New Aus/NZ Launch Dates for Xbox 360
Noooooooooooo!!!!
March 23rd. Here's the official press release:
January 27, 2006 – Xbox today announced a new launch date in Australia and New Zealand for the Xbox 360™. The new launch date is 12:01am on March 23 2006.
The new launch date has been set due to unprecedented global consumer demand and short-term manufacturing issues due to component shortages stemming from challenges in ramping supply. The move ensures that the markets will have an adequate supply of Xbox 360 consoles to meet demand at launch.
Xbox 360 is well on its way to becoming the fastest-selling video game console in history, and remains on track to meet the year end forecast to ship between 4.5 million and 5.5 million consoles worldwide by the end of June 2006.
About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a next generation video game and entertainment system, delivering incredible games, the Xbox Live online gaming service, and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around gamers. The system was launched in Europe, Japan and North America in the 2005 holiday season and will be launched in Australia and New Zealand on March 23 2006.
Translation:
"Microsoft will hold back on Australia as it's unimportant. We love those Osssies but we can sell more in the US. We knew all along we were going to have to do this, as our constant denial of any launch slippage up until this point demonstrates."
Oh well, more time to get through the old Xbox catalog I guess.
Fark it.
**UPDATE**
Official letter from David McLean; Regional Director, Xbox Australia and New Zealand, here.
posted by Zarres @ 9:13 pm
4 comments
4 Comments:
or... "We're still having issues with power supplies over heating... so... let's not launch it in summer in australia"
... oh I love early adopters... they are so easy to ridicule [:
Hmmmm. Decay pointed out to me yesterday that a post-summer release of a system with heat issues is probably a wise move on Microsofts part.
I wonder however, if it goes further than that. ". . . Unprecedented global consumer demand and short-term manufacturing issues due to component shortages . . ." might really mean "oops, to beat the competition, we released it before we'd ironed out all (any) of the bugs and are producing them slowly to save face and avoid an all out recall.
Don't get me wrong, I certainly plan to buy one but I might just wait until ver.1.2 or later.
Haha yeh Decay. Maybe they've been watching the weather reports of late..
Still, David McLean can SUCK MY LOG (sorry). Man what a lameass statement. Hell, even I coulda come up with something better, and less patronistic, than that!
The entire VIP thing is utter bullshit too. As Magooligum said in his Xbox Forum post:
Ten things I hate about you - Microsoft
1. You took my remote control and headset and charged me for it.
2. You delayed the release of the 360 into Australia and then did not get your act together to tell people or update your websites before the information was leaked/rumoured by retailers.
3. You gave us limited edition face plates that are not limited at all in their edition.
4. You gave us an exclusive wallpaper that has been available on the jump site and before that the xbox360.com website for months. The internet is global, the wallpaper is not exclusive.
5. You continue to remind me that 'I don't want to miss a single moment'
6. You feed me rubbish which can be found without assistance on the web and expect me to feel as though I am special. (Edit by SaMbO - VIP Club bullshit)
7. You can't find the time to change the countdown time so that it reflects the new 'proposed' release date.
8. You call the release 'Worldwide' when even people who thought the world was flat apparently had a better idea of what the 'World' is.
9. You make me want your shiny new things.
10. You made me hate you.
Yeh M34tb4LL. Absolutely, there are benefits to waiting a little longer in terms of ironing out software/hardware issues, but this, and the component supply situation, should've been effectively planned into their release strategy.
I mean hell, they've even had a good few months to work it through given all the initial issues in the US - coudln't they have learned something from all that at least?
The biggest slap in the face has been the outright denial (up until this point in time) by MS Aus of any slippage.
Yeah, real customer-centric, that is.
Think of all the ppls who have organised holidays, annual leave, travel, etc etc around the launch date? (..that has presumably been known is slipping by MS for some time).
God, right now I almost loathe them (or, rather, David McLean) more than EA!
IS that possible?
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