XBox 360 Bundles Top $700

Gamespot is reporting that, with some idea of the skus that will be available for the Xbox 360 when it launches, game retailers are now prepping incredibly expensive console bundles for the first of the next-gen systems. From the article: "...when hot new gaming systems come out, supply is short, and demand is often so high that retailers can elect to sell the units only as parts of bundles that include accessories and games of the retailer's choosing. EBgames.com unveiled its holiday offerings today, and the prices may make some gamers feel as though they're getting 'scrooged.' Like Microsoft, EB Games is offering two bundles, one for gamer's interested in the Core System and one for gamers eyeing the premium package. The Xbox 360 Core Bundle is priced at $599.93, and it includes everything in the standard package, plus an extra wired controller, a 64MB memory unit, and four games: Perfect Dark Zero: Limited Edition, Dead or Alive 4, Project Gotham Racing 3, and Kameo: Elements of Power. Using Microsoft's announced pricing for peripherals and an assumed $59.99 price point for Xbox 360 games, the package unbundled would come to $618.94. "

Feh. I'm pretty sick of Microsoft.

[numbski]

I never bought an XBox from them, and I'm just waiting for the 360 to come out so I can pick up an XBox on the cheap - used, the day after the 360 comes out so I can drop Linux on a couple of them for MythTV.

The only reason I might ever have considered the XBox is due to the fact that it could do real HD output at 720p, where my PS2 couldn't.

That's not enough to make me do business with Microsoft though. Sorry.

The people I would love to hurt are the ones at Square-Enix. If I understand right, Final Fantasy is now 360-exclusive. So much for Final Fantasy. :\

Re:uh,,,

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not just Microsoft fucking up here. The PS3 is probably going to cost about the same amount, and for what? More, prettier, and increasingly mediocre sequels of games that we've already played to death. No matter how shiny the Halo dude's helmet gets, no matter how many cars and cities they add to Grand Theft Auto, eventually even the thickest-skulled fanboy is going to realize that he's been paying too much money to play the same damn game over and over again for years.

I see another video game crash coming. I certainly won't be buying any of the Next Big Systems, and I don't think I'm the only one.

Re:Jesus, that's a lot for a game system

[cgenman]

That's not a microsoft decision. That's a decision of the retailers trying to milk the game-buying public for all they are worth. EB seems to repeatedly be the worst in this regard, which is ironic considering they're theoretically trying to stop people from just buying their system at Target.

The X360 itself is only 400 dollars, which seems within the realm of what the PS2 and PS1 launched at. Don't worry, that price will come down soon. I wouldn't be surprised if it fell 50 - 100 dollars in it's first year out.

These are gonna pop up all over the place...

[malchus6]

People get so freaked out over what is a package at a retailer. It's not like the EB death squads will be coming around to collect your $700 for the evil M$FT!!! Buy the console, get a game or two if you like and relax. These packages are gonna be all over the place, hopefully we are only seeing hysteria because it is more or less the first one out there.. Do you honestly think these packages are gonna make up a large percentage of 360 sales? I really can't see that being the case.

Re:Yes, but its worth it

[bigman2003]

Very insightful post.

The main reason I tell my wife I need a 360 is the wireless controllers. Just the selling point of 'we can get rid of these wires' helps it make sense to her.

My wife isn't jealous of the time games take away from 'US'. She's upset because when I'm playing games, she can't watch 'Law and Order.'

Financing?

[Not-a-Neg]

Are any stores offering financing for this thing? There's no way in hell I can afford to hand over $700+ on a system and games, all at once!

Re:Feh. I'm pretty sick of Microsoft.

[hollismb]

You do realize that this is EB Games creating the bundle, and not Microsoft, right? Wait until launch day, come in a little late to work, and stop by a Best Buy or Target first thing in the morning. Cost to you: 399 plus tax. Seriously, nobody ever goes into Target the first day to buy game systems. When PSPs were hard to come by at game stores the first couple weeks, Target was overloaded with them. Best Buy will sell out pretty quickly, but they always do a preorder card months before, which will be for the system only.

Launch time

[Omroth]

The intelligent time to buy a 360 is the PS3's launch date, not it's own. Ian

$1,200 Bundles Now

[srivendel]

Game Stop now has a $1,199.83 bundle available. And theirs start at $799. Stop the insanity.

Re:Yes, but its worth it

[ElleyKitten]

I wasn't offended, though it is good to know that you were joking. Sometimes it's hard to know online whether or not someone is serious.

PS: No, I'm not sending you pictures. :)