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Xbox360 Pricing, 2 Models at Launch
Tom writes "According to news in the LA Times, Microsoft will release two Xbox 360 packages when the console is launched later this year. The basic package will retail for $299 and will not include a hard disk, nor will it include a wireless controller, instead shipping with a wired pad.
The second package will retail for $399 and will include a 20 Gb hard disk, wireless controller, wireless headset, Ethernet cable and remote control. No release date has been revealed, but a mid to late November date is expected."
I'm just going to buy all three and retire.
I'd put money on us Brits having to pay £299 and £399, with the usual inflated prices.
If there was going to be a removable hard drive anyway, I personally would opt to buy the cheap system and then get the hard drive addon without all the extraneous accessories that will be used sparingly.
I don't see what's new about this, the decision has been known for quite some time and the LA Times is not an "official" soruce any more than the dozen of other artices we've seen about this.
/. the story will get duped before the day is over
Who am I kidding, this is
If the "cheap" model doesn't have a hard drive, that means that developers aren't going to use the thing in their games.
I assume you'll still be able to use it for saving games, but what about multiplayer stuff? Are new levels going to go on the memory card? And didn't I read something about MS using HUGE memory cards for the Xbox 360? Like, 1Gigabyte cards or something?
I'm just surprised they would split the market like that. But they're MS, they're crazy.
haven't heard of memory sticks for the xbox?
Tell me, have you seen the front of the console??? The Memory Slots are RIGHT THERE!!
I'd say the $399 deal is pretty good considering it comes with just about everything, and given the fact that you can't buy a laptop hard drive yourself for under $70
So, a 100 dollars will get you a 20 Gb hard disk, wireless controller, wireless headset, Ethernet cable and remote control? Not a bad deal. I do wonder how many people would actually get the "no hard disk" version.
On the other hand, it's still an expensive piece of kit, and odds are the version without a hard disk will still have the connectors on the inside, happily protected by "warranty void when opened".
Veni, Vidi, Velcro!
Why do these game systems still refuse to be released with a game included?
On a different topic, how many games are going to feature a sticker stating that it "Requires X-Box hard drive"?
Hopefully MS will allow gamers to upgrade the product.
What better way to make no one want to buy your system than to release two different systems off the bat. If they were smart they would hold off because there just isn't a market for a new system right now. I think I'll wait and get the final version, you know, when they are ready.
Expectations are the mother of all sorrow
Yeah, but it's great for pirates. A pirate can buy the cheap one, add a hard drive, mod chip (if one is released), then play their games. They won't be playing them online anyway.
If they want a successful launch then they really need this thing out well before Thanksgiving. And they'd better have the retail channel well stocked for Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). Any production snafus or delays are going to kill holiday sales and create a bunch of unhappy customers.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
My Xbox didn't come with an Ethernet cable either, and it works perfectly fine on Live.
And yes, if you've been paying *any* attention at all, the Xbox 360 will have memory card slots. They're very, very visible on the front of the console.
The $299 version doesn't ship with an ethernet CABLE, it still has an ethernet jack on the box though.
Well, it makes sense - when people complain about the price of the "deluxe" package, it can be pointed out that the "standard" package is cheaper.
A potential customer looks at the price of the standard package, then looks at the price of the deluxe one... "So I get all this stuff for a little bit more money? Ring me up!"
Plus it'll look nice in the catalogue... "Xbox 360, only $299!". Joe Average buys it for his kids, as it's "cheaper than those other consoles", not knowing it's about as useful as a brick without a hard drive.
Just another harmless drunk
Have you seen the front of the console???
the memory sticks go in the controllers..
Confusing consumers with multiple hardwares hasn't worked well for other companies in the past. Especially since the $299 360 is basically a doorstop. And if you say want a second controller and a game, you the functional version is gonna cost you $500 easy, on the first day.
This seems rather polar.. you either get bargain basement or everything they can cram into it.. and no in betweens?
What If you don't want wireless? What if you play rpg's for hours on end and want the comfort your control won't run out of batteries, but still want a hard drive and ethernet?
VLC FOR MAC IS DYING! IF YOU DEVELOP, PLEASE SAVE IT!!
Why are stories being allowed where the author links to his own website, which just references an original article elsewhere so that the author can gain ad impressions?
The actual link to the original story is here.
To sell a version without harddrive would be stupid
1. Used for saved games
2. Free parts XBOX Live needs hard drive to save content
They would be killing 2 of the most important aspects of the gaming system if they did this.
1. Developers would be unable to rely on the ability of a customer to save games, customers would be turned off and annoyed once they figured this out
2. XBOX Live argueably one the reasons the XBOX was so successfull in the first place would be neutered which would directly harm there marketshare and continued dominance in the consule online market
Personal Website
Bah, go ahead and mod my original down... My reading comprehension skills are at an all-time low today :P
Theses days you can't buy anything smaller than a 60/80GB unless it's used.
Obama's legacy: (N)othing (S)ecure (A)nywhere and (T)error (S)imulation (A)dministration
I've been very happy with my original XBox to date, and was looking forward to it's sequel, expecting a more refined Xbox Live experience, and another painless funbox. Now, with innovative games seeming to be an exclusive property of the Nintendo DS handheld, and this piecemeal marketing strategy of the XB360, I'm pretty un-enthused these days about the next-gen of home consoles. That's sad.
Looks good for your age..
That's a lot of money to play Halo. My resident expert on consoles (my daughter) tells me that people buy the Xbox primarily for the Halo series of games. Also, that the current incarnation of the machine has serious stability / quality problems.
[Insert pithy quote here]
>The starter package for the 360 is just a complete joke.
You're assuming that everyone who will buy a 360 is an online gaming uber geek. MS may well want to target the sleek model at normal human beings who could be persuaded to get due to it having a lot MORE features than your average DVD player.
i suppose you also think that two slice toasters are "dumb" when there are four sliced bsd powered models available.
If you don't risk failure you don't risk success.
...till we see games "This game doesn't work with XBOX 360 Basic. XBOX 360 Extended version required."
Anagram("United States of America") == "Dine out, taste a Mac, fries"
So, in other words, bait and switch.
On the current gen xboxes, i'd reckon most consumers barely fill up 100mb so of their HD. Your saves can always be 'saved' on the memory cards.
Given the pricing, the $399 version is a no brainer. Decent after market accessories (controllers, headsets, and remote controls that don't suck) are already are priced around $20+ each for these things.
While I appreciate the site link mongering, wouldn't it be better to just link the LA Times???
It's certainly more authoritative.
Video Game News, FAQs, etc
why on gods good earth would they release a model without a HD? Having a hard drive in it is the BEST thing for a console. Even sony realized this with ths Playstation and Nintendo will eventually wakeup and realise the same thing. I for one won't be buying the non-hd model as I find it to be a waste of money.
Considering what one's buying, I think the price points are about $100 too high. Not that I'll be buying either one, but I think that the prices should be closer to:
$199 for starter system
$299 for complete system
In other words, sell as many consoles as possible... the trick is, people still need to buy games for them.
Just another harmless drunk
If history has shown us anything about consoles, it's that developers won't utilize a hardware feature unless it's in EVERY SINGLE CONSOLE. I'd expect limited use of the hard drive ... saved games only? Whee.
the memory sticks go in the controllers..
no, seriously, the memory sticks go in the console.
The Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 Controller (left)
I thought I was hearing good things about the 360. I though Microsoft was actually going to have a huge advantage via using Xbox live to download new content, levels, games, etc, but now that's gone. I was hearing all sorts of cool things about being able to design your own games/levels and being able to share via Xbox live. That's gone too...
I don't see how saving essentially $10, or less, now by omitting the harddrive and then charging a $100 more to get it, will drive sales. Has Microsoft forgotten that a $399.99 system will not sell, even in 2005. Also M$ has forgotten that the a-holes at the game stores will jack up the price of the system by putting everything into "packs" so that $399 system will end up costing $599 if you want one anytime soon.
I keep on hearing that M$ is going to use solid state memory. If so, I don't see how it could be any cheaper than a hard drive.
I don't understand why M$ seems to be pulling their punches, they only have $40 BILLION dollars in the bank.
"Jeremy, you need to get to an internet cafe and cut and paste some appropriate sentiments about me from the world wide
Reserving usability for the rich, leaving the poor without headsets - leaving them with lower scores in the games, leaving the poor out of clans that extensively use voice communication. It's clear that Microsoft is classist.
The IGN article has more info on the differences in the two versions. http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/642/642656p1.html/
At this rate you'll have to by 3 versions of each of the 3 consoles before you retire...and possibly more!
From being a first-adopter of this technology, what games will be available at release? I could almost see this being a system where it's game development will fall horribly short, just because the hardware is being rushed out the door. The sooner the Xbox360 is placed on the market, the faster software developers will have to force their code through QA and proper testing to try and make the retail launch date. Anyone remember KotoR for Xbox? Not the best example, but it didn't have to be. That game had so many little glitches and bugs, that if you turned around a corner too fast, it took a dump in your lap. Hope you saved within ten footsteps! That, or have absolutely no titles on the shelves next to the console, which is kinda primo retarted when you think about it.
Informatus Technologicus
You might want to go look at the pictures of the console at the official XBox 360 website. There are two slots on the front of the console labled "Memory Unit A" and "Memory Unit B". I think it's safe to assume that that these two slots will be used for memory sticks.
I'm largely leaning towards the PS3 for the next-gen consoles, but one of the features that always caught my attention with the 360 was the wireless controllers. I know the PS3 will support the same thing, but Microsoft made such a big hoo-hah about this during their unveiling I figured it would be a standard feature at launch, for any package.
It's pretty disappointing they're making people shell out another hundred bucks to buy a launch package that includes a wireless controller (presumably they can be bought separate, but good luck finding one at launch).
"I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
-Hoban Washburn
Since there will be different versions of the XBox 360, does that mean that console game makers will now be putting "system requirements" on console games?
Wasn't one of the main reasons people said they preferred console games to PC games because they didn't have to worry about their system being able to handle running the game? Because it "just works"? Now console gamers have to be mindful of system requirements as well.
When Sony announced that their basic console would not ship with an HD everyone jumped on them because developers would be less inclined to use functionality that not everyone would have. The original Xbox had a huge advantage in this because developers could always expect the HD to be present, and therefore would use it well, whereas the PS2's HD was barely ever used because not everyone had one. I really think both of them are misstepping by having more than one version of their console. If I want to worry about my hardware I go to my computer. I expect all my console games to just work. Really, of the big three this gen, Nintendo is the only one doing things right so far (and this is coming from someone who owns an Xbox and PS2, but no Gamecube).
This is what you get when you let a computer company like Microsoft build a console instead of an appliance company like Sony.
This kind of schism will not bother those of us who are used to dealing with computers and their various configurations, but it will alienate everyone who expects their console to be an appliance that Just Works[tm].
The only reason people put up with the myriad configurations computers can come in is because a) requirements vary drastically and b) it's the way it's always been. Neither of these are true in the case of gaming consoles.
Bogtha Bogtha Bogtha
The only point of the basic package is so they can say "look we made the $299 price mark!" But without a hard drive, they've pretty much shot themselves in the foot. The proper console is $399, hard drive is not standard, so Sony must be laughing all the way to the bank. Which is a shame because I actually thought Microsoft were going to do something special
Did you get that thing I sent ya?
Just saw this while reading the page /. linked to. This is official.
http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/nid/1307/
$299 for core package. $399 for better package.
Peace, Chris
if both my friend and i buy the 'cheap' model, we can't play two player games at eachothers house, because it only has one controller input? Brilliant!
I'm afraid that to afford all three on launch day (plus a game/memory card for each) you'll have to use every last penny in your retirement fund. Hope you enjoy supermarket own-brand beans!
You must think in Russian.
I don't understand why M$ seems to be pulling their punches, they only have $40 BILLION dollars in the bank.
You say that as if Sony didn't also have a massive war chest for just such a situation
I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
I'm a little slow on the uptake on this one, but the more I think about it (and after seeing a pic of the topside of the wireless controller), the more I realize this machine is made to capture the mindshare of current playstation owners -- not satisfy current xbox owners.
Look at a few of the features that are different from the original xbox:
- Memory card slots in the front (which I hate seeing there -- I'd pay $100 for a model that *didn't* have these on the front of the box)
- FOUR trigger buttons instead of two
- OPTIONAL hard drive
These are all "features" that PS 1/2 owners are used to. More familiarity, lower barrier to entry for switchers, blah blah.
What does it mean to wake out of a dream
and be wearing someone else's shorts?
BNL, Born on a Pirate Ship (1998)
Considering the last Xbox branded Ethernet cable that I saw was $35 dollars CDN for a 5 metre cable, they should be able to knock down the price a bit more.
I thought you needed a Monster Cable Xbox Ethernet Cable to get the most out of Live. Your bits simply don't flow as smoothly through brand-X cables.
Dumbest idea I've ever heard of. This will just cause confusion, and at launch thats not a good thing. I'd rather see a $350.00 version at launch with everything included. Then 6 mos-1yr down the line release a 249.00-299.00 stripped down version.If one thing Sony has right is consistency and a much better advertising/PR firm than M$.
Does none of these companies look at the past mistakes of other companies? Christsake....360 with no hard drive is just going to be a fancy PS2. Someone needs to kick the all marketing guys at MS in balls repeatedly. I'd be first in line. What dumbasses!!!
Don't buy a XBOX360 you crazies! We need to purchase the PS3 in order to make sure Microsoft is utterly slaughtered in this next gen video game system competition.
So lets see here...
Two different versions... And the more expensive version doesn't even come with a wireless adapter... that's another HUNDRED bucks.
Baaaaaaad move on Microsoft's part. Out of fear that their games won't sell as well, publishers are going to have to design their games to not need the hard drive... either that, or everyone without a hard drive is going to have an expensive paperweight when games still require the hard drive.
This is going to lead to a fragmentation of the Xbox owning public, which is a bad thing for everybody... the consumer, and the gaming companies.
Who's with me?
The Xbox360, as well as the Xbox before it, will have memory sticks. While the hard drive is nice, it is not "key" to the Xbox. Also, he states that it lacks Ethernet, which is untrue. The article simply states that the more expensive version of the Xbox360 will include an Ethernet CABLE packaged with it.
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Now I have the choice of either getting a system which I need to spend more money on to uncripple or one that comes with a bunch of junk I won't use.
Why are we bullied into paying $100US to get the add on HDD plus other crap? Why doesn't the high and mighty allow us to use an external USB 2.0 HDD or our own? Many of us surely have HDD's laying around that could be used. The Xbox360 has the USB2.0 ports.... So, this will be 3 or possibly 4 iterations of the XB360? 1. XB360 doorstop $299 2. XB360 deluxe (the one we thought were all getting) $399 3. XB360 doorstop w/ bolt on HD DVD drive cos they didn't get it right the 1st time $399 4. XB360 deluxe + HD DVD $499 ??? I will stick with my PC for now thanks. Having enough fun already and I don't need to shell out a motherload of $$$.
...it MUST be true.
Where do they get this shit?
Moral: don't just write off the current leader of the market yet.
The Raven
The two Xbox 360 package may not be what the consumers want -- I mean who buys videos with a friend ? And a bit pricey at $299, but the thing is none of this matters nor needs to be debated. You can be CERTAIN that Ebay sellers will buy these suckers in bulk, at a discount, and then resell individual units for as little as $160. A smattering more for the convenience of being able to buy one X-box. Now the only thing to worry about is the LAWSUITS sure to ensue when Microsoft decides they have violated their seller agreement by not selling two Xboxen together. *sigh*
I don't like MS. It's OS Family is a risk to man and mouse in every corporate enviroment and their monopoly in OSes has been holding back IT innovation for years. Day in and day out I have to deal with trouble caused by MS Windows 'insecurity by design'.
However, the Windows Family does have a reputation as a gaming OS. I use it to play WoW (my current iBook is to weak for large crowds and Transgaming is to much fuss).
Yet this XBox has one thing I've been desperately missing on consoles: Hassle free VGA support. That's why I will check it out.
But since the Nintendo Revoultion is gonna be something like twice as powerfull I'll wait for that one before making any buying decisions.
It's like everybody said: Maybe if MS can get their hardware as predictable as Apple has theirs and keep a grip on their computer gaming stronghold at the same time they might even stay the 400 pound gorilla they are right now. And - imagine that - build good products too!
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
The problem is this: If not everyone's console comes with a hard drive, not every game will use it. In fact, I worry that a majority of developers will avoid implementing features that the kids and the price conscious will not be able to access. Why build HD access into a game where 50%+ can't use it, and therefore don't buy the game? It's shooting yourself in the foot right from the getgo. Can you think of any other console add-on that turned out to be anything more than a sideshow?
Personally I'm excited at this. I wonder how it will take PPC Linux to be ported to it?
CDE open sourced! https://sourceforge.net/projects/cdesktopenv/
Don't feel like digging it up, but I'm pretty sure I recall the 360 folks telling developers to design their games as if there were no hard drive. At that point, I was already sure a version without a HD was in the plans, despite thinking it is a horrible move.
No one cares because of the hard drive, but there's another way to look at this:
Their core demographic is the lan party boys who already have like 3 extra hard drives laying around, propping up their couch in the garage. They'll just purchase this, pop a hard drive in and buy a special wireless NFL controller. They already have a headset.
Something similar happened when the original DualShock controllers came out for the original PlayStation. I remember picking up Ape Escape, and seeing the big warning on the back "THIS GAME REQUIRES A DUALSHOCK CONTROLLER" on the back. I figured it out, but then again I also read Slashdot.
If M$ has ONE thing different between the systems (like HD vs no HD), then maybe people will be able to tell whether a game will work or not. Add more required unknowns (Headset? Broadband?) and the whole thing will go to hell.
With the first link, the chain is forged.
OMG, what a deal! They give one meter of cat5 with two rj45!
:wq
That is the package you will buy to run Linux (LiveCD) on and you will put your own 500G HD in it and connect your ethernet with a wireless USB adaptor! Microsoft thinks about us, hackers that want to run Linux on XBox
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and get yourself PSP or the Playstation 3 http://www.ps3land.com/.
Java Oracle Linux Enthusiast
my worry is if they release a HD-DVD capable model in the future... will those who bought the early generation xbox 360's be restricted in their game selection, or will there be some type of upgrade path available? or will Microsoft be strict and say that no games can use the HD-DVD functionaly, only movies?
The many peripherals will retail for the following: * Faceplate ($19.99, 19.99 Euros, 14.99 GBP) * Hard Drive (20 GB) ($99.99, 99.99 Euros, 69.99 GBP) * Memory Unit (64 MB) ($39.99, 34.99 Euros, 22.99 GBP) * Wireless Networking Adapter ($99.99, 79.99 Euros, 59.99 GBP) * Wireless Controller ($49.99, 44.99 Euros, 32.99 GBP) * Play and Charge Kit ($19.99, 19.99 Euros, 14.99 GBP) * Rechargeable Battery Pack ($11.99, 14.99 Euros, 9.99 GBP) * Controller ($39.99, 34.99 Euros, 24.99 GBP) * Headset ($19.99, 19.99 Euros, 14.99 GBP) * Universal Media Remote ($29.99, 29.99 Euros, 19.99 GBP) * Component HD AV Cable ($39.99, 29.99 Euros, 19.99 GBP) * S-Video AV Cable (US) ($29.99) * SCART AV Cable (Europe) (24.99 Euros, 17.99 GBP) * VGA HD AV Cable ($39.99, 29.99 Euros, 19.99 GBP) $100 for a 20G HD!!!!! They still have to get rid of those pesky drives from the original XBox??
Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
No, his daughter meant it's unstable when placed on a small entertainment center. It'll tip the shelf over.
And seriously, all I hear from the programmer guys around here is about Halo, Halo 2, etc. And Madden. They are the best-sellers.
What If you don't want wireless? What if you play rpg's for hours on end and want the comfort your control won't run out of batteries,...
Wireless controllers could save your life! Don't you know that people die from playing video games for more than 36 hours? Or what if you're playing a flight simulator and you get a blood clot in your leg from sitting still for 2 hours and it travels to your brain! And you die! Oh my god your brain!
On a more serious note, the whole enchilada does seem a bit expensive to me. Given that the price per gigabyte these days is down to around $0.48USD for the largest models, I wouldn't want to pay more than $10 for a 20GB hard drive. Either way, both packages seem rather sour to me.
Since the higher priced system is already "giving" $200 worth of accesories for only $100 more, why can't they just give $100 worth of accessories (the hard drive) for $0, and not create this massive split?
Sure, you wouldn't get the wireless controller with your launch package, but I'm sure that many people would go and buy at least one more to have with the system. It worked for Nintendo with their wavebird controllers.
I would pay $1000 to get rid of the mess of cables that I have with my current Xbox. What a mess!
Thus, I imagine that folks are going to have to add $30 (the cheapest cable price I've seen so far) to the premium package's $400 if they own an old TV. Ach, these new consoles and their price gouging. Remember back when a game and two controllers were included in the package?
People don't all want to play the same games, that's why DVD players don't come with media. They could include a coupon or something, but then we're really just talking about the price of the console.
"haven't heard of memory sticks for the xbox? Tell me, have you seen the front of the console??? The Memory Slots are RIGHT THERE!!" XBOX != XBOX 360
So, without the remote, does this mean that the "basic" model Xbox 360 will have DVD playback disabled?
Recall that the original Xbox had no DVD playback without the optional remote.
XBOX Home and XBOX Professional?
I guess the Home edition won't be able to run most games reliably, or will run them with limited to no network support.
"Live Free or Die." Don't like it? Then keep out of the USA
Since compatibility to Xbox1 was something that was said to be ongoing (most likely through downloads over the Live network), and the reliance of several Xbox1 titles of having a harddisk available, can we assume now that only the Xbox2++ (or Xbox360) will be compatible with XBox1 games, while the Xbox2-- (or Xbox359) will not be.. ?
I'll get Nintendo Revolution (yep, I'm a fanboy). What I do like so far is that they have said virtually nothing; they are quietly learning from the other 2. On the other hand, Sony and M$ have over promised, built expectations and are figuring ways to under-deliver (such as M$'s backward compatabilies issues)
"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." -- Sigmund Freud
Apparently developers are not coding games to 'require' the HDD but I'm guessing it will be used for caching to allow for faster load times.
This begs the question, what will the gaming experience be like for a player who has the standard 'core' XB360 versus the person who paid MS an extra $100?
Will the cheapskate player have a lesser game experience due to longer load times? What will happen in multiplayer games? Will the person who obviously has more $$ to line Bill's pockets get all the good weapons before the player who is less wealthy (thus giving the advantage to the rich player)?
Next generation? More like, Next "iteration". Thanks so Microsoft. Ugh....
that noticed this is 299 Euro's?
I'm curious to see what the US price will be..
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rup17.2aug17 ,1,6590232.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
"Microsoft Corp. said its next-generation Xbox 360 game console would cost $299 to $399 when the device is launched this holiday season."
The LA Times isn't theinquirer.net.
Low end: 209.99 United Kingdom Pounds = 380.016 United States Dollars
I suppose that is only $323 when you take the VAT off though. Only $23 more than the US.
High end: 279.99 United Kingdom Pounds = 506.648 United States Dollars
which is $431 once VAT is removed.
The hard drive most likely will be used for what it is currently used for on the current xbox, music and saved games (also modding). I have known a few people who didn't see the point in having the hard drive because they could save the games on a memory stick and they don't keep music on their xbox.
the HD is in a little module that just clips on the side - the idea being that if you're going around to a friends you can just take that and the game with you for all your config stuff.
The HD isn't some capacity monster because, it wouldn't be used, it would cost more, it's not a standard 3.5" like the XB1's. (I assume 1.8"). Earlier reports (I've no idea if they're true) are to be believed, MS are going to launch an iPod like device that can be clipped on the side that'll allow you to play your stored music whilst out and about as well - nice idea.
A wireless controller of first quality TODAY (the Wavebird) is worth $20. A Hard Disk is worth what? $40?
The headset another $10. I can't believe they are counting the Ethernet cable in the offer. That should be free.
MS will make a lot of money from this "offer"
Sec. 238.0 Bait advertising defined.1 Bait advertising is an alluring but insincere offer to sell a product or service which the advertiser in truth does not intend or want to sell. Its purpose is to switch consumers from buying the advertised merchandise, in order to sell something else, usually at a higher price or on a basis more advantageous to the advertiser. The primary aim of a bait advertisement is to obtain leads as to persons interested in buying merchandise of the type so advertised.
Since Microsoft has told developers not to rely on the HDD being there, it's clear that they aren't insincere about selling the $299 version, any more than Honda is insincere about selling a Civic versus a Accord. Take a deep breath and don't let the anti-MS paranoia get to you so much.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/642/642656p1.html
So I'm assuming XBox backwards compatibility is out for the Xbox360 then (at least for the $299 version). You would need to spend an extra $100 to get that feature (even though a Xbox goes for around $149 these days).
I wish Microsoft was a little more upfront about all this. Instead of showing the wireless XB360 w/ HDD at E3, they could've showed a wired version too without a HDD. Since the original Xbox lauched for $299 with a HDD, people, such as myself, immeditely belived it would come with a HDD at that price-point. At E3 they made it sound like it would come standard, Sony was at least up front about this possibilty from the begining.
I doubt I'll be renewing it when my year is up (on the Xbox OR 360).
Reguardless of what they advertise, it seems like a buncha swearing 14 year olds.
"Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus."
...Get a computer!! or the latest fancy video card
I got nothin'
whilst everyone has mentioned the ethernet and memory card aspects, i'd just like to take a moment and point something out:
"unless they plan on selling memory sticks, which I haven't heard anything on yet"
he's actually right...hold on squire, hear me out...they are not releasing 'memory sticks' because it doesn't use 'memory sticks' they use their own memory card. Why would they want to help Sony by using their 'memory sticks'?
Incidently, yes the HD is key to the XBox, but not the 360.
I think the starter package is just what is required, the softcore gamers don't want all the fancy pants wireless stuff, they just want to buy their kids the 'latest thing' without going overboard on price. I think MS have it right with this setup.
If you were me, then I'd be you, oh look breasts
Everyone is concerned about developers not being able to utilize the hard drive in the system, but think about it: half-assed games will not be able to be patched at a later date, which is a HUGE upside to the whole thing. Games will be fully finished by release day, not by "a few months later"!
The Tech Terminal
Hmm... this looks interesting.
Play and Charge Kit ($19.99, 19.99 Euros, 14.99 GBP)
Rechargeable Battery Pack ($11.99, 14.99 Euros, 9.99 GBP)
"Microsoft's next generation console, the Xbox 360, will cost $299 (£209) when it goes on sale at Christmas."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4160076.stm
299.00 USD = 165.302 GBP = 26% markup in UK
BUT, US price is excluding sales tax?
UK VAT = 17.5% so they are only ripping off UK customers by 8.5%
Become some Xbox 1 games use the HDD to cache data (and to download multiplayer maps), especially the hugely popular Halo 2 , a lot more of the $400 version will be sold, especially right at launch, as current Halo 2-playing Xbox owners line up to buy it.
Why would game companies make something for people who can't play it if going for the lowest common denominator of console systems would yield the most profit? If they make a game for the non hard drive system both groups of users will get to play it and they get more sales. Hard drive games would reduce their market share, and companies usually don't like that with huge blockbuster console games.
Addons always fail.. Sega-CD, Nintendo 64 Memory Pack.. they always end up being niche products.
Prices on other doodads:
20GB Hard Drive: $129.99
64MB Memory Unit: $49.99
Wireless Controller: $59.99
Play & Charge Kit: $29.99
Rechargeable Battery Pack: $14.99
Wireless Networking Adapter: $129.99
Headset: $29.99
Universal Media Remote: $39.99
S-Video AV Cable: $39.99
VGA HD AV Cable: $49.99
Taking into account that a memory card ($39.99 U.S./?34.99/£22.99) is required for saving games, a headset ($19.99 U.S./?19.99/£14.99) is necessary for Xbox Live play, a second controller sells for $39.99 (?34.99/£24.99), and a remote goes for $29.99 (?29.99/£19.99), totaling $130, the premium price appears the better deal. The above tally doesn't include a MS HD, which costs an additional $99 (totaling $229).
I retract my earlier statement about the AV cables - after doing a little research, the Premium cable is compatible with composite TV's.
299 is sub-200? All they are including is an ethernet cable...I'm pretty sure one of those can be found cheaper somewhere else...assuming you're not going to use the wireless addon anyways
Awesome, now I know two things. How much money I'll be saving with my Revolution, and that I won't be missing a damn thing.
:)
I mean at first I was buying a Revolution on principle... because I strongly dislike M$ and I loathe Sony. (not to mention Nintendo makes kick-ass games, and their entire back catalog downloadable) Now, it turns out they're fucking up their consoles anyway. The main advantage of consoles has always been hardware continuity... and $400? Rediculous.
The Revolution might have a little less power, but at least they don't always overpromise and underdeliver.
This decision will have to affect backwards compatibility to some extent. I'm assuming you will have to have the HD to play older games now? Some big question marks now...
no sleepy!
The Xbox360 title will now be changed to xbox180. The HD-dvd drive will be replaced with an original xbox standard DVD rom. Wireless control will be replaced with an original standard xbox wired controller. 20 gig HD will be removed entirely. Launch date titles will include solitaire, minesweeper and Pac-man. Other retail titles include: demo versions of GTA5, Halo3 and GrandTourismo95, which are scheduled for release by summer of 2006.
Isn't the whole XBOX360 release starting to sound like the Vista release? Just a flashy (better graphic engine) version of the original Xbox/Windows XP.
While the hard drive is nothing special (really I could buy a 300 GB HD for real cheap) with the other stuff it comes with: Wireless controller, headset (something i probably don't use, but hey) would probably make it worth it. The ethernet cable kind of gave me a laugh, but I could see how the common masses would say "Hey thats cool". Especially since a decent ethernet cable costs around 10-15$....I make my cables (its fun knowing how to do that) so it costs me around 50 cents to make a good cat 5e cable....twist the ends and have it be a x-over cable :D
I mod down so you can mod up. Your welcome.
Don't forget that this is just the "First generation" of the xbox 360. Later models will feature the HD-DVD, and mayhaps some games will be made on that format, never know. I'm just going to wait till the guy next door buys and I invite myself over.
I know from years of experience arguing with my parents over which computers they should buy (because they refused to let me build one at half the cost..) that they will:
look at the price of the deluxe package first, and THEN they will see the cheap one and say "I save $100 for skipping out on these parts? Ring me up!"
More details regarding the included accessories with both models and the exact pricing can be found here.
There's no reason for MSFT to sell the complete package for $399 when they could leverage marketing and sell it for $360.
Even if they wanted to keep $100 difference between the two units, they could have sold the base unit for $249 or $259. *THAT* would also force Sony's hand to bring the PS3 to market at a non-$299 price or risk being undersold from the get-go. Of course, that means that there would be no wiggle room for discounting the X360 when the PS3 is released.
You can just mod it and get a bigger HD than f'n 20 Gb for $100
We have secretly replaced these Slashdot mods' sense of humor with a rusty nail. Let's see if they notice!!
Who said anything about me being an English speaker??
1) very few non-hard drive xbox 360s will be produced
2) the non-hard drive xbox 360s will be discontinued within a year of release.
the hard driveless xbox 360 is a marketing ploy
As they were supposed to use patches downloaded to the hd, without it I cant see how they can get it to work.
OK this wont bother some people but as the ps2 showed backeards compatability is a great feature to have.
MS just found another way to get money out of people.
Um, no .. that was the Dreamcast. They called it "VMU" (Visual Memory Unit?). The modules had a tiny CPU, a smallish LCD matrix display and a few buttons. Thus, you could (in Theory) run mini-games on them (Tamagotchi anyone?)
Gone is one advantage that Microsoft looked like they were going to have over Sony, shipping the Xbox 360 with a hard drive as standard equipment. Now the developers are not going to program the games to use the hard drive. This will bring down the level of features that will be offered in a game. So, what will Xbox have over PS3? Nothing by the looks of it. They will get a small marketing jump by being first out but the PS3 will crush the 360 by virtue of its massive PS2 catalog alone.
The Xbox came out with a major feature that helped them make some in roads in the market. They offered a hard drive that developers could use to reduce the load times. It was a value to the consumer because it did not increase the price of the system. Consumers, in general, do not purchase peripherals for game systems beyond an extra controller. I think Microsoft is seriously overestimating their foothold in the console market and this decision is going to cost them alot.
XBox360Preorders.com - sign up and get notified of each new preorder. WalMart.com is taking them beginning tomorrow morning.
Ign has some more info:
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/642/642647p1.html
Looks pricey!
$50 for the wireless controller and then $12 more for the damn battery, and what's the $20 Play and Charge kit?
Does that mean you could spend up to $82 per controller for all the bells and whistles?? Yikes!
FUNK!
What it comes down to is whether or not the second deal is worth it to you. Ask yourself what your priorities are. Can you afford it, and if so, do you plan on playing FFXI or even Halo 2 on the 360? Do wires get on your nerves? Do you have broadband or plan on getting it? If you answered "no" to two of those questions, then you're better off with the cheaper version. And besides, it's going to be the same Xbox; they aren't going to change some specs for the guys who bought the more expensive package. In fact, that's all it is -- a package. An Xbox, and peripherals. If you feel you don't need the stuff now but will eventually, just go and buy it.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
No you cannot have my 300$, and no I will not give you a little less only to upgrade later.
This is like people buying a sports car just so they can look cool. The car doesn't actually get them anywhere faster, but it sure looks flashy!
I remember some of the older systems that tried crap like this. They were too expensive and they flopped too.
First, MS is pushing the premium more than the Core. There will be mostly the premium packages than the core packages.
Second, if you want to play old XBox games, you have to get the HD. I guess that's why MS said during E3 that the 360 is "mostly" backwards-compatible. If you don't have the HD, you don't play XBox games.
Third, wireless Internet is an additional $99. So that $400 premium box just became $500.
Fourth, games are $60.
I guess Bill nees to build a study room for his kids, and need more money...
And why does it cost $50 to put a 20GB HD into the xbox? You can get 100GB drives for $50 nowadays!
Have you guys seen this article at GameSpot??
So, for $99, you can buy the hard drive seperately? Uh... NO. That's a $30 profit, easy, not even buying in bulk!
The wireless networking adapter is another $99? Uh, looks like I'd be going wired for this version of the XBox.
$50 for a controller? Are they out of their skulls? Controllers, even near LAUNCH, retail at $35, best! The S controller is $25 for the XBox!
$20 for a headset that's $5 for the regular XBox? $30 to $40 for cables that should be half that, at best?
Hell, even the memory card is $40. You've got to be kidding me!
Video Game News, FAQs, etc
People that buy the $300 version of the XB360 will need a memoery card since that version has no HDD and people will need to save games and logon to Xbox Live!.
Microsoft today announced the pricing of the Xbox 360 Memory Unit (64 MB)to be $40. So in reality people that buy even the base model will need to really spend $340 for the system. Since next-gen games are going to be released at $59.99, at the bare minimum the consumer will need to spend at least $400 to be able to enjoy the system. In reality the XB360 "value pack" only really cost $60 more.
Being that the Playstation 3 will allow users to use standard memory like SD/Compact Flash/MemoryStick (Sony has learned from their mistakes), I wish MS wouldn't lock consumers into their overpriced memory units.
I just don't want to have to mess around with stupid memory cards. All games on the 360 should be required to support saving games on the HD.
This may be slightly off topic, but I remember reading the Bethesda wasn't going to release Oblivion on the PS3 because of the lack of a harddrive on the standard model. Since this also appears to be the case with the XBOX 360, will this make any difference? Or, will, as people have posted already, will this lead to 'system requirements' on video game boxes?
from xbox.com's description of the default controllers:
* Six analog buttons with 256 levels of sensitivity
* Two analog pressure-point triggers
* Two vibration feedback motors
* One eight-way directional pad
* Two menu navigation buttons
* Two expansion slots for memory cards or other accessories (sold separately)
* One 9.8 foot cable with inline release
Comment removed based on user account deletion
There's a link here:
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3142257
The list may not be accurate, and is certianly yawn inducing, IMHO, but it appears there will be several firstgen nextgen titles available.
Me? I'll be waiting for the second round of console price cuts, just like always.
ceci n'est pas un sig.
People have complained about buggy games that were rushed to market only to be patched later. If developers can't count on the presence of a hard drive, which is critical for patches, will they have to spend more time on testing because deploying bug fixes may no longer be possible across all systems?
As someone who would rather wait for a stable release than deal with patches, this could be a good thing.
Hate to break it to you, but 64MB translates to 512Mb.... 8 bits in 1 byte... But then that's assuming that the spec sheet is using proper multipliers (1024^2, not 1000^2) for the M prefix.
Slashdot: where repeating an article in a post is "+5 Insightful"
Bad move. Developers will have to code for the lowest common dominator, the XBox basic, as they are interested in selling to the largest market possible. The result of this, is that games are crippled for the lesser system, and not taking advantage of the premium models HDD. The best thing Sony could do, would be to make HDD standard on ALL PS3's from the word go. Developers could then be assured all PS3 have HDD storage, and code their games to take advantage of this. This bad decision, and the decision to go with the inferior DVD-HD format could be the nail in the coffin for XBox360 before it's even born..
I'll be getting a PS3 along with the rest of the world.
I think it will be interesting to see ratios of $299/$399 packages when they end up in retail. I think MS would be wise to make the high-end version make up at least half of those available.
People like this guy have been ranting in slashdot comments for weeks about how there wasn't going to be a no-hard-drive version at launch. After all the rest of os have been flamed, modded down, and accused of being Sony fanboys for rationally suggesting otherwise. Why aren't there any posts rubbing this in?
Hah! We told you so!
New Electronic Gaming Monthly talks to one of the 360 developers, and he stated that you need the removable hard drive to have backwards compatibility with XBox games on the 360. I guess you have to download some special codeset to work in tandem with the 360 in order for the games to work. He also said the 360 would be released with a hard drive, but I guess now there will be two versions out... And the hits just keep on coming!
Yeah, my karma sucks....but so do the mods.
Shotgun, check. Foot, check.... ...it still remains to be seen if Nintendo's going to blow it as badly as the other two ;)
"A truly wise man realizes he knows nothing."
It's good thinking on your part, however the gaming general public has no such memory of any over promises.
Does this ring a bell? "The PlayStation 2 will be able to render Toy Story quality graphics in real time."
Can it actually do that? Obviously not. Does the general public remember that quote? No they don't, and they don't care now. Those same people were the ones that were frothing in ecstasy at the thought of that power when Sony made the proclamation. Sony built up the hype and then when they under-delivered the public just didn't care, so why should Sony be concerned about over-hyping their product now?
"Chances of RHIC-induced Armageddon are exceedingly rare, but... you never know." - MIT Physicist Bob Jaffe
That innovative Microsoft... really... *rolls eyes*
Akarsz Magyar Gentoo fórumot? Akkor
Why would the rich be frightened because someone who could afford second class would choose to fly third class? This makes no sense, except for feelgood bashing.
WTF crack are you smoking? how is MS's backwards compatibilities issues under-delivering? no one even really believed they could do it at all, and when the announced it, they said they could only guarantee the top games to work at launch and others to be added later. they never ruled out the possibility of say 40% working at launch.
seems you like to jump on the overreaction bandwagon too much. life must be really depressing for you.
What I do like so far is that they have said virtually nothing; they are quietly learning from the other 2. On the other hand, Sony and M$ have over promised
They named their next system "Revolution" and you say they're not over promising?
Read up, jackass
I find it funny that alot of you people actually think these are standard sized pc hard drives.
Newsflash: They're not.
We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART?
Besides the issues of higher production costs for the manufacturer (two different packages, different assembly lines, etc.) and higher costs for the retailers (have to stock two different SKUs and hope that you order the proper quantities of each), third-party manufacturers make this a really bad idea. I guarantee that on launch day, someone like Pelican will have all of the additional Xbox accessories on the shelves in a $50 bundle. The result? Very few of the higher priced Xbox packages will sell and retailers will be stuck with product they can't move which occupies valuable real estate in their stores.
What's the point in being a grammer and spelling Nazi? Some people can spell ok, some people can't. So?
Tell me, have you seen the front of the console??? The Memory Slots are RIGHT THERE!!
Yeah, and for $299 they come EMPTY!
"Given that the price per gigabyte these days is down to around $0.48USD for the largest models, I wouldn't want to pay more than $10 for a 20GB hard drive."
You've obviously not priced small form factor drives lately... or ever.
We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART?
"just like the PS2 HDD"
nobody developed for it because nobody had it, and nobody bought it because nobody developped for it.
it's possible that 360+HDD will be worth developing for if MS can get enough people to buy it early enough... good luck.
Yeah that rings a bell. But not from history.
The quote you are thinking of referred to the Xbox launch, not the Playstation 2 launch. Billy G himself said it:
Gates said the 3-D chips in the Xbox would be three times faster than anything on the market and offer nearly unlimited graphical visuals. "We're approaching the level of detail seen in Toy Story 2," he said, referring to the computer-generated kids film from Disney/Pixar.
The original Wired article.
Somehow people keep repeating this quote as a Sony quote. I don't know why. I don't blame you - its very common.
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
are you kidding me?
More than likely, there is some alternative storage included by default to allow for saved games, like a large flash device. This would be something every developer can code for and assume is there for game saves (and for backward compatibility with certain "popular" games). If you want to rip music, download extra content, etc, you'll have to buy the HD. Simple to me. The only downside I see, is that no game would now include the ability to play ripped music, because they can't assume you have the HD. But the 360 may be getting around this by being able to autonimously play music apart from the games? Would require some sort of mixer setting to be able to adjust comparitive volumes...we shall see.
Why not make the optical drive optional? Why not make the amount of RAM optional too? Same with the CPU speed. Wait a second, that sounds allot like a PC. Microsoft made a big mistake on this one. They should have stuck with a fixed platform. Users and developers would appreciate it in the long run.
Anyone care to guess how long until modchips for XBox 360 hit the streets? I say 6 months.
What's the point in being a grammar and spelling Nazi?
Poor grammar or spelling makes you look less intelligent, thereby reducing the perceived validity of your point.
Newsflash laptop 20gig drives aren't $99 either. And these aren't pccard sized drives.
--
WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?
This is a great marketing decision, think about it... 1. If they continue to hammer that you "need to have a hard drive", for music, videos, Tivo like functions and D/L content, those are legitimate reasons. Not to mention that the HD is portable and massive so in the long how much are you going to save in memory cards?!?! 2. You keep the price sweet and inviting, lets get real, casual gamers (as will parents) will look down on nearly $5-6 hundred with a few games. On the other hand how many PS2's/Xbox's sold for that same exact price 4-5 years ago?! I have an inclination that some thing along the following is going to happen.... 1. In time for the PS3 release, MSFT is going to make sure that the "bundle package" in all it's glory sells for less then the PS3.... and/or 2. In time for the PS3 release, MSFT will be prepared to ship the 2nd generation consoles...AKA the 360 along the lines of built in WiFi, HDDVD drive, larger HD...
The quote you give simply doesn't state that the Xbox will be able to do Toy Story graphics.
(And the reason people keep pushing it as a Sony quote is because when the PS2 was announced you kept getting different people suggesting that it could do that. There's no official quotes because Sony wisely didn't make them, but it isn't a secret that they obviously fed that kind of comparison to the media somehow. There's no way all sorts of places would start making that comparison just out of the blue.)
There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. -- Francis Bacon
I'll get Nintendo Revolution (yep, I'm a fanboy). What I do like so far is that they have said virtually nothing; they are quietly learning from the other 2. On the other hand, Sony and M$ have over promised, built expectations and are figuring ways to under-deliver (such as M$'s backward compatabilies issues)
So far for me it's a tossup between Nintendo Revolution - because they have more of the games that I tend to like and aren't so FPS-oriented - and the PS3 - which seems like a better system than the xBox.
Note: I currently own a GameCube and an xBox - but only own two titles for the xBox.
Pretty much for me - if it plays The Sims and it's variants, plus some cool Japanes and Euro games - you got me. Or if they come out with GTA: Seattle then I'll buy a platform that plays that.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
Nobody on slashdot believed perhaps, but Microsoft DID say they would be backwards compatible and have back tracked on that statement several times already.
I own it for the games. (Splinter Cell and Ninja Gaiden especially.)
How is Ninja Gaiden? I'm not that interested in Splinter Cell - too much time in the military myself to be interested in it - but I thought I heard Ninja Gaiden was interesting - why? Also, do you know if it's being ported to or will play on the xBox 360?
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
Well maybe doomed is too strong, but they really haven't made their lives easier with 2 models at launch. As far as developers are concerned, the hard drive might as well not exist. As others have noted and as has been the case in console history, most developers will not develop for hardware that is not standard on the system. The lack of a hard drive standard on all systems puts them back on level with the PS3. That coupled with questionable backwards compatibility, means that Xbox 360 is a new system going head to head with the PS3. The probability of success drops considerably when looked at that way. How can the 360 out-PS3 the PS3?
Microsoft knows all of this already, so what must their game plan be? Assuming that despite all of the hype, that the 360 and the PS3 are equally powerful, then how does MS win? Microsoft's greatest strength has been being able to provide developers with the tools they need to make the best of Microsoft platforms. If MS can make the 360 drop dead easy to exploit, then it can do well despite the lack of a standard hard drive. Ease of development was one of the things that propelled the original Playstation to dominance.
In the end, I think that dropping the standard hd signals a true break with the 1st gen Xbox. MS learned some tough lessons, and now I think they're wiping the board clean and starting over. That may have been the plan from the start. This sounds a bit like the typical Microsoft bets the whole company sort of strategy. Which is not too far from the truth entering a post PC period when MS cannot depend upon shipping more and more copies of Office and Windows. It's funny that Sony's life also depends more and more on a games console as well.
To the making of books there is no end, so let's get started
I own an XBox, but not either of the Halos.
It has never crashed.
My xBox has crashed quite a few times when playing Fable. Very disconcerting.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
Theory: they are puting out the X360 with a 20 gig HD now, so that they come out with the rumoured 'better' HD down the line, they can ship it with increased capacity and tout the higher capacity as a further improvement.
Pretty much every 360 game has to run with no HD limitation unless it is a subscription service that changes constantly.
I doubt Bethesda, or especially Bungi would alienate their players. I would imagine the non-HD version will be the biggest seller, and not being able to play Halo 3? Wow, that would go down as being a worse product than the Virtual Boy.
I do think it's a mistake to sell the 360 without a HD. How is little Johnny going to save his game?
OMFG!!! I have no fucking clue! He can't! He -just- can't save!
You can't take the sky from me...
This will let retailers advertise the lower price, which is just at the upper end of what parents are likely to be willing to pay for a game system, and then convince them in the store that they really need the more expensive model: "Do you really want to be tripping over those wires all the time? Or your kid gets excited and yanks the unit off the shelf, and it's an expensive repair (by the way, did I tell you about our extended warranty?) And the kids will need the hard drive and the headset for some of the best games, anyway. You'll end up spending a lot more buying all this stuff as accessories down the road, so why not buy the deluxe package and save money?"
Playstation 3 will allow users to use standard memory like SD/Compact Flash/MemoryStick (Sony has learned from their mistakes)
I doupt that very much.
They LOVE to sell peripherals, and there's plenty of time yet to change their minds and require an official memory card.
You can't take the sky from me...
I know I'm not the original poster you were asking, but I just wanted to say that Ninja Gaiden is amazing. For my money it's the best 3D action game ever made. The difficulty level is set fairly high (though a lot of people exaggerate it), but the game is thankfully completely fair about it (unlike vaguely similar games like the DMC series). It's easily one of my favorite games of this console generation, and I recommend that absolutely nobody miss it. Assuming you have decent taste in games you'll have a blast with Ninja Gaiden.
There isn't any information whether it will play on the Xbox360 yet. It should eventually, but we don't know if the backwards compatibility will be far enough alone at launch. But there is a newly upgraded version coming in September, so I would wait for that anyway. It's called Ninja Gaiden Black, and here's a webpage with an awesome trailer for it (specifically grab the HD debut trailer). Not only does it have a lot more content, but the graphics have been improved and it will be more accessible since they added an easier difficulty level for those that couldn't handle the original.
There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. -- Francis Bacon
What the hell is wrong with people? Seriously... Doesn't anyone remember that the original playstation and the Saturn debuted at $499!? Actually, Sega changed the pricing at the last minute to $399 for saturn. My god... the PS2 was more than 299 at launch. I'd be pissed if the 360 or PS3 sold for $299 USD at launch. They could skimp out on quality and have your system stop working properly if you play too many movies on it like the PS2. Get real people.
I'm not anti-microsoft. I'm anti-bullshit. Which means I'm anti-microsoft.
Accord to this article on Gamesindustry.biz gamers in the UK will be expected to fork out,
£299 for the "Core System"
and £399 for the full system.
If this is right then it means the full system in the UK is a whopping $720!
Why is it that when they decide to bring the goods over here they just replace the $ with a £?
THE HONOUR OF THE KNIGHTS - CC Licensed Sci-Fi Novel
So, for an extra $100, I get the exact same controller except with no wire, and the smallest hard drive still in production? Where do I sign up?
Seems like you'd have to be an idiot to buy the more expensive version, unless it's impossible to install a normal hard drive, which seems unlikely since custom hard drives would quite likely double the production costs. How much are wireless controllers going for these days? $40?
Then again, never underestimate the buying power of idiots...
https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
This is what you said
----------------
haven't heard of memory sticks for the xbox?
Tell me, have you seen the front of the console??? The Memory Slots are RIGHT THERE!!
Remains to be seen? Profits down 80 percent this year, marquee title (Zelda) pushed back to 06, absolutely no info on the revolution (except some convolted new controller and the ability to buy nostaligia and download it), failure to cater to any audience above 13, and it remains to be seen? What, exactly, remains to be seen?
My good looks paid for that pool, and my talent filled it with water.
Except for the fact that the delux package is actually the standard package and the standard package is actually a stripped down version of the regular 360.
Microsoft told us about the 360 and all the cool features and stuff.
Then they told us it would cost $300.
Then they tell us they'll be releasing updated versions over the years so we'll have to re-buy if we want those new features (even though games probably won't support them).
Then they tell us the 360 is really going to cost $400 for what we thought we were getting for $300, but we can get a stripped down version for $300.
Except they're turning it all around to make it look like you're actually getting extra features for that $400 when you're not. You're getting the standard console as it was meant to be.
I'm sure the bad news is just going to keep rolling in.
What about the fact that developing for all these differences is going to cost money and in turn raise the prices of games??
People have been saying that $60/game was probably for the high end games or that the price would eventually drop.
I don't think so(meaning this is my opinion). I think $60 will be the standard price of games with $80 being the high end and the only games costing less than $60 will be the smaller games or games with less budget. (games that didn't sell well, etc etc)
People who don't have $400 up front for a new console plus money for games and maybe an extra controller or two are going to be screwed in the long run if we actually want those features that are in the "delux" package. It's going to cost a lot more than $100 to upgrade it later on.
Also don't forget that if you buy the cheaper version you still have to buy memory carts if you want to save games.
Sigh. This is retarded. I was hoping to get either a PS3 or XBox 360 along with a Revolution (which I'm getting for sure) but now it looks like they're both going to be too expensive for what I want.
So people who want a working PS3 for a decent price are going to have to wait another 3 years and people who want a 360 with all the standard features and a decent price are going to have to do the exact same thing.
That sucks.
I think you're missing the fact that the controllers and headsets (at the prices you quote) are wireless. The logitech wireless headset for the current xbox is $70. The logitech wireless controller's are around $40 (and I'm sure MSRP is over $50). The wireless adapter is expensive, sure, but you couls always just get a generic bridge for $50 or so.
---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"
Wrong. Xbox 360 Core *will* include an ethernet cable:
t ails-and-prices
http://www.majornelson.com/2005/08/17/xbox-360-de
You see, the only good thing that comes from my friends being in Korea is they charge the least for things that are fulled MOD'D... "GOD" I love technology, and better yet, I love those that are better at it then me =0)
While everyone must die, the sad true is that many never actually live.
I'm not sure how accurate this is, but saw the link in a fark.com thread.
Amazon PS3 page.
Note the price: $299. If that's the case MS really is doomed.
I hope you're right about Nintendo learning from the other two. I think the biggest thing that they can do to get developers on their side is to give the Revolution a single, powerful processor. Everything I've heard indicates that the Xbox 360 and PS3 are a pain the ass to develop for, since nobody in the gaming industry knows how to write parallel code.
If Nintendo can jump into this now and promise a console that's easier to develop for and debug on, they'll have a big advantage. However, if they wait two more years, the programming tools and abilities will catch up and they'll lose any advatage they could have had.
It is likely, that MS will simply ship miniscule amount of $299 model and all the parents with screaming children will be forced to pony up an extra one hundred dollar to avoid a Christmas disaster. Meanwhile, MS can cheerfully hype the fact their product cost less than the competitors.
One big difference with your laptop is that it doesn't need to hook up to a TV, and is completely mobile. That, and I bet you could find a much better than just 20 gigs for 70 bucks.
Sometimes I comment just to hear myself typing.
xbox360 with nic will require xbox live at startup to try to foil piracy. xbox without won't.
This would be pretty stupid but i wouldn't put it past ms.
I'm sure they are really pissed that xbmc can basically remove the need for a media center pc for 129$ or whatever xbox's sell for now.
I bought a new 20GB laptop Hard-drive for $AU 45 about a year ago. That's about $US 35.
Sheesh.. The Nintendo lifestyle is looking more attractive by the minute. Aren't they the only ones making games any more? I was the hugest Xbox fan for the first year, then they turned their backs on gamers and went for the money: movie licence games and ports from the PS2. Xbox Live beta was a blast and then 12-year-olds invaded. I gave up and bought a GameCube two years after the Xbox and I've had just about as much fun on that. Right now it's been collecting a lot of dust, though. I just don't have the time to enjoy console games like I used to. I find that if it's not on a PC and I can convince myself that I'm in a working environment to satisfy my guilt of playing when I should be working, it's impossible to get up and go over to the TV and sit down to just play games. :/ Maybe I should see someone about that.
Because they are holding a 229 year grudge?
Becasue they are idiots?
I feel for you, I've always been flabergasted by that $ -> £ conversion. It's not like the pound and dollar are even near equivalent, it's closer to 2:1. It's not like they tried to go from ¥ -> $ (ouch!).
Does the UK have some sort of video game tax (A VGT to go with your VAT and your Tax-for-the-hell-of-it-tax?
"Cheeze it!" - Bender
Yeah, but $100 extra for a 20 GB harddrive? I can get one of those for half the price, let alone getting a 160 GB HDD for less than $100 still!
The Xbox360 better allow "3rd party harddrives", or Microsoft is fucking themselves over. I personally liked ripping music to my Xbox to listen to in sports games, GTA:SA, etc.
'Yes, firefox is indeed greater than women. Can women block pops up for you? No. Can Firefox show you naked women? Yes.'
Laptop drives are usually 2.5". My laptop here sports an 80 GB HDD, and as far as I've seen, the highest capacity on the market in 2.5" drives is usually around 100 GB or 120 GB (possibly). The problem with laptop HDDs is that they have to use significantly less power to be able to extend battery life to the fullest, and for that, they must sacrifice speed and capacity (large capacity => longer read-times and such).
Now, something like the Xbox 360; I'm sure it can theoretically use a standard 3.5" 133 UltraIDE or SATA/150 drive with no problems, but MS apparently thinks that using the lowest capacity HDD is best. *sigh*
'Yes, firefox is indeed greater than women. Can women block pops up for you? No. Can Firefox show you naked women? Yes.'
hey fuck you all what the hell are you doing making fuzz over nothing? isn't it established here already many times that ms will not get support here? so then wtf are you doing yapping away about any ms shit?
Where can you get a (new) 2.5" hard disk for $40, of any capacity? Least I can find is more like $60, and doesn't include an enclosure. You forgot the IR remote and fancier component cable too.
Why would anyone engrave "Elbereth"?
When I see your comic I picture you ripping your ass apart for the camera, I bet my imagination is more acurate then yours.
Where do you connect the wired controllers? I can't find any ports for it unless you could use the memory ports.
there have been times when I 'rewarded' the 'brave' people (who just stuck to ordering what they initially wanted) with an occasional free upgrade to a medium soda, for the same price.
So for the people who are adamant about getting exactly what they ordered, you "reward" them by giving them something different from what they ordered? Brilliant logic, there.
Here's a tip: some people order the small drink because they feel forced to finish all of their food. By giving them a "free" medium drink, you've just forced them to eat more than they wanted.
good luck hooking that $20 20gb hd up to the xbox360. First, it uses a 2.5 or 1.8 inch hd (ie laptop harddrive) and second we don't even know what connection they are going to use to hook it up in the first place, so there is no saying if you will even be able to hook a standard hd up anyways.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Microsoft has chosen poorly in this decision. People want standardized consoles with only superficial customization. They want not optional internal components.
You do realize XBOX1 games had to function perfectly when the HD was full, right?
That simply because they knew the HD would always be there, didn't mean they always knew it was [i]available[/i]?
Why do you think so few XBOX1 games used the HD to much affect?
// "Can't clowns and pirates just -try- to get along?"
SKUs are used by RETAILERS, not manufacturers. The xbox360 will ship in two EANs (call them GITNs if you want), not SKUs. STORES will assign them two SKUs. I hate people incorrectly using technical terms to try to sound important.
Is why they can't have the hard drive "look" like a memory card to the games. For example, with the PS2 hard drive: games, if not explicitly programmed for it, would act like the hard drive wasn't there. Why they can't in these next gen systems make the games think that the hard drive is in fact a memory card, with just a little bit (ok a lot) more room? I know the technologies between mem cards and hard drives are totally different, but can't they fake the games into thinking it's a card? This way at the very least you would'nt have to worry about swapping memory cards between games, since it would have an internal massive memory card? Probably not explaining myself well bleh..
Sony's already announced that the PS3 will have an add-on HD as well.
Of course, slashdot erupted into applause. "It's so much more flexible" they said.
Someone had to make this: http://x360no.ytmnd.com/
Did you get that thing I sent ya?
in most cases, the drive capacity is rounded down to the next marketable number, and the firmware denies the existence of the extra space.
That's called "error correction". Most drives reserve several tracks for remapping sectors that have become unreliable. Rounding down to the next marketable number lets the manufacturer use more tracks for sector remapping and better error correction on each track to boost MTBF.
the same way nowadays you can play Live if you have broadband.
So how do I get broadband if my parents live in Anal Sex, Nowhere? If one console offers both dial-up and broadband multiplayer and another console offers only dial-up multiplayer, then the console or games that require broadband will not sell nearly as well in those areas that do not have affordable residential broadband. Examples include places where the monopoly cable company imposes a 3 GB/mo cap, or places where the monopoly telco offers nothing between ISDN and a T1. Specifically, the United States is lagging significantly in broadband penetration. As for the higher network latency of dial-up players screwing up response time of broadband players, not all video game genres are as sensitive to ping times as shooters.
About the light gun, exercise pad, and ROB... Exactly how many games ever got made to make use of those? Very few. Very very few.
Granted about the exercise pad and ROB on the NES, but light guns do not work on non-CRT TVs or TVs that run in progressive mode (such as any TV that doubles as an HDTV monitor). Still, the modern exercise pad has a lot going for it: DDR USA, DDR Disney Mix, and DDR Konamix for PS1; DDRMAX, DDRMAX2, DDR Extreme, In The Groove, and DDR Extreme 2 (forthcoming) for PS2; DDR Ultramix, DDR Ultramix 2, and DDR Ultramix 3 (forthcoming) for Xbox; and MC Groovz Dance Craze and DDR Mario Mix (forthcoming) for GameCube. It's too bad that Frequency for PS2 was programmed to recognize only Dual Shock 2 controllers.
from xbox.com's description of the default controllers: ... Six analog buttons ... Two analog pressure-point triggers ... Two expansion slots for memory cards or other accessories (sold separately)
This is description for the xb180, not the xb360. The xb360 controllers have four buttons and four triggers like the PlayStation controllers.
The Revolution is, in fact, using the same processor, but a faster one, as the Gamecube: The IBM PowerPC. So developers who have coded for the Gamecube can easily jump into the Revolution.
The Xbox 360 and PS3 all are changing processors. Xbox was Intel P3 (x86) and Xbox 360 is triple-PowerPC. PS2 was MIPS and the PS3 is IBM Cell.
So 360 and PS3 developers need to learn something new. Revolution developers will be using the same processors (just faster) but will need to learn to code for that controller, which is probably only going to be as hard as learning how to code for the analog stick or rumble pak like in the past.
I don't know why people think the Revolution is going to be some underpowered system. The PS3 and Xbox 360 have multi-processors (both based on PowerPC) sure. But I'm a computer guy and even I know that if the Revolution is going to have a single 3.0Ghz+ PowerPC processor and a modern ATI GPU, thst's still more than overkill for a console dedicated for running games. Perhaps it's because the 360 and PS3 will be running media center operating systems underneathe, but Nintendo keeps stating they're building nothing but a games system.
Yes yes, I am all about the Ninja Gaiden Black. Especially since I don't have Live so I missed the two expansion packs.