Xbox 360 gets a soft start in Japan

[soulxtc]

Microsoft Corp.'s new Xbox 360 video game console got a lukewarm welcome in Japan on its debut weekend with fans buying fewer than half the games available in stores, a market researcher said Tuesday.


Microsoft, which started selling the Xbox 360 in Japan on Saturday, is trying to break into the world's second-largest video game market and challenge the longtime dominance of Sony Corp.'s PlayStation.


Microsoft sold 62,135 machines over the weekend, or just 39 percent of the 159,000 consoles it is estimated to have shipped to stores, according to data from market researcher Enterbrain Inc.


READ ARTICLE (http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8EFC7P00.htm?campaign_id=apn_tech_up&chan=tc)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41116000/jpg/_41116522_xbox_japan203indexap.jpg

[fleecy]

wonder if these ones will work any better than the first wave did?

[broadwayrock]

I think its sold less than the original xbox did in Japan.

[Auggie2k]

Yeah, I heard that too. They're being smart and waiting out for the auld' faithful Sony to appear. That's my plan anyhoo.

[.:sp00ky:.]

not enough hello kitty games.

[broadwayrock]

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/xbldiscounts.jpg

"The train wreck that is the 360 Japan Launch continues. Unloved 360s consoles collect dust, and retailers are unable to return those unwanted Xbox 360s to Msoft due to contractual obligations. To cut loses and cover their arses, stores are left with no choice but to offer discounts. The originally 38,800yen (about $350 US) consoles have been lowered to 18,800yen (about $150 US) with Internet Service Provider contracts so that the shop could get some kickback money from the IP. And this is what, four days from launch?

Eds Note: While this style of pricing is common in the US, electronics stores in Japan tend to do this to move inventory they cannot sell."

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/xbox-360-japan-launch-guide/japanese-shops-now-slashing-xbox-360-prices-142368.php

[shawners]

What i see is a big failure is that they sold out in UK and USA, and why not put these machines on a plane and ship them to where they can actually be purchased.. Otherwise no one is going to be able to buy one and may say hell with it. ANd wait for ps3.

[the great one]

Of course they didn't sell well in Japan,this is not really news.

[black_magiic]

Wow I'd take a couple at 150USD

[the great one]

They would have done the same thing here if everybody didn't rush out to get one.But people just can't wait to get their hands on one..

[shawners]

Exactly.. Us the consumers can control the world and government if we group together. If we could all link up to a specific place to say, "Dont buy this, PROTEST that." we would own back America. I would create chaos for all businesses.. If you take your business over seas or hire countries to work in sweat shops.. Your import license to america willbbe revolked and wont be able to ship to the USA stores.. If you sale a piece of crap product, you would have to be liable in away of addressing the issue in 30 days to people who bought it or pay the US tax gov 1 million a day til the problem is resolved. I would put a cap on all artist, actors, football players. IF a movie makes more then 4times the cost of production, that money will go out to help states and gov tax.. lower tax in everything.