In a bid to woo Japanese gamers, who are largely disinterested in the Xbox 360, Microsoft has announced that it will launch the Xbox 360 Arcade in Japan.
The Arcade will go on sale there at ¥27,800 (£131.56) on March 6th. That's ¥7,000 (£33) less than the cheapest model currently available there.
The move will put the 360 in very close range of the Wii in terms of price. The Wii currently sells for ¥25,000 (£118) in Japan. It also happens to do so in numbers that massively eclipse those of the 360.
In the four weeks running to January 27th, Nintendo sold 479,931 Wiis in Japan. That compares to 165,719 PS3s and just 27,044 360s.
Microsoft is no doubt hoping that the Arcade, which hit UK shelves in October last year, can make inroads into the Japanese casual gaming market with its bundled 'family friendly' Live games.
Earlier today, SPOnG told you that third-party publisher EA expects to see 360 sales fall behind those of the PS3 this year.
The Arcade will go on sale there at ¥27,800 (£131.56) on March 6th. That's ¥7,000 (£33) less than the cheapest model currently available there.
The move will put the 360 in very close range of the Wii in terms of price. The Wii currently sells for ¥25,000 (£118) in Japan. It also happens to do so in numbers that massively eclipse those of the 360.
In the four weeks running to January 27th, Nintendo sold 479,931 Wiis in Japan. That compares to 165,719 PS3s and just 27,044 360s.
Microsoft is no doubt hoping that the Arcade, which hit UK shelves in October last year, can make inroads into the Japanese casual gaming market with its bundled 'family friendly' Live games.
Earlier today, SPOnG told you that third-party publisher EA expects to see 360 sales fall behind those of the PS3 this year.
Companies:
Microsoft
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Comments
deleted 4 Feb 2008 15:39
1/5
i understand that a market although very small exsits in japan for 360, but wouldnt microsoft be better withdrawing from the Japanese market slightly and focusing on the western market more, how much money are they losing in Japan, money that could be put to better uses, the Japanese devs dont have a problem developing for us westerners and even if the Japanese market was withdrawn i dont think we would lose out anywhere.
SuperSaiyan4 4 Feb 2008 15:40
2/5
Wow Japan must really earn very low wages for stuff to be that cheap...But then again our wages in the UK arent exactly enough for us to buy our own houses easily and buy fuel etc...
I am really keen on knowing how a small country like Japan can sell technology soo cheap like that, I guess they dont have taxes? Or does the Japanese government pay their people to buy goods?
I am really keen on knowing how a small country like Japan can sell technology soo cheap like that, I guess they dont have taxes? Or does the Japanese government pay their people to buy goods?
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Bentley 5 Feb 2008 00:51
3/5
SuperSaiyan4, I don't think anyone here can answer your extremely intelligent*, well-thought out* and cleverly proposed* questions. If you are indeed "really keen" on finding out the answers, perhaps you should move to Japan to investigate? Then you can also promote your beloved 360 out there. And when you are faced by a nation of people mocking your naivety and utter lunacy, perhaps it will force you to grow up a bit and examine your place in society. I'll give you a heads-up as to what that is: you have none.
*Please read with HEAVY sarcasm
*Please read with HEAVY sarcasm
SuperSaiyan4 5 Feb 2008 09:33
4/5
Bentley wrote:
SuperSaiyan4, I don't think anyone here can answer your extremely intelligent*, well-thought out* and cleverly proposed* questions. If you are indeed "really keen" on finding out the answers, perhaps you should move to Japan to investigate? Then you can also promote your beloved 360 out there. And when you are faced by a nation of people mocking your naivety and utter lunacy, perhaps it will force you to grow up a bit and examine your place in society. I'll give you a heads-up as to what that is: you have none.
*Please read with HEAVY sarcasm
*Please read with HEAVY sarcasm
C**t.
Bentley 5 Feb 2008 15:27
5/5
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
C**t.
WOW. What a supremely intelligent comeback! What wit, what maturity. What an admirable human being you are, SuperSaiyan4. This must be why the whole gaming community looks up to you.
Oh no, wait; my mistake... it was a pathetic response from a brainless individual with no soul, moral fibre, point, friends or wit. Oh, but SS4 DOES have an XBOX 360 Elite + HD-DVD add-on, Nintendo Wii, Sony HTSF1100 5.1 surround system, and a Samsung 40inch R74 HDTV as it so smugly states at the bottom of every mediocre humourless post. But that's no compensation for a soul, sense of humour, or A LIFE.