In effort to improve sales in Japan, Microsoft has announced its plans to release the Xbox 360 Arcade SKU in the Japanese market on March 6, 2008, for 27,800 yen (approximately US$260).
While this special kit is the same price of the current 360 Core System, the arcade bundle will include the HDMI-equipped 360 console, a 256 MB memory unit, a wireless controller and a special Xbox Live Arcade Omniverse Disc. The Arcade disc includes 3,600 Microsoft Points (about 5,400 yen) worth of arcade games: Feeding Frenzy, Pac-man Championship Edition, Luxor 2, Uno and Boom-Boom Rocket.
Microsoft is certainly hoping this bundle will entice more Japanese gamers to the American console. In 2007 the Xbox 360 managed to overtake Sony’s PS3 in overall sales with the help of Ace Combat 6. However, that lead was short lived as Sony bounced back, outselling the 360 in the following weeks. By including the the Arcade kit that lead could once again change.
wonder when we'll see the arcade pack over here, its all very well releasing bundled games in Japan to aid sales but they need to do this in other countries to maintain the sales as well.