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The Xbox 360 Launch Examined
A few days have gone by now, and more details of the 360's launch are becoming available. Gamasutra reports that, as expected, there were far too few units of the new console to meet demand. In one place, in fact, a pitched fight broke out when it became clear that not everyone waiting in line would get a unit. Additionally, the occasional glitch or crash has been reported in several locations online. This primarily seems to be the result of an overheating power supply. Despite these issues, and mixed reactions to launch titles, overall consumer reaction seems to be generally positive.
Sure, consumer reaction will be positive... they're the people who bought the system. I sincerely hope that those who paid for it are enjoying it, otherwise they've wasted a lot of money.
For the rest of us, though, the current Slashdot poll alone shows that most of the voting slashdot community, at least, will not be getting an Xbox 360. I'm sure my reaction to spending $400+ would be to say I'm pleased with it too... I just don't plan to do that. So, consumer reaction? Generally Positive. Overall Xbox 360 Public Image? TBD.
Congratulations are in order to the Xbox 360 PR folks.
A quick search on "360" in Slashdot shows over 150 stories generated in the prime demographic of Slashdot readers.
How we all held our breath for what worldchanging events the Whoragin 360 website "suck in the suckers" campaign might have heralded. And how we were all disappointed -- it was just a PR campain with such vast amounts of money behind it that just for a moment it seemed that a Myst-style tree with Latin -- OMG LATIN -- on it might have held some revelation that would change all our lives!
But no. It was just people in suits selling 'products' for money, same old same old. Customers are just customers, slumped slackjawed consumers that can never contribute, except with their wallet and their time. After a while the customers will evolve into the Eloi while the suit guys are already the Morlocks.
Noting a surfiet of bread, Microsoft cannily decided to provide the circuses.
And this 50% return rate figure comes from where exactly, you? I could go around and tell you that everyone I know who purchased a 360 (thats about 10, including me) have never had a problem. Heck, by your 30% return rate figure, at least 3 of us should have had problems, no? Oh wait, guess what, the 4 stores near me that sold 360s have had 0 returns after asking them. Does that prove my argument? I could very well be making that figure up. Last I checked, no store has announced any defective rate, so you can't really go spouting that as hard fact. And wait, launch titles that can be counted on one hand? How many fingers does your hand have exactly? 18? Because that's how many launch titles there actually are, and that's not including the Arcade games you can buy/download/try out. See, if you're trying to make up a figure about the defective rate, at least get the figure people can actually count correct first.
What happened at your local EB? Out of the dozens of Xbox 360 owners I know, no one is having any problems. One even had "a two-year old dancing on it" when the toddler (possibly now deceased) decided it was a dance pad instead of a console.
The Japanese launch is still a few weeks away. I can't imagine that the 360 would be less well received than the original Xbox, considering the original Gameboy hardware often outsold the Xbox system (this was after GC Color, Advance, and SP were already on the market).
Game library-wise, this launch is far from perfect (Oblivion has moved to March) but when was the last time a launch had so many titles? Sure, most of them appeal to the "regular" Joe Six-Pack gamer (sports titles, racing, FPS) but there's a LOT of games.
I find it difficult to believe that Microsoft will trump Sony in this console war (which is basically just between the two of them), but I don't think this means the end of Microsoft either.
Small potatoes make the steak look bigger.
From the article...
According to Xbox senior product manager Molly O'Donnell,"The vast majority of Xbox 360 owners are having an outstanding experience with their new consoles".
Well, if you can't trust her opinion to be fair and unbiased, who can you trust? The article linked has opinions from three people. Two negative, one positive, and the positive works for Microsoft.