Microsoft cries "uncle" to Nintendo, releases sub-$300 XBox 360

[Jedilaw]

GameSpy: Xbox 360 Arcade Console Announced

Originally Posted by Gamespy

Microsoft announced this evening a new Xbox 360 console package dubbed "Xbox 360 Arcade" which is now available at retail for under $300. Estimated to cost $279.99, the Arcade console ships with an HDMI output, a wireless controller, five family-friendly games and 256MB of memory for storing content. It's assumed that the machine ships without a hard drive unit. Here's the full story:

Just in time for holiday, Microsoft Corp. today released a new Xbox 360 console that delivers games and content to everyone in the family for an incredible value of $279.99 (U.S. estimated retail price)*. Available in stores beginning today, Xbox 360 Arcade console is the first Xbox 360 console to include five family-friendly games, a wireless controller, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection to enable high-definition output if desired and 256 MB of memory useful for storing games and entertainment content. At $279.99, the Xbox 360 Arcade console will include five best-selling games: "PAC-MAN Championship Edition" (NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.), "Uno" (Carbonated Games), "Luxor 2" (MumboJumbo), "Boom Boom Rocket" (Electronic Arts Inc.) and "Feeding Frenzy" (Sprout Games).

"As families gather together this holiday, it's the perfect time to launch a new low-priced, high-value Xbox 360 that plays games, TV shows and music for everyone to enjoy," said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing, Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "In addition to offering an incredible all-in-one package for families to get right into the fun, the Xbox 360 Arcade system features the industry-leading Family Settings, which allow parents to control what their kids are watching and playing — and we know how important that control is to families around the world."

Karen Dodge, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer at Toys "R" Us, added, "We are excited to offer this new gaming experience to our customers — children and families — who can now enjoy the fun of Xbox 360 together. Many of this holiday season's hottest items provide Internet connectivity, and with the online entertainment options available through Xbox LIVE, Xbox 360 Arcade offers families a great mix of online content and traditional gaming in one console."

Since Microsoft already loses money on every 360, one can only assume that they will still lose money at this lower price point, even without the hard drive (hard drives in the size range used by the 360 aren't exactly expensive). The only rationale I can see is an acknowledgment that Nintendo has beat everyone by 1) appealing to families and casual gamers; and 2) keeping the price point low.

The thing is, a $279 360 still won't get you what the Wii has, namely the Wii-mote plus built-in wi-fi. You'd have to spend another $100 for a 360 that can do wi-fi. Yes, the 360 will have HDMI and more powerful graphics, etc., but if technical prowess were the only factor driving the market, Nintendo would not be in the lead.

[BDelacroix]

Oh well. That's how the market works.

[TheGreatRaja]

sony is also lowering the price of the PS 3

[Tovette]

Except the Wii, in my opinion has crap games because I'm a videophile and the 360 kicks the crap out of the wii. I also don't have a family; I have just myself so I can buy all the M-rated games I want.

[HawkMan]

Originally Posted by Jedilaw

GameSpy: Xbox 360 Arcade Console Announced



Since Microsoft already loses money on every 360, one can only assume that they will still lose money at this lower price point, even without the hard drive (hard drives in the size range used by the 360 aren't exactly expensive). The only rationale I can see is an acknowledgment that Nintendo has beat everyone by 1) appealing to families and casual gamers; and 2) keeping the price point low.

The thing is, a $279 360 still won't get you what the Wii has, namely the Wii-mote plus built-in wi-fi. You'd have to spend another $100 for a 360 that can do wi-fi. Yes, the 360 will have HDMI and more powerful graphics, etc., but if technical prowess were the only factor driving the market, Nintendo would not be in the lead.

ummm MS has been making money off the 360 since last x-mas, well the regular version, the core version they lost money on a little longer.

The money they spent on increasing the warranty time to 3 years somewhat counteracts this, but that's money set aside, not money yet lot anyway.

As for not getting what the Wii gives you. most people couldn't give a rats ass about the Wiimote. it's interesting but it's not really why people buy the Wii they buy it because its cheap and supposed to be NextGen. casual gamers they don't really care, though the see the gimicky fun side of the Wii Mote. the hardcore gamers, they don't want the Wiimote, they want to sit back casually with a gamepad.

As fo Wifi, yeah because stretching a cable to yoru TV/entertainment center is such a big deal. and a lot of peopel allready have a wire there. Besides that a TP cable is far better than Wifi for that particular device anyway, it's more stable, and more importantly it's higher speed. Which you need if youre going to use the media center extender fucntionality.


Pure fact is, the core/arcade version of the 360 offers a lot more power and features than the Wii.

The Wii is a great "fun" gaming machine, but it doesn't have the longevity unfortunately.

[Icon1]

The new PS3 only has a 40 GB hard drive and is NOT reverse conpatable, not PS2 or 1. And it's still $399.00

[HawkMan]

they also reduced the USB ports from 4 to 2 and removed the memory card readers.

And Sony said they won't be bothering with software BC anymore either.



Basically they are doing what they laughed at MS for doing, only worse... again...

[Jedilaw]

Originally Posted by HawkMan

ummm MS has been making money off the 360 since last x-mas, well the regular version, the core version they lost money on a little longer.

The money they spent on increasing the warranty time to 3 years somewhat counteracts this, but that's money set aside, not money yet lot anyway.

As for not getting what the Wii gives you. most people couldn't give a rats ass about the Wiimote. it's interesting but it's not really why people buy the Wii they buy it because its cheap and supposed to be NextGen. casual gamers they don't really care, though the see the gimicky fun side of the Wii Mote. the hardcore gamers, they don't want the Wiimote, they want to sit back casually with a gamepad.

As fo Wifi, yeah because stretching a cable to yoru TV/entertainment center is such a big deal. and a lot of peopel allready have a wire there. Besides that a TP cable is far better than Wifi for that particular device anyway, it's more stable, and more importantly it's higher speed. Which you need if youre going to use the media center extender fucntionality.


Pure fact is, the core/arcade version of the 360 offers a lot more power and features than the Wii.

The Wii is a great "fun" gaming machine, but it doesn't have the longevity unfortunately.

In terms of sheer power, yes. No doubt.

Features? Debatable. Both consoles have wireless controllers, both have exclusive games (and scoff all you want but having Mario, Metroid, and Zelda as exclusives is nothing to sneeze at), and both have Internet-based services that allow you to download new content. The difference comes in that XB0x Live is subscription based, while Nintendo's is free.

Regarding the wi-fi issue, for lots of family setups, the television is not within easy reach of a CAT-5 of the computer. Yes, you can run CAT-5 though the walls, but how many people have the desire or ability to do so? Compared to using wi-fi, being restricted to a hard-wired network can be onerous. Yes, obviously, a CAT-5 connection is faster and less prone to dropouts than wi-fi. But most people aren't going to be focused on the percentage of speed loss from wi-fi, they'll be thinking of the relative ease and cost of setup.

This whole divide between "casual" gamers (kids, your mom, uncle Bob) and "hardcore" gamers (l337 d00d5, single cats with disposable income) gets a little frustrating at times. Back in the day, we had the Atari 2600, which was followed by various other consoles (Activision, Colecovision, NES, Genesis, etc.). Some were more or less powerful, or more or less expensive. But gaming was still about gaming, not about proving one's "hardcore" status. That's changed, and I'm not convinced it's a change for the better.

Personally, I could give a damn. I've been gaming since gaming was a hobby, it's all games to me.

And for the record, I have no dog in this hunt. I've not committed to any of the nex-gen consoles, as I do all of my gaming on a laptop. I may get something "for my kids" this Christmas, but I'm not sure what it will be. There's games I'm interested in for all of the consoles.

Must admit, though, being able to snag classic 8-bit and 16-bit titles for $5 to $10 on the Wii is tempting.

[Jedilaw]

Originally Posted by Tovette

I also don't have a family; I have just myself so I can buy all the M-rated games I want.

Awww, sounds like somebody needs a hug!

Just messin' with ya, Brother Nate.

[HawkMan]

This whole divide between "casual" gamers (kids, your mom, uncle Bob) and "hardcore" gamers (l337 d00d5, single cats with disposable income) gets a little frustrating at times. Back in the day, we had the Atari 2600, which was followed by various other consoles (Activision, Colecovision, NES, Genesis, etc.). Some were more or less powerful, or more or less expensive. But gaming was still about gaming, not about proving one's "hardcore" status. That's changed, and I'm not convinced it's a change for the better.

The differencebetween casual and non casual is simple.

Casual gamers ais the avergae Wii buyer, who buys the console buys one or two first party Nintendo games(first party i all nintendo has really, and Mario isn't what it once was). play them for a while then getsbored and the consoles sits mostly unused after that.

It's a good thing Nitendo does make a profit of every console sold, since they're making very little off the software licenses and sold software.

As for nintendo's so called online versus Live. There's a reason nintendo doesn't charge and MS does. Live! is worth it. Nintendo's offering isn't, even less than Sony's.


Nintendo needs to get far more 3rd party itnerest in the console. or they'll be remember for the record selling console noone used. Wich would be unfortunate.