New system availability

[JamesD]

Well, a quick look around in local stores over the weekend revealed what's hot and what's not in game systems.

There were over 25 (more like 50 at one) PS3's in both Best Buy's I visited.

There was a small stack of the cheap XBox 360s, a handful of the next model up, plenty of the most expensive edition and they couldn't seem to give away the ugly Halo edition.

Not one Wii in stock anywhere.

[DragonmasterDan]

Well, a quick look around in local stores over the weekend revealed what's hot and what's not in game systems.

There were over 25 (more like 50 at one) PS3's in both Best Buy's I visited.

There was a small stack of the cheap XBox 360s, a handful of the next model up, plenty of the most expensive edition and they couldn't seem to give away the ugly Halo edition.

Not one Wii in stock anywhere.

 

That's pretty typical. DS's are gradually getting harder to find as the days draw closer and closer to Christmas.

[Gabriel]

And then there are games.

 

Bargain bins have been devoured. If a game was under $20, it has been snagged. Even unsellable shite like the GBA movies and PSP poker games have sold out.

 

GameCube, original XBox, and GBA games continue to rot on shelves. No one wants them. Stores apparrently can't give them away. Some of this is undoubtably due to price. The games in these sections tend to be moldy oldies with $30-$40 price tags.

 

PS2 and XBox 360 games are the big sellers. Sections for each of these systems typically appear heavily looted. On Black Friday, nearly everyone at Circuit City had at least one Xbox 360 game in their hands at the checkout. One guy was buying at least a dozen 360 games.

 

Wii and PSP game sections look like no one ever visits. DS game sections are a slight bit better, but mostly the same. People seem to be buying controllers for the Wii like they're stocking up on canned goods before doomsday.

[Atari5200]

sounds like around me Gabrial other than the PSP, usually DS shelves are plentiful, but still looks like the software is selling fine, the Wii shelves are stocked so full they have to load them under the shelves and out side the cases in other areas, looks like nobody is buying Wii software at all, but you can't find a Wii system anywhere, makes sense huh? 360 shelves, as well as PS2 always have open areas of sold out games, I would agree that these 2 systems are selling the most software, PSP seems to compare with the DS, there are maybe 1 or 2 spots of sold out games, but for the most part the shelves are full, but not all the way full to the back of the rack or spilling over into other parts like the Wii games do, PS3 seems to be barely doing better than the Wii games.

 

As for systems, I've seen no 360 arcades anywhere, and only the elite and halo versions elsewhere and in low numbers. DS are plentiful, PSP plentiful, PS2 plentiful, PS3 plentiful, Wii nowhere to be found. Even the GBA Micro is still plentiful.

[Tempest]

The problem with the GC games is that all the good titles disappeared this summer and all that's left are craptacular games for way too much $30 for some shitty movie license? I think not...

 

I had a hard time finding some PSP games, although they seem to be well stocked still.

 

As for PS3 games, where are the budget titles? Everything is $60 still with a few exceptions (Enchanted Arms and Oblivion). Shouldn't lauch titles like Dynasty Wars be $39 by now?

 

Tempest

[DragonmasterDan]

Just curious, where is everyone from? I think the size of the metro area may play into availability of stuff. I've heard if you go out into the middle of nowhere even Wii's are locatable.

 

Where I live in Metro Chicago I've only seen Wiis for sale twice since launch and none recently for example.

 

I see the two main variations of the 360 frequently (the arcade and premium model) Elites are harder to come by, I see the Halo 3 versions here and there.

 

There is no shortage of PS3s or even PS2s.

 

Strangely I don't see many GBA systems. I do see a lot of GBA games.

 

The problem with the GC games is that all the good titles disappeared this summer and all that's left are craptacular games for way too much $30 for some shitty movie license? I think not...

 

I'm seeing occasional players choice copies of stuff like Mario Sunshine, Smash Bros etc.

[nathanallan]

here in El Paso, the market is smaller for games and systems. If I really look I can find a new Wii (used is more plentiful, don't know why). And all the gameboy, GB pocket, color and advance are just gone. The local gamecrazy has a few PSP's, a few gamecubes and original xbox's. I barely go into gamestop anymore. There is ON game store that is independent, and he may or may not have anything, I hardly ever go there cause his prices are pretty outrageous. He still wants $14 for Mario Bros./Duck Hunt for NES!

 

Anyway, I have to know somebody to get something. I chose gamecrazy, those guys are nicest.

[bdog_147]

The Wii is still very hard to come by in my area it is rare for me to see one in stores.

 

The 360 they always seem to have plenty of those. Lots of arcades, 4 premiums, a few elites and a few halo ones.

 

It is much easier to get the 40gig ps3. I hardly ever see the 80gig around.

 

Ds and PSP are easy to get here as well.

[Atari5200]

Pittsburgh area here. Wii's and 360 arcade systems are scarce from what I seen, haven't seen an arcade system since it was released. Still have only seen a few wii's since it's launch.

[Brian R.]

I get the impression that the PS2 and its games are still very popular. My stepmother bought a PS2 game for my niece, who got a PS2 just last year. I remember hearing one of the biggest competitors to the PS3 is the PS2, because many people don't want to pay so much for the new system. It's strange. Usually new hardware trumps and replaces old hardware.

 

Combined with the continual lack of availability of the Wii so long after its release, it's just weird out there in the market. Glad I'm not in it.

[DragonmasterDan]

Pittsburgh area here. Wii's and 360 arcade systems are scarce from what I seen, haven't seen an arcade system since it was released. Still have only seen a few wii's since it's launch.

 

I see the 360 Arcade's frequently, the Elite's are a lot less common

[JamesD]

Elite's are less common because they ordered fewer of them to begin with. I've never seen them out of stock though.

People's observations about discount games is so true.

Halflife 2 for the XBOX was in the bargain bin at Circuit City all summer... then when I went to buy one for my brother at the start of November... all gone. All dozen or more that had been there all that time.

 

Sure Wii games are stacked everywhere... and so are PS3 games. Nothing out of stock though.

PS2... if something new shows up cheap... all gone.

I didn't look at XBOX or Gamecube titles.

 

PS2s are being carried in smaller quantities this year and they aren't flying off the shelves... at least not yet.

The rumors of cheaper ones after the start of the year might be affecting some sales though.

The white model with the singing game seems to be in limited supply. Don't know if it's due to sales or stores carrying small numbers.

 

I'm in the Denver area btw.

Edited December 6, 2007 by JamesD

[FastRobPlus]

There was a small stack of the cheap XBox 360s, a handful of the next model up, plenty of the most expensive edition and they couldn't seem to give away the ugly Halo edition.

Not one Wii in stock anywhere.

 

FWIW, the Halo 3 consoles were a lifetime buy, so some retailers bought epic amounts. Once they are gone they won't come back. I remember it was this way wiht the Halo v1 console. They were in stores for a really long time then dried out never to be seen again.

[DragonmasterDan]

There was a small stack of the cheap XBox 360s, a handful of the next model up, plenty of the most expensive edition and they couldn't seem to give away the ugly Halo edition.

Not one Wii in stock anywhere.

 

FWIW, the Halo 3 consoles were a lifetime buy, so some retailers bought epic amounts. Once they are gone they won't come back. I remember it was this way wiht the Halo v1 console. They were in stores for a really long time then dried out never to be seen again.

 

I think the reason so many are sitting around is the price, there's no value in buying it over the normal premium model except collectability, Especially considering the 2 pack in titles with the premium.