UK Xbox boss on launch and replenishment
by Jennie Lees 
{ Dec 2nd 2005 at 5:00PM }
Neil Thompson, Xbox's regional director for Europe, has been busy talking about the 360 and its launch. Firstly, the Guardian has published a podcast in which Aleks Krotoski interviews Neil as well as Stephen McGill, head of Xbox UK marketing. It contains some interesting tidbits on Live, economics and casual gaming, helping to give some idea of Microsoft's European strategy. Neil was also interviewed by gamesindustry.biz, in which he confirms that Microsoft are doing as much as they can to keep replenishing UK stocks:"We're really going to focus all our efforts on getting as much stock in as possible, because the demand is proving to be phenomenal."
"We are committed to replenishing the product on a weekly basis. We're not leaving the market dry for six, eight, twelve weeks - we're going to come out with more product every single week."
Hopefully the 'Sold Out' notices on every shop and website in the UK will change soon.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Captain Resin @ Dec 2nd 2005 7:41PM
A GAME employee told me this morning that the only way i could buy the "deluxe" package on launch day was by purchasing a £799 bundle which included 10 games and a special cd wallet. Many of the other well known highstreet stores in my area (Mid Kent)didnt have any idea what quantity or even if they were definatly getting any. My local MVC which is quite large only had 2 of the core systems and no others. I can see its going to be a nightmare trying to find one of these before christmas.
RM @ Dec 3rd 2005 3:18AM
Yea, just like the USA.I have hit every store in my area every day since launch and no dice. Must be where E Bay is getting supplied. MS needs to put up or shut up.
Christopher Coulter @ Dec 3rd 2005 6:25PM
In doing some actual on-the-beat documented reporting slash mystery shopping...here be a quick summary...
Best Buy - Don't know, won't know, we have NO 360s. Go away. Every staff person is sick and tired of said question and bites your head off if you even dare ask. (Very rude). One rare nice guy, said maybe one shipment before Christmas, but he said worthless to check back as they are all accounted for. Annonyance level at Best Buy is pretty high on said issue.
Gamestop - Nothing until Jan, "recall, recall", One major Regional Mgr. calling it the worst launch in his retail career. Some big Gamestop Mgrs. meeting on how to handle the crisis. The outcome? Working with Sony to avoid repeat, betting bigger on PS3. Some Marketing shift to Sony. From the staff: our managers told us recall. Me: You sure? Them: Yes, honest. Me: You sure sure sure? Them: Yes, yes, yes. Me: I don't believe that. Them: That's what we were told.
Costco - No new orders, our system says the item is not there. We expect one shipment maybe, don't know how many. Please quit asking. Lots of other stuff in our store.
EB - Don't know, told weekly shipments, keep checking back. We haven't heard anything. Don't know about a recall. Don't know anything basically.
Toys R Us - Recall. Our Managers told us recall, MFST had to fix something. Nothing new, "check back after holidays".
Circuit City - What, who, where? We don't have them, don't know, not in our system, won't know. Don't much care. Stop bothering us.
Walmart - Our computer system says it's gone, not there. We don't know. Check back after holidays. "Not in our computer system" was repeated at least 5 times, by differing branches.
Sams Club - Huh? What? Check with the regular stores. We don't do that here.
Fry's - We don't know. No, no no, no, no. No, I will not check on the computer. I know already, the answer is NO! You need that repeated? And even if so, by some Act of God, only in a super-bundle something. Fry's almost worse than Best Buy per staff annoyance at said question. Ask the 360 question with extreme caution.
Target - Recall, recall. Our management TOLD us there was a recall, some conference call. MFST has had to fix something. We expect maybe one or two minor shipments, but nothing major until after New Year.
PS - Least some good news...
Guillermo Del Toro, director of "Hellboy", has been tapped to direct Halo, word on street at least. People will get their 360s just in time for the opening. ;)
slimbloke @ Dec 6th 2005 5:04AM
I had a guaranteed delivery on the UK launch day on Friday, but alas, a Parcel Force employee has apparently stolen it at the depot (only 6 miles down the road!) and left me with 4 games, controllers and cables/batteries but nothing to play them on! Phh!
Tim-B @ Dec 5th 2005 9:24PM
I live in the Washington D.C. area and have been checking several stores daily and monitoring about two dozen online retailers. There has been no sign of a 360 since launch day. I am getting very gloomy about Christmas. My kid asked for a gamecube. Here's a thought -- maybe I should give him what he asked for!!?!!