NEWS - Monday, June 14, 2004
More Japanese Sales Woe For Xbox
It really does seem that Japan will never quite ’get’ Xbox in this generation. Despite reports of extra marketing activity and price-cuts, Microsoft’s console continues to falter in Asia’s key territory with Media Create reporting weekly sales of just 574 units, for the week ending June 6. Failure to cater for the RPG-obsessed Japanese market and the reluctance of key local developers such as Square Enix to support the machine are two major reasons behind the Xbox’s stuttering overseas display. Inevitably, it’s a completely different story for both Sony and Nintendo, with PS2 weekly sales almost reaching 30,000 while the GBA SP and GameCube chalked up figures of 24,838 and 5,020 respectively. Unless Microsoft finds new ways of expanding its appeal beyond its very ’westernised’ image and branding, the Xbox will continue to sink without trace in Asian territories. However, at least some hope was offered to the imminent Xbox 2 after Square Enix recently admitting to the possibility of developing for the machine. Final Fantasy on a Microsoft console? You just never know.Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com
