x-etera
The novelty's worn off, guys. I get that your boss will give you a better evaluation if your list of Q1 accomplishments includes "viral", "blog" and other words he wishes he understood, but this is getting ridiculous. Vis: Microsoft's latest website, which implies that something will be happening on September 27 at noon. Nobody thinks the Xbox360 will be out before November, so this is probably an announcement of a pending announcement. A metannouncement. Aren't you glad you paid attention to it?
In other XB2π news, you might have heard that two flavors will be offered -- one for $299 and one for $399. The pricier bundle comes with a removable 20GB hard drive, a wireless controller, a headset, and a bunch of cables and other unexciting shit. Disappointing, and irritating, but I'll cave: the nerds are worried that the system will be neutered without the hard drive (there'll be no backward-compatibility without it, for one thing). The most irritating part? Larger capacity drives will no doubt soon be released (and bought by me, should a modchip be developed). The smart money's also on some clip-on MP3 hardware turning this into a portable player.
IGN's got a story up that attempts to take the sting out of the gouging. Here's the only important part: a chart showing past console launch prices, adjusted into 2005 dollars.
| Atari VCS launched in 1977 for $249.99 | $811.21 in 2005 |
| Nintendo Entertainment System launched in 1985 for $199.99 | $354.91 in 2005 |
| SEGA Genesis launched in 1989 for $249.99 | $389.67 in 2005 |
| NeoGeo launched in 1990 for
$699.99 |
$1041.12 in 2005 |
| Super Nintendo launched in 1991
for $199.99 |
$282.21 in 2005 |
| Jaguar launched in 1993 for
$249.99 |
$328.69 in 2005 |
| 3DO Interactive Multiplayer launched in 1993 for $699.95 | $920.30 in 2005 |
| SEGA Saturn launched in 1995 for $399.99 | $497.66 in 2005 |
| Nintendo 64 launched in 1996 for
$199.99 |
$242.75 in 2005 |
| SEGA Dreamcast launches in 1999 for $199.99 | $228.09 in 2005 |
| PlayStation launched in 1995 for $299.99 | $372.01 in 2005 |
| PlayStation 2 launched in 2000 for $299.99 | $333.15 in 2005 |
| Xbox Launched in 2001 for $299.99 |
$325.34 in 2005 |
| GameCube launched in 2001 for
$199.99 |
$216.89 in 2005 |
Comments
Nice exercise in the time-value of money that they did there. I can't believe the NeoGeo cost that much at the time it came out, let alone it's adjusted price. I doubt I'll be buying a next generation X-Box, primarily because I spend relatively little time playing games nowadays.
It is also important to note that systems are now sold bundled with games by retailers at launch. EBgames has the "core system" bundle for $600 and the "ultimate" for $700 plus tax and shipping.
$700? yikes. How many games are they bundling? I think I'm gonna spring for Quake 4 at launch, but that's the only one that I feel really compelled to get. Ms. Pacman and the other XBL minigames will be enough to keep me occuppied for a bit.
I have not yet been convinced that I actually want to play any of these bundled titles, but we shall see. Note: no Quake 4, no Gears of War (~2006).
Xbox 360 Ultimate Bundle $699.92
This bundle includes:
* Xbox 360 Premium System ($399.00)
o Xbox 360 Game Console
o Wireless Controller
o Combination High-Definition Component
and Standard A/V Cable
o 20GB Hard Drive
o Ethernet Cable
o Headset
o Bonus Media Remote
o Xbox Live Silver
o Xbox Live Gold 30-Day Trial
* Perfect Dark Zero Limited Edition
* Dead or Alive 4
* Kameo: Elements of Power
* Project Gotham Racing 3
* Extra Wireless Controller
* Play & Charge Kit (for extra controller)
* Rechargeable Battery Pack (for included
controller)
Xbox 360 Core Bundle $599.93
This bundle includes:
* Xbox 360 Core System ($299.00)
o Xbox 360 Game Console
o Wired Controller
o Composite A/V Cable
o Xbox Live Silver
o Xbox Live Gold 30-Day Trial
* Perfect Dark Zero: Limited Edition
* Dead or Alive 4
* Kameo: Elements of Power
* Project Gotham Racing 3
* Extra Wired Controller
* Memory Unit (required to save games without
hard-drive)
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