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Microsoft celebrates hardware sales milestone with 'thank you' campaign; plans to give away one million Microsoft Points in Japan. Japanese 2009 release schedule outlined

In February this year the Xbox 360 outsold the Wii and PS3 in Japan for the week of February 16 to 22 when Xbox 360-exclusive RPG title Star Ocean: The Last Hope launched. Even with occasional sales spikes, Japan is hardly the poster child for Xbox console 360 sales globally.

At a media conference held in Japan today, Microsoft announced it had finally surpassed the one million unit hardware sale mark in the land of the rising sun, and will celebrate the occasion by giving away one million Microsoft Points and a dashboard theme locally as part of a 'Thank You' campaign.

The announcement was made by Microsoft Japan president Takashi Sensui alongside announcements about upcoming retail and downloadable games for its Xbox Live Arcade service from various local industry luminaries.

Among these, Namco Bandai's Yoshihisa Kanesaka announced the company will be bringing SoftMax-developed fantasy role-playing game Magna Carta 2 to the console with a slated Japanese release date of August 6.

Via video message, Capcom producer Jun Takeuchi again confirmed Lost Planet 2 will feature four-player co-op support, while Dead Rising 2 producer Keiji Inafune discussed foreign developers handling the game's progress. He also aired a trailer for the game showing the protagonist attacking zombies in a casino setting using various objects as weapons.

Tri-Ace's Takayuki Suguro Sega took the stage to discuss new RPG title End of Eternity, which is scheduled for release in winter 2009. A CG and short gameplay trailer was also shown detailing the game's combat.

Microsoft Xbox marketing spokesman Joji Sakaguchi used the latter part of the briefing to detail and date upcoming Xbox 360 and XBLA titles including: 2D fighting title BlazBlu: Calamity Trigger which is due out June 26, and a new 3D Samurai Shodown title. Lode Runner is due to land on the service tomorrow, April 22, while Banjo-Kazooie sequel Banjo-Tooie and Virtual On will both be available from April 29. Mega Man 9 is due out in June for 800 Microsoft Points and will include a new boss.

Space Invaders Extreme and four-player puzzle game OD Beat Drop were also teased, though neither had release schedules outlined save a promise they would arrive in "spring." Bubble Bobble Neo! and SNK Playmore's Gorou: Mark of the Wolves were name-checked for an estimated spring/summer launch window, while The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match is due in 2010.

Microsoft finished the presentation by announcing that Square Enix titles Project Cube, Yosumin Live, and 0 Day Attack on Earth were all destined for release sometime in 2009.

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