Microsoft's Xbox 360 game console has got off to a slow start in Japan, a survey has found

According to market research group Enterbrain, Microsoft sold only 62,135 Xbox 360 consoles over the weekend.

This figure represents just 39 per cent of the 159,000 machines that were available for the Japanese launch.

The consoles poor performance has been attributed to the postponement of the highly anticipated Dead or Alive 4 game.

Microsoft has struggled to penetrate the Japanese market, traditionally dominated by local rivals Sony and Nintendo.

Sony's share of the Japanese console market is estimated to be about 80 per cent, compared with less than 5 per cent for Microsoft.

The original Xbox sold about 123,000 units in the first three days of its launch in 2002.

But with Sony expected to launch the PlayStation 3 next spring, Microsoft was hoping that the early release date of the 360 would give it a clear advantage over its biggest rival.

Yoshihiro Maruyama, head of the Xbox division at the Japanese unit of Microsoft: "Unless we achieve meaningful success here, we cannot say we are a winner in the next-generation console battle."

However, these sales figures will be a big disappointment to the US software giant.

"Japan is a very important market for our global strategy, and launching our console ahead of rival platforms will give us a certain advantage," said Yoshihiro Maruyama, head of the Xbox division at the Japanese unit of Microsoft.

"Unless we achieve meaningful success here, we cannot say we are a winner in the next-generation console battle."

The 360 costs 39,795 yen ($330) in Japan, cheaper than the comparable package in the US, where it sells for about $400.

Microsoft launched the 360 in the US on November 22, followed by the European launch of the machine on December 2.

Both of these launches have been a huge success with many retailers reporting bumper sales.

The 360 is estimated to have sold around 500,000 units in the US and 85,000 in the UK.

Microsoft said it expects to sell three million units of the new console worldwide within the first 90 days.

In addition to playing games, the 360 can also be used to watch DVDs, view photos and listen to music.

Gamers in Australia, Colombia, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan will have to wait until early next year to get their hands on a 360.