This needs to be the same price as the Wii. When will MS learn.

For sure, dude. MS knows nothing about business. I don't think that company has ever made any profits. Ever.

"I don't think that company has ever made any profits. Ever."

Their games division sure hasn't. Next year might be the very first time they see black.

Which, coincidentally, is something that the Sony brand has never seen.

/ducks

Oh snap. Still false, but oh snap.

upz nailed it right on the head. to comment on this product, its a great intro buy into gaming. for instance, someone who cannot afford to pay for the full version of the console, say, a young person can get this version as a gift, and later upgrade it for themselves. At least Microsoft is giving the option for the consumer to do something like this. The Arcade pack is not a tard pack like the Core was. HDMI + wireless controller + arcade games = good starter deal, much better than the wii.

That's why they've included a memory card.

which will hold 5 of the 50mb arcade games... less if you include a live profile and saved game data.

I think that's actually part of the "trap". As megaStryke points out, there is indeed a memory card... but between the 5 free games, your profile, and game saves that card isn't going to last long. People will buy the Arcade and get hooked on the XBLA games and/or other Live content and will be forced to spring for a hard drive or additional memory cards down the road.

Exactly as Vidikron said. If you think any of the Big Three aren't in it for the buck, you're deluding yourself.

Microsoft didn't give you a three year warranty out of the goodness of their hearts, Sony isn't selling PS3s at a loss because they want you to experience unrivaled visual clarity, and Nintendo sure as hell isn't selling you a $50 piece of hardware for $250 because they want your family to finally spend time together again.

Companies make profit. Your satisfaction and brand loyalty guarantee that.

That is exactly what I was thinking, I could see the arcade dropping to $250 to $225 the premium $300 to $275 and the Elite $350 to $325, of course those price ranges may be wishful thinking.

The odds tonight stand at an unprecedented 1000 to 0. A bet of zero dollars against WiNG pays 1000 dollars if he loses.

You already lost. Some review agency already listed exactly whats on the DVD. Its 5 full arcade games and 5 demos plus a couple of other files.

It's replacing the Core. It's actually a better deal than the Core since this on will have a wireless controller and memory card included. The "deal" is to to suck people in with the lower price and get them hooked on Live content with the free XBLA games... that will then cause many of them to buy more memory cards or or an HDD down the road.

The difference is, Microsoft's senior executives didn't lambast Sony for different SKUs.

Once again I am asking myself wtf you are talking about.

How did they get potential 360 owners in their grasp?

Wow do you actually believe the crap that you spew?

Crap... my previous reply was intended for joeyg above your post, Frank.

Less than half of 360 owners pay for Live. It's not manditory, and playing online against rude kids doesn't interest all gamers, certainly not the Arcade version's target demographic!

I gotta agree with Vidikron on this one.

from the engadget unboxing article:

"a disc that includes demos of Xbox LIVE Arcade games Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship, and Uno"


so it's 5 Live Arcade game demos, not the full versions.

Can you people read?

It's those 5 FULL games....plus demos for more....look at the Engadget gallery; it's pretty clear

The article doesn't have proof. They're just reading what they saw on the box.

If you look at the gallery, there's one picture of the console box that shows a label that says "These 5 Games Included" with logos for the five games listed above.

The picture of the back of the game box has the five games listed with "Plus Five Trial Games!" That's about as unclear as you can get.

There's a picture that shows the dashboard with the available games. However, it doesn't show him trying to play one of the games, so that doesn't say whether or not they are demos.

Seems like Microsoft went out of their way not to explain what you'd be getting.

Exactly, and the fact they aren't commenting on this is not a good sign.

Look at the FRONT of the box

5 games included

I like to thing MS isn't that shady!

Hasn't anyone bought this thing yet?

hey scott, how about you try to read and comprehend what you are reading...

direct quote from the engadget posting:

"a disc that includes DEMOS of Xbox LIVE Arcade games Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship, and Uno"

it initially said: "a disc that includes COPIES of..."
but he apparently had to change it to "DEMO OF" instead of "COPY OF"

seems like if he had the full versions on the disc he wouldn't have to make that change.

how's that for clarity?

Microsoft isn't concerned about Nintendo because Nintendo isn't trying to muscle in on their Media Center vision/turf.
Hell, Microsoft really isn't even concerned about games, to be honest. Their sights are set strictly on Sony, who IS the threat to their Media Center vision of the future. That's what the Xbox has been about since it's inception. Fanboys will bristle at this notion, but it's true. The more they keep Sony, who is also going ahead with Media Center capabilities, down on the mats, the better their chances are of being the center of everyone's living room in 10-15 years.
So in some fashion they likely see Nintendo as an asset to them. The Core and Arcade models are really only there to get gamers to buy the cheaper units and boost their install base, thus giving them more leverage over getting the console in people's homes. But they REALLY want you to buy the units with Hard Drives built into them. In that sense, they don't give a damn about the cheaper, HDDless versions of the Xbox.
If I were REALLY cynical, I'd say gimping it is a deliberate incentive.

Good point samfish as it has been noted before, However, the CORE X360 should be priced at $249.99.

attack its Wii-eak spot for massive damage?

Wrong console :P

Maybe they take out the Draw Four cards.