Xbox 360

Japanese developers talk Xbox 360 in 2011

Every year, Famitsu’s Xbox 360 subsidiary, Famitsu 360, interviews a number of Japanese game developers and inquires on their plans for the console in the next year. This year’s interview session has hit newsstands, and we’ve got the details.

Xbox 360 fans: read on with caution. Remember that we’re talking about Japan here, where Xbox 360 isn’t particularly the console of choice. There’s nothing too revealing in these bits, but it’s worth the look.

5pb

2 or 3 adult visual novel ports will release this year.
They’ll also put out some original titles.
Xbox 360 is their console of choice.

Alchemist

A big, currently Xbox 360-exclusive, title will hit during the summer. It’s not an adult visual novel as that market primarily applies to PSP. This game will be created with more of a global approach.
Alchemist would like to branch out overseas, but first must prove that they can sell the thousands of units required to make it in the west.
They’ve realized that they they must chose the platform that suits their needs when choosing a system to develop for.

Bethesda

Fallout: New Vegas sold well; although sales for the Xbox 360 version were significantly lower.
The downloadable content for New Vegas will be released soon.
The Japanese version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will arrive long after its release overseas.

Capcom

There will be at least 4 Xbox 360 games released in 2011.

Cave

Cave will showcase 3 new Xbox 360 titles at a February event.
2 of the games are Xbox LIVE Arcade titles; one’s original, and one’s a port.
As domestic sales for Xbox 360 are very weak, they have to think very hard about what they’re doing.
The other day. a buyer asked: “The 360 never sells beyond the pre-order copies, won’t you develop for a different console?”
Kinect hasn’t been the hot topic of Japan. Cave is very worried about Microsoft’s new Kinect-focused stance.
Current circumstances make it very difficult to release low-priced games on Xbox 360.

Codemasters

F1 2010 and Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising sold favorably. However, sales of the Xbox 360 version have been declining, forcing them to lower prices. There is a large gap in sales between the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.
1 or 2 titles will release this year.

D3Publisher

5 games will release this year. Two confirmed: a new Dream Club and Earth Defense Force. The new Dream Club will not be Dream Club 2.

Hudson

2010 wasn’t a bad year, however, the Xbox 360 isn’t selling well domestically.
Deca Sports sold 300K. A sequel is in production.

KOEI

Sales for their are biased completely towards PS3. Sometimes, the PlayStation 3 version will outsell the Xbox 360 game in a 10:1 ratio.
They are considering developing for Kinect.
They have several games planned for 2011, planned not only for Xbox 360 owners, but for console owners in general.
They wanted to sell low-priced titles, then make profit off of downloadable content, however, do not believe that Microsoft has set up an infrastructure for selling budget-priced games.

Microsoft

The Xbox 360 S may be doing well in Japan; Kinect, however, has been completely blown off.
They will have more than merely Gears of War 3 in their lineup.

Namco Bandai

Kinect Brain Training sold horribly domestically.
Their focus for 2011 is on strong multiplatform titles.

Russel

They must be careful about the games they develop, as the Xbox 360 is not a hot console in Japan.
3 or 4 titles will release in 2011.

Sega

They want to create more games like Project DIVA.
Every console has its own advantages.
Can easily enrich social gaming with the features Xbox 360 offers.
Will release just about the same amount of titles in 2011 as they did in 2010.

Spike

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel sold well. Metro 2033 did not.
1 new localization game announcement this year.
Kinect sales in Japan are not strong, so they don’t want anything to do with it.
They’ve declared a revival of western gaming.