(Australia) Gamers Brave the Elements for Xbox 360 Launch Options

[Xbox-Scene]

(Australia) Gamers Brave the Elements for Xbox 360 Launch -- Posted by XanTium on March 22 17:14 EST
From the Sydney Morning Herald:
[QUOTE]
A heavy downpour failed to dampen the enthusiasm of hundreds of Australian gamers who gathered at Sydney's Pitt Steet Mall on Wednesday night to take possession of their long awaited Xbox 360 gaming console at one minute past midnight.

The main Sydney launch activities took place at the EB Games store at Pitt Street Mall, and the Microsoft marketing machine was in overdrive with free pizza and red rain smocks distributed among a sodden crowd being entertained by live music, gaming booths and video walls.
Tom Golovodovski, operations manager for EB Games NSW estimated the crowd number at about 1000 and said the turnout had been fantastic in spite of the rain. "When a lauch like this happens, I don't think the weather really comes into it," he said.

Microsoft said it had taken a number measures to ensure it had adequate stock of the Xbox in Australia and one of those had included the unpopular decision made earlier this year to delay the Australian launch by 11 days.
Microsoft claims pre-sales figures indicate the first day takings will add up to the largest entertainment launch in Australian history, with the company expecting to make about $30-40 million in Xbox 360 retail sales at launch.
[/QUOTE]

Read More: smh.com.au

[mlapaglia]

sounds like it was fun, too bad they didn't have adequate xbox's for america though

[fahrenheit]

The delay was 21 days, not "11 days" (must be a typo). The console was originally scheduled for March 2nd.

I find it ironic and a bit of an insult that MS announced on the eve of the delayed launch downunder that they were ramping up production to triple their efforts due to the PS3 delay. How convenient.

This post has been edited by fahrenheit: Mar 23 2006, 12:08 AM

[JUANVAN]

What I find funny is it was RAINING!!!
How many of waited out in the rain for this BOX!

[3dfx_ownd_joo]

well the console launch in New ZEaland couldn't have gone any better, i was about 40th in line, and there were still about 60 consoles to give out.

yay finally have my 360

[HoRnEyDvL]

LOlL i was at EB hurstville hahaha. Was like number 2 in line was psyched as soon as i got my 360 i launched it from the roof carpark to the footpath bellow.

[OTSS]

so does oblivion or graw launch with the 360 there? if not when does it come out?

[lantus]

yes both graw and oblivion were launched here

not sure about sydney but here in melbourne it was a bit underwhelming. After hearing news reports that K-Mart near my house would be host of hundreds queing up to get a 360, when i got there at 10 minutes to midnight there were like 5 people waiting - certainly nothing like the scenes in the usa last year.

still i finally got mine and am a happy camper

[Sovanox]

What region is Australia considered? Is it PAL or NTSC/J or something else...

[bourke]

11 days, are they living on the right planet - it was 21, ONE + TWENTY long days dammit!

[ILTB]

We are PAL here.

[yourM0M]

at least m$ was kind enough to pass out ponchos id say.....bet any retailer wouldnt have done anything of the nature....maybe the ps3 launch will get rained on in time square....i dont quiet understand why they launch things so late in aus. didnt h2 get released first in new zealand? well anyway good to hear things went well in "spite" of the rain

[simbot82]

stupid thing is we are the largest market per capita for the original xbox and yet we are launched after COLUMBIA

I have elders scrolls in my hot little hand. Huge slowdowns though every few minutes driving me nuts.

[Legendary Badass]

Go Aussies! It sure is nice to know that those down under are interested in our little console. I've heard that they're big on Halo too.

[myffonline]

Yeah mate we love Xbox, I think I read somewhere the original xbox had almost 40% market share at one point. Aussie Aussie Aussie!