Japanese Xbox 360 support: "...to the extreme"
Hype train builds up steam as Okamoto-san makes pledge.
Microsoft’s rather clever online pre-E3 sub-viral campaign is starting to pay dividends, with the latest interview on the Xbox Japan official site making some of the most impressive support claims heard to date.
Yoshiki Okamoto, former Capcom staffer now of Game Republic, is the latest dissident to pledge allegiance to Xbox 360 and joins former Sega UGA boss Tetsuya Mizuguchi and ex-Final Fantasy lead Hironobu Sakaguchi - all with new studios to finance - in backing the soon-to-be-unveiled American console.
"Sakaguchi-san, Mizuguchi-san, and myself have been the focus of attention so far. But I've been hearing that some other designers will also be joining [us making games for the new Xbox]. There are a lot of surprises. I find myself saying: 'What, this development studio!? This game!? These people!?'..."
"If the current line-up of software in development for the next-generation Xbox was revealed," continued Okamoto-san, "it would not only surprise users, but the entire industry. There probably wouldn't be any Japanese gamers that would still be uninterested in buying the next-generation Xbox when they see the line-up. It’s a powerful selection of Japanese game designers.”
Going on to indicate Microsoft’s seemingly tight exclusivity bindings, Okamoto-san said, “We can't port the games to other hardware even if it seems possible, so that's a disappointment. But even with that downside to income, Xbox has specs that make us want to develop for it. I can't reveal the specifics, but one of the games we're making will really go to the extreme."
Expect the fruits of this Japanese push to be announced, accompanied of course by the omnipresent whistling and hollering, at this year’s Xbox E3 presentation. We’ll bring you full coverage then.
And why not discuss why so many dissident studio heads are backing Microsoft’s new machine here.
Yoshiki Okamoto, former Capcom staffer now of Game Republic, is the latest dissident to pledge allegiance to Xbox 360 and joins former Sega UGA boss Tetsuya Mizuguchi and ex-Final Fantasy lead Hironobu Sakaguchi - all with new studios to finance - in backing the soon-to-be-unveiled American console.
"Sakaguchi-san, Mizuguchi-san, and myself have been the focus of attention so far. But I've been hearing that some other designers will also be joining [us making games for the new Xbox]. There are a lot of surprises. I find myself saying: 'What, this development studio!? This game!? These people!?'..."
"If the current line-up of software in development for the next-generation Xbox was revealed," continued Okamoto-san, "it would not only surprise users, but the entire industry. There probably wouldn't be any Japanese gamers that would still be uninterested in buying the next-generation Xbox when they see the line-up. It’s a powerful selection of Japanese game designers.”
Going on to indicate Microsoft’s seemingly tight exclusivity bindings, Okamoto-san said, “We can't port the games to other hardware even if it seems possible, so that's a disappointment. But even with that downside to income, Xbox has specs that make us want to develop for it. I can't reveal the specifics, but one of the games we're making will really go to the extreme."
Expect the fruits of this Japanese push to be announced, accompanied of course by the omnipresent whistling and hollering, at this year’s Xbox E3 presentation. We’ll bring you full coverage then.
And why not discuss why so many dissident studio heads are backing Microsoft’s new machine here.
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Comments
westerhive5 5 Apr 2005 13:39
1/16
Money, lots of it.
Pandaman 5 Apr 2005 16:11
2/16
This is simply hype by the numbers.
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sendmn23 5 Apr 2005 16:22
3/16
Alan is my first name wrote:
This is simply hype by the numbers.
Yeah, but it works! Sony did it to the Dream Cast.... Sega had a successful launch and came out a year earlier, but it just couldn't shake the hype of the Ps2.... The Dream Cast was always under it shadow. Microsoft is pulling every single punch it can find. I think its only sold roughly half a million units in Japan, which is a really, really low number when compared to Nintendo and Sony. The only one that gots my attention to date... is Mr. Sakaguchi-san! Still its nice to see them back the system..."Extreme or not!"
shediesinred 5 Apr 2005 16:44
4/16
Hype by the numbers? Who cares. I think this is great news for gamers, i for one, will be buying an xbox360, only because I dont want to wait another year for the next generation of systems to come out, and this news shows that microsoft is dedicated to provided us with quality software to play. I dont like microsoft, I'm not the biggest fan of microsoft, I do prefer windows over linux ANYDAY, but I dont like the way they are trying to monopolize the gaming industry like they did with operating systems and web browsers for the PC, but you know what.. so is SONY... they killed off Sega, and now they are trynig to take over the hand held market and kill off nintendo. They are all after money. And I am going to buy any system as long as it has good games. If playstation 3 or revolution are good enough to make me trade in my xbox360 next year then i will
sendmn23 5 Apr 2005 17:22
5/16
shediesinred wrote:
Hype by the numbers? Who cares. I think this is great news for gamers, i for one, will be buying an xbox360, only because I dont want to wait another year for the next generation of systems to come out."--
Yeah,....Lol! The heart of a true gamer! I guess your right! It depends on the games! "Software!" The only thing is they have all these game exclusive console titles which really suck. I have to versions of Silent hill 2...... oh well huh? sucks to be hard core!
Yeah,....Lol! The heart of a true gamer! I guess your right! It depends on the games! "Software!" The only thing is they have all these game exclusive console titles which really suck. I have to versions of Silent hill 2...... oh well huh? sucks to be hard core!
fluffstardx 5 Apr 2005 18:16
6/16
Rather MS money got spent helping small and interesting games along than trying to make another expensive Windows...
kid_77 5 Apr 2005 18:55
7/16
shediesinred wrote:
They are all after money. And I am going to buy any system as long as it has good games. If playstation 3 or revolution are good enough to make me trade in my xbox360 next year then i will
That's pretty much my stance. I have no allegiance to anyone (anymore). If the Xbox 360 has a couple of killer apps at launch, I'll get one. If not I'll just bide my time.
BustyKrusty 5 Apr 2005 19:25
8/16
Good point.I hate to admit it but Nin might suffer severely nextgen in Japan if Microsoft continues its deadly moves.If M wins over Nin in Japan it'll be game over for Iwata-san so,better not wait for Ps3 Iwata, you hear!!A few cunning deals and a sexy looking Xbox360 suffice.As for how they're faring right now take a look at hardware sales this month:
PS2- 166 479
GC-15 453
Xbox- 1117
PS2- 166 479
GC-15 453
Xbox- 1117
Joji 5 Apr 2005 22:39
9/16
It's good to see MS touting for japanese developers for Xbox360, I have always said bring the japanese games and myself and others would be more likely to buy one.
I think Nintendo will be on their guard but also on a offensive footing themselves as Revolution and DS go online which will be a first for them. Both will be supported well but it's up to 2nd/3rd party developers to help make or break a system.
There is a danger here that might effect the industry. If there is too much exclusivity and money exchanged in the next round it will spoil things for a lot of consumers. Should be interesting to see which developers spread the love to all systems.
I think Nintendo will be on their guard but also on a offensive footing themselves as Revolution and DS go online which will be a first for them. Both will be supported well but it's up to 2nd/3rd party developers to help make or break a system.
There is a danger here that might effect the industry. If there is too much exclusivity and money exchanged in the next round it will spoil things for a lot of consumers. Should be interesting to see which developers spread the love to all systems.
neocarrillo 6 Apr 2005 07:20
10/16
Microsoft can sign as many japanese developers as they want, it won't change their alligence to their fellow japanese companies like sony and nintendo. If xbox 360 isn't getting a final fantasy from Hironobu Sakaguchi then it's pointless. Some of you guys said you allign with the company with the best games and yet most of you like xbox which only has halo and a handfull of titles like splinter cell, fable and kotor.
Mean while the ps2 as old as it is still produces title's like gran turismo 4 (which is # 2 in the uk charts), devil may cry 3 (# 6 in the uk), metal gear solid 3 (# 10 in the uk) and gta san andreas (# 22 in the uk). Only one of those xbox titles I mentioned is on the charts, that one is splinter cell chaos theory but it's # 3 in the uk under ps2 not xbox.
The numbers don't lie, world wide ps2 is number one and ps3 will be no different, so guy's please don't waste your money on xbox 360 unless all you want is halo 3.
Mean while the ps2 as old as it is still produces title's like gran turismo 4 (which is # 2 in the uk charts), devil may cry 3 (# 6 in the uk), metal gear solid 3 (# 10 in the uk) and gta san andreas (# 22 in the uk). Only one of those xbox titles I mentioned is on the charts, that one is splinter cell chaos theory but it's # 3 in the uk under ps2 not xbox.
The numbers don't lie, world wide ps2 is number one and ps3 will be no different, so guy's please don't waste your money on xbox 360 unless all you want is halo 3.
SilverDogg 6 Apr 2005 09:52
11/16
its great to hear that you know how the future will be. thanks alot for telling us =)
neocarrillo 6 Apr 2005 17:09
12/16
SilverDogg wrote:
its great to hear that you know how the future will be. thanks alot for telling us =)
My pleasure dogg.
Joji 6 Apr 2005 18:06
13/16
Well the question beckons, how long will Sony's dominance of the industry last?
On December 3rd of 2004 the Playstation machine and name in japan was officially ten years old. A whole decade of Sony dominance has passed already but will they last another five or ten years at the top?
Sony and Nintendo have clearly known that buy holding onto Japan from MS will always have problems no matter how many Xbox were sold in the u.s or japan.
The PS2 was five years old on March last month in japan so while PSP sells and PS3 gets ready it will be hard for MS or Nintendo to wrestle more of the market for themselves. (harder for MS I think)
Will Xbox360 lure more japanese developers from Sony and Nintendo? Perhaps but I doubt it, I think japanese like to do their own thing most of the time and favour supporting their countries economy and consoles as a result.
On December 3rd of 2004 the Playstation machine and name in japan was officially ten years old. A whole decade of Sony dominance has passed already but will they last another five or ten years at the top?
Sony and Nintendo have clearly known that buy holding onto Japan from MS will always have problems no matter how many Xbox were sold in the u.s or japan.
The PS2 was five years old on March last month in japan so while PSP sells and PS3 gets ready it will be hard for MS or Nintendo to wrestle more of the market for themselves. (harder for MS I think)
Will Xbox360 lure more japanese developers from Sony and Nintendo? Perhaps but I doubt it, I think japanese like to do their own thing most of the time and favour supporting their countries economy and consoles as a result.
neocarrillo 6 Apr 2005 18:10
14/16
Joji wrote:
Well the question beckons, how long will Sony's dominance of the industry last?
On December 3rd of 2004 the Playstation machine and name in japan was officially ten years old. A whole decade of Sony dominance has passed already but will they last another five or ten years at the top?
Sony and Nintendo have clearly known that buy holding onto Japan from MS will always have problems no matter how many Xbox were sold in the u.s or japan.
The PS2 was five years old on March last month in japan so while PSP sells and PS3 gets ready it will be hard for MS or Nintendo to wrestle more of the market for themselves. (harder for MS I think)
Will Xbox360 lure more japanese developers from Sony and Nintendo? Perhaps but I doubt it, I think japanese like to do their own thing most of the time and favour supporting their countries economy and consoles as a result.
On December 3rd of 2004 the Playstation machine and name in japan was officially ten years old. A whole decade of Sony dominance has passed already but will they last another five or ten years at the top?
Sony and Nintendo have clearly known that buy holding onto Japan from MS will always have problems no matter how many Xbox were sold in the u.s or japan.
The PS2 was five years old on March last month in japan so while PSP sells and PS3 gets ready it will be hard for MS or Nintendo to wrestle more of the market for themselves. (harder for MS I think)
Will Xbox360 lure more japanese developers from Sony and Nintendo? Perhaps but I doubt it, I think japanese like to do their own thing most of the time and favour supporting their countries economy and consoles as a result.
I agree
BustyKrusty 6 Apr 2005 21:19
15/16
Joji wrote:
Will Xbox360 lure more japanese developers from Sony and Nintendo? Perhaps but I doubt it, I think japanese like to do their own thing most of the time and favour supporting their countries economy and consoles as a result.
Hmm, in my opinion japanese consumers will just buy whatever they like regardless of its origin if it's a good highly praised launch by their sources that is.Remember on Tenchu's 1st Lv that fatty merchant...well, that's how i see their publishers/developers.
and MS modest wallet runs deeper than the fiery pits of hell for that purpose.It's a great doin for MS but Nin won't be keepin' up until Revolution proves revolutionary and developers start turning heads.
CrmsnAngelus 7 Apr 2005 07:22
16/16
Is anyone here other than me sick of this Neo guy ruining every single post he responds in?! He keeps contradicting himself left and right, saying the PS2 is so high and mighty and we are all morons for falling victom to Microsoft and it's alluring Xbox, and then going on to say that he himself owns one....for halo non-the-less(which he also keeps bashing). If I remember correctly the Xbox was number one in sales numbers for the '04 holiday season, and you had your great GTA title to help fend against Master Cheif. But the truth is that no one that bought GTA 3 cared about San Andreas for more than a week, it was an expansion pack for a bland game as was Vice City. You payed full price for those, didn't you...and you complain about Xbox Live's price, you're such a fool. And as for the Japanese sticking with Nintendo and Sony just because they're Japanese companies, that's the stupidest...least coherent thing I've ever read in any forum or post of any kind.....EVER. Look at you, you damn Yankee...you're a proud American and you sit at home lubing it up to play your JAPANESE console. So why do you play PS2 if you're American...software you jackass...and why would the Japanese play an American console...software. I'm glad we cleared that up. If anyone else agrees that this guy brings nothing intelligent to these posts and is just mad because people on Spong like Xbox and Live more than PS2 and their near non-existant online service....just let me know, and tell him know so that way he can see that he's become a lot of wasted space on a great website.