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$60 vs. $50 dollars, DVD is the obvious choice at retail.

What on earth are you talking about?

If DVDs mean $50 games and blurays mean $60 games, then Microsoft must be really ripping us off, because every XBox 360 game is on a DVD and every XBox 360 game is $60.

$60 vs. $50 dollars, DVD is the obvious choice at retail.

What on earth are you talking about?

If DVDs mean $50 games and blurays mean $60 games, then Microsoft must be really ripping us off, because every XBox 360 game is on a DVD and every XBox 360 game is $60.

$60 vs. $50 dollars, DVD is the obvious choice at retail.

What on earth are you talking about?

If DVDs mean $50 games and blurays mean $60 games, then Microsoft must be really ripping us off, because every XBox 360 game is on a DVD and every XBox 360 game is $60.

$60 vs. $50 dollars, DVD is the obvious choice at retail.

What on earth are you talking about?

If DVDs mean $50 games and blurays mean $60 games, then Microsoft must be really ripping us off, because every XBox 360 game is on a DVD and every XBox 360 game is $60.

I hope this thing sells for $8.99. or perhaps $9.99

Also known as $17. http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product_id=6464 46

Something Sony and Microsoft don't understand is that third Party exclusive games are a thing of the past unless they simply can not be produced on another platform for technical reasons. With understanding the basic technical limitations of the systems I can honestly say that the only technical barrier between the PS3 / Revolution / XBox 360 is the controller interface; there are performance differences but they are less than half the difference you usually see between a PC Games minimum requirements and its optimal system. (Oblivion's miminum requirements for those who are curious http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product_id=6460 03&Section=SYSTEMREQ#PROD)

Actually they're 64MB, which is the max size of an N64 game anyway.

EB Games sells 1600 cards for $20, but the regular price is $25 elsewhere and the retail/list price is always $25.

They had an offer that if you pre-ordered from EBGames or GameStop, you'd get a pre-access key that would let you start playing now, a full 10 days before the game showed in stores.

The offer was prominently displayed on the EBGames website, until last week, when they ran out of keys. They asked Turbine for some last Tues, and still haven't gotten them.

In a moment of near-irrationality, I went to the EBGames site to buy the game, excited about playing early with people in the office that had also pre-ordered. No offer.

Now they don't appear to have any pre-orders left at all.

Rationality has returned, and I'll probably stick to BF2.

Used for $45? I got a copy of GTA San Andreas in perect condition for $21.

Umm, you realize that GTA:SA retails for $20 new? Cause, I'd say that paying more for a used copy is, well, stupid.

CAG is, as usual, your friend.

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/259303.asp

Lets be real here people even if it offers years of game play.

"I think at this point we can all agree that the shortages are not intentional, at least not anymore. They're reaching the point where retailers and consumers are starting to not care about the product, and that's a bad thing for them."

360s on eBay are hardly fetching a premium anymore so I'd say there really isn't a shortage anymore. Shortages justify bundles, which are the only way either Microsoft or the retailer make any money off a console sale. Just try to buy a 360 locally without shelling out for several games at the same time. A shortage also implies desirability, which is great marketing, it keeps the hype going longer. People who wouldn't of bothered with the console might buy one at Walmart because this might be their "only chance".

eBay Premium 360 price. I can buy a 360 cheaper on eBay(including shipping) than locally because of the stupidly high sales tax in Tennessee. If I wanted one...

That's much less than Bang & Olufsen charged me for the SD card in my MP3 player, so I don't know where you got such a callous term as "raped" from.

Besides, using non-Sony accessories in a Sony device is just asking for trouble. I buy my electronics at boutiques and premium retailers, so I assume things are different in your neighborhood.

I suppose you think that MP3s, which do not benefit the artist at all are better than my Sony compact discs, which are specially desgned to protect the artist.

You should be thankful that Nintendo supports any standards whatsoever. This is a company that still expects you to pay $20 for two megabytes of flash memory when we all know you could get 32 MB for that much in an easily-read format.

(Imagine that -- Memory Stick Duo is actually more cost-effective than something!)

You should be thankful that Nintendo supports any standards whatsoever. This is a company that still expects you to pay $20 for two megabytes of flash memory when we all know you could get 32 MB for that much in an easily-read format.

(Imagine that -- Memory Stick Duo is actually more cost-effective than something!)

Yeah, their price point is way too high. As a demonstration compare the used games that are available for the XBox 360 compared to those that are available for the Nintendo DS

XBox 360 (16 of 19 games available)
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/products/dep tpage.asp?typ=p&nav=p&web_dept=Xbox+360

Nintendo DS (18 of 49 games available)
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/products/dep tpage.asp?web_dept=Nintendo+DS&typ=p&nav=p

Basically by charging $20 more per game Microsoft has ensured that more people will turn in their XBox 360 games (for the minimal amount that Retailers will giv them) and buy used games (for the minimal discount that retailers have on used games); on top of that it ensures more people will rent games rather than to purchase them.

If a company could get (new home console) games down to $30 (and still make money) they would find that their games would not be sold back to retailers all that often.

Yeah, their price point is way too high. As a demonstration compare the used games that are available for the XBox 360 compared to those that are available for the Nintendo DS

XBox 360 (16 of 19 games available)
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/products/dep tpage.asp?typ=p&nav=p&web_dept=Xbox+360

Nintendo DS (18 of 49 games available)
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/products/dep tpage.asp?web_dept=Nintendo+DS&typ=p&nav=p

Basically by charging $20 more per game Microsoft has ensured that more people will turn in their XBox 360 games (for the minimal amount that Retailers will giv them) and buy used games (for the minimal discount that retailers have on used games); on top of that it ensures more people will rent games rather than to purchase them.

If a company could get (new home console) games down to $30 (and still make money) they would find that their games would not be sold back to retailers all that often.

About a year ago EB Games was blowing out all their Dreamcasts. I picked one up for $20 in mint condition along with about 10 games; cost about $40 total. They also sell 15 games for $50 here: http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/groups/15games50bucks/d reamcast.asp although most of them aren't the greatest.

Another nice quote:
"In Nintendo games, women are often depicted as victims. The covers of Nintendo games show males striking a dominant pose."

For example... this game depicting males as the "breadwinner" of the household. Sick.
Or perhaps this one. Another classic example of a "dominant male pose". Will somebody think of the children?
Or what about these three games, which blantantly reinforce the negative stereotype that males possess superior athletic ability to females?
And this horrid game. Another generic shooter about some steroid-addicted metallic dude saving a damsel in distress.
Don't even get me started on this one. How could anything be so offensive?

[/sarcasm]

This article is so ridiculous it's (almost) funny.

Another nice quote:
"In Nintendo games, women are often depicted as victims. The covers of Nintendo games show males striking a dominant pose."

For example... this game depicting males as the "breadwinner" of the household. Sick.
Or perhaps this one. Another classic example of a "dominant male pose". Will somebody think of the children?
Or what about these three games, which blantantly reinforce the negative stereotype that males possess superior athletic ability to females?
And this horrid game. Another generic shooter about some steroid-addicted metallic dude saving a damsel in distress.
Don't even get me started on this one. How could anything be so offensive?

[/sarcasm]

This article is so ridiculous it's (almost) funny.

Another nice quote:
"In Nintendo games, women are often depicted as victims. The covers of Nintendo games show males striking a dominant pose."

For example... this game depicting males as the "breadwinner" of the household. Sick.
Or perhaps this one. Another classic example of a "dominant male pose". Will somebody think of the children?
Or what about these three games, which blantantly reinforce the negative stereotype that males possess superior athletic ability to females?
And this horrid game. Another generic shooter about some steroid-addicted metallic dude saving a damsel in distress.
Don't even get me started on this one. How could anything be so offensive?

[/sarcasm]

This article is so ridiculous it's (almost) funny.

Another nice quote:
"In Nintendo games, women are often depicted as victims. The covers of Nintendo games show males striking a dominant pose."

For example... this game depicting males as the "breadwinner" of the household. Sick.
Or perhaps this one. Another classic example of a "dominant male pose". Will somebody think of the children?
Or what about these three games, which blantantly reinforce the negative stereotype that males possess superior athletic ability to females?
And this horrid game. Another generic shooter about some steroid-addicted metallic dude saving a damsel in distress.
Don't even get me started on this one. How could anything be so offensive?

[/sarcasm]

This article is so ridiculous it's (almost) funny.

Another nice quote:
"In Nintendo games, women are often depicted as victims. The covers of Nintendo games show males striking a dominant pose."

For example... this game depicting males as the "breadwinner" of the household. Sick.
Or perhaps this one. Another classic example of a "dominant male pose". Will somebody think of the children?
Or what about these three games, which blantantly reinforce the negative stereotype that males possess superior athletic ability to females?
And this horrid game. Another generic shooter about some steroid-addicted metallic dude saving a damsel in distress.
Don't even get me started on this one. How could anything be so offensive?

[/sarcasm]

This article is so ridiculous it's (almost) funny.

Another nice quote:
"In Nintendo games, women are often depicted as victims. The covers of Nintendo games show males striking a dominant pose."

For example... this game depicting males as the "breadwinner" of the household. Sick.
Or perhaps this one. Another classic example of a "dominant male pose". Will somebody think of the children?
Or what about these three games, which blantantly reinforce the negative stereotype that males possess superior athletic ability to females?
And this horrid game. Another generic shooter about some steroid-addicted metallic dude saving a damsel in distress.
Don't even get me started on this one. How could anything be so offensive?

[/sarcasm]

This article is so ridiculous it's (almost) funny.

Another nice quote:
"In Nintendo games, women are often depicted as victims. The covers of Nintendo games show males striking a dominant pose."

For example... this game depicting males as the "breadwinner" of the household. Sick.
Or perhaps this one. Another classic example of a "dominant male pose". Will somebody think of the children?
Or what about these three games, which blantantly reinforce the negative stereotype that males possess superior athletic ability to females?
And this horrid game. Another generic shooter about some steroid-addicted metallic dude saving a damsel in distress.
Don't even get me started on this one. How could anything be so offensive?

[/sarcasm]

This article is so ridiculous it's (almost) funny.

It might be worth while to know that some of the bundles out there go for well over $470. Perhaps Microsoft was hoping more people would buy these instead, as some stores only offer these. http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/systems/xbox 360/ The core bundle runs for $599.93 and the Ultimate bundle runs for $699.92.

Dell to a degree are lucky because their inventory is built from off the shelf components [...] but if you look at shortages of devices such as the Sony PSP, you find that there's a trade-off between time-to-market and component availability.

There's no shortage of PSPs. They may have sold out at launch, but they are in plentiful supply now. EBGames will ship you a PSP within 24 hours, Dell will ship you a handheld next working day. And you forget the similarity between the products. Compare the Dell Axim to the Sony's PSP:

Axim: 624 MHz to 416 MHz CPU (depending on the version)
PSP: 333 MHz CPU

Axim: 64MB RAM, 128MB to 256MB ROM
PSP: 32MB RAM

Axim: Compactflash (8GB+), SDIO storage slots
PSP: Memory Stick, 1.8GB UMD disk drive

Axim: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB 2.0
PSP: Wi-Fi, Infrared, USB 2.0

Axim v51: 480x640 screen with hardware 3D acceleration (mobile Direct3D).
PSP: 480x272 acreen with hardware 3D acceleration.

Axim: Touch-sensitive screen with stylus for input.
PSP: Joypad and a couple of buttons for input.

Axim: Windows Mobile 5, Microsoft Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, etc.
PSP: 0 to 3 software titles, depending on the bundle.

Axim: $269.00 to $621.00 depending on configuration and bundle.
PSP: $249.99 to $379.96 depending on the bundle.

From a standpoint of "the components that go into them", there's not much difference between the two besides the design of the case, buttons and ergonomics (although Sony's use of an optical drive is just insane). Dell Axims certainly should be capable of running any type of software that the PSP can (hence the Quake 3 port for the Axim v50/v51 which initially runs slowly but I'm sure will improve).

The Xbox 360 is hardly a new console. It's a $400 console for which you can buy $50 first-party controllers and which has all sorts of fun new ways to rid you of your money.

Please save your PSP persecution complexes for someone else. I happen to own more than 50 movies on UMD and I love them all.

I'd say it speaks standard USB since it being marketed as working under Windows XP. http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/258838.asp Those $40 for a controller or $50 for a wireless? Are they fucking nuts?

Why. yes, I can

"Gabe Newell - the guy who's company has chosen to make their games NOT portable to any thing other than Windows, is criticizing Sony for making their games hard to port?"

sigh

I just read somewhere that the price is going to be dropped from $150 to $130.

It already has been. Gotta love how Nintendo stories around here seem to have a mysterious effect stopping people from doing any pre-post fact-checking.

$40 for a memory card?

You mean as opposed to $25 for an 8MB Playstation 2 memory card? That's $3.1 per MB vs the 360's $0.63 per MB (assuming it's 64MB) - for the capacity the 360's memory card is five times cheaper.

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/181973.asp

$40 for a WIRED controller?

The ceramic white Playstation 2 controller is $45. Sure, the regular ones are $30, but my point is: there's a wired Playstation 2 controller that you have to pay more than $40 to get (if you can get it) anywhere:

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?scoring=pd&q=psx +controller+ceramic&btnG=Search+Froogle

$30-40 for an AV cable?

The official Playstation 2 S-Video cable retails for $30 (I paid about $35 when I bought mine from my local game store a few years back). 3rd party ones are cheaper ($7-ish), but they're too cheap to carry a decent signal (I've tried them):

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=playstation+2+ s-video&hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&client=firefox-a&rls=or g.mozilla:en-US:official&tab=wf&pid=47854049772643 76141

So the prices are actually pretty similar to the Playstation 2's. Except that the Playstation 2 has been out for years and from the way you're behaving you'd have thought everything would be $2 a pop by now - the official accessories are still expensive (and in my experience, 3rd party brands sometimes have inconsistent quality and are not usually worth it). So the grass isn't really any greener on the PS2 fanboy side of the fence.

It was a true version you could find at retail stores. It sold like cupcakes and was quite popular, considering the game is weird and strange, but I think the $20 price really helped in that regard. http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/245460.asp

"10-year lifespan" doesn't mean it'll be the lead product in the line.

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/244743.asp is just one example of this effect.

Super Monkey Ball 1 and 2 as well as Sega's Soccer Slam performed reasonably well and I suspect that if Sega brought Jet Set Radio Future to the Gamecube it would have also sold reasonably well.

I very much doubt that. SMB was a cutesy puzzle game and fits in nicely with Mario and Zelda. JSRF was a 3rd person rollerblading game. JSRF simply doesn't fit Nintendo.

I don't understand why Sega is so XBox friendly

Because Sony are their mortal enemies? This is the company that once had advertisements making fun of Sony's PS2 supply problems. And as the enemy of my enemy is my friend, Microsoft welcomed them to the Xbox.

If you really gave a damn about Sega's games, you'd buy an Xbox. There was even a Sega Xbox retail bundle that included two Sega games: Sega GT and JSRF (which you can still get used for $129, which is only $30 more than the $50 each game cost when first released).

According to EB the shipping date is September 6th.

I wouldn't mind paying for a gamepack including a bunch of simple things like checkers, minesweeper, solitaire, bejeweled, bustamove, etc.

You can't get all those games in one, but they are all slated for the DS.

Upcoming:
Checkers, Chess, etc
Bust-A-Move

and Zookeeper (Bejewelled) has been out since January, and Ultimate Card Games (solitaire, etc) has been out for a couple of months.

I wouldn't mind paying for a gamepack including a bunch of simple things like checkers, minesweeper, solitaire, bejeweled, bustamove, etc.

You can't get all those games in one, but they are all slated for the DS.

Upcoming:
Checkers, Chess, etc
Bust-A-Move

and Zookeeper (Bejewelled) has been out since January, and Ultimate Card Games (solitaire, etc) has been out for a couple of months.

EB says October 4. All I know is that it will sell for $30, a 50% markup over the original's US price.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that video games only take a nickle/disc to make, there are so many games out there that fail, even to the point of being fully developed but never shipped, that these companies need to balance the costs.

Here's a few options.
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/171980.asp
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/156041.asp
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=642 254
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=3598 770&type=product&id=1051806262714

The only place I saw that didn't have same day shipping was outpost.com.

Here's a few options.
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/171980.asp
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/156041.asp
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=642 254
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=3598 770&type=product&id=1051806262714

The only place I saw that didn't have same day shipping was outpost.com.

..and I should have linked directly to the Xbox Live Starter Kit, as it's a pain in the ass to get started with Live without it.

Um.. you'll be wanting an Xbox then, which can be had for $129 refurbished or $149 new, a subscription to Xbox Live - and a copy of the free Xbox Live Arcade disk.

Once you install Live Arcade, Bejeweled is available as an online purchase for $14.99.

They also have games like Zuma ($14.99), Mutant Storm ($9.99) - and Ms. Pac-Man is bundled free on the Live Arcade installation disk. Demos of most games are also available to download and try for free before you buy the full version.

The "handheld format" complaint can be solved for under $40. Assuming of course that you already have a Gamecube. And don't count on emulators upgrading the graphics; Garbage In, Garbage Out.

This is what concerns me about Nintendo. They're sitting still, keeping to their own ways. Meanwhile, the video game market is evolving. More and more gamers don't WANT innovative and creative games anymore.

On the contrary, Nintendo seems to be pretty much the only console maker (although I do admit the PS2 has some great RPGS) that hasn't succumbed to pandering to the graphics-whore "frat-boy" mentality. They may not be in 1st place, but they're still profitable, and they still have fans. I don't see what's so wrong.

I believe it is called Game Boy Player, or something like that. It was released in Japan in February. What does it do? It's a game cartridges with a memory slot that let's the GBA play movies and MP3s.

Errm, no. The Game Boy Player would be this, and what you're thinking of would be this.

Marketing is another big thing Nintendo doesn't seem to get. Reggie and the DS commercials were a step in the right direction, but it's still not enough. An example would be the PSP release. Nintendo has the technology to compete with Sony's handheld.

Are these numbers wrong? Where do ya get the idea that the DS isn't doing just fine competing with the PSP already?

If the article is going to mention TR and City Of Villains, it should also mention NCSoft's other upcoming MMO - Auto Assault.

And since I couldn't find it on those game's official sites, here are the ship dates from EBGames (which I'm sure aren't accurate, but hey):

* City Of Villains - 08/15/2005
* Auto Assault - 09/01/2005
* TR - 02/15/2006

This could get expensive. :(

(Although for the moment I'm still quite enjoying Guild Wars)

If the article is going to mention TR and City Of Villains, it should also mention NCSoft's other upcoming MMO - Auto Assault.

And since I couldn't find it on those game's official sites, here are the ship dates from EBGames (which I'm sure aren't accurate, but hey):

* City Of Villains - 08/15/2005
* Auto Assault - 09/01/2005
* TR - 02/15/2006

This could get expensive. :(

(Although for the moment I'm still quite enjoying Guild Wars)

If the article is going to mention TR and City Of Villains, it should also mention NCSoft's other upcoming MMO - Auto Assault.

And since I couldn't find it on those game's official sites, here are the ship dates from EBGames (which I'm sure aren't accurate, but hey):

* City Of Villains - 08/15/2005
* Auto Assault - 09/01/2005
* TR - 02/15/2006

This could get expensive. :(

(Although for the moment I'm still quite enjoying Guild Wars)