does the 360 have built in WiFi? thats bullshit if it doesn't.

It's an accesory.

Here's the list...

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/642/642647p1.html

i could swear that they said that it had a built in wireless adaptor

Just curious, doesn't everyone with an xbox360 core system have free Xbox Live Silver membership? It's not in the features list...

I still can't get over what MS is doing here. The obvious choice is to get the premium pack, it's a steel for $399 USD of course that's put against what $299 gets you once you add up the MS ACCESORIES! I can't believe the rape...

...There's no point in releasing the $299 as %90 percent will get the $399 one. But of course devs will have to factor in the 360 with out the hdd which could very well mean the hdd 360 wont be fully utilzed...

...Bad, bad choice MS.

I for one think this is a brilliant idea.
(see http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/642/642633p1.html for their take on it)

With 2 price points, you are able to sell to those who may not be able to afford the extra $100. Of course, they will then have to fork out for the extra accessories at some point down the line, when they can afford it, but they will at least be able to play some of the games right away. From a business standpoint this makes total sense: MS gets extra money from the accessories, plus they can sell to those that might not buy it otherwise. As for the comment about the HDD not being fully utilized are totally unfounded. The odds of developers making games for those with and without the HDD OR making games that don't use is are very unlikely. Most likely the games will be developed with the HDD in mind which then forces those who do not have it to go out and buy it, more money in the bank. Plus, as many have stated, most people will likely buy the full package. Gaming isn't for 10 year olds who need mommy and daddy to buy them their games anymore. The average gamer is 28, so they probably have the money (and the desire) for the complete package.

Remember when the N64 came out and the only way you could save your game was to the memory cards? Same with the gamecube...did developers make games that didn't use the card? Sure, but the majority required its use, forcing everyone to go out and buy one.

This isn't a bad idea...its probably one of the best ways to launch a new platform. Especially when the speculation is that the PS3 is going to cost an arm and a leg.

While this may not be the best example (considering what finally happened to them in the hardware business) but Sega, at the height of their popularity, sold the Genesis in two varieties. The core system, and the Sonic system. One obviously having Sonic the Hedgehog packed in. At the time, this proved quite successful.

Another thing to keep in mind is now that Microsoft has introduced this "tiered" pricing system, it will make introducing an HD-DVD model (or Blue Ray) onto the market that much easier.

When Sony launches the PS3, not only can MS counter by dropping the core & premium bundle pricing but they'll also have a model ready to match the PS3 Blu Ray capabilities and of course they'll have Halo 3 ready to go as well. It would seem regardless of the scenario Sony puts forward, Microsoft has a counter.

Just curious, doesn't everyone with an xbox360 core system have free Xbox Live Silver membership? It's not in the features list...


From the News Release on Yahoo, it appears that Xbox Live Silver won't be good for much online gaming...

from the wording, it appears that you'll need to get the Gold service to game.... more $$ for M$

P

I wish there was just the one system but I know how people are cheap and if they just had the 400 buck one people would just bitch bitch bitch about how expensive it is (and ignore what you get) yet 5 minutes after they did that they'd go out and buy a 400 dollar video card and act like that is no biggie. I guess M$ needed to have the $300 one to try and lure in buyers who see the price point rather than look at the details of each package and realize the $300 one is somewhat silly.

Will never understand why people just look at prices and that is it...Guess that is why you have houses listed at $XXX,900 and products at 3.99 rather than the more logical $XXX,000 and 4.00.

What amazes me is that some are surprised by the 360 pricing. What were they expecting? A $99 system? Do those people even see what is inside the 360? From what I have read the gpu alone is about as powerful as the current top end PC cards that by themselves run 400. Add in surround sound, movie playback, HD, wireless controllers, etc and the 400 is a great price.

Humans...

From the News Release on Yahoo, it appears that Xbox Live Silver won't be good for much online gaming...

from the wording, it appears that you'll need to get the Gold service to game.... more $$ for M$


Gold service is exactly what xbox live is right now, so its not MORE money for MS, its the SAME amount they charge for the service that they offer now. If you already subscribe to Live, you'll have Gold service on the 360 the second you plug it in. What were you expecting? 1 year for $79 is a pretty decent deal my friend.

Gold service is exactly what xbox live is right now, so its not MORE money for MS, its the SAME amount they charge for the service that they offer now. If you already subscribe to Live, you'll have Gold service on the 360 the second you plug it in. What were you expecting? 1 year for $79 is a pretty decent deal my friend.


$79 is a good deal. although some of the peep's I play with seem to get a new GamerTag every 2 months to use up their free cards. It's good that they plan to let people keep their tags who are with Live already.

I just have doubts that the 'Silver' service they are offering will be of much use to anyone.....

I mean, I'd rather message on the computer with a keyboard on the Computer with MSN messenger, then try to key stroke

H E L L O

with the D-pad and the ABXY buttons.....

P

I just have doubts that the 'Silver' service they are offering will be of much use to anyone.....
Except maybe to see that all your friends are enjoying a good game of Halo 3 while you sit alone and play all by yourself...(note that I said by yourself, not WITH yourself, not that there's anything wrong with that!)

Gold is not a good deal as you need the high end 360 to play on Live. You can't with the Core.

That's the issue with the Core, it needs a hdd, even a very small one.

The price is NOT the issue it's the lack of hdd.

Gold is not a good deal as you need the high end 360 to play on Live. You can't with the Core.

How exactly does this make the Gold Live service "not a good deal?"
If you want to play online, buy the enhanced 360 package. Not having an HDD doesn't make the Gold package a bad deal. All it proves is that someone who wants to play online and doesn't purchase the full package is either an uninformed consumer or just plain stupid. And if the issue isn't price, then just buy the full package!!!!
This isn't rocket science.

How exactly does this make the Gold Live service "not a good deal?"
If you want to play online, buy the enhanced 360 package. Not having an HDD doesn't make the Gold package a bad deal. All it proves is that someone who wants to play online and doesn't purchase the full package is either an uninformed consumer or just plain stupid. And if the issue isn't price, then just buy the full package!!!!
This isn't rocket science.

My XBL renews this November so if I get the 360 it HAS to be the Premium for me to go online as the Core does not have a hdd.

All MS had to friggin do is put a small friggin hdd in the Core that way anyone in ANY budget can get on Live. But no.


Core is for the "casual" gamer, MS has stated that they expect to sell mostly Premium bundles at launch and later in the cycle they expect the Core to take over...all those cores with NO option to go on Live out of the box. Unless they get the $100 20 gig HDD...I don't think it was a smart move.

Am I missing something? Why do you need/require the HDD to go on Live?

Am I missing something? Why do you need/require the HDD to go on Live?

I had to install the XBL application on my Xbox to go on Live, my account is on my hdd.

To d/l demo's, map packs etc you'll need the hdd unless MS has some kind of online storage thing.

EDIT:

I've just read that you can access Live on Core via the memory card accesory andn with the memory card you can go to kiosks to d/l downloads if you don't have Live.

But you have to buy the memory card as a separate accessory right? It's not included in the Core System, so people can't go on Live "right out of the box"...seems a little strange that they would go that way...

I figured they would want people who are only curious to try Live...I guess they figure people will pay extra for a memory card anyways...

Aaaaaahhhh :) Good old Microsoft, doing what they do best.

Doing a great job marketing another bad product. Then to make things worse we'll sell everything in little pieces here and there, giving the consumers a sense of "freedom" and "choice".

What amazes me is that some are surprised by the 360 pricing. What were they expecting? A $99 system? Do those people even see what is inside the 360? From what I have read the gpu alone is about as powerful as the current top end PC cards that by themselves run 400. Add in surround sound, movie playback, HD, wireless controllers, etc and the 400 is a great price.

Humans...

I've got to agree here, after spending $749 on just an HD/PVR and $400 on a video card the Xbox 360 seems to be a pretty good deal at $500.

Personally. I'd rather pay a little extra and get the complete system.

Because all the little extras will add up and you would have payed the same price for a complete system at that point.

But you have to buy the memory card as a separate accessory right?

Yup.

And I can't stress this enough the $399 USD price is NOT the issue the issue is that MS said wireles and component cables were standard for the 360 and that backwards compatibilty is for sure on select games.

They flat out lied...now I know how half of the US population feels about Bush, lol.

But seriously people are VERY upset that Core does not have a hdd. Bottom line it's the hdd that's got people pissed not the price.