Comments on: Xbox 360 to be lowest-price next-gen video game console

Microsoft plans to drop the price of its entry-level console to $199, lower than Nintendo's Wii and the first next-gen machine to break $200.

[RRosal]

Meh, the 360 could drop to $50 and I still wouldn't get the POS. Thanks Microsoft, but I'll stick to the XBox in my server case that's called Windows XP.

[Conker10]

Whatever. I have lost any confidence with MS. During my time as a gamer which began with the Atari 2600, I have had two consoles that have had to be returned for repair. The first was the original Xbox and the second was the 360, which I had to return as it was defective out of the box, and I am not planning on returning for repairs due to an overheating situation. Price has nothing to do with quality and a crappy system is not a bargain at 400 or 199.

[CrashPad63]

Give them a try now, why not turn that uniot in for a free consle? You are making now sense.

[Kwasiowusu]

rrod and overheating problems went out the window with the Falcon 360's that were introduced a year ago. The 360's have been every bit as reliable as the PS3 since Falcon 360's were introduced.

[Lerianis]

I have to agree that he is making no sense. The overheating issues were taken care of by Microsoft a LONG time ago, even before the Falcon 360's came out. This guy also needs to realize that ALL consoles have problems with them. When I was first gaming, I had to get take back numerous consoles that I bought when they first came out within a year for problems.... it hasn't gotten any better, but then again.... I didn't expect it to.

[Dragon_Myr]

I've been waiting for these price cuts. I'd gladly spend $1500 on a new multi-purpose computer, but there's absolutely no way I'm spending $400 to $500 on what I would use specifically for video gaming. That's why I have a PC and a Wii. Soon it looks like I'll have a 360 too. The price points of $200 and $300 are acceptable for a video game console. I have no intention of using any of the media extender/hub gimmicks. The expansive new and used game lineup for the 360 also makes this purchase much easier to make. Microsoft may still be considered the newbie on the block, but in the US market it seems they know what they're doing.

It's sad that Sony refuses to drop the price on the PS3. By the time they pick up traction and get going, Microsoft will likely release a new Xbox or lower their price again even more dramatically. Sony may have Trojan horsed their way into winning the blu-ray war, but I don't buy the argument that they'll eventually win this generation because their library of games, developer support, and system sales have been lackluster compared to the competition. Their price and strategies have also been abysmal. I see now they're trying to turn their hardcore, high-priced, media-heavy console into a big black Wii with that new LittleBigPlanet game.

[cmfnyc]

Seems like headline bait. It's only a $50 drop after all, for a 3-year old console. But I don't see it impacting the Wii. People are not buying the Wii because it is cheap. They are buying it because it's different, more adult and family-oriented. It's not trying to eat a hole in the hard core game market. It's opening up a brand new game market. My empty nester parents, now in their 60s, are talking about it. They are going to Wii-parties with friends. They won't be lining up for an Xbox Arcade, even if it cost only $50.

For me, the big console war (Xbox vs 360) question is lifecycle. Sony has a longer term view in its product cycle. PS2s continue to sell not far off the total of PS3 or Xbox 360. I imagine these sales are profitable. If this long-term view holds true for the current generation (next generation to some), Microsoft may have a problem. The PS3 seems built more long term with better added value. While the 360 had a lead, it is just building its installed base. Sony has an installed base. Has this base already migrated to the PS3? Some early adopters may have jumped to the 360. But what about the rest? I think that's why MS is so aggressive in price cuts. It only wins if it is perceived as the clear console war winner this fall. Otherwise, I suspect Sony may begin capitalizing on its installed base.

[mjohead2]

See how Xbox Live can promote healthy marriages:

http://michaelsminddump.com/why-xbox-live-is-part-of-a-lasting-marriage/

[cmart4]

Alright look isn't gaming just about having fun with your own personal expiernce with the console whether it be the Wii, 360 or Ps3. Does it really matter who is on top? Are you guys getting any profit by making arguements for MS,Sony or Nintendo? I know I'm not so why argue the point.

Anyway .. Is my best bet to get a 360 arcade for 199 plus tax and go out and by hard drive on-line and can it be any hard drive I want? Just needing some good honest advice here. Btw I love the 360 but also have fun with other consoles as well and my old smoking ps2 ..

Thanks in advance. Just Have Fun...

[Kwasiowusu]

@ cmert4 : " can it be any hard drive I want?"

Nope. Got to be a 360 had drive. But then again, you can pick up a cheap 360 hard drive on Ebay.

[dcardozo]

2007 Sales:
XBOX360 = 4,619,000
PS3 = 2,558,000

2008 first half sales:
XBOX360 = 1,342,000
PS3 = 1,609,000

Trend shows PS3 going from selling around half the units of XBOX in 2007, to easily surpass it in first half 2008.
MS needed to urgently trim the prices to stop the bleeding and stay in the race.

[Kwasiowusu]

The PS3 is still behind the 360 by over 5 million in the US. Going by your figures, the PS3 oustold the 360 by approx 300,000 in the first half of 2008. At that rate, it would take over 8 years for the PS3 to catch up to the 360, by which time there'd have been the next gens of the Playstation and XBOX already.

[dirty55409]

seriously considering buying the arcade for my family's living room. Throw on a wifi adapter and boom! streaming netflix for everyone. and at 200(plus 50 for the wifi) you can't really go wrong. The ps3 may kick butt down the road, but right now M$ is doing something right.

[raytown]

Why would you do that when there's Tversity...

[JimMcDish]

I never cared for XBox, I have been a Sony PS fan since they launched (going from Nintindo).

Jiff
www.anonymize.us.tc

[spyder145]

@maclover1

You are a joke. Do you honestly believe that PS3 will outsell 360 within the next year. It would have to outsell it 96,000 every week which it outsells it by about 20 to 30k. If you do the math that is 166 weeks. Of course that is consider the price cut does absolutely nothing for the sales. If you know someone who is paying $50 for XBL then they are retarted. You can get a year subscription for $39.99 pretty much anywhere. Your point about PS3 is true that you can upgrade the hard drive, but if your manual, you will note that you PS3's warranty has been violated the second you do that. Another point you make is the Xbox 720. You are completely correct on that one. They are goint to release it between 2011 and 2012. Then there is the exclusives you mentioned. Wow! That's quite the list. Hmmm what does MSFT have. Gears of War, Fable 2, Infinite Undiscovery, Halo Wars, Too Human, Tales of Vesperia, and of course the new Master Chief game. That's just a few. You may want to get your facts straight before you make yourself look dumb. Just a suggestion.

[Rawnchie14]

People with enough exposure to all three end up stating the 360 is the best, as long as the hardware holds up, which the new ones have.

With Wii and PS3, they ask too often "What else do you have?" You not knowing what to say, or begging to spout a list of what you WILL have, says it all.

This price point, is low enough for those who didn't like this gen's price ranges - to decidedly dip into the market. Microsoft is making the video console business stronger by doing this. They will, eventually, trigger a Wii price drop, unless money grubbing Nintendo decides it doesn't need to. (which won't be the case, soon)

[the_iceman]

I have no interest in the bare bones stripped out version, aka the arcade. ( Its pretty low for MS to not offer the 512MB mem. card w/ the arcade model). I want to buy a 360, but will remain to wait for 2 primary reasons: the red rings issue and the price. The improved "valhalla 360" is due in 2010 and hopefully by that time the 60GB Pro will be 200$. I think the arcade version should be axed... or if not, be sold @ 150, Pro @ 200, and elite @ 280. Platinum hits pricing should be 20$ and not 30$, same goes w/ PS3's greatest hits.

[tony07304]

Cool, now I can buy an Xbox 360 for my living room and be able to stream Netflix HD video rentals in different rooms !

Thank you Microsoft!

[LazBlackblade]

I just wonder why everyone thinks one system will win. How many gamers have two or more of these systems in their home. I personally have both the XBox 360 and the Wii. I enjoy them both. Once the PS3 gets into my price range, I will get one to replace my PS2. Seems to me that in our consumer driven market, there is plenty of room for all of them to "win".

[pokemon1brandon]

does it play games that you buy in the store like sonic the hedgehog and make it real life without the gbhard drive?