XBox 360 Faces Japanese Test

December 10th, 2005, 20:10 Posted By: wraggster

SuccessHK posted this news:

Microsoft's XBox 360 console is facing its hardest test yet as it prepares to launch in Japan tomorrow. Japan is the third largest market in the gaming industry and the traditional stronghold of Sony and Nintendo.

Microsoft's previous attempt to woo Japanese gamers with its original XBox console did not produce noteworthy results as the company remained third in the previous console wars. This time the software giant hopes it has an advantage as it is the first manufacturer to launch its next generation console while rivals Sony and Nintendo are not expected to release theirs until spring 2006.

X360 has had an, all things considered, successful US and European launch with most retailers selling out by the first day but Japan may not offer a similar pleasant experience for MS. Pre-orders on the Internet look solid, but I don't think the retail stores will sell out of Xbox 360s in the first day, said Takeshi Tajima, an analyst at BNP Paribas in Tokyo. According to Japanese analysts the delay of Dead or Alive 4 until after the launch, may damage Microsoft's plans for the launch and while most hardcore gamers will buy the console, many will wait until better titles are available and by then other consoles may also be available. This analysis focuses on what many U.S. and European analysts have noted about the XBox 360 launch; the lack of a killer title.

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