Knight
06-18-2003, 11:12 PM
MS CEO: Next-Box in Japan by 2006
News by: Fennec Fox
18-JUN-03
At a conference in Redmond, Washington devoted to the future of information-technology investment, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer admitted that the Xbox is "having trouble" in Japan but expressed confidence that the system's fortunes would turn around by the time its successor, the so-called Xbox 2, is launched in the year 2006. Ballmer also said that his company has no intention of buying a majority stake in Sega, putting an apparent end to one of the game industry's most pervasive buyout rumors.
Originally launched November 2001 in the U.S. and February 2002 in Japan, the Xbox "has gained the number-two spot" worldwide over Nintendo's GameCube, according to Ballmer. However, the system is a distant third in Japan, a virtual no-name compared to the Cube and Sony's PS2 system. While calling the situation in Japan "a difficult one," Ballmer reminded attendees of Microsoft's trademark tenacity: "Our company is a patient one that looks at matters in the long term... We will develop and provide new products and services to appeal to [Japanese] consumers." Ballmer also stated that the next-generation Xbox is slated to launch in Japan by 2006, making a U.S. launch in 2005 is a distinct possibility.
On the subject of a Sega buyout, however, Ballmer was less optimistic. "There are no plans for that," the Kyodo news service quoted him as saying at the conference. "I don't think that will happen."
Sega is currently trying to recover from large amounts of debt, a decline in its console-software business, and a failed merger with pachinko-machine maker Sammy. Hisao Oguchi, the company's new president, said publicly that "it is possible for Sega to restructure itself independently" and announced a bold plan in mid-May that called for layoffs, development consolidation and new tie-ups with overseas game studios.
http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/news/29841.shtml
News by: Fennec Fox
18-JUN-03
At a conference in Redmond, Washington devoted to the future of information-technology investment, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer admitted that the Xbox is "having trouble" in Japan but expressed confidence that the system's fortunes would turn around by the time its successor, the so-called Xbox 2, is launched in the year 2006. Ballmer also said that his company has no intention of buying a majority stake in Sega, putting an apparent end to one of the game industry's most pervasive buyout rumors.
Originally launched November 2001 in the U.S. and February 2002 in Japan, the Xbox "has gained the number-two spot" worldwide over Nintendo's GameCube, according to Ballmer. However, the system is a distant third in Japan, a virtual no-name compared to the Cube and Sony's PS2 system. While calling the situation in Japan "a difficult one," Ballmer reminded attendees of Microsoft's trademark tenacity: "Our company is a patient one that looks at matters in the long term... We will develop and provide new products and services to appeal to [Japanese] consumers." Ballmer also stated that the next-generation Xbox is slated to launch in Japan by 2006, making a U.S. launch in 2005 is a distinct possibility.
On the subject of a Sega buyout, however, Ballmer was less optimistic. "There are no plans for that," the Kyodo news service quoted him as saying at the conference. "I don't think that will happen."
Sega is currently trying to recover from large amounts of debt, a decline in its console-software business, and a failed merger with pachinko-machine maker Sammy. Hisao Oguchi, the company's new president, said publicly that "it is possible for Sega to restructure itself independently" and announced a bold plan in mid-May that called for layoffs, development consolidation and new tie-ups with overseas game studios.
http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/news/29841.shtml