Microsoft Japan is getting serious about their anthropomorphic operating systems.
Until recently, these characters, also known as OS-tans, were nothing more than unofficial fan-made creations. However, as we saw last month with the popularity of the Windows 8 DSP edition, Microsoft has begun to embrace their anime mascots, perhaps realizing their marketing potential among the otaku, or nerd, demographic. And now, for the first time ever, Microsoft will be delving into the belly of the beast and running a booth at Japan’s largest comic book convention, Comic Market.
This December, visitors to Comic Market, also known as Comiket, will be able to purchase a slew of limited-edition Windows anime character goods and computer peripherals. Microsoft has also hinted that they will be selling a special Windows 8 PC made in collaboration with a “certain anime property.” No clue as to what anime it could be, but the more pressing question is: who goes to a comic convention to buy a new PC?
If spending money isn’t your thing, there will also be plenty of swag and hot girls cosplaying — this is an otaku convention, after all.
The decision to hold a booth at this year’s Comiket came as a result of the adoption of Microsoft’s cloud service system, Windows Azure, to distribute the first ever digital version of the notoriously thick Comiket exhibition catalog.
While we can certainly expect to see Windows 8 sisters Yuu and Ai Madobe, Microsoft also promises that their Windows Azure mascot character, Claudia, will be in attendance as well to promote her handiwork.
Claudia is a 26-year-old novice systems engineer and firm advocate of Windows Azure as a hassle-free way to deal with time-consuming issues like hardware maintenance, patches and upgrades.
Last year, Microsoft Japan launched a manga web series to promote Windows Azure called Cloud Girl. In the series, Claudia personifies the Windows Azure cloud service as she solves a variety of network and administrative problems. Her cousin and Windows 7 mascot, Nanami Madobe, also makes an appearance as a troubled computer shop employee.
This winter’s Comiket will be held from December 29 to December 31 at Tokyo Big Site. Attendance is free but be prepared for long lines and huge crowds. The Microsoft booth will be on the fourth floor of the western exhibition hall. Check the official website for more information.
Source: ITmedia
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8 Comments
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basroil
cierzo98Nov. 26, 2012 - 10:14AM JST
Not really. So far Win8 has sold more than Win7 did at this time, and several times what XP sold. Sure they may have set the bar too high considering many are still doing ridiculous things like sticking to XP even with a 64bit computer (they lose about 20% of their system performance), but hardly desperate yet.
In fact, stock prices have been going up faster than competing companies, so surely investors also don't share your ideas.
This article is being completely ignored by apple-fans (which are always windows bashers). The PC isn't about Windows 8 at all, rather the fact that Comiket switched to Microsoft's Azure web hosting platform. If it was Amazon's AWS that got the gig, Amazon would probably be selling limited edition paperwhites and Fire HDs!
basroil
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-277211.html
Even adjusting for PC inflation, Windows 8 sold more in 4 days than XP did in two months, several times more in fact. Without inflation, that is about six times more Win8 upgrades sold than XP!
Those limited edition PCs will be collectors items some day, so a pretty decent buy if you can get even a quarter of the original purchase price for them.
BertieWooster
It won't do any good.
No one wants it.
Helvetica
Overkill for Windows 8 strategy. You can download Anime themes for Win 7 if you want...
BertieWooster
tairitsuiken-san,
I wish it wasn't so, but I must confess that you are right.
Japan redefines "gullible."
They even believe what they read in the newspapers and see on TV!
cierzo98
This smacks of desperation - last ditch attempt to promote an unpopular OS which even its own customers don't like.
tairitsuiken
@BertieWooster
Wrong. If it's promoted, ie someone screaming into a megaphone: "Osusume, osusume, ichiban ninki nanbaa wan!!!", japanese customers will line up for it like the good customers they are.