X-Box 360 Pricing - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

japhyryder · 08-17-2005, 07:50 AM

Pretty Reasonable, just might get it.

Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox 360 will be available in two versions costing US$300 and $400 when it is launched later this year, the company said Wednesday. In Europe it will cost €300 and €400 respectively and in the U.K. will cost £210 and £280 respectively.

The announcement, which was made at the Games Convention event in Leipzig, Germany, fills in one of the last and most important pieces of information about the console.

Capable of high-definition video, the Xbox 360 is considerably more powerful than any gaming console available at present. At a recent event in Tokyo the company showed previews of several Xbox 360 games and all featured stunning graphics that bring a new level of realism to computer gaming.

At the heart of the console will be a three-core Power PC chip custom-produced for the console by IBM Corp. and a graphics chip from ATI Technologies Inc. It also has a 12X dual-layer DVD-ROM drive and the more expensive version includes a 20GB hard-disk drive, wireless controller, headset, Ethernet cable and wireless remote control.

All of the accessories included in the pricier package, dubbed the premium edition, will also be available as individual add-ons to the basic system.

With the major specifications and the price set, the only other big announcement awaited from Microsoft is the actual launch date. It’s promised to put the Xbox 360 on sale in North America, Europe and Japan before the end of this year. Japanese pricing details will be announced at the Tokyo Game Show next month.

That launch schedule should put the console in the shops several months before Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. launches its PlayStation 3 console. The PlayStation 3 has an equally impressive specification sheet that includes an eight-core processor that boasts a total performance of 218G FLOPS (floating point operations per second) — 35 times the performance of the PlayStation 2.

Combined with an Nvidia Corp. graphics system the Sony console should pack about double the power of the Xbox 360, although how much of that can be translated into a better gaming experience will depend on the game programmers.

Moving towards launch, earlier Wednesday Microsoft announced it has lined up three companies to manufacture the console. They are Singapore’s Flextronics International Ltd. and Taiwan’s Wistron Corp., both of which produce the current-generation Xbox console, and Canada’s Celestica Inc. All three companies will produce the Xbox 360 at their respective factories in China, said Microsoft.

mr sticky · 08-17-2005, 08:14 AM

It's a must purchase for me. But, then again, so is the PS3 (yeah...I'll get the Revolution, too). I'm just hoping that these manufacturers, as well as those software designers realize that we want to play games! Not drool over hardware specs.

guthmund · 08-17-2005, 08:48 AM

I was raising a stink when I first read about the two different 'packages' when the rumors first started going around, however....

From what I understand the $399 package includes a 20 Gb hard drive, a wireless controller, wireless headset, an ethernet cable and a remote.

Now I have no problem with that. As long as the accessories remain accessories and not necessities and I have the option to upgrade as I see fit, then I think this is a grand idea.

Lasereth · 08-17-2005, 09:58 AM

The only downside to the 360 right now is that a large majority of the games have substandard graphics for a next-gen system. I know that graphics don't make a game, but jesus, some of these next-gen games look like current XBox games. The new Beta kits were delivered recently so hopefully the graphics will look better by launch. If not, gamers are gonna be disappointed, especially since most of the younger audiences are sold on graphics alone.

-Lasereth

Buk · 08-17-2005, 01:13 PM

I'm going to buy the $400 version, you get alot more than just the HD and even with the $300 you have to buy a $30 memory card to save games, so its really only a $70 difference and you get wireless controller et al.

Normally I wait until there is a game worth playing to buy the system though.. so I'm watching the supposed launch games carefully.

CityOfAngels · 08-17-2005, 02:53 PM

Lasereth - The graphics aren't the main thing getting an overhaul this time around. Most improvements will be in gameplay for a change. I can only assume that means better physics, better compatibility with other devices/systems, and just, well, more FUN than just flash.

I for one will be waiting until a decent mod chip comes out for both the 360 and the PS3, so I can pimp it out like my current XBOX. I'm definitely going to purchase the Revolution if it really can play any and all Nintendo-system games. Just for that fact right there.

Lasereth · 08-17-2005, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CityOfAngels

Lasereth - The graphics aren't the main thing getting an overhaul this time around. Most improvements will be in gameplay for a change. I can only assume that means better physics, better compatibility with other devices/systems, and just, well, more FUN than just flash.

I do realize this, but like I said, the major selling point for a next-gen console is the graphics for most people. When I see a next-gen system, I want good games, and better graphics than the current-gen games. So far, the only game I've seen that honestly looks like it might have some unseen gameplay elements is Prey for the 360. Otherwise, every single game is the same as the current-gen titles. So..what's the solution? BETTER GRAPHICS!! And guess what...the graphics aren't any better. I think they really need to get their asses in gear. The Call of Duty game looks like an XBox game and it's next-gen. The Need for Speed game looks marginally better than Burnout 4 and it's next-gen also. Prey looks damn good as well as the new Epic FPS using the Unreal 3 engine. Elder Scrolls 4 has damn good graphics as well. Other than those, the rest look like current-gen games with no gameplay enhancements.

Releasing a next-gen system without a major graphical overhaul using current-gen gameplay elements is a bad idea, and the XBox 360 is having an orgy with the prospect. Like I mentioned in my last post, I really hope the Beta kits make the graphics as good as they're saying else there's gonna be some pissed off gamers. Can you imagine booting up your PS2 for the first time on the launch day and seeing SSX look like a PS1 game? I'd puke.

-Lasereth

tspikes51 · 08-17-2005, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasereth

Can you imagine booting up your PS2 for the first time on the launch day and seeing SSX look like a PS1 game? I'd puke.

You forget that there was an 7 or 8 year gap between the two systems. We're talking about about half of that. There haven't been that many breakthroughs in computer hardware since then. Refer to this handy chart for a comparison:

This chart isn't completely accurate (I probably didn't even get the release years right) but it's pretty damn close. By analyzing the chart (which is of course made of consumer-ready parts) we can see an increase of 6 times the processor power, 4 times the graphics power, 16 times the RAM capacity, and the addition of a DVD-ROM drive between 1994 and 2001 (There may have been 128 MB GPUs at PS2s release date). Between 2001 and now the increases are as follows: 3.5x CPU, 4x GPU, 4x RAM, 3.25x DVD-ROM. I'm not even counting in vital stuff like GPU speed, FSB speed, RAM transfer speed, processor cache size, and improvemens in overall component performance.

So, I think it's pretty safe to say that technology developed much more between PS1 and PS2 than Xbox and 360. Hardware performance will only increase slightly (about the difference between Xbox and PS2, which, based on sales, people don't care much about), so game makers can't rely as heavily on hardware to make games look better. They will have to invent new software abilities (think of bump mapping, real mode, normal mapping, and the like) to enhance graphics. I think gamers care more about a strong games library than anything else (think PS2 vs. Xbox). If Microsoft can promote their big franchises/exclusives (Halo, Forza, Elder Scrolls, Splinter Cell, Project Gotham, Unreal, Perfect Dark, Ninja Gaiden) and maybe grab some good new licenses (aquiring Sega licenses comes to mind) they can beat out Playstation.

Wingless · 08-17-2005, 09:43 PM

Las, THANK YOU! I'm glad I'm not the only one out here(there?) that thinks the 360's graphics can be accomplished by pushing the current X-Box to its limits. Hasn't anyone played Tekken 5 or God of War? That's pushing console limits.

Here's something I read in the latest issue of Game Informer: In an interview with J. Allard (everyone's favorite bald Microsoft gamer geek) he said that the 360 cannot play current-gen X-Box titles unless you have a hard drive.

Quote:

So the first Halo, or any Xbox title, won't be backwords compatible if you don't have an Xbox 360 hard drive?
Yeah, it won't work. Backwords compatibility is going to require a hard drive. We've been talking a little bit about la-la land, and saying, "Maybe there's someday that [an Xbox 360] doesn't come with a hard drive." Actually, the very first one we sell is going to have a hard drive. It doesn't mean that the hard drive is always going to be attached. The owner can take it to a friend's house, and the other people [in the owner's house] can still use the 360 to play games.

Derwood · 08-18-2005, 04:26 AM

I think there is a ceiling on graphics (except for the High Def stuff, which you won't fully appreciate on a computer monitor or standard TV)

There will be a bigger jump in graphics from PS2 to PS3 because PS2 games have never lived up to the hardware's capabilities. Xbox games have always looked better, so they have less room to improve.

Lasereth · 08-18-2005, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tspikes51

You forget that there was an 7 or 8 year gap between the two systems. We're talking about about half of that. There haven't been that many breakthroughs in computer hardware since then. Refer to this handy chart for a comparison:

This chart isn't completely accurate (I probably didn't even get the release years right) but it's pretty damn close. By analyzing the chart (which is of course made of consumer-ready parts) we can see an increase of 6 times the processor power, 4 times the graphics power, 16 times the RAM capacity, and the addition of a DVD-ROM drive between 1994 and 2001 (There may have been 128 MB GPUs at PS2s release date). Between 2001 and now the increases are as follows: 3.5x CPU, 4x GPU, 4x RAM, 3.25x DVD-ROM. I'm not even counting in vital stuff like GPU speed, FSB speed, RAM transfer speed, processor cache size, and improvemens in overall component performance.

So, I think it's pretty safe to say that technology developed much more between PS1 and PS2 than Xbox and 360. Hardware performance will only increase slightly (about the difference between Xbox and PS2, which, based on sales, people don't care much about), so game makers can't rely as heavily on hardware to make games look better. They will have to invent new software abilities (think of bump mapping, real mode, normal mapping, and the like) to enhance graphics. I think gamers care more about a strong games library than anything else (think PS2 vs. Xbox). If Microsoft can promote their big franchises/exclusives (Halo, Forza, Elder Scrolls, Splinter Cell, Project Gotham, Unreal, Perfect Dark, Ninja Gaiden) and maybe grab some good new licenses (aquiring Sega licenses comes to mind) they can beat out Playstation.

There's a massive jump from XBox to XBox 360. The XBox had a 700 MHz processor. The XBox 360 has a tri-core processor with each core running at 3.2 GHz each. That's over 10,000 MHz compared to 700 MHz. The 360 has 512 MB of RAM while the XBox has 64 MB of RAM.

No matter which way you look at it, the 360 is a huge leap over the XBox. The XBox 360 has almost 10 times the power of the XBox. I think a graphical improvement on par with PS1 to PS2 should be in order. I'm not the only one that has the same opinion on this...many editorial magazines/websites are complaining about the lackluster XBox 360 graphics as well, especially those that attended E3. I've seen every single XBox 360 video released as of now and only 5 games look better than an XBox game.

Remember: I'm not arguing that graphics are essential for a game to be good, but a next-gen system should have next-gen graphics, and the 360 doesn't. And there was only a 4-5 year gap in between the PS1 and PS2.

Next-gen means next-generation, not "current generation with 5% better graphics." If Microsoft can't squeeze better graphics out of a next-gen system then they should wait until they can, else be maimed by millions of gamers disappointed to see their XBox having just as good graphics as their new 360.

Why do people buy next-gen systems? Because they offer better sound, better gameplay, more games, and better graphics. Right now the 360 doesn't have better sound, doesn't have better gameplay, and doesn't have better graphics. And more games can be found on XBox...so why buy it? I might be sounding like a Microsoft hater, but I'm not. I love my XBox and like how well the system as faired. I'm just worried about the 360 not living up to a next-gen system's expectations.

-Lasereth

hulk · 08-18-2005, 07:12 AM

You're all making the mistake of putting your expectations on pre-release demos. Don't, it's not very nice. Wait until you have the hardware and see for yourself before you start saying 'omg this looks teh ghei' etc. Gears of War, hello? Have you seen any media for this game? Once the various devs kick into what the system can do, you'll start seeing the great stuff. Right now, hell, no game dev has ever worked with a tri-core processor or most of the neat jazz the PS3 and 360 have. The X-Box came out looking good because it had technology that was extraordinarily familiar to the developers, but that's been removed so they have to work a bit. Seriously, there's enough grunt behind all the next 3 consoles to blow you all away.

Lasereth · 08-18-2005, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulk

You're all making the mistake of putting your expectations on pre-release demos. Don't, it's not very nice. Wait until you have the hardware and see for yourself before you start saying 'omg this looks teh ghei' etc. Gears of War, hello? Have you seen any media for this game? Once the various devs kick into what the system can do, you'll start seeing the great stuff. Right now, hell, no game dev has ever worked with a tri-core processor or most of the neat jazz the PS3 and 360 have. The X-Box came out looking good because it had technology that was extraordinarily familiar to the developers, but that's been removed so they have to work a bit. Seriously, there's enough grunt behind all the next 3 consoles to blow you all away.

Gears of War is one of the 5 games I mentioned looking really good.

I would agree about it being too early to make calls about the system, but it is due out in 2-3 months. In my earlier post I mentioned the Beta kits being delivered that are supposed to give the developers more power to make the games graphically run better. It'd be damn nice if the kits did what they're supposed to.

*EDIT* Flamed for putting "Alpha" instead of "Beta."

-Lasereth

japhyryder · 08-18-2005, 08:27 AM

I remember when the first PS2 games came out yeah they were better then the PS1 but no where near what the PS2 looks like today, all three systems are going to need a year or two to figure out the best way to write the code for high graphics games.

blar · 08-18-2005, 11:46 AM

hmmm so in order to have silver vbox live access you need the 399 package??

sorry if this has already been mentioned and i missed it but from what i have read i only see xbox live silver package mentioned with the 399 and not the 299

so does that mean if you have to buy the gold package for the 299 option??

tspikes51 · 08-18-2005, 09:07 PM

I still think that the greatest strides have yet to be made, and it's way to early to judge. Think about the difference between Halo and Halo 2.

I think the pricing system is an excellent idea that caters to both the general sector and the hardcore gamer.

NeverBorn · 08-18-2005, 10:44 PM

I'll probably get one, as to which version it depends on what I need asscessory wise..

Derwood · 08-19-2005, 07:35 AM

Don't judge any Xbox 360 graphics on E3, since they weren't running games off of the Xbox hardware yet. Those demos were running off of Power Macs...

biznatch · 08-19-2005, 08:56 AM

If there's something I'm pissed about, its that I'm going to have to buy a several-hundred dollar "next gen" console, with a controller that looks like some sick twisted sex toy in order to play MGS4... While the game will probably be only a little more demanding (performance-wise) than MGS3.
Plus, I'm in love with the series, and the fact that gonna have to pay more than 300 dollars (console + game) to discover it makes me frustrated as hell.
So about the 360, and all other next gens, I wish it'd either be like 3x better than the current gen (as in games that are much better) or about half of the price they're talking about now...How the fuck am I gonna make 400 dollars ?

Derwood · 08-19-2005, 11:24 AM

It's nice that Xbox is putting some of the transition titles out on both Xbox and 360 (Tony Hawk American Wasteland, for example).

cowlick · 08-19-2005, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasereth

Gears of War is one of the 5 games I mentioned looking really good.

I would agree about it being too early to make calls about the system, but it is due out in 2-3 months. In my earlier post I mentioned the Alpha kits being delivered that are supposed to give the developers more power to make the games graphically run better. It'd be damn nice if the kits did what they're supposed to.

-Lasereth

Okay, you have basically no idea what you are talking about. The Alpha kits went out months and months and months ago. The Beta kits went out months ago. The final hardware is going out now. You haven't seen a single actuall game yet, only demos or prerendered content.

Stiltzkin · 08-21-2005, 08:35 AM

I'm lucky enough to have a friend who's a bigtime consumer whore, especially when it comes to video games. I'll just play X-Box 360 at his house for a few years until the price goes down and I decide to buy my own. Same with PS3.

Lasereth · 08-21-2005, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowlick

Okay, you have basically no idea what you are talking about. The Alpha kits went out months and months and months ago. The Beta kits went out months ago. The final hardware is going out now. You haven't seen a single actuall game yet, only demos or prerendered content.

Actually, the beta kits went out 4-6 weeks ago, not "months" ago. No reason to be rude. And the demos I've seen are in-game footage whether it's emulated or not. It IS ran on the game engine so it's a very good indicator to how good the games are going to look, even if they're not polished with the final hardware. I'm not stupid enough to not know the difference between prerendered content and game engines either. Even if every piece of footage I've seen wasn't gameplay, it still looks like current-gen ass, and they've got 3 months to make it look better. I think that's worthy of debate. Yes, I did mix up "Alpha" and "Beta" but it's no reason to say someone doesn't know what they're talking about.

-Lasereth

soccerchamp76 · 08-23-2005, 10:08 AM

I think the thing you also have to consider is that the graphics are not limited by the 360's hardware capabilities, but by the software manufacturers.

The hardware is out and done and now it is up to the game maker's to take advantage of the hi-def capabilities of the 360 and produce some games.

On another note: The game demos that have been shown were not played on the 360 but alpha kits and the sorts. The graphics are still amazing and $400 for a gaming system that would cost $3000+ for a desktop computer is a great deal.

spongy · 08-24-2005, 07:11 PM

I read that a retailer is taking Preorders... but only as packages with 4 games.. the 360 will be $700 and the Core will be $600 with all the crap they make ya buy... and no option yet to get just the system.

This is why I will prolly line up at Best Buy to get it, or wait til after xmas.

http://engadget.com/entry/1234000290055689/

PS the engadget website is great to read.

Hoser · 08-25-2005, 10:19 PM

I'm definitely getting the Xbox 360....

As far as the demos looking like current gen systems...I'm fully prepared for the fact that the first group of games may not look like that much superior to the current Xbox. The techonology (3 core processor for example) is new and it will take time for the developers time to learn how to fully utilize.

For the person asking about the Xbox Live Silver accounts....the silver is free, but you will, however, need to save the account somewhere. If you have the $399 package with HD, you're fine. If you get the $299, you will need a memory unit ($39.99) or a HD ($99.99)

If any of you have Xbox Live and want to play, my gamertag is Cheezy Poof.

Fluxx · 08-30-2005, 09:10 PM

Well I just finished payin goff my premium pack today.
I work at EBGames in Canada, the total price after tax? $575.00

Luckily I had tons of stock in the company that I sold. I'm quite financially comfortable.

I also paid off half of Oblivion but I need to decide what online game I'm getting.
Any suggestions?

soccerchamp76 · 08-31-2005, 11:51 AM

Gamestop has a package for $1999 that includes the 360 w/ HDD, 4 wireless controllers, headset, ethernet cable, 1 year membership to Xbox Live Gold, every single game that comes out with the 360, faceplates, wireless ethenet adapter. Basically, the 360 + every game + every possible accessory.

cowlick · 08-31-2005, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasereth

It IS ran on the game engine so it's a very good indicator to how good the games are going to look, even if they're not polished with the final hardware.

I disagree. Most of what you've seen is not run on anything close to the final HW/SW. The way the gaming business works is that you optimize AT THE END. The end has JUST arrived in the last two weeks. You take a game running jaggy, nasty, dark, and choppy at 12 FPS and boost it too way smooth at 30 FPS.

Lasereth · 08-31-2005, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowlick

I disagree. Most of what you've seen is not run on anything close to the final HW/SW. The way the gaming business works is that you optimize AT THE END. The end has JUST arrived in the last two weeks. You take a game running jaggy, nasty, dark, and choppy at 12 FPS and boost it too way smooth at 30 FPS.

I don't think it's nearly that drastic. You can see footage of PS2 games that came out a year or more before the PS2 launched that looked basically like it did at launch. Sure there were improvements, but not improvements so large that it takes current-gen looking games and makes them look next-gen in a matter of weeks. I guess we'll see when it launches. If the games get good reviews I'll be buying it regardless of the graphics.

-Lasereth

Wingless · 09-02-2005, 07:30 AM

General retaillers rant: Damn Microsoft for offering two versions of the 360. When people ask about the differences between the core system and the "real" system, I feel like a fucking car salesman.

"Yup as you can see here the $399 deal is much better for you. You get reclining bucket seats, air conditioning, power windows, the whole nine yards. Oh, and you can play video games on it too."

japhyryder · 09-02-2005, 10:12 AM

The 299.00 is just so Microsoft can say our system is 299.00 what a bargin. Because you know PS3 will be at least 399.00

Wingless · 09-03-2005, 09:16 PM

Oh I know, I know. But that's where the difficulty is - if there wasn't a $299 deal I wouldn't have to describe the differences between it and the $399 deal!

bobophil · 09-04-2005, 08:42 AM

i dont care how many gigaflops or teraflops there are, im waiting for it to go down in price. Somebody has to draw the line somewhere.

soccerchamp76 · 09-04-2005, 08:51 AM

$300 for a game system is not bad. If you factor in inflation, the NES and SNES systems would be even more expensive than the current models.

Krycheck · 09-04-2005, 10:14 AM

I put a payment down on my pre-order last week. I'll be getting the Premium package.

They (GameStop) told me that I should pre-order a few games too but I'll wait on that till I figure out what I wanna play.

spongy · 09-05-2005, 06:59 PM

I was hoping that we would have a relaese date by now.

wolf · 09-06-2005, 08:27 AM

Parents around the world will have an instant heart attack once they see the price points for either system. At least Bestbuy is offering it at the $399 price. My god I would tell gamestop to go screw themselves.

Gary_the_Rat · 09-06-2005, 09:21 AM

There's no way I'm gonna buy anything in the next console gen. I'll just hang on to my PC, and maybe get a 360 when its $100 in a few years.

Lasereth · 09-06-2005, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Parents around the world will have an instant heart attack once they see the price points for either system. At least Bestbuy is offering it at the $399 price. My god I would tell gamestop to go screw themselves.

It's really sad, because if you calculate in inflation, videogame prices have fallen since they were first introduced. I may have mentioned this in this thread already, but an NES in 1983 would cost over $400 to buy today. Now, you get a 20 GB HDD, ethernet port, wireless controller, HD capable video output, DVD player, music player, etc. all for $400. The original NES could play games. That's it.

-Lasereth

08-17-2005, 07:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
japhyryder no one special Location: Charlotte, NC	X-Box 360 Pricing Pretty Reasonable, just might get it. Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox 360 will be available in two versions costing US$300 and $400 when it is launched later this year, the company said Wednesday. In Europe it will cost €300 and €400 respectively and in the U.K. will cost £210 and £280 respectively. The announcement, which was made at the Games Convention event in Leipzig, Germany, fills in one of the last and most important pieces of information about the console. Capable of high-definition video, the Xbox 360 is considerably more powerful than any gaming console available at present. At a recent event in Tokyo the company showed previews of several Xbox 360 games and all featured stunning graphics that bring a new level of realism to computer gaming. At the heart of the console will be a three-core Power PC chip custom-produced for the console by IBM Corp. and a graphics chip from ATI Technologies Inc. It also has a 12X dual-layer DVD-ROM drive and the more expensive version includes a 20GB hard-disk drive, wireless controller, headset, Ethernet cable and wireless remote control. All of the accessories included in the pricier package, dubbed the premium edition, will also be available as individual add-ons to the basic system. With the major specifications and the price set, the only other big announcement awaited from Microsoft is the actual launch date. It’s promised to put the Xbox 360 on sale in North America, Europe and Japan before the end of this year. Japanese pricing details will be announced at the Tokyo Game Show next month. That launch schedule should put the console in the shops several months before Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. launches its PlayStation 3 console. The PlayStation 3 has an equally impressive specification sheet that includes an eight-core processor that boasts a total performance of 218G FLOPS (floating point operations per second) — 35 times the performance of the PlayStation 2. Combined with an Nvidia Corp. graphics system the Sony console should pack about double the power of the Xbox 360, although how much of that can be translated into a better gaming experience will depend on the game programmers. Moving towards launch, earlier Wednesday Microsoft announced it has lined up three companies to manufacture the console. They are Singapore’s Flextronics International Ltd. and Taiwan’s Wistron Corp., both of which produce the current-generation Xbox console, and Canada’s Celestica Inc. All three companies will produce the Xbox 360 at their respective factories in China, said Microsoft. __________________ It's only entertainment, someone's sick idea of a joke.

08-17-2005, 08:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
mr sticky Psycho Location: NC	It's a must purchase for me. But, then again, so is the PS3 (yeah...I'll get the Revolution, too). I'm just hoping that these manufacturers, as well as those software designers realize that we want to play games! Not drool over hardware specs. __________________ The sad thing is... as you get older you come to realize that you don't so much pilot your life, as you just try to hold on, in a screaming, defiant ball of white-knuckle anxious fury

08-17-2005, 08:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	I was raising a stink when I first read about the two different 'packages' when the rumors first started going around, however.... From what I understand the $399 package includes a 20 Gb hard drive, a wireless controller, wireless headset, an ethernet cable and a remote. Now I have no problem with that. As long as the accessories remain accessories and not necessities and I have the option to upgrade as I see fit, then I think this is a grand idea. __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.

08-17-2005, 09:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	The only downside to the 360 right now is that a large majority of the games have substandard graphics for a next-gen system. I know that graphics don't make a game, but jesus, some of these next-gen games look like current XBox games. The new Beta kits were delivered recently so hopefully the graphics will look better by launch. If not, gamers are gonna be disappointed, especially since most of the younger audiences are sold on graphics alone. -Lasereth __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert Last edited by Lasereth; 08-21-2005 at 09:22 AM..

08-18-2005, 04:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
Derwood Who You Crappin? Location: Everywhere and Nowhere	I think there is a ceiling on graphics (except for the High Def stuff, which you won't fully appreciate on a computer monitor or standard TV) There will be a bigger jump in graphics from PS2 to PS3 because PS2 games have never lived up to the hardware's capabilities. Xbox games have always looked better, so they have less room to improve. __________________ "You can't shoot a country until it becomes a democracy." - Willravel

08-17-2005, 01:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Buk Addict Location: Seattle, WA	I'm going to buy the $400 version, you get alot more than just the HD and even with the $300 you have to buy a $30 memory card to save games, so its really only a $70 difference and you get wireless controller et al. Normally I wait until there is a game worth playing to buy the system though.. so I'm watching the supposed launch games carefully.

08-17-2005, 02:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
CityOfAngels Oh shit it's Wayne Brady! Location: Passenger seat of Wayne Brady's car.	Lasereth - The graphics aren't the main thing getting an overhaul this time around. Most improvements will be in gameplay for a change. I can only assume that means better physics, better compatibility with other devices/systems, and just, well, more FUN than just flash. I for one will be waiting until a decent mod chip comes out for both the 360 and the PS3, so I can pimp it out like my current XBOX. I'm definitely going to purchase the Revolution if it really can play any and all Nintendo-system games. Just for that fact right there.

08-18-2005, 07:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
hulk C'mon, just blow it. Location: Perth, Australia	You're all making the mistake of putting your expectations on pre-release demos. Don't, it's not very nice. Wait until you have the hardware and see for yourself before you start saying 'omg this looks teh ghei' etc. Gears of War, hello? Have you seen any media for this game? Once the various devs kick into what the system can do, you'll start seeing the great stuff. Right now, hell, no game dev has ever worked with a tri-core processor or most of the neat jazz the PS3 and 360 have. The X-Box came out looking good because it had technology that was extraordinarily familiar to the developers, but that's been removed so they have to work a bit. Seriously, there's enough grunt behind all the next 3 consoles to blow you all away. __________________ "'There's a tendency among the press to attribute the creation of a game to a single person,' says Warren Spector, creator of Thief and Deus Ex." -- From an IGN game review.

08-18-2005, 08:27 AM	#14 (permalink)
japhyryder no one special Location: Charlotte, NC	I remember when the first PS2 games came out yeah they were better then the PS1 but no where near what the PS2 looks like today, all three systems are going to need a year or two to figure out the best way to write the code for high graphics games. __________________ It's only entertainment, someone's sick idea of a joke.

08-18-2005, 11:46 AM	#15 (permalink)
blar Insane	hmmm so in order to have silver vbox live access you need the 399 package?? sorry if this has already been mentioned and i missed it but from what i have read i only see xbox live silver package mentioned with the 399 and not the 299 so does that mean if you have to buy the gold package for the 299 option??

08-18-2005, 09:07 PM	#16 (permalink)
tspikes51 Fuckin' A Location: Lex Vegas	I still think that the greatest strides have yet to be made, and it's way to early to judge. Think about the difference between Halo and Halo 2. I think the pricing system is an excellent idea that caters to both the general sector and the hardcore gamer. __________________ "I'm telling you, we need to get rid of a few people or a million." -Maddox Last edited by tspikes51; 08-18-2005 at 09:12 PM..

08-18-2005, 10:44 PM	#17 (permalink)
NeverBorn I'm a pepper bitch..	I'll probably get one, as to which version it depends on what I need asscessory wise..

08-19-2005, 07:35 AM	#18 (permalink)
Derwood Who You Crappin? Location: Everywhere and Nowhere	Don't judge any Xbox 360 graphics on E3, since they weren't running games off of the Xbox hardware yet. Those demos were running off of Power Macs... __________________ "You can't shoot a country until it becomes a democracy." - Willravel

08-19-2005, 08:56 AM	#19 (permalink)
biznatch Junkie Location: France	If there's something I'm pissed about, its that I'm going to have to buy a several-hundred dollar "next gen" console, with a controller that looks like some sick twisted sex toy in order to play MGS4... While the game will probably be only a little more demanding (performance-wise) than MGS3. Plus, I'm in love with the series, and the fact that gonna have to pay more than 300 dollars (console + game) to discover it makes me frustrated as hell. So about the 360, and all other next gens, I wish it'd either be like 3x better than the current gen (as in games that are much better) or about half of the price they're talking about now...How the fuck am I gonna make 400 dollars ? Last edited by biznatch; 08-19-2005 at 08:58 AM..

08-19-2005, 11:24 AM	#20 (permalink)
Derwood Who You Crappin? Location: Everywhere and Nowhere	It's nice that Xbox is putting some of the transition titles out on both Xbox and 360 (Tony Hawk American Wasteland, for example). __________________ "You can't shoot a country until it becomes a democracy." - Willravel

08-21-2005, 08:35 AM	#22 (permalink)
Stiltzkin Junkie	I'm lucky enough to have a friend who's a bigtime consumer whore, especially when it comes to video games. I'll just play X-Box 360 at his house for a few years until the price goes down and I decide to buy my own. Same with PS3.

08-23-2005, 10:08 AM	#24 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	I think the thing you also have to consider is that the graphics are not limited by the 360's hardware capabilities, but by the software manufacturers. The hardware is out and done and now it is up to the game maker's to take advantage of the hi-def capabilities of the 360 and produce some games. On another note: The game demos that have been shown were not played on the 360 but alpha kits and the sorts. The graphics are still amazing and $400 for a gaming system that would cost $3000+ for a desktop computer is a great deal. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

08-24-2005, 07:11 PM	#25 (permalink)
spongy Psycho	I read that a retailer is taking Preorders... but only as packages with 4 games.. the 360 will be $700 and the Core will be $600 with all the crap they make ya buy... and no option yet to get just the system. This is why I will prolly line up at Best Buy to get it, or wait til after xmas. http://engadget.com/entry/1234000290055689/ PS the engadget website is great to read. __________________ The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed. Stephen King

08-25-2005, 10:19 PM	#26 (permalink)
Hoser Upright	I'm definitely getting the Xbox 360.... As far as the demos looking like current gen systems...I'm fully prepared for the fact that the first group of games may not look like that much superior to the current Xbox. The techonology (3 core processor for example) is new and it will take time for the developers time to learn how to fully utilize. For the person asking about the Xbox Live Silver accounts....the silver is free, but you will, however, need to save the account somewhere. If you have the $399 package with HD, you're fine. If you get the $299, you will need a memory unit ($39.99) or a HD ($99.99) If any of you have Xbox Live and want to play, my gamertag is Cheezy Poof.

08-30-2005, 09:10 PM	#27 (permalink)
Fluxx Upright	Well I just finished payin goff my premium pack today. I work at EBGames in Canada, the total price after tax? $575.00 Luckily I had tons of stock in the company that I sold. I'm quite financially comfortable. I also paid off half of Oblivion but I need to decide what online game I'm getting. Any suggestions?

08-31-2005, 11:51 AM	#28 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Gamestop has a package for $1999 that includes the 360 w/ HDD, 4 wireless controllers, headset, ethernet cable, 1 year membership to Xbox Live Gold, every single game that comes out with the 360, faceplates, wireless ethenet adapter. Basically, the 360 + every game + every possible accessory. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

09-02-2005, 07:30 AM	#31 (permalink)
Wingless Psycho Location: Metro Detroit, Mich, USA	General retaillers rant: Damn Microsoft for offering two versions of the 360. When people ask about the differences between the core system and the "real" system, I feel like a fucking car salesman. "Yup as you can see here the $399 deal is much better for you. You get reclining bucket seats, air conditioning, power windows, the whole nine yards. Oh, and you can play video games on it too." __________________ Tommy Nibs is a funny word. So here I am, above palm trees, so straight and tall... You are, smaller getting smaller, but I still see... you. Jimmy Eat World - Goodbye Sky Harbor

09-02-2005, 10:12 AM	#32 (permalink)
japhyryder no one special Location: Charlotte, NC	The 299.00 is just so Microsoft can say our system is 299.00 what a bargin. Because you know PS3 will be at least 399.00 __________________ It's only entertainment, someone's sick idea of a joke.

09-03-2005, 09:16 PM	#33 (permalink)
Wingless Psycho Location: Metro Detroit, Mich, USA	Oh I know, I know. But that's where the difficulty is - if there wasn't a $299 deal I wouldn't have to describe the differences between it and the $399 deal! __________________ Tommy Nibs is a funny word. So here I am, above palm trees, so straight and tall... You are, smaller getting smaller, but I still see... you. Jimmy Eat World - Goodbye Sky Harbor

09-04-2005, 08:42 AM	#34 (permalink)
bobophil Tilted	i dont care how many gigaflops or teraflops there are, im waiting for it to go down in price. Somebody has to draw the line somewhere. __________________ Check and mate, now king me. -Homer

09-04-2005, 08:51 AM	#35 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	$300 for a game system is not bad. If you factor in inflation, the NES and SNES systems would be even more expensive than the current models. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

09-04-2005, 10:14 AM	#36 (permalink)
Krycheck Sultana ruined my evil persona Location: Los Angeles	I put a payment down on my pre-order last week. I'll be getting the Premium package. They (GameStop) told me that I should pre-order a few games too but I'll wait on that till I figure out what I wanna play. __________________ His pants are tight...but his morals are loose!!

09-05-2005, 06:59 PM	#37 (permalink)
spongy Psycho	I was hoping that we would have a relaese date by now. __________________ The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed. Stephen King

09-06-2005, 08:27 AM	#38 (permalink)
wolf Ravenous Location: Right Behind You	Parents around the world will have an instant heart attack once they see the price points for either system. At least Bestbuy is offering it at the $399 price. My god I would tell gamestop to go screw themselves. __________________ Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as Gods. Cats have never forgotten this.

09-06-2005, 09:21 AM	#39 (permalink)
Gary_the_Rat Tilted Location: KY	There's no way I'm gonna buy anything in the next console gen. I'll just hang on to my PC, and maybe get a 360 when its $100 in a few years.