Xbox 360 invades South Africa next month
Better late than never news now, as Microsoft sends out word that the Xbox 360 will be launching in South Africa this September. After gifting upon the world Nelson Mandela, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charlize Theron, Dave Matthews and frequently delicious koeksusters, it seems only fair to reward the third-world country with a shiny new games console. Local marketing manager, Cindy White, explains that South African gamers are a hungry bunch: "South Africa is a country where the appetite for console gaming is growing in leaps and bounds – expanding to Africa allows us to build a successful business ecosystem for our partners, and to bring more gamers amazing next-generation gaming and entertainment experiences."
What she fails to mention, however, is that the entertainment experience arrives with a significant bite taken out of it. According to the online variant of NAG, a local gaming magazine, Xbox Live will not be "officially" supported within the first 12 months of the system's arrival. Stopping short of physically removing one of the analog sticks on the 360 controller, this move seems to leave quite a significant gap in the console's appeal. Live itself will still function -- the hardcore group of currently connected South Africans can attest to that -- but it will likely be impossible to purchase Live subscriptions from stores or perform marketplace transactions in South African currency.
Both the normal and core editions of the Xbox 360 will launch on 29 September for R3,699 ($519) and R2,699 ($378) respectively. Until then, South Africans can enjoy reading irksome generalizations and ignorant remarks ("You wont ear people talking thats for sure , all you will ear is clicking sounds , cant wait to play againts Shaka Zulu") on the official Xbox forums.
After the break: This entire post written...in the Afrikaans language!
Beter laat as nooit nuus nou, met MikroSag wat die woord versprei dat die XBoks 360 hierdie September in Suid-Afrika afskop. Nadat die wêreld besorg is met Nelson Mandela, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charlize Theron, Dave Matthews en die gereëlde lekkerny koeksusters, is dit blykbaar net regverdig om die derde-werêld land te bederf met 'n nuwe speletjie masjien. Die land se bemarkings baas, Cindy White, verduidelik dat Suid-Afrikaanse spelers is a honger spul. "Suid-Afrika is a land waar die lus vir speel groei in spronge - om Afrika in te sluit help om a suksesvolle besigheids ekosisteem to bou vir ons kollegas en dit bring ongelooflike volgende-generasie speletjies en vermaaks geleenthede na spelers toe.
Wat sy nie opnoem nie, is dat die vermaaks geleentheid opdaag met 'n groot hap uit. Volgens die webwerf van Suid-Afrikaans tydskrif NAG, gaan Xbox Lewendig nie volheid ondersteun word binne die eerste 12 maande nie. Alhoewel dit nie so drasties is as om fisies een van die rigting-stokke (?) van die beheerstel te verwyder nie, laat so 'n beweging nog steeds 'n groot gaping in die masjien se aantreklikheid. Lewendig self sal funksioneer -- die harde klomp Suid-Afrikaaners wat reeds verslaaf is sal saamstem -- maar dit mag dalk onmoontlik wees om by Lewendig aan te sluit deur winkels of om mark transaksies te doen in die Suid-Afrikaanse geld eenheid.
Altwee die normale en kern uitgawes van die Xboks 360 sal afskop op 29 September teen R3,699 ($519) en R2,699 ($378). Tot dan, kan Suid-Afrikaners die irriterende vereenvoudigings en simpel aanmerkings ("Jy sal nie mense hoor praat nie, dis verseker, al wat jy sal hoor is klik geluide, kan nie wag om teen Shaka Zulu te speel nie.") geniet op die Xboks praatplek.
[Yikes, I'm a little rusty.]
