I wonder whether Microsoft expected greater demand for the Halo Edition and Elite XBox 360s, and if they have a short supply of premium console because they (like Sony) are moving towards a 45nm process for their system; hypothetically speaking, they could have been aiming to release a 45nm XBox 360 (and reduce the price of the system) a few weeks before the release of GTA4.

I think the Halo Edition 360 was a very stupid move.  They could have just taken a premium and included a special edition halo 3 faceplate along with the normal premium faceplate, the actual halo 3 game, and 3 months of Xbox Live Gold.  Instead they have a Halo Edition 360 that doesn't even include the game and has a design that a lot of people don't like.

@crazzyman only you would see a shortage as a lack of confidence in a product, you must be from universe B [the inverse of the one we live in] or something.

LOL! They think calling it "Supply constrained" will make it sell more...lol

I see them all the time, the only one I rarely ever see is the Elite.

Shortages are a funny thing they are not universal. Not only do tastes differ regionally, but so do shopping patterns. I have seen 360 shortages over the past few months, and I have seen Wii consoles sit on shelves for a few days. You can't necessarily go off of what you see in your neck of the woods. Where you live might not be indicative of the whole. Instead it depends on your regional supply, and more specifically a stores supply.

I would believe him, because of what the sales on this very site tell me. Last year at this same time the 360 sold thirty thousand less units. Had Microsoft used last year as a metric for what they needed this year. Then a couple months of under supplying the market will get you shortages. Every console in fact has seen a dramatic improvement in sales year to year.

I think even with their better then expected performance during the latter half of last year Microsoft logically thought sales would slump until spring. I wouldn't call it stupid paying attention to precedent isn't stupid. We all do it day from day.

sadly.. i doubt this "shortage" will last as M$ has the production factories to increase the amount they can produce versus last year.

+1

^ +2

It's nice to see someplace where Legend11 and I can see eye to eye.

Typical Microsoft FUD. Anyone with functioning optic nerves can walk into any electronics store and see for themselves that the only truly supply-constrained console remains the Wii.

I see they saw what the whole "supply constrained" talk can do for a console. And shortages in America? What the hell, where are these consoles going, Japan?