Xbox and PS2 all sold out now!

[vincewy]

Related article here (http://www.gamesanimal.com/article.php?sid=1369).

With all the good game deals at TRU and CC, many may have not noticed the recent shortage of PS2 and Xbox systems, regardless of any price, most places have PS2 and Xbox sold out, I'm not kidding, just look around Best Buy and Walmart.

In Rochester MN, the only store that has new system in stock is TRU, even for TRU, their systems are stand alone PS2 w/o internet bundle for $150. Gamecube, however, is widely available, I'm asking my self, why? Sony and Microsoft need to get units out, with upcoming blockbuster titles like Halo 2 and GTA:SA, there'll be more demands of new systems.

Did I miss out any reports earlier just in case I've been in the cave?

[SoulBlazer]

Hum.....well, I only got my PS2 new, and that was a bundle deal from Amazon back in early 2001. My GC and XBox I both got used and refrusbished from my local EB.

So I imagine there are plenty of systems to be FOUND, maybe just not many NEW ones.

[allsport11]

Yeah, thought it was weird today also. I stopped by the TRU and some guy was looking to buy a PS2 and some games. He asked for a couple of games that he was interested in then asked for the PS2. They were sold out, then he figured he would pick up and Xbox instead and they were sold out also. He didn't bother asking about a Gamecube. Not sure if people are buying more than usual or if there is just a smaller quantity being made available.

[evilmess]

I've had a helluva time finding the PS2 Online Pack. EB, GS, BB, CC, and Sears, they're all out and the word I'm hearing from all the sales staff at these stores is that Sony isn't making anymore PS2 Online Packs. I was lucky enough to find the PS2 Online Pack (Model scph 50001) at a Comp USA 13 miles away. The sales guy said it was one of five left in stock at that location!

[tholly]

wow....that is pretty crazy....you think they would be really easy to find...i havent been at a local store in at least a week...i wonder how the stock for systems there is?

[FantasiaWHT]

At my EB we've been out of new PS2's for almost a week.

Used Xboxes go out so quickly we never have them in stock for more than a day.

And our District Manager still bitches at us because we aren't selling enough hardware. I lost 3 PS2 and 2 Xbox sales today alone....

[captain nintendo]

I have noticed that my areas game stores have trouble keeping them in stock , however I know they have them and I have seen them at plenty of stores.

[Richter]

checked places like Wal-Mart and Target?

[CitizenWhite]

I work at Circuit City and we have been sold out of ps2's for over a month. Xbox's are out right now, and we have had very few of them. I don't know what the reason for the shortage is, but we do have lots of gamecubes. More, actually, than makes me comfortable.

[SkiDragon]

I was just at a wallmart and I remember seeing a WHOLE BUNCH of Xboxes on top of the game cabinet. Unless they were empty display boxes, but I doubt it. I think there were other systems too, but I only noticed the 'Boxes.

[soniko_karuto]

here in cali there are ps2's and boxex all around. i went to my local eb and they had like 50 of each.

[evilmess]

I went to one EB and saw a dozen or so PS2 Online Packs on display and thought "BINGO!"

Boy was I wrong, the guy said they were out of the PS2 online packs and when I called him on his false displays he got snotty and said Sony had them display those boxes even after he told me Sony won't be making online packs.

:hmm:

[-hellvin-]

My best buy has had serious problems with ps2's. We got 1000 shipped to our stores company wide so we got about 12 a few days ago. Bundled almost all of em up with accessories and left 3 unbundled. Sold em in one day. We're supposed to be getting more soon. Xbox's there are no problems with in my area.

I believe Sony just makes enough units for the year due to previous sales numbers and once they hit that quota they do not produce anymore. Well, they apparently ran into this little problem. Right around Christmas buying time too.

[LiquidX01]

Here at Best Buy I haven't seen a PS2 for about 3 weeks now, and from what I remember we have like 1-2 XBox's left. But this has been happening frequently, its been an ongoing thing with the PS2's but not quite so frequently with the XBox's. We have tons of indigo Gamecube's and a bunch of the other colors.

Maybe both companies are planning for the holiday season by holding off production so their demand rises? Thats my only thought on it....

[vincewy]

So, this must have to do with their yields, apparently, neither Sony nor MS seem to be concerned about installed base right now, the more units they make, the more money they lose, they must be allocating numbers of systems based on software revenues. In the past they recovered the loss from software sales, but this may not be the case lately given the sales we can find at CC and TRU. The way I look at it, someone can get a lot of $5 games from Cirtuit City during the sale and buy a bare PS2 unit, sure, install base is up, but both Sony and retailers are losing money.

$150 for a system? Why not bring back $200 price point for the system? It's not that much considering what you get out of it. Or wait, makebe they want to keep casual gamers out of gaming scene LOL

Hard to tell if this is a smart move or will backfire.

[Jasoco]

Everyone around here is also out of PS2's. I am shocked and surprised. But like I give a shit.

We do have a few Xboxes left though.

[soniko_karuto]

there are rumors for a holiday price cut, so i'm risking to say that all 3 systems will be @ 99. with enough confidence.


it's like this: you always have little to no consoles everywhere, they get needy, then you make a price cut, and bam, big numbers for the fanboys.

nintendo overstocked everyplace cuz of the 99 pricecut, there was a time where i saw no cubes.


sorry if i sound like a fanboy, i am.

[LiquidX01]

there are rumors for a holiday price cut, so i'm risking to say that all 3 systems will be @ 99. with enough confidence.i

If that happens, Nice to know that Micro$oft has deep enough pockets to sustain another brutal loss in revenue. Its good to be billy. :o

[Jasoco]

At that point, I can see Nintendo lowering their price to $79 to keep up. Seriously.

[-hellvin-]

It's no conspiracy, sony has just fallen behind on production. Microsoft doesn't seem to have a problem keeping their xboxes in stock.

[EnemyZero]

kinda like my gamecrazy, for the past 2 months we've been getting in stuff and selling it right away, we have no ps2's or xbox's, just a bunch of gamecubes...when we get ps2's or xbox's traded in they won't sit there for long

[MegaDrive20XX]

Odd, because at a local Best Buy here two weeks ago, they were sold out of PS2's...but had a few Xbox Halo bundles.

[Jasoco]

Something tells me Xboxes aren't sold out. But just PS2's.

The first person who brought it to my attention said the clerk at another store said "Some big game is coming out and people are buying PS2's right and left."

Bah. Sheep, I tell ya.

What game could it be? Most likely GTA or GT4.

[soniko_karuto]

if it is gta, then, uhm, that's kinda stupid.

[Jasoco]

You must not be familiar with Sony's ability to turn gamers into loyal sheep. They'll buy ANYTHING that says GTA.

I don't really get into those games. It's only fun for a while. But then I just can't stand it anymore.

[LiquidX01]

What game could it be? Most likely GTA or GT4.

Im thinking more towards GT4 because of the long time span between it and GT:A Spec. If you dont already own or traded a PS2, that would be the reason for buying them again, well thats what I would do anyway...

[josekortez]

I'm working at FYE until I find another job, and we don't have either right now. Of course, we usually only get one of each system in anyway.

[evilmess]

I would venture to say that the Xbox and PS2 are selling on online gaming expectations.
Some players are cool with the Xbox Live subscription while others like myself prefer the largely free online gaming that the PS2 brings to the table and both platforms have exciting online games in the pipe.

Look at the recently popular NFS:Underground and Midnight Club II (both online) and the PS2 and Xbox clones coming out in the next month or two plus the sequels to NFS:U and MC:II being released by the end of the year.

Other games that could be system sellers. Guilty Gear Isuka (online?), Gun Grave OD, GT4, Killzone, Halo 2, GTA:SA, Ratchet & Clank and Jak & Daxter which I believe J&D will have online gaming, and the new and improved Viewtiful Joe with specail guest star Dante of DMC! Speaking of Dante...DMC3... HELLO!

In my opinion, Q4 of 2004 looks to be the best releases cycle of the current generation for all three systems and a perfect time to pick up a second or third console, if you can find one.

[vincewy]

Another interesting fact, I came across 2 TRU PS2 bundle packs (yes $115 each) and I was tempted to get them and eBay them, but even with the shortage of PS2, it's still not yeilding enough to really make good profits so I bought those and let my buddy's store have them, it helps a lot for a mom and pop shop.

So you can still get the online pack on eBay for not much more, in fact, the bare unit can sometimes even go below $150. Glad I got the online pack right after price drop.

[nesuser2]

Not reading all of this but as I was walking through kmart yesterday, I browsed the game section(duh). And behind the glass they had all sorts of gcn packages and the labels for ps2 and xbox, but none were there. I didn't think anything of it until now.....odd.

[Jasoco]

We rarely keep the consoles on the floor in the case. You actually have to ASK a clerk if here are any in stock. They're kept in lock-up.

[DStriemer]

It's called price stabilization. The PS2 has been out long enough that used systems both refurbished/and through the passing of hands has really saturated their market. So to combat this, they hold back shipments, or shut down the product lines for a while(saving even more money), while also creating a new fervour from the market for the NEW PS2 systems with full warranty. Which at least a few more people will be willing to pay after even a short term downward spike in availabilty. It sounds pathetic and elementary, but its the truth and it works, especially amongst the gaming market. It always has worked too.

[FantasiaWHT]

Got word from our Sony Rep today...

The Japanese manufacturer's look at things in a culturally different light than we do. Basically what they do is make a huge production run, and then sit and watch, and when it's essentially nearly depleted, they make more.

And then how do they ship them? By boat...

Remember last year (or was it a few years ago?) with the dockworkers' strike on the west coast? PS2's were hard to come by there as well.

BTW proclaiming a system's greatness by listing dozens of games that can mostly also be gotten on one or BOTH of the other systems (and usually better done there) is a very weak argument.

[tholly]

BTW proclaiming a system's greatness by listing dozens of games that can mostly also be gotten on one or BOTH of the other systems (and usually better done there) is a very weak argument.

EXACTLY.....a huge portion of that list includes multi platiform games that look a lot better on systems other than sony's

...dont get me wrong, i like seeing any and all systems doing good, its just, i dunno...if there is a multiplatform game, i will buy the game on the system that looks better

[pixelsnpolygons]

I work at Target. We haven't had PS2's in about a month and we won't be getting them until the end of September. Sony told us they were backordered. This is almost a universal problem, at least as far as Target is concerned. If you work at Target and have PS2's, consider yourself the rare exception to the rule.

As for Xbox, we have too many - but nothing screams, "I'm not being sold" like our GameCube systems. :(

[SegaAges]

there are still about 5 halo xboxes at my local wal mart. hopefully i could make some money from buying one up and reselling.

[vincewy]

My store got 4 PS2 online packs and 4 Xbox in today, by this evening, all PS2 sold out and 2 Xbox left! Is the online pack discontinued? If so there's no surprise about it. Also given the fact that ShopKo is not the place where people look for games/systems normally, people must be looking for those, I'm thinking about hording one if we get another shipment.

[classicb]

can you guys go PM each other or something. this is really becoming allot to scroll through and is way off the topic.

I actually found the "real topic" quite interesting. I wonder if a new bundle will becomng out from "Playstation" and "X-Box". Also along with the topic I haven't seen a PS2 online pack in a while. I'm still looking to get a Xbox and if they do a new bundle with some cool games I think I'd finally pick one up. There are alot of Gamecubes out because of the Metroid bundle I would think.

Not that it matters but I have a GCN and a PS2 both with more than three great games.

[digitalpress]

Since this thread got seriously off-topic, I've split the debate over the GameCube into this thread:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40423

... just in case you were wondering. Let's keep this topic ON topic, gang.

[Jasoco]

Thank God. Thanks, DP.