[NEWS] Microsoft Plans Deliberate Xbox 360 Shortage

[Mr.Guvernment]

slashdot - those buggers!!

+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Microsoft Plans Deliberate Xbox 360 Shortage |
| from the fight-over-it dept. |
| posted by samzenpus on Thursday November 03, @08:07 (XBox (Games)|
| http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/03/0026241 |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+

An anonymous reader writes "To ensure an immediate "sellout" of the Xbox 360 on launch day (therefore getting lots of media buzz about their new console), Microsoft will simply [0]restrict the supply down to a trickle.
My favorite part of the article: "In addition to limiting the per-store stock of consoles and having the retailers prepare to prominently note the unit's "sold out" status, Microsoft has allegedly asked Norwegian retailers to sign an agreement that they'll sell out of the consoles on the launch date." Looks like it's not a [1]rumour.

Discuss this story at:
http://games.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=05/11/03/0026241

Links:
0. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051101-5510.html
1. http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/10/19/1849248&tid=211

 

[Midnight Dream]

Ya, I had read that yesterday. It seems like a good idea, but once again it shows how M$ is corporate company doing anything and everything they can to make money, no matter what things they have to do to insure such.

 

[Alchemy1]

I have been hearing this for about a month and now this article comes out. It does seem to be somewhat shady, but it is a smart plan. Personlly, I don't see the huge rush to go out and get this console at launch any way. The games will probably be slightly better than what xbox has to offer in the beginning and the game selection will be limited. Not to mention the hassle of trying to get your hands on one of these 360's. I say wait until some more games come out (unless there is a launch game you just HAVE to play) and the console price/units in stock stabalizes.

 

[Mr.Guvernment]

exactly, shortage - people will pay more, stores jacking up prices - going to have to keep an eye on Ebay to see the xbxo 360 selling for $1000 US and unreal prices and people actually buying them!

 

[TheGreySpectre]

I wonder how long they will keep the shortage up before mass release

 

[Midnight Dream]

I wonder how long they will keep the shortage up before mass release

From what I had seen, reading up on it, this is just for the initial release. They are wanting to see who sells out. But, the extra condition with it is, they want people to not only sale the game console, they expect people to sell at least 2 games with it.

Microsoft has even gone as far as having people sign agreements stating they will sign out, and when they do, they have to put up a nice big 'Sold Out!' sign. Seems so absurd.

The average store can expect to have between 25 and 50 consoles the first day, but it mentions elsewhere that this number can be as low as 10. This is all determined by average store volume.

Gizmodo reports that in Norway, the launch marketing campaign aims to build hype around the console by trumpeting its "SOLD OUT!" status to would-be buyers. In addition to limiting the per-store stock of consoles and having the retailers prepare to prominently note the unit's "sold out" status, Microsoft has allegedly asked Norwegian retailers to sign an agreement that they'll sell out of the consoles on the launch date.

 

[ghettocomp]

If that is the way that M$ wants to play, I guess I'll have to put a "sold out" sign on
my website as well, even though I dont sell that.

 

[Mr.Guvernment]

yeah my sign will say

"Sold out - to PS3!"

 

[ghettocomp]

If that is the way that M$ wants to play, I guess I'll have to put a "sold out" sign on
my website as well, even though I dont sell that.

Done

I don't know why I did that. But it has links to
help explain why microsoft is being so... Corporate greedy...