Joystiq reader gets a peek at a next-gen invoice - Xbox 360 games available 11/02/05, 60 bucks
by Ben Zackheim 
{ May 31st 2005 at 6:45PM }
Saurabh Agarwal sends good tips. Here's an example — a first hand account of what the EBGames folks know about the
360. Whether these tidbits are "final" or not is another question. Saurabh writes…
I was just at my local EBGames store here in Pittsburgh, PA, and the guy at the counter showed me this print out he
just got with all the release titles, dates, and prices for the games for the XBOX360!!!
The majority of the games are slated for release on 11/02/2005 with a few on the sheet slated for within a week
after.
The games included FIFA 2006, Tiger Woods, and many others (did not see a Halo though…which leads me to suspect it
will come out when PS3 comes out).
Games were priced at $59.99.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
C @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
looks earlier then expected ... thats a pretty hefty price tag for the games tho. hope the system is no more then 300 bucks.
Morgon @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Okay... so what was the price next to the hardware itself?
Alkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I'm sure as hell not paying $60 for ANY games. Draw the line, gamers. Rent, ebay, whatever. Do NOT pay anything over $50 for retail games.
Eric Pobirs @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I recall EB had the DS listed as $200 and games at $50 right up until Nintendo announced the official pricing.
This doesn't bear much discussion until Microsoft has issue the official nubers.
Saurabh Agarwal @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
The pricing sheet didnt have a price listed for the actual system. It only had prices for the games, the titles and the release dates.
stupid101 @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
yeah 60$ so lets see a 300$ xbox 360 and waht atleast 2 new games that would be 420$ who knows what will happen in 6 months.
2PLAY @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
well it makes sense, 300 for the system and 60 for the game. Guess what number you get?
Dr.Finger @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Relax. I worked in a Software Etc when PS2, X-Box, & GC launched and the prices listed in the computer were $60-$70 for just about every title. until about 6-8 weeks before the launch. I'm not saying the games won't be that expensive, but don't get worked up just yet.
swac @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I'm sure as hell not paying $60 for ANY games. Draw the line, gamers. Rent, ebay, whatever. Do NOT pay anything over $50 for retail games.
Someone started playing video games this gen...
Mariofan14 @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
If the game is that good, then i might not feel bad as to puting an extra 10$ on the table. Whichs brings up another piont, if games are that exspensive on the 360, think of the PS3. I mean if a devolper accurray use the Blue ray crap to its fullest the could fit 100gs, do you know how long it would take and how much it would cost to devople a game that big, the games could be $100+; but like i said, if it's that good people will buy it.
Ryuukuro @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
You go, Swac. I won't pay that much for games either. Even 50 dollars is too high for me. We have to take a stand somewhere, especially since we aren't getting games good enough to justify such prices.
Jason @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
They had the option to preorder the units the day after it was announced.
The price they were quoting at that point was $599.
I still put my cash down, but don't think we'll be having to spend that much.
Jason
http://www.xboxsoftmods.com
Saurabh Agarwal @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
So joystiq didn't post all the information I emailed them so here is the actual thing I sent and a small bit I forgot when i sent the tip:-
I was just at my local EBGames store here in Pittsburgh, PA, and the
guy at the counter showed me this print out he just got with all the
release titles, dates, and prices for the games for the XBOX360!!!
The majority of the games are slated for release on 11/02/2005 with a
few on the sheet slated for within a week after.
The games included FIFA 2006, Tiger Woods, and many others (did not
see a Halo though...which leads me to suspect it will come out when
PS3 comes out).
Games were priced at $59.99 which is a $10 premium to current prices.
The guy at the store said that Sony is sorta raising the price on the
console and hopefully keeping the price of the games the same, while
the XBOX 360 is keeping the price of the console low and the hiking up
the prices of the game.
The price he said for the 360 is like around 300 dollars, and all 20
slated to be delivered to that store have been pre-ordered!
He also said, which I don't know if has been announced or is true,
that the XBOX360 will allow you to do Picture-in-Picture (so u can
game and watch TV at the same time), allow you to send and recieve
email and browse the web WHILE you are gaming.
james @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
$60? So what? Its not that bad. Turbo Grafx-16 games were all around $60 or more. And that was 15 years ago.
Don't want to pay $60, then don't, wait a couple of months for a price drop.
swarmster @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Xbox can't do picture-in-picture if it doesn't have a video input for your TV signal.
Alkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
"Someone started playing video games this gen..."
Hardly. I've been gaming since the TI 99/4A. I was just saying that $50 should be the upper limit. I personally won't pay $50, but trying to convince people to stop paying what they're already paying is more faesible than trying to convince them to change their ways.
Personally, I think we should be paying under $40 for a new game.
tevetorbes @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
My tv does PiP just fine while I play video games- why the hell would I need my console to do that?
Oh right, I forgot- the next-gen consoles aren't "video game systems"- they're "multimedia experiences(TM)".
I also worked at a retail store (Media Play) when the PS2 and the XBox came out- the demand for the PS2 was SO great that there were MORE than enough XBox's to go around when it finally hit the shelves- I don't think any manufacturer will get caught with their pants down again and have scalped systems going for 3 times the price on Ebay like they were when the PS2 came out.
That being said, AFAIK I recall the same thing that Dr.Finger does about the "pre-order" prices being complete bunk before the systems came out.
As far as #9 and #11, I agree wholeheartedly, and so should every other gamer: Game manufacturers can only charge us what we're willing to pay, and paying ever-increasing prices for ever-decreasing quality games only perpetuates the greed of companies like EA et al.
Eran Hawke @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Do you really think the games you play today are worth a FULL $50?
From the next-gen videos I've seen, nothing screams $60 to me.
Jonathan @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
the first game I bought the day it came out was mortal kombat 3 for the sega genesis and it was $79.99.
Sure that was a while ago and a cartridge but $60 isn't bad for a new game how ever $49.99 seems a hell of a lot more reasonable because I could talk myself in to buying a game "under $50" easier than a game that's $60.
Sonic_Extreme @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
If people cant see themselves paying 60$ then they can wait till it hits platinum status or buy low budget games. I have no problem in paying 60$ a game. 60 dollars are worth it if they will have high production value. Like Halo, fable, forza, but games like Ford Racing 3, Motocross mania 3, or any game rated under 7.5 out of 10 wont be worth 60$. Wonder if Nba2k will be shipping for 19.99$ for x360?? I dont think so.
Eran Hawke @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
FABLE WAS WORTH $60?!?!
Mgs0008b221 @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
What the hell is all this talk about XNA lowering the cost of development? Shouldn't that counteract teh rising cost of game development, and thus keep game prices the same? Just another load of BS from Micrsoft.
pspimp @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I don't care how much the system costs.
I don't care how much the games cost.
If I like what I see I will pay the price.
That being said, I can wait for the PS3.
Did I mention how cool the PSP is?
Matt Selnekovic @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
No offense, but how can we be sure of the source? Its a grunt in an EB!
Sean @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
The first game I bought the day it came out was King's Quest II (for the Apple II). In fact I've still got the box. $39.99 at Egghead according to the price tag.
mp @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Movie prices go up to cover huge special fx budgets, I don't see what the difference is here. You're paying for the development of very costly games, the art production on them alone is probably astonishing. Of course they're going to cost more. The prices of the games "ported" over will be cheaper, but first generation titles will have to be $60 to turn a profit IMO.
Alkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
The difference is that that game prices started out artifcially inflated because they essentially had a monopoly. In case you forgot, Nintendo got sued for price fixing TWICE, and they lost both times, because they were actually artificially keeping the prices high.
This is going to take more space than I have here to explain it so, just read here:
http://www.netjak.com/review.php/838
hitoro @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
$60 is a hefty price? Come one, that's what we pay here... in euro. Around $74 by current exchange rate.
The game makers are milking European consumers to offer cheap games oversea. On the other hand, the second hand market is very active and it is easy to pick a new game for half its price a few months after the initial release. PC games are cheaper than console games, around 50/$61. No wonder that PC sales are surging in some european countries.
Alkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Yeah, you guys in Europe get shafted. You get everything like a year after the US, and it's more expensive. And they wonder why game sales aren't so hot over there.
Japan doesn't have it too much better. Games run 6800 yen over there. They're almost at your price point.
ymmv @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
European gamers have been paying too much for games since the release of the PS2. Currently console games cost 60 euro around here so I expect game prices to rise to 70 euro generally. I don't think most people will be very surprised or too vexed by the price hike, since PS2 and Xbox games have cost 67 euro here for a very long time. It's only recently that the prices were dropped it seems.
Dave @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I will pay it. We'll all pay it. Graphics...too...shiny...
XBOX360 p0wns j00
Graeme @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
This isn't really big news, if you search for any known Xbox 360 title (eg Project Gotham Racing 3) on the EBgames website it will show you them priced at $59.99. Has been this way since E3, I think. This stuff is all speculative, just like the release dates. EBgames is usually well informed, but there's no point in worrying about this stuff six months before any of it is actually available, because things could easily change.
chris @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Ok, so random guy walks into EB and talks to random employee. Random employee shows random bit of paper which he might have well typed up at home to wind up random suckers that walk into the store to ask questions for all we know. Random EB employee spouts some supposedly insider knowledge that doesnt make sense, yet the sucker takes it all in anyway.
Random sucker emails Joystiq, Joystiq posts. Everyone takes it as gospel.
Hmmm.
Gangreen @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
We can't let this happen. I'll prefer to pay $360 dollars then pay $60 for the games any day.
Lost_Canadian @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
"Movie prices go up to cover huge special fx budgets, I don't see what the difference is here."
When's the last time you paid $60 for a movie?
Boeing787 @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Games in europe costs more because their taxes on retail goods are MUCH higher. Note that the USD 60 does NOT include the local sales tax, which could 0% (in Oregon and a few other states), to 8.75% (cities in Northern California). However, prices in europe INCLUDES the sales tax/VAT, and that is somewhere between 15-20%. Still, tax on a $60 game is gonna be less than $6 in the United States, so $66 total is the max you'd pay in the US. So gamers in europe have to pay a whopping $8 more. Hmm, 20% of $60 is $12, so that a 20% VAT added on would total $72 dollars, hey $2 bux for shipping!
The gamers in europe shouldn't whine to the game companies, they need to whine to their elected leaders that they are overtaxed instead.
C @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
"When's the last time you paid $60 for a movie"
When was the last time a movie lasted more then 2 hours, when was a movie ever interactive?
swarmster @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
$60/game...
The Revolution is looking better and better.
barranger @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
To: #35
When was the last time that you watched a movie for 100 hours
Lost_Canadian @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
"When was the last time that you watched a movie for 100 hours"
I'll watch a movie several times, but I rarely play through a game more than once these days (it was different when you could cruise through a Nintendo game in 30 minutes). I have never taken 100 hours to get through a game, btw - 20 hours max (um...maybe slightly longer for Chrono Trigger!).
In general, movies cost more to make than video games but usually sell a lot more copies - not to mention they have the box office revenue. Some games do deserve the price tag (Doom 3 and Half-Life 2 come to mind), but the generic sports games that come out every year with slightly improved graphics and some updated rosters do not (for example).
C @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I would still be glad to pay the 60 bucks if it was worth while and was a quality game ... like for Halo 2's Multiplayer, Forza, Fable (I actually liked it alot), Half Life 2, Far Cry, and other AAA titles that will keep me busy for 20+ hours easily.
I don't know about you, but I can't stand to watch a movie again that I've already seen. Pehaps I'll watch it maybe 2 or 3 times max if it was good. So what, 4 hours on average for a movie. A great game is usually about 15 hours these days, and if its really good, I'll replay it a couple times like Half-Life 2. So 60 bucks seems like a pretty feasable price tag for such a product.
Of coarse not every game out there with a $60 tag is gonna deserve it, so just be smart and pick and choose. Don't rebuy the same sports game over and over just for the current roster or whatever. Its your money, be smart with it.
TrueIce @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
3 Movie Tickets + nachos + 2 drinks (non-matinee); all of that just cost me $33. Going to the movies can hit $60 easily in a month, especially during summer blockbuster season, that doesn't even account for if you want to buy it when it comes on DVD (another $15-20), and if you are an avid fan, maybe another $15-30 for the super duper extended remastered edition with another 30 minutes of "additional" footage. In total, it is pretty easy to make the argument that a movie can cost you much more than a game (I was going to throw out an arbitrary 3x the amount, but you get the picture...no pun intended) and with moderate replay value.
If I buy something like burnout, not only do I love the game, but my 3 year old loves it, and my wife will play it as well. That in and of itself is worth it for me. Family gaming, active brain cells, hand-eye coordination for my son. $60...thats nothing.
Rhythm @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
"Yeah, you guys in Europe get shafted. You get everything like a year after the US, and it's more expensive. And they wonder why game sales aren't so hot over there."
Sorry but sales here are BOOMING. We got the PS2 a year after the US yet the sales of PS2s and games now exceeds that of the US. This gen might be the last one you get first ;-)
Meesterjojo @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Well, speaking as someone who just quit EBgames (like the other day), let me try and make a few things clear:
1) these "mystery" papers people have commented that could be from anywhere are actually the companies pre-release list. Each store prints them out periodically to get the skinny on when they can expect a certain game. Ebgames.com is absolutely NOT reliable anymore. Further, these pages are used for taking pre-orders as they contain the SKU's of the products in question.
2) Each store was allocated a set number of 360's based on 1) Location, and 2) New vs. Pre-sale totals. It's a BS equation they use to determine who gets what. The location I worked for and still shop at was allocated 15 units (I'm #3 on the list, shew). After the first 2 days of pre-orders on the 360, EBgames decided to mark the price higher for a pre-order to $50. Lame.
3) People saying that $60 is too much, or even $40 in some cases- I tend to agree that for the quality of games we're receiving nowadays: cookie cutter crap which appeals to small children and people with child-like imaginations, is way too high. Although, I would remind the same whiners that most older PC games when they were new cost more than $60 back in the '80s. I can remember paying $60 for Sim City (from EB no less), Zork was the same price, Might and Magic 1 was a score at $40, but then the clue book cost me another $14. It's nothing new.
4) All you people who hate EBgames- rock on, but remember the best way to hurt them and still get games: Purchase new. EB makes most of it's $$ by selling pre-played crap.
5) EBgames, as I'm sure all of you know by now, is about to merge with Gamestop. Actually Gamestop is buying EB. Go figure. It's caused quite an uproar in some parts of the company (EB) to the point where some managers (no lie) have actually quit their jobs rather than sink any lower as a Gamestop employee (in the retail Video Game industry Gamestop is the equivilent of working in a Leper Colony).
Oh last bit:
6) Sony never takes a hit on hardware. Ever. Never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever. Ever. Sony refuses to believe in the concept of a "loss leader" which Microsoft does, or at least has shown they do with the Xbox. Sony and Nintendo are fortunate in that they're able to rape the hell out of our American Wallets, meanwhile for any American made product to be sold in Japan the cost almost doubles. Google>Japan U.S. Trade Def. The Xbox 360, unless MIcrosoft takes a big hit, will probably cost around $700-$800 there with all of the tariffs. THAT's why American video game hardware doesn't sell in Japan. They force an unfair market. But hey, Pearl Harbor- no hard feelings.
Hope this helps.
Chad @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Take a look at EBGames.com They have numerous titles set to release at 11/01/05 at 59.99. They also have Splinter Cell 4 with a release date of 10/24/05!! I'm guessing the 11/01/05 date is just a dummy date until they get specifics.
CheapyD @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
As all of you know, release dates (esp. those 5 months away) change all the time, so that date really means very little.
$60 game price tag...yeah, you can probably count on that.
sonicinmobius @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I don't see what you people are whining about. The games will probably cost more. So? It's most likely due to rising development costs. What's the worst that could happen? You won't get games as often?
Also, EB sucks.
JahRage @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
WHERE IS THE FREAKING LIST???!
Leo Kasatonov @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
wasnt halflife2 supposed to come out and then it was delayed for longer than a human should have to wait for a f'n video game.
Teamfortress2 was supposed to come out 3 years ago, maybe MORE. Oh and where is mr duke nukem?
gg who cares? just wait it out, close your eyes and stop listening. Then one day you will walk past a store and see that the 360 is out and your games are next to it and its like you didnt have to wait!
thieflordgamer @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
This is what I hate about the new gens, Sony specifically, so far. I am 12, I spend almost all my time on games, and I can't afford too much, since I don't get an allowance. Now the PS3 is $400.00 U.S. That's way too freakin' much for me to be paying. I just want to play some God of War sequels, Metal Gear Solid, and Kingdom Hearts 3 (hopefully). But I can't see how I'll afford it. That's what I like about Nintendo. They keep it affordable. Not that Microsoft doesn't, but they have only displayed it with one system. Sony is still estimated to lose over a billion dollars just because their price isn't high enough. Why can't they just sell all the Blue Ray hi-def crap seperately instead of trying to hide the price in the system price. If you're gonna buy a game system, buy a freakin' game system. I don't use any movie-playing capabilities. In fact, I don't even use an mp3 player. I have a CD player that works just fine. As long as I can play my games, I don't need any other pricy crap on my system. Let's see how the other prices come out, and Sony might even change the price of their system. I mean, Sony can't even keep up the pace with the PSP. I mean, it's a great system, but the DS is just selling like hotcakes, especially in Japan. It's internet is even free, still. If Nintendo can easily manage this, I don't see why Sony can't just stop being so greedy with their prices. If they actually need those huge numbers to be their prices, they probably won't be around for too much longer unless they pick up the pace
60$ retail? Sure. I can't see it at all for any portable games, but some very good quality games such as Halo 3, Final Fantasy, etc. will probably be that price. Anything above that is just out of control. I can see most games as $50 though. I doubt Nintendo will have any games as much as $60.
Yes, I am a Nintendo fan. If you think that Nintendo is for babies, then oh my God, get another hobby. If you can honestly say that you think that any of the new systems or companies suck...... I can't even explain it. I don't have the few hours it would take to discuss why I love Nintendo over the rest, but I'll just say that innovation and creativity does not make a baby game, and their quality in which they deliver it is also excellent.