Kinect (previously Natal)

[Daragon]

Bombed in Japan is stretching it. They've sold a couple of million, which is about what they expected to do.

As for why MS didn't go for a similar motion control tech? Patents. It's always down to the bloody patents.

I'm sure Microsoft have enough disposable income to burn on a patent or two, Sony managed it.

[Team Andromeda]

But the 360 has had plenty of exclusive JRPGs in the past, all of which have been outsold in Japan by the likes of Gears of War, Halo 3 and Modern Warfare 2. I think that audience is a lost cause, they're 'core' enough to know where their 'allegences' lie.

The 360 has sold way better than the X-Box in Japan due to it simply having some Japanese RPG's for the system. I really don't think Natal is going to make any difference to the Japanese, unlike MS NCL have a huge following in Japan (have done since the 80's) and have IP's that the Japanese care about.

I think putting more RPG's, getting more shooters up on LIVE and improving the number of games released in Japan (something that was truly dire in the X-Box days) is the better way for MS Japan to go, rather than Natal.

And I'm still pretty sure that Blue Dragoon remains the best selling 360 game in Japan.

[sj33]

I think we're talking about different audiences here. Japanese gamers might have brand and IP loyalty. Japanese masses don't know one game IP from another, aside from the obvious big names (and even then, are unlikely to be able to pin those to a specific format). Lets not be under the illusion that Kinect is supposed to appeal to anyone other than the 'masses'.

[Team Andromeda]

I think we're talking about different audiences here. Japanese gamers might have brand and IP loyalty. Japanese masses don't know one game IP from another, aside from the obvious big names (and even then, are unlikely to be able to pin those to a specific format). Lets not be under the illusion that Kinect is supposed to appeal to anyone other than the 'masses'.

Japan to me is casual city, unless it's got a number in the title the Japanese don't want to know . They still buy Dragon Quest and FF in their millions.

That is also thanks to the masses. The same masses that gave the Super Famicom and PS2 massive market share

[sj33]

I think you underestimate what an impact the Wii and DS had in terms of growing the potential audience. Of course, the Snes and PlayStation2 were huge in Japan, but they were still very much 'gamer's' consoles, the audiences were people who played games. Today, people of all ages own a DS or Wii, there's a distinct separation between the traditional gamer (who likely already own a PS3), and the 'new' kind of audience who do not distinguish a DS from any other piece of electronics that they own.

If we were talking about 'gamers', I would agree with you completely. But since that's not the audience that Microsoft is targeting with Kinect, I'd have to disagree. Your average Japanese non-gamer doesn't care any more about Final Fantasy 28 than they do about Halo 34 - it's all the same to them.

[Team Andromeda]

I think you underestimate what an impact the Wii and DS had in terms of growing the potential audience. Of course, the Snes and PlayStation2 were huge in Japan, but they were still very much 'gamer's' consoles, the audiences were people who played games. Today, people of all ages own a DS or Wii, there's a distinct separation between the traditional gamer (who likely already own a PS3), and the 'new' kind of audience who do not distinguish a DS from any other piece of electronics that they own.

Before we go off topic too much. The DS I would agree with you, the Wii ?. Is that selling at a better ratio in Japan than the PS2 and Super Fami, I don't see it. Also since FF13 and the Slim PS3 the PS3 has been the number one selling console (non HH) hasn't it ?

I think people of most ages in Japan have owned and played consoles (non Handheld) myself

[sj33]

I don't have reliable statistics on hand, but good ol' wiki reckons the Snes sold 49.10 million units between 1990 and 2003, compared with 79.50 million units for the Wii since Christmas 2006. That's a significant difference in uptake, even if those are worldwide statistics.

Nonetheless, I think we're going to have to agree to disagree. You feel JRPGs are the answer, I think Kinect would be if they got their arse in gear and got people talking about it. We're debating about hypotheticals here

[MJ]

I pre-ordered one from Gamestation's website, as a backup to my in-store order, and I received this e-mail today:

Yay! Your pre-order for Xbox 360 250GB With Kinect & Kinect Adventures is now being processed and will be flying out the door via your preferred delivery option right on time for the day of release.

I want the store one though, because I've got trade-in credit to put towards it. You can return Gamestation online orders to the store for a refund anyway, as long as it's factory sealed.

[Team Andromeda]

Nonetheless, I think we're going to have to agree to disagree. You feel JRPGs are the answer, I think Kinect would be if they got their arse in gear and got people talking about it. We're debating about hypotheticals here

I'm on about sales fig in Japan only, not worldwide . Also I don't think Japanese RPG's are the only answer in Japan, just that to me they would help more with sales than Natal. After the total mess up with the X-Box in Japan and its brand, its going to take a couple of generations of MS sticking at it in Japan, for me

[Mr M0by]

I pre-ordered one from Gamestation's website, as a backup to my in-store order, and I received this e-mail today:



I want the store one though, because I've got trade-in credit to put towards it. You can return Gamestation online orders to the store for a refund anyway, as long as it's factory sealed.

If you refuse delivery, surely that achieves the same end, without you having to sort out the return etc.

[Dezm0nd]

http://www.giantbomb.com/chat/ < Live stream of Kinect!

[Family Fry]

Hilarious watching a grown man playing Kinectimals for our pleasure.
Although it does look VERY nice graphically and got to say children would just LAP this game up.
In related news bought a bottle of coke today and saw they are giving away a Kinect every hour till end of month, so that's what the $500mil is going towards, writing off all the free stock MS are just giving away.

[MJ]

PSA: Xbox 360 S Kinect bundle doesn't come with Kinect AC adapter | Joystiq

The reason I went for the S was two fold: one, my DVD drive was playing up on my Pro and two, I didn't want to plug Kinect into the front of my console, I'm already using the extra port you gain from having the HD DVD drive connected, or use another mains power socket. It's still cheeky on MS' part not to include all the cables though.

[Mr M0by]

Hilarious watching a grown man playing Kinectimals for our pleasure.
Although it does look VERY nice graphically and got to say children would just LAP this game up.
In related news bought a bottle of coke today and saw they are giving away a Kinect every hour till end of month, so that's what the $500mil is going towards, writing off all the free stock MS are just giving away.

At E3 Sony announced a massive marketing venture with Coca-Cola for the US. I wonder if that's had the desired affect for them over there.... if it's even started yet.

[teddymeow]

The 360s has a special Kinect port on the back of it to draw power. It doesn't use a normal USB socket, it's a slightly different shape.