PS Business Briefing 2006 March official info

[drpepper]

Possibly Europe. I've seen 360s available for purchase on shelves locally for a couple of months now.

I think the US is where the real shortages are. Canada and Europe seem to have reached their saturation point.

Though at one point I saw that futureshop.ca had ~30 consoles for sale, that was last week, so they are being sold, just aren't as scarce like they used to be.

 

[Edge]

What world are you living in? Most ebgames and gamestops STILL have preorders from last year...

I see some here at Bestbuy in Vancouver, Canada. Let's assume your right, and if MS is still having manufacturing problems, how can they meet their estimates? June is not very far away.

Is manufacturing getting worse? 150,000 for February is less than the previous months.

 

[blakjedi]

Cannot meet demand? Xbox 360's are plentiful here.

Err not true. Shipments come in and they get eaten right up.

 

[Titanio]

Is manufacturing getting worse? 150,000 for February is less than the previous months.

A potential explanation, as outlined before, is that late Dec shipments were sold in Jan, hence boosting its figures above actual Jan shipments.

/OT

 

[scooby_dooby]

I see some here at Bestbuy in Vancouver, Canada. Let's assume your right, and if MS is still having manufacturing problems, how can they meet their estimates? June is not very far away.

Is manufacturing getting worse? 150,000 for February is less than the previous months.

Well first of all, I think it's important to note that 360 launched in 3 countries in february, and is launchign in another 3 or 4 this month, also we don't know #'s for any of europe, or canada, and many many stores are showing major shipments in April, so MS is likely stockpiling units right now. It's hardly a cut and dry situation, all we know is that the US did not get very good numbers once again...

You're right, June is not far away, so for them to reconfirm the goal only yesterday, using words like "well on track" indicates they have good reason to believe they'll hit this goal which is a mere 3 months away.

I mean, if we can believe KK's lofty prediction of 1million/month forecast 9-13 months into the future, surely we can believe MS's prediction of 5million set just 3 months in the future...no?

 

[GB123]

In reality the 360 sales will have to taper off eventually whether sooner or later, MS could have bad sales last month yet have better sales for March, considering Oblivion and GRAW have/are both been/being released this month, will be interesting to see if they make any big difference to 360 sales.

I have seen quite a lot of Core systems in shops on the highstreet, very few Premiums though.

This could just mean that people don't want to buy the Core system.

 

[Edge]

I don't paticularly agree with that, i do agree Sony has a larger share of europe but things can change.

The fact that Sony can charge a premium price for the PS2 the world over, and maintain high sales, just shows you, that people think very highly of Sony. The price of the PS2 proves that things are not going to change.

 

[drpepper]

Well first of all, I think it's important to note that 360 launched in 3 countries in february, and is launchign in another 3 or 4 this month, also we don't know #'s for any of europe, or canada, and many many stores are showing major shipments in April, so MS is likely stockpiling units right now. It's hardly a cut and dry situation, all we know is that the US did not get very good numbers once again...

Here's the problem I have, why would MS be stockpiling consoles? what good does it do? Didn't Peter Moore promise a steady stream of consoles coming out after launch. Isn't this counter productive?

I don't really buy the stockpiling units as I don't see any marketing advantage it gives.

I know the word on GAF is that MS might be planning a relaunch coupled with marketing hype close to E3. But again, I don't see the reason nor had I heard any official word. It just boggles my mind why MS would intentionally stockpile their consoles.

 

[GB123]

The fact that Sony can charge a premium price for the PS2 the world over, and maintain high sales, just shows you, that people think very highly of Sony. The price of the PS2 proves that things are not going to change.

Im only half disagreeing with you, I just don't think things are as clear cut this generation as they were last generation, Sony had the market to itself for a good while. (excluding the Dreamcast)

You would be a fool to think Sony aren't worried about MS.

 

[Edge]

Im only half disagreeing with you, I just don't think things are as clear cut this generation as they were last generation, Sony had the market to itself for a good while. (excluding the Dreamcast)

You would be a fool to think Sony aren't worried about MS.

I think MS is great competition, and the 360 is an awesome console, but it's going to take a lot to dislodge Sony. The main thing to stop Sony from being No. 1, would be Sony. They are doing everything well, and so the status quo will not change. They would have to screw up big time to lose their position. The PS3 looks like it will be monster of a console, and largely negate any advantage that MS may have had like the harddisk, and Live!

 

[scooby_dooby]

Here's the problem I have, why would MS be stockpiling consoles? what good does it do? Didn't Peter Moore promise a steady stream of consoles coming out after launch. Isn't this counter productive?

I don't really buy the stockpiling units as I don't see any marketing advantage it gives.

I know the word on GAF is that MS might be planning a relaunch coupled with marketing hype close to E3. But again, I don't see the reason nor had I heard any official word. It just boggles my mind why MS would intentionally stockpile their consoles.

So they can gaurantee to the consumer that they will be able to find a 360 when they walk into the store. Simple as that. Right now there is too much uncertaintly, only hardcore gamers can get one cause they show up on shelves in groups of 6, and are sold out in 20 minutes.

The signs are all on the wall, all Best Buy's are showing huge shipments in april, EBgames is promising that all preorders should be shipped by March 24 at the latest, MS execs keep referencing the shortages ending 'very very soon', gamespot is listing brand new bundles available March 24th.

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/systems/xbox360/ "Due to high demand orders may not ship until March 24, 2006"
http://www.gamestop.com/ "New Bundles with lower prices will start shipping March 24th!"

It just makes sense, there's no point in advertising something that consumers can't buy. So they have to make sure they deliver massive quantities across the board, so the uncertaintly isn't there, they can begin the largescale marketing push.

The amount of stores showing largescale replenishments in March/April is a strong sign that MS is stockpiling units.

 

[drpepper]

It just makes sense, there's no point in advertising something that consumers can't buy. So they have to make sure they deliver massive quantities across the board, so the uncertaintly isn't there, they can begin the largescale marketing push.

The amount of stores showing largescale replenishments in March/April is a strong sign that MS is stockpiling units.

But people can buy them. There is really no shortage.

[Edit] For future reference there are 5 consoles at futureshop.ca and 7 consoles at bestbuy.ca as of March 16 at 2:30 PM (time of posting). The numbers might change at a later date.

 

[expletive]

I think MS is great competition, and the 360 is an awesome console, but it's going to take a lot to dislodge Sony. The main thing to stop Sony from being No. 1, would be Sony. They are doing everything well, and so the status quo will not change. They would have to screw up big time to lose their position. The PS3 looks like it will be monster of a console, and largely negate any advantage that MS may have had like the harddisk, and Live!

I think youre leaving out the 2 most important factors though, games and price. I think any one of these companies could build something of a 'dream machine' like the PS3 but i dont see how you can apply what Sony is doing absent of price. Lets say the PS3 costs $549 with a HD and the 360 premium drops to $349, you still think its a slam dunk for Sony?

 

[drpepper]

I think youre leaving out the 2 most important factors though, games and price. I think any one of these companies could build something of a 'dream machine' like the PS3 but i dont see how you can apply what Sony is doing absent of price. Lets say the PS3 costs $549 with a HD and the 360 premium drops to $349, you still think its a slam dunk for Sony?

Well, the PS2 is selling at a ridiculously high 150 CAD here and still sell well. Content is King, as long as the good games come along people will be willing to buy at the premium.

 

[Inane_Dork]

Can we please stop the fruitless debate over X360 shortages? Please?

- Nintendo. If Sony comes in high, what happens if little Nintendo comes in at $199 with some really REALLY fun games? What if Nintendo slams retailers with millions and millions of units? People may just put off the PS3 until it drops in price. Ditto if the PS3 has a hard time differentiating itself from MS. If games like Rainbow Six look just as good on the 360... Now most gamers are not graphic hounds like us, but it is important for the PS3 to establish it is superior (orat least give that illusion, whatever camp you come from). Cross platform titles that look the same wont do that. I have a hard time believing all of MS's new IPs (Crackdown, Blue Dragon, Too Human, Mass Effect, Gears of War) will be hits, but what if a good handful of titles are really good and technically on par with what the PS3 puts out?

You, again, managed to hit the nail on the head. The only thing I'd like to add is that even if Nintendo doesn't really hit the market in force, a $199 core X360 system in sufficient quantity might have the same effect to a costly PS3. Actually, it might even have more of an effect. It's not given that MS will hit that price, of course, but it is possible.

 

[scooby_dooby]

But people can buy them. There is really no shortage.

Hmm...every single futureshop in edmonton, toronto, vancouver & montreal is sold out, no...no shortage at all...

 

[drpepper]

Hmm...every single futureshop in edmonton, toronto, vancouver & montreal is sold out, no...no shortage at all...

Well, I can buy one here in Ottawa. And a lab mate just bought one for the hell of it. I don't see a shortage here at all.

 

[scooby_dooby]

Well, I can buy one here in Ottawa. And a lab mate just bought one for the hell of it. I don't see a shortage here at all.

Just cause you know a guy, somewhere who found one, what does that mean?

Just drop it man, you're argiung a ridiculous position. There is still a huge 360 shortage in north america, if you find one it's only through luck or persistence.

 

[Inane_Dork]

Well I live in Snake's Navel, Nevada, and I bought a 360 by just walking into the store. Therefore there are no shortages anywhere in the world and MS is stupid.

Well I live in Funk, Ohio, and all the 360's are sold out here. Therefore there are shortages.


BLAH BLAH BLAH. Get over it already.

 

[scooby_dooby]

Well I live in Funk, Ohio, and all the 360's are sold out here. Therefore there are shortages.

Ya that's really what I'm saying ....they're sold out at nearly every major retailer in every major city across canada & the united states. Good enough?