Gamers in Japan (still) not attracted to Kinect

by Steven Mostyn - Sep 16 2011, 10:27

It clearly doesn’t matter how hard Microsoft strives to expand the appeal of its Xbox 360 videogame brand in Japan… because Japanese gamers just aren’t buying it. Literally.

More pointedly, while Redmond’s groundbreaking controller-free Kinect technology has sold like hotcakes in North America and Europe, sales figures for Japan are typically disappointing.

According to a report by MarketWatch, Xbox Japan boss Takashi Sensui this week said that Kinect sales “haven’t met our initial expectations” and the critically applauded platform is “still not widely recognised” across the region.

Despite the lack of traction in Sony and Nintendo’s home territory, Sensui’s comments suggest Microsoft remains confident of an upturn through solid word of mouth, saying that Kinect has “received good reviews from the people who have used it”.

Microsoft is hoping that the arrival of new Kinect-compatible dance and sports games will increase the technology’s adoption in Japan.

One possible reason being banded around as to why the tech-savvy Japanese have failed to respond to Kinect points the finger of blame at restrictive room sizes in the land of the rising sun.

In order for Kinect to function properly, users are required to stand at a good distance so that the device’s camera-tracking system is able to follow movements.

Videogame peripheral specialist NYKO is currently prepping the NYKO Zoom lens adapter, which adjusts Kinect’s viewing field to focus clearly within smaller confines.

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