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http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_bl...ic_id=23907002
Just got finished reading this article, pretty messed up.
Not that I'm shocked or anything, but it's still pretty bad. I'm guessing that M$ will magically "find" a shitload of 360's right before the holiday rush ends, after all the launch day hype has died down a little.
Not shocking.
It's shit for the consumer, but a great business move, MS obviously knows what they're doing to get the ball rolling as fast as possible before Sony drops next Spring/Summer.
And this is why I dont buy consoles at launch.
Nah,
Microsoft isn't known for intentional Shortages on Release...
Microsoft is known of unintenional Bugs on release.
Their were rumors of Nintendo doing this with the N64, and Sony with the PS2. So it is not surprising if it is true. But keep in mind that MS is launching the 360 in all three territories within a month of each other.
manufacturing is surely a fine and exact art. they know the exact cost of each component, the machine itself, how long it will take to make, output per day, etc.
on top of that theyve been planning the launch for at least half a year...
long story short i find it hard to believe they cant meet projected demand and thus think they are indeed purposely creating a shortage.
Many stores stopped taking preorders on the 360 the first week of October. Microsoft said at the first Xbox launch that their would be storages but the stores had plenty.
The EBs in my area are claiming they're only going to recieve stock to fulfill any and all pre-orders, but nothing else. No extra games, controllers, hard drives, and especially systems.Quote:
Originally Posted by neo_X7
I call bullshit but I've got mine pre-ordered anyway.
*yawn*
Old news and not surprising. I think it's more of a conspiracy than a reality.
If people want to crucify MS over this, then crucify Nintendo and Sony for these practices as well.
N64 - sold out
GCN - attempted to claim sold out
GBA - sold out
PS2 - sold out
PSP - sold out
It's all a bullshit lie to get people to buy consoles. :rolleyes:
Fuck that shit. Why would you intentionally make it difficult for people to buy your system? Wouldn't you want to get as many systems as you can into the hands of the eager masses, rather building hype you can't fulfil? Getting a system into someone's hands = money for the system and games. Making it difficult to get a system = less money for a system and games.
Next thing you know Gamespot and G4 will be reporting that MS is intentionally holding stock so they can list them on eBay for the X-Mas selling season themselves and make up the losses on the system by selling them for what they need to sell them for to make money (which wouldn't be the $400 price tag, since my guess is that they are losing a fair amount selling it at $400). :rolleyes: :kekeke:
I'd think they'd want to flush as many systems into the market as they can, unless they don't think it'll sell and stores will have surplus. THAT might look bad, though I doubt it would be the case.
This has more to do with ALOTment than supply and demand.....
As the release aproaches, Stores will be getting new alotments.
Actually the PSP didn't sell out, Sony just claimed that it was a "huge commercial success" when in fact nearly all game retailers had plenty of units sitting on their shelves on launch day. My local Best Buy had a shitload of them stacked up halfway into the day when I strolled in there to pick up Wipeout.Quote:
Originally Posted by slerch666
Secondly, its business, nothing else. You can't fault a company for practicing good business/profit generating techniques. As already described in the article, the fervor of the "shortage" will generate massive levels of media in print, web, and television (especially the local news, something I would gather 90% of all parents watch at some point during the day).
Two seconds after launch day begins, and I and all the other morons/hardcore are at home plugging away into the night, Microsoft has ceased to advertise to that market. Anyone who WANTED a 360 at launch, has already secured one, or is planning to wait XX hours in front of WalMart/Best Buy/Wherever to get one. Instead they'll be targeting parents of the remaining 96% of the "gaming" population who doesn't have a 360. Parents read the newspaper, watch the news, surf the web, etc. If they're being bombarded on all sides with the message "The Xbox 360 is the hottest thing on the market and your child will be rendered a social delinquent when he/she doesn't have one come Christmas morning" eventually they'll buy into the hype along with every-body-else.
This way, two weeks later when there's suddenly a plethora of games and systems to be had, people will be pratically burning their wallets in effigy to pay for a 360 and a shitload of accessories and games.
I'm not saying MS is a genius or even "good" for doing this, but it is however an effective business move.
:kekeke: Now that is funny.Quote:
Originally Posted by slerch666
Why would there be Xbox 360 shortage? There wasn't Xbox shortage when it came out at launch. :kekeke:
I believe it. This makes perfect sense. The PSP did not make the local news, the N64 and PS2 did. Believe me, by intentionally shorting the # of systems they are not pushing away customers. If the keep the supply low but steady until early ’06, they will sell every last one of them. They have no competition at this point!. Sure, if the PS3 and the 360 were launched within weeks of each other both companies would want to have as many units available as possible but figuring there are no other “next gen” consoles at this point, MS has nothing to worry about.
I think the shortage is going to be intentional. Just like the PS2, PS2 slim, and N64.
I agree, however this could also work against them. For people on the fence, specifically Sony fanboys (and there are a lot of them, unfortunately), this could work in Sony's favor.Quote:
Originally Posted by smokehouse
By keeping supply low, many otherwise potential PS 2 -> Xbox 360 converts could become frustrated, and decide to just say "to hell with it", and opt to just wait for the PS 3.
I think the key to the 360's success will be establishing a large user-base, while at the same time keeping the interest in the 360 high (i.e. avoiding the dreaded Dreamcast syndrome).
That is already happening, thanks to 360’s limited backwards compatibly.Quote:
Originally Posted by galfordo
I doubt the fact that some of the lesser known/popular Xbox titles won't work with the 360 is totally discouraging anybody. At least not in large enough numbers to really affect the 360's launch.Quote:
Originally Posted by neo_X7
Instead of buying it the 1st day, I would prefer to wait for the results (like one year) and to see which games we will find on each machine...
I feel that the 360 will do like the Dreamcast (which was a good machine) when the PS3 will be released...
I would prefer wait for the PS3 for 2 reasons: The Blu-Ray player and especially for Metal Gear Solid 4...
But in final, I think that I will buy none of them :)
Always the same games, no "revolution"...
The Slim PS2's shortage wasn't intentional. Sony couldn't ship enough because they couldn't make them fast enough. I don't know what was up with the Xbox shortage though...Quote:
Originally Posted by smokehouse
I think the Slim PS2 shortage was a legitimate breakdown in communication. Stores were recieving the system up to and beyond a full month before it was supposed to be out, and for whatever reason, they all decided to sell them immediately and break street date. The "shortage" came from the fact that stores were recieving tiny shipments on a weekly basis, supposing to build up their stock as Sony shipped the units out and then on launch day, they'd have a nice chunk of Slim PS2s to sell. Instead stores got 3 units, and sold 3 units five seconds later and were out of stock until the next week.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark of the Wolves
Xbox was never in shortage. When I worked at CompUSA we only recieved 8 units and we had 2 left over after the close of business on launch.
I agree completely, the leveling of supply and demand is a tricky and risky thing. In order to clean up this round, MS need to gain some purchases from what were loyal Sony fans. That’s the only way a shift of power (or control) can happen. Sony landed up taking Nintendo fans away from them with the PS1 and then took more with the PS2, that’s when the took the #1 spot. MS will need to do that to Sony, beating Nintendo wouldn’t be enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by galfordo
Funny thing is that I don’t care. I love just sitting back and watching all this happen.
At this point in the ball game, I don’t think backwards compatibility has a much to do with it. This was a big deal at first with the PS2 but how big of a deal is it now? Most people who have Xbox games also have an Xbox. They won’t be buying the latest and greatest for old titles (ok, possibly a few of the most popular titles like Halo 2)Quote:
Originally Posted by neo_X7
If someone wants a 360, they'll get a 360. For many it's not a matter of which one, but a matter of when to get them both.Quote:
Originally Posted by galfordo
Why would someone "convert" from a PS2 to a 360? You make it sound like they'd abandon the old system just for the new. You've been around long enough to know that when a new system is launched you always keep a back up system in the fold for when the inevitable drought of good games for the "new" system comes along. Even the hardest of the hardcore 360 lovers will keep an older system around for this time. They won't need an X-Box (assuming the games they wanna play are compatable with the 360), so maybe it'll help drive sales of the PS2? Or, as I suspect, the X-Box system's games (again assuming compatability) will still sell as well as they have up to now. At least until the 360 gets a diarhea of games anyway.
I've done this in the past (kept an older system in the fold), and I'd say I'd do it in the future, but the truth is I don't envision myself buying a next gen system anytime soon. If Sega announces a new Sakura Taisen game for the PS3 or 360 (doubt it'll go 360), I'll buy a system after that game is released. There hasn't been one game on any of the current systems to cause me to want to buy it in the last couple of months. Before Sakura Taisen V and Mushihime-sama, both Japanese only releases in August, I hadn't bought a game in at least 7 months. I haven't owned a system capable of playing US PS2 games in 6 going on 7 months.
I blame Nigerians on eBay for this scam. Only they could do something of this calibre
Of course they probably won't be throwing their PS 2 in the trash, but they may tuck it away when they get their new next-gen system. Not everyone is a gaming nut with 6 systems sitting around their TV. I'm speaking less about the hardcore demographic (who will probably buy all systems regardless), and more about the casual gamer who intends to only buy one system per generation. I'd say that the majority of gamers fall into that category, and it's an important group that 360 needs to entice if they want to take the lead.Quote:
Originally Posted by slerch666
Because demand isn't there in the first place.Quote:
Originally Posted by slerch666
Most likely BS....who knows.
Even better yet,who cares?
B-
For the most part, the people I know that have only one system are the ones who have to rely on parents/relatives to buy a system. These days it's totally normal to walk into someone's house and see they have a PS2 and an X-Box (not GCN for most). The demographic MS is targeting at launch isn't really the casual gamer anyway. How many "casual" gamers would be willing to sit in a line for a system? Not many I'm guessing. The "casual" gamers who will be getting a 360 for X-mas are those that would have someone else buy it for them because they can't afford it, and IMO most of these people are people without jobs or low paying jobs (teen agers). 360s supposed target is the "older" crowd, those that are 21+. These people can usually afford more than one system.Quote:
Originally Posted by galfordo
Though in the end, hanafudaX cleared it all up for me. I'm thinking the real demand for the 360 really isn't all that great, and it may be part of MS fake out tactics to put a scare in Sony. Who knows?
You're missing the point. To take the market Microsoft needs as many units as possible out there. And they need to take some of the PS2's userbase or create some gamers out of thin air.Quote:
Originally Posted by slerch666
A lot of people may have both a PS2 and Xbox, but the majority only have a PS2. Microsoft hopes those people will not want to wait for the PS3, but since Xbox 360's will be scarce...these people will have to wait anyway.
Games today (ever since when they really became popular when PS2 and Xbox came out) have gone to shit. They became such intense moneymaker, mainstream, political machineheads, that frankly; I feel embarassed to walk in a gamestore now, and how glad I was alive during the better times of the 80's and early 90's.
Gaming is over, now its all marketing.
Unfortunately I feel the same way. There are some real gems that trickle out but they are few and far between these days. Most companies are either trying to make a fast buck, or change the system to where it’s no good anymore. Stupid things like celebrity endorsements (360 unveiling…) and the utterly ridiculous video games award show on Spike TV prove that for the most part, current gaming is in the toilet. The same toilet that MTV and Spike TV is in…Quote:
Originally Posted by Electroman
I’m proud to admit that I am a retro gamer, it gives me something to feel good about. I can talk about the times when the gaming industry was run mostly by gamers and when most of the games were good. I remember calmly walking into a Wal Mart to buy my SNES. No lines, no fighting, no bullshit “shortages”. Back before every Tom, Dick and Harry was a “gamer”.
When most games were good?Quote:
Originally Posted by smokehouse
Come on, don't tell me you actually believe that.
I recall the loads of shit that existed on the NES and SNES.
While many would like to believe these systems were the end all and they had nothing bad on it, for every Super Mario World, there were a ton of shit releases.
It's like that for every generation.
Too many people have this warm fuzzy image of the past of gaming.
There are plenty of great games out there, it's just a matter of whether or not you want to try and be cool by saying that you're too good for current gaming.
The new thing seems to be if you hate mainstream, you must be some sort of elite gamer.
I play everything because I stopped caring about this shit.
If I stick exclusively to retro stuff, I will never get to play stuff like Half-Life 2 or Metroid Prime or Resident Evil, etc etc.
I like to have 3D because it actually offers a lot more options that 2D simply cannot do.
If you refuse to play newer games because you think the industry sucks, too bad.
You're missing out on a lot.
Gaming is over?Quote:
Originally Posted by Electroman
LOL
Yeah man, sure it is. :rolleyes:
Clueless people.
All I know is that there are going to be alot of dissapointed kids this year.
And that retrogamers are stupid. Really really really stupid.
DangerousK,
Why don’t you go back and reread my post before you cast anymore stones. This is one thing about forums that pisses me off to no end.
Read my fucking post all the way through and user your fucking head!!!
Like it or not the industry has changed into a glizy, glamy version of itself. Did I say all new games are shit? No. Did I say everything made “back in the day” was good? No. Quit being an asshole. Did they used to have all the hype and glam that they do now? No. That’s what pisses me off. The industry has changed for the worse and if you’re too blind or stupid to see it possibly you should find another hobby.
Oh shut up you fucking twat.Quote:
Originally Posted by smokehouse
Waaaa!!! Waaaa!!
That's pretty much all you had to say.
You said, "when most of the games were good", please dude.
If you really believe that, you're just having a selective memory.
It's typical though because most people create a fairytale version of the past for themselves because it helps them sleep better at night.
if at the end of the day i walk out of the store with a game i really enjoy playing (like farcry instincts) then what does it matter how much advertising was in the store, what the other customers were like or how the company that made the game treats the game development process??
at the end of the day whether i enjoy the game or not is whats important right?
in regards to "the good old days" i had a discdoctor floppy disc copier for both my SNES and GENESIS. i had at least a hundred games for each system though prolly went like 200 for each system whilst i had the machines.
guess what, the amount of crap compared to the amount of gold was like 10:1.
it seems these days its like 8:1 or 7:1. why? well the internet and massmedia in general gives us the ability to know whether a game is good or not long before it comes out and without having to actually buy it.
i think the modern game industry puts out games of a generally higher standard than 10/15 years ago and ppl who look back on "the golden age" with exaggerated fondness need to take their rose colored glasses off.
Quote:
Originally Posted by beelzebubble
Thank you.
This is essentially what my point was in the other post.
It is much much easier to find out how good a game is nowadays.
If you recall back in the 1980s, you really had little choice but to buy a game in order to find out how it was.
I can go through all of the SNES ROMs I have which is about 700 or so, and you know what, there is not as much good quality titles as I thought there was for the system. I don't think it is any worse of a system, but it's not this massive gaming heaven.
Just judge a game by how much fun you have with it...it really makes gaming much more enjoyable if you do this.
Nice tactic. Calling me a name, make a crying sound and acting like an ass. Real intelligent.Quote:
Originally Posted by DangerousK
Yes it is a nice tactic.Quote:
Originally Posted by smokehouse
Don't be upset that I told you how it is.
Go back to believing the glory days of gaming were the 1980s if it makes you sleep better at night.
I know that even before the gamespot article I felt that it was deliberate. My friends keep crying that its a world wide release, its never been done before and its very difficult to do. Thats all fine and feasible, but the only thing that jacks it up for me is that it is Microsoft. They didnt get to where they are now by being sloppy upon product releases. I could be wrong but in my heart I feel like they would not be doing this if they had next gen competition coming out this season. We wouldn't be hearing of a shortage if that was the case. I find it convenient that they benefit greatly of a shortage during the holiday season. Wouldn't be the first time someones done it. It just seems kind of funny that all of sudden Microsoft wants to act as if their hands are tied and are doing everything to fix the shortage. Microsoft is like a great boxer. They only pretend to show a vunerability just so they can counter you and knock you the f out.
there already was a deficit from the get go.
a large number were preordered already.
at the store i always go to they already knew their
allocation and how many they had presold and how many were
actually then preordering the second shipment blah blah blah.
if ms actually were hoarding them till just before christmas then
which i seriously doubt, then whatever.
but it's in their best interests to sell out of all units and however units
they can until sony and nintendo can get their consoles out.
I saw the system and controls at gamestop, it really looks solid. Totally blows away the xbox appearance wise.
thats not necessarily true.Quote:
Originally Posted by rarehero
its a better tactic surely (as has been mentioned here by buro and others as well as the article) to limit availability to build hype. that way the stream of consoles being sold is more constant (though less from at the outset) resulting in higher overall sales and a better public image of the machines popularity...
I disagree. There are so many more opinions available for today's consumer to review than there were 10 years ago. I believe we are often fed false or inaccurate information, or there is so much information about 100x more games that we don't find those gems we seek. 10-15 years ago you'd only hear about a game from possitive word of mouth.Quote:
Originally Posted by DangerousK
Because video game magazines didnt exist in 1995?Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverSublime
Huh?Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesagwa
Exactly.Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverSublime
Seriously, expand on that. I don't understand.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesagwa
Youre acting like there was absolutely zero coverage of video games in that time, when in reality, there was PLENTY.Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverSublime
It didnt take a rocket scientist to open up a magazine and read someones review.
Same as today, its just alot more assholes do it and they do it on the internett.