[quote name='defpally'] Resellers are really not in Activision's best interests - while they do generate sales, they also generate frustration. Frustrated parents and kids move on to the next big thing. [/QUOTE]
I don't quite agree with that. With any big hard to find item recently I don't think they would be as big except for the reselling and hoarding. I don't think the Wii would've been as big as it was except for being unable to get them. You always want what you can't have - and if someone could easily have walked into any store and pick one up for 250 + tax then I don't think it would've been as a big. Same thing with the beanie babies and with Pokemon. The reselling, hoarding, waiting in line, etc. whips people up into a frenzy.
I think as long as these keep seeming to trickle out (even though they are really making a buttload of them, just not enough) people will be continue to be crazy with them. Eventually folks will lose interest, and that is when they can try the Giants or whatever.
Kind of like how Black Friday people will buy tons of crap they don't need or don't want. Just because they can, and if they don't the next person will. People get a sick materialistic high from getting some hard to get thing along with some sick satisfaction of knowing you got something that the next person would've got, but now they can't. It is like you won and they lost.
A little Simpsons too...
Lisa: Dad, do you know what Schadenfreude is?
Homer: No, I do not know what shaden-frawde is. [sarcasm] Please tell me, because I'm dying to know.
Lisa: It's a German term for `shameful joy', taking pleasure in the suffering of others.
Homer: Oh, come on Lisa. I'm just glad to see him fall flat on his butt!