MS asks Asian gamers "WhatsWrongWithU?"

by Richard Mitchell { Feb 5th 2007 at 11:30AM }

Are you an Asian gamer? Are you completely uninterested in the Xbox 360? Then Microsoft wants to know what's wrong with you. More specifically, Microsoft wants you to visit WhatsWrongWithU.com and tell them why you're uninterested in the Xbox 360. In the interest of journalistic inquiry, we visited the site and took the survey. Upon entering, you're greeted with a question, "What more are you looking for?" We chose the "Great Japanese Games" option, and were then asked to offer an email address and check off what consoles we own and what consoles we plan to buy. Having finished the survey, the site shows off multiple 360 accessories, a PGR3 bundle, and other 360 goodies. After all that, we received an email informing us of all the great Japanese games available for the 360. We're assuming that MS has a stock email for each answer in the survey. In other words, had we chosen "Ability to Play with Friends," we would have received an email detailing the wonders of Xbox Live.

The question is whether or not WhatsWrongWithU.com (perhaps accompanied with a similar PR campaign) can win over Asian gamers. We've chronicled Microsoft's trials in Japan before, but we haven't really touched on its standing in other Asian regions. Can Microsoft gain a foothold in these regions, or will it struggle as it does in Japan?

Are there any Asian gamers out there that would like to comment?

[Thanks, Zeke]

Tags: asia, whatswrongwithu

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

SlyEcho @ Feb 5th 2007 11:56AM

When I opened the site it asked me if I was from SINGAPORE, Hong Kong, Taiwan or Korea. I think this means that it's not aimed at the Japanese at all, and the whole "Great Japanese games" argument takes a somewhat different meaning. I guess Japanese games are appreciated all over Asia, but still...

jay @ Feb 5th 2007 11:57AM

I feel really offended by the name of their little site. "What's wrong with you?" I mean, it's practically saying that because I'm Asian, there is something wrong with me.

I'm Asian and I have an Xbox 360, but to think that I'm Asian and that I only like certain games? Doesn't that seem racist to you?

Granted, I'm American, but I love all sorts of games, no matter what country they come from.

Microsoft: You are doing well with XBox live, but what the hell were you thinking coming up with this? There's nothing wrong with me. There's obviously something wrong with you.

jay @ Feb 5th 2007 12:29PM

keef

You are right. As an asian, I'm obviously supposed to just take insults like the name and smile. But really, I can take a joke because they are jokes (South Park is the tits when it comes to this; "Would you like some shitty pork?"). But flat out saying: You Asians aren't buying our stuff; there's obviously something wrong with you. It may not have been intended to be racist, but it certainly turned out that way. So, I'm just putting it out there.

The domain you suggested is pretty damn hilarious though.

On a more video game related note: My opinion and thoughts on Microsoft not doing well in Asia is this: They need more pr0n. XBox live is poised to bring into the millions of Japanese homes the joys of molesting and/or dating sims.

100 Achivement Points for groping that school girl!

Mark @ Feb 5th 2007 12:41PM

@ 5&6 (stupid double poster): WTF is your problem?

@ 2, I agree that saying "We have it all. If you didn't buy our system, what's wrong with you?" is not the best way to run a campaign trying to win people over. Regardless of race. Blaming the consumer for not buying your product is just stupid business.

Stu @ Feb 5th 2007 1:16PM

MS should have called it: 'whatswrongwithus.com'. After all Microsoft shouldn't be implying there is something wrong with their customers.

Keef: You're a racist jerk (and sadly, probably don't even realize it)

Sammy D Kat @ Feb 5th 2007 1:14PM

Keef
It is unbelievable how you can so flippantly use such an awful and demeaning word like that in your tirade. You are an ignorant jackass.

Michael Paul @ Feb 5th 2007 12:44PM

I'd like to think the site WASN'T put up by Microsoft, because it just seems to insult the potential customers to as what's wrong with THEM. But maybe WhatsWronWithUs.com would have been swamped with posts.

And I doubt any extra sex will creep into games for that market, because Mom&Pop back home in the US will punish Microsoft if they 'support' anything like that. Heck, the fact that X-rated DVDs don't auto-block themselves is probably on someone's complaint list...

Chris @ Feb 5th 2007 10:42PM

"
On a more video game related note: My opinion and thoughts on Microsoft not doing well in Asia is this: They need more pr0n. XBox live is poised to bring into the millions of Japanese homes the joys of molesting and/or dating sims.
"
There's your Japanese stereotype FTW. Microsoft just needs more pedophiles for employees that are willing to put girls out there that look 9 in skimpy outfits. Then magically, the Xbox 360 will rule all of Asia.

WHY @ Feb 5th 2007 1:00PM

Why Does EVERYTHING Always have to be Racist?!?!
It could be Anyone & Everyone..
It's Saying For Anyone who Doesn't own a 360, Whats Wrong With You!!!

*You would think in this day & age Racism wouldn't even Exist*

Put all the Racist people On an Island & Blow that Mother!!!

jay @ Feb 5th 2007 1:25PM

@11

Well I automatically inferred racism. The title of this post: MS asks Asian gamers "WhatsWrongWithU?"

KilgoreTrout XL @ Feb 5th 2007 1:12PM

Wow. Whoever thought of that site's title is an idiot.

Ok, I just saw an ad for www.ShitheadsBrowseHere.com, and man, I gotta check that out!

And Keef- you have some issues, my man.

/I hope that website isn't real.

rcholbert @ Feb 5th 2007 1:24PM

It's pretty unlikely this is a Microsoft site. Doesn't even mention Microsoft as far as I can see, no copyright © 20007 Microsoft or logos or anything and it wasn't even registered by Microsoft. The domain whois information shows this:

Domain Name: WHATSWRONGWITHU.COM

Administrative Contact , Technical Contact :
e-Crusade Marketing Co. Ltd.
alvin.law@e-crusade.com
Room 1902-04, 19/F Chinachem Exchange
Square I, 1 Hoi Wan Street, Quarry Bay
Hong Kong, HK
Phone: +852 31024522

Now it's not unheard of for a company to use an outside marketing firm (hello Sony PSP blog!) but all signs point to this not being from Microsoft. Unresponsible blogging at its finest. :)

fiasco8 @ Feb 5th 2007 2:04PM

For those of you saying this is racist you need to go back to school and learn the difference between racism and offensive language.

If this is from MS, than it was completely stupid of them to name it that but it's not racist.

kevin hardy @ Feb 5th 2007 2:28PM

if ms asked "white men whats wrong with you:? i wouldnt be offended..im white..so what are they supposed to call me a unicorn? you wanna know whats racist....my son watching nickelodean and seieing kids of color being able to say on tv that they are proud of there race..my 5 year old has to hang his head and be ashamed of his race!? stop whining! and stop playing the race card all the time!

jay @ Feb 5th 2007 2:32PM

@17

Again, I immediately thought racism when reading the post title in combination with the site.

But you are also correct: The way they made it sound is offensive at least. If this weren't marketed to the Asian countries, then they are pretty much insulting their consumers. That really can't be good for business, can it?

Richard Mitchell @ Feb 5th 2007 2:53PM

We've contacted MS to verify their affiliation with this site, but considering that it's *loaded* with links to Asian versions of Xbox.com, it's probably legit.

jay @ Feb 5th 2007 2:53PM

Whether it is called whining or not, if you don't stand up against being insulted or defaced, you can't be called a man.

And what does playing the race card mean? That's such a lowly excuse for trying to let racism slip by. I'm not saying that Asians or any minorities are the only ones being treated unfailry. Whites are also treated with racism as well. (Personally, I am no fan of affirmative action and 'race quotas.')

If we want to get rid of racism (in this topic at least), the website should be marketed globally, towards gamers of all countries and color. Then the news post can say: MS asks gamers "WhatsWrongWithU?"

Then all gamers alike of race, gender, and sexual orientation can be all up in arms against the insult together.

I think we all need to take a page from South Park's episode "Chef Goes Nanners."
Chef, in the end, realizes that his fight against anti-racism made him a racist.
The town comprimised and instead depicting a group of white people hanging a black man on their town flag, they have a group of people of all races.

All in all, this could all still be the butt end of a simple misspelling: WhatsWrongWithU can easily be from WhatsWrongWithUs.

Josh @ Feb 5th 2007 3:04PM

It's definitely sponsored by Microsoft. Click on the Singapore link, click a few of the "suggested improvements" and then click done. It'll come up with an envelope asking for your e-mail address but just click the "Terms of Use" link in green. It goes directly to an MS disclaimer.

As far as the site name goes, they should have definitely called it Whatswrongwithus.com instead. There's nothing wrong with people that don't want a company's product. This is America, the land of Freedom of Choice.

Edge of Blade @ Feb 5th 2007 4:15PM

This isn't racist. It's just damned stupid. Who in their right mind RANTS at their customers in their marketing? Are they trying to jar loose an evil Sony/Nintendo demon out of them...or, the more likely response, get pissed off at the suggestion? Do they want people broken and defeated before they buy a 360? Who's bright idea was this?

xconvict @ Feb 5th 2007 4:36PM

does anybody know what the os of choice is in japan? is it ms windows? linux?

aaron @ Feb 5th 2007 4:40PM

"And what does playing the race card mean? That's such a lowly excuse for trying to let racism slip by. I'm not saying that Asians or any minorities are the only ones being treated unfailry. Whites are also treated with racism as well. (Personally, I am no fan of affirmative action and 'race quotas.')"

Somebody making sense.

Using the race card is also a sign of individual weakness on a subject, like when blacks try to defend Barry Bonds from being attacked by the press on charges of steroids.
So blacks say that McGuire gets preferential treatment because he's white. Ha ha. Actually , he looks more like an ass than Barry, but I digress. The race card is used as a shortcut to expressing uneducated opinions, opinions based mostly on deep feelings.

However, I still think some here have overreacted to this story. These comments come of as knee-jerk reactions only Americans, as I sometimes, (of all races) are known for. Piss-poor marketing is still at fault.

Rubbinz @ Feb 5th 2007 6:26PM

Do they really need to ask the question we already know the answer to? Look, all they have to do is start selling tons of games with little pre-teen girls dressed as maids where the gamer gets to diddle them. The X360 will sell like hotcakes over there. If you've ever been to Japan, you'll know exactly what I mean.

matjet @ Feb 5th 2007 7:41PM

somehow i don't think a campaign called "whats wrong with you" is going to make many people happy. its like saying, "if you haven't bought our product, you're stupid. we want to tell you why your stupid so we can fix your stupidity".
as i said, not very encouraging.

wang @ Feb 5th 2007 10:19PM

I live in japan and I hate microsoft because bill gates ate my baby.

WhackMushroom @ Feb 6th 2007 8:07AM

Wow, the singapore bundle they show at the end of the interactions is a damn good deal .. NOT FAIR!

still WTF MS? This site (besides it being terrible) is like going up to an chick in a club and saying .. HEY YOU DONT WANT THIS? as you suck in your gut .. why not just do .. PLEASEPLEASEBUYTHE360.com .. or use what some asian mothers use to scar their children for life .. guilt .. or as my wife calls it "The Asian Guilt Complex". "Its your mothers fault that you don't like the 360 and this brings shame to your fathers family."

They need to realize that asia is not one big blog of untapped market for them. At least they got it right by not including japan in the mix, that would piss off koreans .. but then they as about the cool japanese games ... WHO IS THE CREATIVE ON THIS PROJECT. FIRE THEM NOW ...