Mr. Cinema

I didn't know Best Buy was doing pre-orders at all. I'm a reward zone member, so I may do this. Too bad it's bundles only.

Michael Corvin

I got the same thing. My question is this. Is it via web only? Or in store? Not sure if I can get out of work to go up there that early.

Adam Tyner

The e-mail says "Offer available only at BestBuy.com".

lotsofdvds

Ok, that's somewhat irritating... and I'd be a little more irritated if I didn't already have one pre-ordered elsewhere.

I'm a Reward Zone member and spend THOUSANDS at Best Buy each year. But this offer is only available to SELECT Reward Zone members... that doesn't include me evidently.

Michael Corvin

Wow. That is a big "duh" moment. If you pre-order, you can't choose "pick-up" as your option can you? It has been a while since I pre-ordered anything there.

Adam Tyner

They might be staggering the way they send out these e-mails, so it might show up on your inbox later today.

I'd hope you'd be able to pick it up in-store, but Best Buy hasn't gone into any detail at all. The 'sign-in' link is working now, but it basically says "come back later". Still no word on what the bundles are, exactly.

Doug Schiller

I finally saw a X360 at CompUSA. It looked like it was hooked up correctly HD-wise.

I tried the King Kong and Call of Duty demo, and watched the PGR3 video.

I was underwhelmed to say the least.

This looks like games running on a high end PC, which doesn't make it a good thing.

It looked like textures made for lower rez, but running at higher rez, very angular to me.

Nothing knocked my socks off.

I know I will end up getting one but I will have to really talk myself into it.

I'm hoping (but I doubt) the unit will...

Run existing Xbox games at a higher rez (can be done with a higher texture download)
Upconvert DVD play (doubt it)

I wonder if X360 could play a 2 year old game like Doom3 as good as a high end PC.

I know these are demos but I don't see anything promising.

Now, the sports stuff looks amazing, but they could be horrible at gameplay.
We'll see.

Adam Tyner

Already confirmed, actually.

lotsofdvds

I don't understand why people keep saying this. PC gaming has ALWAYS been superior (graphics-wise) to console gaming. Why all of a sudden when seeing the 360 do people keep saying "Bah, it looks like a supercharged PC... pass." What do you want it to look like?

orangecrush

Maybe they want to see better graphics on the X-Box 360 than they can already see on a high end PC?

lotsofdvds

But that's never happened before. Why do people suddenly think that this console should outshine high end PCs for the first time ever?

joeblow69

Haven't the developers come out and said that? I'm pretty sure the Oblivian guys have said that the 360 version will be the best looking version, hands down. I thought the same has been said about Call of Duty2 too.

DJ_Longfellow

Also, they have only had the hardware to develop on for a certain amount of time. Not THAT long yet. I'm sure over the next 1-2 years graphics will get better on the 360. I think J.Allard even stated they need a better compression software so they can fit everything on a DVD-9 disc.

I think it looks GREAT. The demos are excellent. It is basically a suped-up PC....so, graphics will be on par with that. It's great for me, since I hate gaming on my PC (plus, it would cost me more than $400 to get to 360 specs)

mrpayroll

http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_bl...02&tag=nl.e513

GameSpot

Rumor: Is the Xbox 360 shortage deliberate? Source: Reports from numerous sites, collated together on the hardware-happy Arstechnica.

The official story: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors and speculation."--Microsoft auto-response.

What we heard: With the Xbox 360 still set for a November 22 launch, many gamers are realizing that they will be getting their first taste of sweet, sweet next-gen goodness in less than three weeks. However, a lot of people haven't been able to lock down a preorder of the console, which has become near impossible to get online unless you want to fork out $2000 for GameStop's Omega Bundle.

Most gamers chalked up the 360 supply issues to general platform-launch woes. However, Arstechnica offered a much more conspiratorial theory. They propose that Microsoft is engineering the supply chain so the Xbox 360 will sell out at most locales. Why? Two reasons. First, widespread sellouts would create the appearance that the console is so popular that retailers can't keep it in stock--actually it wouldn't be an appearance, since it would technically be true. Then the media would pick up on the shortages, generating even more buzz about the console and giving it more free publicity.

Such a wily approach would fit right into Microsoft's publicity campaign. The company has jumped onto the viral marketing bandwagon with both feet, using the infamous ilovebees.com alternate reality game (ARG) to promote Halo 2 and ourcolony.net to give the world its first glimpses of the Xbox 360. After ARGs to hype to Xbox 360 contests, the company has now launched another one to promote the Xbox 360 launch.

Though not an ARG, an artificial 360 shortage would also set the stage for a new technique called targeted marketing. Practiced by companies such as San Francisco-based Ammo Marketing, this rather insidious selling style targets "influencers," people whose behavior others want to emulate. Companies hire influencers to use their products in the hopes their friends will see them using said product and then emulate said friend's behavior.

In the case of an Xbox 360 shortage, only the hardest-core Xbox fans will go to the lengths it would take to obtain the console, like waiting in line overnight. Eager to show off the coveted item they were luckily enough to get, these ubergeeks will become mini 360 evangelists, inviting all their friends over to play. Then those friends go out looking for the hard-to-find consoles, locate one, show it off to all their friends, who then all want to get one, und so weiter.

But is there any evidence that Microsoft is manipulating supply to artificially create demand? Sort of. Arstechnica refers to several well-respected Web sites that have received e-mails from readers claiming to be retail employees. Kotaku posted a report from an anonymous Target clerk saying each location is only getting 10 to 50 units of the console. Each Target location has also been instructed to preprint a giant "Sold Out" sign in advance to slap on the front window the minute the last next-gen machine is gone.

But while preemptive signage could be chalked up to mere retail prudence, an e-mail sent to Gizmodo indicates a far more sinister plan could be at work. It comes from an alleged worker at a Norwegian store, which says that every retail location in the country is only allowed 20 360s, regardless of size. (Scandinavian social democracy in action!--ed.)To get them, "According to the reader, 'each shop or chain has to sign an agreement saying that they will sell out of all 20 consoles on the release date.'" In addition, the Gizmodo source claims "Microsoft Norway even said themselves that they're gonna use the 'Sold Out' as a marketing strategy to hype the console."

But will 360 sellouts actually generate positive hype? Well, one thing's for certain--when a platform launches with much fanfare and doesn't sell out, people notice. Just ask Sony. Despite solid sales, the PSP was branded a failure by many just because there were still plenty on store shelves during its first weeks on the market.

Bogus or not bogus?: There will be an Xbox 360 shortage, no question. Whether it's deliberate or not can't be definitively proven.

Posted by thorsen-ink, November 5, 2005 1:03am


This may have been partially posted before.

Chris

DJ_Longfellow

Neat, so I could sell my 360 on EBAY for twice the amount....not, I'll keep it.

Noonan

When I waited in line at best buy for PS2, the kids in the front of the line were buying them just to sell them on eBay. I'm sure they more than doubled their money.

The only place my 360 will be going is into my entertainment center.

DJ_Longfellow

Yeah, I bet a LOT of people are doing that. I will keep my 360, but it is tempting...but who knows when the enxt shipment will come in. Plus, I don't want to be one of those asshats who buys it just to sell. I'm getting mine with GameRush credit anyways...so it's sorta free to me.

fujishig

In the similar preorder for select Reward Zone members for the PSP, you could not choose to pick it up in-store.

DJ_Longfellow

I think ALL pre-orders at BestBuy.com MUST be shipped. You can only pick up IN-STOCK items.

mljones99

I'm sure this has been covered but I really don't want to go through 51 pages of posts, but is anywhere still offering pre-orders? I would really love to get just a premium system and Tiger Woods 2006, but will consider bundles (not these $1000+ bundles though).

DamingR

No. Your best bet is probably to wait in line at Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.

There is a whole thread devoted to this subject, which is where you should be, not in this thread.

DJ_Longfellow

If you have a GameRush, I'd check there to see if they have any more slots for a pre-order. You only need to get the system there, no bundle. CostCo is another DECENT option. Only 1 game and an extra wireless controller.

OR, wait at Midnight at participating stores.

Daryl

once again "select Rewardzone members" = not me. Not that I truly mind because I have my preorder (hopefully) all set at Gamestop, but it just bugs me that I'm never included on these Best Buy Rewardzone pre-order offers given the money I spend on video games at their store.

Flay

Major Nelson had a pretty good podcast last night, be it a bit short. He spent some time with Kameo and put some HD footage of it up on his site.

lotsofdvds

Linkage?