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Nani kore? Japanese electronics mega-store sells out of Xbox 360s photo

Japan's electronics store chain Yodabashi Camera has less than two dozen stores, but they're all huge. To call them the Best Buy of Japan is an insult. Think bigger. My favorite, the one that towers over you as you come out of Akihabara Station, has nine floors, packed with everything you could imagine. Not just cameras: speakers, mp3 players, televisions, games, and much more. But it seems that they're out of Xbox 360 consoles. Wait, what?

CheapyD of CheapAssGamer tells us that the Yodabashi Akihabara store has sold out of all versions of Xbox 360 consoles. He's guessing that the release of Tales of Vesperia might have something to do with that. I'm thinking he's right. Cheapy notes that Amazon Japan is also sold out, so something is up.

If this truly is the case, I can't blame Japanese gamers for being excited about the title. But I don't think an RPG would cause console sellouts here in the US. It's instances like these that remind us of how different our gaming preferences are.

What do you think? Did Vesperia have anything to do with this? Or are Japanese all suddenly Halo/Madden fans?

[Via CheapyD's Twitter. Yeah, that's right. I said Twitter]








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Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools. Meet the rest of the team



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21 comments | showing # 1 to 21
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Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 09:25
Excel-2011
無理?
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 09:28
Holyetheline
Vesperia had everything to do with this.
Magesx's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 09:31
Magesx
Yeah, all 15 of them.
nanowerx's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 10:01
nanowerx
When they only stock like 45 360's in all of Japan, is this really such a big deal?
Alexradl's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 10:01
Alexradl
The end is near.
Dale North's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 10:04
Dale North
Magesx HAHAHA

nanowerx, no one here said it was a big deal.
Mr B Natural's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 10:08
Mr B Natural
Of course Vesperia had everything to do with this. Japanese gamers want to re-experience their snes/ps1 days over and over and over and over again.
Blue Dragon, FFXII and Mario Galaxy was way too different for them for gods sake. Let alone games like Shenmue that bomb completely.
Not saying "westerners" don't have the same issue with some genres and (especially) sports games cough cough madden cough cough Fifa, but we also buy games like Braid, Psychonauts and Bioshock that are at least trying to take "games to the next cultural level." Even the Fps market has to constantly innovate and push the boundaries or it's a no sale in the west - see Haze vs Cod4.
Hey Microsoft, just give the Japanese their Snes games again and they'll eat it up. And let's not forget - "the sequel bias" works just as well both here and on the other side of the pacific.
Leathersoup's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 10:28
Leathersoup
Young fools... Only now, at the end, do you understand...
ace of knaves's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 10:54
ace of knaves
Those places sound freaking awesome! Just like everything that exists in Japan, we need some in the states.
dodo's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 10:58
dodo
hahaha who gives a shit
xbox is gay

sony owns sorry
Big Z's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 11:06
Big Z
"Xbox sells out in Japanese stores, devil claims coldest day yet".
Rucksack's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 11:08
Rucksack
@dodo

Dude, go back to ign.com.
AlarmedMidget's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 11:14
AlarmedMidget
Clearly this is because they couldn't wait to play as Favre on the Jets in Madden 09.
TurboSpaz's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 11:49
TurboSpaz
DESU DESU DESU DESU DESU DESU
Red TheHaze Veron's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 13:12
Red TheHaze Veron


WAIT WHAT?
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 13:20
pedrovay2003
@dodo

While I personally prefer the PS3 over the 360, Sony doesn't "own" anything. Get out of here.
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 13:42
TrailerParkJesus
Those crazy Japs.

JAP JAP JAP JAP JAP JAP JAP JAP JAP!
dgonchild's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 13:56
dgonchild
Retailers probably dont get much 360 stock there anyway, what with its relatively poor sales. I think they're just making space for the new SKU.
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/14/2008 17:30
MechaMonkey
Yodabashi Camera? They're Hirohito's boys, aren't they?
Spooky Electric's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/15/2008 00:22
Spooky Electric
The Tales series is great though, so it makes sense. I loved the demo too. Can't wait for it to be released. :D

Wow, if the 360 version sold so well, I can't wait to see how many units ToS2 shifts on the Wii.
Rayne's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/15/2008 07:14
Rayne
Man all these stupid titles that only release on certain systems really piss me, as a consumer the hell of so screw ps3 wii and 360 as a group and individually
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