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Phil Spencer interview about Xbox in Japan
- Thread starter Castef
- Start date
Except the poster wanted those ps4 jrpgs on the xbox, so how exactly is a 3ds going to do that? Not everyone wants a handheld or maybe they already have one.
LiquidSolid
Member
Even if some of those games were offered on Xbox One though, why would any Japanese game fan buy a Xbox One over a PS4 when the PS4 has pretty much all of them?
Honestly, I think it's way too little and way too late. Microsoft had their chance to build on a decent start with their Japanese games last gen but they didn't. When their short term strategy failed to give them immediate results, they bailed. If they were to try anything now, they'd not only be starting from scratch, they'd also have the baggage of their previous attempts weighing them down.
Personally I think that interview is just Phil going full PR mode, similar to what we heard around the Xbone launch. If they were serious about this, they'd have a long term strategy and be willing to invest a lot of money into it. I've seen no proof of either of these two things.
Uh, by posting this, you're the one who's coming across salty.
Unreal Champ
Banned
This. The difference between MS and Sony is that Sony is willing to fund sequels even if the previous didn't sell so well. The reason being is that those games will continue to bring more gamers on to the platform.
8-Bit Sunset
Banned
Wow look at that.... Hey I can do that too:
Well seeing as I actually have lived here for almost 15 years and seen MS try to painfully break in here, I would say I have more experience on the subject than you?
Hardly salty as I spent a lot of money on my 360 collection, I was that one Gaijin buying that foreign 360 stuff at reduced prices as no one else bought it. Good times for me that gen.
I just find everything out that guys mouth to be bullshit.
MS this gen don't have a clue at all.
Japan is flat out not interested in the MS brand what so ever, and no amount of Blue Dragons will ever change that.
Shpeshal Nick
aka Collingwood
Yep.
There is literally nothing Microsoft can do or could have done to win over Japan. They were never interested. Short of spending billions of dollars locking down every major Japanese game, they can't do anything.
They should have given up after the 360.
Still surprised they never tried allowing a Japanese tech company distribute it there under their name like Panasonic or Toshiba.
DangerMouse
Member
Not only will it not be worth it, those companies would stupid after watching how that went down last gen giving them exclusives. They would basically cripple something like Persona. Console JRPGs nearly cratered last gen and are only finally starting to recover with a bunch of game announcements, and it's already hurt by Japan being less interested in console than handhelds for a while now. The games that got late ports outsold their year old versions in like a week, etc.
The moment they pried FFXIII into multiplat they were "mission accomplished."
Japan is not interested.
BananasWithGuns
Member
I mean, Xbox is never going to be big in Japan, but I'll be ecstatic if Phil is able to bring some more Japanese games to Xbox.
Maybe he prefers to you know....... play on xbox? weird i know, what crazy person prefers xbox over playstation?
i don't know why people are ganging up on him, his preference is clearly xbox and if he could he'd play all games on his xbox and have no need for his ps4 thus could sell it, why are people having an issue with that? lol
They can't call it Playstation 4, "4" means Death in Japan!
DriftingSpirit
Member
Yeah, it is definitely deeper than just games. You could put everything the PS4 is getting on the X1 and it wouldn't change a thing.
Castef
Banned
Come on, let's also look at the quality of some answers!
"Bribing" Square Enix for bringing their main game to a platform with 20+ million users?
Castef
Banned
Maybe because a japanese magazine interviewed him?
They should brand it as something completely different, not Xbox anymore. Make it more Japanese from the ground up there. Something that feels homegrown there.
Like how Nintendo branded the Famicom so differently for the western markets changing the name and look of the console, the presentation, everything.
Microsoft should do the same for the Eastern version of Xbox.
Like how Nintendo branded the Famicom so differently for the western markets changing the name and look of the console, the presentation, everything.
Microsoft should do the same for the Eastern version of Xbox.
CentralScrutinizer
Member
If my comment was meant for that poster then I would've quoted him. I was speaking generally about JRPGs on PS4 and not Xbox One. If you don't own a PS4 you aren't really missing anything because all the best JRPGs from recent years, in my opinions as well as the opinion of many others, are on 3DS which will never be on Xbox One anyway.
StrongBlackVine
Banned
This is just lip service. Xbox and Japanese games don't mix. If you wanted strong Japanese support you would own a PlayStation, 3ds or even PC over Xbox.
LegendofDragoonLives
Member
Hopefully they don't own the IP, so they can release it on a console that doesn't bomb so bad the dev team starts making mobile games. I actually applaud MS for trying there, but let that ish go.
Mass Effect
Member
Eh, I can't imagine many Japanese developers than aren't already on board with Xbox being too enticed given the Xbone's performance in Japan. I also don't think MS would be willing to put up any significant amount of money to even make it worthwhile for JPN devs. Japan isn't even worth it at this point. The developers that haven't moved to mobile are firmly entrenched with Sony and Nintendo, and I can't see that changing any time soon. Like others have said, they're better off focusing on other Asian markets.
Also, JRPG fans, I have a question: Could you make the argument that MS' investments in JPRGs early last gen actually did more harm than good overall? (Mistwalker Xbox-exclusive games, whatever reasons SO4 and ToV were exclusive, moneyhats or not). I'm not saying it is (because I wouldn't know), because I didn't pay attention to the JPRG back then at all. Or do you think it was simply because of Japan's difficulty to make the transition to HD, as well as Sony's PS3 fuckups?
While I agree with you on the 3DS part, what games have we even gotten on PS4 yet to make that call? We got Tales of Zestiria and FFXIV... and what else? A couple of PSP/Vita ports? Most of the 'big' JRPGs haven't even released yet.
Now I guess you can make the argument that given where we are at this point in time (3 years into the generation) there should be more games out by now, but given what we have right now, I don't think your assessment on quality is a fair one yet.
Also, JRPG fans, I have a question: Could you make the argument that MS' investments in JPRGs early last gen actually did more harm than good overall? (Mistwalker Xbox-exclusive games, whatever reasons SO4 and ToV were exclusive, moneyhats or not). I'm not saying it is (because I wouldn't know), because I didn't pay attention to the JPRG back then at all. Or do you think it was simply because of Japan's difficulty to make the transition to HD, as well as Sony's PS3 fuckups?
While I agree with you on the 3DS part, what games have we even gotten on PS4 yet to make that call? We got Tales of Zestiria and FFXIV... and what else? A couple of PSP/Vita ports? Most of the 'big' JRPGs haven't even released yet.
Now I guess you can make the argument that given where we are at this point in time (3 years into the generation) there should be more games out by now, but given what we have right now, I don't think your assessment on quality is a fair one yet.
CentralScrutinizer
Member
I don't think Phil would expect increased sales in Japan to do anything meaningful; however, he would want Japanese devs to have games on Xbox as well for American audiences.
I think the only other games would be Star Ocean and I am Setsuna (which is the best JRPG on apS4, but even then it doesn't compare to what 3DS has).
I know it's an unfair comparison to make at this point in time but it's still a true comparison. JRPGs are my favorite genre and I have a PS4 and Xbox but I prefer my Xbox. I always felt like it sucks that Xbox got left behind on a lot of the "bigger" franchises' JRPGs that PS4 was getting but most of the games so far have been a let down big time, especially knowing what the genre is capable of.
Com Truise
Member
The 3DS is a handheld platform and three years older. JRPGs tend to appear late in a console lifespan. And now it's 2016 which is a stronger year for JRPGs on PS4 than 3DS. Honestly, I'm not sure why you're even so fixated on the 3DS in this specific topic.
As much as the Xbox fanbase likes to brush off Japanese games as "they don't count" the lack of Japanese games on the system has got to sting.
I mean, in the first three months of 2017 Sony has exclusivity or console exclusivity for Danganronpa 3, Kingdom Hearts 2.8, Tales of Beseria, Yakuza 0, Nioh, Persona 5, Berserk and Nier Automata without really even lifting a finger in effort on Sony's part. And that's in addition to their own first party lineup of Horizon and Gravity Rush 2.
Meanwhile Xbox has .... Halo Wars 2. lol
I mean, in the first three months of 2017 Sony has exclusivity or console exclusivity for Danganronpa 3, Kingdom Hearts 2.8, Tales of Beseria, Yakuza 0, Nioh, Persona 5, Berserk and Nier Automata without really even lifting a finger in effort on Sony's part. And that's in addition to their own first party lineup of Horizon and Gravity Rush 2.
Meanwhile Xbox has .... Halo Wars 2. lol
CentralScrutinizer
Member
Because a big focus of this thread is about Japanese games and games Xbox could have to be more relevant. Also, PS4 doesn't have a better 2016 jrpg line up than 3DS, but I'm not getting in this battle.
LiquidSolid
Member
That accusation was definitely pretty dumb but that doesn't make his post salty. Most of what he said was right, the Xbox brand IS dead in Japan.
What Japanese customers?
I wouldn't include the Mistwalker exclusives in there but otherwise, a little from column A, a little from column B.
Correct me if i'm wrong, but I always thought there aren't as many PC enthusiasts (owners with high-end graphic cards) in Japan compared to the West or in other words not many people at all. And I wonder how many overlap there are between PC enthusiasts and Xbox owners.
MatrixMan.EXE
Member
There's nothing wrong with having a preference, but that's like me saying that I wish Gears and Halo were on PlayStation so I could sell my Xbox. It's such a moot and pointless stance when you own the system those games you want are going to be on anyway.
Com Truise
Member
Well, all I got out of my 3DS this year is SMTIV Final and Culdcept Revolt ( I guess that doesn't really count as JRPG though ), so it's not like I don't understand why you wouldn't want to get into this battle lol.
Mobile Suit Gooch
Grundle: The Awakening
Here I am.
Danis Saur
Member
Is Japan an important place to get sales from?
I can't wait for Scalebound, but I wish there was one or two RPGs. Throw in more games like Blue Dragon, Idolmaster, and Ninja Gaiden and maybe it will expand a bit more.
I can't wait for Scalebound, but I wish there was one or two RPGs. Throw in more games like Blue Dragon, Idolmaster, and Ninja Gaiden and maybe it will expand a bit more.
Come to think of it, they don't have their own Japanese Studio.
A Japanese first party studio would be a good first step in diversifying their portfolio of software.
CentralScrutinizer
Member
Star Ocean
I Am Setsuna
World of Final Fantasy
final fantasy XV
vs
Mario and Luigi Paper Jam
Fire Emblem Fates
Bravely Second
7th Dragon
Dragon Quest 7
SMT IV A
YoKai Watch 2
Pokémon Sun/Moon
(North American list obviously)
Xbox isn't really missing much on the JRPG front when it comes to console RPGs. Yeah it would be nice to get those games that Sony is getting, but the exclusives aren't exactly setting the world on fire.
Let's be real: Pokemon will outsell every JRPG on PS4 combined.
It's not exactly moot and pointless when you put his post into some context (this topic) though. Phil says he wants to do better in Japan and have more games Japanese people prefer, he posted saying if they brought the JRPGs to Xbox he would sell his PS4. It's not like he just posted out of nowhere, in which case I agree it would be pointless. Given the context of this topic his post is fine IMO. Wishful thinking that it happens, maybe, but fine.
CertifiedFP
Member
Small, but you'd be surprised.
The guy with the highest Steam profile level is Japanese.
Granted, he's probably a NEET. But granted, anyone in Japan who's still into gaming is probably a NEET at this point after the generation that made the PS1 and 2 a success in Japan grew to 24/7-Working Age and were insufficiently replaced.
MatrixMan.EXE
Member
I agree that 3DS had the better JRPG lineup, but you forgot Odin Sphere Leifhrasir, Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth and Valkyria Chronicles Remastered...three of the best games released this year imo. Xbox also missed out on Dragon Quest Builders, Street Fighter V and Guilty Gear, as far as Japanese games go. That's quite a lot of content to miss out on. Good to great content too. But Xbox gamers aren't exactly hurting for games and there's been a lot to play this year, so you've got to ask yourself, would pursuing these games even make sense when that's (seemingly) not what the Xbox fan base is asking for?
MisterR
Member
That's because it's absolutely not happening.
8-Bit Sunset
Banned
CentralScrutinizer
Member
I think Dragon Quest Builders is the ONLY game from Japan that Microsoft is missing out on (outside of Persona), which is crazy because Microsoft owns minecraft and they definitely could've struck a cross promo deal with Square on that one. Actually, I'd love to hear WHY that never happened.
Com Truise
Member
That's not "obvious", I was talking actual games releasing in 2016 not localizations which can appear like, whenever a publisher is finally in the mood to release the fucking game overseas.
DriftingSpirit
Member
I mean, that is fine if you feel that way but I don't think that means you should disregard everything else. I don't care for the software MS produces but I wouldn't trivialize their lineup and say to someone, "Meh, just get X, Y or Z. You're not missing much".
There is something worth investing into regardless of whether it stacks up to what some may consider the best.