Japanese N3 bonuses

By Tom Bramwell Published 13 February, 2006

Demo disks and magic chains.

Microsoft's still trying to win over the Japanese, who are currently thought to be negotiating a deal saying they'll all buy Xbox 360s if Peter Moore stops talking.

From March 1st in Japan, anybody who buys or pre-orders anything to do with Xbox 360 will get a free Ninety Nine Nights demo disk, giving them a chance to sample the Tetsuya Mizuguchi-produced slasher in development at Phantagram and Q Entertainment.

Ninety Nine Nights itself is due out in Japan on April 20th, having been delayed a bit to make way for some last minute tuning. The first shipment of the game will also come with a Japan-only bonus: a "Motion View Card" acrylic key chain that somehow (possibly magically) houses a 20-frame video clip of the game's main character.

We've no idea if Microsoft plans similar excitement over here or in the USA, but we do know that we shouldn't expect to see Ninety Nine Nights on European shop shelves for a little while yet. When asked when the game's due out, a chirpy Microsoft spokesperson responded: "As Will Smith once sung, 'Summer time'!"

Weirdoes.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (40) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • drumbaby #1 6 years ago

    This is SO anti Xbox 360/ Msoft/ Bill Gates!

  • abigsmurf #2 6 years ago

    I think its becomming apparent that Microsoft didn't learn from their mistakes with the Xbox now. Games like this should have been launch games, instead they released the console with a number of western franchises which created almost no buzz in Japan. They didn't even launch it with DOA4.

    Considering how long there is (still) till the PS3 and revolution launch, it couldn't have hurt them to delay the Japanese release of the console 2-3 months

  • jack_klugman #3 6 years ago

    So the trick to getting free stuff is to not buy the console.

  • Enki #4 6 years ago

    Lies.

    I haven't bought one, and I have no free stuff. It must be due to quantum.

  • Pirotic #5 6 years ago

    Why couldn't it flop in this country so we can get all this cool stuff. Wouldn't it be better business sense to drop japan and consoldate the USA and Europe before the PS3 launch?

  • Rambaldi #6 6 years ago

    Whatever happened to reporting news instead of biasing it?

    "...they'll all buy Xbox 360s if Peter Moore stops talking."

    "Weirdoes."

    This sounds more like 'teenage fanboy' than 'professional journalist'.

    Sorry, but you really are making a bit of a fool of yourself (and EG).

  • morriss #7 6 years ago

    Is the game NTSC? If no, can't EG get hold of a demo and do a preview?

  • theindustrialone #8 6 years ago

    so who is going to leap to eg's defence now and claim there is no anti ms bias in their 'reporting'?

  • tengu #9 6 years ago

    Why bother? Seems to be the only fun some people get.

    You'd think they'd get that actually playing those 360s if they're so good :)

  • SeesThroughAll #10 6 years ago

    I have no love for MS whatsoever, but this article is an uninteresting pointless attack to MS. Mockery for the sake of mockery. Utter rubbish.

  • morriss #11 6 years ago

    Tom must feel so pleased he's got his own set of fanboys! ;)

  • tengu #12 6 years ago

    "Tom must feel so pleased he's got his own set of fanboys! ;)"

    Fanboys... or stalkers? :)

  • JonFE #13 6 years ago

    To be honest "they'll all buy Xbox 360s if Peter Moore stops talking" and "weirdoes" were uncalled for...

    It's clear to me that this news could be easily reported without any controversial statements. The fact that Tom chose another path, leads me to believe that EG are either enjoying the extra page impressions (which brings more advertisement income) or having an anti-X360 sense of humor (no Valentine's present from MS, perhaps ;)

    In either case, it might be best, if EG would refrain from reporting XBox-related news this way and started using pain straight facts, until there is a wealth of real next-gen news to report in EG's humorous way and balance is restored.

  • Moonprince #14 6 years ago

    Good read. I guess peoples humour differ..

    I also think people take life to seriously..

    Fat tw*ts?

  • Blerk #15 6 years ago

    Does anyone still talk about the news out here, or are we only allowed to bitch about the reporting style now?

  • Gouki #16 6 years ago

    "scathing humourless attack" Agree's 100%


    oh blerk please eurogamers getting as dull as dishwater with the NON-NEWS. I reported this before x-mas and got slated, guess people are starting to feel the same way now!
    Edited by 2 at 14/02/06 @ 09:52

  • Moonprince #17 6 years ago

    omg its teh end of the world!

  • Gouki #18 6 years ago

    no not the end of the world i'm just bored of it

    yawn

  • varsas #19 6 years ago

    Personally I found it quite funny. MS and Mr Moore keep going on about how they are going to crack the market in Japan but it is all hot air it seems. As someone else pointed out they didn't learn there lesson at all after the first Xbox.

  • el_pollo_diablo #20 6 years ago

    A demo disk? A key ring?

    Is that it?

    RUBBISH.

    edit: and as for people moaning about the style of reporting - well, you've not paid have you?
    Edited by 1 at 14/02/06 @ 10:06

  • Rambaldi #21 6 years ago

    @el pollo:

    "and as for people moaning about the style of reporting - well, you've not paid have you?"

    No, I've not, but Xbox publishers do (to advertise) and If I were one, I'd be a bit pissed with EG's negative stance towards my potential market.

    Can you imagine ITN newsreaders tainting their articles with biased opinions and wise-ass jokes on, say McDonalds, to go into the break with a McDonalds advert?

    If EG have such a problem with MS, they should stop accepting money from MS/Xbox adverts. If not, they should get back to doing their job properly.
    Edited by 3 at 14/02/06 @ 10:17

  • Genji #22 6 years ago

    I, for one, did not find it humourless.

    And no, I don't hate Microsoft or the X360. I would buy one myself if it was out here and had games that I wanted to play.

    Scathing attacks? I would class something to the effect of "anyone who likes the X360 is a complete wanker" a 'scathing attack'. I don't see a lot of that here. This just seemed like a news article with a few jokes thrown in.

    Hey, I guess some people just take insults wherever they can find them.

    I'm going to leave these discussions behind now. Nothing useful has come from them. I'd prefer to argue about important things.

    Like Will Smith, who I really *do* hate. Limey bastard, always playing the same smart-ass, annoying character in movies. "AW, HELL NO!" Grr.

  • Mr_Brown #23 6 years ago

    Give it up already. The only way they are going to win over Japan is releasing Japanese games, good ones. Save all your special goodies and demo's for the countries actually supporting your console!

  • Genji #24 6 years ago

    It's like I've said before. What they need for the X360 is angsty RPGs, dating games and train-driving simulators.

    Preferably all combined.

  • Tonka #25 6 years ago

    Wouldn't the world be a little bit better if newsreporting was always in line with the advertisers wishes? No?

    No, just no.

    Personally I think some peoples reactions to EG does a greater damage to my view of Xbox than any of the, sometimes funny, sometimes predictable, jokes that EG make.

  • Rambaldi #26 6 years ago

    I didn't say it should be in-line with advertisers wishes, just that it shouldn't be against it.

    News reporting should be OBJECTIVE and IMPARTIAL!
    Edited by 1 at 14/02/06 @ 10:38

  • Moonprince #27 6 years ago

    As if it ever was, or ever will be...

  • Genji #28 6 years ago

    But... doesn't not being in line with the advertiser's wishes *mean* that you're against their wishes? Please, elaborate this distinction.

    Objective and impartial news reporting is boring, anyway. Jokes make it interesting. I would reconsider that answer if it were news reporting about something serious, like a war or something.

  • Calgon #29 6 years ago

    Who says MS didnt learn anything from the first Xbox... they know exactly what theyve got to do but its not easy to do it. The console is out there now for those who want it which is a good thing, they have Japanese games in development but to rush them would be a a big waste because a rushed game, japanese or not isnt going to help much.

    To get more japanese gamers they need more japanese devs/games, we've heard MS say that themselves during this geration. The problem is the devs are going to be reluctant while the uptake on the 360 is so poor in their home territory. To break this circle MS will have to invest some of their own cash to persuade the devs a little to finally get some decent Japanese games out there(which they have done). They have alot of cash but they dont have limitless supplies and the launch period is always costly for any console company, alot is riding on the quality and responce to the first generation Japanese games when they arrive. If they find that even with quality japanese content theres not a marked improvement then perhaps Japan is a lost cause for any Non Japanese console brand, they'll have to hope then that sales in the rest of the world(including the rest of asia which some forget has a growing number of gamers) is enough for most developers to release some exclusive content on the platform(which is still needed).
    Edited by 1 at 14/02/06 @ 11:19

  • JonFE #30 6 years ago

    It would be easier to accept the humor if it was consistent throughout the news articles. But a quick glance over the PS3 / Revolution specific news (scarce as they may be) shows that this is not the case...

    Ellie does report things in an impartial way. Do you find those news sections boring?

  • Calgon #31 6 years ago

    Yeah thats true the ones defending EG here would be the ones claiming "Xbots" to anyone who defends the jabs towards the much laughed at Ken Katuragi, or Reggie.

    I didnt see what was so offensive(if it was funny I would have laughed but simply calling them weirdos for trying to be humorous isnt funny... wait a minute... you know what that means dont you Tom? :D) about the comment on Moore the same can be said quite easily of any Sony or Nintendo figure, they all spout jibberish alot from time to time(especially Sony the kings of Hype) but:
    Its the inconsistancy which is earning EG a bad name, a quick comparison of some of the past headlines on similar news of the consoles(specifically MS and Sony because they are the most similar) and the reactions by the reporter to the information within and you can clearly see it.
    Edited by 2 at 14/02/06 @ 11:58

  • el_pollo_diablo #32 6 years ago

    Well, humour is subjective isn't it? Diff'rent stroke for diff'rent folks.

    Still, it doesn't change the fact that Microsoft's efforts to woo Japan are, still, frankly embarrassing. If a snazzy keyring is the best that they can come up with, they deserve to get the piss ripped out of them. As would Sony, or Nintendo.

  • Moonprince #33 6 years ago

    I think the point im trying to make is..

    What does it matter.. who cares..

    I certainly don't. If someone laughs at the company Im currently designing for I care not a bit. If I don't, and I work for that company, why should you?

    Take a chill pill, relax, enjoy the games..

  • Genji #34 6 years ago

    I like EG news all the more when people like this get offended.

    It's not going to make much of a difference, so I'm going to tell a completely OBJECTIVE and IMPARTIAL joke to try and stop the arguments here.

    Ahem.

    Q. Why did the X360 gamer cross the road?
    A. Because Peter Moore told him to!

    No. Wait, I'll do another one.

    Q. Why did the X360 gamer cross the road?
    A. He was following all the other sheep.

    Damn. OK, one more time.

    Q. Why did the X360 gamer cross the road?
    A. To get away from all of the people persecuting him!

    There you go. Don't we all feel better now?

  • Calgon #35 6 years ago

    @el_pollo_diablo: well tell us then what more they can do while they wait for the completion of the japanese games that ARE in development? Everything other than that is sound as a pound. They dont really need to do this but its a nice extra for the Japanese gamers who do buy.

    @Genji:I dont think you understand what some are trying to say... Offensive? Nah, Inconsistent with the rest of the site? hell yeah!

    OMG WTF!!! 1111 :D and whats this? a SONY!!! fanboy calling people who own a 360 sheep?... lol Oh I see, so sort of like how Sony-fanboys have been labeled chavs as Sony has become the McDonalds of video gaming in some peoples eyes ;). Not really the way I see playstation at all (just winding him up) but I do feel its the most overrated brand in video gaming history. Thats my opinion anyway Ive played alot of them, I got bored, Im happier elsewhere.
    Edited by 4 at 14/02/06 @ 12:33

  • el_pollo_diablo #36 6 years ago

    Half the price?

    Seriously, I have no idea. But I'm going to guess that a free keyring and five minute demo isn't going to solve whatever problems they're having shifting the things.

    EDIT: WTFAYBOA?
    Edited by 1 at 14/02/06 @ 12:20

  • Calgon #37 6 years ago

    WTFAIOA?
    WTFDYM? yeah the second part wasnt to you if thats what you mean.
    :D

  • Tonka #38 6 years ago

    Q. Why did the X360 gamer cross the road?
    A. He was following all the other sheep.

    In all fairness, shouldn't that be ants?

  • Genji #39 6 years ago

    "In all fairness, shouldn't that be ants?"

    Oh yeah. I forgot about the whole colony thing.

    Heh.

  • el_pollo_diablo #40 6 years ago

    :)

    I love a good argument, me.

  • Rambaldi #41 6 years ago

    /chuckles

  • Gouki #42 6 years ago

    Genji you should be on stage!!!

    SWEEPING IT!!!!

  • Drakron #43 6 years ago

    MS cannot win in Japan but they can isolate Sony to Japan if they win the NSTC and PAL market and later make the offensive on Japan market on their own terms.

    Instead they try to please the Japanese gamers and neglect the markets were they have a strong chance of beat Sony, they are pretty much playing on Sony grounds with Sony terms.