Xbox 360 Pricing Finalized

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tha_con

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The 360 gets two spins: the $299 "Core System," and the $399 fully-loaded package with 20GB hard drive, wireless controller and headset, HD cables, and remote control.
As the Big Three (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo) planned their business tactics for the next-generation console wars, none have been willing to divulge their strategies, lest competitors get the scoop. All that was left was for industry media, fans, and analysts to speculate on what would be of the new consoles.


In its quest to get the console out in time for the holiday season, Microsoft hasn't exactly kept the shutters drawn on its secrets of its next-gen contribution, the Xbox 360. Pictures of the console surfaced before its debut on MTV, its name was exposed before the company could spin it itself, and the prospect of standard wireless controllers came with no strings attached.

Today, Microsoft laid down new facts about its upcoming console at the Games Convention in Leipzig, and they sounded awfully familiar to analyst predictions and forum posters' speculations.

Microsoft announced that the Xbox 360 will be released in two SKUs, the "Xbox 360 Core System" and the "Xbox 360." The two products will be sold at $299 and $399, respectively. The two systems break down as follows:

Xbox 360 Core System - $299 (299 Euros, 209 GBP)
•Xbox 360 console
•Wired controller
•Detachable faceplate
•Xbox Live Silver membership
•Standard AV cables


Xbox 360 - $399 (399 Euros, 279 GBP)
•Xbox 360 console
•20GB detachable hard drive
•Wireless controller
•Wireless Xbox Live headset
•High-definition AV cables
•Ethernet cable
•Xbox 360 Media Remote Control (limited time)
•Detachable faceplate
•Xbox Live Silver membership


Peter Moore, Xbox corporate vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing, who spoke with GameSpot, reiterated that the Xbox 360 is still on schedule to launch simultaneously in North America, Europe, and Japan this holiday season. Details on the specifics of the Japanese release will be disclosed at this year's Tokyo Game Show, which begins September 16.

He explained that the idea behind the two choices came from "lessons learned from the first generation [of Xbox], but perhaps more importantly to provide the gamer with choices in pricing as applicable to their gaming habits." In addition, gamers will be able to select from a range of peripherals, available at launch:

• 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)


It's too early to get a reaction from gamers on Microsoft's pricing plan, but a few analysts privy to the information were able to chime in with their thoughts.

One analyst who spoke with GameSpot said, "I think tiered pricing makes sense, particularly as Microsoft wants to offer hard core gamers more advanced services. $299 is clearly a price leader and headline grabber, but I imagine they initially expect to ship (and sell) a majority of units at the higher price point. Also, with a $299 SKU, they avoid disappointing consumers, who are likely to compare launch pricing with the PS2 in 2000 and original Xbox in 2001."

The analyst adds, "As far as the publishers are concerned, Microsoft needs to make sure that publishers are making games that can be played with or without a hard-drive, and I think they are communicating this message."

Michael Pachter, of Wedbush Morgan Securities, wasn't as cheerful. He sees the $299 model as a "publicity stunt." "They're doing it to say they are launching at $299. The hardcore guys will absolutely not buy the $299 model...Only a complete idiot would buy the $299 model."

Pachter references Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi's statement saying the PlayStation 3 would "be expensive" as an attempt to "psych Microsoft into charging $399." But, he sees the $399 price point as providing Microsoft with breathing room to lower the price once the PS3 is released, which is projected to be in 2006, or even 2007.

Regarding the release date, Moore said there have been no announcements made primarily for competitive reasons, but also because Microsoft was still monitoring the production flow of the console's components and localization of launch titles. "One thing we won't do is underserve the market and leave retailers high and dry. That never works, that just leaves more people who are P.O.'d at us than happy with us."

There are also still no games that are definitely launch titles. But Moore does outline the strategy Microsoft is approaching. "So much is going to happen in the next couple of months...My view is simple, you need to make sure that you have the key genres covered at launch. Take care of sports, racing, action-adventure, fantasy, first-person shooters. I think there are check marks that need to go in boxes to make sure that gamers have games they are looking for in a particular genre. We're still tracking 24 to 40 Xbox 360 games for release before the end of the calendar year. I think you'll see that all the titles we got excited about at E3 are still firmly in that launch window [90 days from the release of the Xbox 360]."

But what about gamers who aren't ready to jump into the next generation? Moore seems pleased with the current success of the original Xbox, and doesn't see any price drop with the console. "We’re selling all we can get [made]. Our biggest challenge is to meet demand and what is typically a very quiet time of year. So no, I don't see any plans to change any pricing as we currently stand on the Xbox."
 
Not worth it.

Why spend an extra 100 bucks for a TWENTY gigabyte hard drive? No.

Just buy the cheaper model and wait till they release their seperate HDD's, I promise you will get 40GB or more for less than or the same price.
 
tha_con
Not worth it.

Why spend an extra 100 bucks for a TWENTY gigabyte hard drive? No.

Just buy the cheaper model and wait till they release their seperate HDD's, I promise you will get 40GB or more for less than or the same price.
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How much would the regular Xbox 360 hold?
 
The standard Xbox 360 comes with no harddrive, BUT it has the slot for it to "upgrade later". While the more expensive version runs $400 with a TWENTY gigabyte Harddrive and the following extras:

My point is, are you willing to shell out the extra 100 bucks for:
DVD Remote (when we all have DVD players already)
Wireless Headset (meh, debateable)
and a Wireless Controller (everyone's been complaining so far)

Or, just save that extra $100, and get a nice big HDD for all you xbox lovers out there.
 
tha_con
Not worth it.

Why spend an extra 100 bucks for a TWENTY gigabyte hard drive? No.

Just buy the cheaper model and wait till they release their seperate HDD's, I promise you will get 40GB or more for less than or the same price.
Click to expand...

what about the component cables, remote and extra niceties? I'm sure a lot of people would want to buy them separately, so it's not just the hard drive we're talking about here. makes good sense to me anyway.
 
askia47
hmmm... i dont know, I want a hard drive, and we dont knowwhen microsft will offer a bigger one.
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depends what you need it for. if its purely for games and soundtracks I'd highly doubt you'd fill up the 20gb one anytime soon. i've never even gotten close to filling up my xbox after 3 years.

now if you're gonna be other stuff on there I can see needing more...
 
Few things:

High Def Cables...it say's "AV Cables"...so I'm not exactly sure if it's "component" but I highly doubt it. Since component isn't really "super common place" I don't see them including it, more than likely it will be High Quality standard AV cables. We'll see, they haven't specified yet.

Remote: We all have DVD players. Much better than the Xbox360 would be I would assume. Why do I need this?

Wireless Controller: Understandable, nice addition here, but they would have been better off putting one in the standard pack and TWO in the bigger bundle.

Ethernet Cable: I've got one, and I'm sure anyone with XBL has one...you NEED it...so why give me ANOTHER one that I already have with my Xbox? But whatever, I suppose it's not expensive so it doesn't matter.

Wireless Headset: Debatable, personally I might use it, but one thing bothers me. It's only wireless if you plug it into your wireless controller, which then drains your battery faster, which shortens play time. They didn't tell you this did they :)

Personally I'd save the $100 bucks and buy:

GAMES.

No game is going to use the HDD for anything like caching, etc, that' ALL out the window with 360. I'd wait, get a bigger HDD and load some other songs, etc.


ALSO.


You get a wireless controller...and it costs you $40 for a WIRED controller, if you want to play two players, OR you can pay $83!!! for a wireless!!!! Get out of here MS...that's REDICULOUS. $50 for the controller and 20 for the recharge "kit"? If not it runs on Double A battery's, UNTIL YOU BUY THE KIT. So, you end up paying...$50 for the wireless controller, $20 for the cables to recharge, and $13 for the rechargeable battery. NOT FINISHED YET.

Up to 40 hours play huh? WITH RUMBLE OFF. NO WIRELESS HEADSET AS WELL.

IMO, I'd rather stick to the cheaper set and spend the money elsewhere. It's just the smarter thing to do.
 
I wonder if there will be a memory stick adapter in the future. $40 for a 64mb memory card when there are 128mb memory sticks for $40. A sony rep stated that by spring 06 memory sticks will be much cheaper.

Only a complete idiot would buy the $299 model
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Man that hurt my feelings, I'm such and idiot :banghead: .
 
Uh oh. Just read that as well.
That's going to get MS in some deep **** with the casual gamers.

I think they just lost a few sales thanks to that.
 
Michael Pachter, of Wedbush Morgan Securities, wasn't as cheerful. He sees the $299 model as a "publicity stunt." "They're doing it to say they are launching at $299. The hardcore guys will absolutely not buy the $299 model...Only a complete idiot would buy the $299 model."
Click to expand...

Considering no one from Microsoft said that, I woudln't assume this is that big of a deal. He's an analyst, and they say stupid things.
 
tha_con
Considering no one from Microsoft said that, I woudln't assume this is that big of a deal. He's an analyst, and they say stupid things.
Click to expand...
Well....its still pretty stupid to say.... 👎
 
Awesome, 400 for all the extras sounds good.
I definitely want all the wireless tech! I also want the high-def cables! Thanks con*
 
The con talks about "silver membership" for x-box live, whats this and whats the "gold membership?" (if there is one)
Apologies if its painstakingly obvious !!
 
Silver is their "basic" if I'm not mistaken, while gold is the "premium" service.

The silver service is for games only, and I believe a few downloads for games.

While gold offers friends lists, games, music downloads IIRC, voice mail type functions, etc etc.

not really worth the purchase if you ask me, silver is fine.


Black95Z28 - Look at the prices, I'm sure MS is doing a much better job than sony...seing as how they aren't all about money...with their $40 cables, or their $80 dollar wireless set ups, or their $40 dollar 64MB memory card (which I can get a 128MB memory stick for less). Or their $100 dollar hard drive.

Right...they aren't ALL about money at all...

They are just as bad, if not worse, than sony.
 
So we get friends lists now and also voice mail messaging, (I mean in game on HALO) but with 360 we've to pay for it ?? Doesnt sound too good to me
 
They should've put a hard drive in every single system.

I'll wait for price drops and $20 games (i.e. Greatest Hits/Platinum Hits/Player's Choice games) before I buy any of the next-gen consoles.
 
50 bucks for a funkin controller? You gotta be kiddin me!

BTW, I'm going for the 400 dollar model because...
I want the hard drive immediatement
The only TV I can play Xbox on is HD, I have HD cables for both my Xbox and PS2 and I think it would be a waste not to get them for X360 too, and if I can get them bundled, why not?
I don't care whether my headset is wired or not but I would like one of dems too
I don't need the remote, but I would very much like it
Same for the controller, I would love to have wireless so it will be easier to take over to my neighbor's house so they don't have to buy another either, plus when you get used to dealing with 7 Xbox controllers, wireless controllers sound awful fancy don't they ;)

I don't know if I'll be getting any launch games (depends on when PGR3 comes out) but if not I'll still buy an Xbox 360 at launch. Until I get games I can use it to play music through my TV's surround sound system much easier than I can now... one reason I want the HD is so I can use my Xbox 360 like a giant iPod. I can also play DVDs through it in better quality than I can through my cheap DVD player I have downstairs, which I lost the remote to lol
 
iceburns288
50 bucks for a funkin controller? You gotta be kiddin me!

BTW, I'm going for the 400 dollar model because...
I want the hard drive immediatement
The only TV I can play Xbox on is HD, I have HD cables for both my Xbox and PS2 and I think it would be a waste not to get them for X360 too, and if I can get them bundled, why not?
I don't care whether my headset is wired or not but I would like one of dems too
I don't need the remote, but I would very much like it
Same for the controller, I would love to have wireless so it will be easier to take over to my neighbor's house so they don't have to buy another either, plus when you get used to dealing with 7 Xbox controllers, wireless controllers sound awful fancy don't they ;)

I don't know if I'll be getting any launch games (depends on when PGR3 comes out) but if not I'll still buy an Xbox 360 at launch. Until I get games I can use it to play music through my TV's surround sound system much easier than I can now... one reason I want the HD is so I can use my Xbox 360 like a giant iPod. I can also play DVDs through it in better quality than I can through my cheap DVD player I have downstairs, which I lost the remote to lol
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You would get a 360 straight away but no games untill one tickles your fancy which could be ages. Why not get it when theres a game you want.
 
Is this the first time a system has launched with multiple "versions"? I can't think of any other examples where this has happened before. Well, PSP, I suppose, but we only got one version here in the States, and I don't think Sony is still selling the barebones version even in Japan.

Sounds like a marketing tactic to me.. a way to trick customers into playing out the ass for peripherals and accessories. They say that people will want to buy the Premium version from the start, but I don't think so. Look at the timing.. Christmas 2006. When a mother goes into Best Buy to get "That X-thingie" for Little Jimmy for Christmas, she's not going to buy the more expensive of the two. She'll go for the $299 version without thinking (even if Little Jimmy was specific, that's still an extra hundred bucks). And I think they're expecting that, regardless of whatever public face they may show. If they release games that require the headset or the hard drive, then Little Jimmy is going to be forced to pay a lot MORE for that stuff than he would have if Mom had bought him the Premium package.

Sounds like another example of Microsoft telling customers what they want rather than giving them what they want. It's just like they're operating systems.. "Oh, you'll pay, all right, because you have no choice but to pay." They'll sell more of the cheap system, and they'll reap the rewards later by gouging the customers for required, but not included, accessories.

Fifty bucks for the wireless controller? More like eighty, if you want it to be the equivelant of Sony's controller. The "stock" wireless controller uses batteries. You have to buy the regargable pack separately, and then buy the charge-and-play pack. Sony's is charge-and-play right out of the box, and their controller probably won't sell for more than forty bucks or so.

Sorry to say it, but I'm feeling much more comfortable in my decision to wait for a PS3.
 
Bah I was hoping the one with the hard drive would be cheaper... still I guess its cheaper than most first releases. Wasn't the dreamcast only £200 when it was released?

Personally I'd take the wired controllers over wireless, far less hassle. Think I'll wait this one out till its more appealing ;)
 
Young_Warrior
You would get a 360 straight away but no games untill one tickles your fancy which could be ages. Why not get it when theres a game you want.
Click to expand...

Because PGR3 is coming out before Christmas, either at launch or sometime during the holidays. I can always rent games or have a friend bring one over to play. Madden comes out shortly after launch too, and those are the games I want.
 

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