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[Unison]

Right now, I'm thinking it looks something like this:

I know that more games are coming around March or so, but the 360s current drought makes the DS launch look robust. Despite constant assurance of a steady flow of games from Microsoft during the "launch window", we have gotten one (1!!!) game since launch. I haven't really played much 360 at all of late.

This is getting pathetic. :-|

 

[PhatSaqs]

I agree for the most part. But the bucketful of good games that were released @ launch make it easier to overlook.

 

[Chi-Town]

Full Auto, Fight Night Round 3, and College Hoops are out in February.

 

[Kasra]

First half of the year droughts is totally new in the games industry. Never happened before. Ever. New territory here, folks.

In any event, I count 1-2-3-4-5-6 great games that I picked up at launch. I've only finished like 3 of them and haven't been online with any of them yet.

 

[Unison]

It's probably compounded for me by the lack of a launch game that I really loved.

Full Auto is made by Sega, so that gives me a little hope. It looked half-decent on the 1up show. I can't say I care about those other Feb. releases at all.

 

[civilstrife]

Every Launch, without exception.

Thats the problem with buying at launch.

 

[Unison]

First half of the year droughts is totally new in the games industry. Never happened before. Ever. New territory here, folks.

The point is that MS reps promised us a "launch window". That's not happening at all. One post-launch game in two months is absolutely pathetic when measured against the PR hype.

Feet even seem to be dragging on the XBLArcade front... :-(

 

[aronnov]

You just have to keep the faith... it's only been 57 days....

 

[AniHawk]

Full Auto, Fight Night Round 3, and College Hoops are out in February.

How much apiece?

 

[atomsk]

all i want is Marble Blast Ultra to keep me company till Oblivion. is that so much to ask? =(

 

[Kuroyume]

PS2's Launch Window

XBOX's Launch Window

Gamecube's Launch Window

 

[shpankey]

What I can't figure out, in fact it blows my mind (and pisses me off really) is how we are now 2 months post launch and still can't find a system to buy. This after assurances of a steady weekly flow of new units to retailers. I've seen like 2 restocking's of 360's... and I kid you not, when they came in there were only 4 core systems. That's it. Period.

2 re-supplies to Wal-Mart, for a grand total of 8 core systems, two months after launch. It is fucking appalling. I can only believe now that MSFT has outright lied to everyone and is simply doing it on purpose, perhaps because of the amount they are losing on each system (which is why I think they are mostly selling cores now, to make some money back on the accessories).

Anyhow, enough of my rant.

 

[Kasra]

The point is that MS reps promised us a "launch window". That's not happening at all. One post-launch game in two months is absolutely pathetic when measured against the PR hype.

Feet even seem to be dragging on the XBLArcade front... :-(

Publishers are holding back some games for when there are more consoles in people's hands. It doesn't make sense to flood the market with games when you've got such a small userbase - especially when there are so many launch games that people will be picking up as they finally get their hands on a system.

Still though, this isn't a new concept for ANY game console.

 

[Mejilan]

I picked up two retail games, 1 XBLA game, and of course, got Hexic with the HDD.

Both retail games suck unbelievable ass, XBLA can keep me amused only so long, and it's pretty bare anyway, and there's nothing announced that I'm really waiting for that I can't get elsewhere.

Ah well.

 

[Unison]

What I can't figure out, in fact it blows my mind (and pisses me off really) is how we are now 2 months post launch and still can't find a system to buy. This after assurances of a steady weekly flow of new units to retailers. I've seen like 2 and may 3 at a few places restockings of 360's... and I kid you not, when they came in there were only 4 core systems. That's it. Period.

2 resupplies to Wal-Mart, for a grand total of 8 core systems. Two months after launch. It is fucking appalling. I can only believe now that MSFT has outright lied to everyone and is simply doing it on purpose, perhaps because of the amount they are losing on each system (which is why I think they are mostly selling cores now, to make some money back on the accessories).

Anyhow, enough of my rant.

Maybe launch window referred to the period in which they would still be satisfying initial demand with their trickle of systems? :lol

 

[123rl]

Britain only gets Ridge Racer 6 this week. NBA/NHL2 2k6 were both left off the launch list as well (and should be coming out next week)

So that's three games there that America has had since launch that were just swept under the carpet for the European launch. Cheers, assholes...


*Ridge is region-free though so I imported it Best game on the system, IMO, and there's a lot of 360 games that I like*

 

[Unison]

there's nothing announced that I'm really waiting for that I can't get elsewhere.

WHAT?!?!?!?!

Surely you must have forgotten:

 

[AniHawk]

2 re-supplies to Wal-Mart, for a grand total of 8 core systems, two months after launch. It is fucking appalling. I can only believe now that MSFT has outright lied to everyone and is simply doing it on purpose, perhaps because of the amount they are losing on each system (which is why I think they are mostly selling cores now, to make some money back on the accessories).

I don't know. I don't think they're doing it on purpose. We're already getting a shitload of people asking when they can preorder a PS3. I don't think MS wants to purposely blow the chance for a sizeable early lead.

But the price of accessories, software (and hell, even the system) IS fucking ridiculous.

 

[aronnov]

WHAT?!?!?!?!

Surely you must have forgotten:

whoa what the hell is that? and did they just kill each other?

 

[shpankey]

Maybe launch window referred to the period in which they would still be satisfying initial demand with their trickle of systems? :lol

:lol

This is easily the worst coordinated launch of any gaming system ever. Hell, if they would have just been honest, it wouldn't have bothered me so much. Saying there would be a constant weekly flow of restocking's was fucking bullshit and they know it.

*grumble grumble*

 

[Unison]

whoa what the hell is that? and did they just kill each other?

That's Dead Rising, motherfucker!

. . . god only knows when it's coming out though. :-(

 

[Mejilan]

WHAT?!?!?!?!

Surely you must have forgotten:

No idea what that is, and honestly, I haven't scanned through EBGames.com's release lists since last year. I usually go through EB's release list when compiling my own list of tentative and confirmed purchases. I honestly have nothing confirmed in the X360 section of my spreadsheet.

 

[123rl]

That's Dead Rising. It's about some guy in a shopping centre with thousands (literally) of zombies...some shots have shown hundreds (maybe thousands) of zombies on screen at the same time

 

[AniHawk]

:lol

This is easily the worst coordinated launch of any gaming system ever. Hell, if they would have just been honest, it wouldn't have bothered me so much. Saying there would be a constant weekly flow of restocking's was fucking bullshit and they know it.

*grumble grumble*

Maybe there was a problem on the production line like someone theorized a while back.

 

[borghe]

But the price of accessories, software (and hell, even the system) IS fucking ridiculous.

$50 for a wireless controller. Even NINTENDO understood that a wireless controller has to be priced at a reasonable point. :\

Don't even get me started on the $100 wireless USB adapter. :\

 

[shpankey]

Maybe there was a problem on the production line like someone theorized a while back.

Why not say so then? Hell, this is the question EGM should have asked Moore... instead they waste everyone's time with pointless, supposed "hard" questions on shit everyone in the world already knew the answers to.

Bah.

 

[Kasra]

Does the Wavebird have rumble?

The price of 360 wireless controllers is right in line with what I've seen quality 3rd party wireless controllers priced at for years now.

Now the wireless network adapter - THAT'S ridiculous.

 

[TerryLee81]

Sold my 360 today.

Will pick one up again later this year, untill then: Back to Xbox.

 

[joaomgcd]

Britain only gets Ridge Racer 6 this week. NBA/NHL2 2k6 were both left off the launch list as well (and should be coming out next week)

So that's three games there that America has had since launch that were just swept under the carpet for the European launch. Cheers, assholes...


*Ridge is region-free though so I imported it Best game on the system, IMO, and there's a lot of 360 games that I like*

Are you sure about NBA 2K6? I thought it was coming out soon too, but today I looked at some online gaming stores and it now says 10/3/2006

Look for yourself here and here .

 

[aronnov]

That's Dead Rising, motherfucker!

. . . god only knows when it's coming out though. :-(

it looks tremendous.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

I don't know. I don't think they're doing it on purpose. We're already getting a shitload of people asking when they can preorder a PS3. I don't think MS wants to purposely blow the chance for a sizeable early lead.

But the price of accessories, software (and hell, even the system) IS fucking ridiculous.

Like its going to be any different with PS3. THe only system that's probably going to be cheap with cheap games is Rev.

 

[sprsk]

WHAT?!?!?!?!

Surely you must have forgotten:

im sorry, this game looks totally uninsteresting. Zombie vs ambulance on the other hand...

 

[borghe]

The price of 360 wireless controllers is right in line with what I've seen quality 3rd party wireless controllers priced at for years now.

you'll notice I didn't say anything about the value or worth... hell, I don't even refer to the game prices in value or worth.. it is just annoying that this gen everything has just cost more.

Games - Used to be $50, now $60
Controllers - Wired used to typically come in $30-35, now $40. Nintendo released a third party wireless at $35, now we pay $50
Consoles - Used to be $300, now $400 (saturn and 3DO don't count)

Hell, IIRC I only paid $30 for my component cables for PS2 and I KNOW I only paid $30 for my GCN component cables, and now they are $40 (outside of Premium)

It just seems like in MS' "quest" for the Home Division to become profitable they've decided to reach that mark by raising the price on everything else. :\

on a related note, I've only actually paid $40 for each of my wireless controllers. Figure I keep scanning Best Buy for opened controllers and get 'em that way.

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

Eh, not that bad of a drought. I never really expect much from any system in January anyway. Next month there is Full Auto, Fight Night 3, and a few other games. Tons of releases in March along with Oblivion and GRAW. Doesn't matter to me. I don't need anything new in January. I'm still trying to finish all of the games that I got in December.

 

[AniHawk]

Like its going to be any different with PS3. THe only system that's probably going to be cheap with cheap games is Rev.

If that's the case, then PS3 is going to become my premium system. I'll only buy the exclusives I really really want (FF, MGS4, KHIII), and any multiplatforms that make it to Revolution will be bought on that one instead.

The price of 360 wireless controllers is right in line with what I've seen quality 3rd party wireless controllers priced at for years now.

Pretty sure that Logitech one has rumble features and is $40.

 

[terrene]

I can only believe now that MSFT has outright lied to everyone and is simply doing it on purpose, perhaps because of the amount they are losing on each system (which is why I think they are mostly selling cores now, to make some money back on the accessories).

Please, let's let that conspiracy theory die now.

 

[drohne]

yeah, i'm pretty bored with my 360, and the next game i want is dead rising or oblivion. i just hooked the ps2 back up and played rez some. good times.

the 360s current drought makes the DS launch look robust.

...but let's not get crazy. the first ds game even vaguely worth playing was meteos. launches tend to suck, but the ds launch was extraordinary.

 

[shpankey]

If that's the case, then PS3 is going to become my premium system. I'll only buy the exclusives I really really want (FF, MGS4, KHIII), and any multiplatforms that make it to Revolution will be bought on that one instead..

wait, did you just say you wanted the Revolution multiplatform version of games? why on earth would you want that? i can understand wanting the exclusives on Rev... but the multiplatform titles on Rev are surely to be the worst of the three, of that there is little doubt.

Please, let's let that conspiracy theory die now.

Well, with MSFT not speaking out about the elephant in the room, all we have is speculation.

 

[borghe]

Please, let's let that conspiracy theory die now.

yeah, even I've let that go and I believe I Am the one who first posed the question on deliberate shortages.

The theory would have had more substance if right before christmas the system was readily available. but at this point MS is most likely doing everything they can to get units out and just failing miserably. with the PS3 event in under 30 days MS NEEDS to get systems to the public. Once the PS3 event happens the playstation name will be reinvigorated everywhere in the world.

 

[Chi-Town]

Controllers - Wired used to typically come in $30-35, now $40.

Hell, IIRC I only paid $30 for my component cables for PS2 and I KNOW I only paid $30 for my GCN component cables, and now they are $40 (outside of Premium)

When the Xbox launched, it's controllers were $40. There is a third party Component cable that goes for $20.

 

[AniHawk]

wait, did you just say you wanted the Revolution multiplatform version of games? why on earth would you want that? i can understand wanting the exclusives on Rev... but the multiplatform titles on Rev are surely to be the worst of the three, of that there is little doubt.

It'll prolly be the cheapest. When multiplatform game came out this gen, I bought them on PS2 because they were the cheapest (though recently I've been buying them on GC just in case the PS3 wont ever support the PS2 memory cards). I'm not too much a graphics whore unless the company in question is telling me to buy a $400 console for a minimal upgrade.

 

[Y2Kev]

When does Tomb Raider come out?

 

[Musashi Wins!]

the 360s current drought makes the DS launch look robust.

yea..um...no.

 

[borghe]

When the Xbox launched, it's controllers were $40. There is a third party Component cable that goes for $20.

the third party cable I didn't see when I almost (Stupidly) bought the core system. there at least wasn't a spot for it at the largest best buy in the area.

and xbox is then the only system that had $40 default controllers. PS2 IIRC was $35, and Nintendo was $35 but quickly dropped to $30.

 

[Triumph]

The bigger issue for me is that I no longer really want one. Well, I guess I WANT one, but at launch I HAD TO HAVE one. I still have no clue how far down the reservation list I am(18th about a month ago or so) and don't really care. Maybe I'll spend the credit on psp crap.

 

[shpankey]

yeah, even I've let that go and I believe I Am the one who first posed the question on deliberate shortages.

The theory would have had more substance if right before christmas the system was readily available. but at this point MS is most likely doing everything they can to get units out and just failing miserably. with the PS3 event in under 30 days MS NEEDS to get systems to the public. Once the PS3 event happens the playstation name will be reinvigorated everywhere in the world.

i mean other than your own speculation as to why it isn't true, there is no real factual reason to believe anything. one way or the other. so, one speculation is just as good as any other at this point. which is why i say MSFT needs to address the issue. and why I say dumbass EGM should have posed it in their suppossed "hard" question session with Moore. instead they waste everyone's time with complete and utter bullshit that everyone already knows the answer to.

 

[shuri]

:lol

This is easily the worst coordinated launch of any gaming system ever. Hell, if they would have just been honest, it wouldn't have bothered me so much. Saying there would be a constant weekly flow of restocking's was fucking bullshit and they know it.

*grumble grumble*

It was impossible to get a ps2 for a long time too. I don't know why people seems to have such a selective memory

 

[shpankey]

It was impossible to get a ps2 for a long time too. I don't know why people seems to have such a selective memory

i was here at PS2 launch, and it was nothing like this at all. it wasn't that hard to find a PS2... not compared to this.

 

[bumpkin]

The "launch window" has become the ultimate spin for weak system launch line-ups. You know what, there is no such thing as a "window." Either you can get the game the day the system comes out or you can't. Stop the lies! They make baby Jesus cry!

 

[terrene]

Well, with MSFT not speaking out about the elephant in the room, all we have is speculation.

Now that the holidays are over it should be clear to anyone that they're really not after "shortage hype," and are just having a hard time supplying systems. And, they have said as much multiple times...

People are picking them up from just random walk-ins now. Of course, I live in Seattle (near MS) but I know of 2 people who just saw them on the shelf and brought them home. Okay, not the best scenario, but it's getting better. And the ebay prices are down pretty close to retail, too.