Truly.

Who are you going to believe?

[link|http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/printedition/chi-0109100025sep10.story?coll=chi%2Dprintbusiness%2Dhed|Microsoft, stores point fingers over Xbox bundles] at the Chicago Tribune (via the Economist).

"We have not told anybody they have to bundle anything in any way," assured Bill Nielsen, Xbox group product manager. "Believe me, we follow the law as closely as we can these days."

Instead, Microsoft officials said retailers being given allotments of Xbox game systems are allowed to "presell" a certain number of units before they're due in stores Nov. 8. Yet to be part of the "official" presale program and receive in-store promotional materials, retailers have to package one Microsoft-developed game, two games from other parties and an accessory with the game system, explained James Bernard, an Xbox spokesman.

Bernard said retailers are able to sell to game systems solo and will not be penalized by being given smaller allotments of Xbox systems. Also, once the games are available in stores, the systems and other items will be sold separately.

Still, at least one retailer is sending out a different message. CompUSA told potential customers in an e-mail that to preorder a Xbox game system, they had to buy other products too.

"Because of limitations placed on all retailers by Microsoft, the Xbox console must be sold in conjunction with a group of accessories and games," the e-mail read.

Bernard said CompUSA's statement is incorrect, that only the number of units each retailer receives is limited.

Apparently the restriction is on the pre-orders, but since that's the only way to get a system initially (or so MS would like everyone to believe, due to "overwhelming demand"), it's effectively a restriction that says that initial systems can't be sold without a bundle.

Somehow, though, I expect the bundle restrictions to be maintained even after the pre-order phase ends. Don't you?

Cheers,
Scott.