RULE OF THUMB- get one on launch day if you want one. (1 Viewer)

as a general rule, whether you preordered or are going to camp, I think it's safe to say this:
If you want to be sure to get one at launch (perhaps before xmas) at all, you MUST get one on launch day.
It was tough to nab a PS2 on launch day, but if you didn't get one then..... you were way screwed.

Apples and Oranges. There are far more XBoxen and GameCubes available for their launches than there were PS2's at launch...
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"xboxen" - I like that.
There ought to be pretty similar numbers of "xboxen" and Cubes on launch day as there were PS2s. The shipment differences will be in the weeks after launch (especially for Gamecube).
Another factor is that GCN reservations have been fairly rare while Xbox reservations were common. That will leave fewer Xboxes on the shelves the first week than Gamecubes. So, if you want an Xbox and don't have a reservation you're going to be hard pressed to find one.

yeah, even with a couple hunderd thousand more, once you devide that up among all the retailers in all the states, couldn't that come out to like like 20 more in alot of places? judging by the lines of last year, how much biggera dent would that really make?
I would be very surprized if you can just stroll up and buy one of either casually next weekend.

I guess it comes down to where you live. Like I wrote in another post there are plenty still left in my area here in Ontario and Canada is only getting 10% of the launch date amount. The local EB's still have not sold out of pre-orders.

plus, sony never said their launch was going to be horrendous...
Despite what the press releases say, I wouldn't make any positve statements until all the retailers have the palettes unloaded, ready to sell. Of course it's in both console makers interest for us to think there will be alot.
Both will probably result in a similar frenzy- but not quite as bad, since there are 2 new systems.
Also, how many moneygrubbing, ebay addicted, beanie babie selling people do you think are going to be inspired by last years ps2 ebay orgy and buying consoles just to make a quick buck?
These scum are going to make buying a console, and accessories, tough. When I was a kid, I always thought baseball card dealers were lowlifes, though this new breed of "entrepreneur" really disgusts me.
Free market or not, greedy middle aged women ORGANIZING and maniupluating the system to deny kids a toy so they can capitalize and markup at auction--- unforgiveable.
Opprontunity may present itself, and if you pick up and extra system for a coworker or maybe even to ebay one, thats totally your call and no one's going to lose sleep over it; but there are infact people who do this type of thing for a living, and I think it's really gross.

Where I work, we recieved 130 PS2s last year. We're recieving about half that many of both the Cubes and the Boxes this time around. I realize this may be out of the ordinary as far as the other retailers go.
Personally, I don't feel that there's nearly as much hype for these two systems combined as there was for the PS2 last year, so I think both systems should be quite a bit easier to find between now and Christmas. Hopefully, anyway.
It will be interesting, and at the same time, disgusting, to see what happens with these new systems and Ebay in a month or so. I've already had a coworker tell me he's planning to buy an Xbox specifically to put it on Ebay before Christmas. . .
-mwb-
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Obi-Wan (to Anakin):
Why do I think you're going to be the death of me?
Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
May 22, 2002
[Edited last by Matt Birchall on November 12, 2001 at 06:31 PM]

Keep in mind the PS2 came out in September. These two consoles will have about the same quantity as PS2 in a period of less than 2 months. That alone will guarantee they are easier to find that PS2 was.

Hey Matt,
PLEASE keep the damn Episode II spoilers OUT OF YOUR SIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DAMMIT!
Mike
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Camp,
I believe the launch of the PS2 was October 26th.....not September. Or did the unit ship to retailers in September?

Kelley,
You're right. I'm confusing my playstations.

The GCN is supposed to launch with around 700k units, the XB is estimated at around 300k. By the end of the year, there should be 1.1 million GCNs in America. MS said they can get 100k units in America each week, but I doubt it.
If you are going to get both, you have a better chance getting a GCN.

Nintendo says they will have 1.1 Million systems in North America by years end, and Microsoft says they will have 1.2. Seems pretty even to me.
Why should you doubt Microsoft, but not Nintendo?
I'm guessing that Nitnendo's number of 700,000 is coming up short, because every "mom an pop" videogame store that I've been to has just been informed that they wont be getting any Gamecubes at launch. Either Nintendo's numbers are false, or Nintendo is just being very unfair to the "mom and pop" videogame stores. I'm guessing it's a little of both.
Andrew
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ICQ# - 119869807

Just like with the PS2, we won't know anything until after launch. Anything until then is sheer speculation.
I'm just happy to FINALLY have an American-based unit. I'm sick and tired of the units coming out in Japan first months before we get them here.
Mike
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Listen to my radio station - Starman's Neverland
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I'm guessing the Gamecube will not be to difficult to find, since Nintendos advertising for it has been abysmal.
I have seen Xbox ads several times on TV, heard daily promos for it on the radio, the local Toys'R Us has a giant banner for the Xbox hanging from the side of the building.
I have not seen or heard Jack S**t about the gamecube, not a single commercial, banner, or poster anywhere. If it wasn't for the internet, I wouldn't even know what the hell a gamecube was, let alone that it is coming out this week.
My local Best buy already has several Xbox games available to buy, as well as XBox displays set out. There is a big empty space with a few 3rd party gamecube controllers, and no advertising or signs anywhere for the gamecube.
The local Toys 'R Us has kiosk displays for PS2, XBox, and Gamecube. The gamecube kiosk is the only one not working.
I'm sure there are many people who don't even have a clue that Nintendo is launching a new console. While I think Nintendo has really dropped the ball here on getting people hyped up for its release, i'm kind of glad, since I anticipate it being rather easy to pick one up on launch day, since everyone will be broke from buying an Xbox three days earlier
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-Jeff Cooper
"Curse you inspector Dim! You are too clever for us naughty people."

the gamecube ad on tv IS AMAZING, and it's too bad the horrible xbox teasers are getting more airtime.
both campaigns will increase this week.
Also, the bestbuy circular for this week is Xbox crazy, but no mention of the cube; i am assuming they are going cube crazy next week.
what a week ahead of us...

I think MS might be advertising, but the ads they are running are making people say "Oooh, what's an X-Box?" instead of "WOW! I want an X-Box" because only a few commercials show actual gameplay. I can see where that budget money is going...
Nintendo has GameCube clubs, online advertising, magazine advertising, they have run contests, plus ITS NINTENDO. They could launch a console without advertising and people would still buy it in huge numbers. I know ads would help, but they could still do very well.

Hey Matt,
You should probably consider updating your sig anyway, since your release date is now off, May 16 is what you want. And I bet Obi-wan is right about Skywalker killing him, but that is just speculation on my part.
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