MikeB on 15 February 2008
@ Starcraft
Everything available in the three main regions in terms of Xbox 360 stock would have been largely pre-determined around the end of Christmas, perhaps even earlier.
Excactly they knew beforehand they wouldn't need to ship many units for Japan, they also know they aren't doing well in Europe. The main focuss for them should have been on the US and to lesser extend Australia and the UK (countries also relatively unconcerned by their lagging European localization efforts).
In this case I believe Microsoft have either a new bundle or a new SKU coming soon. However it is perfectly reasonable to think that they simply underestimated demand for the US market
Then they haven't been listening enough to tracking and analysis firms or looked at their past track record with regard to the XBox. The bulk of XBox users who still haven't upgraded towards a 360 reside in North America.
They could easily have known the US is where they can expect to sell the most hardware. But still online US stores have and had plenty of 360s in stock in January and now, so I think most people who really wanted a 360 could have gotten one either way.
