Why hasn't NISA published an Xbox 360 title yet?

[zatrox]

...when the 360 market is niche unfriendly territory

Because the Xbox 360 is all FPSs, right? Or did you forget the rather large presence of SHMUPS and visual novel games, two other rather niche genres. Developing for any HD console is a larger drain on resources, though with the visual fidelity of Disgaea 3 I kind of wonder where those resources went.

No matter the case, NIS had posted their earnings, the president has stepped down and it looks like some internal restructuring is taking place. If NIS focuses solely on the Japanese market then I can understand the lack of Xbox 360 support (though I may be disappointed), but to grow sales they will have to look to the rest of the market outside of Japan, and in that case the Xbox 360 has a rather large and healthy untapped market.

Uhh actually, most of the 360 owners I know don't like RPGs because they're not "cool". X360 market is mostly based on shooters, and I doubt anyone can deny that. That's why niche companies don't bother porting on the 360 and make things PS3 exclusives, their games just don't sell on 360.

[noexcusepunk]

Uhh actually, most of the 360 owners I know don't like RPGs because they're not "cool". X360 market is mostly based on shooters, and I doubt anyone can deny that. That's why niche companies don't bother porting on the 360 and make things PS3 exclusives, their games just don't sell on 360.

Except that in the first 3 years of both next gen consoles life jRPG's have been coming pretty regularly to the Xbox360 and not to the PS3. That is, until only recently. And unfortunately for your example, the PS3 has just as many FPS as does the 360, so It's a moot point. The only reason the 360 is famous for said FPS is strictly due to it's burgeoning FPS multiplayer, which really is strictly due to it's far superior online support. The PSN just can't handle it, due to it being "free." Which roughly translates into another drain on Sony's resources.
"Didn't sell well" is also a moot point as in previous posts on this board have shone that the "niche" is in proportion with each other in terms of percentage.
Just take a look at Lost Odyssey, which is an Xbox 360 Exclusive:
Sales after it's first month, which were around 203k in America, and less than 100k in Japan.
Total sales to this day which are around 830k worldwide.

In essence, the above statement holds true to NISA. If they want to expand their localization, the 360 is just as viable as a platform as the ps3, if not more so due to it's higher user base.

[bloodyaftertaste]

Even if the 360 does well here, even for jrpgs, doesn't change the fact that it's not as popular in Japan as it is here. The games are first made for the Japanese audience and then get translated for here. If they won't sell well in Japan because it's less popular there then it won't first be made for the 360 in Japan. Therefore there is nothing to translate for the 360 American audience.

[noexcusepunk]

And yet they don't HAVE to make it for the 360 in Japan. Releasing on certain platforms in certain areas of the world has been a successful tactic for Nintendo and Sega in the past, it's very amusing to see Sony and Microsoft struggle with the idea.

[bloodyaftertaste]

But then NISA would have to make a port of the game for the 360, not just a translated version. Of course I don't know how hard or easy that is, but that's more that NISA has to do and maybe they don't have the resources for that. Again I don't work for NISA so I have no idea if they do or not.

[Solice]

I think it's been said before on the old board, but NISA doesn't have any programmers. Localizing is all media editing. If something needs to be recoded for either compatability or to clear confusion, they send it back to Japan, so NISA doing the porting wouldn't happen in this case.

[bloodyaftertaste]

See then I did come up with the right answer! Point for me!

[noexcusepunk]

Well of course NISA wouldn't do the port, and neither would NIS unless it's their own game.

[bloodyaftertaste]

But the question was "why hasn't NISA published an XBOX 360 title yet?" Not where are all the rpgs for the 360? So leaving your response invalid

[zatrox]

But the question was "why hasn't NISA published an XBOX 360 title yet?" Not where are all the rpgs for the 360? So leaving your response invalid

This. And oh well, Atlus is taking the same path with Demon's Souls and 3D Dot Game Heroes, they just leave em' as PS3 exclusives.

[bloodyaftertaste]

But the question was "why hasn't NISA published an XBOX 360 title yet?" Not where are all the rpgs for the 360? So leaving your response invalid

This. And oh well, Atlus is taking the same path with Demon's Souls and 3D Dot Game Heroes, they just leave em' as PS3 exclusives.

Good thing I have a PS3! The two systems have seemed to steam into two kinds of consoles based on games. Even though they each have a small bit of others. But it does suck for those people who have more than one interest.

[Eelcire]

I think the key point should be whether or not NIS will be looking to the global market or focus solely on Japan. As I mentioned previously, if NIS wishes to cater to only the niche market in Japan, then it is more understandable that the Xbox 360 is ignored (though I fail to see why the Wii would be as well, did Phantom Brave not sell well?). However, if NIS wishes to cater to the niche global market, then there are a lot of Xbox 360 owners out there, which is a lot of potential customers.

The Xbox 360 is indeed the 'shooter box' as that is what helped propel the system (and original Xbox), in addition to its online support. The Xbox 360 is also an RPG box, a fighter box, a sports game box, a <insert genre here> box. Many games in many genres are available on the platform that do well enough.

Stereotyping any system based on history only will paint a certain type of picture. Saying RPGs don't sell on the Xbox 360 because there isn't a market is like saying games don't sell on the PS3 because there aren't any games. Both are outdated [incorrect] and stupid ways to look at a system.

[noexcusepunk]

But the question was "why hasn't NISA published an XBOX 360 title yet?" Not where are all the rpgs for the 360? So leaving your response invalid

Lies!

But truthfully, I suppose what my main focus is not just the 360 getting jRPG love, but both systems, as I feel that that's what is needed to continue getting the games we love to play over here.
I'd just hate to see the jRPG genre to get stale and dried up here in the states.

[bloodyaftertaste]

But the question was "why hasn't NISA published an XBOX 360 title yet?" Not where are all the rpgs for the 360? So leaving your response invalid

Lies!

But truthfully, I suppose what my main focus is not just the 360 getting jRPG love, but both systems, as I feel that that's what is needed to continue getting the games we love to play over here.
I'd just hate to see the jRPG genre to get stale and dried up here in the states.

I think that is something we both can agree on. No matter what system we want our JRPGs. Thought it would be nice if there was an equal amount spread across all systems. I know I would be upset if they just started showing up on the xbox and not for the ps3.

[magusgs]

ISaying RPGs don't sell on the Xbox 360 because there isn't a market is like saying games don't sell on the PS3 because there aren't any games. Both are outdated [incorrect] and stupid ways to look at a system.

I think the argument is more like "niche jRPGs don't sell on the Xbox 360". Which is all that really matters to this discussion.