Flashing lights, wristbands, exhilarated fans waiting in long lines and loads of money exchanging hands gave the Thursday launch of Microsoft's Xbox the feel of a rock concert. Consumers crowded into stores as Microsoft's video game console went on sale in North America. But away from the hoopla surrounding the console's debut, some avid game fans grumbled about how a few retailers were cashing in on demand. What especially burned up many game fans was the practice of "bundling." Some merchants, including Toysrus.com and Electronics Boutique, would only sell the Xbox in packages with software and additional hardware, allowing them to charge more.
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