Delays, Tours and Console Shopping
Post Delays
Another long delay between posts; sorry folks. At scanR we have been working diligently to finish our latest upgrade to the service, which we released at the end of last week. If you are curious about what I do and if you have a mobile phone with a camera I recommend you check out the service. There is both a 'PC' site and mobile site.
With the release done I have a little more time to complete my XNA Thread series and Console Evaluation series, so expect some posts soon.
Gamerscore Road Tour
This week I'm up with the development team in Toronto. This happened to coincide nicely with the Microsoft Gamerscore Road Tour which I'll be attending tomorrow night. Should be a good time and I promise to report on the evening's festivities.
Console Shopping in Toronto
Today I spent some time looking to purchase an Xbox 360 for the Toronto office. I went to both an HMV and an EB Games and I noticed a few interesting things:
- The price of a Premium Xbox 360 was $500 CDN while the Elite was $550 CDN. The Premium did come with a game but the game was uninteresting (in my opinion).
- Non-bundled 360 Premiums were not offered for sale.
- The 360 Elite was sold out at both locations.
- HMV actually had a couple of Wiis, the EB Games did not.
Forcing a bundle seems a bit ridiculous and meant I went to the hotel empty handed (I would have taken an Elite if available mind you). The fellow in HMV said the Premiums came that way though he had no idea if Microsoft Canada or the store's HQ were forcing this.
Not allowing stand alone console sales or choice of games forces the consumer to make a decision which may result in no sale. Obviously if the price is right a bundle will get bought. When I was up in Toronto this past Christmas I bought my in-laws a 360 Premium with a full game and some Arcade titles for only $400 CDN. These kind of deals were pretty common at the time (before and after Boxing Day). It is pretty disappointing to seem them raised $100 CDN.
Joe, that's enough relaxing time to get back to work :-)
... so said 'rudy' on 05/22/2007 @ 04:02:41 AM [Direct Link]