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."

Still $300

[TPIRman]

Looks like the next generation of consoles is going to burn holes in gamers' wallets even moreso than the current generation.

Launch price of Xbox 360: $300
Launch price of PS2 [wikipedia.org]: $300
Launch price of Xbox [wikipedia.org]: $300

If you account for inflation, the Xbox 360 is cheaper at launch than its predecessor.

Re:Still $300

[jrl87]

but games cost more.

Re:Still $300

[ucahg]

I paid $92 CDN for Ocarina of Time when it came out for N64.

Let's see, back then that was probably still more than $59 USD.

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

[Gerad]

Hmm, $92 CDN... that's what, about $5 USD? I'm not too good on conversion rates ;)

Re:Still $300

[lobsterGun]

Your conversion sounds good to me.

Say, since I have your attention, could you transfer these $50 US into Canadian Dollars. That should be around $920 Canadian, but between the two of us, just give me the $900 and we'll call it even.

Re:Still $300

[j-turkey]

but games cost more.

Yeah...but writable DVD's and modchips have come down in price ;)

Re:Still $300

[shoptroll]

Actually, unless you've been living under a rock for the past 6 months, the price of AAA PC games is up to $55 (depending on the publisher).

Half-Life 2 was (and still is) billed at $55. I think Doom3 was the same at launch.

Also, Blizzard/Vivendi charged $35 for Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. So not only are new games going for larger amounts, but expansions are trying to pull in more money.

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:How about SNES?

[shoptroll]

Not at retail though. You're talking secondary market on eBay. And that's only for hard to find stuff since not many people are willing to part with their Final Fantasy 6, Chrono Trigger, etc. to the PSX fanboys.

I know for a fact I nabbed Secret of Mana + Manual + Hint Book for like $50. And last time I checked Super Metroid was going for a sane price: $30 or so.

Correct about SNES

[Vandil X]

Indeed.

Back in the day, many high-profile SNES carts that used tons of ROM chips were in the USD$60-$80 range.

For example:

- Chrono Trigger retailed for USD$79.99.
- Street Fighter II Turbo retailed for USD$69.99.

And you know what? Those two games alone sold heavily. Something tells me high-profile Xbox360 games will too.

Re:Still $300

[garcia]

$60 games are going up though. Yeah, the graphics are getting better but is the gameplay really that radically different that we should have to shell out nearly twice as much as we used to pay?

I remember cringing at $39.99 games nevermind $49.99 games. Now they are going to *start* at $59.99? To me, that seems like they are going to end up being in the $99.99 range in no time.

Re:Still $300

[DavidLeblond]

*yawn* old news. [wikipedia.org]

Re:Still $300

[benzapp]

I have only purchased a handfull of games these last few years, and they were all about $50. I remember buying Final Fantasy for $60 like 15 years ago.
$50 has been the price point for ages. So they bumped it up. Like another poster said, inflation.

Re:Still $300

[nizo]

Luckily all the old games for the old xbox will probably be cheaper. Heck I might even splurge for an old xbox after the new one comes out. I can't wait until the PS3 comes out in force so I can get great deals on used PS2 games once all the people with money to burn get rid of all their old stuff. Then again, the higher price point for new games means they will eventually start charging more for used games too :-(

Not that bad

[sterno]

Price of Atari 2600 in 1977: $199

Converting that to today's price, it would be about $500. Granted it include nine action packed games with the system, but still, it does give some perspective on the real cost of these things.

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:Still $300

[mr_gerbik]

If you account for inflation the Xbox 360 is *much* cheaper than some of its predecessors.

Atari 2600
1977 price: $199.95
Adjusted for inflation: $648.83

Colecovision
1982 price: $199.95
Adjusted: $405.63

Nintendo Entertainment System
1985 price: $199
Adjusted: $353.16

Inflation based on the Consumer Price Index.

Inflation Calculator [westegg.com]

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

[badasscat]

Atari 2600
1977 price: $199.95

This is disputed - I and many others have seen boxes over the years with an original $249 price tag, and still more people remember seeing them in stores at that price. The general feeling now is that $249 was the initial price of this system, although actual MSRP is not so simple to just go back and look up. (The old Atari no longer exists, there was no WWW back then, and people's memories are not always accurate.)

But, regardless, that would just make it that much more expensive, thereby further proving your point for you.

Nintendo Entertainment System
1985 price: $199

The NES was also originally available as a "Deluxe Set" for $249. I think this may have been the only set available when the system was first test-marketed in New York, but I'm not sure about that.

One thing to keep in mind about the earliest systems (though not the NES or above) is that prices were not "locked". There was an MSRP but manufacturers didn't enforce it - it was literally a suggested price, just like any other piece of electronic equipment gets. Stores could price as they saw fit. That changed around the time of the NES.

Some other hardware launch MSRP's:

Intellivision: $299 (mine was $280 in 1980)
Atari 5200: $249 (although apparently you could get them near launch for $199 if you looked)
Neo Geo AES: $699
Sega Genesis: $249
Sega Saturn: $399

All of those prices would be way over $300 in today's dollars.

That's because ..

[dustmite]

This is a Microsoft product, no one on Slashdot is going to actually pay money for it

That's because most slashdotters' parents are going to buy it for them ;)

CPI

[Black Perl]

The CPI is virtually useless. It significantly overstates inflation.

How so? It's just an aggregate of the measured increases of retail prices. This is often affected by swings in things like gasoline prices or food supply issues. If you want more accuracy, you can track specific areas and/or products or product categories [bls.gov].

If, like most people, you're referring to cost-of-living, you're correct. The CPI wasn't intended to measure cost of living. However, there is a related index (the "chained" CPI [bls.gov]) which eli

Re:Still $300

[acvh]

"A controller with more than one button."

A joystick with more than one button just confuses grandma, and it encourages developers to put game controls in places they don't belong.

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.

Re:Still $300

[peculiarmethod]

Well over here I can assure you there are a few kids who will learn the delights of an etch-a-scetcha this christmas.

Re:Still $300

[Lumpy]

Which is the unny part. i was a dyed-in-the-wool Sony freak, I have 2 PS-1's and 2 ps-2's and a crapload of PS2 games, I shunned the gamecube for the first year it was out until they dropped below the $100.00 mark, and made fun of Xbox owners that have to pay to play online (PS2 is Free on most games. I still play twisted metal black and the other older games online from time to time). So I got one for the $99.00 blowout price they have. and the last 10 games I bought have been Gamecube games. They simply seem to feel better. (Yes they typically are GC only titles.) Even games that are on both platforms look and feel better on the GC to me... 007 Nightfire for example, looks and has smoother gameplay on the Gamecube, and yes I have it for both systems.

The fact that I can play 4 people on the Gamecube without shelling out for a special adapter and there are more fun multiplayer games for the GC than the PS2 make it something I can not ignore.

to the point that I did not buy a PSP but a DS and I am ingoring for the forst time sony's new system that will come out...

I really hope that sony will focus the developers on gameplay for the PS3, because the PS2 failed miserably by not having even 1/2 the great fun titles that the origional PS1 had...

unfortunately, most games are headed down the eyecandy over playability road.

Re:Still $300

[justforaday]

But it's sold by Nintendo of America...I mean, how much more American can you get?

Re:Still $300

[The-Bus]

Not only that, but games for $60.00 aren't THAT expensive. I remember Mortal Kombat was over that amount when it first came out, and that was a decade ago. And Nintendo games in the mid-to-late 80's were in the $40-50 range, which makes them about $70-75 now.

What I do know is that, just like with current games, prices will plummet only a few months later. I bought Burnout 3 recently for $20 and I can't say that I minded waiting a year (or so) to play it.

Re:Still $300

[j-turkey]

Not only that, but games for $60.00 aren't THAT expensive.

Agreed. They're especially cheap when you consider entertainment time per dollar. A ticket for a full length movie is about $9. That's around two hours of entertainment, or about $4.50/hr. DVD's are even more expensive, not accounting for replayability. Supposing that your average game has about 20 hours of playability (I pulled that number out of my butt...but it seems pretty conservative). At $60, that's $3/hr, not accounting for replayability.

Even at $60, most games are a relatively good value in terms of entertainment...although books, broadcast TV, and radio tend to trump it.

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.

Re:Still $300

[Fishstick]

I always thought 'burning a hole in your pocket' meant that you had money, and were anxious to spend it?

as in:

Look at him, he just got paid and that $20 is burning a hole in his pocket.

Re:Still $300

[Tibor the Hun]

You're right, but this is Slashdot, the home of misappropriated analogies.

Just you sit tight and we'll burn that bridge when we get there, OK?

Re:Still $300

[Iriel]

So the price will be comparatively cheaper than it's predecessor...

So how much money are they going to lose per system this time?</toungeincheek>

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: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?

That's great!

[jarich]

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

Is that much more than what we pay now?

[Enigma_Man]

That doesn't seem _that_ bad. I've paid close to $60 for games in the past, and IIRC consoles have cost at least somewhat close to $300 at some points, and that's just the starting cost, it'll come down.

-Jesse

$60 games? $300 console?

[yellowbkpk]

Boy oh boy, that content sure is getting expensive. Better make more use out of the "cheap" hardware:

http://xbox-linux.org/ [xbox-linux.org]

Re:$60 games? $300 console?

[ArsonSmith]

This is the backlash effect from all the Linux people buying their Xboxes and not getting any games. All you Xbox game players should be pissed. You are subsidising these Linux users computers.

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.

360

[birdman666]

So a box and a game is going to cost $360? Brilliant!

Re:360

[mrchaotica]

It would be, if it were really $360. But $299 + $59.99 + tax is just stupid.

Re:360

[MisterMurphy]

$359.98. I guess they'll have to rename the console, won't they? "They XBox 359.98; because we can't just make something cost an even dollar amount!"

300?

[rwven]

Didn't the original XBOX retail for $300? Given the hardware in the 360, i think $300 is a bangup deal. Chances are in the price category they're not going to have any competition from Sony. Rumor has it that the PS3 will be more than $450. http://www.theinq.net/?article=25111 [theinq.net] $59.99 is a bit too expensive for games INHO, but i guess in today's world of software it's to be expected that prices are rising. Of course that's about half a day of work worth of pay (or more) for a lot of us here....

Re:300?

[rwven]

It's hard to say. It might be two years before they add that feature so the xbox might be selling for 200 anyway. i'd imagine it would only raise the price by like 30-50 bucks, but i may be way off...

$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?

Re:perhaps not as sure as you seem to think

[ArsonSmith]

Hey, if you're lucky enough not to have the MS Gustopo there with guns to your head yet I wouldn't go blabbing it all over the place. I'm sure they are on their way to your house now. Listen for the helicopters....Don't hear them? Cause they have silent helicopters.

Re:perhaps not as sure as you seem to think

[jjeffries]

No. Also, a car is the only way to get from point A to point B, drugs are baaaaaad, and jesus is lord. AMEN!

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.

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.

I don't think so.

[Godeke]

It's time to start gearing up for an expensive Christmas.

Um, no, I don't think so. I own all three consoles from the current generation. In fact, I have two PS2s... one for the living room and one for dressing room. I didn't originally mean for it to be that way: we kept the Game Cube in the living room because when people come over: it is the best for party games. We kept the PS2 out there so my son could continue playing the games he had become accustom to. I bought the X-Box when the price dropped and put it the dressing room so at night I could play without disturbing others. The Steel Battalions reissue didn't hurt.

In the end I *had* to get another PS2 so I could actually play games I wanted. I felt like when I was a kid and we picked up an Odyssey instead of the Atari. There weren't enough games that *I* wanted to play. I still have my X-Box but I find myself working really hard to find games that have that slight edge on the X-Box to make buying them for it worthwhile. (Psychonauts is a recent example, one of a small number).

Combine that with the fact that Live is overrun with punk kids (and now the 360 offers the new "see me flip you off" feature... OH BOY!), the lack of full backwards compatibility and the high price games they are going for... I think I will wait like I did with the X-Box for the price drop and the bargain bins of games. Maybe... if the PS3 doesn't take all my money when it comes out.

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:I don't think so.

[WndrBr3d]

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.

That alone is reason for anyone with a semi-decent home theatre to lean toward XBox titles over PS2.

I as well own all three game systems, and when a title comes out for all three, let's say Midnight Club 3 for example, I'm going to choose to play this title on XBox because of it's superior feature set.

Period.

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.

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?

Sorry I'll wait for HDDVD

[Eunuch]

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

Re:Sorry I'll wait for HDDVD

[Tibor the Hun]

Amen to that.
and coupled with the fact that PS3 will have it right when it comes out, I think I will actually wait for a PS3.

Sure, the price might be higher, but it'll be nice to get rid of a Windows PC and get into the consoles. No hardware upgrades, no cursing at the framerates...

With their shitty antics Microsoft lost me in 2 ways..

Is that a big increase?

[MaestroSartori]

Here in the UK, new game releases on all 3 current consoles typically cost 30GBP (you can get them for less in some places, but more in others, so I reckon it balances out). That translates to about 60 bucks doesn't it?

How much were Xbox games when the Xbox was first released? They were about 40GBP (80 dollars!) when I got mine, and that was a while after its official release. Maybe 60 bucks isn't that bad...

$60 games is cheap!

[rmccann]

$60 = 50 [xe.com]. New games normally cost 60 at launch here in Ireland.

Re:$60 games is cheap!

[maelstrom]

Who needs games when you could be spending that money on Guinness?

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.

Re:Better than Atari 2600

[yellowbkpk]

Oh sweet! So that $20 bill I have sitting in my room that someone wrote "1970" on and is all beat up is now worth $100.76!? Why didn't anyone tell me!

Gamers' Wallets...

[__aaclcg7560]

... the next generation of consoles is going to burn holes in gamers' wallets ...

Forget the next generation. I'm still waiting for a $100 XBox.

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"

EXTRA EXTRA! Slashdot covers lack of news!

[illtron]

Did the people who submitted it even RTFA?

I quote:

Unconfirmed reports stemming from Walmart employees have today suggested a North American retail price for the Xbox 360 and its launch titles, allegedly set to arrive in shop stores on November 4th.

Now, let me repeat that with some selective highlighting:

Unconfirmed reports stemming from Walmart employees have today suggested a North American retail price for the Xbox 360 and its launch titles, allegedly set to arrive in shop stores on November

Re:EXTRA EXTRA! Slashdot covers lack of news!

[Momoru]

There is no one more knowledgeable about the industry then Walmart employees. Just go to any Walmart video game counter and experience the vast wealth of knowledge they possess.

Are the Next Gen consoles going to flop?

[XxtraLarGe]

I don't know about anybody else, but there really isn't anything coming out that is going to compel me to shell out $300 for the next generation of consoles when there's a whole boatload of great games I still haven't played for my current console (PS2). And to add to it, most of greatest hits games are only $20, about 1/3 of the new titles coming out. If anything, I may get an X-Box to play some exclusives that never made it to the PS2, but by the time I do that, I expect I'll be able to pick one up for $9

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)

...this is nothing new.

[Audigy]

ps2 and xbox both launched at 300$...

Not really expensive

[KefabiMe]

The Xbox 360 is set to be launched for $299.99. Additionally, games are set to be $59.99 each. Ouch.

This is standard. The PS2 was this price when it was released. PS2 games were about the same amount as well. Prices have gone down over a few years, yet I don't expect new generations of consoles to be cheaper than the PS2 was at launch.

As an aside, I remember because I camped out in front of a Walmart with a few friends at the PS2 launch. We brought a couch, TV, DVD Player, and the first PlayStation. We th

Re:Not really expensive

[smackjer]

Launch games were $49.99.

To contrast...

[Nijika]

The damn video card in my last gaming PC cost about $300. I'm dying for an awesome gaming platform that will free me from PC gaming, I'm hoping the X-Box 360 is it.

Note: I hate Windows, and I dislike Microsoft's business practices, but they've always been able to come through in the hardware and gaming departments.

Piracy

[jpsowin]

Did they say they were trying to stop piracy? I can't imagine all the little gamer kiddies are going to be mowing yards to get $60 for each game... They'll either download it off Bittorrent/newsgroups or rent and rip the game.

OT: where'd all the 4/5 comments go?

[Damek]

Is it just me, or has something drastically changed here at Slashdot? I'm seeing almost no 4/5-moderated comments on any Slashdot stories for the past few days...

Re:OT: where'd all the 4/5 comments go?

[hoggoth]

> Is it just me, or has something drastically changed here at Slashdot?
> I'm seeing almost no 4/5-moderated comments on any Slashdot stories for the past few days...

As is, the parent is a boring offtopic comment... but mod it up to +5 and you've got some real humor, baby! It would have everything, irony, pathos, in-jokes.

MOD IT UP!!

Re:OT: where'd all the 4/5 comments go?

[Evro]

Moderation was apparently broken, and now fixed (I guess?).

Re:OT: where'd all the 4/5 comments go?

[Vaystrem]

I think it has a lot to do with summer actually. I suspect a lot of the readers who get the opportunity to moderate are probably not logging in right now and therefore theirmoderation points are expiring.

As I understand it, Slashdot probably won't issue more moderation points until those ones are used or they expire. So we're probably going to be in this position on and off during the summer. Unless something actually was broken with moderation over the last week.

Re:OT: where'd all the 4/5 comments go?

[Tsiangkun]

All the insightful comments were being submitted by a script.

I'm not seeing that stupid image/text thingy today, so I imagine the +5 posts will return shortly.

the poll is screwed up, too

[The Fun Guy]

Another sign of /. wierdness... today's Poll ("favorite tool of destruction") was created as an archive, so no comments can be posted.

Personally, I think that Hemos, CmdrTaco and all the other /. bigwigs have gone up to their cabins in the U.P. for August, and have left the running of /. to some interns. This is why you should never, never, never give interns Administrator privledges, even temporarily.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Wait, people

[UnknowingFool]

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

Well, for those who can't wait, they'll have to shell out some money for Christmas. However, I prefer to wait until HD-DVD is available before I consider purchasing. By then I figure more games will be available too.

This is why I prefer PC gaming.

[WidescreenFreak]

$300 for a console? $60 per game? See, this is why I love my PC gaming. The games are more often than not less than $50 for a PC that I already own. Even then, most new games can often be found on-line for less than that. But $60 for a game and $300 for a console?? Puh-lease. I'll never pay it.

Hey, cool! The newest NVidia card is going for about $500 and the collector's edition of game ABC is only $70, but it comes with a cool T-shirt of only mediocre quality! Oh, hell, I have to get those!! Wh

Blockbuster must be stoked

[hal2814]

Blockbuster has to be loving this news. Microsoft is pricing a new console fairly cheap compared to most new offerings but then they plan to charge so much for games that only the most hardcore gamers will actually buy a copy of the games. There's going to be a renting bonanza for this new system until game prices come down.

Funny,

[kryogen1x]

The price of the Xbox 360 and one game at launch comes out to $360. Coincidence?

Re:Funny,

[wickedj]

Now if only the PS3 and a new game came out to $3...

Re:Funny,

[Dirtside]

No, clearly the name "PS3" is merely a number in base 29 (digits: 0123456789ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRS). So in reality, it'll cost $22,710!

What ouch?

[AviLazar]

These prices are very very standard. The PS2 when it came out cost 300, and so did the X-BOX. Games costing 59.99 - yea those prices have been that high since Bonk hit the market many years ago. Those prices are also, generally, for the FIRST run of games (to help recoup some serious costs), they also tend to be for the more popular games. The "weaker" games tend to be cheaper. Once a game has been on the market for a month or so, the price drops a lot and you can find them cheaper at various online ven

Trade Games Now!

[smackjer]

$60, and even $50, is too much for most people to afford to play the latest games, even when the "latest" games are a few months old. Used game shops don't offer the most popular games at a great discount.

The best alternatives are:

• online "Netflix-like" rental services like Gamefly
• free online game trading sites, like TGN [tradegamesnow.com]

I've used TGN for about 3 years, have never been ripped off, and have been able to enjoy dozens of games and DVDs just for the cost of shipping.

Attn: Wal Mart Employees

[ch-chuck]

We have a leak in aisle 6 - send Microsoft cleanup crew immediately. Repleat, we have a leak in aisle 6.

It's not $299.99 from Wal-Mart...

[rah1420]

...because Wal-Mart never prices anything ending in a '9'.

I had heard that as an urban legend, but apparently it's true. [google.com]

$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:out of principal

[mrchaotica]

Out of a principal's... what? His ass?

Re:$60 for games too much?

[Mr.Dippy]

I remember there was Virtual Racing for Sega Genesis that cost 100 bucks. The reason that cartridge games were so expensive because the game companies would load them up with RAM to make them have pretty graphics. Remember STrider for Sega Genesis. The box for it advertised that it had 8 megs of RAM! I believe the game sold for 70 bucks. There is no reason today to sell games for more because they get stamped on the same CD/DVD disc. Personally, I'm going to hold out on all three new consoles until I know

Re:sldkfjdslkjf

[Reignking]

Yup, and it is smart pricing. The other boxes won't be out as soon, and people buying these systems this early will be buying the games just as quickly. It'll fall, but I think it is a smart way to squeeze out some extra cash. Besides, it gives them more room to drop prices when competition increases and/or the Christmas rush ends.

Re:Leaked...

[syberanarchy]

Controllers are always more, and live will not cost money for basic features, so if you don't play online, it's not a big deal.

However, it would just be bad business to suddenly declare all Xbox 360 units useless when the HD drive hits. It will be an upgrade, sure, but an optional and competitively priced one.

Logic states that if MS demands all Xbox owners go out and buy new systems to be able to play new games, they'll piss off millions of people. And by the time the HD drive hits market, such a move w

Re:losses

[yellowbkpk]

About $10/game more than they lost with the Xbox. :)

Re:My big question...

[smackjer]

There is a huge improvement in image quality, even on the current Xbox, when you go to HDTV. Many games support at least 480p, there are quite a few 720p, and even some 1080i. A lot of games also do widescreen (great for football!).

I think Oblivion is scheduled for release at launch.

Re:No XBOX

[DaveCBio]

Well, since I'm married I don't give a crap about getting girls to like my games. My wife finished San Andreas before me so I have no worries there. Also, I like games where my ability to learn and improve has an impact on gameplay. Retro games are fun once in a while, but they are shallow. You want to sit there and play NES while I check out the new GTA go ahead.

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.