With the out in since Saturday local experts have been waxing lyrical on the new console's chances in the world's second-largest gaming market. Whilst we hear reports from Tokyo of stocks selling out over the weekend, anecdotal evidence from other regions suggest that innumerable boxes remain on shelves for the taking. Whilst not a sign of a failed launch by any means, outstanding supplies certainly suggests the 360 hasn't kicked-off to quite the same furore which greeted the console in North America and - where you can't get the new gizmo for love nor indeed money (unless you want to pay well over the odds to the eBay coyotes). Recent surveys from Japanese trade bodies suggest around 23% of gamers are interested in acquiring the new 360, interestingly relegating the Revolution to third-place with 21%.

Despite this apparent upturn in the brand's Asian perception then, Japanese analysts remain sceptical that the new system has what it takes to break into this highly colloquial market in a big way. website Eurogamer.net cites a Forbes survey taken on the advent of the new console. The feedback was not positive. "We had previously thought that Xbox 360 could gain a major share of the Japanese market by taking some market share from front-runner Computer Entertainment," offered Mitsubishi UFJ analyst Hirotoshi Murakami. "But now we think that such a prospect may not be realised, given the limited attractiveness of its titles and lukewarm functions."

Other experts have commented that the new console's functionality remains well below par compared to the forthcoming PS3, more over, the general opinion out east appears to remain staunchly behind Sony not just in Japan but globally. Perception remains mediocre at best then, despite stronger software support which still doesn't quite look strong enough at the moment. We'll keep you posted on the diverse opinions surrounding the new console as we get it.

By Luke Guttridge