I am alarmed at the number of reported lock ups and crashes this early in the game though -- It's only been out for a day....

Well, mine just sold via Buy it Now for $1K.

Holy freakin COW!

Merry Christmas Laner!    :shock:

I was going to say that it's brutal that people in general are selling these things on eBay, but it's justified by the buyers. If someone wants to pay three grand a system, let 'em. It's obviously a seller's market for the time being.

Viva Capitalism!

/signed

Heh...

You know...these boards traditionally have been relatively fan-boi free.   I'm talking about the REAL fan bois you find over on IGN and such.    I guess that trend is over now.

Why don't you guys go hump Bill Gates' leg or something?

Awww -- bummer on the 360 (and I feel doubly bad since I was the one who suggested Sears)...

I was able to get lucky at Costco -- because I happened to drive by there on the way to Sears and saw that there was no line for 25 units vs. an unknown line for 4...  This one hadn't occurred to me to try for real though until late last night.

No worries JLu.   It was a good try.    You had no way of knowing that Sears was going to allow a couple of their own employees buy up all the stock.

I can't wait to hear back from them via email or phone in response to my email.

My local EB manager has told me that they were told by Microsoft earlier this year to take all the preorders they could and that they would make sure they had enough units.

Not quite seeing how this has anything to do with MS(the manufacturer). They have nothing to do with all the people lining up for the system(thats a choice those people made). And the rest is on the shoulders of Sears. Just because you had a crap experience at one retailer doesn't make it "The worst launch ever".

Ok... let's put Sears aside for a second (I already fired off a letter to corporate about my experience).

1.  Dreamcast launch:  plenty of systems to go around.   Could be found on shelves immediately after release everywhere

2.  Xbox  --   readily available and all preorders filled

3.  PS2 --  none on shelves but preorders all filled

4.   Now this launch --   Not even a fraction of preorders filled and people told they wont get preorders from mid summer until JANUARY.   None on shelves.    None to be had.

Sears will miss you.

That does sound pretty sucky and you wonder who is lying.  


In the end though this is actually a very good launch - for the stores.  They sold out, and they will continue to sell out.

Actually from what I've read about Sears lately -- they should be careful about pissing off customers.   They haven't exactly been on sure footing lately.

How much will these be going for tomorrow?  I have the 360 in my trunk (and stuck at work all day), so I have time to decide.  I'm torn, I really want to play it now, especially Madden, but then I have a preorder at EB for the third shipment I can wait on.  So, do I eBay what I have now?  I think I'd sell it in a heart beat if it went for $800+, but I'm afraid prices will drop, and $100 profit isn't enough.

Set a reserve for your lowest acceptable amount.   That way you have reassurance you won't lose your money or not get enough for it.   Also set a 1 day auction because it's REAL hot right now and you don't want to give the market time to cool off.

And I'm sad because I've fought unsuccessfully to get one of these things.   I F*CKing hate Microsoft after this!    :x

I've been doing these things since Dreamcast days, and never have I seen a launch handled so poorly as this one by either distributer, retailer, or manufacturer.

We drove out at 5:30 this morning knowing that we'd find the obvious stores with lines.     Best Buy easily had 50 people in line or more that had tents and had been there all night.

Target had 25 or more lined up outside the same way.

So we went to my Ace in the hole.    Sears.
As suggested by someone here... I scoped out Sears on Friday and asked them about the launch.    I had a supervisor and employee jabber on for 15 minutes about the system telling me about the differences in the 300 and 400 bundle, etc....   They KNEW what they were talking about.   They said they already had the systems in the back and couldn't sell them until Tuesday.   They recommended I come in early Tuesday and I could probably get one.

So I went there.   First one in line.     We raced upstairs to electronics only to be confronted by a different manager (who had a nasty attitude) saying they had ZERO units.   Never had any units.   Didn't know WHEN they would have any units.    I mentioned the other employees on Friday and he got VERY nasty and confrontational, acting like I was accusing him of lying.    I was VERY nice and friendly until he went on and on about it (there were a bunch of other Sears employees standing around too).   I FINALLY said:  "Well SOMEONE is being dishonest to me -- either the supervisor and employee on Friday, or you!" .    At this point he backed off a little and started saying how it was probably the REGULAR Xboxes those employees saw... etc etc etc.    I finally said 'whatever'  and left.

I've NEVER been treated that way in ANY store before.   I've never been out right lied to before like that.    I'm going to formulate a big nasty letter to Sears corporate, and you can write this down -- I will NEVER buy from Sears again.  Ever.

 :x  :x  :x  :x

I've been doing these things since Dreamcast days, and never have I seen a launch handled so poorly as this one by either distributer, retailer, or manufacturer.

We drove out at 5:30 this morning knowing that we'd find the obvious stores with lines.     Best Buy easily had 50 people in line or more that had tents and had been there all night.

Target had 25 or more lined up outside the same way.

So we went to my Ace in the hole.    Sears.
As suggested by someone here... I scoped out Sears on Friday and asked them about the launch.    I had a supervisor and employee jabber on for 15 minutes about the system telling me about the differences in the 300 and 400 bundle, etc....   They KNEW what they were talking about.   They said they already had the systems in the back and couldn't sell them until Tuesday.   They recommended I come in early Tuesday and I could probably get one.

So I went there.   First one in line.     We raced upstairs to electronics only to be confronted by a different manager (who had a nasty attitude) saying they had ZERO units.   Never had any units.   Didn't know WHEN they would have any units.    I mentioned the other employees on Friday and he got VERY nasty and confrontational, acting like I was accusing him of lying.    I was VERY nice and friendly until he went on and on about it (there were a bunch of other Sears employees standing around too).   I FINALLY said:  "Well SOMEONE is being dishonest to me -- either the supervisor and employee on Friday, or you!" .    At this point he backed off a little and started saying how it was probably the REGULAR Xboxes those employees saw... etc etc etc.    I finally said 'whatever'  and left.

I've NEVER been treated that way in ANY store before.   I've never been out right lied to before like that.    I'm going to formulate a big nasty letter to Sears corporate, and you can write this down -- I will NEVER buy from Sears again.  Ever.

 :x  :x  :x  :x

Oh WOW!  I didn't think about Sam's Club!

Walmarts around my area:

Reports from Brunswick, Georgia:

6 people in line at 11 am this morning confirmed by my dad.

Jacksonville, Florida --   more people in line at noon then they had systems to distribute.

Savannah, Georgia --  28 people in line as of 1 pm this afternoon -- confirmed by my friend's mother who works for the police department and has been asked to send around officers at midnight for security reasons.



I hope there is a pile of hot coals in HELL for these executives at Microsoft to sit on.   This STINKS.  It's TERRIBLE.   People want these systems, and they should have done enough to provide them.    Dreamcast didn't have this problem -- the only people who have had this problem is every freakin launch since Sony started pulling this shit for publicity purposes.

Looks like the underside of my Christmas tree will be empty this Christmas since my preorder is likely not to come in until January.    :x  :x  :x  :x

Just got one thing to say:

1.  Consoles totally smash anything on the PC when it comes to Sports titles.

2.  This console finally matches high end PC graphics

3.  This means this console will have sports games looking the way they SHOULD look, the way I've WANTED them to look.

That alone is worth the hundreds for me.

Don't forget to check that off brand network adaptor with it Ron!  

Thanks!

Ok so Toys R Us is probably out.  

My plan is taking shape:    Walmart at 10pm the night before.   If no dice, then I'll be at Best Buy at 8:00 or so in the morning of the 22nd to stand in line.   If no dice there, it's a mad scramble to Target.

If no dice there...  I have to pray to the gods that have blessed Hetz that my Ebgames preorder will come through before Christmas.

Savanah, GA Store #508 - 44 Premium Systems, 14 Cores.

Bless you Hetz.   And they are not doing a midnight release, so I should get there before they open on Tuesday.   Wonder how early?

Ok...  so I DID preorder back in September, but of course they are telling me that a preorder really doesn't mean anything and that I might not get it in time for Christmas (which spells trouble since this is supposed to be my Christmas present from my WIFE, and she's not going to let me have nothing to open on Christmas).

Which brings me to:

I'm going to Walmart in the hopes that I can snag one at midnight on Monday.   I know they don't do the stupid bundles, so I can have a chance at getting a $400 system and leave the games up to her.   Problem:   they are only getting 4 of the $400 systems.        My chances aren't good.

So... I've asked for the first half of the day off on Tuesday so that I can try some other stores early that day.        Can we talk about what those stores plan and whether or not they are doing stupid expensive bundles or whether I can walk in and get the $400 package without strings attached?

Stores in my area:

Best Buy --  I know they aren't doing midnight, and I know they aren't doing a bundle.   Might try them first thing on Tues.

Circuit City -- Their catalog that just came in doesn't even MENTION the 360.   So I have no clue.

Media Play -- no clue

Target -- no idea

Toys R Us -- no idea


In an attempt to gauge interest for this system in my area, I found out how many preorders the Savannah, Georgia EBgames had:   Approximately 250.      There is also a Gamestop which I assume would have as many or less.         How does that stack up with other areas around the country?

SWARM!  SWARM!

Well, I guess I can let you all know how I got this Xbox 360.

My sister lives in Canada right now. It turns out that she won the Be First To Play Contest, but never told me that she did. She got the system she won on Monday, but since she really doesn't care all that much about games, she had decided to give it to me for my Christmas gift this year, since she knew how much I wanted one. She actually didn't know that I won the everytenminutes thing either, since I never told her that.

So I get a call on Monday from her telling me to be on the lookout for a package on Wednesday and that it was my early Christmas gift. Needless to say, I have an amazing sister!  

I should have it today around 10:30AM. I took the rest of the week off of work and games should be getting into my local Gamestop today and tomorrow!

I'll have impressions of the system and at least Kameo this afternoon.

Also check out my Xbox 360 gamercard today, it will show you my accomplishments and basicly what I am doing on my Xbox 360 in real time.

Wow Dragon Quest 8 and an Xbox 360 in one day! I am in gamer heaven.....well the only thing that could make this better is if Oblivion would have made it out on time! Damn you Bethesda!!!!!   :wink:

You owe her a HUGE Christmas gift with tons of thought put into it.   So sell your extra one and do something REALLY special for her.   Hell...with 500 bucks, send her on vacation.

oh nevermind. ....   it says 10 PM...not 10 AM.

lol

You must 'remain present'?   Does that mean you have to stay there from 10 in the morning until midnight, or does that mean you brings your ticket back at midnight and pick it up?

A local walmart in my area is getting 4 of the $400 units and 10 of the $300 units.

Awesome.   Thanks Ron!

Question:

Can I purchase a different brand USB Wireless Network Adaptor and plug it into my Xbox 360 and successfully connect to the internet through my wireless router?    

The 360 brand adapter costs 100 bucks whereas I could pick up an inexpensive wireless adaptor elsewhere if this works....

The Sony fanbois are getting more and more defensive.

Of course, they will have lots of time to do so since their alledged PS3 won't be available until 2007 or so.

By then they may not be able to rent or buy used games for their vaporware console.

Until then they can all infect their computers with Sony music CDs in a show of support for their Sony masters!

    --HFI-

Who are you?

Someone from the teamxbox forums if I was forced to guess.

And I am an Xbox fan so I can say that.   :p

There are plenty of conspiracy theories floating around....  so I thought I'd make up my own and see what you guys think.

I used to be a retail manager.   On the day after Thanksgiving, our clothing retail outlet store would pull down around $20,000 of which roughly half was cash.   Needless to say it was a big cash drop to make at the deposit box...and we'd have security escort us there.

Now fast forward to the 22nd.     My local EB in Savannah Georgia has something around 250 preorders.    At ~400 each (since the vast majority of them are NOT the core system) that is $100,000 worth of sales for a 48 hour period.     If you consider that some of them are credit card payments, and some have been paid in advance (at least by $50 or more).... you are STILL going to have a VERY large amount of cash to drop for that 48 hour period.     Enough in the eyes of this former retail manager to get nervous for the safety of your store and employees.

So I present this to you:   In light of the article today proclaiming 3,000,000 units sold in the first 90 days --    what are the chances that the feedback to MS from a couple major retailers was that they wanted to spread this around a couple weeks to minimize the amount of cash that will be amassed in-store during that 48 hour period for secrurity and safety reasons?   They still fill the preorders and get the cash...but the amount of in-store cash would be reduced for that period of time around the launch.

Just a wild thought.    Opinions?

I saw the same article.   This leads me to believe that there will be plenty of systems at launch.

Well....

I called EB and made sure I could cancel my preorder in the event I find one on the street and still get my money back.   They were VERY reluctant to say I could, but I pressed them and they admitted that I could.

I then walked next door to my neighbor's house (who is a manager at walmart), and he is going to pull up the number of units he's going to receive on Wednesday, and he's going to give me a heads up on when I should get there to get a unit.

He also gave me 5 pounds of processed deer sausage  (YUMMY!!!!!)

Exactly.   This manufacturing a shortage BS should backfire on them.   If PS3 was within months of release I'd say screw MS and preorder from Sony.

So we believe this is a "manufactured" shortage?  I, for one, don't.  As everyone included MS has pounded into our heads time and time again their whole batteplan is based on getting a substantial headstart on Sony.  You don't do that only putting out 500k or so for the entire Holiday season.  While it may not be in their best interest to oversaturate the market, 250-300k for an initial shipment is absurdly low.  Especially when the follow up shipment won't be until after Black Friday.

If preorders are unable to be filled and/or parents can't easily find systems for their children then MS runs a very real risk that funds earmarked for 360 will be transferred to other gifts before any followup shipments are available.  

I'm guessing they have hit some snags with their manufacturing pipeline.

There is evidence that this is so...but I'm about to head out the door and so I'll post it tomorrow.   It's all circumstantial, but evidence nonetheless.

Exactly.   This manufacturing a shortage BS should backfire on them.   If PS3 was within months of release I'd say screw MS and preorder from Sony.

Well, here's the skinny:

My local store is getting 32 units.    I'm like 150th in line or something crazy like that -- and I've been preordered for a couple months.  

The manager seemed to think that I would be able to get one before Christmas.   My friend who preordered in early October was told it would likely be January before he got his.

I'm going to call my neighbor today and find out my local Walmart's launch plans....  I guess I'll be camping out on that night in hopes that I can get one.

Oh yeah:   and this pisses me off.   A big F U to Microsoft for this.   My wife is going to be PISSED since this is my Christmas present from her.    She's NOT going to be happy, and I fear she might make me cancel the preorder and just buy me something else.   If that happens it's likely to be months before I get one... if at all.

It's time to kick my contingency plan into effect:

1.  At lunch today I'm heading down to my EB to see if I made the cut.   I preordered in late August.    Something tells me I didn't

2.  After finding out that I didn't make the cut, I will then go home today and approach my next door neighbor whom I have a great relationship with.   He happens to be the Assistant Manager of my local Wal Mart.   Hopefully he can hook me up.  

My disbelief about there not being a launch list at this point is turning to anger.

MS give us a freakin launch list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok rrmorton -- what the hell is your avatar from?

Check out the new Thread on MS's list according to their site :

[Xbox360]November Launch Title List

That does'nt help!   Sounds like the list is inaccurate and keeps being shifted and taken down by Microsoft.    

I wish they'd just freakin announce something.

[WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

From the Elder Scrolls Page there:


http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/t/theelderscrollsIVoblivion/default.htm

HDTV 480i

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 :?  :?  :?

What is it supposed to be?  I haven't been keeping up on it....

I've been very very very patient.   I've been keeping my mouth shut.    We are now inside a month and I've seen no official launch list from M$, and it's ticking me off.

I just watched the newly released Gears of War trailer last night, and was disappointed to see '2006' on the end of it.     Great.   Another title they have been pimping slips to next year.     Is there going to be any GAMES out for this damned box for me to actually PLAY on Christmas day?

Or am I going to have to thank my wife and then stick the damn thing on the shelf for six months?   Right about now I'd like to slap that bald m'fer on his head.    :x

Has Microsoft officially ruled out use of mouse/keyboard for games?   The controller inputs are USB.......

I guess this is kinda off-topic, but what do you all do when daylight savings comes around? It's coming up in another week and a half, and my kid, who usually goes to bed at 8:00 pm to 8:30 pm pre-daylight savings, will now be getting ready for bed at 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm once DST kicks in.

I just let them adjust themselves.   They have already slid back a bit because it's getting darker later....    so I just let them adjust their bedtime a little during the changes.   I usually try to go halfway in between for a few weeks.