Xbox 360 Launch: Success or Mess?

[Paco]

Hmm... I'd say that they were very successful, in the US and Europe... until it came time to actually make the systems fast enough. Their haste to get the system out did not work with their production schedule, and the massive console shortage that resulted is predictable. Really, they should have waited. Getting out first isn't overrated... it's rated as not mattering much. Who won this generation? The second console. Who won the one before that? The second to fourth console, depending on how you count the 3D0 and Jaguar. Who won the one before that? The third console. Before that? ... well it gets a bit harder to define specific generation lines from the first consoles until 1985... the NES was perhaps the first of its generation, depending on how you look at it, but I could argue that several ways... anyway, the first console has no lasting history of victory. Well, the Atari 2600 was first of its generation and won, and the NES was if you say it was a new generation... but since then, the first console hasn't won. Why should that change now, and why does Microsoft think it'll help?

Getting the developers on board and having them stay is really important if Microsoft wants to compete with Sony for king of the video game hill. The next playstation is a no brainer for developers, consumers are going to buy it in droves. I think it was crucial that Microsoft not make the Xbox 360 a second thought, and getting out first was important to make that happen. As someone suggested (Dark Jaguar?), the question is whether they'll stay or not. If Microsoft can stay ahead of the PS3 long enough then it was a good move afterall.

Oh yes, and EBay said a while ago that they'd (re)sold over 30,000 X360s... about 1/10th of the total launch supply... for far more than $300 or $400. Says something about how hard they are to get.

I know, and it makes me regret not preordering one. Most 360's were going in the 1000's. That's just ridiculous. I'm hoping the same situation happens with the PS3, I'm alread on some pre-order lists.:D

Every Party was a launch game (but didn't sell much)... other than that none of those other games are out yet.

I didn't see any mention of it. I was actually interested in it (I love party games).

Launches always have problems, and I don't think that the problems are worse this time than usual...

Perhaps this one is just more publicized than others. I remember all the PSP problems but even that seemed like less of a deal than this launch.