Xbox 360 controller up on eBay

by Conrad Quilty-Harper { Sep 25th 2005 at 8:00AM }

xbox 360 ebay

An auction for a new Xbox 360 controller has popped up on eBay and promptly sold for $91US. The seller "tukiz7" claims he "got" the controller whilst attending a game developers conference hosted by Microsoft. That "got" could mean only two things; either Microsoft gave him one to test or develop games with (in which case he shouldn't be selling it) or he "got" it by more nefarious means.

We're all for gamers getting excited over unreleased gamer gear, but when it comes to acquiring or selling the kit without permission, you haven't got our support. And no, it's not just because we're jealous we didn't win the auction.

[Thanks, Scott Scott]

Related From Joystiq

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mark @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

thanks buddy, I didnt know what I would do without your support... I didnt think us gamers could live without the approving judgement of a blog... man, what a relief..

Person @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Where can I get one??

benhc911 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Why is it that most gaming websites (see gamespot, ign etc.) put their Revolution news under gamecube? I realise that there aren't any screenshots yet, but there is plenty of news, pics of the controller and movies too. This is evil with a capital "3". *looks left, then right, then runs away*

Wee @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

To be honest, i'm suprised the bidding didn't go above $91. Suppose people were slightly dubious as to how he actually obtained it.

benhc911 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

what is the point of having one? it doesnt work with the old X-box, and in 60 days everyone who wants one will have one.

Sean @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Early bragging rights #5. :P
Even though, it's kinda pointless. I mean, it doesn't include the USB adapter thing to hook up to the PC. Hrmm....and well, you have it early so you don't have to rush out and buy one because you know that all the controllers will be sold out. ;P

PvpMan22 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Wow it doesnt look wireless either, I wonder if people will buy the Wireless (more money, have to charge, but no WIRES) or the Wired (less money no charging but FREAKING WIRES) Controllers.

Anyway I cant afford any of the Next Gen consoles yet (Not gonna get the crappy $300 basic package of 360), so I am probably gonna wait till price drops and most likely to buy Xbox 360 (probably first console to get a price drop) and whenever the Revolution (most likely cheaper then the rest) comes out.

Imp @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

#3 Benhc, the Revolution is not the official name

Rocketboy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

My guess it's it's just the Microsoft Hype Machine again...

Venomous @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

The sellers name is Julie Harris. I bet they wasnt expecting this much attention. #6, it says it does include the usb adapter. I wish I would of bought it, Im sure there will be marking on it to prove it was a prototype.

tiremfej @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

It's probably another form of MS' "viral" marketing, to garner intrest with suttle little ways such as this. I don't think it's a bad idea at all. I think the same goes for those E3 faceplates that have sold on eBay as well.

Aiki Woce @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

I came to that conclusion also Venomous. I've found several listings for a J. Harris in Plano, TX.

I wonder if I should give her a call and tell her how stupid she is?

The1 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

A fool bought that, why? It's not like it's the last one on earth.

kuroshi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Hey, it says the location is Plano, TX. Gearbox studios is located in plano. Maybe he works for them or has access. When people can't be trusted with equipment companies start to restrict access to confrences and release fewer Dev. kits. It just makes it harder on everyone. Also the person who bought it was an idiot. It only works on the 360 so without the machine it's useless. Once the machine is released it is identical to all the other thousands of controllers. It's worthless because you can distinguish it as a pre-release controller. Now if you could score one of the prototypes that are different from the regular controller.

vidGuy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

What a pointless buy.

And, remember, it's illegal to purchase a good that you believe was illegally obtained (stollen). Not that it matters, but...

delerious @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Hmmm, the regular Xbox controller is actually USB but with a modified connector. I bet you could modify this controller to work with the Xbox.

Besides, if you didn't want to you could always try and get it to work with your XP machine.

Andrew @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Erm..

Why would I, or anyone else for that matter, bid on this.. or even shell out money for it?

It's not going rise in value or anything. You aren't going to be able to resell it for what you paid. How badly do you really want an Xbox 360 Controller? In a month or two it'll drop drastically in price and personal value.

People 'r' morons.

ChronoZaga @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Fetch, fanboys, fetch!

Glenn @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

"Early bragging rights"

If someone bragged to me they paid $91 for soemthing that will be useless for 2 months until they are widely available... I would laugh my @$$ off at how stupid they are.

in5ane @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Useless for 2 months?

From the eBay page: This is the new controller for the X-Box 360 which also works with any PC running Windows XP via a USB adaptor. The USB adaptor is included.

Phrozenone @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

In His/her defense the controller is operational on a computer running WinXp and it is a USB controller I'd say the odds of breaking in this controller has greatly increased.

Damn @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

very stupid to buy it for 91 dollars. u cant use it without the system and its not even wireless. it cost atleast 50 dollars for the wireless controller. what? he wants to show of and be popular at school cuz he's a geek? go figure

Jason @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Haha, go figure that it came from Plano. Those rich kids have always been crazy, I tell you.

jason @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

hey i imported a PSP a few months early from Japan. I liked my bragging rights for awhile. But now thats it is here in the us, I sold the thing. Its coolt o have something no one else does.
"sold the PSP when i found out the number 1 thing that the system was for was movies, and i couldnt play US ones on the system. Damn PSP"

Bill @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

A stupid buy maybe but that just about sums ebay up to me. I turned my back on ebay when i saw fresh air being sold for 10p and then there was that plastic bag that went for 23p. I mean i ask you, it's just a muppets paradise.

Taylor @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

It's not necessarily a "stupid" buy, some people don't need money as much as others (read: rich people). If he does happen to be rich, then it wasn't really a stupid buy; I'd love to have one, and $91 isn't THAT much... And for all you who say the controller is useless, did you READ the auction? It has a USB adapter for XP... so yeah.
-Taylor

Andrew Hsieh @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Collectibles suck. =D

Billy Zelsnack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

They gave them away at Meltdown this year if you filled our their comment card.

nate @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

another one up on ebay....looks like they used the same pic from the other auction but lightened the picture

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8221710757

Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

The winning bidder is a 'jhenshaw'. Jeff Henshaw is one of the head marketing honchos behind the Xbox 360.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/press/e32005/20050512-jeffhenshaw.htm

Methinks whoever sold that controller will be getting a nasty letter from Microsoft's lawyerbots soon.

Eskimo Bob @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

#29 It could be the person who one relisting it on another account. If the one that already sold gets a lot of coverage, the person relisting it could get freaking rich.

"Why is it that most gaming websites (see gamespot, ign etc.) put their Revolution news under gamecube? I realise that there aren't any screenshots yet, but there is plenty of news, pics of the controller and movies too. This is evil with a capital '3'. *looks left, then right, then runs away*"

IGN already said the only reason they don't have a Revolution page is because Revolution is just a codename. Once Nintendo releases the actual name or confirms Revolution to be the name, they will put up a Revolution page. I'm sure it's the same for all other major video game news sites.