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Microsoft warns of possible Xbox 360 shortages

S

sonycowboy

Member
The ~REAL reason for Xbox shortages. Scare people into getting a 360 day 1 ;)

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=9312

But due to high consumer demand rather than supply problems, says UK boss

Retailers struggling to deal with the poor supply of current-gen Xbox consoles could have more problems when the Xbox 360 launches later this year, according to UK Xbox boss Neil Thompson.

Speaking to trade paper MCV, Thompson said shortages will be down to high levels of consumer demand rather than manufacturing problems. Microsoft plans to launch the Xbox 360 in the US, Japan and Europe simultaneously this November, something which Thompson concedes will not be an easy task.

"I think demand is going to be phenomenal so we see that as a really difficult thing," he told MCV.

"We feel as a company we've done the groundwork to get to a point where we can do the global release; we feel we're going to deliver and have a great Xmas.

"Will we execute well so retail will have good volume? Yes. But I don't think we're going to meet demand as people are going to come into this platform in a big way."

But some UK retailers remain skeptical of Microsoft's promises. Both Action Replay and Virtual Games told MCV they would not be running Xbox 360 pre-order campaigns to avoid any risk of disappointing customers.

This follows the continuing shortage of Xbox consoles, a problem which caused difficulties for many retailers last Christmas and has yet to be fully resolved.
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Ebay ahoy, maties. Arrr .. we be plundering ye gamers wallets empty!


translation: If this proves true, the ebay profiteering will be nice.
 
It's critical that MS get as many units as possible out the door before PS3 hits. Creating an launch shortage, even if it's just perceptual, would be stupid.
 
the article is supposedly MS reassuring stores in the UK that there won't be the kinds of shortages that there were for Xbox 1 last Christmas.

Independant retailers especially got burnt, and several are quoted as not planning preorders until MS can guarantee stock.
 
While it is PR, a 3 territory launch during the holiday season does spell shortage.
 
This would be pure hype if it wasn't for the fact that they are attempting a world-wide launch during the run up to Christmas - especially if they price at just $299 like recent speculation suggests. When you think about it, is it actually realistic NOT to expect shortages?
 
What the hell are they going to launch with in Japan this holiday? DOA4, Enchant Arm, maybe Chrome Hounds, and a bunch of western games?

Wouldn't it make more sense to wait until Blue Dragon is ready?
 
byproduct said:
This would be pure hype if it wasn't for the fact that they are attempting a world-wide launch during the run up to Christmas - especially if they price at just $299 like recent speculation suggests. When you think about it, is it actually realistic NOT to expect shortages?
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yeah people need to get off MS jock my god... if they release at $299 worldwide there will be shortages. I expect certain game shortages too. I wonder which will be the sleeper hits.
 
Redbeard said:
What the hell are they going to launch with in Japan this holiday? DOA4, Enchant Arm, maybe Chrome Hounds, and a bunch of western games?

Wouldn't it make more sense to wait until Blue Dragon is ready?
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might be able to get your manufacturing costs down a bit if you can manufacture units in one shot (with obvious territorial chips being the main difference).
 
At the moment I wouldn't even be so sure they'll be able to launch everywhere this year.
They wanted to launch worldwide also with the first Xbox and the same could be said for Sony with Psp.
When hardware production starts in late August/September and they'll also take a look on how game development is really going on,we'll have updates on the matter and final decisions will be taken.At the moment it's just a 'wish stage'.
I think they're going to focus on the US market,so I wouldn't exepct big stocks in Europe anyway.
 
There's nothing like a new console launch during the holiday season to bring out the worst in everyone.

Enjoy the frenzy created by a pre-planned shortage! Watch crazed consumers become more and more unstable as they rush to get this holiday season's hot console! Savor the greed of people who hoard multiple consoles solely to make a few bucks on ebay! Thrill to annoying game store clerks reveling in their imagined power as they gleefully mock and scorn the customers who didn't put their money down 10 months ago!

If Microsoft really wanted to win hearts and minds, it would decide to eschew the standard console launch BS. I have no hope of it ever happening, but man!, it would be excessively great if Microsoft simply said, "We will meet the demand for Xbox 360."
 
It will help that they are going to be banned in China since they can be used a weapon guidance systems or at least thats the rumour.
 
I'm going to laugh when there's boxes of them overflowing on the shelves of stores.

Thus far I have seen zero interest for the console thanks to their shoddy E3 showing from gamer-type friends, and my casual friends don't even know about it (guess they don't read Time). MS had better have a gangbuster ad campaign for the system launch, and a BS press release ain't cutting it.
 
FortNinety said:
I'm going to laugh when there's boxes of them overflowing on the shelves of stores.

Thus far I have seen zero interest for the console thanks to their shoddy E3 showing from gamer-type friends, and my casual friends don't even know about it (guess they don't read Time). MS had better have a gangbuster ad campaign for the system launch, and a BS press release ain't cutting it.
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Remember the Halo 2 marketing campaign? Multiply this by quite a few times. There you have it :)
 
FortNinety said:
I'm going to laugh when there's boxes of them overflowing on the shelves of stores.
Click to expand...

...I disagree. There is no reason to even think MS would have a bad launch. They've built up a good brand image, they've got many of the major developers in, and with a nice assortment of launch titles including stuff from EA, they should have no problems. Well the only problem they will have will probably be the shortage that's going to come about from trying to do a simul launch.
 
I expect Sony and Nintendo to pour it on thick just before launch, MS obviously know this and should be preparing for it. We're most definitely going to start seeing cardboard cutouts of PS3's and images of games.

Wasn't there some talk of Nintendo using the Nintendo street team, to give gamers a chance to experience the Revolution. Although I have doubts.
 
FortNinety said:
I'm going to laugh when there's boxes of them overflowing on the shelves of stores.

Thus far I have seen zero interest for the console thanks to their shoddy E3 showing from gamer-type friends, and my casual friends don't even know about it (guess they don't read Time). MS had better have a gangbuster ad campaign for the system launch, and a BS press release ain't cutting it.
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My mom says a friend of hers kid wants to get a 360 so I predict a HUGE launch.
 
They're aiming for a simultaneous world-wide launch, I'm expecting shortages. Or a post-poned European release.
 
As others have said, they are launching wolrd wide during the holiday season. Of course they wont be able to meet the demand.
 
TheDuce22 said:
As others have said, they are launching wolrd wide during the holiday season. Of course they wont be able to meet the demand.
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So, they'd rather ship worldwide and run out of systems than only sell in 1 or 2 regions and have appropriate quantities?

I'm thinking the Japanese launch ain't going to happen this year based on the titles we've seen so far. (TGS may be the unveiling, but they need at least 10-15 titles for Japan). Not that that would be too many HW units anyway.

So, if they had to choose between the US & Europe, I think they'd do well to make sure they sell as many units in the US as is humanly possible this year.
 
Somehow, I didn't expect MS to say, "Unlike previous hardware launches, Xbox 360 will be in plentiful supply this holiday season."
 
Kobun Heat said:
Remember when the PSP launch was going to be ridiculous and there were going to be bodies in the streets and such?
Click to expand...
Remember all the massive stacks of PS2s, Xboxen, and GCs piled up on retailer shelves after launch?

Neither do I.
 
This story just seems too early. Especially when, just a few months ago, we had stories about how MS was going to have a bajillion consoles availible this year. Is the "Wait for PS3" campaign already so strong that they need to tell everybody the 360 is the hot-ticket 5 months in advance?
 
JJConrad said:
This story just seems too early. Especially when, just a few months ago, we had stories about how MS was going to have a bajillion consoles availible this year. Is the "Wait for PS3" campaign already so strong that they need to tell everybody the 360 is the hot-ticket 5 months in advance?
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The story came up because of this report by MCV that UK retailers are refusing to take pre-orders because they are not confident MS will be able to deliver reasonable supplies. Microsoft is the one expressing "confidence" that they can deliver.
 
They should make a movie to launch alongside...

jatw2.jpg
 
This is standard protocol every time a new system launches, so I'm not surprised.

My question is who's Microsoft trying to kid? I really don't see the 360 being a huge success at launch with the price tags it's rumored to carry ($360 for the one with limited b/c). Not to mention the fact there's barely any launch titles that look truly "next generation," and in turn, any better than the current Xbox's most impressive titles.
 
sonycowboy said:
So, they'd rather ship worldwide and run out of systems than only sell in 1 or 2 regions and have appropriate quantities?

I'm thinking the Japanese launch ain't going to happen this year based on the titles we've seen so far. (TGS may be the unveiling, but they need at least 10-15 titles for Japan). Not that that would be too many HW units anyway.

So, if they had to choose between the US & Europe, I think they'd do well to make sure they sell as many units in the US as is humanly possible this year.
Click to expand...

Skipping the Japanese launch around the holidays would be a big mistake. If they're going to release Xbox 360 in Japan, they need to put all effort into making it a big and successful launch IMO. What's the point with a half-hearted post-holiday 360 release in Japan if it ends up reaching the same meager numbers as Xbox? They need to release it over there in Nov-Dec to make some kind of potential impact, and as you said they probably won't need many units for the launch anyway. That's why I think the Japanese launch won't really affect the others much in terms of shortages, so there's not much of a risk to take.

I'm thinking they will delay the European 360 launch instead, since Sony most probably will delay PS3 in Europe as well. Everything is delayed over here, Europeans are used to it.
 
TheDiave said:
My question is who's Microsoft trying to kid? I really don't see the 360 being a huge success at launch with the price tags it's rumored to carry ($360 for the one with limited b/c). Not to mention the fact there's barely any launch titles that look truly "next generation," and in turn, any better than the current Xbox's most impressive titles.
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Yeah OK. :lol Keep prayin' Dude.
 
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