Neither Nintendo or Microsoft have confirmed any sales figures, but analysts are talking about Blue Dragon outselling Zelda in Japan. One might argue the fact that there are more Xbox 360 units in circulation than Wii. Not a valid argument for the Japanese market because they're not into the 360...or weren't.
"The latest Media Create Japanese chart puts the Mistwalker [developer] RPG at number four in the top selling titles in Japan for December 4 through 10, which has managed to shift a respectable 80,000 copies in the country giving it the number two all-time 360 sales record behind Dead or Alive 4." -computerandvideogames.com
Zelda: Twilight Princess dropped to rank 17 on the charts, far below Blue Dragon. This is not a huge loss for Nintendo because the console is selling like hot cakes. This is, however, a success for Microsoft.
Microsoft can now claim traction in Japan. Gamers have purchased console after console just for Blue Dragon and those consoles will stay in homes so long as Microsoft can continue to publish titles desired by the Japanese fan base.
Many gamers continue to exclaim "so what?" to the fact that Microsoft fails in Japan. The country is smaller and has less consumers than the US but there are indeed hungry consumers waiting for games - why let that slide through your fingers?
You don't let a good opportunity pass you by and the proof is the effort and hype wagon Microsoft is using in Japan to capture a failed interest. Attracting consumers will attract the attention of developers in the country which is known for some of the greatest titles in the game history books. A Japanese developer will pass over a console that sells short supply in favor of Sony or Nintendo because of the wild sales figures.
Why product a game that has a limited audience when you can capture a larger portion on the competing consoles? This is especially true if your Japanese title will capture the interest of more Japanese than US gamers (not unusual).
Putting consoles in homes is step number one to gaining new development teams. The step has now been taken and consumers can only win from Microsofts efforts. Additional quality Japanese gaming firms translates to more games for your Xbox 360 platform and more games offers more selection, more competition for your dollar (or Yen) and a better overall library of games.
If Microsoft follows up their jab with a nice right hook we may see Sony and Nintendo react to their movements in Japan. That additional competition will mean a bright future for gamers around the globe.
source: www.computerandvideogames.com
