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Posted: Feb 26 2009 12:58 pm

Over the last year, I've noticed the amount of space that my local Target devotes to XBox 360 has decresed dramatically. Their current video game setup is as such:

Front case: PS2/PS3/PSP and accessories. I never look at this section so I don't know the ratio.

The Sony case is back to back with a case that is: 50% DS games, 25% DS and XBox accessories, 25% 360 games and consoles

Across from this is the Wii case: 33% Wii games, 66% accessories and "box" games (Nerf Strike, DDR, Guitar Hero, etc).

So basically, they have one display case of 360 games, and they only bring in core titles. Does anyone know how the 360 is doing in terms of market share and sales? My understanding is that the system is doing well and I don't understand why Target would cut down its shelf space so much.

Posted: Feb 26 2009 01:07 pm

I think 360 is still doing real steady, no serious spikes one way or another, Halo Wars comes out the third and I am sure will sell well.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Syd Lexia wrote:

Over the last year, I've noticed the amount of space that my local Target devotes to XBox 360 has decresed dramatically. Their current video game setup is as such:

Front case: PS2/PS3/PSP and accessories. I never look at this section so I don't know the ratio.

The Sony case is back to back with a case that is: 50% DS games, 25% DS and XBox accessories, 25% 360 games and consoles

Across from this is the Wii case: 33% Wii games, 66% accessories and "box" games (Nerf Strike, DDR, Guitar Hero, etc).

So basically, they have one display case of 360 games, and they only bring in core titles. Does anyone know how the 360 is doing in terms of market share and sales? My understanding is that the system is doing well and I don't understand why Target would cut down its shelf space so much.

I think of target when I need "Stuff". In my mind, accessories are "Stuff". But when I think of games, I think of electronics and game shops.

Best Buy & Gamestop are the first that come to mind.

Perhaps it is due to Target's advertising or roll choice.

As far as reduced games, I think this makes sense in a recession. People spend less money on entertainment. Also XboX from what I hear, has decent downloadable content. Perhaps there is a bit of migration to a physical free platform?

Posted: Feb 26 2009 01:10 pm

Best Buy is certainly preferrable, yes. I NEVER shop at GameStop if I can help it. Prison cells are bigger than most GameStops, and the you meet in prison are lot nicer to deal with, even when you take the surprise buttsecks into account.

Posted: Feb 26 2009 01:15 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

Also XboX from what I hear, has decent downloadable content. Perhaps there is a bit of migration to a physical free platform?

This is a good point I did not take into consideration, however no core/popular titles (or any 360 game in its entirety) can be downloaded off XBL at this point in time.

You still have to purchase the game initially in a physical format.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Syd Lexia wrote:

Best Buy is certainly preferrable, yes. I NEVER shop at GameStop if I can help it. Prison cells are bigger than most GameStops, and the you meet in prison are lot nicer to deal with, even when you take the surprise buttsecks into account.

Pardon Syd, I think I misread what you posted there... did you just admit to enjoying anal rape more than shopping at GameStop.

My primary experience with GameStop has been in three locations.

1) Mall in CT - It was terrible, I might have gotten a disease in there
2) Mall in MA - It was terrible, I definitely got a disease in there
3) Street Corner Shop - Brookline, MA - Fucking sweet!!! This place is big, the people who work there are nice, and they genuinely help you choose games based on your interests. They never bullied me about memberships or extra shit. They were just gamers working jobs that help them get cheaper games.

Joined: Apr 09 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3112

I always begrudgingly went to my local gamestop, because they had a large selection and they actually re-adjust prices over time. Then the other day I went in to get a copy of the Orange Box for 360. There was none, new or used. That's just inexcusable.

Posted: Feb 26 2009 02:08 pm

Stick to the PC version of the Orange Box... much better.
There are only two Gamestops that I goto in my area. It may be a bias view because I only go to the two, they are actually very nice and I'm friends with an owner (Hence I get good deals on new stuff Razz

)
Bestbuy I hate with a passion. The one I went to in my area, the guy there kept trying to shove Kane and Lynch down my throat as if it was the best game in the world.

Overall I hear the it's still a pretty strong system for games, but since most of their stuff is from 3rd parties and almost every system has it, their main selling point is the cost. Granted there are a few good first party titles, but it's limited. and I hate to bring up this point but even the x-box first party titles are coming out on PC as well, so it's to say that a PC is a better investment then an X-Box 360. But everyone to their own I suppose.

Posted: Feb 26 2009 02:14 pm

Slayer1 wrote:

Stick to the PC version of the Orange Box... much better.
There are only two Gamestops that I goto in my area. It may be a bias view because I only go to the two, they are actually very nice and I'm friends with an owner (Hence I get good deals on new stuff Razz

)
Bestbuy I hate with a passion. The one I went to in my area, the guy there kept trying to shove Kane and Lynch down my throat as if it was the best game in the world.

Overall I hear the it's still a pretty strong system for games, but since most of their stuff is from 3rd parties and almost every system has it, their main selling point is the cost. Granted there are a few good first party titles, but it's limited. and I hate to bring up this point but even the x-box first party titles are coming out on PC as well, so it's to say that a PC is a better investment then an X-Box 360. But everyone to their own I suppose.

I hear ya, but not everyone's PC is ultra high-tier to run those 360 ports well. (i.e. me Sad

)

Posted: Feb 26 2009 02:40 pm

Um... Orange Box is not an XBox 360 port. Orange Box is a budget compilation of popular Valve PC titles (and some new material) that was ported to the XBox 360.

Joined: Sep 17 2007 Location: The Opium Trail Posts: 3475

Syd Lexia wrote:

Best Buy is certainly preferrable, yes. I NEVER shop at GameStop if I can help it. Prison cells are bigger than most GameStops, and the you meet in prison are lot nicer to deal with, even when you take the surprise buttsecks into account.

A bold statement. I take it you have a horror story to back it up? Very Happy

Posted: Feb 26 2009 03:36 pm

Slayer1 wrote:

Stick to the PC version of the Orange Box... much better.

The 360 version was done by Valve themselves and it's pretty awesome. The PS3 version is the REAL one to avoid.

As for the question posed by the title of the thread; 3 words. Not a chance.

Posted: Feb 26 2009 04:01 pm

I've played both and pretty much it's the same anyway you look at it. The only reason I would say stick with the PC version is A) The custimizability and B) It's much more easier to use on the PC. Though it was a budget product first, it was only released for the fact of Portal and TF2. They had no intentions of releasing them until the hype of the orange box died down.
Sure I hate valve's Steam and what-not but since EA helped with the transfer over the PS3 version, I can say that it does suck, but it's just a compilation of 5 games, of which TF2 is only multiplayer game I just figure I play the other games on my PS3, shell out the ten-twenty dollars to Valve and enjoy it that way. (wow... I think I made no Sense there, oh and I read an article from the Valve CEO that "PS3 Sucks, worst system ever, only putting the orange box on their to make money" which could explain the Orange Box's Suckage)

You only really need a GFX card from the more recent times (2005 and newer) to really play any of these games, along with maybe space and a few other things, you don't need top of the line computer. Before I got my new system, I used my sisters Wal-Mart Special and was playing Halo and a few others with no problem at all on it.

I just think that microsoft is still trying to monopolize the gaming community by utilizing it's system and the PC market. Though it maybe the case where differences drawn is the cost of a system or an upgraded PC. Choice given, I'd go with a hundred dollar GFX card for my PC rather then a Two hundred plus system.

But that's just me...

Posted: Feb 26 2009 06:50 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

As far as reduced games, I think this makes sense in a recession. People spend less money on entertainment. Also XboX from what I hear, has decent downloadable content. Perhaps there is a bit of migration to a physical free platform?

This would make sense, however the Video Game industry is one of the few thats actually doing well given the economy. $30-60 for 10-40 hours of entertainment, or $10-60 on a 90 minute movie or 2 hour concert? I just think Target realizes people don't consider them a Gaming Outlet, except when Wii's were impossible to find.

Posted: Feb 26 2009 07:47 pm

Syd Lexia wrote:

Orange Box is a budget compilation of popular Valve PC titles (and some new material) that was ported to the XBox 360.

I wouldn't call it a budget complilation by any means. It was $60 when it came out. Also it had more new games than old.

Half Life 2 - Old
Half Life 2: Episode 1 - Old
Half-Life 2: Episode 2 - New
Portal - New
Team Fortress 2 - New

It was a compilation, but based more on giving you three brand new titles that would have cost $20-$30 each if released alone, together for one price. HL2 and Ep 1 were more like freebie inserts.

Title: Titlating Joined: Dec 17 2007 Posts: 5042

Not sure about in general but this week xbox outside ps3 and wii in japan
http://kotaku.com/5161009/xbox-360-outsells-wii-ps3-in-japan

Posted: Feb 27 2009 01:07 pm

Optimist With Doubts wrote:

Not sure about in general but this week xbox outside ps3 and wii in japan
http://kotaku.com/5161009/xbox-360-outsells-wii-ps3-in-japan

I was just gonna post on this, its all because of star ocean 4 however.

IGN wrote:

Media Create sales figures, covering February 16 through February 22, have the 360 at 25,334 units sold. That's better than the PS3's 16,149 units and even better than the Wii's 16,973 units.

This is the doing, of course, of Star Ocean: The Last Hope. The Square Enix semi-exclusive gave the 360 another rarity: top placement in the software charts. The game sold 162,232 units in its first week -- nearly better than the rest of the top five combined.

http://wii.ign.com/articles/957/957642p1.html

Joined: Feb 16 2008 Posts: 832

I think one of the reasons both the 360 and the PS3 are declining in favor is that there's really no reason to buy either of them anymore over the other. One is slightly cheaper and one has blue ray. That's about it, considering practically every game that releases these days isn't an exclusive

Posted: Mar 16 2009 07:09 pm

Also, isn't the 360 plagued by more problems than the PS3? I never heard of the PS3 having the equivilant of the 360's "red ring of death".

Joined: Oct 15 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 18

Scrambles wrote:

Also, isn't the 360 plagued by more problems than the PS3? I never heard of the PS3 having the equivilant of the 360's "red ring of death".

that's very true, i think what the 360 has in price it lacks in quality of hardware.

Posted: Mar 16 2009 08:31 pm

The 360 had a bad heat sink. The problem has been fixed on newer models, and is easy to fix yourself on old ones if you're so inclined to do so.

Posted: Mar 16 2009 08:32 pm

My 360's been working fine for two years, so yeah...no problems for me.

Posted: Mar 16 2009 09:05 pm

Syd Lexia wrote:

The 360 had a bad heat sink. The problem has been fixed on newer models, and is easy to fix yourself on old ones if you're so inclined to do so.

The newer models have a fucked up disc drive that is absolutely annoying and not covered under the red ring clauses. My 360 bricked with the so called "ash tray" error and they want 100 bucks to fix it. I can install another 360 disc but that involves opening the obnoxious case and also flashing the MB or something to make it accept a new drive. Point is I shouldn't fucking have to deal with all that crap. Microsoft can kiss my ass. Mad

Posted: Mar 16 2009 09:59 pm

The RRoD seems to be even more of a problem than I thought; everyone from my friends to my Public Speaking teacher has reported getting it at least once. I'm the only Xbox 360 owner I know who hasn't, and I've got my fingers crossed...

Posted: Mar 16 2009 10:29 pm

the RRoD has been 'fixed' to a degree.

the PS3 has had issues w/the online component of video games more often than not vs the xbox 360. at least, thats what i read, but i could be mistaken