XBOX 360 launches today -- did you wait in line?

[tenguzero]

I'm always amazed what hardcore gamers will do to get their hands on the first run of a new system. Something tells me a chunk of them are shooting for the buy-early-then-sell-for-twice-the-price-on-Ebay-for-Xmas market. I say, if these people want to wait in the rain and the cold for Xbox systems, all the power to 'em -- I mean, someone's got to be part of the group that gets the buggy first-run system, right? Better they take the $400 hit early so the rest of us can get performance tweaked systems and solid launch titles in a few months (first-run PS2 anybody?)



At any rate, enjoy your new systems -- and don't rape Grammy Mabel's purse too much on Ebay -- she just wants to see the delight in little Johnny's eyes when he unwraps one of those "X-System things" for Christmas.

...most likely along with the lamest game for the system GO GRANDMA!

[Bobs8201]

i woulda been all over that like white on rice....but my dad was flat out "No." sooo i didn't
stupid decision. my friend played a demo on it and said it was badass

[Muscletang]

I waited, made a post on it too!

I wasn't in the rain though and was in the store. As for the buggy 1st run, wasn't that only with Sony?

I've bought several systems new with no problems at all so I'm not worried.

Also, yes, I have the first system, was the first one in my town to get one, and you can't take that away from me.

[eckoman_pdx]

Maybe I'm just getting old, lol (26). I wouldn't wait in line for it. No way, and not at $440 for a system (with hard drive). I've waited in line or bout first day on almost every system, from the nes launch in the 80's when to the SNES to the N64, to the first run PS2 to the gamecube...only one I nevewr bought frist day was the first xbox. Now I lookk at it and damn, prices keeps going up for lauch, $440 for a 360 and the PS3 claims a $500+ launch? The revolution is supposed to come in under $300 @ launch. Screw the others at launch, I'll wait for the price to get cut in half and drop (always does) and the bugs to get worked out.

So I'll get a Xbox 360, but not for a year or so... I can think of other things I spend the money one (car, hahaha). It was like 35 degrees and windy as heck here....with he windchill from the east winds it really bit....I hope the people that waited in the weather found it worth it. Poor people outside fry's where freezing their ass off last night. I always waited when I was younger, but now...I just didn't feel the need this time around. Maybe the fact I am content with my PS2, Gamecube and Xbox had something to do with it. If you have a HDTV though, it kicks ass, I'll give you that. The 360 had killer graphics. They had a display hooked up to an HDTV earlier today and dang. All the games are HDTV compatible in all formats...480p, 720p and 1080i...on a normal tv I doubt it would have looked as good. Still good, but you know. I suppose all the next gen systems (PS3 and Revolution) will be HDTV compatible int he same way though, so in the end I suppose that's a moot point. Neat system, I'll get one someday, just not at launch price...wait till it drops first.

[highteknology]

first off, i'd rather save 400 bucks and standing in 20 degree weather waiting for a system. i know the 360 is pretty tight and i'll probably end up getting one. i could not justify staying up that late, standing in the cold and spending a load a cash like that. i'd rather sleep with my girlfriend and stay warm, and save the 200 bucks when the price lowers.

[tenguzero]

Originally Posted by Bobs8201

i woulda been all over that like white on rice....but my dad was flat out "No." sooo i didn't
stupid decision. my friend played a demo on it and said it was badass

Seriously man, don't worry about it. Whether you get the system now or a couple months from now, you'll eventually have it one way or another. If there's one thing I've learned from being a part of the prime marketing demographic for videogame systems since the NES (I was growing older along with the rest of the target audience for these systems as they've gotten more and more advanced every generation) it's that the first system versions out are A. Overpriced, and B. Possessing at least a couple glaring bugs/defects. One only has to look to something like the astronomical launch price of the Saturn (great system though it was), the poor design of the original Xbox controllers, poorly implemented DVD playback mechanics of the initial PS2s, dead pixels in PSP units, and the already observed poor out-of-box backwards capabilities of the Xbox 360 (which will reportedly be remedied in later iterations, potentially saving you from unnecessary downloads or BIOS flashes or whatever these first systems will need.)

Plus the initial lineup isn't anything special -- sure there are some good games, but there's no real "Killer App" (as industry talking heads like to call it.) Remember the PS2 launch? I had friends who jumped all over the thing early on, but then ended up spending the better part of a year just playing their PS1 games on it, because there just really wasn't anything decent for the system (thankfully it had respectable backwards capabilities.) IMO, the best choice system makers ever made was to package addons and big-name titles with their systems (as they did in the earlier generations with Super Mario Bros. and Sonic.) Later on they just started giving us sampler discs with systems, or eventually a second-rate title or two. Now they don't do really do that at all (or they at least save it for the possibility of pepping up a system in case of hard times.)

Give it a few months and wait until they iron out some of the bugs. Or even better, hold off until the PS3 and Revolution launch dates near, and watch Microsoft lower the price a bit to pick up some steam -- then use that price difference towards one of the genuinely excellent games that should be coming down the pipe by then. At least by that point supplies should be reasonable, and you won't have to settle for that secondrate $300 "Core" system

[Muscletang]

I say to each his own like everybody else says.

Some want to play now. Others would rather wait for a few months until the price drops.

Some like chunky peanut butter and others like smooth.

[tenguzero]

I don't like ANY Peanut Butter when somebody gets it on my controller!

[tenguzero]

http://listings.ebay.com/_W0QQsocmdZ...lo=50&saprchi=


Holy HELL! And I thought the PS2 Ebay fiasco was a mess! Who in their right mind would shell out $1700+ for one of these things! Talk about paying out the ass to be the first person on the block to have one.

I'll tell you one thing, if I was going to spend that much money on video games, instead of the 360 I'd build the awesomest Saturn collection ever. Then I'd nab myself a NeoGeo (hell I'd just go for the full MVS cabinet if I could get my hands on one.) Then a Master System (3d glasses included.) Then I'd finish it all off with with one of those still-in-the-box TurboDuo systems that occasionally pop up.And of course as many games as I could get for each system. Don't ask me where I'd put it all though

[PBking82]

Originally Posted by tenguzero

the poor design of the original Xbox controllers

What's this poor design? Are you talking about the size as in the "big" controllers? I personally love them and have bought many off of eBay as you can't buy them in the stores anymore as they're not made. The reason they were big was because the original marketing concept of X-Box was toward "Adults" thus they have bigger hands and generally are better using a bigger controller. But, Microsoft scraped that when they saw how many kids were buying it and bitching that the controllers were too big for their hands. I just can't get used to the new "little" controllers. The new "triangle placement" of XABY and having white and black on the bottom not the top. I have big hands, thats why I love the original controllers, I hate PS2 controllers because they're so fucking small. So the original design was not a flaw or bad design, it was marketed toward a different demographic than most game systems, then after recieveing negative feedback from consumers not in that demographic they decided to change the design. IMO fuck the little bastards. Peace-

[elementskater15]

the only reason i would even consider a 360 is for that new perfect dark game. I'm gonna pinch pennies for a ps3. I really dont belive someone would pay a grand or more for a dammed video game

[sickcallawayc12]

my friend was telling me that the first few xboxs have a laser probelm and would stop reading discs overtime. He had one of those. Guess that's what happens when you're first in line for a Microsoft product.

[CaptainBennett]

I waited in line at a 24 hour WalMart. I went in at 5pm and the guy told me after an hour that there was no point for me to stay. He said come back at 9 and he would put me at the front of the line. I came in at 8 and there was a line of 5 people. I found out there were 14 xboxes so I thought it wasnt a big deal, but they only had 2 of the 400 dolla box. So i didnt get that (PISSED) and then had to pay like 200 bucks to get all the accessories (hd cables, headset, hard drive) that I would have gotten otherwise.

Through trading in games I got PGR and Madden. then I bought PD0 and Call of Duty2. Using gamefly (which after spending this cash, it will become my new best friend), I have gotten NBA 2k6 and Condemned.

I think I like NBA, Condemned and PGR the best so far....but they are all pretty good.

[eckoman_pdx]

Originally Posted by CaptainBennett

I waited in line at a 24 hour WalMart. I went in at 5pm and the guy told me after an hour that there was no point for me to stay. He said come back at 9 and he would put me at the front of the line. I came in at 8 and there was a line of 5 people. I found out there were 14 xboxes so I thought it wasnt a big deal, but they only had 2 of the 400 dolla box. So i didnt get that (PISSED) and then had to pay like 200 bucks to get all the accessories (hd cables, headset, hard drive) that I would have gotten otherwise.

Through trading in games I got PGR and Madden. then I bought PD0 and Call of Duty2. Using gamefly (which after spending this cash, it will become my new best friend), I have gotten NBA 2k6 and Condemned.

I think I like NBA, Condemned and PGR the best so far....but they are all pretty good.

One thing I've learned over the years...never listen to the sales guys. If you get their and are fine staying the whole long while, just stay, especially if your first in line. These guys can't predict the future, who will show up to wait when. If it's worth it to you to come at 5pm and wait, forget what the salesman tells you, show up at 5pm and be the first in line and wait.

[83scottsdaleowner]

My boss gave me $60 to stand in line to get one for him... i was like heck yea an extra $60 to stand in line-- it was really hectic, and now the stupid things are crashin, he hasn't had any problems with his YET.