year that Obsidian also let staff go. We've contacted the company for an official statement.
Update: "We are always happy to talk about our announced projects, gaming and the industry as a whole. However, it is our policy to not comment on stories regarding our staff," Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart informed us this afternoon.
Medal of Honor: Warfighter Limited Edition
Available: Oct. 23, when the game releases.
Price: More than $59.99.
What You Get: Pre-ordering the game's limited edition unlocks the U.S. Navy SEAL Tier 1 Sniper class at launch. "This multiplayer unlock saves an estimated 40-hours of time that would normally be required to unlock the operator." The limited edition is available on Electronic Arts' Origin marketplace "and other participating retailers," (for example, Amazon.)
Why It's Evil: If you lament the fact that paid DLC now has replaced the unlockables you used to get for free, this kind of pre-order bonus stands in the place of the old cheat codes. Sends a great message to the multiplayer community—and is there any other reason to buy a military shooter?—that they better pay up now or get their asses kicked on the street date.
Evil Score: 4/5. It 's a pay-to-win scheme meant to drive your consumer dollar through Origin or whatever anointed retailer did the deed with EA.
UFC Undisputed 3: Fight of the Night
Available: Now.
Price: Five bucks/400 Microsoft points. Also at a discount if you have the game's "season pass."
What You Get: Five fighters "who have stolen the show on UFC Pay Per Views." Joe Lauzon, Rory McDonald, Sam Stout, Anthony Johnson and Charles Oliviera.
Why It's Evil: What's worse than a roster update? Making you pay for a roster update.
Evil Score: 3/5. This is the oldest trick in the DLC book and it's plainly holding content out of the development process for sale later, as I doubt these five guys were signed up and rendered in the month since UFC Undisputed 3 was released. Still, individual sports titles such as this are not as dependent on current rosters as their team-sport counterparts. This is provocative only if one of the five fighters is someone you were really looking forward to playing.
Available: Oct. 23, when the game releases.
Price: More than $59.99.
What You Get: Pre-ordering the game's limited edition unlocks the U.S. Navy SEAL Tier 1 Sniper class at launch. "This multiplayer unlock saves an estimated 40-hours of time that would normally be required to unlock the operator." The limited edition is available on Electronic Arts' Origin marketplace "and other participating retailers," (for example, Amazon.)
Why It's Evil: If you lament the fact that paid DLC now has replaced the unlockables you used to get for free, this kind of pre-order bonus stands in the place of the old cheat codes. Sends a great message to the multiplayer community—and is there any other reason to buy a military shooter?—that they better pay up now or get their asses kicked on the street date.
Evil Score: 4/5. It 's a pay-to-win scheme meant to drive your consumer dollar through Origin or whatever anointed retailer did the deed with EA.
UFC Undisputed 3: Fight of the Night
Available: Now.
Price: Five bucks/400 Microsoft points. Also at a discount if you have the game's "season pass."
What You Get: Five fighters "who have stolen the show on UFC Pay Per Views." Joe Lauzon, Rory McDonald, Sam Stout, Anthony Johnson and Charles Oliviera.
Why It's Evil: What's worse than a roster update? Making you pay for a roster update.
Evil Score: 3/5. This is the oldest trick in the DLC book and it's plainly holding content out of the development process for sale later, as I doubt these five guys were signed up and rendered in the month since UFC Undisputed 3 was released. Still, individual sports titles such as this are not as dependent on current rosters as their team-sport counterparts. This is provocative only if one of the five fighters is someone you were really looking forward to playing.
SF x Tekken - Such a wonderful game
Let's see...
4 infinites found so far (2 of which are practical)
Tons of glitches \/\/\/
No sound for online matches
Co-op mode intentionally left off for 360 version even when it was advertised and included in the manual
Supers that last up to 10 seconds and do not freeze the timer causing matches to time out
Have you seen competitive play? almost every single match times out.
There there is this: Then lets not even bring in the beyond slow gameplay that freezes briefly every time any hit of any move connects :/
If you buy this game, this is the business model you are supporting!
Let's see...
4 infinites found so far (2 of which are practical)
Tons of glitches \/\/\/
No sound for online matches
Co-op mode intentionally left off for 360 version even when it was advertised and included in the manual
Supers that last up to 10 seconds and do not freeze the timer causing matches to time out
Have you seen competitive play? almost every single match times out.
There there is this: Then lets not even bring in the beyond slow gameplay that freezes briefly every time any hit of any move connects :/
If you buy this game, this is the business model you are supporting!
