Microsoft Announces Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese 360 Launch Dates
Shock as Asian markets see release.
Microsoft has surprised the games industry this morning, announcing full-scale launches of its Xbox 360 in Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong - firm release dates for the territories that have, until recently, been traditionally ignored by hardware manufacturers.
The head of Microsoft's Xbox business in Asia, Alan Bowman, told Reuters the console would hit the market in Korea on February 24 and Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore on March 2.
He also commented on whether the launch coming so soon was prudent, given rampant demand for new Xbox 360 hardware in the west. Should manufacturing be focused on the US and Europe, pushing back the newly-announced launches? “Believe me, that conversation happened. We wanted to make sure within the first six months that we could get the 360 into all existing Xbox 1 markets. I'm very optimistic that demand is going to be significant. We're working very hard to keep supply up with demand.”
No pricing was announced, though as per this piece on the looming Japanese launch posted today, Bowman did point out the tailored software in development for Asia. “We've really got a strong pipeline of material appropriate for Asia," Bowman concluded. "I think we've really made a lot of progress there.”
The head of Microsoft's Xbox business in Asia, Alan Bowman, told Reuters the console would hit the market in Korea on February 24 and Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore on March 2.
He also commented on whether the launch coming so soon was prudent, given rampant demand for new Xbox 360 hardware in the west. Should manufacturing be focused on the US and Europe, pushing back the newly-announced launches? “Believe me, that conversation happened. We wanted to make sure within the first six months that we could get the 360 into all existing Xbox 1 markets. I'm very optimistic that demand is going to be significant. We're working very hard to keep supply up with demand.”
No pricing was announced, though as per this piece on the looming Japanese launch posted today, Bowman did point out the tailored software in development for Asia. “We've really got a strong pipeline of material appropriate for Asia," Bowman concluded. "I think we've really made a lot of progress there.”
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Comments
acidviper 5 Dec 2005 13:02
1/5
LOL why even bother launching in these areas. By then mod chips will have made them useless, besides they don't even translate the games for these regions. Nice global launch.
Bitterman 5 Dec 2005 13:32
2/5
Actually, they do localise games for those regions. Set your Xbox 360 to Korean or Chinese Traditional and play Kameo, PGR3 or PDZ (that I know of for certain). They're fully localised. Sure you know what you're talking about?
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OptimusP 5 Dec 2005 13:35
3/5
Well, the only way for this to work is if Microsoft made it's Xbox360 pirateproof. Since that's a big No anyways... don't even try then.
Only Nintendo with that N64-built-into-a-controller thingy worked and is a reasonable succes in China. it's offcourse as pirateproof as Nintendo can make it controlling the entire flow of software. Maybe the GC could launch without to much problems in those reasons. Maybe Nintendo is even planning that...or maybe Nintendo is even planning on launching the Revolution in China but only release GC-games first and at a later stage Rev-games.
Only Nintendo with that N64-built-into-a-controller thingy worked and is a reasonable succes in China. it's offcourse as pirateproof as Nintendo can make it controlling the entire flow of software. Maybe the GC could launch without to much problems in those reasons. Maybe Nintendo is even planning that...or maybe Nintendo is even planning on launching the Revolution in China but only release GC-games first and at a later stage Rev-games.
jelly1420 6 Dec 2005 02:07
4/5
When the hell is the 360 coming to Australia!? Microsoft haven't mentioned us once.
acidviper 6 Dec 2005 06:15
5/5
Bitterman wrote:
Actually, they do localise games for those regions. Set your Xbox 360 to Korean or Chinese Traditional and play Kameo, PGR3 or PDZ (that I know of for certain). They're fully localised. Sure you know what you're talking about?
Maybe basic text, but there is no extensive audio work or in-games changes.