360 Madness

XBox 360 launched today! As expected the demand exceeded supply. Microsoft had plenty of time to prepare for this launch. Sometimes I wonder if manufacturers intentionally create a supply shortage for more hype. Then again, if there are those who are willing to pay, I am sure Microsoft will be happy to take the money. So I guess Microsoft just could not grab enough cheap oversea laborers to assemble XBox 360s within the past few months. With that said, there were a few very patient gamers who were able to get their hands on the new XBox. However, there were more who tried just as hard or harder and did not have a happy 360 ending.

Gaming Horizons writes, "I had to stand in line eleven hours at a local Wal-Mart where over sixty people showed and only thirty-two units were sold...One guy even sold his #16 spot in line for $400. It’s crazy how people would go to great lengths to purchase this console. I’m quite amazed..."

HD Beat gripes, "Home from hell with nothing but empty coffee-cups to show for it."

MSNBC reports, "Most stores quickly sold out of their limited supply and prices for the console on eBay topped $2,000. Consumers from California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, Texas and Washington complained to MSNBC.com that finding an Xbox 360 for sale was nearly impossible...EBay said the average price for consoles, including those sold with games and other add-ons, was $660. However, the company said some console packages were selling for as much as $2,500, with bidding and sales prices varying widely."

I decided to wait up to 12 months before I purchase the next generation gaming console. I would like to see what Sony has to offer. I will probably stick with XBox for its online gaming support via XBox Live. By the time PS3 hits the market, I am sure Microsoft will lower its price for the 360. This is it. The next generation begins with XBox 360. The coming year is going to be very exciting for the gaming industry with Microsoft making its second attempt (and losing over $4 Billion) to dethrone Sony.