Moore scotches 'conspiracy theories' over Xbox 360 shortage

[Zeus]

Gamesindustry report Microsoft VP Peter Moore has made scathing comments about the 'conspiracy theories' over the potential shortage of Xbox 360 consoles on the impending launch day, saying that the company is trying to supply as many units as possible.


Speaking to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Moore - one of the key architects behind the new platform and its global launch - gave short shrift to the concept floated by some commentators that the launch shortages are being manufactured to make demand for the console appear higher.

"I've seen all of the conspiracy theories," he said. "Somewhere in Roswell, New Mexico, we have a hangar where were stockpiling it, creating false shortages. No.... It's ridiculous. We are trying to get as many units to retail as we possibly can."

However, Moore admitted that many consumers will probably be disappointed on the launch date, not least because some retailers have overestimated their allocation of consoles and taken preorders for too many units.

While the notion that Microsoft is deliberately manufacturing the shortage of consoles has become surprisingly widespread, a rather less interesting but more truthful explanation lies in the firm's decision to launch the system worldwide within the space of a few weeks - a first for the console industry.

This strategy, while it has proven popular with publishers and consumers alike, means that the number of units which will be shipped in each territory is severely restricted. Despite this, Microsoft's approach is almost certainly the right one - as Sony, who delayed the launch of the PSP in Europe by nine months after the Japanese launch due to supply issues and were faced with a massive volume of importing of the device as a result, can probably attest.


News Source: <A href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=13104" target="_blank">Gamesindustry.biz</a>

[indierocker]

i knew MS wasnt stockpiling it all along, its just the jealous fools that wont get one on launch date cause they didnt want to preorder it early enough that are creating these rumors/accusations

[Kevin Layne]

If the 360 is shortage, I say BS all the way, I truly beleive MS is using Viral Marketing to sell its product, think about it, it must do anything in its power to bite into Sony Dominance!!! If there is a true shortage, MS would not be giving them away, and yes these are freebies to the celeb picture we have seen over the last couple days! then they would not be doing this to make sure that the NORMAL PUBLIC gets first shot, because if it is true, that there are desperate shortages of the unit for launch date, and the General Public has a greater knowledge of free 360 giveaways to the celebs before lauch, the BACKLASH will be HUGE!!!!!!!

[vadge]

This reads as "We are not using marketing tactics" and "but we will keep saying that there will be shortage". Make your mind up ;)

[indierocker]

well obviously there will be a shortage, due to them not be able to produce enough to provide for all of the demand, but people are using the term shortage as if its being done on purpose, which is not true at all.

its simple matter of setting the release date far enough from when manufacturing begins, to have a sufficent number of consoles on release date, without waiting to long for the hype of other consoles and other products shine over the 360. i think MS has found that balance perfectly, 400,000 on launch date (for the US alone) is just as much as the xbox, add a worldwide release into the mix, and they have made many more systems for launch then any console ever before. and it still allows them to do it early enough so get the early jump on the other consoles yet to be released

[the unibonger]

u think 400k units is the perfect balance?!?!? ms had to have known they would need atleast 3 or 4 times that amount for the usa launch alone. making a worldwide launch only keeps supply low for your core group of consumers, and for what? to make them available in japan where interest in this product is virtually zero? its also common knowledge that 9 out of 10 people want to buy the premium package. so why does ms send roughly 50/50 of premium/core packages?

my local store got 50 units in for launch, 30 premiun and 20 core. in the line of 87 people waiting, only 1 person actually wanted the core package. so what happens is half the people buy the core just to get it, but buy all the other stuff seperate which makes ms even more profits. sneaky sneaky.

as far as the guy saying people are jealous of preorder people, thats just dumb dude. my gamestop took in 167 preorders for launch. you know how many they actually got? 25. over two thirds of the people with preorders were told they will have to wait till jan. or feb. of 06. even the preorder people got screwed. whats the point of taking preorders when the buyer wont even get it till everyone else does basically?

i think both ms and retailers are playing games and the only ones hurt and pissed are the consumers. i might wait till there is a modchip for the 360, just to piss off ms.

[michael1981]

well order japnese 360 as its in stock i got 1 and i like note every us game i try on 360 works i m happy ther no r lock all tho i live in japan now it realy dount mater for me but for thsoe who do not want to pay 1600 on ebay try importing it hahaha thats funy thay msut did it but lie and sead its r locke when its realy not but may be the later games want be like this lets hope not thers some realy good jp games that ot beter than us games as i sead i do not know if later agmes i buy will work if thay dunt ile get us box