Flare Sci-Fi Forums: PS2 shortage?

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Posted by nx001a (Member # 291) on :

I was wondering did anyone have problems getting a PS2 in the US or in Europe?

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"We set sail on this new sea because their is new knowledge to be gained and new rights to be won" John F Kennedy

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Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :

I bet this is another fucking US election thing, right?

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"I do prefer the arse, but you can't dismiss the leg. They're joined at the hip, so to speak."

- Liam Kavanagh

Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :

Actually, no. Yeah, there is a shortage of Playstation 2's in pretty much all of the world, except Japan. Sony announced that they're having a parts shortage, so they were only able to ship 200k consoles at the time. However, they should be able to ship several million after Christmas. Personally, I think they're a crock o' shiite and just want to keep people with baited breath. Right now, there is also a high tariff on the PS2 as well, because its video graphics processor is so powerful it can be used for missle guidance systems.

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No my signature is not dated.

Posted by nx001a (Member # 291) on :

There is a big shortage of PS2's. In europe sony introduced a preorder scheme if one wanted a PS2 on launch day. However, after two months since most people had made their preorder there is no word from sony and the allocation has been reduced. There were 200,000 preorder forms in the UK but now 35,000 people will be very disappointed and angry at Sony. The preorder scheme was to ensure none of the problems that japan had was experienced in the UK such as queuing for days etc.

I was wondering did the US have a similar scheme?

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"We set sail on this new sea because their is new knowledge to be gained and new rights to be won" John F Kennedy

members.aol.com/mfwan/index.htm

Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :

Yep.

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"Al Gore cost me the election." - Ralph Nader

Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :

Hahahahahahahahahaha...."parts shortage"...RIIIIIIIIGHT...

This is what I've been telling people at work who come in looking for PS2s: that they only shipped 300,000 to the US, that the demand is FAR greater, that they SAY they won't ship anymore until early 2001, but that I bet somewhere around 10 or 15 December, they'll magically find say 1 million units in some lost Mayan warehouse or something that can be shipped out JUST in time for Christmas.

THAT...is the Japanese way.

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"Omigod. Singing meat. This is altogether too much."

Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :

I was reading the Buyer Flyer last night and there were 3 PS2 ads in it. One for $625, one for $690, and one that requires you make an offer.

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Hunt: "You cheated!"
Rhade: "It's only cheating if you get caught."
-Andromeda, "Double Helix"

Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :

One ad here, $1,200.00 for it.

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I see a red door and I want it painted black

Posted by Vacuum robot lady from Spaceballs (Member # 239) on :

As cool as it sounds, that is ridiculous. Buy a used DC instead, for 99.--

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Communism. Who wouldn't like their neighbour thrown into a goulag?

Please vote for the Communist Party of Canada This November 27th.

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

Hell, go on eBay ...

They're fetching high money. The day they were released, some were going for $1600!!!

My boss got *two* of them -- the bastard!

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Gore/Lieberman 2000
***
"You still don't understand, do you MacLeod? I am the End of Time!" - Kronos

"You're history!" - MacLeod
***
"I think anybody who doesn't think I'm smart enough to handle the job is underestimating." - George "Dubya" Bush

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

"The preorder scheme was to ensure none of the problems that japan had was experienced in the UK such as queuing for days etc."

Okay, anyone who would camp out in line for a fucking game console needs to have their money forcibly removed from their possession and given to someone who will use it for something worthwhile... *L*

Watch the things turn out to be defective, or something... *LOL*

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"What he did to that walrus gentle-man was inexcusable."
-T. Herman Zweibel on "Mr. Woodrow Wood-pecker", The Onion, 7-Nov-2000

Posted by LOA (Member # 49) on :

Working in a video store that rents games and systems, PS2 has been a HUGE thing..... we're getting in games, but alas, no systems... Blockbuster apparently has systems, but not enough to go around. The demand for PS2 is high, but unless you're loaded, getting one is just about impossible now

I think it'll be interesting to see what happens from here.... whether they are able to produce them in high enough numbers in the spring or not. There are lots of speculations out there, but no real answers... It's kinda exciting and amusing to watch all of the controversy and stuff though..... I get a kick out of it at least! *L*

And you've got to admit... it's a cool systems... not only doing games, but also music and DVD's..... doesn't get much better than that! I'll be buying one.... someday....

~LOA

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"The purple elephants have conquered my pants! Weasels to the rescue!!!" ~TSN, Oct. 23, 2000

Posted by Teelie (Member # 280) on :

Fucking IDIOT!!!!!!!

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"The Web brings people together because no matter what kind of a twisted sexual mutant you happen to be, you've got millions of pals out there. Type in 'Find people that have sex with goats that are on fire' and the computer will ask, 'Specify type of goat.'"

Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :

Wow, no shite

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I see a red door and I want it painted black

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

OH

GOD

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Gore/Lieberman 2000
***
"You still don't understand, do you MacLeod? I am the End of Time!" - Kronos

"You're history!" - MacLeod
***
"I think anybody who doesn't think I'm smart enough to handle the job is underestimating." - George "Dubya" Bush

Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :

I bet the guy who made that wager wont pay.

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Me: "Why don't you live in Hong Kong?"
Rachel Roberts: "Hong Kong? Nah. Oh, but we can live in China! Yeah, China has great Chinese food!"

(discussion with fellow classmate, 9/5/00)

Mustang Class Starship Development Project

Posted by Teelie (Member # 280) on :

I don't know. Some people are desperate enough to buy one.
Personally, I'll wait til they're at a decent price, maybe $150-200.

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

I sent the seller an e-mail to ask.

Intereastingly, note the buyer is listed as "non-registered user" ... meaning he may have recently been suspended from eBay ... for not sending money, perchance?

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Gore/Lieberman 2000
***
"You still don't understand, do you MacLeod? I am the End of Time!" - Kronos

"You're history!" - MacLeod
***
"I think anybody who doesn't think I'm smart enough to handle the job is underestimating." - George "Dubya" Bush

Posted by Gaseous Anomaly (Member # 114) on :

That's the first time in ages that my eyes nearly popped out of my head.
$15 grand!? I'm not that familiar with online trading, so would someone please explain: was that the asking price, or what some tool actually forked out for one?
(either way, they'd both want to red-hot pokers shoved up their arses)

The PS2? I mean, have you ever seen such a bastardized Frankenstein of a machine? Games console, DVD player, CD player, backwards compatible, stands on it's side, etc. A jack of all trades, and a master of sweet fuck all, if you ask me.

And it looks rank.

Software companies (outside Japan) have been whinging for a year about how the PS2 is such a cow to program games for - with all it's other capabilities, perhaps the gaming content of the machine is being neglected?

I'd also guess that the DVD tech in the machine isn't as top-of-the-range as many other dedicated DVD players, even from Sony themselves. Why? Because the specs of the machine were released over a year ago, and other design houses would have those eclipsed easily by now.

And the backwards compatibility. A good idea, alright, but almost certainly a back-up for the Xmas when a shortage of PS2 games occurs.

That's why I can't wait for Nintendo's Gamecube in 2001. A totally dedicated games machine, made in conjunction with Masushitsu (Panasonic to you, guv'nor), that will have so much care and attention lavished over it that the machine cannot fail to have at least 5 "killer apps" released at the same time as it (unlike the PS2, which many regard as having only the one at the minute, the snowboarding game).

Of course, release games do not make or break a console, they just indicate how dedicated the parent company is to pleasing it's gamers, which I'm pleased to say, is one of Nintendo's driving motivations. The other, presumably, is to make squids of money!

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Remember December '59
The howling wind and the driving rain,
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name.

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

The first bid was $1

If you click on "Bid History", it'll tell you who bid, how many times they bid, and how much they bid as well.

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Gore/Lieberman 2000
***
"You still don't understand, do you MacLeod? I am the End of Time!" - Kronos

"You're history!" - MacLeod
***
"I think anybody who doesn't think I'm smart enough to handle the job is underestimating." - George "Dubya" Bush

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

What a way to make my grand entrance to Flare!

Being a Corporate Buyer, I can enlighten you somewhat on what may be happening.

In my opinion...Sony is with-holding the PS2's. I buy internationally and have never had a problem in getting partial ships (short of Customs holding up the shipment for a week or so). A 'partial ship' means the company making the necessary component will ship only a small quantity of the part ordered. They will continue to ship small quantities until the total quantity of the order has been met.

This means that Sony is probably receiving the necessary component and building the PS2's but Warehousing (storing) until a particular date (likely Dec. 20th). They can realize a much larger profit by doing this. The longer the wait, the more they can ask for on the PS2 and get!

It would be very likely that the first release of the PS2's will be to the USA in my opinion. One very strong reason for this is that the USA realizes a 'Bill Back' clause. Since I don't work for the PDC's (product distribution centers), I can't guarentee that this is the case. This is usually written in a contract between the component manufacturer and assembler(OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturers) or the assembler(OEM) and distributor (PDC). A 'Bill Back' clause is where the assembler (Sony) can 'bill back' the component manufacturer for every single day they are late meeting their order requirement. The company I work for now has customers that do this to us. We can be billed back anywhere from $100 daily to $1,000 per minute that an assembly line is down because of us. I could only hope that the company supplying to Sony is having to do this as well. That is still going to leave Sony building the PS2's but warehousing.

This only gets more complicated...but, I'll have mercy on you people. My prediction is that you will see these on the market around the 20th of December at a much higher cost - and in the US first.

Good Luck everyone - I can see the line's forming now and the costs going down after Christmas!

Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :

When I was working for ITT in a plant that made fuel lines for the big 3 we shut down Ford once. It was a cross of the Japanese sending us bad raw materials and the Quality people being dolts about the problem, but they had no new fuel lines for 8 hours, cost ITT a bundle in paying Ford in lost production. Of course, it cost the Nippons a bigger bundle paying back ITT.

We shut down Everude once for not having their vapor lines made too, Saturn for a dash board vent tube, Chevy for a brake line, and on and on.

The brake strike gave us time to get caught up though.

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I see a red door and I want it painted black

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

Wow, MsChris, welcome! And *what* a first post!

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Can anyone say premature ejac ... er, election?

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

Hi everyone! Forgot to say that above.

Ritten, it would appear we have something in common! I buy for the automotive industry - It just happens to be 'heavy duty' trucking.

And thanks, JeffKardde. I already feel welcomed.

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

The seller just e-mailed me back.

The bidder never paid for it. He seemed rather upset that he missed out on $15000!!!!!!!!

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Can anyone say premature ejac ... er, election?

Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :

Gee, I wonder why.......
Did the Seller really believe anybody would pay that much for a PS2? If so I'd like to become friends with the person that does, "Hey, I got the one of a kind broken screw driver, I hate to part with it, but I'll sell it to you for $1,000.00 dollars."
OK

Sorry MsChris, left the auto industry a few years back, went in to the Rent-to-Own business.
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I am going to Japanese cars from now on, because the auto workers got the day off to vote and the state went to Gore.
From The Port Huron Times-Herald talk back section.

[This message has been edited by Ritten (edited November 12, 2000).]

Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :

:::raises arms in Kevin McDonald-esque triumph::: YES! YES! YES! Vindication!

Marketing is marketing. Capitalism is the "new empire" to the Japanese. Miss out on Christmas? BULLSHIT.

Chris��: you say 20 December, huh? I'm still betting on 10 or more likely 15 December. That extra lead time to disseminate the info.

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"Omigod. Singing meat. This is altogether too much."

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

Shik, I'll take you up on that bet. It'll come out around the 20th and be all over television (maybe even the news!).

Anyone else care to venture a date?

Ummm....These dates are a month or so away - who is gonna keep up with the bet? Any volunteers?

Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :

MsChris, your posting your marker here

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I am going to Japanese cars from now on, because the auto workers got the day off to vote and the state went to Gore.
From The Port Huron Times-Herald talk back section.

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

Welcome to Flare, MsChris.

Now then, surely you people, out of all people, should realize that the PC is still the ultimate gaming platform?

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love's function is to fabricate unknownnness
--
E. E. Cummings
****
Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! And party everyday.

Posted by nx001a (Member # 291) on :

$15,000 for a PS2 is crazy and i did not believe it. Not surprised that the guy never recieved the money for it. I wonder what one can buy with that amount of money. If someone offered me that much money for my PS2 i think i will have to say yes.

Sony claim that the reason they are having problems is that they are reducing the size of the PS2 chip from 0.25 microns to 0.18 microns. A micron (hope i spelt that right) is a 1000th of a mm (i think). Any way the reason for this is to free up space for the harddrive bay that US and European PS2 have. However if u believe that story is another matter.

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"We set sail on this new sea because their is new knowledge to be gained and new rights to be won" John F Kennedy

members.aol.com/mfwan/index.htm

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

Not that I can afford it, but I'll wait until they're all out, and then make a decision. The Gamecube may be better (I still prfered the name "Dolphin" though), but having better specs doesn't mean you'll have the machine with the best support or games. Can you say N64, which, for the last year, has been almost completely reliant on Pokemon to sell?

As long as they release Final Fantasy X on the PC though, I'll be happy. But damn Visual Arts (or whoever) for releasing Grandia II on the Dreamcast. Damn them all to hell. Raaa!

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"If every vampire who said he was at the Crucifixion was actually there it would've been like Woodstock. I was at Woodstock. I fed off a flower person and I spent six hours watching my hand move." - Spike, BtVS

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Yes, a micron is the same as a micrometer, one one-millionth of a meter, or one one-thousandth of a millimeter.

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"What he did to that walrus gentle-man was inexcusable."
-T. Herman Zweibel on "Mr. Woodrow Wood-pecker", The Onion, 7-Nov-2000

Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :

Liam: can you say "Gamecube still uses cartridges?"

Then there's X-Box...

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"Omigod. Singing meat. This is altogether too much."

Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :

Uh, GameCube does NOT use cartridges. It uses new mini-DVDs that will be unique to GameCube.

------------------
Me: "Why don't you live in Hong Kong?"
Rachel Roberts: "Hong Kong? Nah. Oh, but we can live in China! Yeah, China has great Chinese food!"

(discussion with fellow classmate, 9/5/00)

Mustang Class Starship Development Project

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

Ach, give me a PC any day. What's the fun of having a game if you can't hack it to pieces?

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Francesca: He was born on the tundra, that's where he belongs. You'll kill him if you take him to Toronto.
Thatcher: That's a bit drastic, don't you think?
Francesca: Look, I've been to Toronto. Trust me, nothing can survive there. - "due South"

Posted by Teelie (Member # 280) on :

I agree, PC games are better than console ones IMO, unless you don't have a joystick/controller on the PC.

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[6th Sense] I see dumbass people [/6th Sense]

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

For "Mini-DVD's unique to the gamecube" read "non mass-market product" = "higher price".

Posted by Gaseous Anomaly (Member # 114) on :

Aye, but the PSOne is being raped by software a pirates in the Far East. Sony are losing a packet thanks to some dubious hoers in China with a CD burner and a truck.
Same thing happened Nintendo with the NES and the SNES years ago - still does, now that I think about it.

Sure, they'll crack Nintendo's new "proprietary DVD", but it won't be for a good year after it's release, I'd imagine.

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Remember December '59
The howling wind and the driving rain,
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name.

Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :

In eBay-related news, someone has apparently tried to auction the presidency. It was removed from the listings, but I heard that it got up to $100,000,000.

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"You know, you--you let a wolf save your life, they make you pay and pay and pay..."
- Fraser, "due South"

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

LOL!

I wish I'd've thought of that!!!!!

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Star Trek Gamma Quadrant

Continuing to boldly go ...

Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :

GameCube will actually be one of the cheapest systems ever launched, with projected retail price at launch being only $200. Those mini-DVDs are being developed by a Japanese company which will launch it's own version of the GameCube, under a different name, which will run DVD Movies only, not games.

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Me: "Why don't you live in Hong Kong?"
Rachel Roberts: "Hong Kong? Nah. Oh, but we can live in China! Yeah, China has great Chinese food!"

(discussion with fellow classmate, 9/5/00)

Mustang Class Starship Development Project

Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :

Sure, the PC's great, but only if you want to shell out $2000 to play the same games you can play on a $99 system (From personal experience, FF7 runs smoothly on a Pentium II, but FF8 needed a Pentium III.). Besides, PCs don't have cool Japanese RPGs. If Sony doesn't make future Final Fantasy games for the GameCube, I'll probably have to get a PS2, but I'll wait 'til it comes down to $200. In the mean time, I might get a PSOne if I can get away with it (from my parents). I think the PSOne's pretty worth it for me since Playstation has more RPG titles than the number of N64 games I own.

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"The distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."
--Albert Eistein

[This message has been edited by Tora Ziyal (edited November 16, 2000).]

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

I can't play any of my favorite games without a mouse and keyboard, though.

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What did it mean to you
An early chat with death
To pull your body for a moment from your soul
--
Camper Van Beethoven
****
Read chapter one of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet"! Gonna donate half my money to the city.

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

What, not even kiss-chase?

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

Video games.

And that should be chase-kiss, 'cause there ain't nobody gonna be running afterwards.

I'm listening to the Theme from Shaft right now.

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

"They say he's one bad mother�"
"Shut your mouth!"
"But I'm talkin' 'bout Sol!"
"We can dig it!"

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"What he did to that walrus gentle-man was inexcusable."
-T. Herman Zweibel on "Mr. Woodrow Wood-pecker", The Onion, 7-Nov-2000

Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :

Uh...okay, you lost me there.

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"The distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."
--Albert Eistein

Posted by Gaseous Anomaly (Member # 114) on :

359: The company's name is Masushitsu, or Panasonic as l'Anglais call them.

Tora: Shaft? The music of the film? HELLO!?!?

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Remember December '59
The howling wind and the driving rain,
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name.

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

Isaac Hayes, I do believe.

I've got it on Winamp as I type =)

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Star Trek Gamma Quadrant

Continuing to boldly go ...