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View Full Version : 360 Availability Less than Expected, Win a 360

bapenguin
10-19-2005, 05:31 AM
According to Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6136027.html), Mike Wallace of UBS Securities recast his estimates of Xbox 360 units dropping it by about a million units world wide.

By region, Wallace sees 350,000-400,000 units shipping in North America on its November 22 launch date. Over the course of the remaining five weeks of 2005, he sees the North American market peaking at a total of 800,000-1 million units on store shelves.

In the other markets, Wallace expects around 400,000-500,000 units to be in the retail channel in Europe when the Xbox 360 goes on sale on December 2. In Japan, where the console debuts on December 10, he foresees an initial batch of about 100,000-200,000 units. Wallace predicted no significant postlaunch influx of consoles in either market by year's end.
As long as I still get my 360 at launch, I'll be happy.

In other news, Microsoft has launched a new XBox 360 contest (http://www.hex168.com/) in which 360 winners will be chosen to win the system, the 3 first party titles and a 1 year subscription to XBox Live.

Can anyone figure out what the hell is going on at the Hex168 site?
fitbabits
10-19-2005, 05:38 AM
As long as I still get my 360 at launch, I'll be happy.

I second that! 4 weeks from Tuesday...

You know what would be sort of cool? If EvAv implemented a countdown timer counting down to the launch of the 360. I would welcome it, but I can imagine the uproar.
A-Team
10-19-2005, 05:51 AM
No offense pal, but all you have to do is read the official rules! :)

The HEX168 thing is simply a photo/video contest. All entries are due at such and such time, videos can't be more than X length long, and winners will be chosen by November 9 or something.
bapenguin
10-19-2005, 05:56 AM
No offense pal, but all you have to do is read the official rules! :)

The HEX168 thing is simply a photo/video contest. All entries are due at such and such time, videos can't be more than X length long, and winners will be chosen by November 9 or something.

Right right, I understand that and I did it (how do you think I figured out the 360 winners?) my question is....what the hell are you supposed to do the photo/video of? Just the stupid hex symbol somewhere?
bapenguin
10-19-2005, 05:58 AM
I second that! 4 weeks from Tuesday...

You know what would be sort of cool? If EvAv implemented a countdown timer counting down to the launch of the 360. I would welcome it, but I can imagine the uproar.

That would be neat. Anyone know flash? Maybe they can make something up and Evil can put it in a content block.
Syl
10-19-2005, 06:14 AM
I don't care much for the xbox360 now, and i'll wait to get one.

Once some mods come out for it, (Such as the ability to use 3.5inch harddrives, or at least normal notebook drives), and once I know for sure what the hell the backwards compability is, i'll probably get one.

For now, there are more than enough games coming out to entertain me.
Vandenh
10-19-2005, 06:27 AM
1M? I thought they said 2-3M before the end of the year? Hmmm.. how many do/can they produce every month? Looks like it is going to be a fight to get a 360.... Microsoft pulls a Sony? Well at least they launch in Europe at the same time... I like that ;)
Klade
10-19-2005, 06:38 AM
Yes all xbox 360 game consoles will be rare as gold, so if you want one then run right down to your local game store and reserve a copy right now!!!!!!! And this wallace fellow takes a nice fat check from all parties involved.

*rolls eyes*

This launch will be just like the last one where they expected there to be a shortage. If you try to buy from gamestop or eb then your out of luck. But walk arcross the street to Walmart or Target and they will have stacks of them.
Abednigo
10-19-2005, 06:41 AM
I hadn't planned on getting a 360, but this just cements that I don't want one. Microsoft is creating the shortage on purpose. 350k-400k on launch day in the US!?!? That's pathetic!! They want to be the "hot item" this Christmas. Then jackasses all over the world will be selling them for $3000 on Ebay and it'll be all over the news. Free marketing.

Jackasses.
dojoteef
10-19-2005, 07:06 AM
Well here are the complete rules (http://www.hex168.com/rules.aspx) for the submissions. Contest entires are valid between October 18th and November 4th.
BleedTheFreak
10-19-2005, 07:08 AM
I hadn't planned on getting a 360, but this just cements that I don't want one. Microsoft is creating the shortage on purpose. 350k-400k on launch day in the US!?!? That's pathetic!! They want to be the "hot item" this Christmas. Then jackasses all over the world will be selling them for $3000 on Ebay and it'll be all over the news. Free marketing.

Jackasses.

The flaw with your logic is if MS decided to intentionally make fewer consoles, thats less folks that can buy them, less folks buying games for them, less folks checking out Arcade. Come on, lets drop the conspiracy theories and use your freaking noodle once. You think MS makes any money of some jerk selling it for 3,000 bucks on ebay? Do they have ANY reason to do this on purpose?

OR

Could it be related to the news item that they said they realized only NOW how big a task a world wide launch was, and why it was not done before. I'm guessing this makes them as frustrated as it makes other gamers.
Roc Ingersol
10-19-2005, 07:21 AM
Do they have ANY reason to do this on purpose?
Create the illusion of limited supply by choking the initial shipments, ratcheting up the desire and creating the appearance of a 'must have' holiday item - then flooding the marketplace every week until christmas?

No, Sony.... err, Microsoft wouldn't get any free marketing out of that situation at all.
BleedTheFreak
10-19-2005, 07:33 AM
Create the illusion of limited supply by choking the initial shipments, ratcheting up the desire and creating the appearance of a 'must have' holiday item - then flooding the marketplace every week until christmas?

No, Sony.... err, Microsoft wouldn't get any free marketing out of that situation at all.

Except they would miss the biggest shopping week of the season, so even when they "flood" the market weeks later, most folks won't be buying little Johnny a SECOND Christmas gift. No, I don't think this is intentional, it just doesn't make sense.

EDIT: Unless of course, Bill Gates is satan and wants to see people suffer? It would explain Windows ME, anyway.
EternalGamer
10-19-2005, 07:37 AM
Except they would miss the biggest shopping week of the season, so even when they "flood" the market weeks later, most folks won't be buying little Johnny a SECOND Christmas gift. No, I don't think this is intentional, it just doesn't make sense.

EDIT: Unless of course, Bill Gates is satan and wants to see people suffer? It would explain Windows ME, anyway.


I am not saying MS would do this on purpose, but it sure the hell worked for Sony with the PS2. I was working retail at the time and I can tell you that the limited demand made it THE thing to own. It became a status symbol among just about every demographic.

Dan
BleedTheFreak
10-19-2005, 07:41 AM
I am not saying MS would do this on purpose, but it sure the hell worked for Sony with the PS2. I was working retail at the time and I can tell you that the limited demand made it THE thing to own. It became a status symbol among just about every demographic.

Dan

I can also see it working out to their advantage, my argument is simply that I don't think it's intentional (which you seem to agree with). They would probably make *MORE* money if they had supply to go along with the already existing demand, I would bet.

I was just trying to stem the conspiracy stuff before it got rolling.
Heretic Machine
10-19-2005, 07:57 AM
First thing that turned me against Sony: Artificial shortages of the PS2 at launch.
Abednigo
10-19-2005, 07:58 AM
Create the illusion of limited supply by choking the initial shipments, ratcheting up the desire and creating the appearance of a 'must have' holiday item - then flooding the marketplace every week until christmas?

No, Sony.... err, Microsoft wouldn't get any free marketing out of that situation at all.

That was my whole point. Are they doing it on purpose? Probably not. A worldwide launch is undoubtedly difficult and to my knowledge no one has tried that before. But they've known they were going to launch this thing for how long? These companies have enough notice and should be focusing on meeting demand before they set release dates.

But it certainly won't hurt them marketing wise. It'll be all over the news.
Heretic Machine
10-19-2005, 08:18 AM
Band Marches in Hex 168 Viral Campaign (http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/hex-168/index.php)
A reader shot me an email to let me know that the hex 168 symbol showed up during the Fresno State vs Utah game in Fresno on Saturday. Apparently, the marching band broke into the figure during their routine. I wonder if they all landed free 360s?
Roc Ingersol
10-19-2005, 08:19 AM
A worldwide launch is undoubtedly difficult.
Did MS plan shortages? Doesn't matter. We'll never know; same as it was with the PS2.

BtF's question was whether they had any reason to do it. And MS will tangibly benefit from shortages. They'll get gobs of free marketing out of it (they already are, and the thing isn't even on shelves yet). Its happened before, it'll happen again.

I seriously don't think every kid's christmas gift is going to be set in stone the day after thanksgiving. The holiday shortage gifts always seem to get bought. Someone's going to get them -- there's alot of spoiled bastard kids out there.
daedal
10-19-2005, 09:19 AM
Bleh, can't even enter in Canada. Guess I'll just pray my pre-order pulls through.
MadHiro
10-19-2005, 09:54 AM
Right right, I understand that and I did it (how do you think I figured out the 360 winners?) my question is....what the hell are you supposed to do the photo/video of? Just the stupid hex symbol somewhere?
My reading of the rules suggested that it was supposed to highlight "the unusual among the mundane". Beyond that, who knows? Make something and see if it wins. :D
Heretic Machine
10-19-2005, 11:18 AM
The point of the game is to find the Hex symbol in public. It's one of those hide-and-go-seek viral campaigns. So unless you live in a major city, you're fucked.
NoName
10-19-2005, 11:54 AM
The point of the game is to find the Hex symbol in public. It's one of those hide-and-go-seek viral campaigns. So unless you live in a major city, you're fucked.
Well dang it. I'm guessing it's probably to late to put my hopes on the one every 10 minutes campaign? :o
normyk
10-19-2005, 11:55 AM
That would be neat. Anyone know flash? Maybe they can make something up and Evil can put it in a content block.
Depending on what CMS the site runs on there are probably pre-made blocks you can use for a countdown. I grabbed a simple java one and chucked a countdown on my site in short order. Seems to work pretty nicely.
Heretic Machine
10-19-2005, 12:02 PM
Well dang it. I'm guessing it's probably to late to put my hopes on the one every 10 minutes campaign?

Well, a lot of places have stopped selling the Every10 capped bottles. I think the last day that has any giveaways is October 31st.
NoName
10-19-2005, 12:03 PM
Depending on what CMS the site runs on there are probably pre-made blocks you can use for a countdown. I grabbed a simple java one and chucked a countdown on my site in short order. Seems to work pretty nicely.
Java sounds better than flash... it'd be nice to, for once, keep EA open in the background without my cpu going at it... :D
Liquidize105
10-19-2005, 12:16 PM
Get your x360s from Japan where there'll be plenty :D
bapenguin
10-19-2005, 02:38 PM
Depending on what CMS the site runs on there are probably pre-made blocks you can use for a countdown. I grabbed a simple java one and chucked a countdown on my site in short order. Seems to work pretty nicely.

We are using VBulletin. I'll have to do some research on what's out there.
Leon
10-19-2005, 08:36 PM
Bleh, can't even enter in Canada. Guess I'll just pray my pre-order pulls through.

Canadians can enter to win an Xbox 360, game, etc. every hour here (http://www.bethefirsttoplay.com/) (Rules here (http://www.bethefirsttoplay.com/e_OfficialRules.html) )

If you want to enter without purchase click here (http://www.bethefirsttoplay.com/NPN.asp?l=e)
Here in the US we have to buy Pepsi or Mountain Dew products to get a code but Canadians can get a free code every hour in you complete a survey. :(