Microsoft Japan plans another Xbox bundle

Yet another bundle deal for Microsoft's Xbox will launch in Japan next month, with the "Platinum Pack 2" set to include copies of Halo and Crimson Skies as the company continues its battle to build installed base in the Far East.

The new pack will launch at the end of May, priced at 19,950 yen (â'¬156), and will include an Xbox console, DVD playback kit, two-month Live subscription and two joypads as well as the two software titles.

Microsoft has repeatedly tried to stimulate sales of the Xbox in Japan by using bundle deals and special limited edition versions of the console, but these efforts have largely been to no avail as Japanese consumers continue to shun the console over its lack of locally developed content.

Only Tecmo's Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden titles could really be considered to have been seriously successful in Japan, although a few other games such as Capcom's Dino Crisis 3 and From Software's Otogi have also enjoyed warm critical responses, if not stellar sales figures.

Elsewhere in the Far East Microsoft has been more successful, despite the lack of Japanese-developed content, and the Xbox is well established in markets such as South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore - with a launch for Xbox Live in the latter two areas planned in the near future.