Sony isn't going to make the hard drive required AND sell it seperately. It will either be required and bundled or it won't be required for gameplay.

The PS3 really isn't superior to the 360 and the games will be comparable. That's exactly why they will drop the price. If the systems are comparable but one of them is $299 (premium) and the other is $499, which one are you more likely to buy? They have to keep the momentum going in order to do better this round than in the last.

The blue-ray drive alone will make it a superior and more expensive machine.

It will make it more expensive, but it doesn't make it superior. Blu Ray will not be adding anything to games.

You're paying extra so that Sony can trojan horse their new media format into your home.

Did you download it? If so, what are your initial impressions?

Nope, I haven't... damn job keeps me away from the box for 10 hours a day!

I promise you, this is all a bit of Sony being misleading for a reason. They are not requiring the HDD to play games, they are requiring it for all the other network and media features. They just don't want to say it right now. They want everyone doing just what we are doing right now, talking about PS3.

The 360 will be $399 with an HDD and the PS3 likely will be $500+$100 for a HDD. There is already a huge price difference. MS will still be $200 less with the HDD. We haven't even mentioned yet that the first games on the PS3 are going to be the first gen launch games. MS is already past that and by Christmas will not only have amazing new games but also all the launch and 1st gen after launch games going on special to boost sales. The 360 will be fine and if by chance they do drop prices, even better, but I doubt it. They lost so much on the hardware for the Xbox you would think that if they are already $200 less than the competition they would try to milk it a bit.

I think you're most likely right about the HDD and they will stick to the memory card system just like the PSP.

It all depends on how successful MS wants to be IMO. They're up against a 100 million install base.

With a price drop, it would do wonders for increasing their install base and slowing the PS3. It would also put them into a place where they're competing with Nintendo's price point.

The only reason I see to not drop price would be "perceived value". Where some people may think that the PS3 is far superior due to the higher price point.

Guys lets not turn this thread into a 360 vs ps3 discussion.

Well I tried out Feeding Frenzy, it's not bad has 12 achivements to keep you busy. I also noticed there are some new addons for Jewel Quest.

Wait a minute... "Video Game Talk Reviewer" isn't your job?!

sadly no

My world is shattered.

That's not to say he actually does anything for those ten hours, obviously he finds time to moderate

someone's got to keep you fools in line

There are some new downloads in the Marketplace.

They have a St.Patty's Theme and Pics, along with some BF2 and Burnout Pics (Themes).

Feeding Frenzy is now available in the XBLA

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060317/...epic_microsoft

Epic Records, Microsoft in Xbox 360 Deal Thu Mar 16, 8:37 PM ET



LOS ANGELES - Xbox 360 gamers will get a year of free music videos and other content from artists signed to Epic Records under a promotion deal between the record label and Microsoft Corp., the companies said Thursday.

The arrangement calls for Epic Records to feature 12 of its artists on a program dubbed Artist of the Month, which users of Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft's popular gaming console can access over the Xbox Live entertainment network.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Xbox Live members will be able to download exclusive music videos free and compete for a chance to play an online game against the Epic recording artists.

The first artist to participate in the promotion will be British singer Natasha Bedingfield.

New York-based Epic, a unit of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, is banking its artists will find a new audience among video gamers. Sony BMG is a joint venture of Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news). and Bertelsmann AG.

___

On the Net:

Xbox: http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live


It just keeps getting better!

Chris

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=15381

Microsoft to offer free music videos on Xbox 360

Tom Bramwell 08:55 17/03/2006
Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten" available today

Microsoft is bringing free music video downloads to Xbox 360 Marketplace, and plans to let a few randomly selected gamers play against pop stars once a month.

The first "Artist of the Month" will be British singer Natasha Bedingfield, who's been plucked from amongst Epic's ranks thanks to her US success with singles "These Words" and "Unwritten" - the latter is currently flying high in the US charts.

The video for "Unwritten" can be downloaded from Xbox Live from today (it's available in 480p and 720p resolutions - 40 and 220 MB respectively), and there will be a sweepstake later this month to select gamers who will then face off against her online in April - with one also winning an Xbox 360 console, signed CD and game. Video-chat is said to be possibility in future once Microsoft's camera peripheral is available.

It's not the first time Bedingfield's brushed with games either - previously she's been modelled and done voice-acting for the Prime Minister's daughter in EA's semi-decent James Bond effort From Russia With Love.

Her appearance on Xbox 360 is all part of a year-long deal the platform holder has arranged with Epic Records, which will see famous musicians getting involved with Xbox 360 once a month - by releasing a freely downloadable music videos and joining in with Microsoft's "Game With Fame" programme, which in the past has seen celebrities don the Xbox Live headset and take part in public games.

"Our goal has always been to make Xbox Live a cutting-edge entertainment experience," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "This agreement with Epic Records offers our members exclusive artistic content directly from the source. With Artist of the Month we will be providing exactly what music-loving gamers want: brand-new, exclusive music videos that can be downloaded quickly, easily and free of charge."

Microsoft plans to announce further details and participants in the Game With Fame programme soon.


Chris

Good stuff

Looking forward to checking out Feeding Frenzy when I get home.

I realize that's not quite as odd as Everquest 3 being an Xbox 360 exclusive title, but man, that's rich.

I saw that video download last night. But the only time I'm on the xbox is when I want to play. I hope they figure out a way for us to be able to download content and continue to play games.

Random question:
If you have TWO LIVE headsets, can you both use them online at the same time (if you have two people playing on your 360)?

Depends...
If you're both signing on to Xbox Live, I think you can both use the headset.

If two players are using a single account (meaning one is a guest player) the guest cannot use voice.

I was wondering the same thing....

I got my Xbox360 less than a week ago and I have already built up a pretty good library.

Perfect Dark Zero Limited
NBA2k6
Call of Duty 2
Full Auto
Ridge Racer 6
Burnout Legends
Condemned
and I am definitely buying Oblivion tomorrow.

Agreed, downloading some of those demos for me takes 20-30 minutes with my crappy connection. Hopefully some dashboard upgrades will allow this.

Decent video, good song.
I too wish that when you are downloading stuff, you could go back and do other things.