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Xbox 360 $299 no hard drive

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Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: rh71
Michael Pachter, of Wedbush Morgan Securities, wasn't as cheerful. He sees the $299 model as a "publicity stunt." "They're doing it to say they are launching at $299. The hardcore guys will absolutely not buy the $299 model...Only a complete idiot would buy the $299 model."
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so he's saying anyone who's not a hardcore gamer is a complete idiot. Nice quote.
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I'd have to agree with him. Anyone who buys the $299 model is an idiot and getting ripped off. You'd still have to spend money on a memory card. That's an additional $40 right there for just one.

Who in their right mind would spend $340 on a console, memory card, and wired controller when you can get the console, hard drive, wireless controller, headset, high-def AV cables, and media remote for $399?

This does seem like a ploy just for MS to say they are launching a next-gen console at $299.
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hahaha.... you hit it right on the nail. This is a marketing ploy... obviously. And its a smart move. My hats off to Microsoft. They are just as good if not better than Sony when it comes to marketing.

1) Providing a next-gen gaming system under $300 now, will really hurt Sony Xmas 2006 or Spring 2007 when Microsoft drops the price down to $199-$249 for the base and $249-299 for the fully loaded Xbox 360. Lets see which one parents will buy for thier kids.... $199-249 Xbox 360 or $399 PS3? duh 😛

2) A one year head start Microsoft will give them enough time to build up thier library of games. Which BTW is easier to develop on the 360 compared to the PS3, as Carmack has already stated along with others.

3) Good o' Bill said they will be releasing Halo 3 the same day the PS3 launches. Another great move to steal some of the limelight away from the PS3 launch



This time, the gloves are off and M$ seems like a real contender. Don't get me wrong, I like the Playstations, but it seems like M$ will win this round or at the very least make it a draw.
 
What concerns me more is the split in the Xbox360 hardware. Developers have to support the lowest common denominator which will now be a 360 without a hard drive. Will the developers even take advantage of hard drive now like they were able to with the original Xbox?

This just seems like a step backwards to me.
 
Originally posted by: Queasy
What concerns me more is the split in the Xbox360 hardware. Developers have to support the lowest common denominator which will now be a 360 without a hard drive. Will the developers even take advantage of hard drive now like they were able to with the original Xbox?

This just seems like a step backwards to me.
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I see your concern, but to me its not much of one. The PS3 won't have a hard drive either, it will prolly be an add-on. So, I think developers won't be utilizing it much. I think the main purpose of the hard drive is gonna be if you want downloadable content, like backwards compatibility with certain games, extra maps, weapons, vehicles and such. Developers will focus on the game being able to be played without the hard drive. But if you want the "EXTRAS" than you will prolly need to buy the hard drive kit if you don't already have one for your 360. I'm sure Sony will end up doing the same thing. This lets developers make extra money too off of the addons.

I'm sure some games will prolly say you need the hard drive for any downloadable content. For example, an RPG game like WOW port would prolly require you to have the hard drive.

Who nows.... thats my guess.
 
Originally posted by: Queasy
What concerns me more is the split in the Xbox360 hardware. Developers have to support the lowest common denominator which will now be a 360 without a hard drive. Will the developers even take advantage of hard drive now like they were able to with the original Xbox?

This just seems like a step backwards to me.
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i agree... i could be wrong, but didnt the hard drive in the first xbox reduce loading times and provide a cache to load levels/areas ahead of time? (like kotor)
 
Yeah they are really making it hard to justify saving the $100 by going with the $299 version. I still think they should have at least included a wireless controller with the $299 version (or at least a memory card in lieu of the HD).
 
Originally posted by: Qwest
Originally posted by: Queasy
What concerns me more is the split in the Xbox360 hardware. Developers have to support the lowest common denominator which will now be a 360 without a hard drive. Will the developers even take advantage of hard drive now like they were able to with the original Xbox?

This just seems like a step backwards to me.
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i agree... i could be wrong, but didnt the hard drive in the first xbox reduce loading times and provide a cache to load levels/areas ahead of time? (like kotor)
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Yep.
 
I thought it was already said that there wasn't going to be two different packages. One with a hardrive and one without. I highly doubt that this is true.
 
Originally posted by: KoolDrew
I thought it was already said that there wasn't going to be two different packages. One with a hardrive and one without. I highly doubt that this is true.
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No, this news is very true and on most all game sites now. MS announced it today in Germany.
 
One more way the $299 buyers get boned:

Tthe Xbox1 emulation profiles are probably only available on the hard drive, so only the $400 version offers backwards compatibility.
 
They are making a big mistake by having a version without a HDD. But they said it will be a media center (I.E. HDD) and they want to have more then twenty million Live subs (I.E. cheap).
 
It looks to me like the smartest move is to not be an early adopter. Launch games are usually not stellar anyway. By waiting until the PS3 comes out you can see a few things

1) How the systems stack up against each other
2) If the Xbox 360 is moddable by then
3) If a lot of games actually need the HD or benefit greatly from it
4) Price drops!

I'm in no rush, patience = profit (or reduced losses 😉)
 
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
One more way the $299 buyers get boned:

Tthe Xbox1 emulation profiles are probably only available on the hard drive, so only the $400 version offers backwards compatibility.
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The $299 version will have backwards compatility as well. There will be suckers who spend $299 on the console and then another $100 on the hard drive seperately. 😉
 
Well, I know that I'll be buying one within 30 days of launch so I guess I'll have to ignore the Ferengi in me and spend $399. At least knowing someone at MS will still allow me to avoid spending more than $10 per game. 😛
 
Originally posted by: Siva
It looks to me like the smartest move is to not be an early adopter. Launch games are usually not stellar anyway. By waiting until the PS3 comes out you can see a few things

1) How the systems stack up against each other
2) If the Xbox 360 is moddable by then
3) If a lot of games actually need the HD or benefit greatly from it
4) Price drops!

I'm in no rush, patience = profit (or reduced losses 😉)
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Yeah, those are great reasons for waiting. I'm really hoping M$ will try to screw $ony by dropping to price at PS3 release, but I wouldn't bet on it.
 
i dont think they will drop the price at ps3 release...only cause a little title called HALO 3 is coming out the same day as the ps3.
that title alone should sell who knows how many consoles / live subscriptions.

 
20GB, or let's say... 500GB won't make a difference in an Xbox. I remember how the Xbox had only 10GB, but NO ONE i know has filled it yet.
 
Wow thats a lot. I didn't think they would sell one without a hard drive. I was looking to just get a 360 to replace my dying XBox. At $400 I'm just going to wait for awhile and maybe just buy a new XBox.
 
Originally posted by: Blayze
Wow thats a lot. I didn't think they would sell one without a hard drive. At $400 I'm just going to wait for awhile.
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With all the accessories, $400 is a reasonable price point. I just wish they had put a hard drive on the $300 version.
 
I guess, but the only thing I will probably use in that $400 pack is the hard drive. They really should have put a hard drive in the $300 version.
 
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