I'm kinda mad at Microsoft right now

From everywhere I saw the preorders were filled up long before the price or release date was even anounced and games obviously weren't even finished at that point. Not preordering wasn't a failure to prepare on my part, I simply didn't feel like committing to a purchase before they even had their shit together.

 

I dont know if that happened somewhere, but it did not happen where I pre-ordered

 

Well then you dont get one.

Simple enough. That's the eqaution going in.

 

At the Best Buy near me they didn't do packages, but I heard the Circuit City's were.

I checked online how many systems the closest Best Buy was getting, called around 6:00pm Monday and found about 20 people already in line....a friend went out immediately and got in line and started an "unofficial" numbering system and giving everyone in line a number if they were getting a system. At last place and count 32 (they were getting 38) he called me and said "come on down.....but hurry". I got there around 10:00pm and was # 35. We all camped out, some had tents, grills, heaters, etc..... and we all kept everyone as honest as we could (no one letting a friend come up and get in line with them). Around 4:45 am we all got together (about 50 + people now) and based on our numbers wrote our names down a list in order and lined up that way. When the manager arrived we handed him the list and said "This is how we got here, we've all agreed it's fair and please go by the list".

They did, all 38 "1st arrivers" got their Premium system and the last 10 in line got their core system.

The funny thing was people showing up at 6:46 am and getting in line behind us.....well at 7:00am Best Buy came out and handed us our "tickets" with a premium or core unit on it depending on what we were getting. The people who showed up that morning were raising hell that they didn't get one. Pulled the managers aside and argued that they were there to get one, etc.....and all that. I guess they couldn't understand that they showed up about 12 hours later than everyone else already there

So far mines been great. No issues, not any louder than the original Xbox (different pitch but not really louder or quieter), played COD 2 quite a bit, some PGR3 and even played Forza Motorsports (looks better on the 360 than the original Xbox). Played some .mp3 files off of a USB memory stick and viewed some .jpg images off the same. Downloaded some Xbox Live arcade trial games (Joust, Guantlet) and downloaded the Kameo demo.

This is really a very slick system!

Tom Crews

 

Tax included the prices are just ridiculous. This 'bundle of items' comes to $1040...

$575 Premium Pack
$70 extra wireless controller
$150 Wireless adapter
$35 Recharger
$70 Kameo
$70 PDZ
$70 PGR3

 

Are you talkin with PST? Here's what I paid in Alberta:

$540 - premium pack with PD0
$50 - wired controller
$59 - Kameo
$69 - COD2
$59 - NHL 2K6
= $831 with tax. Only about $100 more the I spent on the original XBOX, and I got 4 games with an extra controller. I got 1 more game the when I bought the xbox, got a wireless controller, got free component outputs, a bigger HDD and a free headset and remote. Not bad man!

Some tips to save you money:
- Screw the USB adapter. Buy a wireless bridge for $30
- buy a recharger from walmart, $20 WITH batteries
- get a wired controller for your 2nd

BTW: Lets not forget the $50 component cables that come with the Premium, that's money in the bank

 

Is this a prelude to the European launch? I feel bad for the fans. Personally after buying Jaguar, N64 and Gamecube at launch I am not making that kind of mistake again.

Price cuts ahoy!

 

You'll be waiting a while.

 

Yep, and when I am ready to buy there will be a host of great games out. In fact I might even decide on PS3 depending on the strength of its games and the consoles price.

Patience is a virtue.

 

All I know is it would sure suck to wait a whole year for PS3 to drop, and then not be able to get one at launch....that would be a burn

 

Well if you're gonna be waiting for the price to drop on things, you are gonna be waiting for sometime in 2007. Other than games most of the other stuff won't be dropping in price yet.

 

I wouldn't be totally surprised to see a $200-250 core system next x-mas, that would really help MS catch the gamers who can not afford the launch price of PS3, or simply cannot find one cause they're all sold out.

 

Well if MS drops the price of the 360 to $200-$250 then I expect the PS3 to launch for no more than $299.99. Point blank there's no way Sony launches for $399 while MS has the basically same system for 50% less. NO WAY!!

 

If they can afford to. MS is loosing $130 on it's console, with no CELL, and no BR drive.

ALso I think KK it too proud for that, he'll launch at $399 regardless, maybe $350 but I doubt it.

BUt hey, we can hope right!? A $299 PS3 would be on my x-mas list that's for sure.

 

You're saying a 360 "core" is basically the same system as a PS3?

 

Basically yeah for gaming. Other stuff like watching Blu-ray movies, bluetooth tech, extra USB ports, etc are extras that are great, but not worth twice the price imo. Maybe $100 more but not worth $200 more.

 

I don't know. Those extra USB ports are worth at least $23 alone.

 

If the public perceives a 360 "core" as the same as standard PS3...then Sony is in trouble.

Of course, Sony could always try a couple SKUs as well...

 

What would they cut out? the BR? Or do you mean make a higher end sku?

 

Higher end would be the only option. Include a hard drive with software, and perhaps an Eye Toy type peripheral for the same price as the Premium 360.