Japan getting Adidas Japan Blue Xbox kit for World Cup

Seems like we've been hearing about World Cup 2006 for months now already, but we've still got two months before the first match in June (that'd be between Germany and Costa Rica), which is plenty of time for Microsoft to try and drum up sales of the ailing Xbox 360 across the pond in we'll-wait-for-the-PlayStation-3-or-Revolution Japan. The Blue Limited Edition 2006 FIFA World Cup Xbox 360 is basically your standard Premium bundle (wireless controller, 20GB drive, etc.), but comes with two Adidas Japan Blue bandanas for those sweaty late night sweaty sessions, EA's 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany, and, of course, an Adidas Japan Blue faceplate. Oh, and the limited edition controller is back in action, too. Get yours overseas on April 27 for about $430 -- something tells us these things probably won't sell out.

[Via MaxConsole]

[Andrew Camacho @ Apr 1st 2006 11:35AM]

isn't that 80 dollars more than the already failing console? I swear, when it comes to Japan Microsoft just isn't thinking some things through...

[Geoff @ Apr 1st 2006 11:36AM]

Yeah, those "bananas" are great for late-night gaming.

In all seriousness, though, you'd think that anyone at Microsoft could have looked at the sales figures to date and decided to send a bunch of special edition systems to the UNITED FREAKING STATES. Gah.

[april fool @ Apr 1st 2006 11:42AM]

april 1st!
che che

[bjarke @ Apr 1st 2006 11:48AM]

Is that an HDMI cable with the composite av cable?

[marcin @ Apr 1st 2006 12:01PM]

Yow 1 april joke... right??

[miznig @ Apr 1st 2006 1:03PM]

who's lame enough to make an april 1 joke

[Mark @ Apr 1st 2006 1:31PM]

joke or not, I want that faceplate, its mad hot

[Sam I am @ Apr 1st 2006 1:53PM]

nice try.. I sold, I can't wait.
oh wait.

[nizzy1115 @ Apr 1st 2006 2:24PM]

i want that faceplate too!

[Spi Waterwing @ Apr 1st 2006 2:38PM]

"who's lame enough to make an april 1 joke"
http://www.google.com/romance/
Google, for one.

[paris @ Apr 1st 2006 2:54PM]

Are they now targeting the system to Japanese monkeys after failing to sell to the humans?

[Ryan Block @ Apr 1st 2006 3:42PM]

Sorry, hate to tell you but this is no April Fool's joke. Check the dates on the source.

[Sketcha77 @ Apr 1st 2006 4:09PM]

Obviously you guys aren't aware of how popular soccer is all over the world. I can definately see this special edition selling well in Japan...at least better than just the premium or the core editions.

[Thomas @ Apr 1st 2006 5:32PM]

Call me naive, but I personally think it's legit. Why?

If you proceed to order the supposed package, it will take you through the system including account login/generation and credit card entry.

If it truly was an April Fools joke, it would really smack of unethical behavior and corporate irresponsibility to gather consumers' financial information for a joke.

[some dude in japan @ Apr 1st 2006 7:33PM]

I doubt its a joke, unless microsoft is in on it...
http://www.xbox.com/ja-JP/hardware/x/xbox360bluelimitededition/default.htm

Joke or not, it is true that soccer is popular here in japan, so that might help the 360 sales. On the other hand the fifa games arent as popular as the winning eleven games... just something to think about

[some dude in japan @ Apr 1st 2006 7:51PM]

@#4 (bjarke)
HDMI? according to the xbox site thats a D-Terminal cable.
http://images-jp.amazon.com/images/P/B000BPIB8C.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Cesar @ Apr 1st 2006 10:01PM]

There is already one on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=8273363953
Seems a cool item.
Might get one for myself.

[Hideo Kashi @ Apr 2nd 2006 5:41AM]

"something tells us these things probably won't sell out" - Why? just because you americans don't like football as much as the rest of the world doesn't mean a football-themed Xbox 360 is going to fail.

[theCardinal @ Apr 2nd 2006 10:30AM]

I don't think that one would expect this to fail because the sport theme is soccer, more likely that it will fail because its a gimmick which adds no real value.
I'm Irish, and soccer is a very popular sport here.

[JetSpike @ Apr 2nd 2006 11:48AM]

Yeah, the reason why they said it prolly wont sell out is because of the poor sales of the 360 here in Japan. It would have been nice of Microsoft to realize the poor sales and think hey, let's sell a special soccer edition at a little less than normal. Or hell, sell it for the same price. But if the 360 aint selling, releasing a special edition at an even higher price isnt going to change that trend...great job Microsoft. Oh, and I'm sure re-launching the 360 over the summer is gonna boost sales a WHOLE lot...yeah.

[xbox360-files.com @ Apr 2nd 2006 6:32PM]

I think this package looks pretty sweet. I really do hope the 360 does better in Japan. It will be good for all of us if Japan starts to play more of the West's games. More money for developers equals more games.

[hoho @ Apr 3rd 2006 11:12PM]

A xbox sticker! I'm sold!