XBox 360 Bundles Top $700
Gamespot is reporting that, with some idea of the skus that will be available for the Xbox 360 when it launches, game retailers are now prepping incredibly expensive console bundles for the first of the next-gen systems. From the article: "...when hot new gaming systems come out, supply is short, and demand is often so high that retailers can elect to sell the units only as parts of bundles that include accessories and games of the retailer's choosing. EBgames.com unveiled its holiday offerings today, and the prices may make some gamers feel as though they're getting 'scrooged.' Like Microsoft, EB Games is offering two bundles, one for gamer's interested in the Core System and one for gamers eyeing the premium package. The Xbox 360 Core Bundle is priced at $599.93, and it includes everything in the standard package, plus an extra wired controller, a 64MB memory unit, and four games: Perfect Dark Zero: Limited Edition, Dead or Alive 4, Project Gotham Racing 3, and Kameo: Elements of Power. Using Microsoft's announced pricing for peripherals and an assumed $59.99 price point for Xbox 360 games, the package unbundled would come to $618.94. "
SKU - Stock Keeping Unit. It's what stores like EB use to reorder their merchandise internally. The standalone X-Box 360 will have one SKU, where the bundle will probably have another. It's the x-digit number located below the price on the EB pricetag. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_Keeping_Unit
I see another video game crash coming. I certainly won't be buying any of the Next Big Systems, and I don't think I'm the only one.