AfterDawn: News

Xbox 360 launches in Europe

The launch of the Xbox 360 console in Europe has gone ahead with too many gamers disappointed by limited stock. In the UK and Ireland, many stores which had taken pre-orders for the console didn't receive near as many units to fill the demand. For example, when I went for my Xbox 360, I learned that the store I had pre-ordered mine in had just four; nowhere near the huge number of pre-orders they had taken and were convinced they could meet (lucky I was first in queue then?).

More than 200 gamers queued for hours in the rain for the midnight launch of the console at Game's flagship store in London's Oxford Street. The first man to get one there, Kevin Sage, had been waiting since 14:45 GMT. "We have been waiting in this queue for hours and hours and now I can't wait to get home and play this game," he said. "I've made so many new friends through this, it's a surreal experience and I will remember this for the rest of my life."



Many more gamers turned up at retailers at the usual opening times, but most weren't lucky enough to get one. Retailers blame Microsoft for failing to provide enough supply to go around. "As predicted, we counted them in and counted them out quick as a flash. Someone at Microsoft seriously needs their ears Xboxing for failing to give us enough to go round." said Tony Page, Asda, non-food director.

As with the U.S. launch, some complaints are being made about the consoles crashing or being defective in some other way. Microsoft has acknowledged these problems after the U.S. launch and instructed gamers to contact the company's technical assistance.

Source:
BBC News

Written by: James Delahunty @ 2 Dec 2005 13:45

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• 12 comments

• Lethal_B

  Not to be funny here, but when you are presented with such a great opportunity to get one over on the dominant force (sony playatation), Under-supplying people has to be mistake number one. I want one for christmas, but apparently the chances are slim now. I mean, they only have ONE Xbox for every TWO pre-ordered.......shameful

  2.12.2005 14:30 #1

• Mik3h

  Their just trying to create a huge hype. Stir everything up. Typical marketing techniques ;)
  
  -Mike

  2.12.2005 15:52 #2

• bluejet

  Thats the exact same thing that the ps2 did.

  2.12.2005 17:14 #3

• arcanix

  I got mine yesterday, there were no people queing in front of the stsore where I bought it. Same thing with this other store in the same mall. At least here you could get one if you were waiting for stores to open in 9.00 AM.

  2.12.2005 23:54 #4

• adrianmc5

  Xbox 360 isnt all what its cracked up to be, i played it @ EB Games the other day and i wasnt impressed so im waiting for PS3

  3.12.2005 05:49 #5

• Reasons?

  I'm not impressed with mine as much as I hoped. It was rushed out, and will have to be replaced in no time with a third Xbox installment. Check this out, it's alot of good points besides 2TFLOPS.
  
  http://ps3.ign.com/articles/668/668446p1.html

  3.12.2005 09:20 #6

• arcanix

  I don't care about the flipflops, I care about the games.

  3.12.2005 09:36 #7

• Reasons?

  What happens to most of the best games? They go cross-platform like GTA did.
  
  wtf is a queue? I sat outside Best Buy for 17 hours in 25 degrees farenhite. If you don't know exactly how cold that is, it's less than 0 celcius. Cold cement, all the way.

  3.12.2005 10:55 #8

• john179

  I love me xbox just as much as me playstation 2.But i think i will wait until the mad rush is over and the console is a little more stable.Who knows i may pick one up a little cheaper.No real rush as the xbox and ps2 have give me so much enjoyment i will just let them carry on for a while.

  3.12.2005 12:02 #9

• arcanix

  Quote:wtf is a queue? I sat outside Best Buy for 17 hours in 25 degrees farenhite. If you don't know exactly how cold that is, it's less than 0 celcius. Cold cement, all the way. Damn, you must really be a hardcore gamer. I thought that if I go 2 hours before the store opens, but then went back to bed because I thought it was too early. 15 minutes of waiting and I had my xbox. You should move to Finland you know, you don't have to que xbox's here!

  3.12.2005 12:50 #10

• malcdogg

  Quote:I love me xbox just as much as me playstation 2.But i think i will wait until the mad rush is over and the console is a little more stable.Who knows i may pick one up a little cheaper.No real rush as the xbox and ps2 have give me so much enjoyment i will just let them carry on for a while.Exactly.

  3.12.2005 13:32 #11

• Reasons?

  Launch here was November 22nd, the US got 500,000 Xbox 360s for 280,000,000 people. My brother and I each sat in line and got one, we bought them (Premium) for $400 USD, and he sold his on Ebay, 1-day auction that day and got $900 USD for it.
  
  I am a pretty big gamer, no that I play a ton of games, I'm actually very busy, but I am devoted to having what I want when I want it for the price I want it. And a 17 hour wait got me what I wanted most without getting raped on Ebay (We did that). The wait was well worth it.
  
  The price of the Xbox 360 will not drop for at least two years, LEAST. Personally I would be WORRIED they drop the premium package for $400. They are losing $126 on that package and could be making triple that selling you it all separate.

  3.12.2005 13:52 #12