Xbox 360 Release Diary

Xbox 360 Release Diary

The fateful day of November 22 looms on the horizon. While gamers sit eagerly in their rooms making space for the gaming beast, retail stores around the country get ready for the boom. Our very own Gregory Thompson happens to work in the electronics department of a retail store. He will be seeing the launch of the first next-gen system from behind the counter. Read his diary and learn what goes on behind the scenes leading up to the Xbox 360 launch!

Day One - November 15

One week until launch. Our warehouse received quantities of the Xbox 360, but I have to keep in mind that the warehouse distributes merchandise to over 100 stores in the Midwest. So by that logic, my store will be getting around 3 of the core systems and 4 of the loaded systems. The assistant manager over electronics will try to use his contacts at the warehouse to secure additional quantities, but I’m afraid he might be ridiculed. I know because I laughed at him. Games and accessories won’t be a problem, as they never are. Perfect Dark Zero is actually the game we’re getting the most of. Could the Xbox 360 be the Holy Grail system every parent and hardcore gamer will be searching for? Okay, anyone who’s even a casual gamer knows that every system launched near Christmas is the Holy Grail system. It may take a King Arthur to find one.

Laughable Question of the Day

“Could you hold an Xbox 360 for me when they come in?” Asks one mom who appears to have no clue what she’s getting herself into with the new system. “I’m sorry,” I reply, “but it will be first come first serve.” “Oh, but that’s the only thing they’re asking for for Christmas. They are good boys and deserve it.” “I’m sure they do, but it will be first come first serve.”

Calm Before the Storm

Tuesday, November 15 was actually a tame day with the standard questions, “Are you selling them at midnight”, “How many are you getting?”, and “Is there a limit to how many we can buy?” I have personally been fielding 3-5 phone calls per hour. This will undoubtedly increase as they week goes on and will especially skyrocket Monday.

Research

Ironically, I have one friend in each electronics department at two competing stores. One has oversold their presales and may only get 4 Xbox 360 systems to sell ou. The other may get 8. If only I could be a fly on the wall at their stores when it’s time to open their doors.

Tomorrow, Wednesday

• Midnight Plans
• Did my boss use his contacts at the warehouse to get more?

Day 2 - November 16

The morning went by without a hitch…or a phone call about Microsoft’s new system. Then around 11:30 or so, I had three customers in a row asking me about a rumor they heard on the Internet. Apparently, the rumor was the Microsoft was waiting to release the Xbox 360 in tandem with Halo 3. None of them could tell me their source, so the validity was immediately shot down. I searched on Yahoo about the rumor, but came up with nothing, which leads me to believe that it was started to scare gamers (and probably parents). I reassured them that Microsoft would communicate a delay in the system’s release to retailers. With a super-highway of information technology at their disposal, Microsoft could beam us the details in seconds. Life does not revolve around Halo…or does it?

More Research

The local Electronics Boutique gave me some interesting news. All of their sales of the Xbox 360 went to presells. While they did not oversell, they won’t be getting any for the launch date and will get no more than 70 before Christmas. No more than 70? That could be anywhere from 1 to 70.

The Contact

There was no information from the contact about how many we are getting and he neglected to mention the number of Xbox 360 systems we requested. If we don’t hear anything by Thursday, I’m guessing our call for 40 of the systems will go fruitless.

Midnight Plans

This is what’s been decided for our 12:01 a.m. launch:

• Two register lanes will be open: one for the system itself and another for purchasing games and accessories. Two employees will run the registers and two others will hand out games, etc.
• There will be no lines before 10 p.m. the night before.
• At 11:30 p.m. launch night, if there are more people than we have Xbox 360 systems, numbered tickets will be given out to those first in line. You cannot leave, otherwise you forfeit your place and ticket. That way, ticketless waiters can have a chance to go elsewhere if any other local store is doing a midnight launch. My boss thinks one of our competitors is doing that.

For Thursday, Day 3

• Now do we know how many we’re getting?
• A couple of tips on getting information
• What about the employees?

Day 3 - November 17

Wow, what a day! Well, we have received 21 Xbox 360 systems. Nine Core systems, and twelve ‘fully loaded’ systems. Also, our 360 interactive display arrived and I got to put it up…and test it out. I did wonder why we got it with less than a week to launch. We have all the games out and ready to sell since they were actually released on the 15th. Accessories are another story. I’ve seen neither hide nor hair of them.

Employees

It doesn’t shock me, but there are a number of employees who want the 360. From moms to hardcore gamers, I’d say about 10 employees want them. What also doesn’t shock me is that they want special treatment. They want them held. They want to put them on layaway. They want me to make sure they get one. Of course, I have to tell them the same thing I’ve been telling customers: first come, first serve at 12:01 a.m. on launch day. They get irritated, and that’s what peeves me off: they should be more understanding.

Getting Information

Here are a few tips on getting the information about launch dates and what stores are doing. Keep in mind that the only thing stores have to tell you is where the lines will start. Most stores have information signs up to direct you.

• Don’t call for information. As launch day gets closer, employees will receive more and more calls about the system. This is in addition to the regular calls AND customers they have to help in the store. Being so close to “T-Day” (the day after Thanksgiving), they are extremely busy. Take the time to go in. I am more willing to answer questions to someone who is face to face with me than someone who is too lazy to get in their car and drive on down.

• Find out who has the most information. You can do this by asking specific questions about the 360 that you already know. The most knowledgeable person is usually the person who actually cares what goes on during the launch. This is the person you want to talk to.

• Don’t ask for quantities ou. Stores usually instruct employees to just answer "I don’t know" when asked how many they got. Whoever you’re talking to from the previous piece of advice probably does know, but you can indirectly ask him how many they got. Find out when you should start waiting in line. Find out if they are doing a raffle (meaning they didn’t get a lot), or a first come/first serve line (got adequate quantities), or doing nothing (didn’t get any/just selling games). Some of the stores in my company are getting ZERO in order to allocate quantities to the bigger stores (like mine). So just pay attention to what your source says and how he says it. But if you must ask them how many they got and they answer "I don’t know", don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Day 4 - November 19

Okay, so someone actually tried to walk out with one of our empty Xbox 360 display boxes. We recently had to put bricks in them to keep them from falling over, so I guess the thief thought they had actual 360s in them. Security let them get all the way outside before stopping the guy. He was embarrassed to say the least, but since there was no value (except the guy’s pride) to the boxes, they had to let him go.

Call Frequency

Since the calls are increasing, we now have a ‘script’ we read off of about what we are doing for the launch. The most common question is still, “How many did you get?” And we are still saying “I don’t know” because rumor has it we are getting one more shipment of 360’s Monday. Hmmm, interesting.

Change of Plans

There have also been a change of plans for customers. Instead of a first come-first serve basis for handing out Xbox’s, there is now a lottery system because it is anticipated over 100 people will line up. This is speculated from the previous Xbox launch (around 70 showed up). Now, you will get a ticket at 11 p.m. the night before and at 12:01 tickets will be drawn at random. No more 1st in line, 1st 360. You have to be present to pick up your 360 AND purchase it. I honestly think the lottery system isn’t fair. You don’t know who’s getting one, which hinders any chance of people going elsewhere.

Xbox 360 Madden ‘06

We popped in Madden ’06 on our demo system and let me tell you that I nearly fainted at how awesome the game looked. The presentation was spectacular, the graphics mind-bending, and the controls smooth as silk (cliché, I know, but the game has me dreaming). And keep in mind that I’m not a Madden fan.

Day 5, November 21

Out of curiousity, I decided to visit all the retailers that are selling the Xbox 360 when I got off work at 2:30 today. When I left my store, there were already 23 people in line ready to go. That's 2 more than what we have in Xbox's, so I can't wait to see what will happen tonight. At Wal-Mart, they had a section of Men's cordoned off and 30-35 people were waiting. The number might be skewed because there were moms and dads with their children waiting in the same line. I couldn't tell who was more excited about the Xbox 360: parents or the kids. I went by Target, though I expected there not to be a line because they aren't doing anything for midnight. They will sell their Xbox's at their normal opening time. Two men were hovering around Electronics trying to find out where they could wait in line. The funny thing was they thought they could wait inside...until they realized Target isn't open 24 hours. Since Electronics Boutique is located near a main mall entrance, they had a line leading from their store to the doors. Only 12 people were waiting. All of the retailers I spoke to knew 2 things were going to happen:

1. They would sell out of the 360's, and...
2. They would have huge lines.

Most of them weren't sure how much other stuff they would sell like games and accessories. Since actual systems make minimal profits for retailers (less than 3%), they rely on game and accessory sales to help push profits of major systems. The stores that didn't do presells were afraid that people had already pre-purchased their games at other places. Retailers predicted that Call of Duty and the 3 $50 launch games would sell out first.

Day 6, November 22/23, The Day After

Well, all the systems went. With over 250 people waiting in line at 10 p.m. the night before, you knew nothing less was to be expected. Call of Duty 2 sold out, as did Project Gotham Racing. Unfortunately, we had no accessories to sell (poor core system owners) until Tuesday afternoon, when our warehouse finally shipped us the quantities we were suppose to have BEFORE launch. The mood was pretty light considering the lottery system and most of the customers I talked to said they liked that idea better because it gave anybody a chance to get one. Well, who got them? Mostly gamers, but I did talk to one mother who was excited to give this to her kid on Wednesday, which was his birthday. Also, on 55-year-old who was gaming way before I knew what a video game was. I talk to him for a while and he remembers playing the very first video game called "Space Wars". Wow, now that's nostalgic. Of course, the next day, the questions of the day were "Do you have any Xbox 360's left?" and "Do you know when your next shipment will arrive?". Of course, the answers are "No" and "No". I know people don't believe me when I say I don't know when our next shipment arrives. I really don't. I don't expect any news for at least a week, until Microsoft gets their quantities under control and they start shipping to retailers again. Launch night and day was fun and I never regret working launch days for video games and systems. The people are usually upbeat and willing to have a good time and have no problem moving on if they don't get one. But I still feel sorry for the core system owners, since we only got one hard drive in.
[[[Xbox 360 News]]]

Xbox 360 Release Diary

The fateful day of November 22 looms on the horizon. While gamers sit eagerly in their rooms making space for the gaming beast, retail stores around the country get ready for the boom.

Our very own Gregory Thompson happens to work in the electronics department of a retail store. He will be seeing the launch of the first next-gen system from behind the counter. Read his diary and learn what goes on behind the scenes leading up to the Xbox 360 launch!

Day One - November 15

One week until launch. Our warehouse received quantities of the Xbox 360, but I have to keep in mind that the warehouse distributes merchandise to over 100 stores in the Midwest. So by that logic, my store will be getting around 3 of the core systems and 4 of the loaded systems. The assistant manager over electronics will try to use his contacts at the warehouse to secure additional quantities, but I’m afraid he might be ridiculed. I know because I laughed at him.

Games and accessories won’t be a problem, as they never are. Perfect Dark Zero is actually the game we’re getting the most of. Could the Xbox 360 be the Holy Grail system every parent and hardcore gamer will be searching for? Okay, anyone who’s even a casual gamer knows that every system launched near Christmas is the Holy Grail system. It may take a King Arthur to find one.

Laughable Question of the Day

“Could you hold an Xbox 360 for me when they come in?” Asks one mom who appears to have no clue what she’s getting herself into with the new system.

“I’m sorry,” I reply, “but it will be first come first serve.”

“Oh, but that’s the only thing they’re asking for for Christmas. They are good boys and deserve it.”

“I’m sure they do, but it will be first come first serve.”

Calm Before the Storm

Tuesday, November 15 was actually a tame day with the standard questions, “Are you selling them at midnight”, “How many are you getting?”, and “Is there a limit to how many we can buy?” I have personally been fielding 3-5 phone calls per hour. This will undoubtedly increase as they week goes on and will especially skyrocket Monday.

Research

Ironically, I have one friend in each electronics department at two competing stores. One has oversold their presales and may only get 4 Xbox 360 systems to sell outright. The other may get 8. If only I could be a fly on the wall at their stores when it’s time to open their doors.

Tomorrow, Wednesday

• Midnight Plans
• Did my boss use his contacts at the warehouse to get more?

Day 2 - November 16

The morning went by without a hitch…or a phone call about Microsoft’s new system. Then around 11:30 or so, I had three customers in a row asking me about a rumor they heard on the Internet. Apparently, the rumor was the Microsoft was waiting to release the Xbox 360 in tandem with Halo 3. None of them could tell me their source, so the validity was immediately shot down.

I searched on Yahoo about the rumor, but came up with nothing, which leads me to believe that it was started to scare gamers (and probably parents). I reassured them that Microsoft would communicate a delay in the system’s release to retailers. With a super-highway of information technology at their disposal, Microsoft could beam us the details in seconds. Life does not revolve around Halo…or does it?

More Research

The local Electronics Boutique gave me some interesting news. All of their sales of the Xbox 360 went to presells. While they did not oversell, they won’t be getting any for the launch date and will get no more than 70 before Christmas. No more than 70? That could be anywhere from 1 to 70.

The Contact

There was no information from the contact about how many we are getting and he neglected to mention the number of Xbox 360 systems we requested. If we don’t hear anything by Thursday, I’m guessing our call for 40 of the systems will go fruitless.

Midnight Plans

This is what’s been decided for our 12:01 a.m. launch:

• Two register lanes will be open: one for the system itself and another for purchasing games and accessories. Two employees will run the registers and two others will hand out games, etc.
• There will be no lines before 10 p.m. the night before.
• At 11:30 p.m. launch night, if there are more people than we have Xbox 360 systems, numbered tickets will be given out to those first in line. You cannot leave, otherwise you forfeit your place and ticket. That way, ticketless waiters can have a chance to go elsewhere if any other local store is doing a midnight launch. My boss thinks one of our competitors is doing that.

For Thursday, Day 3

• Now do we know how many we’re getting?
• A couple of tips on getting information
• What about the employees?

Day 3 - November 17

Wow, what a day! Well, we have received 21 Xbox 360 systems. Nine Core systems, and twelve ‘fully loaded’ systems. Also, our 360 interactive display arrived and I got to put it up…and test it out. I did wonder why we got it with less than a week to launch. We have all the games out and ready to sell since they were actually released on the 15th. Accessories are another story. I’ve seen neither hide nor hair of them.

Employees

It doesn’t shock me, but there are a number of employees who want the 360. From moms to hardcore gamers, I’d say about 10 employees want them. What also doesn’t shock me is that they want special treatment. They want them held. They want to put them on layaway. They want me to make sure they get one. Of course, I have to tell them the same thing I’ve been telling customers: first come, first serve at 12:01 a.m. on launch day. They get irritated, and that’s what peeves me off: they should be more understanding.

Getting Information

Here are a few tips on getting the information about launch dates and what stores are doing. Keep in mind that the only thing stores have to tell you is where the lines will start. Most stores have information signs up to direct you.

• Don’t call for information. As launch day gets closer, employees will receive more and more calls about the system. This is in addition to the regular calls AND customers they have to help in the store. Being so close to “T-Day” (the day after Thanksgiving), they are extremely busy. Take the time to go in. I am more willing to answer questions to someone who is face to face with me than someone who is too lazy to get in their car and drive on down.

• Find out who has the most information. You can do this by asking specific questions about the 360 that you already know. The most knowledgeable person is usually the person who actually cares what goes on during the launch. This is the person you want to talk to.

• Don’t ask for quantities outright. Stores usually instruct employees to just answer "I don’t know" when asked how many they got. Whoever you’re talking to from the previous piece of advice probably does know, but you can indirectly ask him how many they got. Find out when you should start waiting in line. Find out if they are doing a raffle (meaning they didn’t get a lot), or a first come/first serve line (got adequate quantities), or doing nothing (didn’t get any/just selling games). Some of the stores in my company are getting ZERO in order to allocate quantities to the bigger stores (like mine). So just pay attention to what your source says and how he says it. But if you must ask them how many they got and they answer "I don’t know", don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Day 4 - November 19

Okay, so someone actually tried to walk out with one of our empty Xbox 360 display boxes. We recently had to put bricks in them to keep them from falling over, so I guess the thief thought they had actual 360s in them. Security let them get all the way outside before stopping the guy. He was embarrassed to say the least, but since there was no value (except the guy’s pride) to the boxes, they had to let him go.

Call Frequency

Since the calls are increasing, we now have a ‘script’ we read off of about what we are doing for the launch. The most common question is still, “How many did you get?” And we are still saying “I don’t know” because rumor has it we are getting one more shipment of 360’s Monday. Hmmm, interesting.

Change of Plans

There have also been a change of plans for customers. Instead of a first come-first serve basis for handing out Xbox’s, there is now a lottery system because it is anticipated over 100 people will line up. This is speculated from the previous Xbox launch (around 70 showed up). Now, you will get a ticket at 11 p.m. the night before and at 12:01 tickets will be drawn at random. No more 1st in line, 1st 360. You have to be present to pick up your 360 AND purchase it. I honestly think the lottery system isn’t fair. You don’t know who’s getting one, which hinders any chance of people going elsewhere.

Xbox 360 Madden ‘06

We popped in Madden ’06 on our demo system and let me tell you that I nearly fainted at how awesome the game looked. The presentation was spectacular, the graphics mind-bending, and the controls smooth as silk (cliché, I know, but the game has me dreaming). And keep in mind that I’m not a Madden fan.

Day 5, November 21

Out of curiousity, I decided to visit all the retailers that are selling the Xbox 360 when I got off work at 2:30 today. When I left my store, there were already 23 people in line ready to go. That's 2 more than what we have in Xbox's, so I can't wait to see what will happen tonight.

At Wal-Mart, they had a section of Men's cordoned off and 30-35 people were waiting. The number might be skewed because there were moms and dads with their children waiting in the same line. I couldn't tell who was more excited about the Xbox 360: parents or the kids.

I went by Target, though I expected there not to be a line because they aren't doing anything for midnight. They will sell their Xbox's at their normal opening time. Two men were hovering around Electronics trying to find out where they could wait in line. The funny thing was they thought they could wait inside...until they realized Target isn't open 24 hours.

Since Electronics Boutique is located near a main mall entrance, they had a line leading from their store to the doors. Only 12 people were waiting.

All of the retailers I spoke to knew 2 things were going to happen:

1. They would sell out of the 360's, and...
2. They would have huge lines.

Most of them weren't sure how much other stuff they would sell like games and accessories. Since actual systems make minimal profits for retailers (less than 3%), they rely on game and accessory sales to help push profits of major systems. The stores that didn't do presells were afraid that people had already pre-purchased their games at other places.

Retailers predicted that Call of Duty and the 3 $50 launch games would sell out first.

Day 6, November 22/23, The Day After

Well, all the systems went. With over 250 people waiting in line at 10 p.m. the night before, you knew nothing less was to be expected. Call of Duty 2 sold out, as did Project Gotham Racing. Unfortunately, we had no accessories to sell (poor core system owners) until Tuesday afternoon, when our warehouse finally shipped us the quantities we were suppose to have BEFORE launch.

The mood was pretty light considering the lottery system and most of the customers I talked to said they liked that idea better because it gave anybody a chance to get one. Well, who got them? Mostly gamers, but I did talk to one mother who was excited to give this to her kid on Wednesday, which was his birthday. Also, on 55-year-old who was gaming way before I knew what a video game was. I talk to him for a while and he remembers playing the very first video game called "Space Wars". Wow, now that's nostalgic.

Of course, the next day, the questions of the day were "Do you have any Xbox 360's left?" and "Do you know when your next shipment will arrive?". Of course, the answers are "No" and "No". I know people don't believe me when I say I don't know when our next shipment arrives. I really don't. I don't expect any news for at least a week, until Microsoft gets their quantities under control and they start shipping to retailers again.

Launch night and day was fun and I never regret working launch days for video games and systems. The people are usually upbeat and willing to have a good time and have no problem moving on if they don't get one.

But I still feel sorry for the core system owners, since we only got one hard drive in.