official xbox 360 pricing

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 regarding 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.

Moore 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 anonymous analyst who spoke with GameSpot said, "I think tiered pricing makes sense, particularly as Microsoft wants to offer hardcore 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 in 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."

http//www.gamespot.com/news/2005/08/17/news_6131245.html

now gratis can determine everything.

Does that mean the sites offering it will have to change referral numbers

Horray!


This means Gratis is going to give us the pricy one. Hum im tempted to keep the console now....

I think gratis shoulf just keep it at 8 refs and ship the $399 package. Or have a choice between the two. Having finished the site already, i will be pissed if i don't get the higher package.

YAY! Us free360xbox finishers will get the nicer kind. Cool. I'm glad to see that they have a nicer one for more $$$. D

they will make more money if they keep it at 8 refs and give the better package. less people will finish the site. i really hope we get the $399 package

I would have rather had a game with it, but oh well..

i will go and preorder it when i get my mac mini and sell it.

Anyone wanna make me a Xbox 101 guide? lol

It would be pretty shitty of gratis to not ship the 399 package since they always had their description of it with a detachable hard drive and wireless controller.

[quoted1f51b7fad="Stroid"]they will make more money if they keep it at 8 refs and give the better package. less people will finish the site. i really hope we get the $399 package[/quoted1f51b7fad]

Don't hope! DEMAND!!!! lol lol lol

And bball, in my opinion the $399 package would be better than a game. But whatever.... I'm using my judysbook $$$ to get a game and subscription to Gold Xbox Live.

We should all meet up on Live and start a little network of all of us. D D

Jake was alawys talking about giving us our referrals worth. I dont think hes going to jip us.

Yeah Gratis won't. Gratis is very trustable. D

[quote49d8e82723="J4320"]We should all meet up on Live and start a little network of all of us. D D[/quote49d8e82723]
Good idea, cause once i get my 360, i won't be spending much time on here lol

i dont know about any of the games. i have always been a test drive fan so i might get that game first. but i love fps's. all my ebay money from the mac mini is going to the 360.

[quoteb45d0d3468="tracemhunter"]i dont know about any of the games. i have always been a test drive fan so i might get that game first. but i love fps's. all my ebay money from the mac mini is going to the 360.[/quoteb45d0d3468]

Xbox is all about FPS.

[quote8a567f7c88="Peinecone"][quote8a567f7c88="J4320"]We should all meet up on Live and start a little network of all of us. D D[/quote8a567f7c88]
Good idea, cause once i get my 360, i won't be spending much time on here lol[/quote8a567f7c88]

Yeah I'll probably be playing a bunch of violent games because that's what I like best. I don't play car games or anything.....

But yeah that'd be awesome to have a network of us.

You don't even have to have a game to talk to eachother. D

I don't know the difference between Gold and Silver and Bronze and all that shitty non sense. I get online with my ps2 for free.

Project Gotham will be booby tits too. I loved the first one. One of the only racing games that kept it interesting to keep playing.

[quote1903a7dfcb="bballp6699"]I don't know the difference between Gold and Silver and Bronze and all that shitty non sense. I get online with my ps2 for free.[/quote1903a7dfcb]
I think the silver gets you online for updates and chating, but to play multiplayer games, you have to have the gold

thats bullshit. i only want the gold then.

Anyone wants my free360xbox when it comes? Asking $250 prepaid lol


Im already approved btw

How much does it cost monthly for Xbox I?

compfreak, it might sell like the ps2 did in christmas of 2000. you might be able to get a lot more for it on ebay around then. 360 is coming out november 12 i think.

[quote3244eaac75="bballp6699"]How much does it cost monthly for Xbox I?[/quote3244eaac75]
If it is the same as now, then $50 a year. Not bad at all

I'd sell it for anything over $450 if it did. Then I'd just buy the regular one and save the rest of it.

Does anyone notice that it makes no sense to buy the one without the hard drive. Even if you don't want a hard drive you are going to have to buy a memory unit for it. They are saying that the memory unit is going to cost 40.00. And the fact that the cheaper model doesn't come with HD cables is a shitty problem too.

I just hope xbox360 has better HD cables than it does for xbox.

I think I might start looking for refs for free360xbox

I will bet that you guys get the cheap xbox. No reason to believe, after Gratis blowing it with PSP "pre orders" and other past failures that they will spend the extra hundred dollars.

[quote5a7c197881="CoMpFrEaK"]Anyone wants my free360xbox when it comes? Asking $250 prepaid lol


Im already approved btw[/quote5a7c197881]
I'll pay $250 when it actually ships from gratis. But not now

[quotebd1efb8c1f="willietanner"]I will bet that you guys get the cheap xbox. No reason to believe, after Gratis blowing it with PSP "pre orders" and other past failures that they will spend the extra hundred dollars.[/quotebd1efb8c1f]

Pessimist...

Who's that in the avy?

[quotec0f0ed9734="bballp6699"][quotec0f0ed9734="willietanner"]I will bet that you guys get the cheap xbox. No reason to believe, after Gratis blowing it with PSP "pre orders" and other past failures that they will spend the extra hundred dollars.[/quotec0f0ed9734]

Pessimist...

Who's that in the avy?[/quotec0f0ed9734]
willietanner is a insensitive dickhead and that girl in his avy is that girl missing in Aruba

[quotef41211d291="Stroid"][quotef41211d291="bballp6699"][quotef41211d291="willietanner"]I will bet that you guys get the cheap xbox. No reason to believe, after Gratis blowing it with PSP "pre orders" and other past failures that they will spend the extra hundred dollars.[/quotef41211d291]

Pessimist...

Who's that in the avy?[/quotef41211d291]
willietanner is a insensitive dickhead and that girl in his avy is that girl missing in Aruba[/quotef41211d291]

Ah I see. I'm ashamed that I can't keep up with the worldly news, but I know every time TO sneezes in training camp... (

[quote9d7067e05b="CoMpFrEaK"]Anyone wants my free360xbox when it comes? Asking $250 prepaid lol


Im already approved btw[/quote9d7067e05b]

Just keep it you money hungry..... Um..... Person.....

who cares if she is missing in aruba. what about all the other people that go missing? the only reason she was on the news was because she is attractive.

I don't really care, but I like to keep up with the news.

he wont be having anything in his avy anymore

[quote631b178f91="tracemhunter"]who cares if she is missing in aruba. what about all the other people that go missing? the only reason she was on the news was because she is attractive.[/quote631b178f91]

are you saying attractive people aren't more important than regular people?

thats exactly what i am saying. if it was a ugly kid the news would have nothing to do with it. god forbid that a hot girl goes missing. the world is coming to an end and the news is the reason. dont watch that biased crap on tv.

[quoted1a72aa295="Peinecone"][quoted1a72aa295="CoMpFrEaK"]Anyone wants my free360xbox when it comes? Asking $250 prepaid lol


Im already approved btw[/quoted1a72aa295]
I'll pay $250 when it actually ships from gratis. But not now[/quoted1a72aa295]

No reason for me to sell it that cheap when i get it. I could easily get $400+ when it comes out.

[quote9acf4d7d98="CoMpFrEaK"][quote9acf4d7d98="Peinecone"][quote9acf4d7d98="CoMpFrEaK"]Anyone wants my free360xbox when it comes? Asking $250 prepaid lol


Im already approved btw[/quote9acf4d7d98]
I'll pay $250 when it actually ships from gratis. But not now[/quote9acf4d7d98]

No reason for me to sell it that cheap when i get it. I could easily get $400+ when it comes out.[/quote9acf4d7d98]

You mean $400- unless we get ours really early and it's out of stock everywhere.