Japan preps 360, Blue Dragon bundle

  • By Walt Wyman, GameSpot
  • Posted Oct 9, 2006 12:12 pm PT

Microsoft Japan announces preorders will start October 18 for limited first-edition Blue Dragon/Xbox 360 Core System bundles.

TOKYO--Two important parts of Microsoft's strategy for revitalizing Xbox 360 sales in Japan are making the system more attractive price-wise and providing games that appeal to Japanese gamers.

To that end, the Xbox 360 Core System Blue Dragon Premium Pack marries these two aspects into one bundle. For the same price as a core system on its own, the package provides an Xbox 360 core system with Blue Dragon, the high-profile Japanese role-playing game by Final Fantasy series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi (with character designs by Manga legend Akira Toriyama). The bundle costs about 29,800 yen, or around $250.

Now, Microsoft Japan has announced there will be a limited first-edition run of the Blue Dragon bundle. The first purchasers of the bundle--those who preorder it--will receive two special items. One is a set of five miniature figures and the second is an original Blue Dragon faceplate based on a design by Toriyama himself.

The bundle will go on sale December 7, the same day as Blue Dragon.

Stores are set to begin taking preorders for the limited first-edition package October 18 on a first come, first served basis.

127 Comments

  • The_Weekend

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 8:56 am PT

    DAMN, do we have pictures!?!

  • mwa

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 10:41 pm PT

    bd pwns

  • xtremeg4m3r

    Posted Jan 20, 2007 6:43 pm PT

    So cheap

  • Pimponaholiday

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 8:03 pm PT

    don't be an idiot and say rad. dude.

  • jacko_goku69

    Posted Jan 12, 2007 9:59 pm PT

    kingyoto
    I Want it it will be awsome now tell me how to get to sesame street. What A F@gg0t. dont go writing stuff about a good game like blue dragon if your going 2 write such gay things.

  • jacko_goku69

    Posted Jan 12, 2007 12:29 pm PT

    This game will be rad. im getting it

  • kingyoto

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 3:24 pm PT

    I Want it it will be awsome now tell me how to get to sesame street.

  • jazreal

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 12:36 am PT

    ...........hmmmm, well, to all that are saying that this will never sale(rather negative and biased dont ya think) please explain to me how the fact that BLUE DRAGON is in the top five most wanted games IN japan makes no difference in your predictions.........waiting..............

  • _Sam_

    Posted Oct 12, 2006 5:54 pm PT

    sounds cool

  • Alcotamaysees

    Posted Oct 12, 2006 4:19 pm PT

    It's certainly a good deal. But it'd probably be a better sell if they added another hundred on the price tag and switch the core with the premium.

  • wenbin09

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 10:26 am PT

    it's really a good deal!!

  • pokemogu

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 6:46 am PT

    This is what MS should have done at the launch. Everything is too late.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 12:48 am PT

    This is an excelent offer!
    But I still doubt if it'll sell.......

  • SemiMaster

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 8:58 am PT

    I'm jealous. Guess I will just have to cough up the full price of the game myself. The Japanese should really buy the 360, and I think this game will start to open some of the more liberal and progressive Japanese consumers' eyes.

  • CyphenX

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 8:30 am PT

    Excellent strategy MS!

  • TheThreeSeat

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 8:24 am PT

    Its an amazingly cheap bundle. It'll be interesting to see if this works for MS. If it does, it could tip the balance in Microsoft's favor overall, by acting as a spoiler for the PS3.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 8:03 am PT

    This is a smart move by MS Japan. If Blue Dragon can't move X360 units, then nothing can.

  • Thanos_of_MW

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 7:13 am PT

    Good move for MS. Japanese are more inclined to play a RPG than a FPS and bundles are good I got my 360 in a Costco bundle (PGR+extra controller+charger/battery pack+premium system)

  • LordAndrew

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 6:19 am PT

    An Xbox 360 and a copy of Blue Dragon. That is how you sell systems in Japan.

  • SilV3RSix

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 5:50 am PT

    Since everyone seems to think the Japanese hate American companies, perhaps they could explain why the iPod has a 70% market share over there. It's branding, not country.

  • d-suhiti

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 5:33 am PT

    Maybe it will sell good - Japanese are EXTREMELY biased towards the Japanese companies, so I wouldn't be surprised if they ignore this one.

  • Lord_Regnier

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 4:09 am PT

    That sounds brilliant!

  • faizali86

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 2:30 am PT

    nice. it will be interesting to see how japanese gamers react to the xbox 360 now.

  • NinjaShadows

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 1:01 am PT

    this will do well

  • swe_hotshot

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 1:00 am PT

    Blue Dragon looks good! Hope that it will be released outside Japan.

  • mpeg3s

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 11:44 pm PT

    They might as well print USA flags on the box in Japan.

    It better be a Golden Dragon!

  • rynmls

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 11:14 pm PT

    wow, what about other countries...

  • kenerhai

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 10:51 pm PT

    if the game is about to drop in japan, when can we american gamers at least get a demo. there was a demo at tgs. i know there is translation and localization hurdles first, but i need more rpgs on my 360 as bad as japanese gamers do. and they get a special faceplate? when are we gonna even get any at all? especially a faceplate designed by akira toriyama!!

  • eva360

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 10:33 pm PT

    Now all I need is a Neon Genesis Evangelion game on my 360 and then I'll know that I have gone to heaven!

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 9:34 pm PT

    can't wait for it

  • Monstromo

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 9:14 pm PT

    This will definately sell in Japan. The question is after the limited editions sell out what is there to motivate the Japanese consumer. Sometimes I worry about teaser items, it does not always bring good will. However, I wish Microsoft the best in trying to get a toe hold.

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 8:20 pm PT

    Lucky - Can't wait till we get it.

  • holenjd

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 8:06 pm PT

    So when is Blue Dragon coming out in the US? I just can't wait for it!

  • Pacemen2

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 7:44 pm PT

    that faceplate is gunna make some bucks on ebay . . . wish i had one

  • ananda81

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 7:29 pm PT

    This is really Cool!!!
    I would love to have the BD faceplate. It looks awesome.

    But the biggest Extra will be the Game itself !

  • Blk-Gnome

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 7:26 pm PT

    250 for a core in japan? jeez lucky.

  • Mkeegs79

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 6:58 pm PT

    I would like to get the faceplate!

  • Mr_Saturn26

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 6:45 pm PT

    i seriously doubt that this will persuade the japanese market to buy the 360.
    If they really want to make this sell they need to seriously look at what the jap consumers like, and work on that, meaning not jest the Rpgs, but more than that.

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 6:26 pm PT

    Cool, Blue Dragon looks awesome.

  • MaChaorules

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 6:00 pm PT

    i wish i had that limited edition...

  • U1

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 5:55 pm PT

    It's got to be better than the UK Core bundle, $400 for a core and... nothing.

  • troakun

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 5:55 pm PT

    Wow, a premium Japanese 360 + Blue Dragon + Figures + faceplate = American Wii + Nintendo Sports. Looks like Microsoft is finally getting serious about Japan, if this doesn't work I don't think Microsoft will ever be able to come close to competing in Japan. I wonder if I can import this...

  • getoconnection

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 5:51 pm PT

    Japan makes all the friggin games!! You see their influence in practically every game you play.

  • oxymoron1331

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 5:38 pm PT

    Microsoft does cater to America quite a bit. Think of all the downloadable content on live, especially the demos. I don't know if Japan gets all of the demos but it shows what they do for us over hear.

  • Blinblingthing

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 5:36 pm PT

    @ Bathyj

    I suggest you look at NDS sales, just so you know how important Japan is.

  • Bathyj

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 5:33 pm PT

    bossjimbob

    Actually, I think your right. Galaga is 400 points. Bad example. There are 800 point games but and the picture packs are 150 I think. If you could put your own pix on your Gamertag they wouldn't even be needed. I still think the points are not good value.

  • Bathyj

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 5:29 pm PT

    The funny thing is Japan is actually the smallest of the 3 big markets. I think Europe was actually the biggest last year. I could be wrong but I know, Europe and USA were very close. Japan was way behind.

  • mythrol

    Posted Oct 9, 2006 5:24 pm PT

    They're trying to sell systems in Japan. That's why the Japanese market is getting this Bundle. Microsoft is trying everything it can to sell the 360 to the Japanese market. I'm glad they're doing this bundle in Japan. It might actually sell a few systems.

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