Microsoft Takes Aim at Japanese Market With Role-Playing Games

[Junaid Alam]

Microsoft Takes Aim at Japanese Market With Role-Playing Games

Xbox 360 sales in Japan have been abysmal so far, but Microsoft is aiming to turn that around with a barrage of role-playing game releases this year.

A slew of Japanese role-playing games are due out in Japan, including those from well-known developers Square-Enix and Namco Bandai.

They are:


Tales of Vesperia - August, Japan and North America
Infinite Undiscovery - September, worldwide
Fable 2 - September, North America (TBD, Japan)
Mass Effect - TBA, Japan
The Last Remnant - December, worldwide
Star Ocean 4 - TBA 2009, worldwide


Microsoft still faces an uphill battle, however, as it typically only moves a paltry few thousand units of Xbox 360s in Japan each week. Further, the console is heavily associated with first-person shooters, and there is no shortage of role-playing titles on other, far more popular platforms in the country, such as the Nintendo DS handheld and the PlayStation 2.

Source: Ars Technica [http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2008/06/10/microsoft-pushing-japanese-front-with-jrpgs-this-fall]

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[Sgt. Gunlock]

HA Good luck that place is like Bizarro world when it comes to Western influence in games

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

All of those but Fable and Mass Effect are Japanese developed though, so they might have a chance.

 

[slaygore]

Good luck microsoft for you are competing against the godly ps2 and its huge collection of rpgs in japan. Yes they are still making games for that thing.

 

[ccesarano]

SWEET! The first actual date released for Fable 2! I was worried it would be one of many cluttered into a November or December release, but I can deal with September.

Tales of is a decently big series over there, so I can see that making a splash. Star Ocean 4 is also a pretty major franchise, so I can see that making a big deal next year. Unfortunately, no matter what, none of them are Final Fantasy so it's impossible to see if they'll actually push consoles.

There's also the possibility of a port to PS3 later.

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

SWEET! The first actual date released for Fable 2! I was worried it would be one of many cluttered into a November or December release, but I can deal with September.

Tales of is a decently big series over there, so I can see that making a splash. Star Ocean 4 is also a pretty major franchise, so I can see that making a big deal next year. Unfortunately, no matter what, none of them are Final Fantasy so it's impossible to see if they'll actually push consoles.

There's also the possibility of a port to PS3 later.

Technically, Infinite Undiscovery is made by Square-Enix. That doesn't make it Final Fantasy, but it's worth noting that even those guys are busting out the Xbox360 chops.

 

[ccesarano]

True, but not every Squenix title has as strong and faithful a following. Look at Legend of Mana on the Playstation, for example. I found it to be an excellent game, if not a deviation from the formula presented in previous titles, but so many people hated it.

 

[tendo82]

Microsoft should just call a spade a spade and give up on Japan.

 

[slaygore]

SWEET! The first actual date released for Fable 2! I was worried it would be one of many cluttered into a November or December release, but I can deal with September.

Tales of is a decently big series over there, so I can see that making a splash. Star Ocean 4 is also a pretty major franchise, so I can see that making a big deal next year. Unfortunately, no matter what, none of them are Final Fantasy so it's impossible to see if they'll actually push consoles.

There's also the possibility of a port to PS3 later.

Technically, Infinite Undiscovery is made by Square-Enix. That doesn't make it Final Fantasy, but it's worth noting that even those guys are busting out the Xbox360 chops.

Actually tri-Ace is making the game, Square-Enix is just publishing. So it would be more Star Ocean fan base than Final Fantasy, but it could be a good cover up for ff fans to get it.

I consider Last Remnant a more final fantasy game even though it looks like its real time war game, but it definitely has that setting with all those mythical creatures and all.

 

[Sgt. Gunlock]

SWEET! The first actual date released for Fable 2! I was worried it would be one of many cluttered into a November or December release, but I can deal with September.

Tales of is a decently big series over there, so I can see that making a splash. Star Ocean 4 is also a pretty major franchise, so I can see that making a big deal next year. Unfortunately, no matter what, none of them are Final Fantasy so it's impossible to see if they'll actually push consoles.

There's also the possibility of a port to PS3 later.

Microsoft Owens Lionhead so not likely man

 

[Sgt. Gunlock]

never mind

 

[gnaw]

What if they took all the decision-making parts of Oblivion and turned it into a lengthy gamenovel? Would that sell in Japan?

 

[shadow skill]

What if they took all the decision-making parts of Oblivion and turned it into a lengthy gamenovel? Would that sell in Japan?

No because even if they did that Oblivion would still suck.

Meh I expect Star Ocean will find it's way to the PS3 at least in Japan just like Eternal Sonata. I don't really see why these companies bother so much of the 360 base in it's home country is not in to these kinds of games. Hell Last Remnant is apparently coming to the PS3 and for the longest time I thought it was an Xbox 360 exclusive. Why would the Japanese gamers even care about Microsoft's rather valiant RPG offensive?

 

[Sgt. Gunlock]

I think there starting to open up to are way of makeing games since they'v been doing the same thing for years they going to half to start makeing for a Global makeit

 

[Joeshie]

I still find it insane that the 360 is the best console to have for RPGs this generation. If you had told me that last generation, I would have laughed in your face.

 

[ccesarano]

I still find it insane that the 360 is the best console to have for RPGs this generation. If you had told me that last generation, I would have laughed in your face.

I keep telling people, Nintendo DS. It has more and it has "better" (as far as "better" goes with JRPG's).

What if they took all the decision-making parts of Oblivion and turned it into a lengthy gamenovel? Would that sell in Japan?

You'd have to make the hero 18 with spiky bleached hair, make the sword twice as huge, stylize the armor to look awesome despite how improbable, make all the girls 14 with huge knockers, and completely redesign the monsters to have glowing bits. Oh, and the hero has to spend over half the game complaining about life and his lot in it, but towards the end his token love interest, an optimistic and spunky girl that would never be attracted to such a depressed asshole in real life, pulls him out of it and shows him life is worth living.

 

[Jhereg42]

You'd have to make the hero 18 with spiky bleached hair, make the sword twice as huge, stylize the armor to look awesome despite how improbable, make all the girls 14 with huge knockers, and completely redesign the monsters to have glowing bits. Oh, and the hero has to spend over half the game complaining about life and his lot in it, but towards the end his token love interest, an optimistic and spunky girl that would never be attracted to such a depressed asshole in real life, pulls him out of it and shows him life is worth living.

You are forgetting, if it's in virtual novel format we also need to make a dojin version with lots of sex to capitalize on the entire market.

Instant hit.