XBOX 360 - Available Soon!

[protocol_image]

In the latest IGN Podcast "Peter Moore Speaks", the Microsoft VP talks about the boat versus plane shipment methods, as well as indicates that a large amount of 360's will be available in a couple weeks.

Note: These quotes are my interpretation of an audio interview.

IGN's Doug Perry (2:52) So, if I've been looking for an XBOX 360, you would recommend to me that I show up in the stores in the next couple weeks.

Peter Moore (3:00) Not this weekend, but the first weekend in April, open up the Sunday papers and have a look at what you see in there.
Not all that exciting otherwise, but take a listen (http://games.ign.com/articles/698/698745p1.html).

A little cryptic, but still good enough reason to fatten your wallets in preparation.

[jeffool]

Everyone, I'd like you to welcome Protocol Image to our family. He's good people. I don't really know how long he's been here, but he's cool.

(Kelegacy, down boy! Down!)

[fitbabits]

I thought the Xbox 360 was released last November. :rolleyes:

[Morratut]

Welcome Protocol_image.

Surely people can get a 360 easily now? I can't believe stores etc are still trying to fulfill preorders?

[Derwin]

it's the xbox 720. oh well. time to upgrade.

[protocol_image]

I've been driving my friends mad with jealousy, so I've done a little checking around in my area, and it seems that all the GameStops and EB's still have preorders to fullfill before they will put any on the shelves. However, another friend of mine DID find one at Wal-Mart....the last one on the shelf. Thankfully it happened to be the Pro pack and not the sorry Core system.

I thought the Xbox 360 was released last November. :rolleyes:

Sure it was, but it was a global release with blah blah blah blah.......does anybody remember the PS2 shortages when it shipped? Not to mention the faulty mem cards and other hardware....or the Dreamcast with it's awefull burns of the first batch of games?

Just be prepared for a PS3 shortage, and get your preorders in the second the date is announced (ie: during E3)

[YoungAlCapone]

Welcome Protocol_Image.

The Gamestop around the corner from my apartment has had 360s available for a couple of weeks now. I am very tempted but must stay strong until a price drop.

And yes, I do realize it is going to be a long wait.

[jeffool]

Sure it was, but it was a global release with blah blah blah blah.......does anybody remember the PS2 shortages when it shipped?Sure, but no one cared because there weren't any must-have games until a year into the system's life. :DJust be prepared for a PS3 shortage, and get your preorders in the second the date is announced (ie: during E3)Bah! I'm biting my nails in Revolution anticipation!

[Abednigo]

Sorry, but this is kind of pathetic. The thing has been "available" for over 4 months and they're just now getting enough to stores where you can walk in and buy one without much hunting around for it? That's pathetic. I hope Nintendo and Sony do better with their new consoles. Yes, I will say the same thing if there are Revolution and PS3 shortages. Although the Revolution is the only one I'm definitely going to preorder.

[Abednigo]

Sure it was, but it was a global release with blah blah blah blah.......does anybody remember the PS2 shortages when it shipped?

But these kinds of shortages shouldn't happen. They should NOT release a system unless there is enough to meet demand. You should be able to walk into a store and buy one without waiting in line for a week beforehand. Don't set a release date unless you are CERTAIN you will have plenty to go around.

[Evil Avatar]

Just be prepared for a PS3 shortage, and get your preorders in the second the date is announced (ie: during E3)

Welcome Aboard!

With them only shipping like a Million PS3 units Worldwide at launch, you will have better luck catching the elusive Jackalope than buying a PS3 system at launch.

It is going to be a complete disaster of a system launch because it will really be something like June or July of 2007 before the systems start hitting store shelves. That is a hell of a boon to Microsoft, who will have tons of 360 systems sitting on store shelves at Christmas.

[bapenguin]

Sorry, but this is kind of pathetic. The thing has been "available" for over 4 months and they're just now getting enough to stores where you can walk in and buy one without much hunting around for it? That's pathetic. I hope Nintendo and Sony do better with their new consoles. Yes, I will say the same thing if there are Revolution and PS3 shortages. Although the Revolution is the only one I'm definitely going to preorder.

Kinda like Nintendo in Japan with the DS and DS Lite? They are just as guilty.

[jeffool]

But these kinds of shortages shouldn't happen. They should NOT release a system unless there is enough to meet demand. You should be able to walk into a store and buy one without waiting in line for a week beforehand. Don't set a release date unless you are CERTAIN you will have plenty to go around.Why should they only release them when they have enough for everyone? This isn't grade school... That's just insane. Besides, they don't know how popular it will be. If, sure it won't happen, but if it's a complete flop, they need to know not to keep making them.

[protocol_image]

Honestly, if shortages upset you, then I would like you to tell me the EXACT number of units that should be built before release. What is this magic number that would satisfy the masses? There is absolutely no way to tell what the demand for a new product really is. Just look at the analysts that said Japan was actually interested in the 360 before it launched. It's initial run bombed. And something tells me that Microsoft can afford the really good analysts too....

They could always go the route of ET for Atari. Make a cartridge for every person in the world, so that when nobody buys it you have to bury the overstock in a landfill. Besides, isn't the forbidden fruit that much tastier when finally get your mits on it?

[IndependentGMR]

Didn't Peter Moore say all this stuff in early February?

[Evil Avatar]

Honestly, if shortages upset you, then I would like you to tell me the EXACT number of units that should be built before release. What is this magic number that would satisfy the masses?

I can't give you an exact number, but I would hazard a guess and say that you shouldn't launch a system in the USA unless you have 3 Million units on hand.

[Kelegacy]

Hopefully they stop making Core systems...I've seen enough of those around, but who wants one of those? To get the Premium's content you need to spend upwards of 500 bucks: 100 for HDD, 50 for Wireless controller, 30 or so for the HD/AV cables, not to mention the headset.

Cores are pointless pieces of shit.

[Kamalot]

The folks at my game store have been satying that the first week in April they will have lots of units on hand. I think other stores are preparing for a big push. Check the adverts in the Sunday paper this weekend.

I picked one up at Target recently and am REALLY glad I did.

[Kamalot]

I can't give you an exact number, but I would hazard a guess and say that you shouldn't launch a system in the USA unless you have 3 Million units on hand.
How do you feel about Sony launching this fall with a whopping million, for the entire planet?

[bapenguin]

How do you feel about Sony launching this fall with a whopping million, for the entire planet?

It's going to be my kid's college tuition. (note - I don't even have kids yet)

[zeeeg]

Hey guys you could've just come to hicktown, michigan. We've had 360s in stock at wal-mart since shortly after launch.

[Shadow Fairy]

I thought Sony was launching with 1 million per region? Launching with 1 million total is just stupid. Of course no one ever said Sony was the smartest...

[Abednigo]

Honestly, if shortages upset you, then I would like you to tell me the EXACT number of units that should be built before release. What is this magic number that would satisfy the masses?

Like Evil said, I can't give an exact figure. But what was the number of 360s released in the US on day 1? Low/mid 6 figures as I recall. That's ridiculous. It should be in the millions, 3-5 easy. They know they'll sell.

[Paendragon]

Honestly, if shortages upset you, then I would like you to tell me the EXACT number of units that should be built before release. What is this magic number that would satisfy the masses? There is absolutely no way to tell what the demand for a new product really is. Just look at the analysts that said Japan was actually interested in the 360 before it launched. It's initial run bombed. And something tells me that Microsoft can afford the really good analysts too....

They could always go the route of ET for Atari. Make a cartridge for every person in the world, so that when nobody buys it you have to bury the overstock in a landfill. Besides, isn't the forbidden fruit that much tastier when finally get your mits on it?
Well Microsoft didn't even ship as many units as they had planned to, so that would probably be a good place to start.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

It'll be nice to finally have these on store shelves. I'll be working in the electronics department at Target starting next week, so I'm sure I'll hear about how these are hard to come by.

Of course after a few checks I'll be able to buy my own, and with a discount no less! Get to cranking those babies out MS!

[Kamalot]

I thought Sony was launching with 1 million per region? Launching with 1 million total is just stupid. Of course no one ever said Sony was the smartest...
Sony is launching the PS3 with 1 million worldwide. These are to be divided equally among the 3 major regions, Europe, N America and Japan.

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/sony/europe-to-get-just-as-many-ps3s-as-everyone-else-0-033-162793.php

with one million consoles available at launch world wide, no one’s going to be able to buy one. Distribution will be settled on the sole basis of most bitching blowjobs delivered to Sony execs.

There are expected to be between 4 and 6 launch titles. That means a number somewhere in the neighborhood of 'five'.

[Thenetcase]

I got a sneak preview of Sunday's headlines in the Entertainment Section!

Here's what it said,

"MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES XBOX360 FRANCHISE SELL-OUT"
The article goes on to say that "Infinium Labs has purchased all rights to the XBox360 and will be merging it with the Phantom gaming console. They will be calling the new product XPhanBox720 and it is expected to ship in Summer of 2010."
There was also something about Microsoft discontinuing the XBox Live! service for the 360 until Infinium Labs opens their alternative in the near future (2010). Good luck with that.

Eat your hearts out, puny humans!!

-TNC-

[Kefkataran]

There are expected to be between 4 and 6 launch titles. That means a number somewhere in the neighborhood of 'five'.

Which is why no one will want a PS3 at launch anyways. I've never understood the rush to buy a console at launch. Anyways, here's hoping the 360 shortages actually DO lighten up this time. This console's just about getting to the point where it has enough good games that it's worthwhile to pick it up.

(P.S. I'm still hoping to buy a PS3 at launch for Ebay sellage.)

[Roc Ingersol]

How many times are they going to say this, and how many times is it going to be news?

Seriously, there must be 10 stories now about how the 360s are going to be casually available 'soon'.

[Thenetcase]

Like Evil said, I can't give an exact figure. But what was the number of 360s released in the US on day 1? Low/mid 6 figures as I recall. That's ridiculous. It should be in the millions, 3-5 easy. They know they'll sell.

You, sir, have obviously NEVER studied supply & demand.

Here's how it works.. in simple terms.

You make 500,000 units of product X. You sell all 500,000 in the first week.
You sold 500,000 units of Product X at $400 each.
It cost you $450 to produce Product X. You lost $50 per unit or a grand total of: $25,000,000
The manufacturers that help you produce Product X see that you're selling tons of crap and allow you to negotiate a new price for production. You are now able to manufacture more units of Product X at $410 each. That saves you another $5,000,000.

Microsoft is losing a LOT more than that on the Xbox360 to this day. But they are losing a lot less on this next round of machines than they did on the first initial set. I don't care how irrational you think this supply and demand scheme is, that's the way it works and that's the way it always has and always will work.

Does that help you understand a little?

-TNC-

[Scull]

Go to Best Buy on Sunday. The ad next week says that all stores will have at least 20 360s (not core) in stock.

[drakkarim]

A little cryptic, but still good enough reason to fatten your wallets in preparation.

...fatten my wallet indeed, for conroe and a new DX10 card :) not a console.

[trip1eX]

eh who cares anymore? Instead I upgraded the other MS gaming platform. I can now play all the good 360 games plus the good pc ones.

[ReaverX]

The Gamestop around me in Chicago finally got some in so I snagged a premium pack yesterday. I'll probably head out this weekend and get some games, for now I'm busy just playing all the demos and xbox live arcade games.

[Entropy Effect]

I have been calling a nearby Toys R Us every day for the past couple of days as I have $300 worth of gift certificates I am waiting to use to buy a 360. Yesterday they told me they didn't have any, but I should come in on Sunday, seeming to confirm there is a relaunch of sorts coming next week.

To the people saying Microsoft should have had more units available at launch, you have to realize the 360 launch has in no way been a failure from MS's perspective. I am sure Microsoft would have preferred to have millions of consoles available at launch, but the truth is that with the resources they had, they were better off launching in time for the holiday season with limited availability than delaying the launch until spring.

[Rirath]

The Wal-Mart near me keeps getting some random shipments. We got 3 premiums (one of which I bought) and a couple cores about a month ago. A week ago or so we got 4 more premiums. Last night another 4 premiums. They usually sell out by the next day.

[Zanzibar]

For those of you lucky new X360 owners who need to buy a game:

Oblivion. Do not pass "Go." Do not collect $200.

That game should be the very next $60 any X360 owner spends.

[Roc Ingersol]

Isn't it 45 at compUSA?

[Zanzibar]

To the people saying Microsoft should have had more units available at launch, you have to realize the 360 launch has in no way been a failure from MS's perspective. I am sure Microsoft would have preferred to have millions of consoles available at launch, but the truth is that with the resources they had, they were better off launching in time for the holiday season with limited availability than delaying the launch until spring.

Great for Microsoft, terrible for the publishers/developers. Instead of selling millions of units, they sold far fewer.

Those 4-6 launch titles for the PS3? Those publishers and developers must be fucking SEETHING right now. They HAVE to launch, they HAVE to look good, and they will be lucky to sell 300,000 units...at Christmastime.

[Zanzibar]

Isn't it 45 at compUSA?

It was, but I can't find it anywhere at any CompUSA store anymore.

[VolantDave]

Is anyone else pissed that Microsoft is waiting until the begining of it's fiscal year to flood stores with 360's

[Abednigo]

You, sir, have obviously NEVER studied supply & demand.

Here's how it works.. in simple terms.

You make 500,000 units of product X. You sell all 500,000 in the first week.
You sold 500,000 units of Product X at $400 each.
It cost you $450 to produce Product X. You lost $50 per unit or a grand total of: $25,000,000
The manufacturers that help you produce Product X see that you're selling tons of crap and allow you to negotiate a new price for production. You are now able to manufacture more units of Product X at $410 each. That saves you another $5,000,000.

Microsoft is losing a LOT more than that on the Xbox360 to this day. But they are losing a lot less on this next round of machines than they did on the first initial set. I don't care how irrational you think this supply and demand scheme is, that's the way it works and that's the way it always has and always will work.

Does that help you understand a little?

-TNC-

Wow, thanks for informing stupid ol' me. I hope you feel really good about yourself after that. :rolleyes:

[protocol_image]

Wow, thanks for informing stupid ol' me. I hope you feel really good about yourself after that. :rolleyes:

Well I don't think that's worth feeling insulted over. If you had the background knowledge that thenetcase has kindly presented to all of us, then you wouldn't being making such statements. Even so, Economics is a well documented study, and like it or not, the formula works.

I wish everyone that wants/wanted a 360 could get one. It would show how strong Microsoft's status in the gaming world really is. Too bad that's not the reality yet. Soon though.....soon.

[Abednigo]

Well I don't think that's worth feeling insulted over. If you had the background knowledge that thenetcase has kindly presented to all of us, then you wouldn't being making such statements. Even so, Economics is a well documented study, and like it or not, the formula works.

I wish everyone that wants/wanted a 360 could get one. It would show how strong Microsoft's status in the gaming world really is. Too bad that's not the reality yet. Soon though.....soon.

Don't give him that much credit. I'm not insulted in the slightest. I just get annoyed when "smart" people like to show off how smart they are and can't let a person just vent without correcting them. I'm annoyed, not insulted.

[AbinSur]

Well I don't think that's worth feeling insulted over. If you had the background knowledge that thenetcase has kindly presented to all of us, then you wouldn't being making such statements. Even so, Economics is a well documented study, and like it or not, the formula works.
Well, condescension is never necessary, so feeling insulted is a fair reaction.

But anyway, Supply and Demand are not sufficient to justify this particular situation. The XBox 360, the PS3, and the Revolution are not just any products. They are all platform products that enable the sales of other products (games, accessories, etc.) Since no one is going to buy a 360 game without a 360, the console must necessarily be available in order to drive game sales. Oblivion looks really nice, but I'm not buying it till I get a console to play it on (which happened last night finally).

As well, video games are notoriously transient products (though not as transient as movies). The most sales come within the first few weeks, meaning any games coming out when no consoles are available are screwed. At Fry's last night they had two shelves of Oblivion, but they didn't stock ANY PGR3, PDZ, or DOA4. It will only be a month or so before the next big game comes out and people stop buying Oblivion as much.

What all this means is that while MS may not be hurting from the shortage, the games publishers are, and their animosity could affect future games, which will ultimately drive future sales.

[dr_wily]

Don't give him that much credit. I'm not insulted in the slightest. I just get annoyed when "smart" people like to show off how smart they are and can't let a person just vent without correcting them. I'm annoyed, not insulted.

you should add 5's and 1's in your sissies.. feh and you think you know 1337 5p34|< :rolleyes:

[Magnanimous Gnome]

For those of you lucky new X360 owners who need to buy a game:

Oblivion. Do not pass "Go." Do not collect $200.

That game should be the very next $60 any X360 owner spends.


Speaking of "Go" I had a dream last night about the Nintendo GO Revolution.

That must be the consoles final name. :p

[Entropy Effect]

Great for Microsoft, terrible for the publishers/developers. Instead of selling millions of units, they sold far fewer.

I think this is true only because the average quality of games that are available has increased. A launch title like PGR3 will probably still sell decently will despite the initial scarcity of consoles, while a mediocre game like PD0 will sell far less because people picking up new consoles now would likely buy GRAW or Far Cry instead. In other words, this affects the sales of Munch's Oddysee quality launch titles more than Halo quality launch titles.

[GunnyMo]

We have a big ad hitting this weekend with lots of 360s available. C'mon down! :D

[Heretic Machine]

Which is why no one will want a PS3 at launch anyways.

Dude, you are kidding yourself if you don't think that the PS3 will be THE item this Christmas. I mean, I think we could see a dominance shift in the console industry, but I don't think it's coming this Christmas. Sony will own this Christmas, and the 360 and Rev's will clean up as people get jaded with their inability to get a PS3 and settle for a second choice.

[Kefkataran]

Dude, you are kidding yourself if you don't think that the PS3 will be THE item this Christmas. I mean, I think we could see a dominance shift in the console industry, but I don't think it's coming this Christmas. Sony will own this Christmas, and the 360 and Rev's will clean up as people get jaded with their inability to get a PS3 and settle for a second choice.

I meant no one who's serious about gaming insofar as there probably won't be that many launch titles. But yeah, PS3 will be well-sought after which is why I should be able to make a killing on Ebay. ;)

[easi]

I wish the armchair economists would just shut up and realise that MS has unlimited money. They could have built a gajillion factories, bought 2 gajillion planes and made 2 units for everyone that wanted one at launch. But they opted to hold back so they could say OMFG SLOD OWT!!111 and get their hype machine rolling. Even though nobody could actually buy one and by the time they could, the hype generated from the 'sold out' stories had fizzled out and people were wise to Peter Moore's lies and laughing at the Japan launch flop. Great strategy.

[Thenetcase]

I wish the armchair economists would just shut up and realise that MS has unlimited money. They could have built a gajillion factories, bought 2 gajillion planes and made 2 units for everyone that wanted one at launch. But they opted to hold back so they could say OMFG SLOD OWT!!111 and get their hype machine rolling. Even though nobody could actually buy one and by the time they could, the hype generated from the 'sold out' stories had fizzled out and people were wise to Peter Moore's lies and laughing at the Japan launch flop. Great strategy.

Did you not read any of the posts people have been making here? Or did you just randomly troll this thread because you are uberl33t?

<sigh>

My apologies, btw... to Abenego or whatever the name is... for acting like a prick in my previous post. ;) I was just a little annoyed with all the crap I"ve been reading lately. Unfortunately I drastically over reacted. Pfft. I r weak.

-TNC-

[51|RandoM]

But these kinds of shortages shouldn't happen. They should NOT release a system unless there is enough to meet demand. You should be able to walk into a store and buy one without waiting in line for a week beforehand. Don't set a release date unless you are CERTAIN you will have plenty to go around.

Guess you're the only one out there with a crystal ball of 100% accuracy. You're advocating an unobtainable position.

[51|RandoM]

Is anyone else pissed that Microsoft is waiting until the begining of it's fiscal year to flood stores with 360's

I'm not. There isn't an exclusive yet that makes the investment worthwhile(for me). The two best games that come to mind are on PC which I have covered.

[snubber]

Yeah there's definitely something afoot, where some Stores are deciding to wait or Microsoft is telling them to wait or something. The past week my little Xbox 360 Availability App has been going crazy, telling me all my local Best Buy stores now have them in stock. I was excited -- until the dudes in the store told me, uh, no, not available.

I finally called one yesterday, told the woman I SEE they have them in stock, and got her to say "yeah, ok, but they won't be available until Sunday." Pisses me off they're just sitting back there for some marketing promo or something.

GIVE ME MY GODDAMN XBOX 360 YOU JACKBAGS!!!!

[Heretic Machine]

I'm not. There isn't an exclusive yet that makes the investment worthwhile(for me). The two best games that come to mind are on PC which I have covered.

If one of them is GRAW, I should probably point out that it has Starforce. Thus, when installing it, you are essentially installing a virus on your system.

[Busted_Astromech]

I'd assume Microsoft had trouble with the plane shipments because of all the snakes. On the planes.

ZING!

[bobbler]

The gamestop by me had 10+ premiums on tuesday when I picked mine up (they had just gotten a shipment in that day). Seems like the shortages are finally drying up in the states...

There are expected to be between 4 and 6 launch titles. That means a number somewhere in the neighborhood of 'five'.

Thats between 4 and 6 FIRST party launch titles, might want to check the quote again. EA already said they'd have between 8 and 12 titles ready for launch as well, then add an asortment of other ports and shit from the other companies and you'll have quite a few games. I don't think launch selection will be a problem for PS3 (the "delay" sort of made sure of that). Of course, that doesn't help the supply problem...

[MrMeatshake]

Surely people can get a 360 easily now? I can't believe stores etc are still trying to fulfill preorders?

nope.

(the message i have entered is too rubbish. please be more entertaining)

[Magnanimous Gnome]

EA already said they'd have between 8 and 12 titles ready for launch as well


Yikes, now there's a shitty launch. ;)

[absolut taco]

For those of you lucky new X360 owners who need to buy a game:

Oblivion. Do not pass "Go." Do not collect $200.

That game should be the very next $60 any X360 owner spends.
Not everyone is into Role playing games. I say, if you want a solid racer, get PGR3. If you want a great shooter, GRAW is your ticket.

[mister_slim]

I meant no one who's serious about gaming insofar as there probably won't be that many launch titles. But yeah, PS3 will be well-sought after which is why I should be able to make a killing on Ebay. ;)
Well, it'll depend how difficult the PS3 is to develop for. But I would guess the PS3 will easily exceed the 360's number of launch titles. First, the final dev kits will have been out for rather longer than with the 360. Second, the major publishers will be porting over from the 360 rather than up from the Xbox. Third, Playstation is where the money is.

[Kefkataran]

First, the final dev kits will have been out for rather longer than with the 360. Second, the major publishers will be porting over from the 360 rather than up from the Xbox. Third, Playstation is where the money is.

All fair points, although the small number shipping may affect the third one some, yes?

[mister_slim]

Depends on the long-term expectations, I suppose. A launch title going to Greatest Hits on the PS2 was more profitable than the same on Xbox.