The 360 Is Too Cheap?

The always interesting GamerDad site is running a 'LongShot' column wondering if perhaps the 360 wasn't expensive enough? From the article: "The beginning of a console generation has typically been for those with deep pockets or an unhealthy hardcore jones for videogames. These people are willing to smack down big bucks for the latest technology. The price of 360 was too low to keep the launch confined to that group and it was a big mistake in my opinion. With a higher price tag, Microsoft would have made more money, made sure sellouts wouldn't have lasted for months after Christmas and still sold through all the units they had to sell before the holiday. The demand for a new system was far higher than most people anticipated, especially given the early demise of the original Xbox, a system that will probably be gone from store shelves by February 2007."

Comments

Reaching

[AKAImBatman]

That has to be the most reaching analysis I've heard yet. His basic argument is that gamers have grown up, therefore they're willing to spend gobs more money. I'm sorry, did he miss the $400 price tag? Many of the early units were sold for far more than that! If it was priced any higher, consumers would start to wonder why they shouldn't get a new gaming-rig computer instead! (Or at least a bigger HDTV and a load of HD-DVDs or BlueRays.)

If Dave of GamerDad wants to know why the 360 isn't taking the market by storm, he needs to look no farther than the games. As X-Play on G4* said, (and I'm paraphrasing here) "The XBox 360 needs to stop charging more money for less game." (In a review of Tiger Wood's Golf.) Microsoft and their affiliates need to realize that pretty graphics are not the only ingredient in making a good game. When you pay $60 for a game, you expect to get enough to entertain you until at least your next paycheck!

* No, I don't normally watch G4's game shows. I just happened to see their marathon of reviews this weekend. Which again convinced me why modern gaming sucks. Now, will someone please tell the hosts to stop nodding and making faces while the other person is talking? Also, get them into some adult-looking clothes without pockets. They look absolutely shriveled up with their arms so close to their sides. Last but not least, they need to eschew the ridiculous stream of bad jokes in favor of a few good jokes (read: not stupid!) and more off-the-cuff banter between the hosts. This practice of reading j0kes from a script really shows.