Xbox 360 for $300

Xizer writes "Wal-Mart employees have leaked the price of Microsoft's next-generation console. The Xbox 360 is set to be launched for $299.99. Additionally, games are set to be $59.99 each. Ouch. Looks like the next generation of consoles is going to burn holes in gamers' wallets even moreso than the current generation. One thing is for sure: It's time to start gearing up for an expensive Christmas."

That's great!

[jarich]

$300 for a really cool triple core Linux box (post hacking, of course)! That's COOL!

$300 Isn't So bad..

[fwice]

$300 isn't all of too bad for a console, especially considering the hardware present. Looking back, the NES came out at $199 initially, as did the SNES, and N64. The N64 didn't even include any games, just a solitary controller. The $60 price tag for games is what N64 games cost as well.
I'm viewing it as a slightly more expensive initial investment. That, and only that.

and no, I'm not planning on buying one.

perhaps not as sure as you seem to think

[frovingslosh]

One thing is for sure: It's time to start gearing up for an expensive Christmas.

Do you understand that buying this, as well as lots of overpriced games, is entirely optional?

Sorry I'll wait for HDDVD

[Eunuch]

DVD has been dragging its low capacity ass for far too long. I'll wait for v2.

Better than Atari 2600

[DoofusOfDeath]

Way back in the day (maybe 1980?) I got an Atari 2600 for Christmas, and I think it cost $250. Games cost about $25, IIRC.

Accoding to http://www.westegg.com/inflation/ [westegg.com] that Atari 2600 would cost $634.91, and each cartridge would cost $63.49, in 2005 dollars.

So Xbox 360 is actually a great deal compared to the Atari 2600 if you just look at price.

I can't see any reason to complain about the price

[JudgeFurious]

  The price of the console is fine, exceptional even considering what you get. That's to be expected since they routinely sell these machines at a loss to get them in the hands of the game buying public.

  $60 a pop for the games is insane though. I was raised on video games and I love video games but I'll be damned if I'm ever going to give anyone $60 for a game.

  I still think the "optimum price" for a new game should be around $39. Anything more than that turns the game into an instant "I'll look at it again when it gets marked down, or I'll buy it used later on"

Reconsidering my budget

[Iriel]

$59.99?

Damn. If single games get any worse, subscription MMO's might actually become cheaper overall! ;)

(Yes, I know Guild Wars has no fee. I play it with religious fervor)

Re:Still $300

[despisethesun]

Yeah, but cartridges are more expensive to manufacture than CDs and DVDs. All N64 games were more expensive than Playstation and Saturn games at the time.

Re:Still $300

[koi88]

One thing is for sure: It's time to start gearing up for an expensive Christmas.

Or wait a few months and get a Nintendo Revolution. Which should be cheaper.

the gamecube

[cerelib]

what you just mentioned about the gamecube is exactly why I like it. If you have people over what better to play than super smash bros melee or similar nintendo games. they build in an optional automatic handicap as opposed to halo where it is obvious that the people who play it constantly destroy everybody. a little off topic but I just had to comment on the gamecube remark. in general I like where Nintendo is taking gaming.

Re:Still $300

[jbrandon]

don't forget the effect of inflation on your wallet though. XBOX 360 isn't cheaper because the purchasing power of your dollar is also less than it was when the original XBOX came out.

The dollar may be worth less, but I have more of them. Get it?

Re:Still $300

[KingOfBLASH]

But if you're cheap like me and willing to wait a year you can still find clearance priced games for $10 to $20! :-D

Re:perhaps not as sure as you seem to think

[frovingslosh]

Either that, or I raise them to think that they don't get everything they throw a trantrum for. One has to wonder about the next generation when parents make posts like yours.

Minux the HD Drive too

[varmittang]

Don't forget that you will need to upgrade later to get the HD drive and higher def games.

Re:perhaps not as sure as you seem to think

[hal2814]

I have kids. It's still optional. You just have to learn to tell them no. I know that's not a popular thing to do becuase it requires effort on the parent's part.

$60 Games will make me rent from now on.

[Viewsonic]

There are far too many games being released today that aren't even worth the $50 being charged as is. If they think they can suddenly bump it to $60 for the same crap, I think they're going to find out real quick what the last console crash was like first hand.

If a game is going to cost $60, it had better get 9/10 or 10/10 reviews from nearly everywhere, and be hailed as the next best thing. If it is even SHY of that, 8/10 or an average 3/5 game, then I can think they can kiss any sales goodbye.

I have a feeling this next generation will be dubbed generation rental.

Re:$60 games? $300 console?

[nutshell42]

Yeah, right. The new Xbox is the same price while games are more expensive. That's gonna show those people who don't buy any games.

What?!?

[GunFodder]

Who paid $199 for an NES? That was the mega-package with the robot that Nintendo put together to sneak their game console into stores that remembered The Great Video Game Crash of 1983. I bet most people bought the cheaper bundle; I know my NES console cost $80.

Re:Still $300

[Anonymous Coward]

I think he's on about the price of the games. I mean, there is no piracy of these uber-DRM'd games, since that is what the DRM does (and is why the customer should put up with the hassle). So, they won't be losing billions to piracy. That ought to drop the price considerably, yes?

I want a game system, not a status symbol.

[Scrameustache]

XBox has only A slight edge?
Obviously you don't have an HDTV or Surround Sound, as XBox's OBVIOUS edge over other game consoles is Dolby Digital 5.1 and 480p on most titles.

I don't have a 5.1 HDTV setup.
And I don't want "games" who's main selling point is that they have 5.1 sound and 480p display.

I want games I can play for fun, not for showing off, thank you very much.

Combat rocked for it's time

[Monte]

So enlighten us - what spooky awsome video action were you using in 1977 that made Combat look so lame?

Here's the history lesson: The idea that you could actually interact with images on a television screen was pretty damned novel back then. Stuff moved around, you shot at it, it went boom.

Which, in the final analysis, describes most of today's popular video games as well. The images and explosions are just prettier now. But it all still boils down to "Push button, go boom", doesn't it?

Re:I don't think so.

[thatguywhoiam]

Obviously you don't have an HDTV or Surround Sound, as XBox's OBVIOUS edge over other game consoles is Dolby Digital 5.1 and 480p on most titles...That alone is reason for anyone with a semi-decent home theatre to lean toward XBox titles over PS2.

So - are you going with PS3, and its superior 1080p, next time around?

Or are you going to be sensible and see which has the better games first?

Re:Costco will sell them for $200

[DaveCBio]

Right, because we all know Sony is run by a nice Japanese family out of their little shop in Tokyo and Nintendo is a kindly old man that just likes making kids happy. They have no profit or market share motivations like Microsoft does. And Microsoft will go out it's way to make games that suck and to kick puppies.

Re:Still $300

[gray code]

I'm glad someone mentioned HL2; does it not seem a little strange that every retail outlet (as of the last time I priced it, anyway) sell the game for $55 and it never goes on sale? Ever? It's, what, 8 months old? No price drop anywhere? Sales can't still be high enough after 8 months to support that price. It smells like dictated pricing to me, but isn't price fixing illegal? You see the same thing with Apple products: no one ever has a sale on iPods or Macs. Anyone know the scoop? Have I made an incorrect assumption somewhere?

The Strategy for the PS3

[courtarro]

A few months before Sony's ready to release the PS3, they'll set the price at 499.99 for WalMart. Then, WM employees leak the price to every scoop blog and its brother, infurating everyone and leading to claims such as "Sony is greedy" or "I'll be poor" or "I'd never buy a PS3 anyway". A few months pass, as people speculate what the box will have as well as slowly rationalize that price to match the features. Eventually, Sony makes the official release at the asking price of just $349.99! Holy crap, that's a $150 savings! All that and it's barely more expensive than the XBox 360! Where's my wallet?

Re:you get nailed by volume, though.

[antic]

You can't sell your movie ticket after you've watched the movie. You can sell or trade your unwanted Xbox games.

Much better cost of entertainment per hour.

But it's basic versioning -- you will pay more if you want it sooner. With the $10 movies at the cinema, that will be out on DVD, then in the bargain bin, then on TV, etc.