XBox 360 Probable Shortages

[Grahf]

If you're interested in getting your hands on an XBox 360 before or for Christmas, read on....

I made this warning in my clan CS:S forum, but I thought I would mention this to you guys as well. As you are probably already aware, the XBox 360 is scheduled for a U.S. release the day after Thanksgiving, which makes sense, since statistically that day is the busiest shopping day of the year. Microsoft is going to be rolling in loads of cash no matter what they do; however, being the greedy corporation that they are, it wouldn't be surprising to see them employ some rather insidious marketing strategies to further push the console's profiting limits.

There is strong evidence and wide circulating rumors that Microsoft, in an effort to increase XBox 360 sales, will PURPOSELY limit the amount of XBox 360's that they distribute to retail stores. Now you're probably thinking, "Wait, the demand is high, shouldnt Microsoft meet that demand so they earn the best possible profit?" Not necessarily. It's true Microsoft wants to earn as much profit from the 360 as feasible, but releasing the system in an abundant supply, in their opinion, isn't the way to achieve that.

By limiting the 360, it will cause the console to run out of stock nationwide in as little as a day or two. This is an effective marketing strategy because it will create the illusion that their console is selling extremely well when in fact it may only be selling marginally well. Gaming stores and newspapers will no doubt publicize the shortage thinking it is the result of high popularity and demand, thus the system will be seen as more popular in the eyes of potential customers. This will cause an even bigger increase in demand! Due to the shortages, some of the initial XBox 360 units will no doubt be picked up by only the most loyalist of gaming enthusiasts the day they hit shelves. These gamers, feeling priviledged that they are one of the few to own such a currently rare console, will feel compelled to brag and boast about the console to their peers. In turn, these gaming enthusiasts act as a free marketing tool for Microsoft, after all, who better to convince a potential customer into purchasing a product than your best friend? In turn, these friends of the gaming enthusiasts will feel compelled to buy one as well, which in turn they will brag to their friends, and then their friends to their friends, and so on and so forth, assuming of course those said friends can obtain a console for themselves.

What's the point I'm trying to get across? Basically whether the above marketing strategy will come to pass or not, the XBox 360 will no doubt have some fierce competition in obtaining it. If you're thinking about getting one for Christmas, I'd recommend purchasing it ASAP the day after Thanksgiving. If you wait any longer then you run the risk of waiting until after Christmas to get one and that might be very dissapointing if your Christmas is riding on enjoying yourself with a 360. Maybe you're thinking to yourself, "Nah the above marketing strategy is just a rumor, they wont do that." Well perhaps, but remember the Sony PSP? Sony released an abundant supply of PSP's. Despite it selling rather well though, it was deemed as a "failure" in regards to selling because everywhere you looked there were units on store shelves. I strongly believe Microsoft will avoid this mistake. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong and there will be copies for everyone everywhere, but judging from Microsoft's rather insidious marketing strategies in the past, I doubt it. If you're like me, playing the waiting game for the 360 is a risk you can't afford to take.

Above info credited to Gamespot.com

[Durandal AI]

The Moral here: Get a PS3

[Aragorn]

Nah... I'm with G on this one, 360 is going to pwn.

I can't wait to see Halo with those graphics :drool:

But.. I'm going to wait a little bit. I'm going to London after Xmas so I'm not even getting ANYTHING for Xmas

[Durandal AI]

Nice ara! You'll have a Jolly good time. Isn't it for band or something?

In June, my great aunt and uncle promised me (since they work for this college thing) that they would take me on an all expense paid trip around Europe (Italy, London, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and France.) Should be fun. I hear Easter Euro chicks are good looking. I dunno about English...

[Grahf]

Ya know, I have a feeling the PS3 is going to have the same thing happen. It will be deja vu all over again .