IndustryGamers - Informing the Games Industry

Well if you really want to highlight the key difference, you'd be remiss by not mentioning one very important factor: the PS3 sells in three different markets(US,UK,JAP) while the 360 only sells in two(US+UK). Oh sure it's "available" in Japan, but much like the original Xbox, the Japanese consumers as a whole continue to refuse to support the American-made 360.

Why? There are tons of "excuses" they use but these are my three favorites: 1.)the original Xbox/360 are too big for tiny Japanese apartments(apparently our Japanese brethren live in Smurf sized huts), 2.) "X" means "no" in Japanese so the original Xbox and 360 translates to the no-box and no-box 360(um....not sure what that has to do with games but ok) and 3.) the original Xbox/360 don't have enough rpgs, date/rape sims and kinds of games that the Japanese like in comparison to the Wii/PS3. This one was actually true with the original Xbox but not so much for the 360. Beyond the exclusive rpgs Microsoft commissioned specifically to appeal to the Japanese(which they apparently didn't like), the 360 has several Japan-only 360 games made with Japanese gamers taste in mind. Also, counting both western and Japanese rpgs, the 360 has more rpgs than both the Wii and 360.

Hmmm....so what does that leave left for them to complain about? Um...that the 360 wasn't made in Japan like the Wii and PS3 were. That seems pretty valid since Japanese people have a very strong nationalist attitude towards their own products and to be honest theres nothing wrong with that. But it would be nice if they were alittle bit more open minded.

As for solutions to this problem, there is only one. Microsoft would have to lock down three key franchises as exclusives on their platform. And those would be Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Monster Hunter. That would "force" the Japanese to buy Microsoft's system, although you know they would still do it reluctantly. Of course thats not going to happen(especially not this gen) but thats basically the only way Microsoft could literally manage to move any significant number of systems over there.

Totally agree with your post THE 12P. The original complaint of the size of xbox was obvious junk. And the fact that the xbox360 was smaller than the PS3 proved it! Heck in fact the PS3 was bigger than the xbox(1) way bigger. So that leaves like you said Software taste and selection. xbox360 has MORE this generation, so the excuse is just that (a excuse). Why are we loyal to the Japanese machines while they are not loyal to the American machines? I had several PS1's and PS2's because of the SAME problem, disc read error. And only a 90 day warranty from Sony. But now we are using 360 hardware as a excuse? At least Microsoft increase our warranty to 3 years. Oh well

Yes I agree with everyone.
Man i ran through three ps2's and a psp which turned me off from sony all together. at least microsoft paid for their mistakes.

Guys, I like the Xbox 360 but to indysurfin's comments, you had several PS1's and PS2's? Seriously? What the hell were you doing to them? :) My PS2 slim has lasted just fine the past 6 years.

And guess why Msft increased the warranty to three years? RRODs supreme, all over the place. And they STILL don't put the x-clamps on the motherboard to fix it, even after it's been "repaired." So here's till your next RROD...at least you'll have the 3yr warranty, mon ami.

@ The 1 2 P 1 That a lame argument for Microsoft and it doesn't explain why Sony is selling more Ps3 to Microsoft 360. To say the 360 is unable to sell because it's a american made product is just plan dumb for two reason one because there are not enough Japan style games on the 360 and two the 360 is not even american made . Here a little secret for Microsoft if you make games for what the world wants and stop making games for only just us american you could had sold more 360 . Sony have more exclusive then Microsoft , the Ps3 is at the same price to the 360 , people the playing field is even there are no more excuses.I am not a lame Ps3 or 360 fanboy and i dont care about systems sales , All i care about is what games am buying for my Ps3 or 360 and that it congad Sony on your growth.

@indysurfn--you bring up another point that I purposely didn't cover. I was waiting for someone to say that the Japanese don't buy 360's because of the rrod. But if that were true they wouldn't have bought the PS1(many systems had overheating issues) or the PS2(disc read error FTW) so much. Luckily my PS2 slim hasn't giving me any issues so far.

@Rob Schatz--I think he was just saying that the PS2 had some hardware issues just like the 360 and many other systems have had hardware issues. He wasn't saying that all Sony's systems suck. And like you my PS2 has been running fine for the last three years. But I have friends who haven't been so fortunate.

BTW, you two were the only ones mature enough for me to respond to. I no longer respond to immature little kids on this site who aren't intelligent enough to read valid viewpoints that differ from their own fanboyism. Plus, if you can't use spellcheck then you will never be on my level. Just saying.

@ The 1 2 P Realy kid ? lmao dude it's just a blog and it's not that serious lol only 3 to 6 people comment here hahahahahaha we don't get paid for comments and we don't get graded for comment so let it go ok. Mine spellcheck works ok i just don't use it or care . Here the real facts PS3 and the 360 sells are at the same price point , better exclusives on the PS3 this is why the PS3 is selling and why there only 4 mil behind the 360 that it. LMAO at you man ever time this blog site post a story about sony you always post some lame spin LOL what Sony do to you? serious dude try to have a good day and i will read your next comment to the next story about Sony.

@ The 1 2 P Dude i don't know what Sony done to you like took your milk money or dating your girlfriend but man let it go , it's not good for you to hold all that anger . I understand everyone have a right to comment on the story but you take it too far man , am sorry i got you upset but dude that was a lame spin . The story was about Sony is 4 mil behind Microsoft on system sells not why japanese do not support the 360 because it's american made which is kind of funny because the 360 is not made . Your all over the road on this one LMAO at you like i said before see you on the next story . you are too damn funny for me you need to do stand up and stop wasting your time here with us.

Honestly, I don't think the whole “nationalist” bias has as much to do with the success of Sony and Nintendo systems or failure of Microsoft in Japan – international brands can succeed in Japan and Microsoft has made Windows the default OS in the region just like anywhere else. I think it has more to do with established brands in gaming, and Nintendo and PlayStation are just more well known than Xbox (the first of which was a non-factor in Japan). I frankly don't see anything solving that – the die is pretty much cast for this generation, and besides that, portable systems have a much greater affect on “core” gaming in Japan than they do over here, which is a market Microsoft isn't even in.

Besides, while the PS3 had its best year ever in Japan, that market is too small to account for the differences listed here. The PS3 has seen a boost across the board since launching the slim, closing the sales gap in the U.S. and U.K. and widening the lead it has in other territories. The Xbox 360 isn't going away, but it really looks like the PS3 will surpass it unless something like Natal has a huge affect on the market.

@David--I agree that the layout for this gen has pretty much been established in Japan. And like I already said, even if Japan was neglecting the 360 because of their "nationalist" attitude(although you are also correct about their brand loyalty) thats not neccesarily a bad thing. It just means it's not their thing. But I think it certainly needs to be factored into why the PS3 is catching up to the 360(which was basically my whole point).

So I can see the PS3 catching up to the 360 in worldwide sales by next year(despite Natal and Move coming out) but like I said in another thread--I don't see the PS3 outselling the 360 here in the US anytime soon. We shall see though.

@ David thank you in for your agreement that the nationalist bias is a lame argument , To sit there a think that is a joke. Sony had a great line up with exclusive titles , the PS3 system is at the same price point as the 360 pro there nothing Microsoft can hang it hat on why there different from the PS3 . The PS3 will pass the 360 in sells but it's really doesn't matter because Microsoft and Sony are to far behind Nintendo.
Sony don't need to be a one trick pony and just worry on the U S sells only .

Its been great and i have read the article. So looking for the more information.
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