While we were busy marveling over all the fabulous additions in the Fall Update, others out there were eager to check out said features in new and exciting ways. First and foremost, the folks at Siliconera were keen to try out the Xbox Originals available to Japan. Knowing full well that gamers with Japanese accounts can download Japanese demos such as the Eternal Sonata demo released in May, they figured a similar method would work for Xbox Originals. With this in mind, they set out to download Magatama, only to discover an error message claiming the game wasn't available in their region (i.e. the U.S.). After a quick console restart, the option to download the game had disappeared, though the free content like themes and pics was still available.
So there you have it kids, your dreams of downloading wacky Japanese Xbox games have been crushed (unless you live in Japan, of course).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-04-2007 @ 5:25PM
nerrrrrrd said...
unless you live in Japan, or have a NTSC-J region 360 imported to the US and log in with a Japanese account...
...I assume!!! don't take my word for it! hehe.
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12-04-2007 @ 5:31PM
SmokestormX said...
People are not going to be downloading all Xbox Origianls, probably only a handfull of titles that appeal, but it's quite ironic when you do want to fork over your cash, they block access.
I could understand blocking access to same titles that are going to be released over here, but other than that I fail to understand why they are limiting themself.
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12-04-2007 @ 5:34PM
xenocidic said...
I was also unable to change my region to Korea and get Hexic2 for free. sad face, but i'm rubbish at that game anyway.
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12-04-2007 @ 5:36PM
Chopsuey210 said...
I like the update and all up when i was trying to get my account upgraded to the adult it asked me for a Credit Card.....I guess M$ is trying to take my money right out of my wallet
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12-04-2007 @ 5:41PM
Sean D. said...
OMFG! I almost had a heart attack when I saw the image of Puyo-Puyo Fever here! I thought for a split second I was going to get some PPF love on the XBox 360... Buy why not? It's only one of the best games ever made! They'd be foolish not to sell it (SOOOO much better than Super Puzzle Fighter, IMHO)
I guess I'll have to keep my Dreamcast hooked up for a little while longer yet.
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12-04-2007 @ 6:50PM
iRoy said...
Not really surprised.
It's all to do with licensing. As soon as Microsoft start negotiating with the publishers and their lawyers about content be it games, video or music we're going to get this.
Plus there's countries like Germany that have outlawed certain content, (i.e. games with nazi insignia), which make international downloads even more problamatic.
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12-04-2007 @ 9:38PM
Mr Shinra said...
Yes that's true that certain areas do not allow game downloads / purchases due to game content (Such as Nazis), but that does NOT give an excuse for why Microsoft could not offer Puyo Puyo Fever over in the US. There's nothing offense I can see in that game, and if some uptight Mom really doesn't want little Timmy to get that game, then she can tell little Timmy no. Its laziness. If they could get legal authorization to sell it to Japan Region Xbox 360s (Which CAN be Imported to AMERICA) then there's no real barrier to selling it ONLINE to Americans. There is 0 cost in distribution, and since its online, they can control sales (and by effect, Licensing & other fees) better too. Too bad for M$, because I might have gotten that game otherwise.
12-05-2007 @ 1:00AM
Tony said...
I think the likely excuse is the most simple one. The game was never licensed for use outside of Japan. No one picked it up to bring it out elsewhere and as such there's no precedent for it to come out here. This isn't as simple as a typical import because it's being sold through a closed network.
I mean, obviously MS itself could strike up some sort of deal regarding these games, but I doubt they find it to be in their best interests right now. I bet if the company who originally published it struck a new deal (or decided to handle moving this over to the US themselves) that this could change. Whether or not MS offers this as an option at all is a total mystery me, obviously. It's possible they strictly don't allow it, but who can say at this point?
For example, the Wii VC sometimes sees previously Japanese only titles hit other areas... Usually from the biggest publishers on the system (SEGA, Hudson, Nintendo itself). Considering Puyo Pop Fever was a SEGA published title there *might* be some chance this could change in the future.
Although I have to wonder why in the world Puyo Pop Fever hasn't hit XBLA worldwide to begin with. Even that specific version has been on every system known to man... I have the DS version myself.
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12-05-2007 @ 3:23AM
wahlumsurfer said...
It doesn't really matter where you live or where you create your account. It matters on what region your 360 was made for. I have a NTSC-J console with an American account and I can not even watch previews of movies from the video market place. It just displays, "Can not be viewed from your region."
Sucks.
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12-05-2007 @ 4:42AM
jacobmarsh said...
It does matter where you live. I have a US xbox 360 and live in Okinawa, Japan. I can see all of the movies available in the video marketplace, but can't download anything that is not allowed in Japan (including some game demos like Bioshock). If only my xbox wasn't broken right now, I could check to see if I will be able to get the Japanese or US classic games. Anyone know?
12-05-2007 @ 5:02AM
wahlumsurfer said...
Hmmmm......that's strange. My friends are able to DL the movies, but maybe that is because they are using the base internet service.
Also, logging into my US account on my NTSC-J system it seems that I am able to purchase a US X-box original. I can't 100% confirm this, since I don't have any MS Points on this account, but it takes me to the option of adding the points to DL it. With the movies I don't even get that option.
12-05-2007 @ 5:12AM
wahlumsurfer said...
NVM, I guess the update changed a few more things than I noticed.
I used to not be able to even view the previews of movies and wouldn't even get the option to DL the complete movie.
Please ignore my previous ignorant ass comments...Thx
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12-05-2007 @ 6:55AM
Toby said...
ummmm I got a 360 for a reason, not to play old beat up grapchic games...thanks for just MOVING stuff around for the Fall Update....woopie doo...now I can sit and wait for the red rings of death in peace
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12-05-2007 @ 8:14AM
Jon said...
Where's my 16:10 support and 4-way chat?
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12-05-2007 @ 8:49AM
BananaBoat said...
@Tony
Thank you for rationalizing before someone had a chance to drop the "WTFBBQSAUCE MICROSHAFT? I WANT MAH JRPGEES BATCH!!! CONSPIRACY!!"
Honestly, like 5 games came out for the Japanese Xbox. This is absolutely no loss.
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12-05-2007 @ 9:16AM
PeteL said...
Are xbox originals no longer backwards compatable?
After the update, my Fusion Frenzy disc and Crimson Skies disc no longer work on the 360.
Anyone else have problems playing the disc based versions of one of the 7 xbox originals?
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12-05-2007 @ 11:37AM
BananaBoat said...
I'll check with my Crimson Skies and Fable discs later. I can't imagine they'd do that though, it'd be horrible for PR.