Just a quick recap, .AU was about to happen sometime last week, retailers recived an email from MS to contact people who have pre ordered systems not to come to the store that week for there system. During that time no reason was from MS on why they had to delay there launch. (I guess MS kinda wish they didnt shaft .jp stores on a no buy back claws on systems, then again im sure all 3 people wount mind to wait) THE supply problems that have plagued the launch of the Xbox 360 overseas will also hit Australia, with Microsoft delaying the console's release by three weeks. Microsoft announced last year that the Xbox 360, which is already available overseas, would make its Australian debut March 2. The date has now been pushed back to March 23. "The new launch dates have been set due to the unprecedented global consumer demand stemming from the challenges in ramping supply for a complex product like the Xbox 360," Microsoft said in a statement. "This is a short term manufacturing challenge and steps have been taken to increase supply to provide adequate supplies at launch," the company said. Short supply has been a problem for the Xbox 360 since its North American debut in November. The console has also been hit by widespread reports of over-heating, which causes games to freeze. Source: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,17953220%5E15338%5E%5Enbv%5E15306-15321,00.html
This was pretty much a given, the consumer base down here in Australia doesn't warrent any kind of special attention.
No offense, but MS should really ditch these shit markets and focus on the one that matters, combining aussie and japanese sales wouldn't equal a fraction of what the US would have if they could just supply the damn things.
Your first 2 words totally contradict the remainder of your post. I have this feeling you live in America. There are gamers worldwide, if you treat them like crap your console dies.
I agree with Vodka about M$ leaving japan (not australia) because they are just rotting in the sun. But saying that japan doesnt account for even a fraction of the US market is pure ignorance man:fresh: You can keep a console in a good position just with the japanese market. Just look at the Saturn and dare to tell me I'm wrong...
I totally agree as a fellow Australian. Apparently 650,000 were sold in Australia. Now that might not sound like much, but in terms of percentage of the total Australian population (20,090,437 according to the CIA). 650,000 of 20,090,437 is roughly 3.24%. The total number of Xboxes sold in the US is apparently 13.5 million and 13.5mil of 295,734,134 (US total population according to the CIA) = approx. 4.41%. Now, around 500,000 Xboxes were sold in Japan of a total population 127,417,244, in percentage 0.39%. Let that stand for itself. Now before you call Australia a shit market again make sure you have your facts straight. Sorry about that everyone but I had to say something.
I see, well a friend of mine went to this south american country that I think is the fourth largest one in america (as in the americant continent) but has a population barely higher than that of canada, and like 15-17 millons live in the main city alone.
I never said anything about breaking sales down to percentage of total population, that's worthless since America is more populated than Australia. I said that if you combined the sales numbers, they wouldn't equal but a small portion of the US sale numbers, you proved me right. All you really did with your post is show how the xbox almost sold more units in america than there are people in your country. You say 650,000 xboxes were sold there? Well damn, at least that many 360's have already been sold in the US in a few months according to some numbers. I'll apologize for the shit market remark. That's fine that they go there, I'm not debating that, every company is entitled to get money, as are gamers to get their favorite consoles. However, as seen by the shitty Japan launch of the 360, MS is arguably wasting resources and effort that could be used to boost sales in america on a supposed "worldwide launch". To the best of my knowledge, Sony caters to it's home base before letting the US and other get their hands on consoles. The 360 came out in november, and I have yet to see a single console in stores. I've never camped out for a console, but I've never had to wait almost 5-6 months for a console, which is when the 360 will apparently stop being scare. AMERICA FIRST!!!!
Heh, welcome to the world of non-importing Australians (and presumably a large number of other countries).
Yeah, if this gets worst someone should close the thread. Politics and videogames are like oil and water....
nothing got politcal. I merely stated that Australia sells less xboxes than America, which happens to be MS's home market with a pretty weak 360 launch while they throw thousands of consoles on japanese,austalian,etc. shelves.. I apologized for saying australia was shit...delete my posts if you think the comments are grounds to close the thread. I'd rather that not happen.
The thing is, Despite not really knowing australia, If its anything like europe, whatever they get given will sell out immediately. Therefore microsoft lose no profits, as, hey, they'd sell out immediately anywhere (except japan). So unless they are selling them cheaper in aus than they are in europe or the states (no chance), they'll still get the same amount of money. If they don't bother with aus for a while, then they get bad PR in aus. If they keep not sending units ot the states, they get bad PR in the states. They can either try to get some aus support or some support elsewhere, it was obviously simply deemed better to launch in aus.
