Xbox Japan boss Takashi Sensui has said that strengthening the Xbox 360's RPG line-up is "a priority", after a surprising console sales boost on the back of role-playing titans from Namco-Bandai and Square Enix.
Speaking in an interview with Edge-Online, Sensui said Microsoft believes that the launch of big RPG titles for 360 in Japan is an important part of the road to success in the region.
"The recent launch of Tales of Vesperia was a true catalyst for console sales and in order to bring more gamers from a broader segment of consumers to the Xbox 360, we need to make the strengthening of our RPG line-up a priority," Sensui told Edge.
360 sales saw a massive boost last month following the release of Namco-Bandai's Tales of Vesperia, and then again this month during the launch of Square Enix's Infinite Undiscovery. It even managed to outsell PS3 2.5:1 in the region.
Sensui says he's hopeful that the 360 will continue to be competitive with the Wii and PS3 over an extended stretch of time, and that Microsoft is aiming to achieve one million console sales in the country as soon as possible (the number currently stands at 717,275).
"Sales have been in an upward trend in Japan recently and we intend to work hard to push this momentum forward moving into the holiday sales season," he said. "As an initial milestone, we would like to hit the one million mark as soon as possible, and are continuing to work hard to get to this milestone and go beyond.
"We have similar high hopes for the upcoming launch of other RPGs such as The Last Remnant, Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope and Fable II. However, we have no plans to launch Final Fantasy XIII in Japan."
No plans to release FFX111 in Japan??? Ummm, surely that should be the BIGGEST one to release in Japan?!?.. Am I missing something?
Sony have the rights for it in Japan it seems... They would LOVE to otherwise.
While he's right, more RPGs = stronger Japanese consumer support, currently, the Xbox IS the console of choice for the roleplayer... There have been a meagre collection of RPGs released so far - the best of which is on the 360.
This sudden rise in console sales for Microsoft is great but I'm sure it will still ultimately fail to make any real impact in Japan this time around.
Having said that I know it's not about this gen. for Microsoft, but more about getting the Xbox brand some recognition for the subsequent consoles they release and building on success. If the PS3 had been anything like the machine it was hyped to be, Microsoft would still be synonymous with Windows and PC's in Japan and not THE machine to buy to play JRPG's.
Stronger?? The 360 has the best selection of Jap RPG's out of all the next gen hardware (or so i thought). While we're on the subject, don't forget about us (brits), i want them too!
Not having Final Fantasy released in Japan is a big blow for MS. The last Final Fantasy didnt sell well outside Japan, but in Asia they are still FF daft. So whats the point in paying all that money when you cant even release the game in the country thats mad for it. Now they'll have to buy a PS3 to play it on. And that RPG's generally dont sell as well in the UK and Europe anyway, it makes it seem like the money they've spent has been wasted.
I think the PS3 needs more RPG's than the 360 in Japan! Have any been released yet for PS3? No wonder it isn't selling very well at the moment...
More? Don't you mean a JRPG full stop. Folklore was not the RPG for Japan (thats only my opinion). Sony have really dropped the ball concerning JRPG's this gen. White Knight and FF13(although now thats going multi I will see what reviews etc say about each version) are 2 that I can say I want without scouting around looking for more titles.
Didnt Disgaea 3 sell well in Japan on the PS3? Did it get released there yet?
I rented Infinite Discovery for a weekend after its release. Just to see what the fuss was about. I have to state here I'm not a fan of JRPG but really didn't like the game at all. I don't think its gone down a storm in Japan either. It was critised for poor graphics and a poor story line.
I rented Infinite Discovery for a weekend after its release. Just to see what the fuss was about. I have to state here I'm not a fan of JRPG but really didn't like the game at all. I don't think its gone down a storm in Japan either. It was critised for poor graphics and a poor story line.
At the moment it's the p**s poor American voice acting that's grating on my nerves!! My kingdom for a Japanese language option. It’s been a standard feature on all the rest of the RPGs released so far on the 360. Why the hell not this one!? Grrrr!!!!!!
I rented Infinite Discovery for a weekend after its release. Just to see what the fuss was about. I have to state here I'm not a fan of JRPG but really didn't like the game at all. I don't think its gone down a storm in Japan either. It was critised for poor graphics and a poor story line.
At the moment it's the p**s poor American voice acting that's grating on my nerves!! My kingdom for a Japanese language option. It’s been a standard feature on all the rest of the RPGs released so far on the 360. Why the hell not this one!? Grrrr!!!!!!
Yes most of the voice acting is poor for our translation also some levelling in the voice loudness levels would of been nice too. Graphics aren't that poor in my opinion (a lot better than DIsgaeas I believe) and the story is not the worst by a long shot.
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