XBox 360 coming Tuesday
Monday, November 21, 2005 by Island Dog | Discussion: Microsoft
The ads in todays papers were pretty much dominated by advertisements for the XBox 360. I also saw that some stores are opening early just for this event. I'm just interested on many WC visitors are going to buy their XBox 360 this week.
"Many retailers say they are expecting walk-up interest to exceed the number of Xboxes for sale on Tuesday. But not all retailers say they expect a problem.
"We're not aware of any shortages," said Karen Burk, a spokesperson for Wal-Mart, the country's largest chain of retail stores. "We're anticipating being able to meet the demand."
For those retailers that do expect more demand than supply, like Toys 'R' Us, Circuit City and CompUSA, early-morning visitors should expect long lines and systems designed to notify those in line whether they actually have a chance at getting an Xbox or not. "
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Reply #22 Thursday, November 24, 2005 1:23 PM
http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/23/138200
Reply #23 Thursday, November 24, 2005 4:09 PM
Plus, being the first Next-Gen system out the gate, they could have made a premium on the price.
But here is why they didn't.
1 - To look better than PS3 even a whole year later. They are putting a lot of pressure on Sony to have the same amount of gear in their gaming system as in the XBOX because basically everyone knows how much the technology costs. According to many gaming sites, the PS3 and XBOX are about the same system wise. Selling the XBOX for a consistent price helps with making sure they put Sony PS3 into keeping their tech gear the same as XBOX... if they add more the cost goes up to the predicted 400-500+ area.
2 - More buzz. Just like I bulked at a 400-500+ price tag with Sony, I would have had many a question about an XBOX at 400 to 500 dollars instead of the 300 to 400 (in stores) that it is selling now.
I read about the problems XBOX is having and crashing games and junk. I am not sure if its getting blown out of proportion because it is Microsoft or that it is a legit news. I'll be the first to admit that I don't expect a gaming system to crash because... well its not a freakin OS or something... its a gaming system. Even if I looked at it as a 'entertainment system', just like my radio in years past, I don't expect it to explode when I turn on the knob.
Well, sometime in 2006 (or 2007) we will see what the Sony 'the rootkit' PS3 will do. It might sell for 500 I bet, taking the high road and calling itself the entertainment system. If you can sel a PSP portable for 300, you can sell a 'desktop' version for 500. Plus PS3 has that processor chip that might be able to use the internet for more processing power from other PS3's. (I thought that was cool).
Still rather get an XBOX though... but I am the one who will have to wait and see cause I don't have that type of money.
Reply #24 Thursday, November 24, 2005 4:45 PM
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Reply #21 Thursday, November 24, 2005 10:06 AM
I was thinking on this again the other day....
Microsoft has to be kicking themselves in their own butts over their pricing.
Why do I say that?
Look at the hype over the system availability.
People are paying $1200 (give or take) for a 360 via eBay. Don't you think Microsoft would not have loved to have some of that extra $800 on a Premium system.
I know that they have to keep their prices in line and can't raise prices too much as it would curb some demand, but I think Microsoft missed an opportunity here. They knew that hardcore gamers, and spoiled rotten children of parents with too much disposable income were going to buy this system no matter what. That tells me that they could have set the prices on the box at least $100 higher and still have sold plenty.
That additional $100 for the first (give or take) 3 million units would have helped make the boxes profitable, or cut the supposed loses that Microsoft suffers on each hardware sale that much more. It also would have done wonders for Microsoft in the race vs. Sony.
Why do I say it would have helped in the race? Heres the thing. They (Microsoft) could have priced the boxes higher for the 4th quarter of this year, and most of the first quarter for next year. Especially given the limited supplies. It would have helped control the demand a little (the higher prices would have turned off a few customers, but not that many), but it would have looked like a stroke of genius if they then dropped the price by $100 going into the President's day period in late fall, early spring next year.
That would have gotten the price back to what they originally targetted for, which would have helped spur sales again at a time when they should have caught up with early demand and at a time when more hype would be starting for the PS3.
Then later, as most expect, they could have dropped the price again going into late spring/early summer when the PS3 hits.
Using laws of averaging, the early sales at the higher price would be helping to offset some forecasted loses a little later down the road that would be made to keep up demand and keep a strong competition going against Sony.
Just my $.02