xbox 360 confirmed pricing

[function]

Did Microsoft at E3 not say that the hard drive would be 'standard?' I mean I might be confused, I admit - but I'm in the majority if so. Which is what matters - not reality, but perception.

I don't recall them saying the HDD would be standard, but if I'm wrong I'm sure someone will quote the relevant MS employee.

Anyway, even if they did say the HDD would be standard, that could have been at the $400 price point. But I don't recall them saying it.

 

[scooby_dooby]

It's poor state of affairs when someone not attempting to mug Europe means someone else feels they're getting mistreated.

No we're just used to getting a better deal. And personally, I feel that as the one and only region responsible for xbox's success we deserve a better deal.

There would be no x360 without the success they had in NA, to turn around and give us the highest price(relative to the 'traditional' console price) seems kinda like we're getting the shaft.

p.s. function - when they announced SPECS it's always asumed those are standard. The offical specifications are what you expect to come with the machine, and since e3 the 20GB HDD has been part of those specs.

 

[[maven]]

No we're just used to getting a better deal. And personally, I feel that as the one and only region responsible for xbox's success we deserve a better deal.

There would be no x360 without the success they had in NA, to turn around and give us the highest price(relative to the 'traditional' console price) seems kinda like we're getting the shaft.

Hello? Is the brain in? Or at least common sense?

 

[MechanizedDeath]

Ms was never explicit about these things definitely being in the box. The only thing close was Ballmer going on about there being a single SKU. But otherwise, I think it was more fan expectation than anything MS said directly. There's a lot of read between the lines stuff involved in PR. Sony's gonna shock and disappoint some people too, but again, it'll probably be more due to expectations than anything else. All IMO. PEACE.

 

[Carl B]

p.s. function - when they announced SPECS it's always asumed those are standard. The offical specifications are what you expect to come with the machine, and since e3 the 20GB HDD has been part of those specs.

Exactly, you get a premium version and you expect it to be 'above and beyond' the core specs, not be offered a 'crippled' version that's less expensive than the 'norm.' The 'official' spec'd version should be the least expensive SKU to carry the '360' name, if the official 360 specs include equipment that the base model does not.

 

[function]

No we're just used to getting a better deal. And personally, I feel that as the one and only region responsible for xbox's success we deserve a better deal.

There would be no x360 without the success they had in NA, to turn around and give us the highest price(relative to the 'traditional' console price) seems kinda like we're getting the shaft.

That's a great idea. MS needs the Xbox 360 to be a success in more than just North America, so they persue that by openly treating places outside of North America (such as Europe, it's second most successful territory) worse with regards to hardware pricing. Superb.

So, yeah, you basically feel that you're being mistreated because Europe isn't getting screwed over with massivlely inflated launch prices over what you're being charged this time.

 

[Acert93]

#1 HURRAH for Europe!!

Specifically a couple of B3D posters, in Europe, who were complaining about being "forced" to get a HDD. Titiano should be giddy!

#2 Are they nuts, 1st edition? Fragmenting the install base... idiotic. Well, more on this later...

#3 Are they nuts, 2nd edition? The periphrials are $$$ How am I supposed to get a HDD, Live Gold, headset, VGA adapter, and a game + a 360! Oh, get the $400 SKU

#4 Based on the interview at IGN, expect a PSP situation, specifically: a "Value Pack" being the CORE SKU offered at launch. I think the $400 SKU will be the main focus with very few $300 SKUs out there.

#5 As much as I hate this, MS telegraphed this one. The other day MS announced a FREE addon for XP that will allow streaming between a NORMAL WinXP system and the 360 due this year. Can stream form a XP PC => http://www.tomshardware.com/hardnews/20050816_174728.html

Basically MS is saying, "Well, most will get a HDD or large flash drive, and for those who don't they can always stream off their PC. So why do we need to include it in the base unit? Sony wont be, so Devs will under use it AGAIN... no point hurting our bottom line for a semi-useless* feature". (* MS is missing out on a HUGE market expansion feature if done right).

#6 Doomsayers: Is this the end of MS's 360?

Puleease!

PS3 is not going to have a HDD standard, and I have not heard anyone claim it is the end of the PS3. Nintendo's and Sony's similar decisions in the past/this gen? That was not the end of them. As much as I HATE this, it seems this will be the standard until mass storage is standard in the industry. Think about it from MS's perspective. More games are going to be cross platform. Even if they snag 50% of the US, the other 50% (PS3 owners) wont have a HDD. That is NO INCENTIVE to bring up the cost for a device under used.

And it has been underused. MS solution?

A. Make a "premium" SKU with a HDD.
B. Offer large memory cards (which are profitable!)
C. Offer all the same HDD features (audio soundtracks, game saves, microtransactions, demos, trailers, etc) via streaming from your PC

Since they are trying to avoid piracy (which is horrible on the Xbox) and have no plans for TiVO features on the 360 yet this makes sense in some ways. What do they lose the most?

1. the HDD being a standard app for all devs to use (which was under used this gen, sadly, and with the PS3 not supporting it as standard will continue to be such)
2. Caching of game content.

In MS's opinion the reduced cost is more important than the few games it will affect. And it is not like devs will be running to Sony for a standard HDD because it does not have one either.

#7 I hate this... very much!

Biggest thing: MS is losing out on new revenue models! DEMOS to get people excited (and then direct buy through online), Trailers, microtransactions and expansions being offered constantly to EVERY player, and other Live features.

I think MS has missed the boat. It will save on production costs, but in the long run I think it makes the 360 less unique and able to expand into trendy markets to make market impact.

#8 I think MS is hoping for larger/cheaper flash media to come in mainstream in 2008/2009 to make expensive HDD mute

#9 Where is the 360 Media Center? Oh, wait... politics. MS obviously does not want to compete with their $$$$ media center PC. Too bad, as a media center 360 would really be a trend setter, the "iPod" like device.

Overall, calculated and conservative moves by MS. I don't like them, but I don't see them losing much on this.

As for market position I can see the 360 dropping to $350 when the PS3 launches and the base model at $250. So the market could look like:

$400 PS3
$350 360 HDD
$250 360 Bare Unit
$200 Nintendo

For $50 less than a PS3 you get a fully loaded 360 with Live gold. For $50 more than a Rev you get a console with more games and better hardware. I think this is MS's attempt to work over both Nintendo and Sony at the same time.

#10 My best friend who lives on the West Coast (I am East Coast now) is gonna get a 360 and wants me to get one for Live so we can chat and play. I was thinking about it, but...

$50 VGA cable
$400 console (HDD, Live Gold, Headset, etc... no point getting the $300 SKU, paying $50 for Live Gold and the other accessories separately)
$60 game

$510

I cannot afford that!

 

[a688]

I'm sorry, but WHAT THE HELL!!??
Europe got absolutely shafted with the Xbox 1, so bad that it *tanked* at retail and they had to drastically slash the price almost immediately to £200 and do damage control by offering lots of free stuff.

But becuase MS aren't crapping on Europe this time that somehow means that NORTH AMERICA IS GETTING THE SHAFT!? That's an outrageous way to think.

Within weeks, Xbox 1 cost £200, what MS acknowledge *should* have been it's launch price. Xbox 360 costs MORE than this, at £210 and £280 - mirroring fairly closely the prices of the American packages. But because MS aren't making the same foolish blunder in Europe that they did last time at launch, and trying to massively overcharge in a manner they'd never dream of doing in America, that equates to America getting the shaft does it?

It's poor state of affairs when someone not attempting to mug Europe means someone else feels they're getting mistreated.

I really hope you arn't bitching at me for explaing what scooby_doobie thought.

 

[Dave Glue]

that is a BIG question and I wish IGN had asked Peter Moore.

Online ads that have been updated with this info are listing 'Compatibility with select Xbox games' only for the full 360 kit, not the core.

So it looks like for compatibility - and select titles at that - you're going to have to shell out for the full $400 model.

 

[function]

I really hope you arn't bitching at me for explaing what scooby_doobie thought.

No, I'm bitching at that belief, wherever it exists. If this isn't yours, then I'm most certainly not bitching at you!

Bitching is perhaps too light a word. I really don't like the thought that you have a right to see other people get screwed over to make you feel better!

 

[RancidLunchmeat]

Umm.. Maybe I'm missing something here, but didn't we get a quote in this very thread about the two versions from MS?

And didn't they essentially say the $299 version was created almost entirely for European consumption? It sure sounded to me like the X360 is $399 for NA, period. If you can find the core systems at $299, good luck.

Considering they will probably have shortages at launch anyway, doesn't it make sense that the NA market will be flooded with the $399 ones and the European market (that was seemingly the big reason for the two different versions to begin with) would get the vast majority of the $299 ones?

Also.. as far as the lies, damn lies, and statistics go.. So far, the only "lie" I can see that MS said is.. well, I can't find one. Really, the only problem I see is that the HDD isn't going to be used for anything that benefits the gamer.

Which makes it irrelevant. Just like adding on the HD-DVD later, just like Sony's BR in the PS3. A problem, for sure, but is it really THAT big of a deal? Now, instead of just adding in a worthless feature (like the BR drive), MS is giving you the option of paying for that worthless feature or not.

In fact, don't we all now care more about the OTHER accessories offered in the $399 version than the HDD? The wireless controllers, the component cables, the headset, etc?

If there's no use to the HDD.. why get one as an add on? Just get a memory card. So really, unless you want the headset or the wireless controller, isn't it actually better to just buy the $299 system plus a memory card? (Which is why NA won't see any of those)

 

[scooby_dooby]

MS obviously lied which is why they are now playign word games.

If you listen to the interviews, everyone is calling the base model "Xbox Core" while the premium package is called "Xbox 360"

So they're playing word games, everything they stated about x360 was true....becaus ethe base model is called "Xbox Core"...semantics

 

[Carl B]

Sony's gonna shock and disappoint some people too, but again, it'll probably be more due to expectations than anything else. All IMO. PEACE.

This may or may not be, but I would be *shocked* if Sony managed to do something as angering to their fan base as this. I think they've been quite good at managing expectations this generation, honestly...

I mean, what do you see as being some of their eventual 'socking and dissapointing' moves?

 

[3roxor]

Wow what a dumb move from M$.

 

[RancidLunchmeat]

This may or may not be, but I would be *shocked* if Sony managed to do something as angering to their fan base as this. I think they've been quite good at managing expectations this generation, honestly...

I mean, what do you see as being some of their eventual 'socking and dissapointing' moves?

Gee, I'm always confused as to when we are allowed to start talking about a competing console in a discussion thread about another console. But I'll give it a go:

Is it better or worse if the PS3 launches at $499 with everything you believed to be standard as standard?

In other words, is the problem with the X360 the price, or is it that there's two versions, or what?

Do you not believe prospective buyers of the PS3 will be extremely upset if the console launches a full $100 more than was expected? Because that's essentially what has happened with the X360.

 

[scooby_dooby]

i agree with xbdestroya, I don't see what SOny could do to piss off this many people. Because, they're not gonna cut blu-ray, and other than that what could they do to anger this many people?

To answer your question, it's not the price, it's the whole HDD not 100% supported thing that everyone is relly pissed off at. That was considered a huge advantage for MS. People who don't own a console with a HDD(xbox) wil lsurely disagree, but the xbox owners loved it and wnated it to stay.

I see sony cutting some ports, but who's really gonna care about that? On the flip side they'll probably redesign their controller which should more than make up for the dissapointment from loosing usb ports 4, 5 and 6

 

[BlueTsunami]

Gee, I'm always confused as to when we are allowed to start talking about a competing console in a discussion thread about another console. But I'll give it a go:

Is it better or worse if the PS3 launches at $499 with everything you believed to be standard as standard?

In other words, is the problem with the X360 the price, or is it that there's two versions, or what?

Do you not believe prospective buyers of the PS3 will be extremely upset if the console launches a full $100 more than was expected? Because that's essentially what has happened with the X360.

I think that Sony has done a good job of pointing how high the PS3 is supposed to cost (all KK's doing I guess) so it takes away the "oomph" from a high price (for the PS3). I guess people are not only shocked on how much the 360 costs (its becoming appearent that alot of people thought the $299 SKU was going to come stock with a 2.5" 20GB HDD). Also...there are some that where expecting the HDD to be mandatory...that being the case, Devs would be able to stream from them and reap the benefits from that.

 

[MechanizedDeath]

This may or may not be, but I would be *shocked* if Sony managed to do something as angering to their fan base as this. I think they've been quite good at managing expectations this generation, honestly...

I mean, what do you see as being some of their eventual 'socking and dissapointing' moves?

The derail was uninentional btw. My bad. But I guess the high price will be met with the same shock and horror as what we see today, and what we saw with the PSP. But I'll leave it at that for the sake of the thread. PEACE.

 

[Inane_Dork]

The $400 bundle is for me. I'm a very informed consumer of consoles, and I know it's a good price. Not as good as it should have been, but good nonetheless. It's not like I'm going to get a significantly better cost from an alternative platform.

The accessories, though, are flat out unreasonable. The only way to mitigate the cost is the get the $400 bundle. Boy they are trying to make a lot of money off everything but the system itself. What is it? Like $80 for a fully featured wireless controller?

What I hate the most is their misleading ways. What was all the reassurance at E3? Crap. Misleading crap. That doesn't sit well with me, 'cause now I know they'll screw me over again later on if they want to.

MS just lost a lot of first-round sales. The good news is two-fold, though. The first part is that it's all downhill from here, barring a major screw-up somewhere. They have a few months to show off X360 games and win back a few consumers. The second part is that Sony will surely not undercut their prices. I think there will be a mutual consent to keep prices high between them and avoid price wars.

 

[Carl B]

Do you not believe prospective buyers of the PS3 will be extremely upset if the console launches a full $100 more than was expected? Because that's essentially what has happened with the X360.

I absolutely do think they would be upset. But, I also do not expect a $500 launch price for PS3. Do you?

Anyway let's get back to the 360 then. The accessory prices are exhorbinant.