[pOnju]

http://news.google.c...18_msft17ww.asp

So apparently Microsoft in their greed, is going to screw themselves.

They are selling two versions of XBOX360, one with everything for $399 (yes, four hundred and no/100 dollars!), and then they are essentially selling a cheaper one that dun't work for $299.

The $299 version doesn't have a lot of things, the main thing missing being a hard drive.

Anyone who owns an XBOX knows that pretty much every game you've bought for it made use of the hard drive to both decrease loading times while playing as well as allow one to add more content to their games via XBOX Live! service.

So either developers will have to create games that ONLY run on the $399 version, or they will have to make games that are compatible with the $299 no hard-drive version, which essentially strips out a major functionality that the XBOX 1 leveraged to great use.

bah - my two cents - I think this is going to go down in history as a blunder, not as bad as when Nintendo broke off their relations with Sony making the Super-Disc, but probably worse than Microsoft trying to get people excited about Final Fantasy Online for XBOX360 (which is a good example of a game that'll only run on the $399 version since that definitely needs the hard drive).

[aznplucky]

I think that's a fair observation. It looks like the $299 version is going to be a hot eBay item once people who buy it realize how handicapped it is. Then again, is it possible to add your own HDD to the $299 version? If it's anything like moding a PS2 to include a HDD to store games, the geeks will probably go for the $299 version and install their own larger capacity HDDs. But if the HDD interface on the XBOX 360 is proprietary, then that option is gone, and the $299 version will suck big time.

[Lugnut]

I've been reading about this over the last few weeks. It appeared that Microsoft was really rushing to get things done (I've heard no HD-DVD at release).

Microsoft is also making developers pay royalties for using their xbox360 dev kits.

You could probably mod one of the $299 modles so they will have the hard drive and all that other stuff in it. Don't know about the HD-DVD though... from the sounds of that the DRM involved in that is up there with the telescreens from Nineteen Eighty-Four.

[Rioken]

I've been reading about this over the last few weeks. It appeared that Microsoft was really rushing to get things done (I've heard no HD-DVD at release).

Microsoft is also making developers pay royalties for using their xbox360 dev kits.

You could probably mod one of the $299 modles so they will have the hard drive and all that other stuff in it. Don't know about the HD-DVD though... from the sounds of that the DRM involved in that is up there with the telescreens from Nineteen Eighty-Four.

thats the only reason i want one... o mod the @$% out of it....

[Evolution]

I heard that whether you have a hard drive or not there'll be spaces to put in memory cards. Meh.

[Lugnut]

They would have to use some form of non-volitile memory on it to save games (either memory cards or harddrives). I just wish they would use standard memory cards.

Modding an xbox would be kinda tricky. Microsoft put alot DRM into the whole system to try and prevent 3rd party software and hardware (or at least one of the other, not sure which one) from running on the system.

Good thing hackers have found out how to subvert the Windows kernel

[Xeo]

I heard about this some time ago, though then it was only rumor.
But I had a feeling they'd stick with it.

[doomsought]

try net working it with your computer
then use your computer's hard drive
or
use a port able USB hard drive

don't know if it would work, but an avid programer might be able to do it

[Rioken]

Xbox 360 Core System - $299 (299 Euros, 209 GPB)
-Xbox 360 console
-Wired controller
-Detachable faceplate
-Xbox Live Silver membership
-Standard AV cables

Xbox 360 - $399 (399 Euros, 279 GPB)
-Xbox 360 console
-20GB detachable hard drive
-Wireless controller
-Wireless Xbox Live headset
-High-definition AV cables
-Ethernet cable
-Xbox 360 Media Remote Control (limited time)
-Detachable faceplate
-Xbox Live Silver membership

i still wonder if cheaper one has the capility of the other one too just not the stuff with it

[Lugnut]

Aparently Microsoft is charging $100(us) for the 20GB Harddrive.

try net working it with your computer
then use your computer's hard drive
or
use a port able USB hard drive

That would be the obvious route so of course M$ is going to try and screw you over from doing that.

[wolf]

I thought they were going to upgrade your membership for Live if you got the deluxe system.

[Xeo]

I thought they were going to upgrade your membership for Live if you got the deluxe system.

I recall reading something like that as well...but I can't remember where.

[di3s3l_666]

marketing ploys...have to be careful around them or they will give you crap for your buxx.

[Xeo]

marketing ploys...have to be careful around them or they will give you crap for your buxx.

True, however, I see it this way.
The stand alon 360 costs 300 right?
The seperate Harddrive costs 100 right?
You put those two together and that's 400, so everything else that comes with the deluxe package is actually an added bonus, that you're not paying for.
At least it makes sense...to me anyway.

[di3s3l_666]

we'll see a year after the initial release. Most of the time you can tell which the good deals really are after a period of time. By then you'd know what to watch out for, what to get, and if the deal is worth dishing over $200 out your pocket.

[Xeo]

we'll see a year after the initial release. Most of the time you can tell which the good deals really are after a period of time. By then you'd know what to watch out for, what to get, and if the deal is worth dishing over $200 out your pocket.

While you're actually right, I can't wait that long.

[di3s3l_666]

when you're mostly broke, you have no choice but to wait.

[Xeo]

when you're mostly broke, you have no choice but to wait.

I'm broke as hell...but I'm still gonna try an find a way, that's all I mean.

[Evolution]

I think everyone is wrong to say this dual-pricing thing is a bad move.


The core unit is upgradable. It's for people who don't know if they're going to enjoy gaming. Enough said.

The second unit is expensive, yes, but it's approximately the same price as the ps2 on release, and contains a butt-load more.



Do your homework, piggys.

[Xeo]

I think everyone is wrong to say this dual-pricing thing is a bad move.


The core unit is upgradable. It's for people who don't know if they're going to enjoy gaming. Enough said.

The second unit is expensive, yes, but it's approximately the same price as the ps2 on release, and contains a butt-load more.



Do your homework, piggys.

The PS2 was released for 300 Us dollars in the states, as was the Xbox.
The Gamecube was released for 200.

But that's in the US.
Regardless, I don't think this is a bad thign really, if I haven't made that clear already.