Subject says it all...

Anyone know of any online or B&M that are taking pre-orders yet?

Ed

I've been looking out to. Have not seen pre-orders available for either one yet. I think it's way to early for X Box pre-orders. I'm pretty sure Microsoft does not want to make the same mistake Sony did. GA pre-orders should be available soon I imagine as it is coming out in Japan this month and here in the US in June. I talked to one of the guys at my local EB store and he told me that they had a pre-order SKU for GA but had to pull it. I hope that is not a bad sign.

The reason you're not able to find x-box pre-orders is that Sony has effectively scared the $hit out of the majority of computer/video game retailers by threatening to withhold PS2 shipments if they take x-box pre-orders or even put up advertising. In fact I went by my local Gamestop on Monday and the manager told me exactly that. He was taking pre-orders for GA at that time though. I'll do it next time i'm in the area. The manager was also nice enough to point out that Camelot Music (twec.com i think) (also in the same mall) was taking pre-orders for X-box. Sooo, I went and pre-ordered it. woohoo.

naturally http://www.fatbabies.com has a lot more stories:

Like this one


"ANGRY SONY SALES REPS DESTROY X-BOX DISPLAYS
By The Fatbabies Team

We continued digging for information on our 2/23 Rumor about Sony bullying retailers into removing X-Box displays.

And what did we discover? That isn’t not only a problem at Funcoland, but also at other retailers such as Toys R Us. We inquired about the situation with employees, and our fat sleuths discovered Sony reps not only being mad about the X-Box displays and promotional materials, but one such rep actually came into the store and destroyed (ripped up) all of the X-Box ads that were displayed on the shelves, the PS2, and Dreamcast kiosks. Upon confronting the Sony rep, the Toys R Us employee was threatened and told that he was going to be reported to corporate SCEA.

Also received this e-mail from an employee at Comp USA:

Having worked at Comp USA, I will tell you this...
Sony Reps do the following:

1. Demand we put PS2 and PSX demo stations in the front displays, and the Dreamcast/ N64 ones in the back...way back where almost no one goes.
2. Will purposely break (yes you read that right) the Nintendo and Dreamcast displays by pulling at the cables and then shoving them into the display. Since they are locked and only Sega/ Nintendo reps can open them we can't fix them.
3. Threaten to have employees fired if they try to change the set-up to what sells better.
4. Demand (ie threaten) that the N64 and Dreamcast displays only recieve the crappiest of the all the crap games.
5. Allowed the local area manager to buy EIGHT PS2s and then sell them on Ebay.
6. Demand we stock Fantavision though it DOESN'T SELL WORTH CRAP!


Interesting.

Seems as if Sony has the new Gestapo out in force… they might even start dragging off defiant store managers and tossing them into the oven should they refuse to conform to Sony’s demands. Heil!

Employees at these major retailers seem pissed as Sony’s heavy-handed techniques to try and supress any mention of the competition. Could it be Sony is afraid of X-Box? If the PS2 was such a nice piece of hardware, they would welcome any and all competition and step up to the plate and deliver the goods. But alas, with developers flocking to Gamecube and X-Box like us fatties on fried chicken, the PS2 could be the next console to be regulated to doorstop.

Don’t trip on your way out!


-The Fatbabies Team "

and this one

"SONY THE BULLY
By Fatcack

To confirm the 12/8 Rumor we ran about Sony using heavy handed bully tactics to force retailers to remove any X-Box promotional material, we received some e-mails from folks working at Software Etc. and Babbages. Sony reps apparently came into the stores and "told us to pull that **** down" (very nice promotional stuff from Microsoft). The reps went on to say the stores weren’t allowed to display any X-Box material until after the holiday season or they would be "stripped of PS2 allocations."

While Microsoft is doing an advertising campaign targeted to those holiday shoppers looking for PS2’s, the Sony reps whined, "It is not right to advertise for a system that doesn’t exist yet." Oh how two-faced they are! When Sega was launching the Dreamcast, Sony was all over the place with PS2 ****. Now when the shoe is on the other foot, Sony whines. Buncha babies!

Most gaming retail stores still have upwards of 150 reserved and paid for PS2 systems on backorder, but they are only receiving 3 a week from Sony. Approximately 50 customers a day are asking when the systems will be coming in, and all the employees can tell them is "April or May at the earliest." Of course, they most likely add in, "Just wait until late summer or fall, since X-Box will be out and it’ll definitely be worth the wait."

Too bad for Sony. They screwed this launch up in a major way.


-Fatcack "

That's a goddamn outrage. Someone should tape those bastards in action and mail it to Microsoft. They should know how to use it most effectively.

I pre-ordered a Game Boy Advance at the EB last weekend (in Northridge, CA). Just stopped by and they had a little hand-lettered sign saying they were taking deposits, and a little stand with a printout of the pocket.ign.com article. Didn't have to pay in advance, just $10, and they didn't say I'd have to buy games with it. I even got to pick the color -- Arctic, of course. Wey hey!

This only adds to my dislike of Sony. I seriously hope the Gamecube or X-box will blow them out of the water.

-Matt

i think this is pretty funny, i'm sure microsoft will resort to the same tactics

You better believe they will, and much more viciously than Sony ever did or will do. Remember, Microsoft is no saint when it comes to marketing and they will do every underhanded and sneaky thing they can do to make sure their console sells. I expect bold-faced outright lies about the PS2 from Microsoft when they release the (quite likely) buggy X-Box. And I bet you'll have to buy a new one to get the bugs fixed too. :-) That is the Microsoft way, if they put in any bugs you WILL have to pay to fix them!

Just my humble opinion.

Pre-ordered GA at the local Babbage's earlier this week. $10 down is all that's required.