XBox 360 Zero Hour Launch Party Announced

[bapenguin]

Microsoft is holding a private launch party (http://www.microsoft.com/xbox/zerohour.htm) in the Mojave desert for over 3000 people. Not just anyone can go, apparently there will be forms popping up on participating websites to enter the contest.

It's just a small, intimate party to celebrate the launch of the first next-generation console. Just J Allard, Peter Moore, leading game developers, the entire Xbox 360™ launch lineup, live entertainment, VIP winners from the Hex 168 and Origen campaigns, and 3,000 of our new best friends. That's where you come in.

Enter to win two tickets to the biggest gaming event of the year!
Where is It?

It's at an undisclosed location in the Mojave Desert. Top secret.
Anyone going to enter?

[Kyle Jones]

I don't see why not! I may not own an Xbox or be all that excited for the Xbox 360 but it sounds like a fun event.

[fitbabits]

I'm totally going to enter! Never been to the Mojave Desert.

[kickmybum]

Do they fly you out there and put you up in a hotel? Or just give you 2 tickets to the show?

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

Wow, I would want to go solely for the live Kaiju Big Battel event.

As for the last post...

If you win the tickets you will be responsible for your own transportation, lodging, etc. We'll give you the tickets; the rest is up to you.

also

The first 360 eligible entries registered will automatically receive an invitation for two...

So you better act fast...

[Chimpbot]

What bugs me is the fact that they're only posting the form at "undisclosed times" throughout the day only on November 10.
I don't know about you guys, but I don't really have time to sit around and check that laundry list of sites on the off-chance I luck out and get to fill out a form...only for a chance to win some tickets.

Kinda lame, if you ask me...

[doyama]

Dunno I'm looking down the list and I'm almost positive all of them have a 'premium' membership type fo thing going (except maybe 1up but I don't visit them much).

I wonder if this is just a money grab again? Getting people to sign up for their paid services so they can 'get in' on the x360 contest?

Cyincal yes, but these days I dunno seems realistic to be honest.

[Roc Ingersol]

I'm totally going to enter! Never been to the Mojave Desert.
last time i was in the Mojave some jackasses handcuffed himself to my arm and died.

[fitbabits]

Dunno I'm looking down the list and I'm almost positive all of them have a 'premium' membership type fo thing going (except maybe 1up but I don't visit them much).

I wonder if this is just a money grab again? Getting people to sign up for their paid services so they can 'get in' on the x360 contest?

Cyincal yes, but these days I dunno seems realistic to be honest.

Participating sites:

Xbox.com
GameSpot
GameSpy
1UP.com
Game Informer
GamePro
IGN.com
TeamXbox.com
UGO
G4

None of which require you to be a 'premium' member to access the competition.

[fitbabits]

last time i was in the Mojave some jackasses handcuffed himself to my arm and died.
Really? Do explain.

[AniAko]

It's incredible. Microsoft can make an eskimo be excited about a refrigerator. They've done an outstanding job marketing the 360, and have everyone in the industry, love it or hate it, anxiously waiting for this console. We've even got people wanting to go to the desert.
I'm totally going to enter! Never been to the Mojave Desert.
No water, no electricity, no life, just a bowl of punch and the anticipation of a passing comet...

Microsoft..."Yeah, we'll make you wanna do that..."

[fitbabits]

It's incredible. Microsoft can make an eskimo be excited about a refrigerator. They've done an outstanding job marketing the 360, and have everyone in the industry, love it or hate it, anxiously waiting for this console. We've even got people wanting to go to the desert.

No water, no electricity, no life, just a bowl of punch and the anticipation of a passing comet...

Microsoft..."Yeah, we'll make you wanna do that..."
Shoot me for being excited! Better yet, someone get Inevitable Winter an excitement transfusion, twelve units - stat.

I really can't see your issue. By your own admission, Microsoft have done a terrific job of marketing the Xbox 360. Is that a bad thing? No, because the more people that 'jump in', the better the industry will be.

As for the party - it's a fucking party, for Pete's sake! So it's in the desert - where else would you want it to be? In a stupid venue that means nothing to nobody and one that has held a hundred different parties. It's a special event and it makes sense to have it in a special place.

[Twigz'N'Berries]

My only problem w/this is that I pre-ordered mine. Luckily (not really) my 360 won't be available until 7am on Nov 22. So, if you have a pre-order, you won't be able to get yours right away. I can't speak for those who have pre-ordered and have systems available at midnight, but do you really want to leave that 360 lying around for someone to accidentally sell (or to sell and tell you that they didn't receive enough to fufil your order)?

[jeffool]

I'm totally going to enter! Never been to the Mojave Desert.And you'll probably win too, ya bastard! :D

[AntB]

Step 1. Win tickets
Step 2. ...
Step 3. Profit

[GrinR]

How fitting. No ads on TV, no radio ads, no print ads (in non-gaming mags), and an exclusive launch party in the desert! Brilliant! I imagine the guy who thought up this genius marketing technique is really proud of himself - or at least his bank account.

[fitbabits]

How fitting. No ads on TV, no radio ads, no print ads (in non-gaming mags), and an exclusive launch party in the desert! Brilliant! I imagine the guy who thought up this genius marketing technique is really proud of himself - or at least his bank account.
Yet most everyone knows about the Xbox 360! Go figure.

[TrackZero]

I'm totally going to enter! Never been to the Mojave Desert.

FB, I think you've one enough contests for one year, leave some for the rest of us.

[GrinR]

Yet most everyone knows about the Xbox 360! Go figure.

If by "most everyone" you mean gamers, yes. I remember the Xbox marketing and launch - it was everywhere and folks who had nothing to do with gaming would ask me, "hey are you getting that new xbox thing?" because they'd seen ads everywhere. And that was months before launch.

[fitbabits]

If by "most everyone" you mean gamers, yes. I remember the Xbox marketing and launch - it was everywhere and folks who had nothing to do with gaming would ask me, "hey are you getting that new xbox thing?" because they'd seen ads everywhere. And that was months before launch.
By most everyone, I mean just that - most everyone. I know people who are not even remotely interested in videogames who know as much about the Xbox 360 as some of the clerks in Best Buy. People have actually come in to my office and asked me about it because someone mentioned it at their book group or yoga class. To suggest that awareness of the Xbox 360 is low is cockamamie.

[GrinR]

By most everyone, I mean just that - most everyone. I know people who are not even remotely interested in videogames who know as much about the Xbox 360 as some of the clerks in Best Buy. People have actually come in to my office and asked me about it because someone mentioned it at their book group or yoga class. To suggest that awareness of the Xbox 360 is low is cockamamie.

I wouldn't use my personal experience any more than yours as an indication of marketing success, despite my insinuation of such. In either case, it's fair to say that I watch TV constantly (4-6 hours a day, all channels) and I haven't seen an Xbox360 ad ever, nor have I seen a billboard or print ad in the paper. For someone living in the SF Bay Area (work in SF), that's a serious sign of -if anything- a lack of supersaturation.

Think about it:

1. Xbox360's logo, what is it? Same as Xbox? I don't know offhand (a problem unto itself) but how much power does the new product have if the logo is not even new. Reference PSX logo (the PS design) with the PS2 logo (the thin blue PS2) and how it stands out as something different (and hopefully better).

2. Bundles, bundles, bundles - most of the press coverage has been negative regarding this issue, and the flat fact is that it's going to be the most expensive console to buy, ever.

3. Harddrive or no? Even someone who's followed the previews and launch info (like me) will find this confusing. It shouldn't be even a -tiny- bit confusing. Nobody in marketing ever puts "confusion" on their to-do list.

4. Lack of supply. Sure, this is typical. What isn't typical is the seeming promotion of it. MS has done -nothing- to calm the fears that there won't even be any X360s to buy in the store at launch. My impression is that they are warning consumers that there will not be enough and so order while you can. Good marketing? I don't think so. Those who are ordering were very likely going to order anyway, and this scares away the fence-sitters (like myself). Also, see #3.

5. No killer app, or at least the promotion of one as such. PSX had that 3D fighting game I can't remember the name of. Dreamcast had Crazy Taxi. Xbox had Halo, PS2 had Final Fantasy. I'm sure many people here could name the game they bought their consoles for, most of which would be the games that were heavily promoted as the -reason- to buy the new system, particularly in Halo's case. X360 has... Perfect Dark? Oblivion? I guess... but these games simply don't have the marketing hype behind them to get regular folks to buy them without trying them first. Gamers are onboard, my sister is not (as she had been for Sonic, Crazy Taxi, and Halo).

And finally we have 6. The big promotional release party is... restricted to a small number of contestants who have to fly themselves into the desert??

I think the Xbox 360 will be an awesome console, perhaps the most amazing one ever. I'm definitely going to get one and I'm very excited about it. But so far their marketing for it seems almost as bad as the Dreamcast's.

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

I probably wouldnt even bother to play one if I got it for free, right now.

Oh hey CoD2... Ill play on pc... a few slightly interesting titles I might like to play, other than that Ill play the game on pc or dont care to at all.

as for...

I think the Xbox 360 will be an awesome console, perhaps the most amazing one ever. I'm definitely going to get one and I'm very excited about it.

Are you sure youre not working for MS?! "The most amazing ever", lmao.

Everyone is talking about this "mystical desert party" so theres more advertising. Being so sneaky like this makes it seem more interesting to people who dont know about it.

[GrinR]

Are you sure youre not working for MS?! "The most amazing ever", lmao.

Everyone is talking about this "mystical desert party" so theres more advertising. Being so sneaky like this makes it seem more interesting to people who dont know about it.

A. My statement is more a matter of fact than of opinion. The only competitors are the Revolution and the PS3, which are also not out and may also end up being the most amazing ever. Contextually, I'm describing the winning situation we're all in as gamers.

B. Everyone also talked about the Segway. Don't mistake notoriety for popularity.

[Vale]

I'm more curious than anything else. I live near Mojave and can think of a couple sites for this thing especially considering that there is a picture of an airplane hanger on xbox.com.

I have little interest in getting a 360 on launch day after playing the demo station for a bit at Best Buy. Nothing really stand out that I saw.