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21 Nov 2005
Microsoft's Xbox 360 will go on sale across North America at midnight tonight and in Europe on 2 December, but doubts remain over whether many UK gamers will be able to take delivery of the console before Christmas.
Amazon, which has been taking pre-orders, has a warning on its website stating: "Due to limited supply from Microsoft, we are unable to guarantee delivery of some Xbox 360 pre-orders for Christmas.
"Please also note that all pre-orders made on or after 2 November will have expected delivery dates in 2006. We are working with Microsoft to ensure that the consoles are delivered as soon as they become available."
Tim Smith, reviews editor on ComputerActive magazine, said: "This is going to be a bit like the iPod launch. It is also not yet clear which games will be available as many are still in final development.
"At least Microsoft has clarified that about 750 games will be backwards compatible, which is impressive."
But the superior specification looks set to ignite sales regardless of demand. "It is an impressive machine, especially if you buy the deluxe version with a hard disk and you have a hard disk-ready display," said Smith.
Amazon is selling the basic Xbox 360 for £209.99. The deluxe version, which includes a hard disk and wireless controller, costs £279.99.
Microsoft is predicting sales of three million Xbox 360s within the first three months to add to the 22 million Xbox sales worldwide.
Sony is planning to release its Playstation 3 in the second quarter of 2006. Sony dwarfs Microsoft with 80 million console users, but some analysts believe it may take a year for Sony to have an attractive range of games for its latest console.
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Gates/Microsoft Won't Ruin Our Christmas
What a very bad move on Microsoft's part to introduce a product knowing that it would be a hot Christmas gift and also knowing that so few would be able to obtain one. Whatever Microsoft hoped to gain has backfired into very bad public relations. The method of distribution in my area was absurd. Stand in line 12-15 hours in 15 degree temperatures, at night, with a bunch of strangers?? There are many diabled people or older people who would like to have a new Xbox, but are unable to fight the "fittest survive" game to get one. Bill Gates, the humanitarian?
Posted by: S. P. 19 Dec 2005
You lost another one Microsoft!
So what does all of this shortage stuff really mean? You have the large retailers who took pre-orders back in September with a PO'd customer base. Their customers who were promised a system at launch are likely directing some degree of frustration at the retailers who are now likely in Bill Gates' office wearing kneepads or on all fours, hoping that Microsoft will direct whatever few systems that will be manufactured to their chains. I wonder how successful the lobbying in corporate america will be and what this will mean in the short term to the retailers like Best Buy, Circuit City and the like, who do not take preorders. Will their stock be repleneshed? There is an old saying that goes something like " You can't please all of the people all of the time, at best you can hope to please some of the people, some of the time." It looks like with this "World Wide Launch" BS, spreading the avalable consoles between three geographic areas so thinly, Microsoft has managed to make no one happy! I wanted one of the machines for Christmas, but it is no big deal. Actualy , I am quite thankful of this situation because it has opened my eyes to what the other manufacturers will be offering, namely Sony with the PS3 coming next year. As I research this product, it is likely that it will blow the Xbox 360 away. So enjoy your few months on top Microsoft until the PS3 hits the world market and pushes you back down to the distant number two that you have been in this arena. Since I have to start over with the next gen consoles anyway, I will be taking the three Xboxes and 50 or so games in this house to my local reseller to turn them into store credit and wait for the PS3, or at least for an actual direct comparason between the two consoles. So, this could actually be a blessing in disguise. Since we have to wait anyway, may as well wait to see the systems side by side. And another thing....Microsoft Points, what a BS thing to do. Now old Pompus Billy has his own currency! C'mon, do we really need this crap too?
Posted by: Chris Fisher 06 Dec 2005
Project management?!?
Does it strike anyone else a little odd that Microsoft positions itself as a leader in products designed to allow other companies to manage large scale products and supply-chain management, and yet they can't seem to do this themselves? It will be interesting to see if the lingering XBox 360 shortage undercuts the reputation of other project management/supply-chain management tools Microsoft is pawning off on the public.
Posted by: mac2123 24 Nov 2005
This angry XBOX man will BOYCOTT!!!
I'm a die-hard XBOX man and was one of the first with the 1st XBOX. I "reserved" a copy of XBOX 360 in September and was told I will be lucky to have one by X-mas and more likely will receive early 2006. I will wait the extra few months and pick up a PS3 instead.
Posted by: DISAPPOINTED 23 Nov 2005
well...yes!
preorders have been taken for a long time before august for many large companies but the fact of the matter is that the UK has been neglected by Microsoft and is recieving an estimated 50000 units for the launch date. the PSP had about 200,000 available on launch date and had sold out within hours, so i can imagine it will take all of 5 minutes for the XBOX360...
Posted by: simian 22 Nov 2005
Microsoft knew it and they don't care...
MS knew that they would have a hard time producing enough consoles for x-mas, and they know it since a long time ago. IBM is simply not good at ramping up production in a short amount of time, and they are struggling to make their chips to work beyond 3.0GHz. Sony found that they wouldn't have enough time to release the PS3 this year, MS either, but they didn't care, they just wanted to be out first. Anyway I won't get neither, same games, same controllers, but with "better" graphics. What people should realize is that to get 2x better polygonal graphics, you need a 4-8x more powerful CPU. The more a console can approach "realism", the more you need extra power to achieve noticeable improvements. I like old school games, and I like innovation in basic gameplay, so yes, I'm getting a Revolution. The XBox 360 and PS3 are for testosterone filled teens, and I passed that age :)
Posted by: Nu-Tone 22 Nov 2005
Why Oh Why
Weell it's another Christmas coming up and as usual the most wanted Items won't by the look of things be available. Why does this happen every year? The days of kids saying to Mr. Santa 'I would like this for Christmas Please' are long gone. The bottom line is that large companys are a little bit scared these days. They should realise that there products are well established and there not going to fall flat on there face. Come on get that stock ready for christmas, your gonna give Mr. Claws a very bad name Indeed. "Why Didn't santa bring what I asked For Mummy, I've been a good child" Errrr sorry his elfs went on strike and his other surplier didn't have enough ! WAKE UP all you large, Rich companys it's now the year 2005. This planet as a whold has done so much in the last 100 years. Cant you at least make sure that your products are ready for Christmas....
Posted by: Mark Tipton, Lancashire 22 Nov 2005
More MSoft Game console BS
How does Bill Gates said to be now worth 62 Billion allow another Christmas push without product.XBOX 360. Piss poor management based on pre-order rates. IBM still making "EXCUSES" for chip production. I amtelling my grandson NO on Microsoft wait for PS3 - or better yet send some of the $400 to Kashmire to keep the children "alive" thier. How much has Mr. Gates sent to THOSE KIDS to stay alive.
Posted by: NUNYAZ ( None yusz Damn Buisness) 22 Nov 2005
Pre-Order was bull!
We pre-ordered our as soon as it was available before Aug. We just received notice that it will not be available until after Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! Not happy news on Christmas morning for a 12 year old. So unfair for the kids. What do you do give them an empty box with some games and hope they understand...
Posted by: Ann M. Caldon 21 Nov 2005
xbox woes
stop your whinning
Posted by: Mark Lennon 21 Nov 2005
xbox 360 shortage
A shortage is one thing but 14 out of 15 retailers I've checked in the Dallas Ft Worth area have recieved less than 4 of each model. That sounds like a retail disaster. Maybe the competitions launch will be better planned
Posted by: ezmoore 21 Nov 2005
"GUARANTEED" xbox 360
pre-ordered mine on day they started taking the pre-orders and got an email at the weekend stating that i am "GUARANTEED" mine on day of release. so i will just have to wait and see i suppose
Posted by: Vidfreak 21 Nov 2005
No delivery before Christmas?
It's sad that your 12-year-old won't be getting that Xbox 360 on Christmas because there aren't enough consoles to go around. Just think how many happy 20 year-olds there will be though!
Posted by: Justin Case 21 Nov 2005
There will be no where near enough....
There will be a massive shortage of XBox 360's in the UK, this is not only due to the extremely high demand but also down the fact that Microsoft is doing a 3 continent launch within about 3 weeks. This is something no other company in this industry has done before. There will always be consoles available on launch day at midnight events around the country, but you may have to be exremely early. Reports were that out side WalMart stores in the US, queues were building, and some full, 14 hours before midnight. So monitor your local stores carefully on December 1st or just start queuing early! Note to editor, there are only 156 backwards compatible games for the XBox 360 in Europe. These can be found at: http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/backwardcompatibilitygameslist.htm
Posted by: Nick Taylor 21 Nov 2005
i need a xbox 360 before christmas!!!!!!!!!!!
i need a xbox 360 me and my brother have been saving our christmas money for 2 months for a xbox 360 i cant wait that long I need a xbox 360
Posted by: jared Mcnlty 21 Nov 2005