RSSNew Shipments of Xbox 360s En Route
By Ed Oswald | Published December 1, 2005, 12:10 PM
Gamers eager to get their hands on the Xbox 360 should rest assured that new shipments of the console will be arriving at retailers by the end of the week. Microsoft has said it remains on track to ship up to 3 million 360s in the first 90 days of launch.
The company also spoke to the rumors that it was holding back inventory in order to keep demand high and create media attention for the console. "Believe me when I say we aren't holding units, and we're not creating hype for hype's sake. There's no good economic justification for that," Microsoft marketing manager John Porcaro wrote in his Web log early this week.
According to Microsoft, the company plans to employ a "weekly replenishment strategy."
Instead of flooding the market with an initial supply and then allowing inventory to go dry for weeks, as has been done with other console launches, Microsoft plans to ensure Xbox 360s are making it to store shelves on a weekly basis.
Estimates of sales have ranged from 300,000 to 400,000 so far in the United States, and that number could easily double over the weekend as another 300,000 units will hit store shelves Friday across Europe. The console will launch in Japan next weekend.
Members of the Xbox team were also working to dispel rumors of an Xbox 360 recall that had been circulating around gaming Web sites and blogs during the past week. Some gamers have been experiencing crash issues and other problems, but Microsoft says it is not a widespread issue.
"Several forum threads I've seen are talking about folks going into retailers, only to be told that there will be no more units coming because of a Microsoft recall. Not true," Porcaro wrote.
Instead, he said the technical support team has already been trained to address most issues over the phone. And in many cases, they expect a turnaround of five to seven days on replacement units.
"We planned for world-class customer satisfaction, and have plenty of consoles, parts, and trained employees to handle the volume," he added.
Microsoft launched the Xbox 360 console in the United States on November 22. In many locations, the console sold out within hours.
The xbox 360 in my opinion is bull. they are shiping all the systems to japan. I know this because I have a friend that works for microsoft. They told me that they are trying to get the japan audience to buy the system because they know that we will. Microsoft is blaming the stores like gamestop and ebgames saying that they are lying about not knowing when the next shipment will be in. Microsoft is lying about everything. I hope that microsoft is happy about the shortage because they have destroyed millions of peoples holiday due to greed and trying to make a hype. I personaly think the PS3 is going to be better because in japan the Xbox 360 did not even sell. they have the systems in the stores in great numbers because they don't want the system they are waiting for the PS3.
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|Errm, perhaps some people are thick.
Sony Media and Sony PS3 departments have nothing to do with each other.
Also what sapp buys a Exbox-360, when it's being upgraded in 6 months time, with a newer version with all the bits they ran out of time for. (HD-DVD and the like).
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|Yeah the crash stories are too abundant to be ignored. Something about heating, methinks. The monster can't hold itself together.
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|The failure rate for the xbox is well below 3%, which is well above the acceptable rate for a new electronic device...so no,it's not "too abundant to be ignored".
Just people making a big deal out of it because it's new, hyped, and hard to get, that's all. And there's people like you who try to hype the failure rate...or just plain don't understand a thing about electronic equipment.
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|I gotta say somthing for all you Xbox lovers out there, and all of you bashing Sony about their DRM issue, Wanna know what that is? Doesn't look like people care what you all think!!!
Sony hit a Milestone on November 30th (8 days after the release of the X360) The console maker hit the 100Million Mark for the PS2!
(full article here)http://1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3145996
So...even tho the X360 was Just launched...People kept buying PS2's....amazing!
Here's another one for ya'
At the tokyo game show in september, The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Accociation polled over 1,000 people on which console they were most expecting, and they would more likely to buy.
PS3 - 71.8%
PSP - 35.7%
X360 - 23%
Nintendo Revolution - 20.9%
Nintendo DS - 13.7%
Wow...Looks to me even tho "sony is being boycotted" or "Sony sucks" etc etc... The PS3 has been besting the X360 Prior to launch...AND!!! The PSP was blowing it away! ANOTHER Sony product...Wow..amazing!
Looks like Sony still wins guys :)
alright I'm done..
Bring on the flaming!!!
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|Compares to Sony's DRM, MS's Windows family is pretty lame too :D
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|Who cares if the Sony sold 100 zillion PS2's?
Fanboys, gotta love 'em.
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|Nothing to do with me being a PS2 fan. I actually wasn't a big fan of the PS2 due to poor hardware quality, the point of this is.
Sony is still the leader in the console market.
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|We know Sony still wins, that's my point why people are threatening to boycott Sony over something stupid as a rootkit.. Especially when most people haven't even gotten the root kit, only a few machines.
Sony rules. We know this.
PS2, PS3, and PSP is the best, period. Xbox is the new kid on the block. When PS3 comes up, Xbox 360 will be a faint memory, and no one will care...
I love Xbox, but I can't deny the games and the quality PS2 brings to the table, not to mention the fact that you have to PAY for XBox live, PS2 broadband is FREE! And it can use Dial-up, XBox requires a broadband connection.. I own both machines, Xbox is good, for graphics.
If you want a real system, you wait for the PS3, its as simple as that. Those units sold for Xbox, aren't anywhere NEAR sales of PS2 or what PS3 will be..
So I think this is a good post, and I am glad you point this out.
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|Sony rules your computer mor*n!
Yes BOYCOTT SONY and ALL of their products!
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|and the flaming starts...lol
I guess I should add this...see what happens
Microsoft rules your computer mor*n!!!!
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|so big deal... in japan, the japanes consoles win. tell us something new.
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|PS2 is old news. Who cares if PS2 hit the 100 million mark? The real news is PS3 and Xbox 360, and right now sony is nowhere to be seen. You can't compare a 2nd generation console that's been out for 5 years with a 3rd generation console that came out 2 weeks ago. When PS3 outsells the 360 by 100:1, then you can start saying sony is the leader. Right now they're just the leader of the old.
LOL what you're saying is kinda like saying sony sold 100 million 15inch tv's since 1970 but hitachi only sold 10 million HD LCD TV's...sony rules the tv world!!! (fictional scenerio before you sony worshippers get offended).
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|I heard the Xbox 360 crashes as much as Windows 95 did. Just go to "1up.com". I've even heard stories of the unit catching on fire even when it had adequate ventilation. If this is true, why would anyone want to buy this product? I think I'll wait for the superior Playstation 3.
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|yeah it crashes badly :) I have even seem a video of when it crashed. just check out this http://www.flickr.com/photos/80491849@N00/
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|You might wanna edit that post man...
"I think I'll wait for the superior Playstation 3."
I agree with you, but get ready for some serious flamage lol
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|It's so funny that everyone blames it at the company that created it and never the shippers the stockers or the sales people that handle it after it's sent to them. When a person goes on a plane and their luggage is all torn up or ripped they usually and most likely blame the guys that they watch toss boxes and suitcases around down below before the plane leaves. Do those people every ask for their $400-$1000+ plane ticket back just because their underwear came down separate to their suitcase? Has anyone ever worked a stockroom before? Because if you have, you'll see that a lot of electronics aren't handled as gentle as possible before it hits sales floors. Because your friend's XBOX doesn't work, let's all go on the net to see that others are having problems too so that we can say, "Oh geez, it's a worldwide epidemic." Most of all XBOXes, PS2s, PS3s, PSPs, are built at low cost factories overseas. So someone is bound to get something from a bad batch or mishandled hardware due to underpaid workers trying to meet sales demands. Buy 10 Xboxes and see how many out of the 10 don't work. That's a fair enough ratio to go by. But to hear from 10 different people who purchased a single xbox and the one they purchased doesn't work is not a good metric to go by. Ask 10-20 random people who bought XBOX360s, not just the ones that had problems with them. Under 1% is not even a speck worth worrying about from Microsoft. If it was something like the iPOD scratch problem which affects all iPOD Nanos and iPOD Video then that affects ALL of those owners but it's all a matter of how well you take care of your unit. If you paid more then a few hundred for a game system, shouldn't you be a little more careful with it.
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|oh, the article doesn't say anything about psyically damaged Xbox's, or ones that may have stuff rattling around inside due to poor handling. The article is talking about the ones with "software" issues, software is not somthing that is damaged in shipping and handling.
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|when will the next shipment of Xbox 360 come to the EB Games in Ottawa Ontario in Canada
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|So, if you put a Sony CD in your Xbox 360, will it crash?
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|no, it will just say this disc isnt supported or something like that
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|I'm pretty sure he was just joking about the Sony rootkit thing.
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|and all the puppets continue to dance to the stores to get an Xbox 360 just cause it is the "in" thing to get. ha!!
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|i hate betanews comments. i wish i could block users so i didn't have to read this kind of nonsense.
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|The comment which you comment on makes sense to me. Too bad i had to read yours though :-p
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|What do you want, exactly? Heady, intellectual debate about the pros and cons of video gaming within society? Dude, come on.
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|Actually it doesn't make sense. Most people aren't getting the Xbox 360 because it's the "in" thing. You should research a bit more on stuff.
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|Why are they getting them then? Why are herds of fat smelly people lining up at Wal-Mart and punching each other out over them?
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|Because at least half of the 6 games you can get for it are übercool?
Because their landlord won't let them get a spaceheater for insurance reasons, and they heard it can heat a 4000 square foot house in about an hour?
Who knows - maybe they want to see if the new XBox will play the old XBox games better than the original?
lol - people flock to the new... next christmas, it'll be the PS3 and Revolution... which will both be better than anything available before.
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|Actually, he makes a good point. Its the "hot" seller at the moment, and parents think its what their kids want, so they buy it..
PS3!! just be patient..
And its not like anyone is holding a gun to your head to be in Betanews, you don't like? Delete the favorite shortcut, purge your history, clear the last sites, and feel free to use another site.
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|Wrong, history has shown people follow the herd.. Cabbage Patch Dolls, Tickle Me Elmo, Barney, Barbie, Pet Rock, those were ALL fads...
So you are the one that needs to do research. People don't buy based on need, they buy based on want and marketing.. They see the ad campaigns, and buy the "popular" item for Christmas..
I would be willing to bet you ask the majority of people in line why they are buying an XBox.."I don't know, because my kid says they want it. I don't even know what I am buying" would be the response..
Its called, keeping up with the Joneses..
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|Slightly off subject but has anyone tried using a USB hard drive in place if the optional Xbox hard drive? With all the reviews no one mentions anything about it, and will it store game saves on USB flash memory instead of Xbox memory cards? Anyone?
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|"Some gamers have been experiencing crash issues and other problems, but Microsoft says it is not a widespread issue"
Oh! But it is widespread!! I'm sorry, if I just spent $400 on a game console not including games and accessories, and the system crashes within minutes of taking it out of the box...I consider that a HUGE issue... and then we gotta wake 5 to 7 days for a replacment console??? that's Ridulous... But I guess it's ok since they're trying...
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|I guess you don't know the meaning of "widespread" huh? If less then 1% of consoles have this problem...guess what, it's not widespread. Electronic hardware always has a chance of being doa, it's not just an xbox 360 thing...and if you got a defective one...call MS and they'll ship you out a new one.
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|1% of 400,000 = 40,000.
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|LMFAO -- 7/11, your math skills are excellent!
1% of 400k is 4k (not 40k).
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|thanks for correcting our math major there. :)
And I did say less then 1%...;)
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|Not widespread? Every owner of Project Gotham Racing or NFS Most wanted, System crashes within the first lap. Guess the XBOX 360 doesn't like racing games eh?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80491849@N00/
^Just some pictures...^
so what if "Microsoft says" that the reports aren't wide spread...but that's not what's all over the web.
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|ok, lets say it is "4,000" Consoles....that's 4,000 Pissed off customers that payed 400 each,
WHOA that's 1.6 Million Dollars...Pretty big deal if you ask me.
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|"O'Donnell urged anyone with Xbox problems to call 1-800-4myXbox or go to www.xbox.com. If the problems can't be resolved immediately, Microsoft said it will pay to ship the console overnight to a repair center, overnight it back once it's fixed, or ship a replacement." -according to an article on CNN. Get your facts straight.
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|What facts of mine weren't "straight" ?? I said they would replace the console....
Quote Maniakmx3:
"then we gotta wake 5 to 7 days for a replacment console??? that's Ridulous... But I guess it's ok since they're trying..."
Quote BetaNews story (above, the one we're commenting on :P )
"Instead, he said the technical support team has already been trained to address most issues over the phone. And in many cases, they expect a turnaround of five to seven days on replacement units."
Learn how to read...
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|Since when is it "every" owner of the game?
My friend got a 360, he got NFS Most Wanted. His system has yet to crash while playing it.
By all over the web do you mean your one little corner of M$ haters? I doubt every single person that bought a 360 has been to your message boards and complained.
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|Mine was broken. I took it back to gamestop. They will give me a new one in the next shipment. Mine had broken plastic shaking around inside and failed to read discs consistently. Did anyone notice how poorly these systems were packaged with nothing between the xbox and the cardboard box? one hit on the top and it could easily be damaged.
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|I'm sorry for including NFS:MW in that comment, it was very few of the NFS:MW customers, All the owners of Project Gotham Racing 3 had the system crash, with only Some reports of it crashing with NFS:MW. Made a mistake. I apologize.
And I'm not a M$ hater, I use nothing but M$ Products...
And what I ment by "all over the web" search "X360 Crash" in google. You'll see what i'm talkin about.
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|most newly released consoles have problems in some systems-i remember people whining about the ps2, among other systems. i got a 360, and i've played through king kong, kameo, a couple xbox games, and i'm working on NFS: MW. i have only had one problem yet; it froze up during king kong after i had left the xbox on for 3 days(not the smartest thing to do:p). other than that, i love my 360 and wouldn't sell it to some idiot for 1,000 bucks. talk about micrsoft creating hype all you want, but how are we supposed to know if all these crashes even exsisted; how do we know the people even have one. THAT sounds more like hype to me.
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|Your still wrong. I have PGR3 and no problems yet. I have played it probably 20+ hours and have yet to see a problem.
I agree with most Microsoft haters, but hey, the system works great for me. It was appealing to me.
And last of all. Look for Playstation sucks on the web. You will see that playstation sucks.
Your right that means nothing! If you are searching for negative feedback about a product you will find it. I mean come on. Look at all the playstation sucks web sites... There is always someone with problems. Someone who doesn't like it for whatever reason.
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|WOW a math whiz!
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|I guess it's hard for people to remember to take their sweater off the XBOX 360 while it's on.
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|yah, 5 to 7 days isnt that bad since you have to ship the old one back and then they ship the new one once they get yours.
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|LOL Yeah but I didnt read these reports in a "forum" or a "Xbox haters Club" I read all this on Legit news websites...
And I'm not wrong, the News sites I read the info on is wrong. Just because I was mis-informed doesn't make me the bad guy. I was just repeating what I have read. Remember the saying "Don't shoot the messenger!"
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|Yeah it isn't that bad, but I would still be pretty hott if I just spend $400 on a X360, get it home all excited. Yay! I get to play my new X360. Then I hook it up and it doesn't work :( . So I gotta wait upto 7 days to be able to play somthing I've been waiting for since the announcement lol.
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|The messenger seemed very passionate about his message though.
In the words of Jack Sparrow: "You need to find yourself a girl, mate."
j/k I'm just messing with you. =p
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|LOL :P
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|Well...Good to see his name fits him well.
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|Let's not forget that PS2 has the dreaded DVD Disc read error, which is just not confined to few PS2 either.
Xbox was a great gaming device and in terms reliability also let's hope the X360 lives upto it.
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|Stop being such a Sony fanboy. I know that you need to kill time in order to wait for your precious PS3. But dont defend Sony like they have done every properly. When I bought the PSP, it had a lot of dead pixels. I had to ship the system to them with out of my own pockets and then they ship it back to you via ground. It took 2 weeks to get it back. Atleast Microsoft is paying for postage and using priority shipping. You're claiming that people are idiots for buying a system that is out right now, but, you my friend are an even bigger idiot for waiting for a system that is basically just on paper.
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