Topic: Xbox 360 Price Announced

[couchmonkey]

(See GAF for the full article).
Microsoft has announced the pricing for Xbox 360: $299 for the "core" system and $399 for the deluxe version.  The deluxe version gives you:

•20GB detachable hard drive
•Wireless controller
•Wireless Xbox Live headset
•High-definition AV cables
•Ethernet cable
•Xbox 360 Media Remote Control (limited time)

The cheaper version comes with a wired controller and none of the other stuff.  Also worth noting is that the hard drive alone will cost $99, so it's stupid to buy it separately.  So what do you guys think?

I'm not surprised they're charging $400 for the hard drive version, MS wants to make more money this time around.  Will the two different prices help?  I think they probably will, a lot of people will probably get sucked in by the $300 version only to realize they really want a hard drive later, and of course some will just live without the hard drive.  I think a lot of people will balk at the $400 version, but then again, I've been known to underestimate what people will spend on this stuff.

Edit: changed "base" to "core".

[nickmitch]

I think that calling it the "base" model and calling the other one "The Xbox360" is stupid. It sounds like' "Hey, here's the real/cool kids version and here's the crappy watered down version. I think that MS will be the only ones with wired controllers. At least it looks like they trued to balace out the two versions.

[couchmonkey]

My mistake, they actually called it the "core" version, which is a few percents cooler sounding than "base"...I just called it what it really is: the crappy watered down version.  I'm sure it will suit some people (those who want little or nothing to do with online games and don't have too many save files) but personally I can't imagine buying the system without the hard drive, and the other goodies make it that much better.

[Ian Sane]

The optional hard drive is the biggest waste of time ever.  No third party is going to use it because there's no guarentee that everyone will have it.  You're basically paying an extra $100 for a headset and a remote control.  The hard drive will be as useless as the PS2 hard drive.

The price is about where I expected: too high.  Oddly enough though in Canada it will only be around $485.  That's not that bad because that's practically what the original Xbox cost here.  Because of the change in exchange rate us Canadians will get a very small price hike.

In the States however Nintendo could probably charge a considerable lower price to combat these more expensive consoles.  The X360 will likely have had a price drop by then however so the PS3 is what Nintendo has to base their price around.

[PaLaDiN]

Is this the first time a console launches with two versions?

Regardless, MS just took the modicum of interest I had in the 360 and defenestrated it.

[Spak-Spang]

I really don't know what Microsoft is doing.  It really sounds to me to be a wierd setup bringing 2 different consoles to the market.

The Deluxe package is definately the way to go, but $400.00 brings you back to the exact same situation the PS3 will be in...it is VERY EXPENSIVE for mass market.

$299.00 can get you the system, in a very basic form, but will gamers ever need to buy a harddrive?  This just seems like it can really divide MS's market.

Basically it is forcing developers to design games without the harddrive in mind, at least for the first generation games...does that mean that MS will package a harddrive with a system, or does it mean that Square will have to go out on a limb and offer a RPG that uses the harddrive and hope people have the harddrive or will buy the harddrive for it?

Really stupid.

Microsoft you should have just offered one unit with or without the harddrive your decision.  I think this will hurt MS more than help them.

[jasonditz]

Quote
Originally posted by: PaLaDiN
Is this the first time a console launches with two versions?

Regardless, MS just took the modicum of interest I had in the 360 and defenestrated it.

I think in Japan you could buy the Dreamcast with or without the modem

[zakkiel]

Quote
Originally posted by: PaLaDiN
Is this the first time a console launches with two versions?

Regardless, MS just took the modicum of interest I had in the 360 and defenestrated it.

Well played, well played.

[BlackNMild2k1]

*rubbing the crystal ball

During the 'launch window' the "core" system will be no where to be found, all that will be on shelves is the "complete" $399.99 model with all the bells and whistles?

Only when sales slow down or don't meet expectations (which ever comes first) will the "core" system for $299.99 be released.

Then when PS3 is released the "complete" system will drop in price to $349.99 but not inlude the remote or the headset.

that is what I forsee

*disclaimer*
I am not now nor have I ever been a psychic, all predictions posted here are for entertainment purposes only, and should be read at you own risk of believing

[stevey]

"Is this the first time a console launches with two versions?"

and there be another coming with hd drive.

[vudu]

It hasn't been mentioned here yet, but the standard memory card costs a whopping $40.  So the price of the base unit is really $338.99.  That's just silly.  

Why anyone would buy the core system is beyond me.

Why anyone would buy the deluxe system is also beyond me.

[couchmonkey]

Those sound like pretty good predictions BlackNMild, though I'd add that if the PS3 is expensive enough, I won't be surprised if MS skips the price drop.

Good point, Ian.  Personally, I don't think selling the hard drive separately will hurt Microsoft that much, but I guess it's hard to say.  Unlike the PS2 hard drive, Xbox owners are already used to having a hard drive, Microsoft is offering the Xbox 360 hard drive right at launch, it sells a console bundle that includes the hard drive, and Microsoft and some third parties have released bonus content using the hard drive in the past.  I think it will be a much hotter item than the PS2 hard drive.

It's still a tough outcome to predict though.  Nobody has ever launched a major console along with an expensive peripheral that might be required to play certain games before.  Some consoles had peripherals you could add, but most of them came out later and were even more expensive than this hard drive.

Edit: I think the NES also came in more than one version.  I think some versions included the Light Gun and, for a short while, R.O.B., while others were more straightforward.

[BlackNMild2k1]

the deluxe system is actually a bargain compared to the core system

$299.99 + $40 for a mem card + $50-60 for a game = $400.00 roughly
add a HDD later + $100, Remote + $35, Headset + $35 = $570 estimated
or
$399.99 w/ everything + $50-60 for a game = $450-460

you actually save $100.00 in the long run

hmm imagine that

[Spak-Spang]

Well Microsoft is definately trying to make more money with accessories being a very highly priced.  I suspect that is why they didn't make the older controllers compatiable (or at least I think they aren't.)  

The memory card is very very expensive, but it is also large enough that you should only need 1 card for a year or so, it is really acting like a mini harddrive with that much space.  

I predict the first 2 years no harddrive neccessary games will be released, and that also includes bonus online content.  Either you can still get that content via the memory cards which will eat alot of memory or non will be offered.

This prediction will be void if someone the deluxe set sells much better than the Core set...then developers won't be afraid to develop HD neccessary content.

I think this still a strange marketing for a console system.  It appears to be more PC marketing than console marketing.

[jasonditz]

Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey

Edit: I think the NES also came in more than one version.  I think some versions included the Light Gun and, for a short while, R.O.B., while others were more straightforward.

Were they at launch though? I thought the launch NES was the Mario/Duck Hunt double game pack and a light gun and two controllers.

[Nephilim]

"You're basically paying an extra $100 for a headset and a remote control. The hard drive will be as useless as the PS2 hard drive."
Custom soundtracks, and voice chat is useless as a hd only supported by 2 games?
remember the rev is launching with 2 versions, dvd player version and non dvd version (confermed).

I will get the deluxe version, hd is a one of the best features of xbox
but it should come with atleast a 6month subscription to there new plat live service

[NRevolutionR]

Normal person:      

I want to buy the X360.  However, it is way to expensive at $300. Ouch, look at the Deluxe version at $400.  It's even worse.  So either way I will be spending a house payment, and if I get the cheaper one to save money, all my friends will shurley laugh at me for not having the most expensive version.



Hardcore gamer:

WTF......$400 for the "gamers" system.  Man that is just ridiculous.  Not even any real backwards compatability.  No good launch games.  Many of which are the same pieces of generic crap that I bought just last month for the Xbox 1.  Also, PD0 missing the launch window.  Wow, I just soooooo need a 360.  NOT



Best impersenations ever


 

[Ian Sane]

"remember the rev is launching with 2 versions, dvd player version and non dvd version"

DVD playback has nothing to do with actual games so it makes no difference to a developer how many users have the feature.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Quote
Originally posted by: Spak-Spang
I predict the first 2 years no harddrive neccessary games will be released, and that also includes bonus online content.  Either you can still get that content via the memory cards which will eat alot of memory or non will be offered.

[pure speculation based on nothing] What if games that do use the HDD for streaming / LIVE! / B/C content can use the Mem cards instead, prompting that you need a mem card in slot with X amount of available space to play this game.  Not only would that prompt people to go get another Mem card($$$)but eventually if they were smart would just go get the HDD.  
And besides w/o the HDD isn't true that you get no B/C or LIVE!?

 

[stevey]

"you actually save $100.00 in the long run"

In ms mind the $299 core  will make ms money, the 399 thingy will lose them money,  but people see 299 as ms losing money and 399 as trying to make money make every buy the core thingy make ms money because your so supid. In a gamer mind is 399 thingy save money and the 299 core is losing money and they buy the 399 or a rev and in the long run making ms lose money make them leave game recking. my post is a train wreck

[BlackNMild2k1]

Quote
Originally posted by: stevey
my post is a train wreck

I'll drink to that

[Caliban]

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
Oddly enough though in Canada it will only be around $485.  That's not that bad because that's practically what the original Xbox cost here.  Because of the change in exchange rate us Canadians will get a very small price hike.

Actually you are wrong. Today I read in another forum an official press release from Microsoft(or X-Box) Canada that it will be $399.99(CAD) for base bundle, and $499.99(CAD) for core/premium bundle. Yes, they are charging more than it actually costs if you reference the price just from current exchange rates.

Just for reference:           $299.99(US) = $362.xx(CAD)_____________$399.99(US) = $485.xx(CAD)  

[Bill Aurion]

Remote + $35, Headset + $35
Memory card = $40

What a bloody ripoff...There goes that slight chance of me getting a 360...

[IceCold]

"Actually you are wrong. Today I read in another forum an official press release from Microsoft(or X-Box) Canada that it will be $399.99(CAD) for base bundle, and $499.99(CAD) for core/premium bundle. Yes, they are charging more than it actually costs if you reference the price just from current exchange rates.

Just for reference: $299.99(US) = $362.xx(CAD)_____________$399.99(US) = $485.xx(CAD)

If it's $399 for the core instead of $362 (or would be probably $359), then it makes even more sense to go for the deluxe at $499, because then you wouldn't lose as much in the exchange. You would lose about $30 more if you buy the "base" package. But then, the premium package is $500, and that's waay too much for most people. So MS is stuck there - they give a much better deal in the premium bundle (even moreso in Canada), but it's so expensive that not many people will buy it

[KDR_11k]

There's some sort of psychological term for making a bad deal (400$ for a console) look better by offering an even worse deal (300$ for a console minus many features) so people think they're getting a better deal from the original bad deal.

The 300$ version is just to silence the critics who would attack MS for demanding 400$ for a console.

MS apparently wants to enforce "no harddrive-only games". Well, you can operate RE Outbreak without a HD...

If MS once AGAIN releases a console for 400 Euros here they obviously haven't learned their lesson the first time 'round. The XBox launched at 480 Euros, noone bought it so they dropped to 300 and offered a big "apology" package (controller and some games IIRC) to existing owners.