Announcement

**Drake Tungsten** · January 20, 2003, 16:55

So now it's official, the only region (indeed, country) in the world that the Gamecube outsells the Xbox is Japan.

It's a good thing for Nintendo that Japan is much more important than mere sales data indicates. MS needs to think of something to boost their sales in Japan or they could be in some trouble...

**Asher** · January 20, 2003, 16:59

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
It's a good thing for Nintendo that Japan is much more important than mere sales data indicates. MS needs to think of something to boost their sales in Japan or they could be in some trouble...

I really don't think it matters much to the people buying the Xboxes.

Let's face it, the people who want Japanese games buy a Japanese console.

The Xbox appeals more to more mainstream gamers. MS isn't in trouble if Japan keeps tanking, and for evidence I point you to the worldwide sales numbers where the Xbox has been increasing in sales since launch to the point of passing the Gamecube...

Of course, it'd be awesome if the Xbox did well in Japan, but let's deal with the facts: It'll never do well in Japan. Ever. It's a lost cause, even though MS thinks they can crack the market with persistence, I think it's a waste of their money.

Japan's market is in decline, good Japanese developers still produce games for the Xbox because they know the market outside of Japan is favorable for the Xbox...

Plus MS is the only game console manufacturer who doesn't force you to submit your game to three different quality assurance people for each region: You send it to one center, they okay or send it back. Saves time & money for developers...

**Drake Tungsten** · January 20, 2003, 17:06

The Xbox appeals more to more mainstream gamers. MS isn't in trouble if Japan keeps tanking, and for evidence I point you to the worldwide sales numbers where the Xbox has been increasing in sales since launch to the point of passing the Gamecube...

I'd be really suprised if the Xbox wasn't leading the Gamecube, given the vast amount of money MS has dumped into this venture.

Of course, it'd be awesome if the Xbox did well in Japan, but let's deal with the facts: It'll never do well in Japan. Ever. It's a lost cause, even though MS thinks they can crack the market with persistence, I think it's a waste of their money.

MS is smarter than you are. They know that they have to gain the support of the major Japanese development houses to beat Sony and they know that success in Japan is a vital part of gaining that support. They're being persistent because they have to crack the Japanese market to make their Xbox plans work out.

Japan's market is in decline, good Japanese developers still produce games for the Xbox because they know the market outside of Japan is favorable for the Xbox...

There's more to the Japanese development world than Sega and Tecmo. MS has a long way to go in gaining Japanese support.

**Asher** · January 20, 2003, 17:10

I don't see why you make such a big deal about Japanese developer support for Xbox.

Capcom, Konami, Tecmo, Sega, etc. all make Xbox games.

I mean, there's tons of big name Japanese games on the Xbox. Off the top of my head: DOA3, DOA4, DOA:XBV, Ninja Gaiden, Steel Battalion, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, SegaGT 2002, JSRF, Gunvalkyrie, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Shenmue II, Dino Crisis 3, Crazy Taxi 3, House of the Dead III, Sega Soccer Slam, True Fantasy Online, Crimson Sea, Silent Hill 2, Marvel vs Capcom 2, Capcom vs SNK 2, Genma Onimusha etc.

**Jon Miller** · January 20, 2003, 17:16

that other consol will rise of fall likfe all the others, based upon their games

Jon Miller

**Drake Tungsten** · January 20, 2003, 17:17

That's pretty sad support from Capcom and Konami. 2D fighters and ports of year-old PS2 games? Like I said, Tecmo and Sega are Microsoft's only real friends in Japan and that isn't enough, especially when you consider that Sega still has divided loyalties. MS needs some exclusives from Japanese developers and the boys in Redmond know this. That's why they're doing their best to crack into the Japanese market.

**Kramerman** · January 20, 2003, 17:22

I have not bothered to get any of the new consoles. I had a nintendo (Mario Bros 3!), a super nintendo (Mortal Kombat! Zelda!), and a nintendo 64 (Golden Eye!

Zelda!

). Of all the people I know, only ONE has a game cube, and only one has a Sega Dreamcast. Anyway, since i have all these friends with consoles, ive been able to sample them all.

In my opinion, X-box is the best, due to that I like the controler design much more than the others, and simply put, because of Halo. The game is good in single player mode, but in multiplayer (ive played with 13 other people once before) its just awesome, and after more than a year still hasnt gotten old. Too bad by the time Halo II comes out all my friends and I will have moved on...

PS2, initially, was very disappointing. All the games I played were mediocre, at best, and they got boring quickly. It wasnt until I played SOCOM that the system began to look good. SOCOM is probably the best single player game I've ever played, and I wish i could try its multiplayer function, but i cant.

Kman

**Asher** · January 20, 2003, 17:22

MGS3 is rumoured to be a 6-month time exclusive on Xbox before being ported to the PS2.

Capcom spent a TON of money on Steel Battalion, for example, and they're developing Steel Battalion II right now as well.

Of course most of Konami and Capcom's games go to other consoles, but all of their major blockbusters find their way on to Xbox eventually. It'd be nice if more game out at the same time or before, but it's hardly critical...

The majority best selling games in North America and Europe no longer come from Japanese developers.

I still think the Xbox has ample Japanese games. In fact, a main reason not many Japanese developers make games for Xbox is because they simply don't sell very well.

Why? Because nobody really cares about the Japanese gmaes when they buy an Xbox. They buy the Xbox for kickass English games like Halo, Splinter Cell, Rallisport Challenge, MechAssault, Perfect Dark Zero, etc.

Japanese games don't hold much interest to most people with the Xbox. And that certainly hasn't stalled sales at all for the Xbox.

The people who should be worried about developer support is Nintendo. With Sega withdrawing its Sega Sports brand from Nintendo's console, and with really pathetic third party sales compared to Xbox and PS2, it desperately needs more North American/European developers...

**trickey** · January 20, 2003, 17:23

Gamcube is in better shape than Xbox IMHO. MS looses money on each Xbox sold, where as Nintendo makes money on each one sold. So for MS to do better than Nintendo, they would have to hugely outsell Nintendo in games. Which they didn't (i dont think, does anyone have the numbers?)

**Asher** · January 20, 2003, 17:27

Originally posted by trickey
Gamcube is in better shape than Xbox IMHO. MS looses money on each Xbox sold, where as Nintendo makes money on each one sold. So for MS to do better than Nintendo, they would have to hugely outsell Nintendo in games. Which they didn't (i dont think, does anyone have the numbers?)

MS does do better in software, but not "hugely" (yet).

We're not talking about financial shape. Nintendo is profiting off the Gamecube, while MS is losing money on the Xbox, but that really doesn't matter. The money MS loses on the Xbox hasn't even dented their profits, they still post insane profits...

**Drake Tungsten** · January 20, 2003, 17:29

They buy the Xbox for kickass English games like Halo, Splinter Cell, Rallisport Challenge, MechAssault, Perfect Dark Zero, etc.

I think only one of those games is English...

The people who should be worried about developer support is Nintendo.

Nintendo's doing alright. They could do a lot better, but they aren't doing badly. Capcom is staunchly in their corner and their first party games make up for lot. As long as they can maintain good relations with the other Japanese developers, they'll do fine. Having less ambitious goals than MS doesn't hurt either...

**reds4ever** · January 20, 2003, 17:30

Jap games =

who needs 'em? (this question is only open to people over 13 years of age)

**reds4ever** · January 20, 2003, 17:32

Originally posted by Asher

MS does do better in software, but not "hugely" (yet).

We're not talking about financial shape. Nintendo is profiting off the Gamecube, while MS is losing money on the Xbox, but that really doesn't matter. The money MS loses on the Xbox hasn't even dented their profits, they still post insane profits...

XBox is getting MS's foot in the door, the XBox is just a loss leader to XBox2

**Asher** · January 20, 2003, 17:34

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
I think only one of those games is English...

By English I mean developed in an English-native country. It's far easier to say English than "Canada, US, and UK"

Capcom is staunchly in their corner and their first party games make up for lot.

Not really.
Remember the 5 "exclusive" Capcom games announced a while ago? 4 of those are no longer exclusive. They won't name the other platform(s) they're going to yet.

RE4 is the only exclusive one of the bunch, due to the contract Nintendo signed with them years ago for it...

I thought these sales figures might be interesting, to show why Nintendo should work on third party support. Xbox vs Gamecube US software sales by third parties in November 2002 (source: http://system-zero.com/sales/nov/500.html )

Platform Game Release-Date Publisher Monthly-Sales Year-To-Date-Sales Avg-Retail-Price Total-Revenues

XBX MORTAL KOMBAT: DEADLY NOV'02 MIDWAY 104,155 104,155 $48.88 $5,091,133.27
GCN MORTAL KOMBAT: DEADLY NOV'02 MIDWAY 38,169 38,169 $48.74 $1,860,447.94

XBX MEDAL HONOR FRONTLINE NOV'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 96,885 96,885 $49.68 $4,813,521.28
GCN MEDAL HONOR FRONTLINE NOV'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 34,864 34,864 $49.71 $1,732,912.41

GCN HARRY POTTER: CHAMBER NOV'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 83,998 83,998 $49.24 $4,136,003.99
XBX HARRY POTTER: CHAMBER NOV'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 37,521 37,521 $49.38 $1,852,658.28

XBX TONY HAWKS PRO SKATR4 OCT'02 ACTIVISION 55,749 91,320 $47.58 $2,652,589.47
GCN TONY HAWKS PRO SKATR4 OCT'02 ACTIVISION 45,057 66,852 $49.33 $2,222,654.44

XBX BOND 007: NIGHTFIRE NOV'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 53,279 53,279 $49.54 $2,639,535.84
GCN BOND 007: NIGHTFIRE NOV'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 49,897 49,897 $49.51 $2,470,139.53

XBX MADDEN NFL 2003 AUG'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 45,865 292,269 $47.14 $2,162,184.17
GCN MADDEN NFL 2003 AUG'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 28,989 112,889 $38.80 $1,124,747.44

XBX SPIDER-MAN: THE MOVIE APR'02 ACTIVISION 41,543 391,849 $39.10 $1,624,342.29
GCN SPIDER-MAN: THE MOVIE APR'02 ACTIVISION 20,751 300,088 $47.10 $977,311.18

XBX TIGER WOODS PGA 2003 OCT'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 39,054 51,858 $49.62 $1,937,766.24
GCN TIGER WOODS PGA 2003 OCT'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 10,939 13,557 $46.91 $513,134.65

XBX SW: JEDI KNIGHT II NOV'02 LUCASARTS ENTERTAINMENT 33,189 33,189 $51.13 $1,696,787.08
GCN SW: JEDI KNIGHT II NOV'02 LUCASARTS ENTERTAINMENT 18,355 18,355 $51.00 $936,062.55

XBX NBA LIVE 2003 OCT'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 30,417 84,106 $49.48 $1,505,046.47
GCN NBA LIVE 2003 OCT'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 13,549 27,263 $46.83 $634,463.24

XBX TIMESPLITTERS 2 OCT'02 EIDOS INTERACTIVE 30,174 91,583 $49.56 $1,495,507.75
GCN TIMESPLITTERS 2 OCT'02 EIDOS INTERACTIVE 23,801 63,546 $49.52 $1,178,704.54

XBX NFL 2K3 AUG'02 SEGA OF AMERICA 22,113 117,197 $31.69 $700,802.48
GCN NFL 2K3 AUG'02 SEGA OF AMERICA 6,025 24,289 $32.39 $195,123.20

XBX NBA 2K3 OCT'02 SEGA OF AMERICA 21,234 75,101 $49.43 $1,049,643.39
GCN NBA 2K3 OCT'02 SEGA OF AMERICA 5,246 13,213 $49.52 $259,799.29

XBX FIFA SOCCER 2003 NOV'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 20,326 20,326 $49.64 $1,009,060.05
GCN FIFA SOCCER 2003 NOV'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 8,125 8,125 $46.95 $381,471.04

XBX NEED SPEED: PURSUIT 2 SEP'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 20,171 68,990 $49.41 $996,574.18
GCN NEED SPEED: PURSUIT 2 SEP'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 19,496 44,570 $49.40 $963,075.28

XBX NCAA FOOTBALL 2003 JUL'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 19,167 183,216 $46.81 $897,131.76
GCN NCAA FOOTBALL 2003 JUL'02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 14,195 64,135 $32.30 $458,507.33

Announcement

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Game Console Thread (4th console to enter fray? etc)

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