GoogleMap an XBox360 Kiosk [Archive]

bapenguin

10-20-2005, 11:28 AM

Wanna play the XBox 360? Check out this GoogleMap-Type lookup (http://www.risingconcepts.com/frapper/xbox360kiosks) created by HardForum (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=966982) member Viper87227 and locate a kiosk near you.

While this still isn't the "official" launch of the kiosks, this is the beginning of the kiosks retail availability. A global distribution and launch of this kind of thing has never been attempted, so it's pretty amazing to see it in action. By using this tool we can almost literally watch the distribution channels in action.

The official word from Microsoft is this:

"Xbox 360 retail kiosks have started arriving at retailers. Due to the nature of the distribution process, not all kiosks are hitting simultaneously, but are continuing to pop up in retailers across the country in the coming weeks. The kiosks are designed for a retail environment and feature game samples, game trailers and product information."
It's amazing how fast some people can work to put something cool like this together.

NoName

10-20-2005, 11:32 AM

They're already appearing in Targets and EBs too? Didn't Best Buy used to think they would be the first?

fitbabits

10-20-2005, 11:35 AM

No love for NC, NoName! I'm appalled.

A-Team

10-20-2005, 11:39 AM

It's amazing how fast some people can work to put something cool like this together.
Google friggen rules. They might know each and every detail about my life, but I heart Google.

NoName

10-20-2005, 11:45 AM

No love for NC, NoName! I'm appalled.
Yea, but considering how long that site has probably been up, it just means us lazy NC people ain't checked our here stored. You know how lazy us southern people are. (well, ignoring the fact that over 50% of the people living in my area has moved here from the north, myself included...)

agentgray

10-20-2005, 11:50 AM

It's amazing as to how people are swallowing hype for system demonstration units. People are drooling over this...literally. Ask yourself, was your first thought to check the link and see if there is one nearby? Uh...

I'll admit it, I love my XBOX as much as the next guy, but this is just wrong. Does the desire for the latest and greatest have that much a burn on the inside to warrant this type of mentalty?

Microsoft's marketing is the best.

"I'm going just to inform myself of a purchase?"

Uh...

:D

Pluvious

10-20-2005, 12:02 PM

Seriously...

Hey! Big scoop my local Safeway has a new Coke Machine!! Let's map it!

Pleeease..

Reanimated

10-20-2005, 12:09 PM

Interesting that Wal Mart seems to be getting them first.

bapenguin

10-20-2005, 12:11 PM

Seriously...

Hey! Big scoop my local Safeway has a new Coke Machine!! Let's map it!

Pleeease..

Maybe on a Coke fan site there is such a thing..... :D

joruussuun

10-20-2005, 12:24 PM

Interesting that Wal Mart seems to be getting them first.

Interesting that the world's largest retailer is getting them first?

net7runner

10-20-2005, 12:27 PM

Why are there so many demos in Idaho? I guess there are some really dedicated 360 fans out there....

PS: NC <3

fitbabits

10-20-2005, 12:33 PM

Yea, but considering how long that site has probably been up, it just means us lazy NC people ain't checked our here stored. You know how lazy us southern people are. (well, ignoring the fact that over 50% of the people living in my area has moved here from the north, myself included...)
Good points, well made. If I didn't have a broken rib right now, I'd be out on the road looking at various Wal*Marts, etc. Turns out that driving while on narcotics is not a good idea. It's fun as hell, but probably illegal!

NoName

10-20-2005, 12:34 PM

Why are there so many demos in Idaho? I guess there are some really dedicated 360 fans out there....

PS: NC <3
Idaho, home of the potato and xbox fanboys. :D

NoName

10-20-2005, 12:36 PM

Good points, well made. If I didn't have a broken rib right now, I'd be out on the road looking at various Wal*Marts, etc. Turns out that driving while on narcotics is not a good idea. It's fun as hell, but probably illegal!
How the hell did you break a rib? Did someone decide they wanted to play Infected early and come beat ya up? :confused:

Lagrius

10-20-2005, 12:36 PM

Yea, going to check a couple of Walmarts for the heck of it on the way home...I usually stay far away from them though.

InstaPete

10-20-2005, 12:37 PM

I'm with agentgray and Pluvious, I don't know why you guys are making a big deal about the first chance anyone not in the gaming indistry/media is getting to play the first next-gen console that people have been looking forward to for years.

Wait, yes I do. I'm hoping there's not a kiosk in my store, because I have a lot of work to do and won't be getting any done if there is.

bapenguin

10-20-2005, 12:37 PM

Why are there so many demos in Idaho? I guess there are some really dedicated 360 fans out there....

PS: NC <3

That is what I was talking about with distribution channels. Most likely there was a warehouse in that area....also in the Illinois area it looks like there was a warehouse.

Taco

10-20-2005, 12:39 PM

I was playing one at a Wal-Mart. Very very unimpressive graphically. Was probably the game, don't know which one it was. It reminded me of the first time I saw a PS2 game in person at a kiosk.

fitbabits

10-20-2005, 12:39 PM

How the hell did you break a rib? Did someone decide they wanted to play Infected early and come beat ya up? :confused:
I coach soccer for 9 year-old girls. I got tangled up with one during a scrimmage and fell awkwardly on my side with my elbow trapped under me. I wish there was a smiley for ouch!

MosBen

10-20-2005, 12:44 PM

Wait, 9 year old girls beat you up?! ;-)

NoName

10-20-2005, 12:44 PM

I coach soccer for 9 year-old girls. I got tangled up with one during a scrimmage and fell awkwardly on my side with my elbow trapped under me. I wish there was a smiley for ouch!
So... you're telling me a 9 year-old girl beat you up? :eek: And you're admitting to it? :confused:

:p ;)

(at least there's plenty of smileys for teasing [or harrasing] someone :-D )

JediSanf

10-20-2005, 12:54 PM

Has anyone seen any in Arkansas? I won't be able to check until after work.

Taco

10-20-2005, 12:54 PM

Looking at the titles available on these things I think I was playing King Kong. Not sure what Kameo is.

Atorak

10-20-2005, 12:54 PM

I was playing one at a Wal-Mart. Very very unimpressive graphically. Was probably the game, don't know which one it was. It reminded me of the first time I saw a PS2 game in person at a kiosk.

Taco, which game? Heh, I mean, you are being a LITTLE vague.

Taco

10-20-2005, 12:56 PM

King Kong, I am pretty sure now. Only ran around for a few minutes. I was buying Blitz at the time.

BleedTheFreak

10-20-2005, 12:59 PM

King Kong, I am pretty sure now. Only ran around for a few minutes. I was buying Blitz at the time.

That's so totally the opposite of what everyone else has said (your opinion about the games graphics) that I find your comment bordering on rediculous and inflammatory.

Not that I give a whit about a King Kong game, though.

Taco

10-20-2005, 01:02 PM

NoName

10-20-2005, 01:03 PM

That's so totally the opposite of what everyone else has said (your opinion about the games graphics) that I find your comment bordering on rediculous and inflammatory.

Not that I give a whit about a King Kong game, though.
Lets not get into another opinion based arguement like the DS rumble pak thread...

fitbabits

10-20-2005, 01:13 PM

So... you're telling me a 9 year-old girl beat you up? :eek: And you're admitting to it? :confused:

Well, she's bigger than your average 9 year-old!! And I'm quite wee. :eek:

joruussuun

10-20-2005, 01:21 PM

Yes probably mangling this quote somewhat... only saw the movie twice:
"Let's hear how [fitbabits] got knocked out by a 90-pound girl. That never gets old."

Atorak

10-20-2005, 01:22 PM

rediculous and inflamitory?

I'm not sure how you could say that. I saw it with my eyes and I'm reporting on it, it was highly aliased on the LCD screen and was ugly. If others disagree, fine. My intent was not to spark a controversy on what I said, I really don't care enough either way.

Taco say it ain't so!

Oh wait, this shouldn't bother me in the slightest. Or anyone else on these boards. We all have our own opinions. Taco just stated his.

Then again, where's the fun in agreeing on something?

...M...M...M...u...s...t...... D...e...f...e...n...d...... M...i...c...r...o...s...o...f...t...

Taco

10-20-2005, 01:26 PM

BleedTheFreak

10-20-2005, 01:53 PM

I think I underestimated how seriously some console fans(read: Mr. Freak) may take a first impression of a kiosk from some putz on a message board. Otherwise I wouldn't of posted at all.

You'd think the fact that I played the thing yesterday and didn't know what it was until today would show you where I stand.

Sorry, didn't mean to come accross as defensive. I was just saying, I've read other reports of folks who were blown away by the look of KK, though like I said, I'm not really going to pick it up or anything. Also, maybe the screen on those kisoks aren't the best, I'm certain the lighting will be shite for playing games around in a big store like that, at any rate.

For the record, I'm a PC gamer, by GAWD.

ColdForged

10-20-2005, 02:26 PM

Hopefully I can get out and check the Cary Wal-Mart today and see.

It's amazing as to how people are swallowing hype for system demonstration units. People are drooling over this...literally. Ask yourself, was your first thought to check the link and see if there is one nearby? Uh...

I'll admit it, I love my XBOX as much as the next guy, but this is just wrong. Does the desire for the latest and greatest have that much a burn on the inside to warrant this type of mentalty?

Golly, a new system is coming out that people have been hearing about and seeing grainy videos of and now they have a chance to actually try it out. So they go to these retailers that might have them and report to others that they have them so they can try it out. Yeah, that's living on the edge of hysteria there. What's next? People might crack a smile or say "that was fun." The utter, unassailable horror.

Again, if this kind of thing doesn't float your boat, how about posting in a thread that does?

normyk

10-20-2005, 02:49 PM

And still no reports of any in Ohio. Dang. I was curious. I'm still not sold on the 360 so I figured a little quality time with a demo unit might help make up my mind for me.

bapenguin

10-20-2005, 03:07 PM

well, I'll probably stop by one of the kiosks tomorrow which is near my home. I'm curious if there's some kind of issue with the hookups, everything I read people are complaining about aliasing....when I saw the games that wasn't an issue.

TheBrainKills

10-20-2005, 03:36 PM

lol ... if you click on one of the California ones you get 2 gay guys going at it.

Ludoc

10-20-2005, 03:44 PM

...M...M...M...u...s...t...... D...e...f...e...n...d...... M...i...c...r...o...s...o...f...t...

I have to say that made me laugh.

I suprised they've already made it up to this side of the border. I assumed MS would have saturated the states before giving us any love.

And how the hell does Parry Sound get one before Sudbury? Fuckin' commies, with their plot to keep the 360 out of my hands. Don't the understand I have both the need to play with one and the ability to do so?

ldi222

10-20-2005, 03:59 PM

You'd think the fact that I played the thing yesterday and didn't know what it was until today would show you where I stand.

You read and post on EA all the time and you didnt know enough about gaming to know you were holding a 360 controller in your hand and playing the new Xbox? That post sounded fishy and a flame bait as it was and that above comment proves its.

Taco

10-20-2005, 04:17 PM

I knew it was the new XBox. I didn't know which game it was.

And I specifically said it was probably the game, not the xbox, to avoid being flameworthy. But the sensitive morons always come out in console threads.

ArkMan

10-20-2005, 04:22 PM

lol ... if you click on one of the California ones you get 2 gay guys going at it.

Hahah, oh my God, I think I'm going to be sick.... thanks asshole. Damn you internet and your sexual deviance, damn you straight to hell!!

Ahem, yeah not much love for Canada yet, makes me a sad penguin.

askheaves

10-20-2005, 07:36 PM

I found one at the Walmart in Tucson at Speedway and Kolb. I'm with Taco in that it was underwhelming. I was playing COD2 (the demo we've all played on the computer). It certainly ran at 30+ fps without a hitch.

It looked great; it far exceeds the XBox 1.0. However, it was running on an LCD kiosk screen 3 feet above my head and tilted downward with the Wireless controller attached directly under it. I felt like a goof playing it. I couldn't figure out how to throw grenades.

I think I was expecting magic with all the anticipation of the last year. It looked good, smooth, the little middle button brought the blades out as advertised. It just wasn't more than I expected.

Edit: I did take a picture of it, but I have no hosting.
Second Edit: Follow the topic's link and click on the Tucson, AZ marker.

net7runner

10-20-2005, 09:49 PM

NC finally gets a location and its in....Boone.

*waves his little flag*

Woo-woo. Woo. Woo.

Deadend

10-20-2005, 10:02 PM

I wonder when my store will get one, as no way in hell I am going into the wal-mart.

I kinda expect the LCD screen to suck. Rember the PS2 kiosks? Those screens made games look more ailised. The GC had the best kiosks this generation, hands down, better screens.

Major Scud

10-20-2005, 11:09 PM

I got a neck-ache playing the one near me. I tried out all three games before a munchkin through me off, but I definately thought kameo was the cream of the crop. King Kong left me VERY underwhelmed, I was hoping the PC demo would be completely blown away by the 360 version, and that character models would be improved, and debris wouldnt "magically" disapear. I will say Kong himself and the T-Rex was WAY better looking on the 360. Nothing stellar, but better then the PC demo. The humans still looked bad though, and debris still disapears on contact with the ground.

on a side note, I managed to crash the demo kiosk at my walmart. When playing the King Kong demo fighting the t-rex as kong, at one point the t-rex became just a blue outline through which you could see through the whole level. A few minutes later the system bugged out. I played Kameo the most though, and that never had a problem.

Mr.Green

10-20-2005, 11:20 PM

Click on the "links" in Canada. Seriously guys, you might wanna pull the link to that trash.

ElectricMonk

10-21-2005, 12:07 AM

i have to wonder if this thing is correct, regina saskatechwan before calgary, vancouver and toronto?

Borys

10-21-2005, 12:31 AM

That's pretty NOT SAFE FOR WORK guys. I dunno how those gay pics got there :|

Reeprawf

10-21-2005, 01:28 AM

Scroll Down the right hand side of the page where it lists all the stores. If you scroll to the bottom you can see the most recent posts. Those 2 guys Peter the Slippery Shank and Kevin the Glutton are my heros.

gloogan

10-21-2005, 02:04 AM

I have to drive 2 1/2 hours to another state to play one. Notta one in N.Y.(the state not the city)

I'm thinkin that the states that are oddly getting a bunch of kiosks could be the less supportive of the xbox 360 or even the xbox now. So they get a bunch early to try and get them to jump on the wagon early.

phantomhitman

10-21-2005, 06:32 AM

hmm, should i drive down to mrytle beach sc or just wait until nc has one installed. MS is telling me to drive, so I am driving!!!

agentgray

10-21-2005, 11:45 AM

Hopefully I can get out and check the Cary Wal-Mart today and see.

Golly, a new system is coming out that people have been hearing about and seeing grainy videos of and now they have a chance to actually try it out. So they go to these retailers that might have them and report to others that they have them so they can try it out. Yeah, that's living on the edge of hysteria there. What's next? People might crack a smile or say "that was fun." The utter, unassailable horror.

Again, if this kind of thing doesn't float your boat, how about posting in a thread that does?
You obviously didn't read or understand the rest of my post. I hinted that someone would go to it for informational purposes.