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XBox (Games)

Xbox 360 Launches In U.S. 551

Posted by Zonk from the omgbbq dept.
Well, it's here. Braving long lines and launch parties, and even jail time, those that were willing to pony up the time and money have their hands on the first player in the next-gen war. 360 impressions are available all across the web, with [H]ardOCP and Gamespot offering exhaustive experiences for the interested gamer. The BBC, as always, offers a bigger perspective on the launch, and Gamasutra confirms that Microsoft is in for the long haul in the games industry. From the BBC: "Sony and Nintendo are planning to unleash their next gen consoles during 2006, giving Microsoft an edge over its rivals. The software giant is virtually tied with Nintendo for second place, way behind Sony, in a games market worth $25 billion globally. Microsoft has ambitious plans for its new machine. It said it expects to ship up to three million 360s worldwide within 90 days. But the company has admitted that the worldwide launch of the console could mean shortages in the run-up to Christmas. The console is due to hit Europe on 2 December and Japan on 10 December and some retailers are also warning about limited supplies."
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Xbox 360 Launches In U.S. More

Xbox 360 Launches In U.S.

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  • Microsoft is in for the long haul (Score:3, Insightful)

    by ackthpt ( 218170 ) * on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:24PM (#14092583) Homepage Journal

    Microsoft is in for the long haul

    This is where it all falls apart. Killer this, great that, awesome the other thing. Really, the only hype that matters is this:

    1. It's another game console.
    2. It's going to have some great games.
    3. The manufacturer is irrelevent, because no matter what else the box promises, once you're tired of playing the games it'll end up in the back of the closet, covered with hardened Cheeto grease, dust, a few dents from being kicked when things didn't go quite to plan in a game and utterly forgotten until Garage Sale Season.
    Microsoft touts this as a brilliant center of home media and that's probably true for anyone who doesn't already have a home entertainment center of some sort. But what the distillate is you're not going to buy it to watch DVDs on, you're going to play games with it. You're not going to surf the internet, you're going to play games with it. It won't transform you into some actuallized renaissance man (or woman) through shear wonderfulness of the Total Microsoft Experience, you will play games with it.

    Microsoft is under some crazy dellusion that this is some hook into the household which will bring more fish in. Really, it'll just bring gamers who are only loyal until the next gotta-have game pops up on the next revolutionary console.

    If you've guessed by now that I'm not getting one, you would be right. My Athlon64 PC with top of the line video and sound cards plays this game [sourceforge.net] just fine. I see no reason to switch.

    "worldwide launch of the console could mean shortages in the run-up to Christmas. The console is due to hit Europe on 2 December and Japan on 10 December and some retailers are also warning about limited supplies."

    Argh, the hype! Must resist... must resist!

    Oh. That wasn't so difficult.

    I wonder how many of these will actually go straight from the store to eBay [ebay.com] because money is more attractive than having one.

    It must suck to live in a rural area and have to get your fix this way.

    new for xbox 360: uncle steve's chair toss and monkey dance combo! limit numbers, buy today!

    • Re: Microsoft is in for the long haul (Score:5, Informative)

      by sidb ( 530400 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:28PM (#14092629) Homepage

      I wonder how many of these will actually go straight from the store to eBay

      2734 when I checked [ebay.com]. That might be one or two percent of the entire US supply so far.

    • I don't know... (Score:5, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:30PM (#14092660)
      ...I would like to see a TCO report between this, the PS3 and the revolution. I'm seriously thinking of investing in a game console.

      • Re:I don't know... (Score:3, Insightful)

        by Rude Turnip ( 49495 )
        Revolution would win hands down:

        1. It's rumoured to have a lower price tag.
        2. You get free access to Nintendo's back catalog of games (excl. GCN games) going back to 1985.

        Therefore, right out of the box, you've got access to tons of games. And if you're in your late 20's or 30's, you probably won't need much more than those games. Throw in a couple physically-oriented games that use that gyroscopic wand and you're all set.

        • Re:I don't know... (Score:5, Interesting)

          by Zigg ( 64962 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:54PM (#14092907)

          Not free access. Many, many Nintendo reps (including president Iwata) have gone on record saying not free. You'll pay. You won't pay much, but you'll pay.

    • Microsoft touts this as a brilliant center of home media and that's probably true for anyone who doesn't already have a home entertainment center of some sort.

      Like teenagers or college kids in dorm rooms.

    • Re: Microsoft is in for the long haul (Score:5, Interesting)

      by xero9 ( 810991 ) * on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:33PM (#14092689)
      Actually, I bought an original Xbox not to play games on, but to use as a media device. It really worked great for all the TV shows and movied I snagged off usenet. Simply put all my files in a shared folder on my computer and fire up Xbox Media Center on the Xbox, and watch what ever I wanted on a nice 35" TV instead of my 17" monitor. It wasn't until I discovered Rainbow Six 3 that I actually started to use it to play games.

      • I bought an original Xbox not to play games on, but to use as a media device.

        I agree, although I should point out that the original Xbox also works great as a game player -- an emulation game player. After sturggling for years waiting for the Dreamcast's SNES emulation to improve, I finally bought an Xbox and softmodded it. Now I have XBMC for tonnes of media playback, and some really nice SNES, Genesis, and even a few PSone games under emulation. All with just one gizmo cluttering under the televisio

    • Actually if you read the HARDOCP review (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Shivetya ( 243324 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:34PM (#14092706) Homepage Journal
      you will see that this machine really is well done and offers lots of useful features. It is very well thought out and if you opt for the harddrive you get even more options.

      I was actually impressed with its ability to work with other devices to include an iPOD and PsP. The nice thing about this machine is that it really is expandable as wireless gives them many options. You will probably see an addon keyboard/mouse combo one day.

      There are many of us out here who don't need our PCs to program on, we have them for games, other entertainment, e-mail, and surfing. Give me an insta-on box with those features and I may just consider it. The XBOX360 is actually the first console I am seriously considering because of the potential.

      Playing DvDs is a bonus, if it means one less component I have to hook up or keep up with all the better. People harped on the PS2 for the same reason yet I know many who have one for that very reason.

      Just because its Microsoft doesn't make it wrong which seems to be your whole beef against it. (who made it)

      (allow me to run some IBM style emulator/vpn over the net with a wireless keyboard and I really really need a PC even less)

      • Re:Actually if you read the HARDOCP review (Score:5, Interesting)

        by HanzoSpam ( 713251 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:47PM (#14092839)
        I was actually impressed with its ability to work with other devices to include an iPOD and PsP. The nice thing about this machine is that it really is expandable as wireless gives them many options. You will probably see an addon keyboard/mouse combo one day.

        There are many of us out here who don't need our PCs to program on, we have them for games, other entertainment, e-mail, and surfing. Give me an insta-on box with those features and I may just consider it. The XBOX360 is actually the first console I am seriously considering because of the potential.

        That's the point I think is being missed. After everything is said and done, the thing is still, design-wise, pretty much a glorified PC. Microsoft has come out with a proprietary platform which they're using the gamer market to propagate. They can gradually add other functionality to increase it's market.

        Don't be surprised when it eventually evolves into what amounts to the Microsoft version of the Mac.
        • Don't be surprised when it eventually evolves into what amounts to the Microsoft version of the Mac.

          No. Microsoft refused to let people connect keyboards and mice to the original Xbox. Why? Because they don't want to make this become a PC.

          This is more trying to be Microsoft's version of the TiVo. Even that comparison isn't really apt, its just a console that wants to be everything to everyone.

        • Re:Actually if you read the HARDOCP review (Score:5, Interesting)

          by badasscat ( 563442 ) <basscadet75@@@yahoo...com> on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @02:35PM (#14093354)
          That's the point I think is being missed. After everything is said and done, the thing is still, design-wise, pretty much a glorified PC. Microsoft has come out with a proprietary platform which they're using the gamer market to propagate. They can gradually add other functionality to increase it's market.

          What, you mean kinda like this [intellivisionlives.com]?

          The fact of the matter is every console is pretty much a "glorified PC" (or a "dumbed down" PC, depending on your perspective), and every single time - yes, every single time a new console is released, the manufacturer claims that it's going to do this, that and the other thing eventually, or that it's going to converge a whole bunch of devices into one. This is true going all the way back to the Odyssey II and Atari 2600, which also promised PC functionality. The Sega CD and NEC Turbo CD were the first (or among the first) to then promise home entertainment functionality once optical storage became the norm.

          The reality is people just don't care. A few do, and those are the kind of people that sued Mattel when they never actually released their promised keyboard component from lack of interest (they only had something like 4,000 orders, which meant they couldn't get the component cost low enough to make a profit). Those people can be very vocal. They're the real hardcore. They're on the internet complaining when companies don't release promised add-ons, they're the ones that always have to be the contrarians when someone like me points out that they're the minority.

          But they are the extreme, extreme minority. I agree with the parent poster who said as soon as the next hot console comes along, gamers will abandon the Xbox 360, because it really is about the games and only about the games, and it always will be. This is not going to be some great window into the living room. It is simply the console of the moment, and in five years it will be forgotten like every other console of the moment. MS is not creating some sort of home entertainment "standard" with the Xbox 360.

          It never ceases to amuse me how people say the exact same things every time a new console is released. "It's going to do all these great things besides playing video games! It's revolutionary!" Ha! So in other words, it's just like every other console ever.

        • "What's the difference between an XBox 360 and a Mac?"

          "Nothing, neither has games! HAHAHAHA!"

    • The manufacturer is irrelevent, because no matter what else the box promises, once you're tired of playing the games it'll end up in the back of the closet, covered with hardened Cheeto grease, dust, a few dents from being kicked when things didn't go quite to plan in a game and utterly forgotten until Garage Sale Season.

      That would be true except that you seem to have ignored the fact that new games will be constantly released for the system for at least the next 4-5 years.

    • a media center (Score:3, Insightful)

      by everphilski ( 877346 )
      Microsoft touts this as a brilliant center of home media and that's probably true for anyone who doesn't already have a home entertainment center of some sort.

      Yup. Its perfect for college students and the like who have to pick up and move every few semesters and share stuff with other people. Why stock up on a lot of equiptment when a XBOX will function as your multimedia center?

      -everphilski-

    • once you're tired of playing the games it'll end up in the back of the closet

      Not if it's hackable. If I knew the Xbox 360 were going to be hackable, I'd be more interested in buying one now, at full price. Since it might not be (odds are, even if it is, it will be a much bigger PITA than the Xbox) I'm not buying one until either hacks come out or the price comes down quite a bit.

      • If I knew the Xbox 360 were going to be hackable, I'd be more interested in buying one now, at full price.

        Yes, but they don't make money off you hacking it. Even at full price, it's still sold at a loss.
    • There are people who don't have a computer, the internet and don't have a DVD player. Yet, many of these people (I know quite a few) enjoy playing console games on their TV. A device like XBOX360 is perfect for them: they get a game console AND a whole lot of stuff they didn't have before. Quite obviously they won't be picking it up for launch prices, but they will surely come, just as they did with the original XBOX.
    • It must suck to live in a rural area and have to get your fix this way.

      Actually, by living in a rural area in a poor part of the state, I've found it EASIER to find the must-have systems (well, I've only been here for the Nintendo DS and sony PSP) available on launch day. I'm not sure if the K-mart two towns over still has 360's 'cause I don't need one and don't have a reason to be near there today, but I'm sure that it took them at least several hours to sell out if they did.
    • If it actually looked like something that would fit in with an entertainment system (like if it looked like a dvd player or a vcd, or something that at least looked like it belonged by my tv) I would really consider buying and replacing my dvd player with it. But right now, the white rounded-ness of it just doesn't jive.

    • Re: Microsoft is in for the long haul (Score:5, Interesting)

      by nmb3000 ( 741169 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:58PM (#14092949) Journal
      Microsoft touts this as a brilliant center of home media and that's probably true for anyone who doesn't already have a home entertainment center of some sort. But what the distillate is you're not going to buy it to watch DVDs on, you're going to play games with it. You're not going to surf the internet, you're going to play games with it. It won't transform you into some actuallized renaissance man (or woman) through shear wonderfulness of the Total Microsoft Experience, you will play games with it.

      See, that's the thing. I believe more people than you give credit will use it as both a media center and a game console. Essentially anyone living in a smaller space like an apartment will like the idea being able to play games, watch movies and listen to music--all in high-definition and surround sound--without having a big (and expensive) stack of components.

      In addition, the console brings something pretty new to the scene. Now, if you have video or audio stored on your computer you can play it on your 360 via wireless or wired networking. Why try to watch content on your computer from an uncomfortable chair using poor speakers watching on a small monitor when instead you can watch it from the comfort of a coutch on a large TV screen (YMMV here).

      Is the 360 some magical gift from God? Obviously not, but in the same token it's not the same game console we played back in 1985. Also, nobody should make it sound like it's a big Microsoft ploy to hype this up as much as they can. Sony is just as bad (if not worse in some ways) about hyping up anything new they release. Nintendo doesn't seem to be quite as bad, but they still do some crazy stuff [1up.com] to try and get attention [vgcats.com].

  • Edge? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:26PM (#14092609)
    Just like the Dreamcast had, eh?

    In short, people will wait for the next-gen offerings from Nintendo and Sony.

  • So...... (Score:3, Funny)

    by 8127972 ( 73495 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:27PM (#14092620)
    ....... When will we see a LINUX distro for it?

    • Re:So...... (Score:5, Funny)

      by ackthpt ( 218170 ) * on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:34PM (#14092705) Homepage Journal
      ....... When will we see a LINUX distro for it?

      Just before a chair is hurled through your window with a Cease and Desist letter attached to it.

      do it and we'll bury you, love steve

      So is there a sight for posting pools on the interent as to when the first article will appear on /. announcing a successful 1) Linux install 2) Mod chip ?

    • Given time I bet you will. There's a version with a hard drive: it will be hacked. Personally I'm not even going to bother buying one of the things until a good modchip and some homebrew apps are out. Of course my current X-Box is doing fine in that regard right now (and I didn't even have to shell out any cash for it - I won it in a free drawing at a Microsoft event. Oh the irony :)).

  • Fry's Line (Score:5, Informative)

    by DarkHand ( 608301 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:29PM (#14092638)
    My Dad works at the Fry's Electronics in Downers Grove, IL, and there was a line around the building when we got there at 7am this morning. I thought there was some kind of early Black Friday thing going on until I remembered the XBox launch date.
    • Or, according to the BBC's "bigger perspective," gamers were "queueing" around the block. Hah. Wankers.
    • I really hope Insult the Comic Dog showed up at an Xbox360 line with a video camera...

    • Re:Fry's Line (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Saige ( 53303 )
      The Best Buy in Bellevue, WA, went around the front of the building, down the side, to the back of the parking lot, then down next to and finally around the back of the Home Depot. They managed to get MORE 360s than the 266 that were originally planned, and still ended up sending a significant number of people home with paid vouchers that guarantee them a system when enough show up.

      I was in line at 7 am Monday for the midnight sale - and was #91 in line. It was quite the experience being there. I don't r

  • To the edge and beyond (Score:5, Funny)

    by Dobeln ( 853794 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:30PM (#14092653)
    "Some gamers have gone to even greater extremes - like the man who robbed an Electronics Boutique store in Stafford, Virginia in the early hours of this morning. According to US website GameSpot, he held the store manager up at gunpoint and ordered him to hand over two Xbox 360s. Presumably ones with hard drives."

    Gee, Microsoft are really taking viral marketing to new heights here. Move over iLoveBees... ;)

  • Ridiculous people (Score:5, Informative)

    by op12 ( 830015 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:32PM (#14092681) Homepage
    Apparently some people are willing to pay over a thousand bucks for one [ebay.com].

    --
    For those that haven't gone blind yet (article minus the blinding blue theme): http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/22/174625 1&tid=211 [slashdot.org]

    • Re:Ridiculous people (Score:3, Insightful)

      by timeOday ( 582209 )
      Oh my goodness, that thing finished at over $2K. I wonder what are the odds of him actually collecting that $2K? That said, I count 6 unique bidders over $1K on that XBox.

      Then again $2K isn't a large slice of the XBox marketing budget. It might be worth it to Microsoft for breathless media reports of XBoxes going for $2K on EBay.

    • Apparently some people are willing to pay over a thousand bucks for one.

      Dude, I've seen eBay listings at over $2k, and I've heard earlier in this thread that one has sold for $5k.

      My original thesis was this: People's intelligence halves in front of a computer.

      My new one: People's intelligence quarters in front of a game console.

      I'm at a loss here. Are these the only ones being manufactured? Or is having a new toy now just that important?
  • so. what happens to the xbox now? discontinued? discount bin at odd lots? are they expecting developers to code for the PS2, x-box and 360?
    • If the hype is to be believed, getting an Xbox 360 this XMas may be a long shot. So what are Ma and Pop who don't really know a lot about gaming, going to do? Why they'll just pick up a regular Xbox of course for a lot less money. There undoubtedly will be some coat tails sales of the first Xbox, even more if they cut prices. But don't expect any marketing of this from Microsoft. PS 2 sales may benefit too, but since the kids will be all, Xbox this and Xbox that, the old Xbox stands a better shot of getting
    • Sony's still selling the PSOne (small type) so why shouldn't Microsoft keep selling the Xbox?

    • Re:and the x-box? (Score:2, Insightful)

      by rAiNsT0rm ( 877553 )
      The original Xbox is without a doubt the WORST console lifespan of all time. Even ill fated systems hung on for longer and continued active development. 4 years for a system is not a good value, and just ensures that programmers have YET to even fully tap into the system. When console makers *cough* Sony/MS *cough* only pump out systems based on horsepower, hype and profit, they go stale much quicker. I can't see the 360 or PS3 making any lasting impact either due to the massive development costs and time i

  • It launched? (Score:5, Funny)

    by BushCheney08 ( 917605 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:33PM (#14092685)
    It launched already??? Why haven't I heard anything about this yet?!?! The slashdot editors need to get off their asses and help hype this thing a little bit...

  • Long lines == No food (Score:3, Funny)

    by doctela ( 889621 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:33PM (#14092695)
    Wow those guys really must be going without food [penny-arcade.com]

  • Played It (Score:5, Informative)

    by NetFusion ( 86828 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:35PM (#14092713)
    A friend waited in the hype cue at a Wallmart for 8 hours and picked one up last night. Apparently they had 32 to sell and and a line of 50 people. At 10mins before midnight a guy shows up walking the line waving 300 bucks for someones spot in line. Needless to say someone thought having his xbox mostly paid for a little later, rather then tonight, was worth giving up his spot.

    But thankfuly not my pixel junkie mate and I got to play it. Overall it seems really solid but out of the 4 games he got, nothing grabbed me. His long wait for a native title that can push this new system to its limit has begun.
  • I heard on the radio this morning about how the retailers are already selling out of 360s. Of course all that is by design as we saw previously: http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/03/ 0026241&tid=211 [slashdot.org]. Never mind that it's all social engineering...go buy yours now before they are all gone!!!
    • Well, if it's social engineering, it's working well for MS, dont'cha think? Should increase the buzz and gain MS some marketshare (until the PS3 comes out).

      My 360 shipped Friday (the Coscto bundle) and is due to arrive on the 28th (shipping from infamous Ontario, CA). Looking forward to using it as a MCE extender and Christmas gift for the kids.

  • eBay (Score:5, Informative)

    by billybob ( 18401 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:39PM (#14092754)
    Lord a'mighty, have you seen how much these fuckers are going for on ebay? Check out the listings [ebay.com]... one even sold for over 5,000 dollars [ebay.com] (yes, five thousand).... Wow.
    • Sold to a guy with no feedback. Good luck collecting on that :)

      Then again, there probably is someone crazy enough to pay that much. I wish I had thought to wait in line to make a few grand on ebay.

      • HA HA HA (Score:5, Funny)

        by timeOday ( 582209 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @02:29PM (#14093296)
        Check out the "Ask seller a question" on that $5000 XBox [ebay.com]:
        Q: Do you have the xbox360 listed here in hand ready to ship today the 22nd or tomorrow the 23rd?

        A: Due to the unexpected low stock received, the item will ship within 2 weeks. Sorry

    • Re:eBay (Score:5, Interesting)

      by tonywong ( 96839 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:53PM (#14092884) Homepage
      How do you know it's not 2 microsoft marketing employees kiting up the price of a unit to hype it?

      The cost of such an astroturfing operation is the eBay listing fees and that's it. Pretty cheap for a lot of buzz.

      Just a thought.

    • Re:eBay (Score:2)

      by Surt ( 22457 )
      Must have been an incredibly dumb rich kid. It's hard for me to imagine how else you have enough spare money to pay $5k for an xbox, but don't see the numerous other options to get one cheaper.
    • Haha, from the short description for this one [ebay.com]:

      Microsoft Xbox 360 - Game console NO RESERVE!!! L@@K!!!
      GET IT NOW SOLD OUT!!PERFECT FOR THE RICH SPOILED KID!

  • Out first=Clear Advantage? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Puhase ( 911920 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:39PM (#14092756)
    I'm still unclear about why the fact that 360 is out first is a definitive advantage. I guess they get a chance to take a first crack at the market, but...there seems to be some extremely dark clouds on the horizon due to this early arrival.
    1. No HD-DVD or Blu-Ray- whatever happens with this media format debacle, the people with the new 360 out now wont have it.
    2. Future Version Product Confusion/Backlash- Because of the above, when they begin to release future updated hardware versions of the 360, the market will be confused as to what they should purchase. Its not a new system, but it has new features this time around. Will there be expensive add-ons to accommodate current owners? Because those who have the old and not the new are gonna be pissed that they didn't get the finished system. This isn't the slim-downed PS2 I'm talking about here. That was a cosmetic change or downgrade option(imho), this will be a complete technical upgrade.
    3. Debut game lineup-What lineup? If I don't like sports or shooting Nazi's... not much left, maybe Kameo. Much of the "meat and potatoes" was delayed past X-mas, creating a weird kinda of late winter "secondary launch".
    4.All they are competing with is heresay and conjecture-The hard and fast realities of the PS3 and Revolution are still out in the open. So a decision by the consumer is hard to make, because no real comparison can be made. This will inevitably create a bubble of "undecided". Although with how rabid gamers can be, there will always be those too impatient to wait.

    I'm no fanboy, I own all three of the current generation and agree all have things about them I like. It just seems to me that we've got a situation here where the 4th grader has rushed to finish his test first and hand it in to the teacher so he can look back at the class and say "I'm done first". Even though he did a sloppy job, didn't fully answer each question and in the end didn't get a great grade.

    • Re:Out first=Clear Advantage? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by SilentChris ( 452960 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @03:05PM (#14093752) Homepage
      1. No HD-DVD or Blu-Ray - I agree this is a flaw, but not an earth-shattering one. The number of HD-DVD/Blu-Ray titles are initially going to be extremely slim, due to the fact that HDTV (*still*) hasn't made much penetration in the marketplace. Maybe in 2-3 years it'll be another story -- but MS has already said they'd release a new HD DVD version of the console if there was demand.

      2. Future Version Product Confusion/Backlash - I don't see the problem here. This happens with every generation. Backward compatibility has always been a sore spot, and even the PS2 didn't fully support EVERY PS1 game out there.

      3. Debut game lineup-What lineup? - See, now, here's where you and I differ. I see a console built for 21-34 somethings with an 18-game launch. Those 18 games more or less cater to that demographic: shooters, sports and racing. The only thing really missing from the launch is platformers, and that usually only covered well by Nintendo's launches. Kameo looks to be a good game for the kids, and that's all I really need to justify the purchase for the family: one good game for them.

      4.All they are competing with is heresay and conjecture - This happens with EVERY launch with EVERY console. It's a part of the entertainment industry. From the beginning of the first medieval jester's appearance, likely announced with "this'll be the funniest thing you see ever", there's been hype. That "bubble of undecided" always exists, and it's always negated by market whims.

      In short, don't read too much into this. If you're a gamer you'll get all 3 regardless. I'm a gamer: I'm getting all 3.

  • Poorly Managed Release. Traders making money. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by managedcode ( 863136 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:41PM (#14092768)
    Disappointed lot of gamers. Release was very poorly managed with just 20 pieces for every store. Whether Microsoft made money or not, eBay and speculators are making money. The latest Winning bid: US $2,225.00

  • Sony should lower the price of PS2 to $99 (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Sundroid ( 777083 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:42PM (#14092784) Homepage
    partly to offer some kind of counter offense against Microsoft's Xbox 360 blitz, partly to rehabilitate itself from the DRM rootkit mess.

  • sony audio cd? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:46PM (#14092824)
    if you play a sony audio cd in it.. does it install it's rootkit?

    what a tough decision..

    we hate MS because their evil..
    we now hate sony because their evil..

    nintendo games suck because they're not evil..

    what's a geek to do.

  • I hope this drive Linux dev for PPC (Score:3, Interesting)

    by rindeee ( 530084 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:48PM (#14092843)
    My sincere hope in that the console makers are moving to PowerPC arch is that this will increase the pace of Linux dev for 64bit PPC architectures. There has been a lot of good work done, but the pace has been a little slow. I'm not much of a gamer, but this is one of the many benefits that gaming brings to other markets.

  • My problem with gaming... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by jferris ( 908786 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:51PM (#14092872) Homepage
    ...still holds true for the Xbox360. I am not a graphics whore, so Microsoft isn't offerring anything of interest to me. I own a DVD player, I already have a computer, and I don't plan on getting HDTV to have prettier games. At least Nintendo is attempting to innovate. And if their innovation doesn't pan out, they have a fallback plan - in that there will be an "accessory" for the Revolution that will allow you to use the new controller in some sort of an "old fashioned" controller shell. As for the PS3, it is going to be awfully powerful - and that is really all I know for sure about it. The problem here is not me, as a gamer, saying "Make me a prettier game!". It has come down to me saying "Make me a game that will take longer than a weekend to beat. And don't do it by requiring me to power up characters for no other purpose than to burn time or placing impassible FMV sequences in the fifteen minute or more range (are you listening Square Enix?)."

  • fake shortage may backfire (Score:5, Insightful)

    by asv108 ( 141455 ) <asv@[ ]ss.com ['ivo' in gap]> on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @01:59PM (#14092952) Homepage Journal
    From all accounts, it appears that Microsoft is trying to create an artificial shortage by only allowing a small number of units to be sold today. I called a few retailers this morning, all of them are sold out. Most of them had less that 40 systems for sale, and this in the Philadelphia area, not some rural market.

    While the intended effect is to create a buzz that encourages a christmas buying frenzy, it could backfire just as well. The original Xbox launch had an enormous supply. I wasn't really looking to buy an xbox at the time, but I happened to be in Best Buy 2 days after the launch, so I decided to give it a shot.

    Today, Xbox 360's are selling for nearly $2,000 on ebay. Not even a package, just the system. The "shortage buzz" will certainly keep casual purchasers away and I'm sure quite a few people might decide to wait a few months for the ps3.

  • Not Trolling, just bitter (Score:4, Insightful)

    by saskboy ( 600063 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @02:02PM (#14092979) Homepage Journal
    Where are all these people that have $500C for a game system with no games? Do they have no other forms of entertainment that they must buy a bleeding edge Microsoft game console? Might I remind them politely that they can get a computer for the same price, and it can do games and everything else the XBox 360 can do, and not be locked into Microsoft only Xbox 360 games and software?

    Why not buy an XBox original and get oodles of games for it if you don't already have a system. You get way more entertainment bang for your buck. I guess keeping up with the Joneses is more important these days than it's ever been in the past?

    The media coverage this thing is geting makes me nearly sick. It's on the radio, the TV, and in print. I've only heard one reviewer say they wouldn't buy their kids the system because it's going to be at least $150 less in 6 months. Don't these parents realize that their heating bills are going to be about 50% more this year?

    • Status symbol. (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Scrameustache ( 459504 )
      all these people that have $500C for a game system with no games?

      Chicks want useless shiny rocks, guys want useless shiny electronics.

    • Re:Not Trolling, just bitter (Score:5, Funny)

      by vertinox ( 846076 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @03:07PM (#14093788)
      Where are all these people that have $500C for a game system with no games?

      You know that guy Dvorak... You know about his praise of the menus... Well... Lets just say they are really good menus.
  • Enlighten me here. Why should I buy a 360? Is there a single "Must Have" game for the console? Someone explain to me why I shouldn't just wait 6 months for a bigger selection of games and a lower price.
  • It's November 22. They have to move several MILLION of these in the next 30 days before sales fall off. Retailers who can't sell it out won't carry it. So of course it's hyped to the max. It's the best console ever, it's the greatest gadget in the world, it will make you taller, it will get you laid, it comes in 3 flavors, etc....

  • Check Out the Innovation! (Score:3, Interesting)

    by micromuncher ( 171881 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @02:22PM (#14093215) Homepage
    http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macproto/ Pippin.html [theapplecollection.com]

    - nuff said
    b00tl3g

  • I got mine! But overpriced! (Score:3, Informative)

    by Aegis9975bb2 ( 931810 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @02:22PM (#14093219)
    I just got mine, haven't slept yet since getting it, actually.

    But I have to admit it probably isn't worth the price for everybody except the hardcore. It's waaaay pricer than what I payed for my original Xbox on launch day.

    I payed:
    $400 XB360 Premium bundle.
    $50 Extra controller
    $100 WiFi adapter for Xbox (my TV is not where my router is setup; had to buy it :( )
    $60 Madden
    $60 Quake 4

    In total I payed around $700 including tax. That's basically with 2 games and an extra controller. If tt wasn't for the WiFi it would have been closer to $600.

    Personally, I think I payed too much relative to the enjoyment factor. Quake4 is great but there is some MAJOR frame rate issues with that game, but my friend got PGR3 and it is absolutly beutiful, but the gameplay isn't my taste (personally prefer the Burnout-style gameplay to this "Kudos" system).

    While I'll say that I'm happy with my XB360, I wouldn't recommend buying one to anybody else until PS3 comes out and MS drops the price of the console. Also, there is no killer-app that's worth the price, and graphics aren't any better than what you would get from a well-equiped PC. But I know Halo 3 will be out for it someday, so it's good enough for me.

  • Zero Hour (Score:4, Interesting)

    by neafevoc ( 93684 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @02:34PM (#14093352) Homepage Journal
    I was at the Xbox Zero Hour release party last night (in Palmdale, CA). It wasn't that crowded at the event. I didn't have a problem playing every game on the show floor. I'm sorry to say that I'm not all that impressed with the release titles. (Yeah, I know first generation.) I also had a chance to buy one last night, but I didn't (however, hundreds of others did).

    I am impressed how well Live is integrated with the console. When we got there, they gave us a free memory unit and helped us transfer our Live account on it. Then we were able to play on Live wtih the number of games that were available. I think Live will dominate over whatever Sony has to offer as far as online integration with the console.

    Despite being not overly impressed with any of the titles, there was one that my buddy and I played for over an hour. It was from Live Arcade (a number of small titles you can download from Live). The game was called Geometry Wars. Yes, strangely enough, it wasn't the multi-million dollar developed games that won my game of the show, but this small independently developed game you can download from Live.

    I'll wait around like I did with the original Xbox before I get one. Same thing goes with the PS3. Comes back to what we said many a time: good games make good consoles.

    • Re:Zero Hour (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Saige ( 53303 ) <evil,angela&gmail,com> on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @02:53PM (#14093593) Journal
      I realized after a bit of play last night and this morning that Live is what's going to make or break the 360. The better graphics and more power is nice, but it's the amazing ton of features on Live that make it such a next-gen experience. Being able to voice chat with my friends while we play different games and even switch between them. Streaming my music from my PC to my 360 as a custom soundtrack in any game. Achievements and Gamer scores. Xbox Live Marketplace offering amazing games for $5.

      I feel about 10x more connected to people on my friends list than I did on the original Xbox. It's no longer this separate "play online" section - you're ALWAYS playing online in one way or another, with scoreboards or directly against opponents.

      I really think that anyone with a 360 and broadband needs to at LEAST make sure they're connected with a silver account, even if you don't want to pay the $50 to play online. It adds that much.

  • Half of Gamers Waiting (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Winterblink ( 575267 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @02:47PM (#14093493) Homepage
    Just spotted this little bit of news [gamespot.com] at Gamespot about how half of surveyed "active" gamers said they would wait until they had choice before buying in to the next generation.

    Well at least I know I'm not alone. ;)

  • Minimal Microsoft Association (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Zo0ok ( 209803 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @02:48PM (#14093505) Homepage
    If you examine an XBox-retail-box (at least the one that have been available in stores for display) you can hardly find the Microsoft logotype anywhere. There are just a few small insignificant ones. Obviously Microsoft wants to let the XBox trademark live on its own without too much Microsoft association. Why? Are they not proud of the XBox or fear it will be another commercial failure? Do they think Microsoft makes people think of boring low-quality products? Does their MS logotype not appeal to children? Do they plan to sell the XBox in the future or split the XBox division from the company? Do they think that the XBox as a toy should not be connected with their Server/Business products? Any ideas? Anyone who knows?

  • Some of the consoles faulty ?! (Score:5, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @03:01PM (#14093713)
    It seems that at least some of the Xbox 360 consoles are faulty... No clear problem is pinpointed at the moment, but one strong cause could be overheating; http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?s=c04af2866 ed9534607ad98ce292b6a3e&showtopic=462099 [xbox-scene.com]

  • This thing is too loud and too hot! (Score:3, Informative)

    by YesIAmAScript ( 886271 ) on Tuesday November 22, 2005 @03:18PM (#14093938)
    Way too loud, Way too hot!

    I had it outside my stereo cabinet, I couldn't take the noise. So I put it inside, and it gets far too hot with the door closed, and with the door open it's as loud as outside the box and even hotter! And I even made sure to put the enormous power supply outside the cabinet.

    This stinks. I didn't expect to have to mod my living room to play this thing.

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