XBox 360 Launching Nov 22 406
EGSonikku writes "Microsoft has released an official press release regarding the XBox 360 world wide launch just prior to the Tokyo Game Show. Looks like the US will be getting it just prior to Thanksgiving on November 22nd. Europe will get it on December 2nd, and Japan on December 10th."
Re:Official MSRP? (Score:3, Informative)
Microsoft also announced Japanese pricing of Xbox 360... Xbox 360 system,
* Actual retail prices may vary.
At today's rates, that's $343.332 US or 190.090 GBP
Re:Official MSRP? (Score:5, Informative)
Xbox 360 "Core System" (no HDD, wired controller only) $299.99
Xbox 360 "Premium" (HDD, Wireless, headset, remote) $399.99
Japan:
Xbox360 Premium Edition, $349.99
So MS screwed the USA twice on this deal.. first by contridicting every single one of their interviews and announcements since before E3 ("one sku only", "wireless and hdd", "around $300"), but the ONE thing that the US wants (one sku for a decent price), they're giving to Japan.
The Xbox/MS Games team was the only part of MS that "got it"... now it seems like the business practices plaguing the rest of the company are slowly infecting the last bastion of customer appreciation.
Re:I am not excited (Score:2, Informative)
True. But that's mainly because HD DVD doesn't really exist yet (in saleable quantities).
costs 400 with hard drive
With a hard drive, and a wireless controller, and a headset, and a remote control and component video cables. If you add up the price of those extras for the current Xbox, it's probably around $100. Add that to the Xbox original launch price ($299) and, well, whaddya know.
Wireless is extra
Yup, and the wireless adapter is overpriced. However, there's nothing stopping you picking up a much cheaper generic bridge. I am annoyed that they couldn't do something better in that respect.
extra controllers are a lot extra
First party Xbox 1 controllers are $30. Decent wireless ones (i.e. Logitech) are $50. Xbox360 controllers are $40, wireless ones are $50. Basically no difference there.
Games are 60 dollars
Well that's still up for debate as far as I can tell (and I'm following this pretty closely). Yes some games are up on online stores at $60, but some are $50 and I've heard rumors that price points will be generally the same as they are now (i.e. $40 to $50).
and it doesn't play XBox games
Yes, it does. Just probably not all Xbox games.
Re:games at release (Score:4, Informative)
Just look for it - or perhaps, use Google.
Re:I am not excited (Score:5, Informative)
Does anything? Should they hold up the release date and tack on another $100 -- at least -- to the price for HD-DVD when no one else has it and there's no software for it aside from games?
A wireless controller is included in that $400 you just mentioned with the hard drive. And since when are extra controllers ever included?
Really? The first-party ones I've seen are still $50. And it will support Xbox games if you have the hard drive, though precisely which Xbox games is still a matter of confusion.
Re:I am not excited (Score:5, Informative)
1. Known company with proven (to me, through personal experience) commitment to keeping games fun and trying interesting things with hardware (some fails sure, but at least they're trying)
2. Ability to play every nintendo console game! I missed N64 so I'm really looking forward to that. (btw this is a feature announced at E3)
3. A feeling that they'll try to keep the cost to consumer down. They've pretty much got the low cost thing down, and I'm hoping it'll be a console I don't have to think too hard about picking up. The 360 and PS3 are too expensive to 'just buy' I need to wait and see which is better before making a purchase of that size.
Put all that together and I'm excited... I'm also excited about both the 360 and ps3, but more so to determine which of the two I will buy. I was actually hoping for a more media centre type function from the 360, so it's making me lean more toward waiting and seeing rather than buying anyways.
Pretty Good Timing (Score:5, Informative)
If they do well enough, Xbox 360 will be considered the hot item of the holiday season and sell even better. As always though, the games will tell the tale.
Re:That's a first (Score:2, Informative)
Re:That's a first (Score:1, Informative)
You've obviously never been to Japan.
Or read much about it.
Christmas is HUGE there.
Christianity has long had a toe-hold in Japanese culture. We erased the single largest Christian community in the country when we dropped one of the A-bombs, but during the Marshall Plan reconstruction a lot of western nations sent new missionaries over there.
So Christianity over there is sort of the cool, exotic, "alt" religion you adopt to freak out your traditional Shinto parents, kind of the way Buddhism is seen over here.
Being a rather materialistic society (especially in the big cities), even non-Christians totally get off on Christmas over there, shopping-mall Santas and all.