TGS 2008: Microsoft focuses on RPGs in Tokyo

New Star Ocean, The Last Remnant big players in Microsoft's Tokyo booth; Banjo, Far Cry 2, Fallout 3 also on show.

TOKYO--As Microsoft's John Schappert, corporate vice president and head of Live, software and studios, said at the start of the Tokyo Game Show this week, Japan is still an extremely important market for the Xbox 360. So it was little surprise that Microsoft's booth at this year's show was one of the biggest, and even less of a shock that the most space was dedicated to two of the console's Japanese role-playing games.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope and The Last Remnant were the major stars at the 360 area, with the two games taking up the most real estate. Each game had roughly 30 playable consoles, but even then the wait to play was more than an hour in most cases.

Other locally made games to be highlighted at the booth included Street Fighter IV, Winning Eleven 2009 (otherwise known as Pro Evolution Soccer 2009), and Ninja Blade. While Japanese-made games were the big focus, Microsoft also showed off several big upcoming games from international developers. Fallout 3 and Saints Row 2 were on show, although both were behind closed doors and could be accessed only by those over 17 years of age. Ubisoft titles were also out in force, including Far Cry 2, Prince of Persia, Tom Clancy's EndWar, and Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X..

64 Comments

  • Pipucho

    Posted Feb 21, 2009 9:00 am PT

    wait, there's a civilized discussion taking place in gamespot? i thought all that happens here are flame wars

  • vietboi89

    Posted Jan 29, 2009 12:28 pm PT

    the xbox started caring about japan? shouldnt japan start caring about the xbox? seriously the majority of japanese games that came out either sucks or mediocre at best sure there are the exceptions but im pretty sure u can onli mention about 10 good japanese games outta the 200 piece of crap 2d blah blah im a hero and i like to save the world because im an orphan and i have friends but screw them and etc... so yea japanese games either end up generic or even if they did reach a new height in gaming they tend to screw up somewhere like graphics or audio or even gameplay in general, seriously do u have 40 hrs to grind just to play through the main story without getting whipped

  • lasberry

    Posted Jan 12, 2009 11:47 am PT

    BluFalcon also forgot to mention, Blue Dragon, and Lost Odyssey. I don't want to be rude but BluFalcon, your statements regarding good games suited for each console is probably the most uninformed comment I've read since 2009 started. Really?

    Every great gaming system thrived because it offered a variety of experiences. The 360 has released more JRPGs than any other console this generation by miles. Furthermore, the PS3s library has just started expanding beyond buggy 3rd party games. MGSIV, LBP, Resistance 2, and Uncharted are all very different games and each, in my opinion belongs on every platform for all to play. Get your head out of the back of your Wii box and pay attention to what's going on around you.

  • Lisandro_v22

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 8:12 am PT

    @ BLuFAlc0n:
    J-RPG, in case you don't know, Wii also have Final Fantasy!! and Fire Emblem, FF might be bigger and better but, I think they're both cool! All 360 get's is XIII.

    first: for final fantasy, Cristal Chronicles is a spin off and not even a good one, though I don't think square spin offs are superb none of the titles of fabula nova crystallis is for wii and though I don't have anything against non realistic graphics why is the only FF that has them on the wii?

    about fire emblem: I don't think you can't even name it as an example of an J-RPG on wii, it's called an RPG only for marketing we all know is a TBS they just didn't name it that way because nowadays when "the bigger audience" (aka casuals) read "turn" in a game case they drop it as it was on fire. And anyway it's considered the worst title of the saga by critics. (I love Fire Emblem don't misunderstand me it's a great game)

    about "All 360 get's is XIII." Maybe you never heard about "the elder scrolls 4", "tales of vesperia", "eternal sonata", maybe you just didn't read the article because it named "Star Ocean: The Last Hope" and "The Last Remnant" or maybe you just decided to forget to mention them

  • zer0ne

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 5:57 am PT

    Ahem! JRPG in English on console...

    Most > Less

    XBox360 > Wii > PS3

    d@@b

  • zer0ne

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 5:44 am PT

    I don't understand why people keep saying that the other consoles sux compare to their own console. I have all the three next-gen consoles, PS3, XBox360 and Wii. Of course I'm a PS3 fan but as an avid gamer, GAMES are the focus here, not consoles.

    If a RPG game appear on multiple console, I'm still getting the PS3 version. =P

    d@@b

  • BLuFAlc0n

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 5:25 am PT

    @Lisandro_v22

    lol, good point about crystal chronicles, but I think it's awesome, and a Final Fantasy Game, IS A FINAL FANTASY GAME! Square Enix said that their new engine 'Crystal Tools' also works on Wii, maybe some hope of FFXIII for Wii as well, and yeah, nothing's wrong with childish graphics, I prefer them that 'realistic' because, games aren't suppose to be real! Oh and yeah, ur right about the Wii is the only one which has a FF game, or if you count the DS, you'll get FF III and IV!

    Fire Emblem, is awesome, and those game critics doesn't know what they're talking about sometimes!
    Well it's just some people's opinions, that's what they'll think, but Fire Emblem is awesome! FE6 is one of my fav. 'Fuurin no Tsurugi' the one with Roy!
    And again, a game that has been always in Japan, so it's J-RPG! also RPG! so technically, FF are only RPG?

    Oh and those 360 games, I was reffering to 'J-RPG's'.
    Not RPG's, and some of those games are in PS3 as well.
    I don't get Oblivion, it's not my kind of game, and so as Fallout 3, the rest of the two games, I didn't get....

    But again, from my previous comments, those are the best suited genres for the 3 consoles!

  • Pg90

    Posted Oct 19, 2008 8:09 pm PT

    wii and ps3 suck

  • Lisandro_v22

    Posted Oct 18, 2008 9:04 pm PT

    @ BLuFAlc0n: I'll better not discuss the whole argument but I just wanna know why do you say the wii is the only system that supports J-RPGs. I haven't seen any J-RPGs for wii yet (please don't name exceptions) and every RPG from japan in history has used regular controllers, RPGs are normally high budget games on contraposition with every third party game for Wii and Nintendo just doesn't make RPGs (again don't name exceptions) and ussually RPGs exceed graphicaly and developing for wii with that objective is like going bringing a sword to a gunfight AND if that wasn't enough Nintendo and RPGs market segment/aimed audience are tottally opposite

  • Supreme4dmira1

    Posted Oct 18, 2008 1:24 pm PT

    Blufalcon you sound like a massive Wii fanboy... honestly, Wii is best for Original games? Yeah, compilations of mini-games and dusted off mascots are REAL original. Honestly I've barely seen any GOOD original games for the Wii since release (unless Dewy's adventures is "good). Adventure games? Yeah, it has the point and click pirate adventure game (its way more fun than it sounds, i can't remember the name though), but thats not much. Fighting games? On the wii? Seriously name one big fighting game on the wii. You can't. Soul Calibur, Dead or Alive, Tekken, Street Fighter, etc. are all PS3 and X360 territory. Brawl isn't a fighting game, its a casual party game (if ****ing rocks and is one of the best games ever made, but if you expect me to take you seriously after calling it a serious fighting game, you are being silly)

    Music games, seemingly limitless downloadable content on GH2, GH3, DDR games, Rock Bands 1 & 2 trump Wii music. Seriously you can get Rock band 2 for wii and get 104 songs or the X360 or PS3 and get 500 songs? Wii sure beats them there.... J-RPGs Wii has Fire Emblem... X360 has Final Fantasy... Close but I think Final Fantasy pulls more numbers.

    Puzzle... Wii doesn't have braid and I'm not sure if Portal was released on the wii

    Mini-Games Wii definately dominates here

    Fun Games... um, thats EXTREMELY subjective... Its not even a genre.

    Casual games, Wii dominates here too.

    Games that are shared... I don't even know what your talking about here, but if your talking about user shared/created content, I think Halo 3's map editor and, most of all, the soon to be littleBIGplanet will outdo the wii.

    And you say that X360 is more suited towards single player games than multiplayer? Even with xbox live? You have single-handedly made wii lovers look stupid, ashamed, and completely idiotic. I am now ashamed of myself for enjoying the wii.

  • BLuFAlc0n

    Posted Oct 18, 2008 9:14 am PT

    @tudyniuz

    know why, coz it's just really wrong, there are games that are better suited on different console!

    Take Banjo Kazooie for example, it's was awesome for the N64, then you look to the 360 version, it looks wrong, I don't want to see a squared bear will odd details, you want it normal 3d, and kind bear looking, not evil bear looking! So Banjo will suit the Wii better coz of the type of game it is.

    Tekken for example, it won't suit it for the Wii and 360 coz it's just wrong, the controls and TRADITION won't work right. Games like Warioware suits better for Wii/DS because of the Innovative gameplay that wouldn't work onto the PS3/360.

    Something like Gears of War will only fit for the 360, if it came out for the Wii, it'll be weird right?

    There are games that suits better with each consoles..

    The Wii suits: Original Games, Adventure, Platform, Fighting, Music, Social, Casual games, J-RPG, Puzzle, Mini-Games, Fun-Games, Games that anyone can play, Games that are shared, and more...

    The 360 suits: FPS, Games full of blood, swearing, gore, violence, drugs, and things that shouldn't be involved for everyone, Games that are Single player, and not involving Multi-Player so only 1 person can get good gaming..

    The PS3 suits: Fighting Games!!, adventure, detailed games, Stealth, RPG, clean games, possibly more...

    So that's why some people don't like different consoles because of the destined genre within the consoles.

    @ sybillium1
    First, I'm not 7! Second, I know how business works, but the way Microsoft handles their 'business' is one of the meanest and worst ever!

  • josef8

    Posted Oct 16, 2008 2:13 pm PT

    adams0020

    Posted Oct 14, 2008 4:14 pm PT

    that's not true, this month for the first time in history, xbox360 was sold more in japan than ps3.

    Oh wow nice work too bad it has almost 3 years and has not sold even 1 million in Japan

  • sybillium1

    Posted Oct 15, 2008 11:11 pm PT

    wow blufalcon how old are you like 7? You absolutely have no sense of how a business works.

  • tudyniuz

    Posted Oct 15, 2008 10:14 am PT

    @BLuFAlc0n:Why not?

  • BLuFAlc0n posted Oct 15, 2008 7:56 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    BLuFAlc0n

    Posted Oct 15, 2008 7:56 am PT (hide)

    rpg's are good, but not for 360's

  • adams0020

    Posted Oct 14, 2008 8:14 am PT

    that's not true, this month for the first time in history, xbox360 was sold more in japan than ps3.

  • endwill1 posted Oct 14, 2008 7:14 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    endwill1

    Posted Oct 14, 2008 7:14 am PT (hide)

    xbox will never do well in japan because japanease people don't like american stuff and all they buy is their own crap

  • gow117

    Posted Oct 14, 2008 5:48 am PT

    no

  • webby1

    Posted Oct 14, 2008 4:32 am PT

    I respect there determination, it seems like their trying everything to get the 360 selling and get as many exclusives as possible.

  • hahamanin

    Posted Oct 14, 2008 1:57 am PT

    @wrestlingdude that last line i loled but u r right

  • EmperorPalpa

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 11:10 pm PT

    Yeah, you're right

  • sean_ph

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 10:01 pm PT

    is it just me or does the 360 have more JRPGS than any current gen console? please correct me if im wrong

  • jazilla

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 9:58 pm PT

    360 owners have been crying out for an RPG line up. PS3 fans have been bashing the 360 for not having any. You can both shut up now...finally.

  • pun1sher1234

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 6:18 pm PT

    Cant wait for saints row 2 to come out tomorrow its gonna be so much fun customizing my character plus fallout 3 is gunna be yet ANOTHER awesome game to come out... this is gunna be a big 2 months for games and i cant wait to get my hands on them

  • Master-David

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 5:55 pm PT

    fallout 3 game of the year!!!!!!

  • durio

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 5:26 pm PT

    Fallout by far will be the best release on the 360.. And the best game. And if you dont agree... I will come to your house... and cry.

  • Ovirew

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 3:34 pm PT

    While I do like RPGs, I was never that impressed with the Star Ocean games and I'm not sure that The Last Remnant will fill the void. I'd much rather have a nice, wide variety of games than nothing but role-playing games anyway. But who knows, maybe one of those two games will be worth a buy.

  • Shadow_Fire41

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 3:30 pm PT

    star ocean and last remnant ftw!

  • Folleyrules

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 3:15 pm PT

    What about Sacred 2?

  • Taegre

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 3:07 pm PT

    To people saying Microsoft will never create a market in Japan, just what do you want them to do? Stop selling the 360 in Japan completely?

  • MaxGames

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 2:27 pm PT

    Fallout 3 will own the 360!

  • Flipyap28

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 2:25 pm PT

    good news 4 me, cant wait for the Last Remnant and Star Ocean 4

  • skat6913

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 2:17 pm PT

    Oh man do i love RPG's and now that xbox has been releasing a lot more i have been really enjoying it and Ra-Devil i agree with you in every aspect, i just wish microsoft would get rid of the fee for xbox live then i would be set.

  • Ra-Devil

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 1:43 pm PT

    Did anyone forget that Blue Dragon sold out in Japan?? The Japanese are willing to buy a whole console just to get one game if they really want that one game, and with the console at a lower than competition price point in Japan, and they're unwillingness to play online services, I'd say the $200 X360 plus The Last Remnant, Star Ocean and FFXIII would be more than enticeing, not to mention all the other JRPGs that are already out, like Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, Trusty Bell, Enchanted Arms, Tales of Vesperia and Infinite Undiscovery... hell, what's the point of a $300 or $400 PS3 when they can pay $100 less and get even more games now, instead of later.

    I think Japan can embrace the Xbox, they just don't want to. Which is perfectly understandable, as it's a foreign console, and not a homeland one. It's just hard to argue against the larger gaming library and lower price point, and the fact that 360 sales have gone up by 60% in recent months, what with games like Tales of Vesperia, which sold more than any other 360 game in Japan, Infinite Undiscovery, and now ramping up for Last Remnant? Yeah, some people will buy the 360 in Japan, and if M$ keeps up this push, they may actually keep their 360s.

    Of course we can't forget that 2 games sold out in Japan on launch day... one was Blue Dragon, understadable as it was made by the same team that made Chrono Trigger... and the other... was Gears of War. I know. I was shocked too. This is just an example of Japans reluctant willingness to try the Xbox. I don't think they'll ever abandon they're Sony and Nintento homeland company's, but I think they'll still try out the M$ console a little more than people think.

  • Cerebris

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 1:28 pm PT

    Um 360's RPG's have been great.

    Enchanted Arms was... okay.
    Lost Odyssey was superb if you gave it the time.
    Mass Effect is dominant.

    And those are just a few.

  • jer_1 posted Oct 13, 2008 1:16 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    jer_1

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 1:16 pm PT (hide)

    Microsoft should just focus on making the real games in the US and Europe and leave Japan be with their pokemon and equivelant garbage.

  • magicalclick

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 11:27 am PT

    Roughly 60 consoles for two games and still waiting forever. Japanese sure loves RPGs. But when they show FF13, 60 consoles may not be enough for just one game, haha. Xbox360+PS3+SE all three booths maybe enough.

  • BLuFAlc0n posted Oct 13, 2008 11:22 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    BLuFAlc0n

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 11:22 am PT (hide)

    The wrong console for a kind of game, Fallout 3 won't even last in Japan, it's guarranteed 360 fans, Microsoft has no chance of doing well in Japan. Coz japanese will just buy the PS3/2 or Wii versions of the game. Especially if it's a RPG 360 exclusive, no one will but it. That's why 360 shouldn't get games like Final Fantasy and should stick to their FPS games. FPS are better than RPG for the 360, but in the REAL WORLD, RPG beats FPS!

  • TheArcade

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 11:21 am PT

    That's right! Tell him OhSnapitz!

  • W00kie_Smuggler

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 11:18 am PT

    Even Thom York said you can't kick-start a dead horse. Its just not possible Microsoft, so try not to waste too much money

  • aots_twilight

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 11:01 am PT

    It's the logical move.

  • OhSnapitz

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 9:57 am PT

    Kenji_Masamune:

    still trying to break the japanese market.. yeah it does show dedication.. dedication to try and flog a dead horse back to life. The 360 will be lucky if it break 1 million in it's lifetime in the land of the rising sun.
    _________

    That dead horse just outsold the PS3 for the entire month of September.. And while I don't believe it will make any meaningful strides over in Japan it'll reach at least 1.2(give or take) million in it's lifetime in that region. The last American made console that achieved that was the Atari 2600. So breaking 1 million would be an accomplishment my friend.

  • xNinjaKingx

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 9:55 am PT

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOT NINJA BLADE >

  • Beastcake

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 9:26 am PT

    So really.. is Square just putting off Microsoft by releasing mediocre RPGs? because that's what it feels like.

  • omuntu

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 9:23 am PT

    man we need more rpg games

  • KojoMojo

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 8:51 am PT

    'Ubisoft titles were also out in force, including Far Cry 2, Prince of Persia, Tom Clancy's EndWar, and Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X..'

    such an interesting Endwar update!

  • kkkkknaruto

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 8:31 am PT

    more than making money microsoft is more dedicated to beat sony through any means right now, they just want to be established before the next xbox comes out so people view the xbox differently than last generation.

  • Asarath100 posted Oct 13, 2008 7:39 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Asarath100

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 7:39 am PT (hide)

    Microsoft never get the jp market

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