Japan picks PS3

[JTK]

IGN

While the IGN editors were running about the Tokyo Game Show show floor taking videos of and sampling the hottest upcoming Japanese games, the folks at Weekly Famitsu were conducting a survey of show attendees on all areas of next generation gaming. The magazine's survey managed to reach over 4,000 attendees, although most questions were answered by between 2,500 and 3,000 people.

First up, system price. 65% of those surveyed think the Xbox 360 Core System, which will launch in Japan on 11/2 at a retail price of 29,800 yen, is a fair price, compared to 25.2% who think it's pricey and 9.8% who think it's cheap. For the PS3, the survey was split between the two models. 56.5% responded that the 49,800 yen 20GB model is pricey, compared with 35.7% who feel it's just right and 7.8% who feel it's cheap. For the 60GB model, 64.6% expect the actual retail price to be extremely high, compared to 20.1% who expect it to be just right and 15.3% who believe it will be cheap. For Wii, 60.5% feel the price is just right, compared to 25.9% who feel it's cheap and 13.6% who feel it's expensive.

So will anyone actually be buying the new systems? For the 360 Core System, 66.4% said they currently have no plans for a purchase, compared to 1.4% who said they'd buy it on launch day (11/2), 0.8% who said they were hoping to get it as a Christmas gift, 15.1% who said they'll purchase it if appropriate software comes out, and 16.3% who said they'll buy only if they have the money to spare. For the PS3, 36.2% said they had no plans to buy the system at this time, compared to 10.5% who said they'd purchase it on launch day, 0.8% who said they were hoping to get one as a Christmas gift, 26.4% who said they'd make the purchase when appropriate software is released, and 26.1% who said they'll make a purchase if they have money to spare. Responses for the Wii weren't all that different. 33.0% said they don't plan on buying the system at this time, compared with 17.8% who plan a launch day purchase, 1.8% who are hoping for a Christmas gift, 26.5% who will make a purchase when suitable software is made available, and 20.9% who said they'll buy if they have money to spare.

The big games for each system shouldn't come as much of a surprise. For the 360, Blue Dragon was the most selected title, ahead of Gundam: Operation Troy, Lost Odyssey, Dead or Alive Xtreme 2, Earth Self Defense Force 3, Sonic the Hedgehog, Culdecept Saga, Winning Eleven, Lost Planet and Onechanbara VorteX. For the PS3, Metal Gear Solid 4 was the biggest title, followed by Gundam Target in Sight, Devil May Cry 4, Gran Turismo HD, Hot Shots Golf 5, Armored Core 4, Virtua Fighter 5, Ridge Racer 7, Sonic the Hedgehog and Genji. For Wii, Zelda was the biggest game, followed by Smash Bros. X, Super Mario Galaxy, Fire Emblem, Animal Crossing, Made in Wario, Kirby, Mario Party 8, Metroid Prime 3 and Brain Age Academy.

Metal Gear Solid 4 won the vote across all consoles as the game people are most looking forward to. It beat Final Fantasy XIII, Zelda Twilight Princess, Blue Dragon and Smash Bros. X. The portable vote was topped by Pokemon Diamond & Pearl, which beat out Gyakuten Saiban 4, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd and Final Fantasy V.

A Konami title may have taken top honors in the most wanted software category, but attendees selected Nintendo as the company that most holds their interest. The big N was followed by Square Enix, Konami, Capcom and Bandai Namco Games.

Famitsu also asked a few special questions for the various systems. For the PS3, survey takers were asked which model they want more. 65.8% said they want the 60GB model, compared to 34.2% who responded with the 20GB model.

For the Wii, Famitsu asked which Virtual Console system players are most looking forward to playing. Super Famicom took 28.6% of the vote, ahead of the original Famicom's 23.7%, the Nintendo 64's 16.3%, the PC Engine's 13.6%, Mega Drive's 11.3% and the MSX's 6.5%. Multiple votes were allowed.

The magazine also asked people for their opinion on the Wiimote. 24.5% said it looks unique and user-friendly, just barely beating out the 24% who said it looks hard to use. 19.2% said the ability to use one hand for play is a good thing, while 14.5% expect the one-handed play to feel strange. Multiple votes were allowed.

The PS3 came out on top in the vote for which next generation system players are most looking forward to. 58.3% selected the PS3 as the next generation system they most want, compared to the Wii's 33.8% and the Xbox 360's 7.9%. It's worth noting that the Wii didn't have an official presence at the show, which is not attended by Nintendo, and was only shown being played by company reps (often scantily clad company reps) in the various 3rd party booths.

^^

No surprise.

Sony and Nintendo both rarely, if ever, can do any wrong in Japan.

The other side of that coin is: MS and the entire Xbox platform have been, and continue to be, DOA in the East.

On that note: It's hard to go wrong with game titles like what's mentioned in that piece.

I'm looking forward to it!