All I want for Christmas is an XBox 360...
By Lonnie Young, 12.07.05


As if I need added stress this holiday season, the holiday marketing campaign of Microsoft was too much for me to handle. Microsoft launched a limited quantity of the Xbox 360’s, in November 2005. The official set release date of the new Xbox 360 is in March, making this gaming system a highly sought after holiday gift for many, including myself-well sort of.

As a child of the 70s the Atari game system was a must have. I stayed up until the early hours of the morning playing, what are now considered, primitive video games.

All of a sudden, I had a change of heart while in high school. While many of my friends graduated to Nintendo and Sega game systems, I lost interest video games.

However my wife made a decision two years ago to surprise me with an Xbox for Christmas: and I have not been the same since. My loss of interest had been cured and my wife had created a monster.

As a grown man, the Xbox has provided hours of fun with Xbox online, gaming websites, and late night battles with my brother-in-law.

I enjoyed the Xbox so much I had decided to put the new Xbox 360, which has better graphics, on reserve at a video game store. I was going to be conservative and just pay $299. But a salesman convinced me that I needed the $399 version, and I gave in without a fight.

But then I had to ask myself “Am I crazy?” “I’m a grown man with a family-and about to spend $399 and $60 per game for better graphics for games I don’t have time to play?”

I had to side with reason which said I should at least wait until the price comes down. Besides, the original Xbox provides enough fun to entertain me for a couple more years.

Then Nov. 22nd came around, complete with long lines at Wal-Mart and campouts at Best Buy for the Xbox 360. I tried to tell myself I made the right decision by waiting, but my heart started to speak to me and I started to sweat.

I was OK until my brother-in-law told me to try to find him one since he got off of work so late. What started as an Xbox hunt for him, ended as an Xbox hunt for the both of us.

After so many unsuccessful days of trying to find a 360, I even began to feel jealous that so many millions are enjoying better graphics and I was stuck with the “dinosaur” version. I then had to ask myself again “Was I crazy?” I had come to the realization that logic and common sense was no match for a good marketing plan.

I lost a bet with my brother-in-law because I could not find an Xbox 360, since they were sold out everywhere. My brother-in-law still plans to get one. As for me, my old Xbox is good enough for now-at least until the next shipments of 360s arrive next month.

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