XBox 360 Marketing Brochure

[bapenguin]

PlanetXBox 360 (http://www.planetxbox360.com/?view=article&article=83) has a "leaked" marketing brochure for the XBox 360. Most stuff is already known, but it's interesting how the information is presented. Another thing to note, one of the reasons the wireless adapter looks to be expensive (it's still over priced) is that it is a 802.11a/b/g adapter.

The brochure does confirm you need the hard drive for backwards compatibility....which we assumed all along.

[Abednigo]

The XBOX 360 crap is getting almost as annoying as the Halo 2 stuff was a few months ago. ;)

[bapenguin]

The XBOX 360 crap is getting almost as annoying as the Halo 2 stuff was a few months ago. ;)

It's the latest hot topic. Hopefully in a few weeks it'll be revolution info from japan.

[Taco]

Well thank god, I need every bit of that 55mb wireless connection on my gaming console.

[Phades]

That brochure makes it appear the Core system actually comes with a wireless controller. Odd.

[Abednigo]

It's the latest hot topic. Hopefully in a few weeks it'll be revolution info from japan.

I hope we get some very exciting news. But I'm used to being disappointed by their announcements. And not even because I'm disappointed in the news personally, but because it's never enough to get the usual haters truly excited. I miss the good old days when everyone loved Nintendo. Now everyone just makes fun of them. ;) I look forward to the day when the Big N haters say, "I have given Nintendo a lot of crap over the years, but I'm impressed and can't wait to get a Revolution!"

[Babbster]

PlanetXBox 360 (http://www.planetxbox360.com/?view=article&article=83) has a "leaked" marketing brochure for the XBox 360. Most stuff is already known, but it's interesting how the information is presented. Another thing to note, one of the reasons the wireless adapter looks to be expensive (it's still over priced) is that it is a 802.11a/b/g adapter.

Just (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7012485&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300050006&id=1099392876384) to (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/D-Link-High-Speed-2-4GHz-Wireless-USB-Adapter-DWLG122-/sem/rpsm/oid/116504/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do) belabor (http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=319748&pfp=SEARCH) the (http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4191413) point (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833130115)...That adapter had better be kick-ass indeed.

[Evil Avatar]

I'm curious about the VGA cable. What is a DV-155 Standard VGA connector? Is that the Male end that your female monitor cable connects to? It sounds like it.

In that case, it is very cool since I was thinking of buying a 19" monitor to use with my Xbox 360.

The only thing that is frustrating right now is that the Wireless controller is standard. Personally, I would rather have the one with the cable and I didn't want to spend $39.99.

[Mrbunchypants]

Does anyone else notice that the xbox in the pic had the big black part on the top? it's odd that when they show the side view it doesn't have it yet you can clearly tell it extends out more.
And yes i did also notice that the core system does come with wireless controler. I was also under the umpression that wireless was built in so why is there an antenia (sp?)?

[Zanzibar]

That brochure makes it appear the Core system actually comes with a wireless controller. Odd.

I saw that too. I think it's a misprint.

[doubtingthomas]

One thing I'm intrigued by is "Connect portable music players, digital cameras, even your PC to play media on your living room TV".

Will I be to stream music and (mainly) video from my PC, and how well/easy will it do it?

[Hellstorm]

I smell 32X.

[Babbster]

One thing I'm intrigued by is "Connect portable music players, digital cameras, even your PC to play media on your living room TV".

Will I be to stream music and (mainly) video from my PC, and how well/easy will it do it?

They keep mentioning "Media Center PC" so it may only be compatible with that version of Windows XP - having never used it, I couldn't begin to tell you what formats that will entail (MPEG versus Divx versus whatever)...

[AgtFox]

They keep mentioning "Media Center PC" so it may only be compatible with that version of Windows XP - having never used it, I couldn't begin to tell you what formats that will entail (MPEG versus Divx versus whatever)...
That is the prevailing opinion that you would have to have Windows XP Media Center to be able to use the controller and save stuff from your computer...however, I also think a USB flash drive and everything else under the sun (digital camera, MP3 player, etc.) could be used to move stuff from the comptuer to the Xbox.

[Babbster]

That is the prevailing opinion that you would have to have Windows XP Media Center to be able to use the controller and save stuff from your computer...however, I also think a USB flash drive and everything else under the sun (digital camera, MP3 player, etc.) could be used to move stuff from the comptuer to the Xbox.

True enough. There was that "preview" a couple weeks ago where they showed off the connection of the iPod to the Xbox 360. Of course, that leaves me out in the cold since I'm a Nomad user and Creative didn't see fit to make my player a standard USB storage device (of course, I paid a LOT less money for my 40 GB, so I accepted that tradeoff).

The problem with video, though, is that there are many standards and they haven't noted anything about playback of things like Divx/Xvid. So, I'm not sure if you could take a USB flash drive with a nicely compressed movie on it, plug that into the 360 and watch. Upon looking at the brochures, they don't even mention VCD compatibility. Again, I suspect that video, at least, will be streamed only from Media Center PCs. Not only does it encourage the use of that software (and Microsoft LOVES selling variant/"upgraded" OS versions) but it allows them to control the formats and whatever DRM they choose to support.

Short version: Despite the long list of cool features, there's probably going to be room in the 360 world for hacking, just as there was in the Xbox world. :)

[kickmybum]

I saw that too. I think it's a misprint.

i thought that it had already been confirmed to ship with a wireless controller.

[if76]

I wish they'd just release a $350 version with the harddrive and not all that other stuff.

[Evil Avatar]

I smell 32X.

Then you're an idiot. Sorry, but anyone predicting "gloom and doom" for the Xbox 360 isn't very smart. The Xbox is the #2 console system and the 360 is launching at the same price point as the Xbox. In a year, they won't even make Xbox 1 games any more, it will all be about the 360 and the PS3 will still be a "paper" system.

Troll somewhere else, there isn't any more space under this bridge.

[Evil Avatar]

I wish they'd just release a $350 version with the harddrive and not all that other stuff.

You aren't planning on watching any DVD's??? You might want that DVD controller.

You aren't planning on playing over Xbox Live? You might want that headset.

You don't like Wireless controllers?

$400.00 just isn't that much money. I paid that for my video card.

[CaptStu]

Damn, Evil. Someone is on a rip today.

[SpectralWolf]

Evil. You're comments are opinionated and biased. Granted, this is your site, but could you stop pretending that the world revolves around you for a minute?

[Kelegacy]

Then you're an idiot. Sorry, but anyone predicting "gloom and doom" for the Xbox 360 isn't very smart. The Xbox is the #2 console system and the 360 is launching at the same price point as the Xbox. In a year, they won't even make Xbox 1 games any more, it will all be about the 360 and the PS3 will still be a "paper" system.

Troll somewhere else, there isn't any more space under this bridge.

When you say "paper system" do you mean still not out yet, or just rearing its head from its mothers hotmetal loins? In a year, it might be about the 360, but for some reason I still predict the PS2 to compete with the 360 easily, maybe even outselling it at first. I think that will more than tide over Sony until the PS3 launch. No need to hurry, I think. I'm not a fanboy, but I think if Sony plays its cards right, they can run away with another major victory even if the MS system turns out to be fun.

Again, for some unknown reason, I also feel more of a Dreamcast ending for the 360. Warm and embraced by hardcore, maybe not so much by the others. I honestly think that clunky name has something to do with it too.

Then again, i'm not a psychic. I'm just a red-assed baboon that sometimes dresses up in starry robes and puts on a show of clairvoyance. Monkeys in clothes are silly.

[*Legion*]

The difference between the Dreamcast and 360 is the software support. Especially, much as one might hate to admit it, the support of EA. You can't have a console without Madden, regardless of if better but lesser known alternatives exist (which they now mostly don't).

[Phades]

When you say "paper system" do you mean still not out yet, or just rearing its head from its mothers hotmetal loins? In a year, it might be about the 360, but for some reason I still predict the PS2 to compete with the 360 easily, maybe even outselling it at first. I think that will more than tide over Sony until the PS3 launch. No need to hurry, I think. I'm not a fanboy, but I think if Sony plays its cards right, they can run away with another major victory even if the MS system turns out to be fun.

Again, for some unknown reason, I also feel more of a Dreamcast ending for the 360. Warm and embraced by hardcore, maybe not so much by the others. I honestly think that clunky name has something to do with it too.

Then again, i'm not a psychic. I'm just a red-assed baboon that sometimes dresses up in starry robes and puts on a show of clairvoyance. Monkeys in clothes are silly.

You sir, frighten me.

[mister_slim]

That is the prevailing opinion that you would have to have Windows XP Media Center to be able to use the controller and save stuff from your computer...however, I also think a USB flash drive and everything else under the sun (digital camera, MP3 player, etc.) could be used to move stuff from the comptuer to the Xbox.
I seem to remember reading that most movies and music on XP computers will be available, and those with MC will have access to DVRed content as well. But odd formats (ogg, weird avi codecs, and QT) will probably not work. .wmv and .wma for everyone!


Also, MS has said they expect to sell more Xbox's and especially more Xbox software than 360 stuff this holiday. And the PS2 will likely outsell the 360 if it gets a price cut.

[CaptStu]

Seriously, who is left to get a PS2? Who?

[Kelegacy]

You sir, frighten me.

Why's that?

[Babbster]

In a year, it might be about the 360, but for some reason I still predict the PS2 to compete with the 360 easily, maybe even outselling it at first. I think that will more than tide over Sony until the PS3 launch. No need to hurry, I think. I'm not a fanboy...

Well, you don't THINK you are, anyway.

I don't know why anyone would compare PS2 sales to Xbox 360 sales anyway. That smells like a fanboy red herring to me. Even if PS2 does outsell the 360, it indicates nothing about the launch success OR the long-term success of the new console. All it would indicate is that the PS2 has a huge library of games and it's still a viable purchase (something I doubt anyone - even a rabid Xbox fanboy - would deny).

Further, the basis on which people compare Microsoft game consoles to the Dreamcast, implying that the Xboxes will fail, eludes me completely. Is it just because it's the most recent example of a console that failed? That's got to be it because few, if any, of the factors that contributed to the Dreamcast's demise were present for the Xbox (for which so many predicted a Dreamcast-like failure), and they exist even less for the Xbox 360.

Developer support: Dreamcast had a lot of trouble there (particularly with EA). The Xbox 360, on the other hand, has so far attracted MORE developers than the first Xbox and it will launch with EA's flagship sports title.

Previous console failure: The Saturn did poorly and the end of the Genesis' life was plagued by feeble Sega upgrade attempts. Well, the Xbox didn't fail at all, so there's nothing there, either.

Low cash reserves: Sega couldn't keep up with marketing which helped doom their final console - they certainly didn't have enough cash to fund development of another. Microsoft, of course, has no such problem. Even after years of the Xbox putting a drain on their coffers, they have more than enough money, and profits from other enterprises, to do it 10 more times.

People waiting for next console: Sony released PS2 system specifications which SEEMED to "blow away" the Dreamcast - of course, we all found out that, apart from DVD playback, the Dreamcast could be just as capable, if not more. For the Xbox 360, this one is hard to gauge. While there are clearly (evidence above) Sony geeks who are keeping the "one true faith," folks felt burned by the promises of Sony for the PS2. This factor is probably a wash these days since nobody believes anything any console manufacturer says.

In short, comparisons between the Xbox 360 and the Dreamcast - especially before the damn thing is even RELEASED - are just dumb.

[Phades]

Why's that?

You make this comment:

"Then again, i'm not a psychic. I'm just a red-assed baboon that sometimes dresses up in starry robes and puts on a show of clairvoyance. Monkeys in clothes are silly."

and then have to ask me why? :)

[thFOOL]

If the PS2 went down in price a bit more I might actually go out and finally get one. I thought of getting a refurb, but then remembered all of the hardware troubles my friends have had with them.

[bapenguin]

The 360 connects to XP for Music and movies and images...there's a little program you got from windows update called "WindowsMedia Connect"

This utilizes that to do the streaming.

[Mrbunchypants]

You aren't planning on watching any DVD's??? You might want that DVD controller.

You aren't planning on playing over Xbox Live? You might want that headset.

You don't like Wireless controllers?

$400.00 just isn't that much money. I paid that for my video card.


Well if you stillhave a xbox or ps2 why do you need another dvd player?
I would bet that one can use the wireless one right out of the box. sure it won't have have all those cool buttons but how many do you use? I use play skip forward skip back and pause. oh and stop.....

USB headset from my compter will work. did i mention that it has 5.1.

I hate battiers. :mad: does it come with a charger? How can you tell when its' out of juice?

And if you drop $400 on a new vid card why get an xbox?

[Phades]

And if you drop $400 on a new vid card why get an xbox?

Because it has different games and he's a gamer? I'd do the same thing if I had the spare $$.

[DevDict]

Thanks to this article, I finally know what "Wireless" means: no wire!
I wonder who this 'brochure' is made for.

[Ailer]

Because it has different games and he's a gamer? I'd do the same thing if I had the spare $$.
Oh I get it. You are kidding. I mean, who really thinks the xbox has diffrent games then the PC? Who I say?

[Cyrano]

I wonder if the brochure saying the core system comes with a wireless controller is a misprint, or if that feature was removed at the last minute.

[Mac]

You aren't planning on watching any DVD's??? You might want that DVD controller.

You aren't planning on playing over Xbox Live? You might want that headset.

You don't like Wireless controllers?

$400.00 just isn't that much money. I paid that for my video card.

Evil, for a college student with barely over 2 grand in the bank account it is. Now you could say, get a job and make some cash. Well, yeah. Problem is it ain't easy getting a job on campus. Why not get one off? Yeah, no car. 400 dollars is that much money to someone in a different financial situation than you.

[Kelegacy]

In short, comparisons between the Xbox 360 and the Dreamcast - especially before the damn thing is even RELEASED - are just dumb.

Whatever. I didnt fucking say it was going to happen. I said that's just how I saw the system as of now. The games look to be great (at least first wave launch) but something has put me ill at ease right now. The peripherals and their cost, separate versions of consoles, future separate versions of the same console (HD-DVD w/hard drive and HD-DVD without?? i hope not) and it seems like all this stuff is to put more money into MS's pockets...which is not a bad thing...but they are becoming more and more like Sony for my tastes. Of course, peripherals are limited to MS-made stuff only unless the 3rd parties license the stuff, so we are basically fucked for choice and cost comparisons.

I also see this new console as a great way to confuse the Johnny Fuckwad gamer, ones that dont use Evil Avatar for their gaming news. I hope my NON-foolproof predictions are wrong--I dont want Sony and Nintendo as the only contenders for my cash, because each company offers something for me. Xbox is basically a living room gaming PC, Sony satisfies my hunger for excellent overseas gaming and RPGing, and Nintendo churns out some of the best games ever created and seems to really care about the consumer with a less expensive product.

So dont call me a fanboy. I was only making a lame prediction, but I'm sure it will be wrong. I'm not very smart and I eat paint chips instead of Lays, so I'm liable to speak out of turn and say things that put others ill at ease.

And Phades, I poop skittles. I sometimes plant them in little clay pots around my apartment and eat their fruit when they blossom into great big Skittle Trees. The only side effect is that they make me see phantom demons in my peripheral vision...they scream and taunt and prod me, but i can never catch them.

[Kelegacy]

Evil, for a college student with barely over 2 grand in the bank account it is. Now you could say, get a job and make some cash. Well, yeah. Problem is it ain't easy getting a job on campus. Why not get one off? Yeah, no car. 400 dollars is that much money to someone in a different financial situation than you.

Wash dishes or serve food in the dining commons. They are always looking for help. Plus, you get to wear cool little hairnet things. The ladies go wild for those things.

[Tyrant]

Problem is it ain't easy getting a job on campus. Why not get one off? Yeah, no car.

That's what public transportation is for.

[Twigz'N'Berries]

Seriously, who is left to get a PS2? Who?

I have to agree with you. Most people who have wanted a PS2 has already purchased one. Sorry, but with more than 90 million consoles sold worlwide, you have pretty good market saturation. Although some will be rebuffed by the two tiered launching system, I think a lot will do what I have done: be pissed off for five minutes, think it through and decide to get one anyway. The price is high to some, and not so high to others...that really is dependent upon your own personal financial situation. Hell, it would be too expensive at $50 for someone who only had $10 of disposable income.

For anyone who is predicting doom for the 360, that is way too premature. The Xbox 1 has garnered a pretty loyal following and there will be a lot of converts from X1 to X2. Casual gamers (and their parents) will see only one new system out this Xmas and it will be most likely be the 'hot ticket'. Much like the SNES, NES Genesis or even Ataris, the newest console tends to sell pretty well at Xmas time. I don't see the average consumer picking up an extra PS2 because it is $99...they probably would want to go for the new, intriguing system. MS will have a banner xmas and I'd be willing to bet on that!
The real question is how soon Sony will enter the market and how will that launch effect people's decision to buy/support the 360. I guarantee that if PS3 delivers on the promise of graphics (ok, trailers) they had at E3, MS will definitely have a harder time keeping their marketshare of the nextgen pie.

Serious question though:
Can anyone point me toward a confirmed launch title list? Or even the confirmed launch date? I don't want the speculated crap, just something definite...and send the link to your source.

[Twigz'N'Berries]

Evil, for a college student with barely over 2 grand in the bank account it is. Now you could say, get a job and make some cash. Well, yeah. Problem is it ain't easy getting a job on campus. Why not get one off? Yeah, no car. 400 dollars is that much money to someone in a different financial situation than you.

Which goes back to the point that 'expensive' is relative to each person and their situation. I'd never call someone cheap because they couldn't afford the $400 version...you never know their personal resources. But I just think Evil meant that in a relative term to what you get if you had to buy the three 3.2ghz cpus, the advanced ATI gpu w/imbedded DRAM, the 512mb memory, the router, the controller, the os....360 is much less expensive than going the pc route.

[The Iron Weasel]

I hope 360 does well because i never really cared for console gaming until xbox, sure i had an N64 and perfect dark but why play that when i could play half-life or command & conquer, it was my "gateway" system because it provided the type of games i like to play predominantly the FPS genre, and since my PC was ageing and couldn't play games as fast or at as high settings, it was plesent to have my xbox, and at the start the games looked better then pc, so i dunno thats what really got me into consoles, and i hope to god that 360 will do the same and provide me with the fps's when my computer runs out of steam (unlike alot of you i don't mind playing a fps on the console, i still prefer PC but since well i'm gonna say it HALO (amongst my favourite games of all time) the gap has started to be bridged, so i hope that 360 will not be a dissapointment (but with each announcement i'm starting to have my doubts)

[Evil Avatar]

Evil, for a college student with barely over 2 grand in the bank account it is. Now you could say, get a job and make some cash. Well, yeah. Problem is it ain't easy getting a job on campus. Why not get one off? Yeah, no car. 400 dollars is that much money to someone in a different financial situation than you.

If you can't afford a console system, then you can't afford games either. Perhaps gaming isn't the right hobby for you???

I'm not bashing on you specifically, but I hope you see my point. This IS an expensive hobby and new systems do come out. If you don't have the cash for a 360, you can buy an Xbox 1 or a Playstation 2 and the PS2 certainly has a HUGE library of $19.99 titles.

But, just because you can't afford something isn't a reason to bitch about it. I can't afford a 1958 Plymouth Fury, but I don't complain about it... I just drool over them at auctions.

[Dracula-X]

I hope the 360 fares well, and this is coming from someone who's least favorite console this generation was the xbox :)

Competition == good stuff.

[Everlost_MI]

But, just because you can't afford something isn't a reason to bitch about it. I can't afford a 1958 Plymouth Fury, but I don't complain about it... I just drool over them at auctions.

You want Christine? :)

[Heretic Machine]

I can afford the console, as I've already said. But I really don't think it's worth the extra $100 + $60 games + $60 for an extra controller and charger thing + $100 for the wireless adapater just so I can play on their crappy Silver service. That's $620 for the things I would want, including a single game. I've -never- had a console launch like that before, maybe I've been living in the cheapo universe or something but I usually spend a maximum of $500. I might get one sometime around Fall 2007, long after I've upgraded my PC and bought myself a Revolution.

[Mac]

If you can't afford a console system, then you can't afford games either. Perhaps gaming isn't the right hobby for you???

I'm not bashing on you specifically, but I hope you see my point. This IS an expensive hobby and new systems do come out. If you don't have the cash for a 360, you can buy an Xbox 1 or a Playstation 2 and the PS2 certainly has a HUGE library of $19.99 titles.

But, just because you can't afford something isn't a reason to bitch about it. I can't afford a 1958 Plymouth Fury, but I don't complain about it... I just drool over them at auctions.

Perhaps you shouldn't make assertions you know nothing about.

I can afford a new game every once in awhile, play the hell out of it and get more than my 50 dollars worth. I thoroughly enjoy the said game and then, maybe, move on.

Evil, you're assuming I'm complaining. Not ONCE did I complain - again please do not generalize when using 'you' (directed towards me) in your post. I don't mind the price at all, hey, 400 bucks is 400 bucks and if that was the price of the system and the only price I'd buy it. My dilemna comes with the choice of whether or not to shell out the extra 100 bucks for the HD, headset, yadda, yadda. Do I realize it's ultimately cheaper? Yeah. But that's also assuming I'm going to be buying all those things. I'm getting a 360 come hell or high water, but it's just causing me much thought and deliberation on whether or not to shell out the additional hundred.

My only problem came with you saying that everybody can afford 400 dollars worth of new hardware and that it isn't 'a lot'. Just because you're strapped financially does NOT mean you shouldn't have the right to enjoy the hobby, nor does it mean you should be suggesting it.

I could wait until the price drops, sure - but that doesn't solve the problem of the hundred dollar monster learing it's head. One will still be more expensive than the other and I've got to figure out if it is worth it.

Oh and to the person who suggested public transportation - I don't need the Xbox 360 that bad. ;)

[Kagger]

Kelegacy...that is some interesting stuff there man...hilarious....and interesting

[Heretic Machine]

I could wait until the price drops, sure - but that doesn't solve the problem of the hundred dollar monster learing it's head. One will still be more expensive than the other and I've got to figure out if it is worth it.

Wait and see... Find out if the hard-drive is worth it, find out if the damn console is worth it while you're at it. For all any of us know the PS3 could dominate it's ass (unlikely), or you might find out that the Revolution is much closer to your needs.

I mean, if you have to put that much thought into it, then don't feel so rushed to pick one up at launch. They aren't going to go extinct or anything, and you'll find that it's less of a hassle once February rolls around.

[EternalGamer]

Solution to the extra $100 Dilemma: toss your current Xbox into a used Bin at your local gamestore, put the money towards your 360 + Harddrive. I plan on doing so this week. Not anything I desperately need to play on it between now and November and I'll get a lot more for it now and begin to prevent console clutter.

Dan

[Ninja 20XX]

Solution to the extra $100 Dilemma: toss your current Xbox into a used Bin at your local gamestore, put the money towards your 360 + Harddrive. I plan on doing so this week. Not anything I desperately need to play on it between now and November and I'll get a lot more for it now and begin to prevent console clutter.


I wouldn't go that far just yet - they haven't definitely given details on the extent of backwards compatibility and you could end up with a shelf full of games that have no use. I doubt there's going to ever be anywhere close to 100% compatibility, some of the more obscure / less-popular games may never get an emulation profile.

My beef is that they haven't announced whether or not you'll be able to transfer save files from the Xbox to the 360. I think it mentioned somewhere they are working on it, but I'm not restarting games from scratch just so I can play them on the 360.

The 360 isn't the Dreamcast, and never will be. Sega was so in the hole by the time the DC came along they didn't have the financial backing to keep plugging away. The DC was aborted before it got to prove or disprove its worth because Sega ran out of money.

Xbox has doubled the DC's hardware sales so far and sold a hell of a lot more software, which is the important thing, that third-party publishers make money and continue to support it. Electronic Arts alone makes or breaks a platform, they've got games that the larger casual fanbase absolutely love, and they're going to be on board from day one with the 360.

Worst comes to worst and the 360 launch really doesn't go well, they'll make moves to fix it: FAST. I don't think anyone but the Xbox 'faithful' will buy in right away, but there's enough faithful to make it a success.

I don't buy the idea that people will be that confused - some parents, yeah, they may walk in and end up buying a Core System, but retailers are going to push the more expensive variant, and the Core System is going to probably be in short supply. Odds are if anyone wants a Core, they'll have to pre-order it specifically, and the few that do get on shelves will end up going to the last-minute adopters who can't get the main system.

Casual gamers aren't going to be confused because casual gamers don't buy hardware at launch. They wait for the price drops and the $20 - $30 games. It's not life-or-death for them to have it.

Money's important because yeah, the 360 launch might not go as smoothly as planned but it has to happen this year, it has to come out before the PS3. There's a lot of gamers who will want both and putting them both on shelves at the same time will end up hurting someone - loyalists will buy their favorites, but the middle-of-the-road ones might get both, if there's enough time to refill the wallet / bank account in between. The last thing MS wants is to have the 360 launch up against the PS3, have someone pick the PS3, and think, eh, I'll get a 360 later - then keep putting off the purchase.

The real question is if we're getting short-changed as early adopters, and I don't think so. Sony looks like they're willing to outspend both MS and Nintendo on each unit, which, in the long run, may haunt them, because they've got the most to lose: the casual gamers fly their flag, and they're not gonna buy a console for more than $199, screw working 'overtime'.

I talked to a number of people who are definitely casual gamers about the PS3, and their impression is that they'll be able to buy a PS3 for $199 in 'a year or two after it comes out' - where they got that 'year or two' I'm not sure, but that's what they're thinking. And these people really aren't interested in either Xbox or Nintendo, so price may not really matter there, they're going to want a PS3 they wait, which gives both competitors time to manuever and perhaps change their opinion.

It comes down to being 'good enough', building the best hardware within a certain budget - and yeah, the games play a big part there, outside of graphics, are the exclusives going to be really good? I'm pretty sure Nintendo has a definite target price they want to hit for the Revolution, and there's things they're debating about, or have already decided against, because they seem to really want to push the affordability angle, so they've got to come in under a certain price, even if including those things would make it an 'easier' sell. You can't have your cake with ground up diamonds in the frosting, garnished with 24K gold flakes and sell it at the same price as Twinkie.

This coming race really emphasizes that not all machines are created equal, and all three seem to be headed in different directions, which includes different price structures. Seems kind of weird to have Sony take the top slot with the tech, but then again, they rode a lesser rung on that ladder to an overwhelming victory, so you have to wonder why they seem so hellbent on aiming for the smaller Xbox audience.

Other than Kutaragi trying to get his name in the history books for creating a consumer entertainment supercomputer. The PS3 at this point seems a lot less about the games than the other two, which may be a huge blunder. For them, GTA should be more important than taking old Dukes of Hazzard reruns and upgrading them to high-definition quality video by some mythical Cell-powered alchemy.

It is disheartening to see so many people jump off the bandwagon for the 360 in the last few days based solely on $60, the difference in price between the $40 64 MB memory card you're going to need to buy no matter if you've got a high-def AV set-up or not, and the more deluxe package with a 20 GB HDD.

Wonder if there will be this much flipping out when Sony finally unveils the price for the PS3, which probably won't be until well after the 360 launch so it looks as expensive as possible?

$299 ain't in the cards there, either, and I'll bet $399 won't buy you too many extras.

[Kelegacy]

Solution to the extra $100 Dilemma: toss your current Xbox into a used Bin at your local gamestore, put the money towards your 360 + Harddrive. I plan on doing so this week. Not anything I desperately need to play on it between now and November and I'll get a lot more for it now and begin to prevent console clutter.

Dan

Yeah, if the backwards compatability was rock solid, that would make sense. But i'm leery. They've been really sketchy about it.

[EternalGamer]

Yeah, if the backwards compatability was rock solid, that would make sense. But i'm leery. They've been really sketchy about it.

I've thought about that too, but most of the more obscure or niche stuff I enjoyed on the Xbox, I am already finished with. I'm pretty sure most of the stuff that would get any replay (like Halo) will be supported, so I'm not sweating it too much.

Dan