Popularity contest

While the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are more or less equals in most parts of the world, Microsoft’s machine struggles in Japan. It’s not uncommon to see the green-tinged device sell less than 1,000 units a week in the land of the rising sun, while Sony’s counterpart tends to teeter around the 15,000 units mark. But what’s the reason behind the vast discrepancy? Soul Sacrifice creator Keiji Inafune believes that it's down to domestic brand loyalty.

“I understand Japanese users don’t prefer Xbox 360, but if I was asked why, I wouldn’t be able to put a finger on it,” he said in an interview with IGN. “Probably one of the reasons is because PlayStation is a domestic brand in Japan. As a Japanese [person], I think it’s only natural you feel closer or attached more to domestic products, and I find myself being that way too.”

The former Capcom man added that Microsoft may have been able to overcome this issue if it had secured more console exclusives in the region, but with most games going multiplatform, he conceded that it would have been tough for the manufacturer to lock enough content down. With that in mind, it’ll be interesting to see whether the company even bothers to compete in Japan with Durango, or if it simply leaves the market for Nintendo and Sony to scrap over.

[source uk.ign.com]