Link?

Well said on all 3 counts. Those prices are going to alienate some of the early adopters as well.

I wonder if there will be any folks going to get their deposit money back.

Well from early reactions here, I guess MS won't have to worry about any shortage of systems on the shelves for Christmas.

I couldn't agree more and was wondering the same thing in regard to people who already put money down.

Wavebird was $35. 360 - $40 for a WIRED one. Gotta drop $50 bones for the wireless.

Yikes. Like I said, Microsoft WANTS us to buy the $400 value pack. No doubt about that and reading the IGN Peter Moore interview pushes that point home.

I wonder what he's talking about when he mentioned the content that will come on the HD? IGN's reaction to that was funny althoigh I wonder if it was meant to be. We should be getting a game for that price. Who cares if the latest Black Eyed Peas song or the latest episode of Veronica Mars comes with the HD?

Exactly. If that is true why the hell even sell the HDD. Some people will end up buying Xbox360s without it so games can't be designed to require it.

I thought MS had already decided not to split the market that way.

I really like the hardware overall, but no built in Wi-Fi (for the number one online game system no less), $50 controllers and the $400 price tag just has me in sticker shock at this point.

Jebus, what is the PS3 going to retail for $499?

As far as I know, you will be able to save games onto it. Games won't be able to cache onto it because not every system will have the HD in it. I couldn't care less about downloadable content, but if you can't save games onto it, I'm going to be pissed.

The real deal breaker for me, as Groucho said, is the Wireless Networking Adapter ($99.99) price point. They (MS) were pushing the wireless standard aspects of the XBox 360 and I had the impression that it would be included as part of the higher price point, not as an add on for $100.

And another question is, will they allow 3rd party manufacturers to make a lower priced adapter? That's what I bought for my XBox and it has worked great and I saved $40, compared to the Microsoft brand adapter.

So, I may just wait until the PS3 comes out a year later (probably) and wait for the $100-$200 price drop. Or if sales really suck in the beginning (hopefully), they will lower the price in early 2006, by $100.

Chris

I have to say I was REALLY pissed about the price at first but I've cooled down a bit. The extra $$ is something I would of spent anyway buying a few accessories but now I'm getting the remote and cables with the system so I'm ok with that.

I do still feel tricked by MS after all the HD and wireless controller talk but they as a "struggling company" I realize they can't afford to take a loss on these systems like they did last year. Their pricing structure is just all over the map on this one. I feel bad for everyone who wanted the wireless adapter. Then on the other side of the the spectrum the Plug & Play cord and Battery Pack are much lower than I expected.

I'm tempted to take my XBOX in today to trade it in so I can have a little extra cash to put toward the system but the backward compatibility stuff is still so up in the air right now I think I'm just going to wait it out a bit more.

The best post on MajorNelson.com about this topic says:
Maybe God punished J Allard on the mountain for lying to us.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=10877

GC: Microsoft confirms European Xbox 360 pricing

Rob Fahey 14:35 17/08/2005

This morning's leaks are confirmed as UK pricing and bundle deals are made official

The Xbox 360 is set to be priced at 399.99 Euro (GBP 279.99) for the full system when it launches in Europe later this year, with the "Core System" pack - which doesn't have a hard drive - selling for 299.99 Euro (GBP 209.99).

News of the European prices came from Microsoft's EMEA Xbox boss Chris Lewis, who was speaking this afternoon at the Game Convention show in Leipzig, Germany.

Lewis confirmed this morning's report regarding the US pricing of the system, as well as details of the two different bundles which will be offered - with the Xbox 360 Core System bundle being the cheaper of the two.

Unlike the more expensive bundle, however, it will lack a hard drive, and will be shipped with a wired controller rather than a wireless version. The premium bundle will also include a Wi-Fi adapter, Ethernet cable and remote control, none of which ship with the basic model.

The Core System will also lack a bundle and the Xbox Live silver service, both of which are part of the premium bundle.

With pricing for the console and details of the two variants now public information, the key remaining piece of information regarding the launch is the date - but Lewis left the audience waiting for that detail, saying only that the console will launch in the Christmas season.


Can someone explain to me what the Wi-Fi adapter is for? Is it for the wireless controllers?

Chris

Misprint. Everyone else has left that out.

399.99 EUR Euro = 491.865 USD United States Dollars

That's for connecting to your wireless network.

If indeed it is included, and not an extra $100, that would be a good thing. Probably enough to make me reconsider this console.

We'll see what the U.S. price point is...

Isn't that what we have been talking about this whole time?

From Gamespot:

No WiFi Adapter included.

I got the impression from mypayroll's article that this whole thing has been a misunderstanding, and we've been talking about the European price points as if they are the USA price points.

GamesIndusty.biz is based in the UK, which is why they didn't give the US price. IGN and Gamespot (based in the US) game the US price point. The inclusion of the WiFi Adapter was a misprint on their part - it is not included in the $400 package.

Premium Package:



Core Package:

IT appears to be a WIRED headset (from picture above)....but I'm sure that package was quickly thrown together. No remote in pic either

What's that thing to the left of the controller? Is the HDD external?

It looks like the cover for the removable HDD that slides on the top/side of the machine.

Yeah, the hard drive attaches to the top of the console (if it's standing up) from what I've seen. I believe they've talked about coming out with larger hard drives in the future (for when they start doing tivo type stuff).

What effect does the lack of a hard drive have on this have on backwards compatibly? Isn’t the HD required for the emulation necessary for BC?

If that is the case, you would be required to buy the $400 “Value” pack for the privilege to play the few “best selling” xbox titles that they will emulate at launch. You would certainly need the HD if you want to download the additional BC patches for the games that MS says they will add to the backwards compatibility list down the road.

So no 400 Value Pack = No Backwards compatibility? Wouldn’t BC be more attractive those with a more limited budget? Meaning those that want the system, but can’t afford to buy may games wit it, but would be happy to play halo 2 with the new wireless 360 controllers, until game prices go down. Oh wait. No wireless controller either? Has MS completely lost the plot?

And no Live Silver with the $300 kit? Are they nuts? They should be PAYING people to put that in their houses. It’s the potential living room convergence app that MS’ has always dreamed of. There are plenty of people that would jack their Ethernet cable into the unit if the free Live Silver service were provided. I’m baffled.

What a cluster f. MS, you have lost one more soul eagerly awaiting the 360. Oh well, I’ve always been a fan of bananas anyway.

Yes. When horizontally oriented, you'll see it on the left of the 360. When vertically oriented you see it sitting on top of the 360.

I believe the picture on the box (pic Flay posted) shows the 360 standing up with the HDD mounted on top.

Well this announcement has priced me out of picking one up this year. I'm actually really disappointed in doing it like this, especially in light of all the articles earlier discussing them not releasing 2 versions of the system.

Guess i'll have to start waiting for the PS3 price and keep playing Halo 2. Sheesh, who knows, the PS3 might be the first Sony system i have ever owned.