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UK Retailers See Conspiracy In Xbox Supplies

Posted by Zonk on from the their-dogs-are-looking-at-them dept.

Gamasutra.com has the news that UK retailers are beginning to be suspicious of the continued shortages of Xbox console supplies. From the article: "So prolonged, and apparently unexplained, have the problems become that conspiracy theories have begun to circulate regarding ulterior motives for the shortages. Many retailers are now openly speculating whether Microsoft has in fact ceased production of the console, in favour of the next generation machine, or is at least limiting its support to larger retail chains." Maybe you should have hung on to the GameCube, huh guys?

51 comments

  1. I like the GameCube too, but... by jgclark123 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I like the GameCube too, but maybe the fact that GameCubes aren't as popular would explain the lack of a shortage. But the conspiracy theorists make a good point. Microsoft clearly wants to rule the world by not selling merchandise. It's so brilliant, I wish that I had thought of it first.

    --
    "May evil beware, and may good dress warmly and eat plenty of fresh vegetables." -The Tick
    1. Re:I like the GameCube too, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you must be new.....the proper post would of been.. First post! xboxen rulz!

    2. Re:I like the GameCube too, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no way

      the first post should have said

      frist piss

      then some "ad" for the GNAA

      then at the bottom "This message brought to you in partnership with Microsoft Xbox"

    3. Re:I like the GameCube too, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      good point.....my bad

    4. Re:I like the GameCube too, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      I don't think the shortage in UK has anything to do with the Xbox 2 coming out or anything like that. The real reason though is, I'm not really supposed to say this but what the hell, Europeans or more specifically British people such as ones from United Kingdom are not people who generally would pay money if they can avoid it. What I'm trying to say here is the brits are a bunch of thieves who would never pay for any software if there is any way around it. That's why mod chips are really popular in UK, and trust me they are using it to play imports. So Microsoft is trying to keep their loss to a minimum by not marketing the console there (which they sell at a loss anyway).

    5. Re:I like the GameCube too, but... by jm92956n · · Score: 1

      Microsoft clearly wants to rule the world by not selling merchandise. It's so brilliant, I wish that I had thought of it first.

      Correct me if I misunderstand you, but is the contention here that Microsoft is deliberately decreasing production in order to stimulate demand? Is it that people, by their very nature, always want what they can't have? Are they attempting to instill a mentality of "if I can't purchase one, on account of the previous allotment having sold out, that they therefore must be superior and deserving of my hard-earned currency?" Is their aim to have a mob storm MS's European HQ, demanding access to the XBox?

      What chutzpah they have!

      --
      An effective signature identifies a particular user amongst a base of thousands.
    6. Re:I like the GameCube too, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now that's starting to sound plausible!

    7. Re:I like the GameCube too, but... by Jarn_Firebrand · · Score: 1

      My guess is he thinks that people will go out and buy one if they're running short so they can get one before they are gone forever. I know shortages on other things have convinced me to buy them. *cough* Sega Dreamcast *cough* I know if there is something I'm considering buying, and I hear that supplies are getting low, I'll rush out to buy it before it is gone.

      --
      Grammar Nazi
    8. Re:I like the GameCube too, but... by orkysoft · · Score: 1

      Yes, and soon, they will start shooting some of their customers, in an effort to make their console actually a tiny bit cool!

      There's still a vacancy for the function of hitman. Interested? ;-)

      --

      I suffer from attention surplus disorder.
    9. Re:I like the GameCube too, but... by Daimando · · Score: 1

      Interesting theory. In fact, software sales in Australia may not be so well compared to US and Britain since both X-Box and PS2 can be mod chipped, which is not so good on both Microsoft and Sony's side.

  2. Um... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...right...I'm sure moving the XBOX factories from Mexico to China had NOTHING to do with this...

    If anything, Microsoft will (or at least should) continue making XBOX consoles well after their next system launched. Sony still sold quite a few PSOnes even after the PS2 had launched.

    1. Re:Um... by ShawnMcCool42 · · Score: 1

      What made the playstation sell copies after it was old news was the advanced library of titles. Unfortunately XBOX simply doesn't have these. They may earn a leg with sports fans and those FPS fans who like Halo. But xbox is hardly a giant as far as library is concerned.

  3. I don't understand why you can't by zrk · · Score: 4, Funny

    buy the dongle for headsets seperately (I've never seen it offered). What is it made of, MS Patentium or something?

    1. Re:I don't understand why you can't by Lemental · · Score: 3, Informative

      Um, you cant? Check this out

    2. Re:I don't understand why you can't by Luigi30 · · Score: 1

      They're made from Palladium, of course.

      --
      503 Sig Unavailable

      The Signature could not be accessed. Please try again later or contact the administrator
  4. GameCube +1 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I bought a GameCube last week and I'm completely addicted to Wind Waker. :)

    1. Re:GameCube +1 by escher · · Score: 1

      Been there. Sunk a ton of time into that game.

      Aside from the tedious "find the trifoce fragments" mission near the end, it's a fantastic game with a coooool story.

      I almost wish I could wipe Windwaker from my mind completly so I could play it afresh!

    2. Re:GameCube +1 by eboot · · Score: 1

      So did I until I got to the tedious triforce part. Then I used a guide and nipped through it (gamefaq obviously, never buy strategy guides, they only tell you what they want you to know). Don't normally ruin games like that but Id already read about how boring it was so I thought; fuck it! Made the game a bit shorter but more enjoyable I thought.

      --
      Two tears in a bucket. Motherfuck it.
    3. Re:GameCube +1 by focitrixilous+P · · Score: 1

      Sigh... I hate that triforce shards thing. The whole game up to that point was near perfect, but man is it lame, AND you have to deal with that Tingle thing. I hate it.

      --
      SAILING MISHAP
    4. Re:GameCube +1 by PolyDwarf · · Score: 1

      OH MY GOD!!!
      You've ruined this game.
      I mean come on... A Zelda game... With Trifoce fragments?!?!!

      Who'da thunk it.

    5. Re:GameCube +1 by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      The problem is that while the triforce shards make up a major part of the quest in the previous games and involve loads of dungeons, in Windwaker you usually have to go to some island, take the treasure map, sail to the area marked on it and start fishing. It's a large fetch quest and not challenging or anything, merely tedious. The artifacts in Metroid Prime are a similar annoyance, you can't just finish the game, no, to fight the final boss you'll first have to fetch some random stuff scattered throughout the world. This is one of Rare's inventions Nintendo shouldn't have copied.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    6. Re:GameCube +1 by G-Licious! · · Score: 1

      Huh? The only guide you need is that IN-credible chart you get by mail. It's quite easy, IMO.

    7. Re:GameCube +1 by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Some of these maps are hard to find. I had to use an FAQ to find the one in that villa. Knowing it's on a certain island doesn't always make the job trivial.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    8. Re:GameCube +1 by G-Licious! · · Score: 1

      True, but I consider that a puzzle like you encounter throughout almost the entire game. Actually looking for the pieces wasn't really necessary because of the map. I personally had problems with bird's peak, because I had never used or bought that darned pear before. :B

  5. Other alternatives... by SpartanVII · · Score: 2, Informative

    Can anyone say Ebay?

  6. Using old parts by assassinator42 · · Score: 2, Informative

    This thread states that Microsoft is using older motherboards in their new xboxes. People theorize that it's either because the old boards are cheaper or because they're using leftover parts or something like that.

    1. Re:Using old parts by zonker · · Score: 0

      i'm guessing that they will probably release a cheaper smaller xbox after they release the xbox2 or possibly around the same time. they may be clearing inventory to do this.

      however, my theory breaks down when you look at how soon they are doing this if they are hoping to launch by end of year. i wouldn't think they would want to release a trimmed down version before that as it might eat into sales of the xbox2...

      --

      Large print giveth, and the small print taketh away

  7. The real problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    IIRC the Xbox Console USM ships with the Thompson DVD drive standard, pictured here in middle. The Thompson drive costs much less than the Hitachi, Samsung, or Phillips drives that can also be used. But some of the Thompson drives have problems. These problems don't show up with games written on single layer (orig Halo, JSRF/Sega, D&D Heroes, etc.), only with games written in 2-layer DVD (LOTR Third Age, KOTOR II, GTA:SA, etc.). The problems require a multimeter and Torx drivers to fix and you can't do it yourself without voiding the warranty. The returns and rumors are hurting sales in some places, and Microsoft's corporate tools are unable to FUD their way out of it. But if your local supplier happened to get USMs with the higher quality drives, then he has no idea a problem exists. Then when Microsoft adjusts shipping amounts across the board, suppliers who never experienced the problem complain about a conspiracy.

    I found myself in the unfortunate circumstance where my games (all single layer) worked until the warranty expired, at which time I rented a scratchless KOTOR II, watched it hang repeatedly, and finally learned the truth. My single layer games still played fine.

    Just for fun, didja notice the gamasutra article links to itself? I clicked for hours watching the banner ad change, and it was almost as fulfilling as finishing Fable.

  8. US too by prockcore · · Score: 2, Informative

    XBox accessories are in short supply in the US as well.

    I looked everywhere for an xbox live headset. Every Circuit City and Best Buy (and Gamestop and EBGames) was sold out in the city of tucson.

    Gamestop was selling those crappy 3rd party "Halo2" branded headsets, but everyone else was out of everything.

    I ended up having to buy the thing on circuit city's website (bestbuy's website says they're backordered).

    1. Re:US too by Johnny+Doughnuts · · Score: 1

      If you have the adapter for your controller, you can use a cell phone headset.

  9. GameCube instead of XBox by Pluvius · · Score: 1

    Maybe you should have hung on to the GameCube, huh guys?

    That assumes that people would go ahead and buy a GameCube in lieu of an XBox, something that doesn't seem very likely.

    Rob

    1. Re:GameCube instead of XBox by Troed · · Score: 1

      Why not? The games are a lot more fun to play on the cube - and if you NEED gore you can always play Resident Evil 4.

      Seriously, I don't understand what makes people play the same old stuff over and over again (inset any racing game or sports game here) instead of playing stuff that's FUN. Paper Mario 2, as an example.

      Oh well, I guess I'm just too kiddie (>30yo) for the Xbox ...

      --
      it's in my head
    2. Re:GameCube instead of XBox by Pluvius · · Score: 1

      Why not? The games are a lot more fun to play on the cube

      In your opinion. Which was my point; most people who would buy an XBox before a GameCube would not buy a GameCube in its stead. The two styles are just too different.

      Seriously, I don't understand what makes people play the same old stuff over and over again (inset any racing game or sports game here) instead of playing stuff that's FUN. Paper Mario 2, as an example.

      Ironic that you would use a sequel as an example of something that's not "the same old stuff over and over again."

      Rob

    3. Re:GameCube instead of XBox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yeah but you could however argue that the games are very different and not simply the same thing over and over again. i would hazard to guess that he meant that most fps are very similar whereas rpg's are often very different...

    4. Re:GameCube instead of XBox by snuf23 · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Seriously, I don't understand what makes people play the same old stuff over and over again


      Um, wrong platform to bring up that argument on. Can you say:


      Super Smash Bros.

      Mario Party 4, 5 and 6

      Mario Tennis

      Mario Karts

      Mario Golf

      not to mention that Paper Mario is a rehash


      Don't get me wrong, I own a GameCube and an Xbox. But "FUN" is a subjective term. I have a friend who's only gaming interest is the latest iteration of Madden. That's FUN to him. Bores me to tears though.

      --
      Sometimes my arms bend back.
    5. Re:GameCube instead of XBox by Troed · · Score: 1

      Paper Mario 2 is a lot more different to Paper Mario than Madden XXXX is to Madden XXXY - right? That's my argument. Same goes to Super Mario Sunshine being very different to Mario 64, Mario Kart DD playing extremely different to Mario Kart 64 etc.

      Don't let the names confuse you - play the games.

      --
      it's in my head
    6. Re:GameCube instead of XBox by zero_offset · · Score: 1

      i would hazard to guess that he meant that most fps are very similar

      And *I* would hazard to guess that if he meant FPS, he wouldn't have said:
      "(inset any racing game or sports game here)"

      --

      Slashdot quality declines as the number of hot grits posts decreases. - Provolt's Law, Apr-09-2005

    7. Re:GameCube instead of XBox by snuf23 · · Score: 1

      Um. No. All of those games are derivative of their predecessors. Sure Mario Sunshine is different from Mario 64 in that the environments are different and they added some new gameplay mechanics. BUT it is still a 3rd person platform game with the same basic conventions. Hell, they may call them "shines" but they are still stars that you are collecting.
      To say that Mario Kart DD is extremely different from Mario Kart 64 is just not true. It is an updated version, with some new gameplay mechanics (two people on one cart, more objects on the courses) but the game is stil very much the same.
      I have played them. I own all of those games and like them just fine, but I did not find anything particularly innovative about them. If you want an example of an innovative Gamecube game try Pikmin.
      If your argument solely revolves around sports games, I confess I couldn't care less what iteration of Madden it is, it still bores me. But to an enthusiast the updated stats and rosters are an important part of the gameplay.
      On any platform you have games that are innovative, and they number in the minority. Just as you have Pikmin on the Gamecube you have games like Katamari Damacy on the PS2.

      --
      Sometimes my arms bend back.
  10. What the XboX does have is many Linux users by leonbrooks · · Score: 1

    Yes, there are PS2 Linux users as well, but the XboX has many features (e.g. Ethernet, twice the RAM, twice the USB controllers, hard disk drive) useful in a thin (or fat, in the case of the disk) client but lacking from a PS2.

    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
    1. Re:What the XboX does have is many Linux users by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      The PS2 has the ethernet standard now, and if you get an old one it can have a hard drive, too. The number of USB controllers is pretty much irrelevant since no one is likely to hang a large number of high-bandwidth USB devices off either. Depending on WHICH old-style PS2 you get, you either get 1394 or IR, though I don't know if either is supported under linux. Neither is available built into the Xbox. The RAM is probably the second-biggest deal, after the fact that the Xbox is a PC and easy to deal with.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  11. Working at HMV.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...as i do, i can confirm that we haven't seen an xbox since before xmas. not to worry though, our PS2 game/accessory sales continue to outstrip the XBOX equivalents

    matt

  12. HaHa Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who the fuck modded this as interesting? "What I'm trying to say here is the brits are a bunch of thieves who would never pay for any software if there is any way around it." I mean I think it's intersting that the people of Great Britian are a bunch of thieves but... Great modding /.

  13. Dale Carnegie 101 by leonbrooks · · Score: 1
    quantify "many".
    No.
    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
    1. Re:Dale Carnegie 101 by leecn · · Score: 1

      ooh you talk really tough, you must be a real tough lady as well as being so smart.

      loser

  14. Doesn't surprise me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Remember that MS is p!ssing away hundreds of dollars with each console sold. The whole Xbox thing has been a financial disaster, they bought the "success" of Xbox and Xbox Live with billions of dollars. They're probably just trying to keep sales barely alive until they launch Xbox 2.
    This is difficult, they have to sell well enough to stay in the mind of gamers and publishers, but bad enough to not loose so much money on each sale. :)

  15. Four USB ports are definitely useful by leonbrooks · · Score: 1
    1. Keyboard
    2. Mouse
    3. Printer and/or Scanner
    4. Camera or DSL router or MP3 player or Barcode Reader or Bluetooth Dongle or Flash Stick (identity, homework, personal files)
    Yes, FireWire would be handy (e.g for a backup drive or CD/DVD burner), but not as handy as 2 extra USB ports. An XboX with USB2 would be even better, but dear old MS're likely to both overcharge for XboX and make it harder to use for interesting things.

    I have not yet seen a genuine use for IR, although I'm sure they're out there.

    Yes, the RAM is a big deal and if needed, the XboX can take another 64M by just soldering a chip in.
    --
    Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
    1. Re:Four USB ports are definitely useful by drinkypoo · · Score: 1
      You have four non-standard USB ports. You can spend $12 buying four adapter cables, or about the same amount on one adapted cable and a powered USB hub.

      As for a genuine use for IR, a home media player is much nicer with a remote. A firewire port is also 400Mbps and four USB ports on two buses are a total of 22Mbps.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  16. Re:You can buy the headset puck separate by Gargantubrain · · Score: 1

    GameStop at www.gamestop.com sells the "XBOX Live Puck Communicator" made by Electro Source/Pelican. I don't know why it's not on Pelican's web site yet. Links follow.

    http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=8 01929
    http://www.pelicanperformance.com/