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Wal-Mart's ad on the new Xbox 360 "rollback" price  (Source: Cheap Ass Gamer)

Toys "R" Us showing a $50 price break on the Xbox 360  (Source: Cheap Ass Gamer)
Wal-Mart, Toys "R" Us ads point to $50 price cut on Xbox 360

A report from last week said that Microsoft will be cutting $50 off the price of the Xbox 360 sometime in August. New evidence is now surfacing that lends credence to the expectations for a price drop.

Found on gaming forum website Cheap Ass Gamer are supposed images from upcoming circulars from retailers Wal-Mart and Toys “R” Us, both of which clearly display the Xbox 360 Premium console at $349 beginning around August 12.

The Wal-Mart ad has above its new price a “rollback” logo, highlighting the reduction, while the Toys “R” Us flyer clearly points out the difference with a “$50 Price Break” message. Both of the retail circulars advertise the new, lower-priced Xbox 360 alongside Madden NFL 08 – one of the top selling game franchises in the U.S.

In response to the initial report of a price drop, a Microsoft representative gave the expected company line, saying, "We have no announcements to make on pricing at this time. While price matters, content is king. And no other system is offering all the games people want to play this holiday at a better price than Xbox 360."

Expectations of an Xbox 360 price cut came shortly after Sony lowered the price of its 60GB PlayStation 3 by $100 to $499. One analyst forecasted that Microsoft would announce at E3 that the $299 Core system would drop to $249, the $399 Premium down to $349, and the $479 Elite to $399. Although Microsoft showed no movement on pricing at its E3 conference, industry onlookers continue to expect that a price drop to happen before the holiday season.

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good
By Gul Westfale on 7/30/2007 8:13:45 AM , Rating: 2
price drops are always good. now if only they could reduce the cost of the add-ons... here in canada the 20GB drive goes for 120 dollars...




RE: good
By mdogs444 on 7/30/2007 8:29:47 AM , Rating: 2
I agree the hard drive is expensive, but considering the additional things you get with the Premium system, there isn't much use for the Core system to begin with. For $100 more, you get wireless controller, headset, hard drive, and HD cables.

Now, if they could drop the prices of controllers that would be great. No reason a set of 4 wireless controllers should cost $200>.


RE: good
By FITCamaro on 7/30/2007 9:02:53 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah I agree. And to then not come with a rechargeable battery?

Not to mention the wireless adapter (not that I care since I use wired) being $100? Little high priced there.

From both Sony, Microsoft, and even Nintendo, the name of the game for this console generation seems to be extremely high prices for accessories compared to the last generation.


RE: good
By mdogs444 on 7/30/2007 9:15:17 AM , Rating: 2
Exactly. I think they are all taking losses on the consoles (except Nintendo), and making up for it through accessories. Branded cables, controllers, etc have to be around a 50-75% markup at least, especially those PS3 HDMI cables.


RE: good
By SirLucius on 7/30/2007 9:19:45 AM , Rating: 2
Tell me about it. I purchased a PS3 this past weekend and while looking around at the accessories at Best Buy, I was hard pressed to find anything under $20. I was talking to a BB employee about HD cables, and he was saying how they sell them for a $100, to which I said no thanks. I'll grab something cheaper online. Controllers are also ridiculous. PS3 and 360 wireless controllers are $50 a pop, the Wii's are essentially $60 ($40 for the Wiimote, $20 for a Nunchuck.) Even things like remote controls can cost up to $30.


RE: good
By FITCamaro on 7/30/2007 9:58:47 AM , Rating: 4
Yeah the DVD remote for my 360 was the most reasonably priced accessory I bought. $20 for a remote that also lets you control the console is reasonable to me.

The other most reasonably priced thing for the 360 is 13 months of Xbox Live for $45-50. You can bitch all you want about "on the PS3 its free" but don't compare a service that doesn't exist yet to a tried, tested, and true service that accomplishes everything it does extremely well. It blows away any other typical pay to play service like MMOs.


RE: good
By omnicronx on 7/30/2007 10:36:47 AM , Rating: 2
Live is great.. especially for the 50$, to think sony's system is going to be good this time around is stupid too. It took the original xbox live a while to get rid of all the kinks, and thats what MS does best being a software giant. Sony could be in trouble here, they better not promise something better or even comparable to live, because we all know this just is not going to be the case.


RE: good
By SirLucius on 7/30/2007 10:46:48 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah Xbox Live is a really good service. It's very easy to use and works without a hitch. I was just never really able to get into it too much. Maybe it's because everytime I tried to sit down and play I'd have an obnoxious 14 year old yelling in my ear, but I couldn't stand the people on nearly every server I got on. I've yet to try out playing online with the PS3, and although I've heard their setup is pretty decent, I'm not expecting much. Most of the games I'm interested in playing online are on the PC anyway.


RE: good
By omnicronx on 7/30/2007 2:43:28 PM , Rating: 2
currently any game you play online with the ps3 is up to the manufacturer of the game to implement the multiplayer.

Also as for xbox live, your right i hate having 14 year olds playing with me. MS should not let anyone under the age of 18 to join the underground group. You should have to put in a credit card to verify your age. I know kids could still get on without their parents knowledge, but parents are much less likely to let their kid do what they want when it comes to a credit card, than the 50 dollar online pack you buy at the store, which of course the parent needs not be there to activate it on xbox.


RE: good
By mdogs444 on 7/30/2007 2:51:14 PM , Rating: 2
Limiting online play to people 18 and over would not only decrease income of Live Subscriptions, but could also deter parents from buying the systems for their kids if they read anywhere that its target is 18+. Not all parents know what "Live" is, or the internet for matter, but if something like that is stated on the box, it could be a reason for parents to caution the purchase.


RE: good
By Hawkido on 7/30/2007 4:00:50 PM , Rating: 2
Very good point.

However, a distinct "forced" option to flag your self as an adult (18+, Yeah I know that is debatable, but if they can vote and fight for us they get the title, sorry) and that would ban the "age < 18" crowd for playing with you and Vice Versa. Plus, it could help to segregate the trash talkers from spamming filth at a minor.

Then any moderation need only focus on the minor enabled chatting or Team Speaking.


RE: good
By mdogs444 on 7/30/2007 4:10:42 PM , Rating: 2
While this debate can go on with numerous possibilities and ideas, the end result is always going to be the same.

PARENTING.

Parents need to know what their kids are doing and why. Shame on the parents who buy their kids a console for the sole intent on the kid being out of their hair for several hours a day. We see this so much in todays society. A kid wants "live" so he can play against his friends online (and much to the parents liking, it keeps the kid out of their hair, and the other kid out of their house!).


RE: good
By OrSin on 7/30/2007 9:24:54 AM , Rating: 2
I looking at the Core system. As far as media extenders go the 360 is by far the best one out there. Most decents one cost while over $200 some ad much as $300. To get the best one for $250 is very good deal. I al ready got the 360 in one room and 95% of the time its used is to watch movies, I rarely even play it now. Maybe when some better games come out.


RE: good
By mdogs444 on 7/30/2007 9:29:49 AM , Rating: 3
I agree thats its great use at a Media Center PC or sorts. But i think i've found the cheapest alternative...

The Philips 5960 (i think thats the model number) DVD Player for $50 from Target. It has the Divx Ultra compatibility chip, as well as a USB port. I plug in my external 500GB HD and all my backed up and AVI movies (Divx & Xvid) play right off the drive.


RE: good
By FITCamaro on 7/30/2007 10:00:46 AM , Rating: 2
Interesting...

Is it possible to hook up a PC to this thing via USB and watch movies that way?


RE: good
By mdogs444 on 7/30/2007 10:02:04 AM , Rating: 2
Hmm, dont know, never tried. I just know the USB will read storage drives - like a thumbdrive with movies or pictures. So i tried an external HD and it works.


RE: good
By NotAok on 7/30/2007 10:35:24 AM , Rating: 2
pretty nice to know in case my xbox ever dies on me. I use XBMC to watch all my movies on my television and it works great. I've always wondered what would happen should it die but if this dvd player does essentially the same thing for only $50 I'll buy it.


RE: good
By ObscureCaucasian on 7/30/2007 11:01:18 AM , Rating: 2
I'd recommend having at least one HDD in case you want to take advantage of the Video Marketplace


RE: good
By FITCamaro on 7/30/2007 12:06:21 PM , Rating: 3
One thing Microsoft needs to let you do is transfer video from your 360s hard drive to your PC. Its a little ridiculous that you can't so you have to either constantly delete things and re-download them or buy more hard drives.