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HMV's Xbox 360 MGS 4 listing was a mistake
Oops, it sounds like UK retailer HMV made a mistake and caused quite the fanboy frenzy this weekend. Yesterday, HMV started taking pre-orders for a yet to be announced (or even confirmed) Xbox 360 version of MGS 4, which in turn caused a lot of fanboy arguing and excitement that a retailer was actually acknowledging the game's existence on the 360. But fanboys, it was all a mistake. This morning GamesIndustry.biz caught up with the UK retailer to talk about the MGS 4 listing when HMV admitted that the pre-order page was created in error saying that,"In his enthusiasm, one of our online games team indicated that hmv.co.uk would start taking pre-orders for MGS4 on Xbox 360, when, in fact, he simply meant to ask customers if they wished to receive an alert in the event of this title one day coming out on this platform."So, there you have it. It was a simple admin mistake and now we know that the retailer didn't have any insider's information. We guess it's time to restart our countdown clock and wait patiently until the next "MGS 4 is so headed to the 360" rumor surfaces. We'll give it another two days.
HMV reports healthy console sales all around, PS3 exceeds
Popular retailer HMV reports that every console is selling as expected. Nope, no flamebait here. This is an opportunity for all of us to pat one another on the back. Let's break down how the store reports each console is performing. We'll start with our namesake, of course. The PlayStation 3 is meeting sales expectations, sometimes exceeding them! When games start dropping, sales are anticipated to improve. If the price drops, they expect an even larger sales boost. The Wii is, as always, in high demand. However, Nintendo has upped the ante and supplies are reportedly starting to stabilize. Microsoft's Xbox 360, despite being on the market for a lot longer than the competition, is still performing well. Like with the PS3, sales boosts are expected should the pricing for the console change. Hats off, all around. We're all doing well (some more than others) and we all deserve praise for actually having a gaming market where three consoles are all doing relatively well. It's impressive. Perhaps the HMV spokesperson Tim Ellis put it best: "From a retail and customer perspective it's great to have three games heavyweights relatively matched and vying for market domination. This creative tension is leading to fantastic innovative technology and brilliant games."
HMV says PS3 sales doing as expected
HMV tells GI.biz that the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 are causing healthy sales at the beginning of what is typically the quiet summer months. HMV also says that the PS3 is "exceeding" sales targets but thinks they'll see better performance when (if) Sony drops the price. They say the Wii and Xbox 360 are both performing solidly.Timm Ellis, head of games for HMV says, "From a retail and customer perspective it's great to have three games heavyweights relatively matched and vying for market domination. This creative tension is leading to fantastic innovative technology and brilliant games."We're curious to see how game sales performance goes this summer (or winter for you south of the equator). The industry feels considerably different in this PSN, XBLA era and the summer game drought just doesn't seem as pronounced as it was in the past. If sales continue strong through the summer we may see a solid year-round release schedule in the coming years. The summer is still a good time to catch up on the games you may have missed. Remember, the sun causes cancer.
HMV and SEGA -- friends, in all capital letters, for your PS3 launch
At the HMV store on Oxford Street, which we admittedly have no idea where that may be, SEGA will be teaming up with the store for an early morning PlayStation 3 launch party. It starts at 7:30AM, but you should probably appear at 7:30PM the previous night. Why? The first 150 people at the party will get a copy of the new Virtua Tennis title. So, you could sleep, but you could also save $60, or have a really nice trade-in somewhere else, if you know what we mean. Can you see us winking? No? A shame.A spokesperson explained why the 7:30AM opening and not the midnight opening, as planned by many other stores as well as other HMV's: "We will be opening 50 key stores around the country at midnight. However, we have decided to open the doors of our Oxford Street store at 7.30am on the Friday. We believe this is the most practical response to various sets of circumstances."So, anyone going to be there? If there turns out to be a big line and giant SEGA banners and whatnot, we'd love to accept your pictures and slap up an article about it. We'd go, but... sort of an oversea flight. Our apologies!
HMV scraps the PS3 + PSP bundle
When we first discussed the European retailer HMV's plan to allow PS3 pre-orders so long as you also promised to buy a PSP, there were mixed feelings. These feelings ranged from bad to worse. In fact, so negative was the public outcry, HMV was forced to scrap the deal altogether. Now, they've changed their strategy to a "first come, first served basis, with priority going to those customers who registered an initial interest to receive PS3 pre-order details once they were confirmed."The company went on to explain, "Now that we've been able to confirm our level of PS3 stock with Sony, we're in a position to revise our original online offer. We will therefore be writing imminently to all the customers who have indicated that they wish to make the dual purchase to advise them that they can now pre-order the PS3 console by itself, if they prefer." Which they do. Probably. So, how do you guys feel now? The voice of the public can make a difference!
HMV's PS3 bundle draws criticism from UK retailers
MCV reports that potential PS3 buyers aren't the only ones to express concern with HMV's recent decision to create a monstrous PS3-PSP bundle. The UK retailer, which initially guaranteed PS3 pre-orders to customers who also picked up a PSP, a 4GB Memory Stick and 2 PSP games (grand total: £675), has since done away with the launch prioritization -- though the bundle remains an option.When questioned about the deal, competing UK retailers expressed no desire to create similar bundles. Martin Baxter, head of games at Choices UK, stated that, "We won't be following HMV's lead on the PSP pre-order bundle, because we won't hold our customers to ransom."Virgin Megastores' Stephen Lynn was a bit more subtle, explaining their decision to "keep things simple" and and to avoid "confusing our customers over any product – let alone one of this expense." HMV refused to comment on the matter.
HMV bundles PSP with PS3 pre-orders
GamesIndustry.biz is reporting consumers who want to pre-order a PS3 from British retailer HMV Online will have to buy a £250 PSP bundle at the same time. The offer, e-mailed to registered HMV customers, is open to the first 5,000 customers willing to pay £675 (a whopping $1328) for the bundle, which also includes two PSP games and a 4GB memory stick. Forced bundles for new systems are of course nothing new, but this is the first one we've seen that forces you to pick up a whole 'nother system just to get the latest hardware. The bundle won't actually save you any money over buying all the parts separately, but it does ensure that HMV will "ship your PlayStation 3 to you from our warehouse as soon as we receive consoles from Sony." But what about potential PS3 buyers who already have a PSP? As a Sony spokesman told GI.biz, "consumers are free to shop around to find a package that best suits their own needs, and offers the greatest value for money." That'll teach you to be an early adopter! [Via PS3Fanboy]
European retailer taking PS3 pre-orders, but you have to buy a PSP too
Well, it was bound to happen. Retailers are starting to toss in conditional pre-order ultimatums. They taunt you with the promise of a PS3 pre-order, but wring your neck and shout into your ear in a comical fashion (if you're on the outside of the conflict) "you want PS3? You buy PSP too! Now price come to GPB 675!" What retailer would do such a thing? Apparently, it's the online store for HMV. Along with the 4GB PSP model, you'd also score two games for the handheld: Killzone Liberation and Gangs of London.The America's launch saw similar packages -- multiple games, mostly. However, while getting a PSP with the PS3 may seem like a horrible theft of your wallet's livelihood, remember that the two systems work in tandem. You can get a lot out of utilizing both. We're not saying to "go for the package deal!" but... if you've wanted a PSP, this is an opportune time to score both items, along with two of the better PSP titles. Of course, GPB 675 is a very large wad of cash, so this is certainly aimed at the hardest of the core. Well guys, think about it, let us know what you think and realize that there are many other retailers to visit if this doesn't settle well with you (and it should appeal to an elite few, honestly).[via GamesIndustry.biz]
Wii launches in Europe, loads of people buy it
The demand for the system has been "unprecedented," according to Nintendo UK's David Yarnton. He notes that Nintendo is very confident about the Wii's launch and predicts nothing but a huge success -- a prediction very much backed up by the gigantic lines that formed at the UK's HMV store in Oxford Street yesterday. The crowd even had to be broken up and asked to return at a later stage, though not before being given several (likely sturdy) wristbands. Speaking to Gamesindustry.biz, Tim Ellis, head of games at HMV, says that demand is most certainly exceeding supply and that the retailer could easily have "sold many more times than we've got, to be honest." Despite the presence of orderly lines and a lack of violent, Wii-related crimes (so far), he goes on to label the launch as "bedlam." Not to worry, Nintendo promises more stock is on the way and aims to satisfy everyone that wants a Wii this Christmas. That would be everyone, then.
