I would think you would be happy with this system (or happier than you were with the historical scenario you mentioned), given that you no longer have to accept the bundled games that Microsoft thinks you will like, but get to choose which 2 games you will buy at launch. The only shortfall is that you don't have the option of just buying 1 game. But seriously, are you only going to buy 1 game?
They aren't keeping the price high by artificially fixed prices. They are keeping the ideal pricing point high by limiting supply.
I don't think getting a high price was their main goal with restricting the availability. They don't have to restrict the availability of 360s in order to get $500 (or whatever it is). They can simply refuse to sell it for less than their desired price. I think the point is (as an earlier poster commented) to make sure the only people who get a 360 is the person willing to stand in line at 5AM . . . the Microsoft fan who believes the system will be great without having heard the buzz from friends who already own it. This kind of consumer will be more likely to go around bragging about their great system and feed the viral marketing.
Slashdot Mirror
I would think you would be happy with this system (or happier than you were with the historical scenario you mentioned), given that you no longer have to accept the bundled games that Microsoft thinks you will like, but get to choose which 2 games you will buy at launch. The only shortfall is that you don't have the option of just buying 1 game. But seriously, are you only going to buy 1 game?
I don't think getting a high price was their main goal with restricting the availability. They don't have to restrict the availability of 360s in order to get $500 (or whatever it is). They can simply refuse to sell it for less than their desired price. I think the point is (as an earlier poster commented) to make sure the only people who get a 360 is the person willing to stand in line at 5AM . . . the Microsoft fan who believes the system will be great without having heard the buzz from friends who already own it. This kind of consumer will be more likely to go around bragging about their great system and feed the viral marketing.