Posted Jul 04, 2009 at 07:51PM by Glenn M. Listed in: Interviews, News Tags: Microsoft, Japan, Koei, Sony, Nintendo, Tecmo
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Xbox 360 - Image 1


After his polite plea for Sony to reduce the price of the PS3, Koei Tecmo CEO Kenji Matsubara makes another comment, which indirectly points out that that price cut should come and fast. If you think that Japan is a strictly Sony and Nintendo territory, think again. In fact, according Matsubara, the western Xbox 360 is actually doing well in Sony's and Nintendo's home base.

When asked about how the Xbox 360 is doing in Japan, Matsubara has good words to say about the Western publisher:

Xbox 360 as a business is doing better than the old Xbox. They have a good opportunity for growth, but of course Sony is a Japanese company and Microsoft is known as a business software company, so brand image is one point. But Microsoft is doing well, especially considering how difficult it is these days. I think they have good growth potential for the future depending on the titles. We have a close relationship with Microsoft so I hope we can be a part of that.


Matsubara also noted that the Japanese gaming market has seen significant change in the last ten years, which may spell trouble for the greater Asian fanbase of Koei. "The problem is that the tastes of Japanese gamers have changed so much compared to ten years ago," he said. "Ten years ago, Japanese RPGs were dominant, but the platform for this has changed in terms of online oriented services and performance."

For the rest of the interview, hit the source link below.



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7 Comments


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   by jrsmaster411 - 2009-07-04
 » no change

RPG is still the dominant genre, I'm guessing he's saying this because all those exclusive 360 rpgs haven't been selling as well as last gen rpgs but that's cause their on 360. I guess the real test will be when tales of vesperia releases on the ps3 in japan. Maybe this guy should focus on repackaging Dynasty Warriors with a new skin and ship it for 60 bucks instead of worrying about the ps3s price or the 360s success in japan.


   Re: astaroth001 - 2009-07-04
 » but...

but from all those 360 RPG's...how many are blockbuster tittles? none of them are worth...check Last Remanant or whatever the name...or check Blue Dragon or any other...none of them have made the console sell like pancackes...but I think it would be the same if those games were on PS3...

   Re: Ninjiz - 2009-07-05
 » incorrect...

No, Rpgs do not still dominate.
Even Japanese rpg makers have admitted that, thats a common misconception. In fact many of them have noted that outside of FF, and Dragon Quest (maybe a few others) none of them sell millions of copies. It just seems like the dominate because there are often so many of them. But when you check the top ten games in terms of sales Rpgs arent always there.
   by Anhmeister - 2009-07-05
 » Im wondering.

If the numbers of these RPGs are lower due to the fact that they are exclusive to the 360. In America JRPGs have never done very well. In Japan historically they have done very well. The 360 in Japan has barely hit over 1 million and the PS3 is over 3 million. Why these companies would release their games solely on an American console in Japan is beyond my comprehension. They expect sales to be in the millions when their main source of sales is below 1 million?

   by lavino - 2009-07-05
 » humm...

"Matsubara also noted that the Japanese gaming market has seen significant change in the last ten years"

Such a contrary statement from a Koei guy who hasn't change much with their DW series in the last 9 years..

   by Teivin - 2009-07-06
 » Hmm

As for conventional JRPGs, not many have been made lately. Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey.. ..Hmm... Ya, thats about it.

All the rest are hybrids or somesuch.
Tales of Vesperia on the 360 actually sold fairly well and led to a marked increase in 360 sales.
Course, I believe Ace Combat sold more 360s in japan than Vesperia.

   by DXcellence - 2009-07-06
 » ROFLMAO

Why is it that if the 360 does well in japan, you guys automatically assume its because of rpgs, why cause they're japanese, :/

Maybe they want to play ace combat 6 or halo 3. You guys may not know this but japs play more than just rpgs :D



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