A con or what?

As its getting near Christmas time, I decided to ask my son what he wanted for a Christmas present? He said he would really like an Xbox360, so I said yeah no probs..although I didn't have a clue what the f*ck it was. Anyhoo I go online to check it out, and I'm met with a load of info telling me to 'pre-order your Xbox360' as it's not being released until 2/12/05. However in small print underneath it says that they cannot guarantee that you will have it for Christmas! I visited the local shops and I got the same reply! Is this just another bloody con by the manufacturers or are they trying to create more interest in the product. Does anyone know whether there are sufficient stocks? Anyone got any views on this, as it seems to me that each year the games manufacturers pull this kind of stunt.

I heard on the news yesterday that if you haven't pre-ordered it already you've got no chance until some time in the New Year. Looks like your son will have to whistle mate.

It was released here in the states the 22nd. I heard about people waiting in line all night in the cold just to beat the masses to get one. Waste of time, I say.

Comes out on the 2nd here, but there just ain't enough t go round. My mate who owns an xBox shop is only getting 7 of them in, after requesting 50 odds.

I'm not that fussed. My clunky old black one'll do me for now.

Yeah, I feel the same, however My son is a keen game player and it would have been nice to try and arrange one as a Christmas present.

In that case you're about two months behind everyone else in getting a pre-order. You could try eBay if you have almost 3 grand to shell out heh.

I'm a Playstation man, myself.

yeah i'd say ebay or even amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...891012-6540929

i pre ordered mine on august 15. the system didnt even have a price yet, nor was it announced that there would be two price points. I go to the store to see if i would be getting mine on the 22nd, and i was told that orders for the first shipment stopped on like june 21. you had to pretty much order it in may, the guy told me in order to get the first shipment. the system didnt even have a name in may! whats even worse is i have to sit here and look at my copy of project gotham 3 right next to me and ive got no system to play it on. i should be getting it before christmas.... i believe. hey, this is what happens when you launch something in three continents at the same time

You can't beat a decent pc for gaming anyway, consoles are shite in comparison.

True, but in some ways, especially for kids they can be less convenient.

I agree, but consoles are quickly turning into PC-ish. . .creatures. They are pretty much the same thing, only scaled down and with flashy controllers instead of a keyboard and mouse.

I, myself miss the old days where game consoles just played games. I prefer an old Nintendo, over an Xbox.

Until they make them upgradeable like a pc they will always be second best, play a game on a console and then on a pc and the difference is obvious. I agree that for kids they are more convenient, slot your game in and off you go there's no installation or driver issues to worry about, getting a pc game to run can be a pain in the arse at times.

I saw one in a store...It had froze...must be crap wait for the PS3!

Buy the original X-Box and save yourself some money. The original is a great machine, and there are some awesome games out for it.

I won't be buying a 360 for a couple of years now, if I ever buy one.

Though I must admit, the Call of Duty games for the 360 seem pretty damned awesome