I was in the local Gamestation, trading in a few console games for F.E.A.R. and Black & White 2 when the impending arrival of Christmas forced two non-gamers in. One, an elderly lady, was attempting to buy the Sims 2 on PC, slowly eliminating the many Sims expansions on the shelves by bringing them, one-by-one, to the counter and asking the clerk if it matched the title written on a small scrap of paper.

The other lady, looking more a well off middle-aged mother, was attempting to pre-order an Xbox 360. Well, eventually - after she'd tried to order a Nintendo 360 and a Sony 360. The clerk told even if she ordered it now, it wouldn't be in until February.

Some think this is a ploy by Microsoft to get publicity. From the lady above, it would seem they need it...

“But let's step back. Could it be a trade-off Microsoft is willing to make? Officially they would have us believe that the little elves Mr Gates keeps in his dungeon are working overtime to make as many boxes of magic as they can. But maybe, come December 2nd, when the mainstream media report that 360s are sold out across the globe, it won't be all that bad. Maybe the kudos has been planned all along. Maybe it's a deliberate ploy.”

Pro-G - Prodigious Gaming: Sunday Supplement - 30th October