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Computing News | Xbox Shortage Leaves Fans Out in the Cold
Posted by: Tweaker
Date added: Friday, 21 Nov 2008 GMT
Source: LA Times News
More than two months after its debut, Microsoft Corp.'s newest console remains hard to find.
To be sure, temporary shortages after the launch of a new machine are common in the video game business. But Microsoft's continued inability to meet demand for Xbox 360 has irritated customers and disappointed video game publishers, raising questions about whether the company has squandered an opportunity to grab market share before consumer electronics giant Sony Corp. releases its PlayStation 3 later this year.
For its part, Microsoft said it expected the shortage to ease in coming weeks, thanks to an additional manufacturing plant coming on line, and the balance between supply and demand should stabilize before the end of June. June may be too late, according to some Wall Street analysts.
"Microsoft's first-mover advantage is eroding if it takes them very long to get the first 5 million boxes out," said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles. "If 4 million show up in the month of June and Sony launches in the month of June, there's not much of an advantage" for Microsoft.
Whether gamers like Sanchez, a 28-year-old art student from Santa Clarita, will forgo plans to purchase an Xbox 360 to hold out for a PlayStation 3 remains to be seen. Sanchez said his wife wanted to buy him an Xbox 360 for Christmas, but couldn't find one.
"I heard the PlayStation 3 is coming out pretty soon too, but I haven't really compared it yet," said Sanchez. He said he was waiting to hear more about the Sony console before deciding whether it was "worth the wait."
Microsoft and Sony are locked in a battle for dominance in home entertainment. The Redmond, Wash.-based software behemoth, still relatively new to the hardware scene, hopes to use its $399 console to overtake market leader Sony.
The scarcity of Xbox 360s which play games, music and videos in addition to exploiting the latest in video game graphics and high-definition television was particularly acute during the crucial holiday shopping season. Throngs of shoppers camped out overnight in retailers' parking lots; some left empty-handed. Others sought the consoles on EBay, where more than 40,000 of them were sold in the eight days after the model's Nov. 22 launch for an average price of about $800.
Shortages are typical for new video game consoles, said Aaron Greenberg, group marketing manager for online video game service Xbox Live, noting that PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox suffered the same problems after their launches. Microsoft's decision, to pursue a worldwide launch over the holidays generated "global demand" for Xbox 360, he said.
More on this report here.
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