Microsoft expects solid debut for Xbox 360

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Microsoft expects solid debut for Xbox 360
TOKYO (Reuters) - Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said on Wednesday he expects successful launches of the Xbox 360 game console in the United States, Europe and even in Japan -- the stronghold of its archrival Sony's blockbuster machine PlayStation.

"We have very strong momentum, particularly in the northern parts of Europe, United States, Australia...I know for sure, 100 percent, we will do much much better in Japan than we did with Xbox 1," Ballmer told a news conference in Tokyo, where he was helping to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Microsoft's Japan unit.

While Xbox competes almost evenly with Sony's PlayStation 2 (PS2) in the United States, in Japan it runs a distant third behind Sony and Nintendo Co's GameCube.

Microsoft will be the first of the three major companies to launch a new console when the Xbox 360 hits store shelves in North America on 22 November. Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Revolution are expected sometime later in 2006.

The world's largest software maker plans to launch Xbox 360 on 2 December in Europe and 10 December in Japan.

Microsoft convinced some of Japan's hottest creators, animators and musicians to create games for the new Xbox, including Final Fantasy's original producer, Hironobu Sakaguchi, and publisher Square Enix Co Ltd.

"Given the excitement and enthusiasm from many of the game developing companies here in Japan, I expect us to do quite well," Ballmer said.

Microsoft is aiming to sell 2.75 million to 3 million Xbox 360 units in the first 90 days after the launch date.

But analysts have said the 90-day sales figure was probably still low, given that the Xbox 360 would not have a direct competitor this Christmas and that it would be accompanied by a rich line-up of games.
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