Why Do The Japanese Hate The 360?

[DC RID3R]

It wouldn't be an understatement to say Microsoft's Xbox 360 has performed poorly, sales wise in Japan. But why is the 360 so unpopular over there? Apparently, it could have something to do with the AC adapter. Whilst attending the Nordic Games Convention, Parappa the Rapper creator Masaya Matsuura, revealed that the Japanese don't like the size of Microsoft's PSU.
The 360 has done **** in Japan. Now that that is out of the way, perhaps we can explore why the piece of kit that is loved across America and Europe does such a poor job at selling consoles in the Land of the Rising Sun. Parappa the Rapper creator Masaya Matsuura was on hand to explain why the Japanese simply don’t want a 360.

Speaking at the Nordic Games convention, Matsuura said the problem was with the AC adapter. Presumably, the Japanese don’t like a giant brick lying around in their living room or bedroom as it is an ugly sight to see. Hiding the brick seems not to be the answer, but not buying the machine itself seems to solve the problem for consumers.

News source: http://www.xboxic.com/news/2930

[alkalinetrio]

i SERIOUSLY doubt this has anything to do with it.

Besides, in comparison with size of the console take a look at the Wiis PSU. It's over a quarter of the size of the wii!!

Oh i forgot, they don't like wiis either :D

[UFOz2]

the answer is fucking simple... get it through you red neck thick skullz... its American made, there is no other reason to be added.

[redwolf]

lol what b*ll $hit :rolleyes:

[spikerules]

LOL this was probably said in jest, as was the case for the PS3 being too big for Japanese gamers!

[stop_loading]

the answer is fucking simple... get it through you red neck thick skullz... its American made, there is no other reason to be added.

wrong, ipod is american made, it sell well there, the answer is the console is flooded with garbage rehashed FPS trash

remove them, replace with real games (i,e japanese games), and it'll sell

[ku16610]

Yes , FF esq RPG`s are needed , random cooking sims and pachinko games :)


Also where is our next gen dating sim ???

[Nemo29]

i think not all games are released, are to eastern tastes. but i still believe alot of them must snub it before they really think about it just because of the brand. not all japanese gamers play rpg's and there are alot of japanese action games out there. so there is a market, but i doubt microsoft will be able to fill it with out huge amounts of advertising and a very low price.

[msa]

strange.
but why then buy a wii?
i'm too lazy to stand up and go to my wii and gamecube and compare, but isnt the wii-PSU bigger than the GC's one? of course, its smaller than the 360's one, but still not what i would call "compact".

[{{909}}]

the majority of games on the 360 are war based FPS, gangstar/pimp my ride em ups and other western themed games. Its a million miles from their culture. If bandia released a console in the west that provided nothing but games based on eastern religions, themes and culture do you think it would sell?

[Michael1]

the majority of games on the 360 are war based FPS, gangstar/pimp my ride em ups and other western themed games. Its a million miles from their culture. If bandia released a console in the west that provided nothing but games based on eastern religions, themes and culture do you think it would sell?


You have a really valid point there.;)

[shakoor_h]

because....
1. its american
2. its microsoft
3. the first xbox bombed
4. the design is ugly
5. huge and bulky
6. it breaks relatively easy...(you are scared to move the thing just in case)
7. Politics...america going to war etc.
8. the list goes on and on....

[DJB]

It's partially to do with Sony being Japanese for starters, and Microsoft (Xbox) being American.

But are they having a go at the PSU or the console itself?

You have to think, if the PSU was built into the 360, it would've made the console way too big, atleast you can hide the PSU somewhere else. And secondly, what happens is something goes wrong with the PSU? Personally I like the idea of the seperate PSU (regardless of size) just in case something goes wrong.

Honestly I dont think the PSU is too big as you have to consider what it has to house inside it, plus you dont want something that is going to break easily.

[PSPWAD]

It's partially to do with Sony being Japanese for starters, and Microsoft (Xbox) being American.

But are they having a go at the PSU or the console itself?

You have to think, if the PSU was built into the 360, it would've made the console way too big, atleast you can hide the PSU somewhere else. And secondly, what happens is something goes wrong with the PSU? Personally I like the idea of the seperate PSU (regardless of size) just in case something goes wrong.

Honestly I dont think the PSU is too big as you have to consider what it has to house inside it, plus you dont want something that is going to break easily.
Also for heat, if it was built in the system would have MORE heat issues...

[Trashcat]

because....
1. its american
2. its microsoft
7. Politics...america going to war etc.
Just like in the rest of the world most Japanese ppl have windows on their PCs so that won't be the reason.

[[Evol]]

im from Sweden and i don't like the PSU either. (its as big as the wii if you didn't notice !!!)

[DJB]

Just like in the rest of the world most Japanese ppl have windows on their PCs so that won't be the reason.

damn straight!

[DJB]

']im from Sweden and i don't like the PSU either. (its as big as the wii if you didn't notice !!!)

LMFAO I doubt it

[Xenogears V]

Simple, the Japan dominates Sony, or I perhaps has to now say it dominates Nintendo, therefore it is difficult to win against marks so much affirmed, and the same discourse for Microsoft in America, if you notice the 65% of the consoles 360 sold they are in America and almost a form of nationalism. They see more where the manufacturing house is present.

Europe is confirmed middle earth, in the sense that not being us Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo, it is the most impartial continent. Here because who wins in Europe, then it will win the final war!.:rolleyes:

[alkalinetrio]

oops edited my first post
i was meant to say in comparison with size, the Wii's PSU is huge in comparison with the wii.

[[Evol]]

LMFAO I doubt it
doubt it ???

that im from Sweden ?
that i dont like the PSU ?
or that it is as big as the wii ?

okey i exaggerated a bit its Almost as big as the wii and its Almost as big as the Ghostbusters ghost trap

[DJB]

']doubt it ???

that im from Sweden ?
that i dont like the PSU ?
or that it is as big as the wii ?

okey i exaggerated a bit its Almost as big as the wii and its Almost as big as the Ghostbusters ghost trap

I doubt it's as big as the wii, sorry for being so blunt earlier.

You did exaggerate a little bit yes, I like the reference to the ghostbuster trap hehe.

Like I posted earlier, it doesnt bother me that it's so big, I'd rather had a good solid PSU outside of the 360 where it can be replaced if needed, and ofcourse keeps the heat down inside the console.

I'm not knocking the Wii at all as I think its a nice console, I'd probably never own one but I do respect it.

[johnhummel]

What I love about these articles is there is inevitably someone who says "Oh, it's all about Nationalism - the Japanese don't like anything but Japanese products, because they are totally racist".

It's idiotic.

It basically says that the Japanese are such xenophobes, they will go out of their way to reject anything better than a Japanese product. But it completely ignores the facts. Levis? Huge sellers in Japan. The iPod (an American electronic product) incredibly popular. A couple of years back I had exchange students living in our house, and one of the first words one of the girls said upon entering my car was "Ohh - iPod! I want very much!" McDonald's is so huge that their recent promotion of the "Double Big Mac" outsold to the point they started running out of hamburger patties. English is so popular, that the Japanese Pokemon players are willing to give high level Pokemon characters just to trade for low level and crappy English named ones.

Then you look at the US losers in Japan, and you understand why they failed for so long. Start with cars. Lee Iococca once complained that unfair trade practices between the US and Japan and "nationalism" caused the Japanese who reject American cars. Right until someone pointed out that in Japan, they drive on the left on the road, and the US market didn't move the steering wheel to the right. An incredibly obvious move, one that would have US customers blasting a Japanese company that failed to take into account the US driving habits of driving on the right side of the street.

Can I hear a "Duuuuuhhhhhh"?

Now, take the Xbox line. When it launched, it was this huge black device that, in a small Japanese apartment, just took up too much room. It was plagued with disk scratching issues - issues that Microsoft declined to address until it became national news in Japan (who take their consoles far more seriously than the US market). It was expensive for the market. Hardly any RPG or rhythm games - but hey, one of the first games launched for the Xbox in Japan was a World War II first person shooter. Just what every Japanese person wants to do - participate in World War II again and be reminded that they lost!

Now, look at the PS3 launch. A big box that hardly fits in the Japanese apartment. Very expensive. Right now, no RPG games out for it. One of the first games was a FPS game. Add in the other nonsense (like it doesn't take PS2 controllers, so even if you have a game you *want* to play like Dance Dance Revolution or Taiko Drum Master, you can't play them on your PS3).

And the PS3 sales? Terrible - they're falling hard, and at this rate, they'll match the 360 - yet another big, expensive console that, for the first 18 months of its life, had no role playing games. It's only recently that some games for the Japanese market have been appearing on the 360, like Blue Dragon or IdolMaster - but nearly 2 years after the Japanese launch date, and they wonder why people aren't buying it.

If you fail in Japan, it's because you did not match your product to the market. McDonald's shifted to include smaller portions, different drinks (like green tea shakes), different food (like teriyaki burgers). Kentucky Fried Chicken is now considered to be a Japanese Christmas staple. Why? Because they marketed it to the country that way.

The 360 is failing in Japan.. They have a crappy Japanese marketing campaign (look at the commercials on Youtube - they're terrible, and you have no idea what they're selling), they waited nearly 2 years to bring out games that traditionally the Japanese liked, they had a failing product the first time around (look at people who haven't bought a Wii in the US because they thought the Gamecube sucked - are they anti-Japanese, or going off of their personal history with this product line?). The 360 could still do better, and perhaps over time they will.

So please, all that I ask is that we stop with the "the Japanese are racist xenophobes that don't buy American", which is flatly false. And it just makes you look irgnorant.

[[Evol]]

the problem for me is that i want to like the 360, its just some things that stings in my eyes.

i have listed my concerns in majority order

1. red rings scare me
2. i doubt the longevity of the console (considering xbox lifespan)
3. sound of the fans+dvd drive scares me
4. fps galore
5. the Psu is huge

im thinking most Japanese customers think in the same lines.

[So-Unreal]

What do the forums in Japan stay about the 360?

[Calidrifter]

What I love about these articles is there is inevitably someone who says "Oh, it's all about Nationalism - the Japanese don't like anything but Japanese products, because they are totally racist".

It's idiotic.

It basically says that the Japanese are such xenophobes, they will go out of their way to reject anything better than a Japanese product. But it completely ignores the facts. Levis? Huge sellers in Japan. The iPod (an American electronic product) incredibly popular. A couple of years back I had exchange students living in our house, and one of the first words one of the girls said upon entering my car was "Ohh - iPod! I want very much!" McDonald's is so huge that their recent promotion of the "Double Big Mac" outsold to the point they started running out of hamburger patties. English is so popular, that the Japanese Pokemon players are willing to give high level Pokemon characters just to trade for low level and crappy English named ones.

Then you look at the US losers in Japan, and you understand why they failed for so long. Start with cars. Lee Iococca once complained that unfair trade practices between the US and Japan and "nationalism" caused the Japanese who reject American cars. Right until someone pointed out that in Japan, they drive on the left on the road, and the US market didn't move the steering wheel to the right. An incredibly obvious move, one that would have US customers blasting a Japanese company that failed to take into account the US driving habits of driving on the right side of the street.

Can I hear a "Duuuuuhhhhhh"?

Now, take the Xbox line. When it launched, it was this huge black device that, in a small Japanese apartment, just took up too much room. It was plagued with disk scratching issues - issues that Microsoft declined to address until it became national news in Japan (who take their consoles far more seriously than the US market). It was expensive for the market. Hardly any RPG or rhythm games - but hey, one of the first games launched for the Xbox in Japan was a World War II first person shooter. Just what every Japanese person wants to do - participate in World War II again and be reminded that they lost!

Now, look at the PS3 launch. A big box that hardly fits in the Japanese apartment. Very expensive. Right now, no RPG games out for it. One of the first games was a FPS game. Add in the other nonsense (like it doesn't take PS2 controllers, so even if you have a game you *want* to play like Dance Dance Revolution or Taiko Drum Master, you can't play them on your PS3).

And the PS3 sales? Terrible - they're falling hard, and at this rate, they'll match the 360 - yet another big, expensive console that, for the first 18 months of its life, had no role playing games. It's only recently that some games for the Japanese market have been appearing on the 360, like Blue Dragon or IdolMaster - but nearly 2 years after the Japanese launch date, and they wonder why people aren't buying it.

If you fail in Japan, it's because you did not match your product to the market. McDonald's shifted to include smaller portions, different drinks (like green tea shakes), different food (like teriyaki burgers). Kentucky Fried Chicken is now considered to be a Japanese Christmas staple. Why? Because they marketed it to the country that way.

The 360 is failing in Japan.. They have a crappy Japanese marketing campaign (look at the commercials on Youtube - they're terrible, and you have no idea what they're selling), they waited nearly 2 years to bring out games that traditionally the Japanese liked, they had a failing product the first time around (look at people who haven't bought a Wii in the US because they thought the Gamecube sucked - are they anti-Japanese, or going off of their personal history with this product line?). The 360 could still do better, and perhaps over time they will.

So please, all that I ask is that we stop with the "the Japanese are racist xenophobes that don't buy American", which is flatly false. And it just makes you look irgnorant.
not so much that they lost, but, because modern day Japan condemns the atrocities they commited during WWII. Anyway, there are many factors as to why the 360 isn't making it in Japan.

[Trashcat]

The size of the 360 PSU never bothered me. I have a 17" gaming notebook and its PSU is almost as big as that of a 360 and it never really annoyed me to carry that brick with me, why people bich so much about something they can leave on the floor somewhere and forget about.

[Trashcat]

not so much that they lost, but, because modern day Japan condemns the atrocities they commited during WWII. Anyway, there are many factors as to why the 360 isn't making it in Japan.
One factor: not enough games, rest doesn't matter, case closed.

[xcxv2]

"X" is a very negative symbol to the jappos

[nuke868]

Simply they are just more educated "costumers" then what american are(where the xbox 360 sells more) When they released the ps2 for example for a simple dvd driver update they did send to each costumer a disc with the upodate for free and for whom didnt have the know how they even changed the system with the one new and upgraded.Can u immagine a thing like that for the ring of death 360 ? Can u really believe they can buy such garbage just pushed by same ammount of commercials then the other brands ? And the games ? Where are the games since release x360 its a miracle ll reach 100 games by the end of 2007 actually lot less and thats at 2 years since its launch.As I said the early days x360 in japan would have failed worse then the first xbox,since u didnt have the winning card of had not released any console before,rougly it means that course they are not so stupid to make the same mistake twice.

[sigma8]

The size of the 360 PSU never bothered me. I have a 17" gaming notebook and its PSU is almost as big as that of a 360 and it never really annoyed me to carry that brick with me, why people bich so much about something they can leave on the floor somewhere and forget about.
Many japanese are accustomed to more advanced electronics, which are not oversized slabs of plastic. Nobody would tote around a 12 pound gaming laptop over there. As for leaving it on the floor, you're assuming they have enough spare floor space to leave it on.

You know that in many apartments, they have no bed. Not enough room for a permanent bed. They roll out a futon every night. I don't mean with a futon frame either, I mean just the cushion part. During the day, it's stored rolled up in a tiny closet. The japanese inn I stayed at had its desk only 2 feet above the floor. The chair was just a floor seat--no legs. You sat on the floor to use the desk. Anything under the desk directly competed with both leg and foot room.

Most people in America, particularly outside the big cities (with the high property values and rental costs), have very little concept of what it's like for space to be at a premium.

[JusR23]

I work for a japanese company and the japanese way of thinking is if they think there is a better japanese product they will buy it.
Hence why they have windows pc as there is not a japanese alternative same thing with the i-pod. Thats all it is really the japanese like to buy their own if there is nothing available then they will look else where.

[Scorpion3]

I wouldn't say the Japanese hate the 360, since they are buying it despite the low numbers, I'd say they're reluctant.

[*StoneCold*]

I wouldn't say the Japanese hate the 360, since they are buying it despite the low numbers, I'd say they're reluctant.

DING DING DING DING DING, stupid quote of the day, congratulations.:rolleyes:

[Scorpion3]

DING DING DING DING DING, stupid quote of the day, congratulations.:rolleyes:

So you seriously think they "Hate" the 360? O_o Or was it the buying part, because I'm pretty sure the last sales in Japan actually had the 360 selling MORE than the PS3.

[msanchez]

What I love about these articles is there is inevitably someone who says "Oh, it's all about Nationalism - the Japanese don't like anything but Japanese products, because they are totally racist".

It's idiotic.

........... YADA YADA YADA

So please, all that I ask is that we stop with the "the Japanese are racist xenophobes that don't buy American", which is flatly false. And it just makes you look irgnorant.

AMEN, I'll tell you one thing, I think that 90% of the time the single person accusing the whole of a nation of being racist, or xenophobes is the one who is actually racist, ignorant and xenophobic. If I walk by a group of white/black/asian guys and I think that they are going to try to mug me because I'm latin, they aren't the racist ones I am.


"X" is a very negative symbol to the jappos

jappos........... yes the jappos are the racist ones, same thing for those damn commies in china and cuba.:rolleyes:

[gonepostl]

Why do the Japanese hate the 360? Good read for people who don't know anything at all about the video game industry I suppose

[gonepostl]

Just like in the rest of the world most Japanese ppl have windows on their PCs so that won't be the reason.

Japanese brought us gaming so they don't appreciate us coming to the market and monopolizing it! We are ruining the industry and they are more hardcore then must Americans (besides me). That's exactly the reason you fukin dipsh1t.

AC adapter!? There's a reason why this guy got shelled out after "parappa the rappa"!

[snipersnake]

1. they do not know john madden.

2. they spend more time gaming rather than reading message boards.

[Trashcat]

Japanese brought us gaming so they don't appreciate us coming to the market and monopolizing it! We are ruining the industry and they are more hardcore then must Americans (besides me). That's exactly the reason you fukin dipsh1t.
Just like the Japanese invented portable stereo do you see them boycotting iPods now? Have your dipshit back and I raise you an Idiot.

[msanchez]

1. they do not know john madden.

2. they spend more time gaming rather than reading message boards.

I wish I didn't know the madden games either :(
And the only reason I'm on a forum waisting time is because I have nothing better to do. Plus the informativeness (did I make up a word there?) of forums is overrated, take our dear maxconsole for example. I like the site, and most of the people here, but do you honestly expect to make a good purchase based on what people on here say? 80% of the time we are mostly being irrational and have such idiotic reasons for not buying this console or that as "I hate sony for pushing formats" or "I hate ms because they make windows" or "I hate nintendo because they only have kiddy games"

Really we should all follow their lead with #2 because that's exactly what gaming is about, playing games.... not arguing who made the best purchase.

[lee6370]

"X" is a very negative symbol to the jappos

jappos???? way to go in describing an entire nation

[lee6370]

Japanese brought us gaming


Did they, care to give us some examples?

America bought us gaming, the japanese took it, refined it, improved it and gave it back to us.

[PSPWAD]

Did they, care to give us some examples?

America bought us gaming, the japanese took it, refined it, improved it and gave it back to us.
Exactly, they did it with animation too...

[Scorpion3]

Exactly, they did it with animation too...

Especially animation. The only good cartoons now are...well there aren't any, they died with Justice League Unlimited. :(

[msanchez]

Especially animation. The only good cartoons now are...well there aren't any, they died with Justice League Unlimited. :(

how bout the telletubies and barney?.... jokes aside I rather kill a kid of mine then let him kill all his brain cells watching does idiotic shows. GTA will never do as much brain/mental/social damage to a young kid as a freaking talking purple dinosaur will, that's why kids act so retarded like now a days. Was Sesame Street as weird as these shows? I never watched that kind of tv so I don't know.

[Scorpion3]

how bout the telletubies and barney?.... jokes aside I rather kill a kid of mine then let him kill all his brain cells watching does idiotic shows. GTA will never do as much brain/mental/social damage to a young kid as a freaking talking purple dinosaur will, that's why kids act so retarded like now a days. Was Sesame Street as weird as these shows? I never watched that kind of tv so I don't know.

I think Music does more damage to our children anymore compaired to any other media. When that Kidz Bop **** comes out with songs about having sex left and right, this is what our children here and end up getting pregnant at 12 years old. Sorry to sound like some church leader, just the truth basicly. If children listened to a little more Rock compared to Pop, then we'd have pretty normal kids.

[[Evol]]

just get this in your skulls

KIDS WILL NEVER BE NORMAL EVER.

and why you ask because they are kids (we all used to be kids remember all the zany things YOU did ?)

[lee6370]

']just get this in your skulls

KIDS WILL NEVER BE NORMAL EVER.

and why you ask because they are kids (we all used to be kids remember all the zany things YOU did ?)

zany!!!!???!!! now your showing your age.

[msanchez]

I think Music does more damage to our children anymore compaired to any other media. When that Kidz Bop **** comes out with songs about having sex left and right, this is what our children here and end up getting pregnant at 12 years old. Sorry to sound like some church leader, just the truth basicly. If children listened to a little more Rock compared to Pop, then we'd have pretty normal kids.

Well the music industry, we the people buying the cds and ABOVE ALL the damn media are the ones at fault. Take Britteny Spears for example, didn't they mock her when she said she was a virgin, not that I believe her, but maybe 10 year old Nancy did. Now look at the poor girl. What she became isn't all her fault, her fans, and the media wanted this, so the record label gave it to them. I think that anyone who reads a gossip column should get shot, neutered or possibly both.

Oh and Evol as "zany" as I was I never had imaginary friends, so I never used that as an excuse when I did something wrong. Now as an adult I don't blame others for my shortcomings, nor am shooting up schools and blaming GTA.