Just payed a visit to my local GS store (been a while since I last) with a fairly definite mindset as to what I wanted to purchase.  There, I finally had a chance to see the X360 live & in action with people playing Cod 2 (very impressive indeed).  Having already placed a preorder on Kameo (to make certain that I'd buy the system) a few weeks prior to the system's release, I saw no need to pick up the game immediately (afterall, I didn't even preorder the system).

With my games already grabbed & ready for purchase (The Punisher along with Half-life 2 both for the Xbox), out of curiosity, I check up on the status of the X360's which were of course all sold out (I guess you could say it was a rhetorical question).  Indeed they were all sold out, but what I was going to hear next, not even I was anticipating.  There would be no 360's for sale until February of 2006 the soonest (at that specific store)!  The store had received only thirty-two copies of the system at launch, and they're booked with over a hundred & thirty preorders.

Conclusion?  It doesn't look like I'll be getting my hands on a copy of the system until sometime next year.  Ah, well.  It's my fault for not preordering the system on my prior visits to the store back when they WERE taking orders.  Then again, I'm relieved in a way.  This now will enable me to devote more attention to the Xbox & PS2.  Not to mention by that time, Microsoft will hopefully take care of the system malfunctions which are occurring with some copies of the system (crashes, disc scratches/errors, etc.) with their newer shipments. 

While I was still at the store, I should have canceled my preorder for Kameo (afterall, I did pay an advancement fee) , but it's only a few bucks, so I'll worry about that later.  In all honesty (though very intrigued by the X360), I'm not very desperate on purchasing a new gaming console right away.  For, I'm still fairly satisfied & occupied with the current gen systems.  I'm currently playing both The Punisher & Half-Life 2 back to back consistently.  Half-Life 2 (while an inferor port to it's pc counterpart) is phenomenal, & I truly regret not playing the game sooner.

Now, all I need to do is renew my subscription with Xbox-Live and I'm all set.

                                                                              -SK