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Xbox 360 Playable at Wal-Mart
hattan writes "Wal-Mart has playable Xbox 360s on display with demos of Call of Duty 2, Kameo, and King Kong. Joystiq has a look at what the setup looks like, with a rundown on locations where you can play." Gamespot provides more details on the setup, including the news that you'll be able to download content from these kiosks once the systems are on the shelves. Unrelatedly, but interestingly, Xbox.com has revealed a deep level of interconnection with the new gamer card system between the 360, Xbox Live, and Xbox.com. You'll apparently be able to look at your gamer card on the web, because Microsoft likes value adding stuff.
Nintendo put playable N64's with Super Mario 64 at Toys R Us before it was available to purchase.
There's no secret, though. By putting them in stores, the secret is out already. Stealing a display model a few weeks before release isn't like stealing a test rig months before release. Certainly, one will get stolen. Probably more than one. Probably by enterprising Wal-Mart employees before by hooligan kids. But they aren't really gaining anything by getting ahold of a finalized system with launch looming. They'll sell it on eBay for an ungodly sum, and then in a while when everybody else gets the same thing at $400, that person who just spent $1000 on one is going to look very silly. Take it like Halo 2. The launch date was broken, and a few copies were sold several days early. People were paying $120 for them on eBay, and guess what? Three days later it was out and absolutely anybody who wanted it had it for $50. Sure, it pissed off Microsoft, but in the end, it's not going to show us anything we didn't already know.
However, if the games aren't of the highest quality, it might be a let down for those spur-the-moment type of shoppers that may have otherwise have purchased the console had they not had opportunity to spend a few weeks in front of it to begin with.
I'm guessing that the type of people who have $399 to impulsively spend on a video game, aren't the type who would be shopping in WalMart. They're probably aiming for kids whose parents are in there shopping. They want the kids to start begging their parents for one for Christmas.
I've played the demos, and I can assure you that they're really, really good. The controller feels great, the system's incomprehensibly sexy, and the wireless capabilities of the system prevent the wireless inventory handsets used by Wal Mart associates from working within 60 feet. They actually shut off the demo I was playing so they could finish ordering. So much for customer service, eh?
Here's the breakdown:
King Kong: amazing graphics, but it was so brief I couldn't really get a feel for the gameplay. A fantastic tech demo for next-gen system capabilities.
Call of Duty 2: graphics comparable to Valve's Source engine, which is disappointing, but so well done it really doesn't matter. Keeps the hectic CoD pace intact. Also, it runs at an unerring 60fps, no matter what. I tried everything I could to get the framerate to drop, but believe me, it isn't possible.
Kameo: I didn't play this game because Rare sucks now. Grabbed by the Ghoulies? I'll grab YOUR Ghoulies, whoever came up with the concept for that shit burger.
Oh yeah, the home screen is really in-depth.
Wal-Mart is an excellent place to buy the 360 at launch (or any console for that matter). Wal-Mart has a fantastic return policy as it applies to electronics. Remember when EB and Gamestop would only take a PSP return if there were X or higher dead pixels on the screen? For the same price, you could get one at Wal-Mart and exchange to your heart's content. Wal-Mart has enough muscle that the distributor answers to them, not the other way aroud as it usually is. Even my favorite large store (Target) can't touch Wal-Mart's return policy. If you're buying a system at launch, no telling what could be wrong with it. Do yourself a favor and pick one up at Wal-Mart first. If the system ends up not having an QC problems in the first 90 days, go ahead and return it anyways and get one from the store of your choice.