[skinnyrattler]

Wait, prices are supposed to go down, right? WTF?

[GhaleonEB]

A lot of MS rumors have not panned out lately. Charing for online play on Live for Windows, announcing this thing at CES, the Dig Dug release (:p). I'm hoping they are not going to be this dumb, or that we don't have the full picture yet.

[Muppet345]

Mildew, was your information about the Game Informer article reporting the news or the news itself?

[bishoptl]

At just under $200 MSFT is practically giving the 120 hdd away. You guys should be thankful for that price.

joke post

[Bookey]

must be some type of joke...

[mildewproduction]

So your thread about 29th March announcement was about this?

Yep, that is what I heard. Press release March 29th about this product. That's all I know, besides the date of the release of the product.

[Systems_id]

From Game Informer: - Coming in late April - Expected Price: $479.99 - 120 GB HD will be sold seperately for under $200.

I see what they did there...

[Flyguy]

All I can say is that the zephyr thing could be microsofts biggest mistake if they don't handle it right. It needs to replace a sku and not be a third one.

Aye. If they're intent on doing this, it should become the premium at $399, and the current premium should drop to $299 and do away with the Core. I appreciate them trying to pack more value into the console, but a true price drop would resonate more.

[Bebpo]

Suck it up h8rs. You're all going to whine and you're all going to get it.

Why anyone would trade in and upgrade their system for HDMI (which gives pretty much identical video to component) and a new color is beyond me. Unlike the DS there is no major upgrade, and there isn't even the smaller form factor of the PStwo.

Now if you're just talking about buying the hard drive for $199, then yeah I can see a lot of people doing that (personally I'll just keep deleting demos and save $199).

Wait, prices are supposed to go down, right? WTF?

Tell that to the PSP.

[Big-E]

If the Zephyr costs $80 more and includes the hard drive and everything you get with the premium pack I will pick one up since I planned on getting a 360 in a couple of months anyway. I don't think its possible for Microsoft to charge $80 more for just HDMI and a black finish.

[brain_stew]

This would only detract from sales not increase them. Consumers have already shown that they're going to shun the lower priced models and view them as inferior. All this would acheive is the impression among the general populance that the PS3 is similarly priced to the 360, which is not the general impression at the moment.

Microsoft need to decrease their cost of entry not increase it. 3 SKUs is only ever going to confuse customers.

[bud]

Does the hdd come with the system or not? If so then the price isn't really that bad

[reilo]

joke post

Right? It has to be, I mean, right?

[AlteredBeast]

Has nobofy thought that this might be game informer's april fools joke?

[speculawyer]

Sounds like it is coming April 1st.

[BeEatNU]

Unlike the DS there is no major upgrade, and there isn't even the smaller form factor of the PStwo.

:lol :lol

people buy like 2-3 different DS due to the color so cut that if the major upgrade, I can see people buying a Phat DS and then buy the DS lite but I know a shyt load of people who bought a white DS Lite then bought a Black one or a pink one depending who they are.

[mrklaw]

so is Microsoft trying to validate Sony's pricing and get more people to buy a PS3? Cause if so, this is a great way to do it.

price parity with the core PS3 but no bluray? Fabulous.

How about you just let us download your stupid movies to our PCs and stream them. Or to a USB HDD that costs 'less than $200' for 500 bloody GB!

[Flyguy]

Does the hdd come with the system or not? If so then the price isn't really that bad

The way I read it is you get everything you currently get with the premium (wireless controller, component cable, headset, etc.), but in black with HDMI output and 120 GB HDD vs. the 20 GB HDD.

[Reikon]

If this is true, Microsoft is dumb. They need to make the new one $400 and make the old premium $300 and drop the tard pack altogether.

[sublime085]

Do you guys honestly think MS is gonna charge an extra $80 for an HDMI port? Come on now, of course this includes the HDD.

I think GI meant to say it will also be sold separately.

But now I know what Xbox 480 meant in the NPD numbers yesterday.

[Bebpo]

:lol :lol people buy like 2-3 different DS due to the color so cut that if the major upgrade, I can see people buying a Phat DS and then buy the DS lite but I know a shyt load of people who bought a white DS Lite then bought a Black one or a pink one depending who they are.

Yeah, I hear these stories about these people existing but I dunno, I mean it's a total waste of money since the inside is exactly the same. These are the type of people I would have to smack in the face if I met them.

[BeEatNU]

Yeah, I hear these stories about these people existing but I dunno, I mean it's a total waste of money since the inside is exactly the same. These are the type of people I would have to smack in the face if I met them.

I slapped them a couple times so don't worry, I did both of our job.

[Joe Molotov]

THIS IS MADNESS

THIS IS APRIL FOOLS!

[TekunoRobby]

April is a bit early.

[Norse]

This is clearly an attempt by Shane from 1up yours to slow 360 purchases so ps3 outsells it in the month of March.


I kid...I kid!:lol :lol

[reilo]

Do you guys honestly MS is gonna charge an extra $80 for an HDMI port? Come on now, of course this includes the HDD. I think GI meant to say it will also be sold separately. But now I know what Xbox 480 meant in the NPD numbers yesterday.

No... That meant that the Xbox1 sold 480 units in February.

[MirageDwarf]

Why anyone would trade in and upgrade their system for HDMI (which gives pretty much identical video to component) and a new color is beyond me. Unlike the DS there is no major upgrade, and there isn't even the smaller form factor of the PStwo.

People who have TV with HDMI only. Plus this new production will most probably have that 65nm cooler processors.

[Muppet345]

OP really needs to come in here and post more information.

[HokieJoe]

Do you guys honestly MS is gonna charge an extra $80 for an HDMI port? Come on now, of course this includes the HDD. I think GI meant to say it will also be sold separately. But now I know what Xbox 480 meant in the NPD numbers yesterday.

Are you saying that the potential hotness of a black 360 isn't worth something? ;)

[Matix]

Wait, isn't there already a rumor topic for this shit?! Until confirmation, let this die please.

[jetjevons]

If this is true, Microsoft is dumb. They need to make the new one $400 and make the old premium $300 and drop the tard pack to $199.

Fixed.

[soul creator]

MS: We're selling pretty decently, but haven't been able to break into the mass market yet. We have a great lineup of games, excellent online capabilities, powerful hardware, and . Why aren't you guys buying it?

Customers: Well, we do like great games, so you're ok there, but we generally don't want to pay over $250-$300 for gaming hardware, and online, while nice, isn't the main thing we look for when we buy a system. We also have no problem with memory cards or less than 1GB of onboard storage. We also don't really give a shit about HDMI ports. What is that anyway? That's why we've been buying an assload of DS's, Wii's and PS2's compared to you, PS3, and PSP.

MS: Well, why don't you buy the core system?

Customers: Well, you can't go and hype up the premium system and make it an "awesome" deal, and then expect us to pay for the core system scraps. We're just gonna either save our money for the premium, or we're just gonna ignore you altogether and find a cheaper system to have fun with. You're essentially admitting as a company that the Premium is the one we should really buy, so why should we settle?

MS: Hmm...seems logical. The mass market clearly wants affordable game systems. The mass market may like online but it isn't necessarily the entire reason for a system purchase. The mass market also doesn't seem to really care a lot about gigabytes of storage in their game system. Therefore, we shall release a $480 system SKU with HDMI and 120GB of storage which is only useful if you download a ton of movies and tv shows online. Brilliant!

but probably fake

[Syb]

65nm?

[m0dus]

I'm amused by some of the armchair analysts typing away "OMG M$FT DROPPED TEHBALL!!" while everyone else is arguing over the wording of the original post. How exactly is offering another hardware option, inclusive of HDMI and a 120 gig HD for 80 bucks more 'dropping the ball?' Does this black xbox play special games that the white ones can't? or are the kneejerk alarmists going off the assumption that this more expensive system WON'T come with a harddrive? And are these the same people that declared the CORE system would make the 360 DOA because it would somehow 'split the market?'

Here's my reasoning:

Core system: $299
Premium: $399
Ultimate: $479

20 gig HDD: $100 (likely to see price drop?)
120 gig HDD: $150-$199 (saying it's < $200 doesn't mean much until we know officially)

I'd say that $80 difference between premium and ultimate, and the $180 difference between the CORE and Ultimate accounts for more than just an HDMI port and a black finish, kiddies. That 120 gig HD is included, and sold separately so the rest of you can get your marketplace on.

But hey, if you NEED some doom and gloom with your MSFT news, I hear Vista could be selling better . . .

[GhaleonEB]

How much should a $120 GB HDD run?

[USD]

Right? It has to be, I mean, right?

Well, compared to the $100 20 GB HDD it is. Compared to a real hard drive that's still absolute rape.

[sublime085]

No... That meant that the Xbox1 sold 480 units in February.

yeah i know, jeesh

[Raistlin]

Do you guys honestly MS is gonna charge an extra $80 for an HDMI port? Come on now, of course this includes the HDD.

One would hope not, but it isn't just HDMI ... it is also the new scaler chip.

Regardless, I really hope it includes the HDD.



Does this mean we can get 1080p HDMI HD DVD with it?

[Eric WK]

This would be a horrible move, but it sounds very likely.

And 80 extra bucks for HDMI, new chip, 100 more gigs, black color really isn't that bad for new buyers. But I'm not buying another 360 for more than I paid for the one I own.

[Toddler]

Sounds like it is coming April 1st.

I see what you did there...

[Zombie James]

How much should a $120 GB HDD run?

Buying one yourself, you mean? About $90-100 on Newegg (5400 RPM).

[PistolGrip]

$480 for the new Xbox, Not bad MS good price

Oh wait there's no HDDVD included??? F.CK YOU MS!

200 for a drive :0 BOHICA!!!

[Pope Benedict XVI]

Quickkick, can you clear up this question about the HDD being included?

[BudokaiMR2]

Okay so I am a bit confused. Is it not possible to just use an external HDD and avoid getting raped by Microsofts pricing?

[PistolGrip]

Okay so I am a bit confused. Is it not possible to just use an external HDD and avoid getting raped by Microsofts pricing?

No. You can only do it on the PS3

[sublime085]

One would hope not, but it isn't just HDMI ... it is also the new scaler chip. Regardless, I really hope it includes the HDD. Does this mean we can get 1080p HDMI HD DVD with it?

Which would essentially mean nothing as a bullet point to the average consumer.

And i don't see how they could possibly omit HDMI HD-DVD at 1080p, it would be absolutely stupid. even if it wasn't enabled at it's launch there would be a software patch soon after I'm sure

[LJ11]

How much should a $120 GB HDD run?

Around that for 2.5 SATA.

[m0dus]

Also, I find it somewhat unnerving that while we have trouble with wave after wave of trolls ruining 360 and PS3 threads, we're never left long to want for a "BOHICA" thread title change.

[Mifune]

Umm, obviously it would come with a hard drive. But that price point still sucks. Why? Adding another SKU for the 360 is just bad news, especially one that's MORE expensive than what's already available. Haven't the sales of the PS3 and Wii taught Microsoft anything?

This MUST be a joke.

[soul creator]

and for some new shit with a two page spread
there's a lack of extra info in this NeoGAF thread