MS's Ballmer claims 360 is an 'unqualified success'
by Dustin Burg 
{ Oct 6th 2008 at 4:15PM }
In an interview with Mercury News, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was happy to acknowledge the Xbox 360's success and also wanted to make it clear that the recent 360 price cuts had absolutely nothing to do with console sales.
"Xbox is an unqualified success" said Ballmer, adding "the product is selling very well" and that "the Xbox is an absolute home run." And when Mercury News pushed the point a bit further, asking whether or not a 360 price cut was a last ditch effort to spur console sales, Ballmer responded with an emphatic "no" saying "that's the craziest thing I've ever heard anybody say. All consoles start at higher prices. They always come down through the long cycle." Word!
There you have it, an Xbox 360 sales status report from Mr. Microsoft himself. We say, preach on Ballmer and don't let anyone mock you for sporting pink boxing gloves. Ever.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
warlock7 @ Oct 6th 2008 4:53PM
I suppose RROD doesn't matter to him...
Christopher @ Oct 6th 2008 5:05PM
I was just gonna say could he pass a note to the repair center about my RROD xbox.
philmcphail (Free Mr.ESC!) @ Oct 6th 2008 7:13PM
OF COURSE IT DOESN'T!!!11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
joeybeast @ Oct 6th 2008 4:54PM
The only person on the planet that would describe the same product with "unqualified success" and "an absolute home run"
in one sentence.
He's like that sales man who keeps on talking even thought he's not making sense any more, and the customers already made up their minds.
guidedbyvoip @ Oct 6th 2008 5:43PM
/insert obligatory Palin comment here.
That is all.
Highimpact1 @ Oct 6th 2008 10:42PM
Ahahaha I just had to point out that was the perfect Palin joke.
;-)
ryan @ Oct 6th 2008 4:55PM
how is the RRoD situation these days anyways? is it Jasper, Pheonix or some other SKU now that fixed this?
whatever, won't matter to me with game installing this fall to take away that heat.
Loban @ Oct 6th 2008 5:21PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure it's not the spinning of the optical drive that causing the overheating/RRoD issues. Being able to install it on the harddrive isn't going to save on heat, just noise.
That being said, I'm pretty sure the RRoD issue essentially went away with the introduction of the Zephyr revision.
ryan @ Oct 7th 2008 12:18AM
ah, darn. i guess i was more hopeful that it did something extra. well, less parts moving and less fanwork the better anyway.
DJCUEBALL @ Oct 6th 2008 5:07PM
Yea like he's going to admit 2 price drops within a month were not a last ditch effort to spur sales.
ryan @ Oct 7th 2008 12:16AM
and why not? it's been 3 years and the next generation of consoles is right around the corner. i'd say it's about time for a price drop.
still expecting that PS3 price drop though, PS2 dropped what, a $100 within it's first 2 years?
Loban @ Oct 7th 2008 9:23AM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure it's not the spinning of the optical drive that causing the overheating/RRoD issues. Being able to install it on the harddrive isn't going to save on heat, just noise.
That being said, I'm pretty sure the RRoD issue essentially went away with the introduction of the Zephyr revision.
OmegaX @ Oct 6th 2008 5:37PM
Developers, developers, developers. Now with paint!
FIRST! ! ! @ Oct 6th 2008 5:46PM
Anyone who uses the, "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard anybody say." response is a lying.
It's called logic. PS3 sales up. 360 sales down. PS3 now relevant.
Lower 360 price. 360 sales back up again. PS3 now irrelavant.
wa27 @ Oct 6th 2008 5:47PM
"And do you know WHY the 360 is doing so well????
DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS"
Brian @ Oct 6th 2008 6:49PM
He's as "in space" as Steve Jobs... but much less dangerous.
philmcphail (Free Mr.ESC!) @ Oct 6th 2008 7:10PM
"Xbox is an unqualified success" said Ballmer, adding "the product is selling very well" and that "the Xbox is an absolute home run." And when Mercury News pushed the point a bit further, asking whether or not a 360 price cut was a last ditch effort to spur console sales, Ballmer responded with an emphatic "no" saying "that's the craziest thing I've ever heard anybody say. O RLLY?
Devin @ Oct 6th 2008 9:37PM
The only people who know the answer to the question are MS. We can say all day that he's lying, but for all we know he may be telling the truth. IMO he's just doing his job and of course covering up the fact that they had to lower the price....but with Xmas on the horizon, it could also be a strategic move, as well....
Larry @ Oct 7th 2008 10:16AM
Agreed. Microsoft seems to come into this generation with a plan, and it seems to be coming into fruition. They wanted to make the business profitable and for most part they have.
ScottishPrik @ Oct 6th 2008 10:02PM
Does anyone else find it a bit weird that xbox360 fanboy is full of PS3 fanboys.
ryan @ Oct 7th 2008 12:21AM
wherever people see BS, the flies will follow.
...and yes i'll admit i've seen and commented on some BS on PS3fanboy.
Philip @ Oct 7th 2008 12:42AM
i'm a ps360 fanboy you got a problem with that
Evan @ Oct 7th 2008 8:43AM
This "unqualified success" missed its Christmas '06 sales target so badly that Microsoft shut down manufacturing for 6 months to use up the unsold stock left over from Christmas.