[cstaylor]

...and so it begins. That's twice I'm glad I didn't buy M$: DirectTV and now XBox.

[Taro Toporific]

...and so it begins. That's twice I'm glad I didn't buy M$: DirectTV and now XBox.

Ha, ha. I bought DirectTV before the last Gulf War by registering my apartment as a love hotel (the only way to get it back then in 1990). When DirectTV (analog) quit Japan they had to give me a FREE replacement PerfecTV digital unit.

In a similiar manner, I bought a deeply-discounted analog HighVision TV for 99,000yen knowing that the digital HighVision was going to be univeiled the next day. I was allowed to "upgrade" to the digital model for only 20,000 (thus saving more the 120,000yen).

If X-Box Japan quit the Japanese market, I suspect that an X-Box Live bought in Japan would be continue to be usable through a US based "Live" subscription for online gaming... for the lower US price.

[American Oyaji]

This is not the end of the xbox in Japan.

Bill Gates is more ruthless than that.

And I plan on helping him somehow.

[Taro Toporific]

MS Lays Off Japanese Xbox Staff

Rest-of-the-story from the Register....
MS takes axe to Xbox Japan / 21/03/2003 at 15:45 GMT
...[Microsoft] claims that these changes are being made to improve the profitability of the business.
It's not clear whether the departments affected are purely related to the sales, distribution and promotion of Xbox in Japan, or whether development personnel will also be hit. The main title created by Microsoft's Japanese division, Kakuto Chojin, has been withdrawn from release overseas - due to potentially offensive religious content*, if Microsoft is to be believed, although most commentators suspect that the critical and commercial pasting the game received in Japan may have something to do with the decision as well.

*The REAL-rest-of-the-story about the Japanese Xbox Software House Screws the Pooch....
Kakuto Chojin Pulled From Stores
06-FEB-03According to a Microsoft Japan representative, the game was recalled "due to sensitive religious issues"--one of the background musical pieces uses passages from the Koran, the holy book of the Islamic religion. The Koran is believed by Muslims to contain the exact words God spoke to the prophet Muhammad, so using its passages in non-religious subtexts like video-game music is heavily frowned upon.

"As an international operation, Microsoft pays its respects to all religions," the Microsoft spokesman said. "That is the reason why we decided to issue a recall." The representative said that there were no plans to re-issue the game in Japan; its fate in America is unknown at this time.

[Taro Toporific]

Via Tokyopia.com...
What's Wrong With the Japanese Games Industry?