X-Box sales in Europe!!

[Perfect Stu]

Originally posted by Angrist
I saw heaps of X-Box boxes in stores today. At least 15 in one store.

Angrist, we get your point. But really, that means nothing. One store? I'll wait for an official announcement, just like these other people.

[Bond]

Originally posted by Angrist
I saw heaps of X-Box boxes in stores today. At least 15 in one store.

That's great! I'm glad that Microsoft is keeping a good stock!

But I agree with Perfect Stu, please stop these pointless comments. Actually display some facts and real numbers, then someone may believe you.

Wait till the official announcement. Is it really that hard to do?

[Old Skool]

XBOX EUROPEAN LAUNCH A SUCCESS
[/b]
LONDON, 20th March 2002 – The dust has cleared from the European launch of Xbox, the future-generation video game system from Microsoft, and preliminary reports indicate it’s a runaway hit.

Thousands of gamers queued up at stores in the 16 European launch countries on the evening of 13th March to be among the first to purchase Xbox, resulting in a near sell-out in its first day at retail. Early reports also show a huge demand for games and accessories, with most customers leaving stores not only with an Xbox, but with multiple games and accessories. Top-selling games include “Halo™,” “Project Gotham Racing™,” “RalliSport Challenge” and “Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee™” from Microsoft® Game Studios, and “Dead or Alive 3” from Tecmo, “Max Payne” from Take-Two Interactive, Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions from Activision, and “Jet Set Radio Future” from Sega/Infogrames.

“We have been pleased with Xbox sales over its first weekend,” said Lisa Morgan, Commercial Director for GAME and Electronics Boutique. “Hardware sales were particularly impressive on launch day and we’ve seen a good attachment rate covering both 1st and 3rd-party games. The strong line-up of day-one games has undoubtedly contributed to a successful console launch for Microsoft.”

Microsoft’s replenishment strategy means that a steady supply of Xbox systems will be hitting retail on a weekly basis, ensuring there is enough product to cope with current demand. Microsoft expects to ship between 4.5 million and 6 million Xbox systems world-wide by the end of June. Xbox is the only console manufacturer with a European factory (in Sárvár, Hungary), which means stock can reach any retail outlet in Europe in under three days.

“I’m excited to finally see Xbox in the hands of gamers,” said Sandy Duncan, Vice President, Xbox Europe. “I’ve always known that Xbox is the best video game system ever, but after playing games with people at launch I see that gamers also recognise the amazing power and intense fun that only Xbox can offer. European gamers have welcomed Xbox into their hearts and into their homes in a big way.”

Word-of-mouth recommendations and stellar reviews are driving gamers to the great games available on Xbox, including “Halo,” which earned a perfect 10 score from the influential European gaming bible Edge.

Twenty Xbox titles are now on sale, with more lined up in the next two weeks such as F1 2002 (Electronic Arts), Genma Onimusha (Capcom), Championship Manager: Season 01/02 (Eidos), and Shrek (TDK Mediactive). And, a steady stream of titles will support Xbox up to June 2002, including FIFA World Cup 2002 (Electronic Arts), International Superstar Soccer 2 (Konami), Moto GP (THQ), Spiderman: The Movie (Activision), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Electronic Arts) and Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex (Universal Interactive).

"We had a very good weekend with Xbox," said Bruno Bonnell, Founder and CEO, Infogrames. "We have had to produce more copies of Jet Set Radio Future, one of our Xbox launch titles, to keep up with demand. Trans World Surf is also doing well for us. This is a very good sign for the long-term success of Xbox, and we look forward to a long partnership."

The buzz surrounding the launch of Xbox manifested itself in many ways. A survey of new Xbox owners by Amazon.co.uk suggested that 74% were planning to take a day off work to stay home and play games – nearly half (46%) were going to feign illness as an excuse. Celebrities are not immune to the charm of Xbox either – it even contributed to Britney Spears' recent split from Justin Timberlake due to his apparent preference for Xbox. And anecdotal reports show that Xbox has entered our vocabularies – sorry Harry Potter, but “wizard” is out…if something’s cool, then it’s “totally Xbox”![/b]

[Professor S]

Gee, that seemed to shut everyone up, didn't it?

[Bond]

Originally posted by The Strangler
Gee, that seemed to shut everyone up, didn't it?

Indeed.

[Xantar]

I'm not saying that this was a bad launch (if the numbers about PS2's launch are right, then XBox did really well), but isn't Europe supposed to be the biggest videogame market? Is it because Europeans buy the most software rather than the most consoles?

Wait a second. That's not the article I thought it was. Where is it from? I was thinking of a Computer and Videogames article which said XBox sold 80,000 in the first 3 days (which was apparently good compared to PS2's 70,000).

Anyways, I hate to sound like the nitpicking fanboy, but I didn't see any solid numbers in PuPPeT's article. All I saw was pleased statements from Microsoft and retailers which isn't a bad thing but doesn't quite have the impact of a nice, solid number. Did I miss something?

[Shadow_Link]

Take this information however the way you want to take it...

In short, Xbox software is doing very well around europe, though ofcourse, none of the games (not even Halo) could reach number one, as MGS2 has been dominating recently.

But if you wanted hardware figures, read this...

Estimates suggest that 48,000 machines were sold during Xbox's launch week.

link

Though that most likely was in the UK, and not the whole of Europe...

[Bond]

Originally posted by Shadow_Link
Though that most likely was in the UK, and not the whole of Europe...

Really? That's quite surprising.

[Angrist]

It seems like M$ still hasn't released official numbers....

And if what Xantar and Shadow_Link are saying is true (80.000 in whole Europe, 48.000 in GB only), than that's kinda sad. That means they sold more XB's in the UK than in the rest of Europe together.

[Bond]

Originally posted by Angrist
It seems like M$ still hasn't released official numbers....

And if what Xantar and Shadow_Link are saying is true (80.000 in whole Europe, 48.000 in GB only), than that's kinda sad. That means they sold more XB's in the UK than in the rest of Europe together.

Angrist please stop your speculation. It brings you no where and it's pointless.

Once again if you could just have patience and wait for the official numbers.

But if you want to take speculation, actually read it correctly:

article which said XBox sold 80,000 in the first 3 days (which was apparently good compared to PS2's 70,000).

[Angrist]

What's taking them so long!??!

[Professor S]

Why do you care so much?

[Bond]

Originally posted by Angrist


What's taking them so long!??!

I'm not sure, nor do I care.

If you are so concerned about the matter then why don't you just e-mail Microsoft and ask them?

[Angrist]

That might be a good idea. In the meanwhile, I made this new poll on a Dutch site. http://www.thefellowship.nl/forum/sh...?threadid=1903
Now I'm sure the GCN will win from the XB in Holland. Luckily, I live there.

[Bond]

Originally posted by Angrist
That might be a good idea. In the meanwhile, I made this new poll on a Dutch site. http://www.thefellowship.nl/forum/sh...?threadid=1903
Now I'm sure the GCN will win from the XB in Holland. Luckily, I live there.

Polls are inconclusive and mean nothing.

Just thought I'd throw that in...

For the fourth time, could you please just leave this subject at rest until something official is announced and stop whining.