Microsoft has admitted to a shortage in the US of Xbox 360s throughout January, saying that it underestimated post-holiday demand - a fact that has not gone down well with retailers.
"We are really running short of product here in the United States", confessed Jeff Bell†, head of global marketing for Microsoft's games business. "You could say we misjudged demand."
He said this the day before NPD is expected to release its US sales figures for January. This is no coincidence - Microsoft sought to "manage expectations."
"We're literally out of stock in many stores. We think this will have an impact on our sales", Bell went on. "It may cause the overall industry number to be down a little bit."
Stores, Bell admitted, are not best pleased. "Retailers have been really upset, they are on allocation. It is a lag I think we're seeing in January and that may continue into February, then as Spring ramps up, we'll be able to meet that demand."
Don Mattrick, Microsoft's senior VP of Interactive Entertainment, said of shortages in a Major Nelson podcast, "That's a great problem to have, we're addressing that in the coming year - it's going to take us a little bit of time to amp up our manufacturing, but we're really encouraged that people purchased as many games and as many boxes as they did on our platform - we think that bodes well for the future."
Mattrick succeeded in creating an uproar during the podcast, making comments that were (incorrectly) interpreted by many to mean that online multiplayer support for GTA IV was unique to the 360.
Source: Reuters
"We are really running short of product here in the United States", confessed Jeff Bell†, head of global marketing for Microsoft's games business. "You could say we misjudged demand."
He said this the day before NPD is expected to release its US sales figures for January. This is no coincidence - Microsoft sought to "manage expectations."
"We're literally out of stock in many stores. We think this will have an impact on our sales", Bell went on. "It may cause the overall industry number to be down a little bit."
Stores, Bell admitted, are not best pleased. "Retailers have been really upset, they are on allocation. It is a lag I think we're seeing in January and that may continue into February, then as Spring ramps up, we'll be able to meet that demand."
Don Mattrick, Microsoft's senior VP of Interactive Entertainment, said of shortages in a Major Nelson podcast, "That's a great problem to have, we're addressing that in the coming year - it's going to take us a little bit of time to amp up our manufacturing, but we're really encouraged that people purchased as many games and as many boxes as they did on our platform - we think that bodes well for the future."
Mattrick succeeded in creating an uproar during the podcast, making comments that were (incorrectly) interpreted by many to mean that online multiplayer support for GTA IV was unique to the 360.
Source: Reuters
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Comments
Bentley 14 Feb 2008 10:34
1/13
In other words, "the figures are not so good, PS3 is starting to kick our ass, so we are getting our excuse in early".
Bye bye, 360. Your days are numbered. Serves you right for rushing out a defective product that wasn't forward-thinking enough, but was designed to capitalise on the American market's blind patriotism and the stupidity of the naive. I am proud to say I never fell for it. Sony are far from perfect but at least the PS3 is a machine with an eye on the future.
PS I may as well get this in ahead of the game: "SuperSaiyan, nobody cares what you think, you are a proven bullshitter," and "t**t".
Bye bye, 360. Your days are numbered. Serves you right for rushing out a defective product that wasn't forward-thinking enough, but was designed to capitalise on the American market's blind patriotism and the stupidity of the naive. I am proud to say I never fell for it. Sony are far from perfect but at least the PS3 is a machine with an eye on the future.
PS I may as well get this in ahead of the game: "SuperSaiyan, nobody cares what you think, you are a proven bullshitter," and "t**t".
HyperTails 14 Feb 2008 10:55
2/13
The 360 does have some good games out for it like Gears of War, but I do agree that it wasn't forward thinking enough. Maybe the PS3 is actually starting to catch it up in the US like it is doing in the UK, but I don't think that Microsoft can maintain its lead over the PS3 much longer. Not with the likes of Home, MGS4, FFXIII, Killzone 2, Little Big Planet and Resistance 2 coming out this year. Again, the 360 has had some good games released for it, but this year it looks crap compared to the PS3's release list.
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Bentley 14 Feb 2008 11:21
3/13
Exactly. Although personally, I didn't enjoy Gears of War at all. It was too short and too generic. The best thing about it was the shakey--cam, the cover system I suppose (although done before, at the very least in KillSwitch) and multiplayer, but even that did not have the "don't need to sleep or eat, must play, must WIN" gaming-crack effect that SOCOM had with me previously. Heck, nothing yet online has come anywhere near what SOCOM did for me, now I think about it. Anyway, back to the games... I'm not aware of a single exclusive 360 title coming out in the future that is a gob-smacking showstopper. It feels more like they are focusing on hyping the belief that "shared" titles will be better on their machine, when in truth the results are varied, e.g. Burnout (PS3 win), The Orange Box (360 win), Devil May Cry (unsure), GTA IV (please be better on PS3)... but all I hear from 360 fanboys is stuff like "We have Halo 3, Bioshock, Mass Effect and Gears of War" but never anything about what is on the way. Which makes me wonder exactly what is on the way for them. Other than doom, and that's actual doom and not a Doom game.
john 14 Feb 2008 11:47
4/13
the xbox does have the likes of gears 2, 3 and halo wars but it doesnt excite me that much. and who knows by the time the ps3 starts to roll like the ps2 did in the day a new xbox might be on the way if that is the case then it just proves to me that trading in my xbox360 for a 60 gig ps3 was the right thing to do.
i dont think FF XIII will come out this year but MGS4 will be enough for by itself.
Devil May Cry 4 rocks
i dont think FF XIII will come out this year but MGS4 will be enough for by itself.
Devil May Cry 4 rocks
SuperSaiyan4 14 Feb 2008 12:26
5/13
First off all I call bullshit on the so-called 360 shortages yeah right its probably just Microsoft's way of saying 'well we didnt really sell enough, so lets make up a story and say it was shortages'.
One of the things it boils down to is what would you rather have? A product by Microsoft or a product by Sony? Sony is known for its technology and Microsoft for its software...But thats where it gets interesting, Microsoft has a lot of games on its system and has Xbox Live the whole Xbox 360 experience for me is amazing.
Now Sony have all the hardware and another major factor...Brand name and brand loyalty, despite lacking in software in comparison to what Microsoft have at present Sony still have their own exclusives on the way that couple with the huge mass of PS2 owners are looking forward to big names like MGS4, GT5 and FF13 not to mention cross platform games like GTA4 as well.
Last gen Xbox 1 had a very small userbase yet had some great games like PGR2, Ninja Gaiden and Fable.
Out of the current Xbox 360 userbase many do not know what Ninja Gaiden and Fable is all about but with the PS2 userbase I would say 99% would know what MGS, GT and FF is.
Its an intertesing gen for gaming as Xbox 360 is up their in total world wide sales and once the software hits the PS3 that gamers are after like MGS4 in particular you might see a boost in hardware sales also.
One of the things it boils down to is what would you rather have? A product by Microsoft or a product by Sony? Sony is known for its technology and Microsoft for its software...But thats where it gets interesting, Microsoft has a lot of games on its system and has Xbox Live the whole Xbox 360 experience for me is amazing.
Now Sony have all the hardware and another major factor...Brand name and brand loyalty, despite lacking in software in comparison to what Microsoft have at present Sony still have their own exclusives on the way that couple with the huge mass of PS2 owners are looking forward to big names like MGS4, GT5 and FF13 not to mention cross platform games like GTA4 as well.
Last gen Xbox 1 had a very small userbase yet had some great games like PGR2, Ninja Gaiden and Fable.
Out of the current Xbox 360 userbase many do not know what Ninja Gaiden and Fable is all about but with the PS2 userbase I would say 99% would know what MGS, GT and FF is.
Its an intertesing gen for gaming as Xbox 360 is up their in total world wide sales and once the software hits the PS3 that gamers are after like MGS4 in particular you might see a boost in hardware sales also.
daz 14 Feb 2008 12:59
6/13
Bentley wrote:
It feels more like they are focusing on hyping the belief that "shared" titles will be better on their machine, when in truth the results are varied, e.g. Burnout (PS3 win), The Orange Box (360 win), Devil May Cry (unsure), GTA IV (please be better on PS3)...
The reveiw on IGN to me sounded as though the PS3 version was the better deal, with the 360 suffering from screen tearing, and little bit better detail in areas, but they also said you'd have to go through it frame by frame with a nit comb to even tell.
SuperSaiyan4 14 Feb 2008 13:53
7/13
daz wrote:
Bentley wrote:
It feels more like they are focusing on hyping the belief that "shared" titles will be better on their machine, when in truth the results are varied, e.g. Burnout (PS3 win), The Orange Box (360 win), Devil May Cry (unsure), GTA IV (please be better on PS3)...
The reveiw on IGN to me sounded as though the PS3 version was the better deal, with the 360 suffering from screen tearing, and little bit better detail in areas, but they also said you'd have to go through it frame by frame with a nit comb to even tell.
I agree on the screen tearing yes its there but its not that noticeable like some games that are really bad.
However graphically sorry there is a big difference in the 360 version where it looks miles better and is much clearer with sharper textures.
What I do miss from what the PS3 version has is videos from DMC 1,2 & 3 which are apparently in there which the 360 version lacks. Oh and you have that 20min install as well.
But then with the 360 I can play DMC4 and talk to my friends on Xbox Live via messenger and voice chat.
RIPRAW 14 Feb 2008 14:29
8/13
Bentley wrote:
but all I hear from 360 fanboys is stuff like "We have Halo 3, Bioshock, Mass Effect and Gears of War" but never anything about what is on the way. Which makes me wonder exactly what is on the way for them. Other than doom, and that's actual doom and not a Doom game.
Here's a list of games coming out for the 360 (most of which are this year). I wouldn't say it's all gloom and doom. Don't forget that it's not just exclusives that make a console enjoyable - COD4 was my favourite game of last year. Besides, who is to say that any of these games will be any good? You can't. The same can be said for future PS3 titles - you can only judge the quality of a game when you are actually able to play it!
360 exclusives:
Banjo-Kazooie 3
Fable 2
Ninja Gaiden II
Halo Wars
Halo Chronicles (Peter Jackson)
Console exclusives (available on Windows as well):
World in Conflict
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures
Alan Wake
Left 4 Dead (by Valve)
Supreme Commander
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Gears of War 2
Bentley 14 Feb 2008 17:34
9/13
RIPRAW wrote:
Here's a list of games coming out for the 360 (most of which are this year). I wouldn't say it's all gloom and doom. Don't forget that it's not just exclusives that make a console enjoyable - COD4 was my favourite game of last year. Besides, who is to say that any of these games will be any good? You can't. The same can be said for future PS3 titles - you can only judge the quality of a game when you are actually able to play it!
First, congrats on SuperSaiyan for some sensible posts I didn't mind reading. You are much more pleasurable when you keep your head screwed on.
Next, totally agree that you can't judge a game until you play it. I learned that from Killzone... it looked amazing but was massively disappointing when it came out. Lord only knows what KZ2 will be like. I am sceptical, it must be said! Totally agree also that exclusive games don't make a console- Call of Duty 4 is indeed the greatest game I've played on any system, and admirable that they pretty much made the versions the same experience no matter where you play it. If only there were more games like that. In a perfect world we'd all be playing the games we want no matter what console we own... I found it odd that Devil May Cry fans went nuts when it was announced for 360. Sure, go nuts if it jumps format, but if we can all play the same game, who cares? It's got to be about the games, ultimately. Although exclusive games do keep things interesting, I suppose.
Cheers for posting that list of games RIPRAW, I now feel much more informed. Some interesting titles... The beauty of this year is, no matter the console, the gamers will win. This feels like the year for games I have been waiting for since I was a child... and I simply cannot wait for GTA IV. My social life is gonna take a hell of a hit. Thank goodness it has multiplayer, or I may never have human contact again...
Daz 14 Feb 2008 17:36
10/13
RIPRAW wrote:
Bentley wrote:
but all I hear from 360 fanboys is stuff like "We have Halo 3, Bioshock, Mass Effect and Gears of War" but never anything about what is on the way. Which makes me wonder exactly what is on the way for them. Other than doom, and that's actual doom and not a Doom game.
Here's a list of games coming out for the 360 (most of which are this year). I wouldn't say it's all gloom and doom. Don't forget that it's not just exclusives that make a console enjoyable - COD4 was my favourite game of last year. Besides, who is to say that any of these games will be any good? You can't. The same can be said for future PS3 titles - you can only judge the quality of a game when you are actually able to play it!
360 exclusives:
Banjo-Kazooie 3
Fable 2
Ninja Gaiden II
Halo Wars
Halo Chronicles (Peter Jackson)
Console exclusives (available on Windows as well):
World in Conflict
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures
Alan Wake
Left 4 Dead (by Valve)
Supreme Commander
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Gears of War 2
I'm not sure but if it's available for windows aswell is it really a console exclusive?
and world in conflict is on PS3 aswell http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/852/852200p1.html
RIPRAW 14 Feb 2008 18:03
11/13
Daz wrote:
I'm not sure but if it's available for windows aswell is it really a console exclusive?
and world in conflict is on PS3 aswell http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/852/852200p1.html
and world in conflict is on PS3 aswell http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/852/852200p1.html
It wasn't on the PS3 when I posted! lol.
Those games listed are exclusive to consoles as a PC isn't a console, but I see your point. However, a lot of people have given up on PC gaming these days because of price/lack of games, and so would only consider a PS3/360/Wii for gaming.
RIPRAW 14 Feb 2008 18:10
12/13
Bentley wrote:
Next, totally agree that you can't judge a game until you play it. I learned that from Killzone... it looked amazing but was massively disappointing when it came out. Lord only knows what KZ2 will be like. I am sceptical, it must be said! Totally agree also that exclusive games don't make a console- Call of Duty 4 is indeed the greatest game I've played on any system, and admirable that they pretty much made the versions the same experience no matter where you play it. If only there were more games like that. In a perfect world we'd all be playing the games we want no matter what console we own... I found it odd that Devil May Cry fans went nuts when it was announced for 360. Sure, go nuts if it jumps format, but if we can all play the same game, who cares? It's got to be about the games, ultimately. Although exclusive games do keep things interesting, I suppose.
Cheers for posting that list of games RIPRAW, I now feel much more informed. Some interesting titles... The beauty of this year is, no matter the console, the gamers will win. This feels like the year for games I have been waiting for since I was a child... and I simply cannot wait for GTA IV. My social life is gonna take a hell of a hit. Thank goodness it has multiplayer, or I may never have human contact again...
lol, yeah I'm really looking forward to GTA as well. I think it's good for the industry to have seperate platforms with exclusive games for them (bad for me - I can't afford a PS3 yet). It means Microsoft and Sony throw money at developers to try and outdo their rivals. If there was only a single platform the quantity and quality of games might suffer. Then again, perhaps not!
NJ 15 Feb 2008 00:58
13/13
What shortage Microsoft, you didn't sell enough to have a shortage.
You didn't even sell as many as last year.
This has to be the best corporate damage control or spin ever.
You didn't even sell as many as last year.
This has to be the best corporate damage control or spin ever.