should Microsoft pull out of Japan? or at least stop spending so much money for that market?

The japanese market is very different from the US. I read a study that japanese gamers don't like mindless violence.

They prefer more story based games. Something that gives the fighting a purpose or a greater meaning. They also like to have an understanding of both the good and bad sides. They want to know what drives both sides. Which usually requires a lot of story for both point of views to be expressed. Which would make the RPG genre or JRPGs more popular over there.

Also anime is like the most popular thing over. Which over here has a more niche following. So they tend to pick up games with a more anime style. Now some people use the argument that japs don't buy american products. Well anime is popular OVER THERE and is made in JAPAN so naturally they buy what they like more than foreign products. Now if western games started having a more anime style it would be interesting to see what it would do for the Japanese market.

Now the west is a more multiplayer market. Most western players could careless about what they're fighting for. Aslong as they get to blow someones head off for self satisfaction or bragging rights. It just so happens that the 360s most popular games or more multiplayer based.

Yet Microsoft continues to spend and lose money to break into the Japanese market. The price for the 360 in Japan is even more cheaper than the prices in US and EU. And it STILL barely sells. It doesn't help that FFXIII is exclusive to the PS3 in Japan. Meaning all the gamers that bought their 360s for JRPGs are going to be screwed out of the king of JRPGs.

Sure the 360 has been recieving a lot japanese support. Remember when the sells for the 360 spiked when Tales of Vesperia was released? So many gamers over there bought a 360 just for that game(a JRPG). Whereas many 360 owners in the US bought their 360s for Halo 3(a FPS). Theres your difference in the markets right there.

The way I see it MS should either turn their system into a more "Japanese" system(although it would be interesting to see what it would do for the west) or just quit ttrying so hard over there.

what do you guys think?

Short Answer: No

Longer Answer: MS needs Japanese game developers and they have them. If they pulled out of the Japanese market then Japanese developers would stop making games like Bayonetta which is better for the Xbox 360 than on the PS3. MS made a huge profit while Sony is losing money. Apparently MS can spend what it needs to hold onto Japan and still make money hand over fist. MS is building their brand more and more in Japan, why would they stop now? The Japanese are incredibly xenophobic and really don't like products from non-Japanese companies. It's amazing Microsoft has done as well as it has with it's second console. Both Forza 3 and Halo ODST made it into the top ten sales in Japan for their launches. MS knows they need both Western and Eastern game companies making games for Xbox 360 to be able appeal to core gamers who re used to and want to buy both. By not giving up the fight in Japan they maintain a presence there and through word of mouth their brand will grow and become more accepted by Japanese gamers. The next Xbox will probably do very well in Japan so long as MS stays the course. They have a long term plan to take over the game industry and so far, even with their mistakes, they are on track to reach that goal.

Besides, Japan is the smallest of the three gaming markets. It doesn't really matter if the Xbox sells well so long as Japanese developers can still be convinced they need to make games for the Xbox 360 to be able to sell well globally.

343_Guilty_Spark wrote:

Short Answer: No

Longer Answer: MS needs Japanese game developers and they have them. If they pulled out of the Japanese market then Japanese developers would stop making games like Bayonetta which is better for the Xbox 360 than on the PS3. MS made a huge profit while Sony is losing money. Apparently MS can spend what it needs to hold onto Japan and still make money hand over fist. MS is building their brand more and more in Japan, why would they stop now? The Japanese are incredibly xenophobic and really don't like products from non-Japanese companies. It's amazing Microsoft has done as well as it has with it's second console. Both Forza 3 and Halo ODST made it into the top ten sales in Japan for their launches. MS knows they need both Western and Eastern game companies making games for Xbox 360 to be able appeal to core gamers who re used to and want to buy both. By not giving up the fight in Japan they maintain a presence there and through word of mouth their brand will grow and become more accepted by Japanese gamers. The next Xbox will probably do very well in Japan so long as MS stays the course. They have a long term plan to take over the game industry and so far, even with their mistakes, they are on track to reach that goal.

Besides, Japan is the smallest of the three gaming markets. It doesn't really matter if the Xbox sells well so long as Japanese developers can still be convinced they need to make games for the Xbox 360 to be able to sell well globally.

I agree. And to further drive home that point.
http://kotaku.com/5394019/bayonetta-xbox-360-selling-out

Yeah, as long as Microsoft is making a profit, I see no reason to abandon Japan.

Japan is the smallest market in gaming, no really it actually is. Look at the sales numbers, Japan makes up about 10% - 15% of the market, Europe makes up around 20%-35% and U.S.A makes up a huge 50-60% of the gaming market. Japan is meagre.

I could care less about what is happening in Japan.

Japan believe it or not is a better market for 360 then many other 360 markets.

3rd world markets and Austrailia have fewer install bases then the 360 base in japan. I see no reason to pull out.

Maybe. Most Japanese gamers have been with Nintendo and Sony for a long time. They're both companies based in Japan, or at least have strong support in Japan. Microsoft is an American company, and it's going to be difficult for them to gain attention in Japan.

Arbiteris wrote:

I could care less about what is happening in Japan.

I agree 100%