Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Leaks Reveal New Xbox 360 Package

Posted by Zonk on from the family-friendly-xboxen dept.

Gamasutra reports on hints from around the internet adding up to a new sku for the Xbox 360. The new box, the 'Xbox 360 Arcade' pack, is essentially a core pack with an emphasis on Xbox Live Arcade titles, for a low price. "Now, a new listing on Amazon, and a separate page at on Toys "R" Us' retail site that has been consequently removed, indicate an October 25th release date and $279.99 price point. The package shot shown at Toys "R" Us prominently features the five-game Xbox Live Arcade pack-in, with icons for Pac-Man and UNO lending more credence to the Ars Technica rumors. Microsoft has yet to confirm any details of the new model, nor has the company officially declared that the Core model - which originally was marketed with no hard drive, external storage, or HDMI output at the same $279.99 price - has been discontinued."

84 comments

  1. without storage by kevin.fowler · · Score: 1

    If this is branded as the "xbox arcade", the lack of hard drive might make getting XBLA games a tad hard. Maybe the games are bundled on a disc. TFA and TFA links do not elucidate.

    --
    Bury me in mashed potatoes.
    1. Re:without storage by *weasel · · Score: 1

      The included games are on a disc.
      And most Live Arcade titles are ~50MB - so you can get a decent number on a memory card.

      Though Microsoft definitely should have bundled this thing with a 4GB flash drive.
      That'd be what? $30 for them? It's easily covered under the money they've made on keeping the 360 overpriced.

      --
      // "Can't clowns and pirates just -try- to get along?"
    2. Re:without storage by steveo777 · · Score: 1
      The 'package' comes with a 256MB flash card. Whoop-di-do. You can hold four or five normal sized arcade games or perhaps one larger game. And it seems to be pre-loaded. Another poster mentions that they come on disk, but I didn't catch that in TFA. Either way, it's just the core system with a memory card and some relatively worthless games packaged in, "Boom-Boom Rocket, Pac-Man, Uno, Feeding Frenzy, and Luxor 2." Again, this according to TFA, which is leaked info. So it could be anything.

      Still isn't worth it. Maybe a 2-8GB flash card would be worth it. 256MB might have been acceptable back with the original XBox, had that not come with a HDD standard.

      --
      This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
    3. Re:without storage by kevin.fowler · · Score: 1

      Being able to use even an xbox sanctioned 2-8 gig flash drive would be awesome. I'd be less paranoid about my Oblivion saves disappearing if my hard drive dies - but there's no way in hell I'm shelling out for a 256 MEG memory card.

      --
      Bury me in mashed potatoes.
    4. Re:without storage by Lost+Engineer · · Score: 1

      Dude that happened to me and it suuucked. I still haven't brought myself to finish oblivion.

    5. Re:without storage by kevin.fowler · · Score: 1

      I've had an Xbox die already and I was obviously a wreck worrying about my data. Maybe I should throw down for a card.

      --
      Bury me in mashed potatoes.
    6. Re:without storage by yokolucu · · Score: 1

      http://www.newoxxo.com/html/games/games_01.html/ Maybe you can see more here

  2. Not another one..... by Swordopolis · · Score: 1, Insightful

    >>256MB Memory Card
    >>5 XBOX Live Arcade Games

    This feels like a lame attempt to try and steal some of the Wii's thunder.
    Microsoft should know better than to release another SKU without a hard drive.

    --
    Alchemist: Be Thou For the People
    1. Re:Not another one..... by MBraynard · · Score: 2, Interesting
      And how large is Wii's HD?

      I wonder where they will put the games since they have upped the max size of games to 150mb. The games they are releasing with it may be smaller. I wonder what happens if you erase the card?

    2. Re:Not another one..... by ILuvRamen · · Score: 0

      well now hold on a second. It's possible that they're going to sell an external hard drive seperate. I think that's a good idea for poor people like me who can't justify the high price of a 360 but still likes Halo 3 and stuff. So yeah you buy it fot just under $300 and later when you've saved up a little more you can get an external hard drive.
      It's hard to tell from the article if that's a possibility or not because they say it's sold with "no external storage" but does that mean they removed any hookup for it or it just doesn't come with it?

      --
      Google's Super Secret Search Algorithm: SELECT @search_results FROM internet WHERE @search_results = 'good'
    3. Re:Not another one..... by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      You can already buy the hard drive separately. The Core, Premium, and Elite editions are all the same machine. The difference is the the drive bay is empty on a Core, has a 20GB drive in a Premium, and a 120GB drive in an Elite. Well, that and what controllers you get with it (Wired for Core, Wireless for the other two).

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
  3. "Mom! I want an XBOX 360!" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh, the poor parents who are now doomed to pick up the wrong SKU when they wander into their retailer of choice and buy "the new Wiistation 350"

    1. Re:"Mom! I want an XBOX 360!" by spamking · · Score: 0, Troll

      My mom found a great deal on the Playbox 450 . . . it plays those Blu-HD discs and that new game Half-Lo 4 is awesome.

    2. Re:"Mom! I want an XBOX 360!" by toleraen · · Score: 1

      Hopefully they'll just settle on a brand new Vii

  4. Amazon link is dead by Seakip18 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Amazon has already pulled the link in TFA. Would it make any sense to release it now anyways? I thought 65nm was just around the bend, making this system to be on the shelves for only a few months.

    --
    import system.cool.Sig;
    1. Re:Amazon link is dead by Applekid · · Score: 4, Informative

      I thought 65nm was just around the bend, making this system to be on the shelves for only a few months. As I understand it 65nm process 360's are already out in the wild. Just look for manufacture date after August 24, '07.
      --
      More Twoson than Cupertino
  5. Deja vu... by the_skywise · · Score: 1

    Didn't they do this last year?

  6. Microsoft has to focus... by doyoulikeworms · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This'll be probably modded as a flame, but MS seriously needs to focus. What's with all the damn SKU's for their products? Between the absurd number of Office and Vista variants, and now with potentially four versions of the XBox 360, is their strategy to confuse the money out of the pockets of consumers?

    1. Re:Microsoft has to focus... by jonnythan · · Score: 1

      3 versions. Same as now.

      Elite, Pro (former Premium), and Arcade (former Core, but with a wireless controller and 256MB memory card included).

    2. Re:Microsoft has to focus... by singingjim1 · · Score: 0

      That was a rhetorical question, right? I thought the main focus of business in general was to bamboozle us with marketing nonsense until we just hand over our wallets in surrender. Look at how many models of an electronics manufacturer's audio receiver there are, or different models of TV with minor feature differences. Electronics manufacturers count on our ignorance and inability to understand the differences from one model to the next so they can manipulate price points without having to justify to the consumer the outrageous margins. If your initial post isn't mod'd flamebait, this one is sure to be. But then I've given up trying to appease the bleeding heart liberal pantywaists that frequent these comment pages. Suck it Trebek!

    3. Re:Microsoft has to focus... by This_Is_My_Happening · · Score: 1

      It's called price discrimination, and it's not a bad thing, economically speaking.

      --
      God made me an atheist. Who are you to question his wisdom?
    4. Re:Microsoft has to focus... by pokerdad · · Score: 1

      is their strategy to confuse the money out of the pockets of consumers?

      You might say they are aiming for a Confusopoly.

    5. Re:Microsoft has to focus... by geminidomino · · Score: 1

      what's so uber-elite about it? The micrometer-thin plastic halo skin for the box? Or the fact that said skin and some XBL cruft apparently costs $50 (the price difference between that one and the Premium/Pro/whatever)

  7. It makes more sense than the core by ScotchForBreakfast · · Score: 1

    If the arcade replaces to core it makes a bit more sense. The core with no memory was a ridiculous package. "Yay I get to play games but can't save..." At least with the arcade you could save some games and play arcade games out of the box.

    It still seems like a silly package without a drive, but it is all relative in a gaming world where Microsoft sells (or was selling) the ridiculous core (crippled) package along side an insane number of SKUs, Sony asking a huge amount of money for a system with only a couple exclusive games, and Nintendo acting like it doesn't know how to mass produce consoles.

  8. 512MB by MDiehr · · Score: 1

    The Wii has 512MB of internal flash storage. One interesting difference between the two is that you are allowed to install downloadable games on the removable storage on an Xbox, however, you can not do this on the Wii.

    1. Re:512MB by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 1

      You aren't able to copy downloadable games to an SD card on the Wii? It seems like they'd tie it to the consoles serial number of something in order to prevent people from downloading games and shuttling them around between Wiis.

      --
      This guy's the limit!
    2. Re:512MB by drcagn · · Score: 4, Informative

      You can copy games to the SD card but you can't run the games from the SD card. You also cannot copy the games to a different Wii and run them.

      --
      Scorta futuere amo!
    3. Re:512MB by ElleyKitten · · Score: 1, Informative

      You aren't able to copy downloadable games to an SD card on the Wii? It seems like they'd tie it to the consoles serial number of something in order to prevent people from downloading games and shuttling them around between Wiis. No. If you run out of space you're supposed to delete games you don't play much and redownload them when you want to play them again (your Wii account saves them all for redownloading). I'm not sure if that's better or worse than buying extra memory cards and shuffling them around, but since I own all the old systems I don't really care much about the Virtual Console. Maybe once they start releasing Japan-only or new games to the VC I'll care.
      --
      "What is Internet Explorer 7? Are you saying we can't access the normal internet?" - I love tech support. Really.
    4. Re:512MB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      They already have released the JPN exclusive N64 game Sin and Punishment by Treasure

    5. Re:512MB by k_187 · · Score: 1

      FYI, they just released 2 japan-only games on the VC this week. Sin and Punishment for the N64 and Super Mario Bros. 2 - The Lost Levels for the NES. Well the lost levels has been released over here, but not the NES version.

      --
      11 was a racehorse
      12 was 12
      1111 Race
      12112
  9. This was broken over a month ago by jonnythan · · Score: 4, Informative

    Kotaku broke this story way back on August 20.

    There will be 1 new SKUs with 3 new packages:

    XBox Arcade ("Go play!"), no HD, 256MB memory card, wireless controller, and 5 arcade games
    XBox Pro ("Go Pro!"), former premium (20GB HD, 30-day Live Gold trial, headset)
    XBox Elite (Go Big!"), with 120GB HD and HDMI cable in black.

    http://kotaku.com/gaming/rumor/new-360-core-coming-to-us-this-holiday-291506.php

    1. Re:This was broken over a month ago by MojoStan · · Score: 3, Informative

      XBox Arcade ("Go play!"), no HD, 256MB memory card, wireless controller, and 5 arcade games
      XBox Pro ("Go Pro!"), former premium (20GB HD, 30-day Live Gold trial, headset)
      XBox Elite (Go Big!"), with 120GB HD and HDMI cable in black.
      The latest "leaks" (from TFA, the Ars blog entry, and an Ars update) reveal some significant additions:
      • You mentioned XBox Arcade ($280) getting 5 arcade games, but you didn't mention that the Pro ($350) and Elite ($450) are getting bundled with Forza 2 (normally $60 retail) and Marvel Ultimate Alliance ($26).
      • You mentioned the Elite having an HDMI port, but the new Pro and Arcade (Core) packages will also be getting HDMI ports.
      Personally, I would have preferred a bigger price drop over the Forza/Marvel bundle, but those games aren't worthless.
      --
      TO START
      PRESS ANY KEY

      Where's the 'ANY' key? I see Esk, Kitarl, and Pig-Up...

    2. Re:This was broken over a month ago by jonnythan · · Score: 1

      The bundle is cool, but the Premium has had an HDMI port already for a couple of months.

  10. whooptie ding by jollyreaper · · Score: 1, Informative

    What I want to know is when they're going to start marketing the standard 360's with new "we actually built it right this time" solder technology. The 360 has a better selection than the Wii and PS3 at this point but shit, you have to have a functional unit in order to play.

    (for those who might not have heard, the massive 360 failure rates have been attributed to crappy solder on the mainboard that fails under high heat levels.)

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    1. Re:whooptie ding by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The new 360 units are shipping 65nm process chips, which are supposed to put out a lot less heat. Before that, they strengthened the brackets holding the mainboard straight (the whole thing actually warped, and that's death to SMD components), added another heatsink, and just for kicks, switched the DVD drive around... to one that was just as loud.

    2. Re:whooptie ding by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The new 360s apparently have 65nm CPUs, but those were not the parts that were failing, that was the GPU, and aside from the upgraded heatpipe cooler that has been around for a while, nothing has changed there. The new DVD drive has probably been chosen because it has not yet been hacked.

    3. Re:whooptie ding by feepness · · Score: 1

      (for those who might not have heard, the massive 360 failure rates have been attributed to crappy solder on the mainboard that fails under high heat levels.) For want of a nail, the shoe was lost...
  11. That's 3 SKUs by Pap22 · · Score: 1

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_Keeping_Unit

    1. Re:That's 3 SKUs by jonnythan · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yes, but two are unchanged: Elite and Pro/Premium. Hence, one NEW SKU.

      Well, the Pro might have its own new SKU, but I could see it keeping the Premium SKU since it's essentially the same thing.

    2. Re:That's 3 SKUs by Neuticle · · Score: 1

      Thank god for someone-else who understands that SKU is not a synonym for package or model.
      The often incorrect use (abuse) of "SKU" on Slashdot has been grating on me for a while now.

      --
      "Cheeze it!" - Bender
  12. Competition by imstanny · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Maybe XBOX360 can give a Wii a run for its money on more than just price competition. They should port this to the 360: http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=srch1&Ntt=novint&N=0&Dx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&D=novint&Ntk=All&product_code=347104

  13. bleh by angst911 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How about an XBOX 360 with an internal HD-DVD drive instead?

    --
    Taking over one bit at a time...
    1. Re:bleh by theantipop · · Score: 1

      Better yet, a 360 with integrated wireless. It's probably the only electric powered device released in the last 5 years that doesn't have wifi standard.

    2. Re:bleh by TeamSPAM · · Score: 1

      I agreee with the parent. I really thought the elite was gonna have the HD-DVD drive it in when it was a rumor. When MS dropped HD-DVD for the 360 launch, everyone expected one to come out with it built in at some later point. If they aren't including it with this revision, then I don't expect to see the drive built in until next fall. That way they can play up the new revision for Christmas 2008. You would think that would be to late in the life of the 360 (the 4th Christmas for the console). As Sony has shown with the PS3, price is strong factor for customers. If MS can't make a 360 with HD for less than a PS3 then it might not be worth the effort for them to produce it.

      --
      Brought to you by Team SPAM! where we believe: "Information in the noise!"
  14. Climb on board! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...nor has the company officially declared that the Core model - which originally was marketed with no hard drive, external storage, or HDMI output at the same $279.99 price - has been discontinued


    Apparently Microsoft has introduced the "upgrade train" to the console world. Welcome aboard fellas! Remember, you'll have to pay the conductor every single time he passes by your seat, or off you go!

    1. Re:Climb on board! by p0tat03 · · Score: 1

      Just like how the PS2 Slim introduced the upgrade train to the console world? Or the N64 expansion pack? Hardware revisions are not new to this industry, and in fact it doesn't seem like MS has really revised the hardware significantly - adding the HDMI port is the only major thing they've done. This is just a new bundle, nothing to see here, move along.

    2. Re:Climb on board! by JebusIsLord · · Score: 2, Informative

      Oh get bent. Why do people keep saying this? I have a 2 year old 360 that works great with every game and peripheral ever released. Yeah, i'm missing the HDMI output, but the component looks perfectly fine at 1080p, so who cares? I knew it was missing when I bought it.

      If i'd gone with the Core at the time, I could have added a HD later. If I want to upgrade to the 120GB drive, I can do that at any time. Internal process changes are irrelevant to everyone except us nerds.

      The PS2 changed processes, changed drives, added progressive output, and probably made a thousand other changes over its lifetime. If you can find a 1st gen PS2 that still actually works (mine doesn't) it'll play the same games as one I bought yesterday.

      --
      Jeremy
  15. Seriously. by Pojut · · Score: 1

    Microsoft needs to stop dicking around. Ditch the no-drive model. Drop the premium/pro down to $300. Drop the elite down to $400. If they were selling the premium/pro version at $300, they would sell like gangbusters.

    --
    Living With a Nerd
    1. Re:Seriously. by Synic · · Score: 1

      I anticipate that this will be the reactionary measure to the $399 80GB PS3.

  16. Wee by tepples · · Score: 1

    Oh, the poor parents who are now doomed to pick up the wrong SKU when they wander into their retailer of choice and buy "the new Wiistation 350" Or worse yet, the Wee DVD player that plays 80 mm wee DVDs for the wee ones.
  17. Golf Oscar Whisky? by tepples · · Score: 1

    My mom found a great deal on the Playbox 450 . . . it plays those Blu-HD discs and that new game Half-Lo 4 is awesome. But does it run Gears of God's War? And is this something you made up while reading F?
  18. I'm buying one. by Krodren · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Don't know about the rest of you, but this is the first 360 that I'll buy. It now has a wireless controller (over the core). I bet it will have the HDMI port. I'm guessing it will have the new internal heat fixes. It should have the 3 year coverage.

    My friends have all had 360s for a while, and I've been tempted. This pushes me over the edge since I can grab one of their replaced 20GB drives to add on to this one. It also has the save card that none of my friends have sprung for, so I can copy off saves from their boxes that they've let me play on. I'm probably not the only one in this position.

    I've thought about the core, but all the stores locally have been out of them for months. At least to me, this seems like a planned and decent move by MS.

    1. Re:I'm buying one. by GrayCalx · · Score: 1

      I like my 360 don't get me wrong, but I'd really recommend you go with a model with a hard drive. I guess if you don't have a high speed internet connection wherever your 360 is going to be, it probably isn't a big deal. But otherwise I think you're going to be disappointed when you can't download all the free demos and trials. Whatever works though, just my 2cents.

    2. Re:I'm buying one. by ObiWanStevobi · · Score: 1

      If you really want to play, it's best to bite the bullet and buy the elite off the bat. If you do wish to upgrade the hard drive (likely if you have good internet speed, there's lots to download out on the marketplace), it is much more expensive to buy the 120 Gig seperate.

      I filled my 20 gigs quick. Each demo is ~1 gig. High def game trailers and TV shows add up very quick. On top of that, Halo 3 now lets you save all the game replays you want to your hard drive.

      I bought mine when it first came out and I certainly don't regret it.

      P.S. I wouldn't count on the HDMI.

  19. I want a Playstation 5! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My mom found a great deal on the Playbox 450 . . . it plays those Blu-HD discs and that new game Half-Lo 4 is awesome.
    Why settle?
  20. I guess you didn't get the memo ;) by Xest · · Score: 1

    http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/01/ms_ships_65nm_xbox/

    They've been selling red ring free consoles for a fair while now. I'd imagine that the announcement of putting aside $1 billion to solve the warranty issue was around the time they were sure the issue was resolved and that that was the maximum they'd need to pay out should all existing consoles fail under the new 3 year warranty.

    There's certainly far less red ring reports nowadays so it would seem their fix has been fairly successful thus far unless it's due to some other reason, i.e. people just not bothering to bitch about it anymore!

    1. Re:I guess you didn't get the memo ;) by jollyreaper · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I did some poking around online. The Halo-branded consoles were supposed to have the Falcon improvements (Falcon being the code name for the less broken design) but some people are still reporting red rings of death.

      When comparing the three consoles, the 360 has the biggest library with the highest ratings but damned if the hardware doesn't give one pause for concern. I honestly haven't looked into it much until recently. I'd passed on the original Xbox out of anti-microsoft sentiment. The PS3 this generation is just too insane of a price to contemplate and the Wii cannot be found -- but none of them have the kinds of hardware complaints as is vexing the 360. That's a shame because there are some games I'd like to try out.

      And to whoever modded me a troll above, you can call me a troll but it's still the truth.

      --
      Kwisatz Haderach
      Sell the spice to CHOAM
      This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    2. Re:I guess you didn't get the memo ;) by GrayCalx · · Score: 1

      Wasn't me who modded you a troll, but I was going to point out its phrasing like this "the massive 360 failure rates" that will get you modded as such. Just like in journalism the way you phrase things really implies your leanings, so just something to think about if you were interested in being less biased in your posts.

      Btw, would you consider yourself a sell-out if you bought/used a Microsoft product?

    3. Re:I guess you didn't get the memo ;) by jollyreaper · · Score: 1

      Wasn't me who modded you a troll, but I was going to point out its phrasing like this "the massive 360 failure rates" that will get you modded as such. Just like in journalism the way you phrase things really implies your leanings, so just something to think about if you were interested in being less biased in your posts. Well, what other term would you use for it? 33% failure rate? $1 billion just for warranty fixes? That's enormous. I was pricing one up and did some research to see what I'd be paying. For $350 plus $99 for wireless card plus $50/year for xbox live plus $60 for a new game, that's a lot of money to be tied up in a system that has a one in three chance of going tits up.

      Btw, would you consider yourself a sell-out if you bought/used a Microsoft product? I did for Xbox 1. Knowing that Microsoft is still taking a big loss on each console makes it a little less painful. I'm genuinely interested in getting a 360, I'm just astounded at the failure rate. I've never heard of anything like it for modern consoles. If I compare it to prebuilt PC's, it sounds like the kind of problems you hear about from vendors who are known for trying to lowball components and get bitten by lots of failures.
      --
      Kwisatz Haderach
      Sell the spice to CHOAM
      This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    4. Re:I guess you didn't get the memo ;) by Purity+Of+Essence · · Score: 1

      wait a second. 33% failure rate? Where'd you get that figure?

      --
      +0 Meh
    5. Re:I guess you didn't get the memo ;) by jollyreaper · · Score: 1

      wait a second. 33% failure rate? Where'd you get that figure? Check the wiki link. It was also a story here on Slashdot. Microsoft has a billion bucks set aside for repairs.
      --
      Kwisatz Haderach
      Sell the spice to CHOAM
      This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
  21. SKU? by mollymoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What is it with calling products SKUs? It has more syllables and is less descriptive than the options already in common usage (product, model, package, version...). Even TFA calls it a new model, not a new SKU. As far as I can see "SKU" has zero advantage over the other options for anyone who isn't deeply involved in stock-keeping. It's a cumbersome catch-all technical term which has no relevance to normal people. The fact that it's a new model is the real news here; a new SKU might just mean a different game bundle or different packaging.

    --
    Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
    1. Re:SKU? by necro2607 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well, actually, most people working in retail stores tend to pronounce it as "skoo" or "skew", so it's only one syllable.

      Either way I still agree with what you're saying!

    2. Re:SKU? by Imagix · · Score: 1

      You realize it's pronounced "skew", right?

    3. Re:SKU? by joe+155 · · Score: 1

      I agree completely. It's taken me ages to figure out what the hell it actually is. Why not use product?

      --
      *''I can't believe it's not a hyperlink.''
    4. Re:SKU? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You would only realise that if you worked in retail.

      would you like fries with that?

    5. Re:SKU? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Retail != Fast Food.

      Would you like to purchase a product protection plan?

    6. Re:SKU? by SuperMonkeyCube · · Score: 1
      The compelling reason to use 'SKU'(skew) for video game consoles instead of 'product' is there has been a pervasive need to bundle to maintain price points early in a machine's cycle. When we say "Microsoft's new console" it may be clear enough we're talking about the XBox360. If I ask the cashier at Gamestop for and XBox360, we're clear on what the product is, but since they package it several different ways I'm sure I would be asked which 'bundle' or 'package' I wanted. It used to be that sometimes the stores would do some of their own bundles, but the console manufacturers have taken to doing it themselves more and more. Since the mainstream video game press is making an effort to pay attention to the NPD Group's (www.npd.com) sales tracking data, and the way to make sense of who sold what is to look at the data by individual UPC codes, then the result is saying what's selling by 'SKU', since Uniform Papa Charlie isn't shorter. Since 1up and Kotaku and the like have taken to saying it, it follows that the usage filters down to other people blogging/reporting on the video game industry.

      Wait, I'm sorry. Were you asking a rhetorical question? I do this all the time. I really need to lighten up.

    7. Re:SKU? by 75th+Trombone · · Score: 1

      It has more syllables and is less descriptive than the options already in common usage (product, model, package, version...)

      "Less descriptive"?? Hardly.

      --
      The United States of America: We do what we must because we can.
    8. Re:SKU? by Night+Goat · · Score: 1

      I'll shed some light on why you see the term SKU thrown around so frequently on gaming websites. There's a group of people out there who like video games more than the common man does. They spend their time arguing about the relative merits of each video game system, they write blogs about video games, they listen to podcasts about video games, they scheme about how to get to trade shows. To these video game superfans, the closer they can get to "the industry," the better they feel. They aren't content with just playing video games. By using the term SKU, they can appear to be industry insiders who know the jargon. Writing in a manner that is understandable to the greatest number of readers is not as important as projecting a facade of knowledge and sophistication to their readers. Sure, their article would make more sense if they just wrote product instead of SKU, but then us readers wouldn't feel like we're getting the inside scoop. We'd just be reading another fan's rumor mill web page.

    9. Re:SKU? by mollymoo · · Score: 1

      It was curiosity and rhetoric in equal measure; thanks for the insight.

      Erm, hang on. You weren't asking a rhetorical question, were you?

      --
      Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
  22. Enough with the pretentious "price point." by MotorMachineMercenar · · Score: 0, Troll

    Enough with the pretentious "price point."

    --
    "We have an A-Bomb...what more do you want, mermaids?" --I.I. Rabi, speaking in defense of Robert Oppenheimer
  23. Re:Japanese only games on VC by Psykechan · · Score: 1

    Actually, counting the N64 Sin and Punishment there are now three previously Japanese only games for the US Virtual Console. The other two are the Famicom (NES) Super Mario Bros. 2 (which was brought here as the lost levels for the SNES) and Battle Lode Runner for the PC Engine (TurboGrafx16).

    I hope this trend continues as I'd really like to see the Mother games as well as old Fire Emblem and Famicom Wars here. Hey, we might even be able to get the PC Engine CD version of Akumajo Dracula X Chi no Rondo if they convert the music to MP3 first. I can only hope.

  24. So, why skimp on the HDD? by Ka+D'Argo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Maybe the console geeks can explain this one (I haven't really been into consoles since the N64/PS1 days). Most stuff on consoles these days, requires a HDD. Not a huge one but at least something, as a starting off point. For various online content downloads, certain titles that need to install stuff for faster loading etc right?

    So, why is MS releasing SKU's that are HDD deprived? HDD's are insanely cheap these days. You can pick up what, a nice 80GB HDD from Seagate or Maxtor for $40-50 USD these days. Yet the price point on the SKU's seems to not really match that of the pricing of HDD's, as they tend to scale way higher for much less HDD space. If HDD's are cheap, why not put in a high capacity drive for the same price or less? It's plausible, there are devices on the market to be used, hell I'm sure they could get a bulk deal from a manufacturer quite easily.

    --
    Aw Frell this
    1. Re:So, why skimp on the HDD? by Aladrin · · Score: 1

      To answer your question, it is because people want it. MS is not forcing anyone to buy the basic 360. In fact, most don't, from what I can tell. It's there simply to give people another choice. It's simple market forces at work, and MS is using them as always.

      Sony's no different... They're doing exactly the same thing, with quite a bit more confusion.

      --
      "If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
  25. MS, let us use external HD, MORON managers!!! by cheekyboy · · Score: 1

    Listen MS, just tell your managers to get a clue.

    Change your software to let anyone use an external HD/Usb Flash as the Xboxs main HD to allow downloads/saves etc... full access as per
    internal HD.

    You know its easy, stop trying to make money of a stupid HD addon pack, make money of GOOD GAMES.

    Oh, get some new managers, not in suits.

    The Wii lets their customers use an external SD card for all downloads etc.... are you listening MS????

    --
    Liberty freedom are no1, not dicks in suits.
  26. Google is your friend by DaFork · · Score: 1

    http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&q=xbox+360+33+failure+rate&btnG=Google+Search

    1. Re:Google is your friend by GrayCalx · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It seems like from reading that the 33% number can from a "former EB Games employee." So it definitely could be accurate for his one store in his one town. It also could be some 17 year old who has a hard time calculating fractions.

      There was also an account of a Best Buy Manager who said it was between 25 - 33%. Which is a significant range there, and again his experience for his one store in his one town.

      Now I obviously have no idea what the failure rate is, so it definitely could be 33%, but I find that extremely hard to believe that its that high when you think globally and not just the estimation of just two employees.

  27. Re:Google is your fair-weather friend by Purity+Of+Essence · · Score: 1

    Yeah, I guess I should have Googled first. An awful lot is being made of a single blog entry citing the anecdotal evidence of two people. I find it hard to believe that the failure rate is 7 to 10 times higher than Microsoft stated. I'm serious. Stop laughing. But, hey, it's in Wikipedia so it must be true.

    --
    +0 Meh
  28. Who cares? by geminidomino · · Score: 1

    Seriously, screw the tardbox bundles. Get to the real news: What's the official word on the 65nm, already?!

  29. 65nm? by fan+of+lem · · Score: 1

    65nm yet?