Xbox 360 bundled with Table Tennis
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Aug 4th 2007 at 6:38PM }
We've contacted our Best Buy and GameStop sources to see if their new shipments come with the game inside as well. We also don't know if this has anything to do with Best Buy's Top Spin bundle. Hopefully we'll get some answers starting Wednesday (or maybe a little earlier) when the GameStop materials regarding the big Microsoft announcement start showing up in stores. We can't help but wonder if this is the Microsoft answer to Wii Sports being packaged in the Wii. Oh well, consumers get a free game with the system and that's not a bad thing at all.
[Thanks ToeFurB]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rob Accomando @ Aug 4th 2007 6:50PM
not bad at all
Marasai @ Aug 4th 2007 6:52PM
From what I hear, Table Tennis is actually pretty good (unless you are colour blind) and the closest to GTA we'll be getting for a good long while.
But is this really the game to pack with the system? Why not PDZ or Kameo. Decent enough games that have already paid for themselves but that people wouldn't ordinarily buy?
Evan @ Aug 4th 2007 8:24PM
Hardcore gamers won't be swayed by a bundled game. They'll buy the system and game they want regardless of the bundle. But casual gamers and parents may be swayed by a bundled game. So, it makes sense to package a game with casual appeal like Table Tennis.
Plus, PDZ is rated M. Parents don't want to give a gift to their kids, and have to tell their kid they aren't allowed to play the game inside.
Marasai @ Aug 4th 2007 8:52PM
Come on, even at 350 bucks, how many kids are getting a 360? It's a hardcore gaming machine, not a casual box. The wii has that shit locked up tight.Besides, I think there is a table tennis demo on live. it would seem that if you are gonna have a pack in game, why make it one you can already get for like free?
They should have done what they did for the HDDVDV player. Give 5 free games from around launch. So people cna choose form N3, prey, Quake, PDZ, PGR, kameo, table Tennis,COD 2. games no one will buy anyway. I bet that would spike sales quite a bit.
Paul @ Aug 5th 2007 12:32AM
@ Marasai
i don't what stores you are going to but wii's are still difficult to find in the dallas area. i go to best buy, circuit city and wal mart all the time and have yet to see one on the shelves. so mommy and daddy might buy their kid a 360 if they see it comes with a game because:
1. there will be no wii's to get them
2. they don't know any better to ask when they will get some in
3. the bundled game
polly @ Aug 5th 2007 1:22AM
I'm still suprised they don't advertise the free Hexic arcade game more prominently.
Justin Nolan @ Aug 5th 2007 2:41AM
Marasai: When I camped out to get my 360 at launch, everyone else there was a parent getting their little kid a 360 for Christmas... So yes, a lot of kids are getting 360s. Holiday season is just around the corner, i promise it is on many a child's wish list.
ssuk @ Aug 5th 2007 3:38AM
Table Tenis is a best-selling Xbox 360 title, topping many people's "Game of 2006" awards, including BBC's rag-tag version of it.
It's a game which is easy to play and can be adopted by all gamers quite easily and is just a nice game to have for those rainy days.
Made sense for it to be bundled with consoles, but I wish they would have bundled a bit more of a "HAY, HERE'S WHAT THIS CONSOLE CAN DO" kind of game in with the console, instead of a sort-of Wii Sports counterpart... Oh well.
dsub @ Aug 5th 2007 9:56PM
Marasai-
you'd be surprise how many wee ones have the 360 over the Wii. The only age bracket that the Wii REALLY appeals to is the 12 and under bracket. I rarely get kids older than that coming in asking about Wii stuff. The Wii has the Pokemon-playing age bracket wrapped up tight. The elementary school kids.
Besides, we haven't got the full scoop on this price drop yet. If the core comes with a pack-in 64mb memory unit at $279.99 they will sell by the truckloads. The biggest reason the Wii has enjoyed so much success is it's price. I'm interested in seeing how well it competes with the 360 if it enters into the same price bracket.
Gavin @ Aug 4th 2007 6:51PM
Free Table Tennis don't mean shit to me....new chipset would be a system seller. I will march down and buy one as soon as that is fixed and not a day sooner. It really sucks too, because I want one. Damn you Microsoft!!!
Ryan Smith @ Aug 4th 2007 7:25PM
You do realize that 360's have had updated hardware for a long time now, my launch 360 died, but one I bought a year ago has worked mostly perfectly. Even if it breaks, you have a 3 year warranty, what more could you ask for really.
dsub @ Aug 5th 2007 9:51PM
Ryan's got a good point. Even if you do get one that has the old chips in it, it's covered for three years, so if it does break I'm sure the new one you get will have the new chips in it anyways.
It's not like MS is going to put some stamp on the box that says "guaranteed not to be defective" that would be ludacris. Wait for the price drop and buy one. Even after we discover how to tell exactly what 360's have the 65nm chips and which ones don't, how will you or everyone else get your hands on one?
I work at gamestop, and I sure as hell am not going to go back in the back and nitpick through every 360 to find that has a mfg. date of your liking. Nor is anyone else.
My point is, it's gonna be a while till the 95nm 360's make there way OUT of the retail channel. We're still getting new 360's in that were made in December of 2006. That means that there are 8 months worth of 360's floating around out there in the retail channel.
Nathan Graves @ Aug 4th 2007 7:04PM
Wasn't the Project Gotham Racing 3/Perfect Dark Zero bundle better than this? I mean, I bought that bundle and had fun with the games, so I really can't see this bundle as a bargain.
James S. @ Aug 4th 2007 7:03PM
I think Table Tennis is a better pack-in than PDZ or Kameo because it is in that sort of "casual game" motif that everyone who buys the system can play. It's certainly a great "pick up and play game."
Mr Khan @ Aug 4th 2007 8:02PM
Yeah, i would think that the precedent for the Table Tennis pack-in was set by Wii Sports
hey, if it worked for one competitor, it could certainly be emulated
samfish @ Aug 4th 2007 8:19PM
If Microsoft thinks Table Tennis is going to appeal to the same people who bought Wii Sports, they're kinda completely missing the point, then.
I guess maybe if they're going for the Ignorant Consumer segment of the market they'll trick a few people into buying it, but otherwise...
They'd have been better off throwing in Perfect Dark or Kameo or even a sports game, like someone else mentioned. Microsoft would be smart to go after the people who bought PS2s...NOT the people who are buying Wiis.
By throwing Table Tennis, MS is just *screaming* "WE DON'T GET IT!"
Edge @ Aug 4th 2007 7:06PM
Table Tennis was a pretty good game. From MS' perspective, it's a good pack in game. Value priced, shows off the system, and is fairly casual in nature.
For the hardcore gamer, I could find them less than satisfied. I can see gamers hungry for more than this. Which of course is good for game makers.
Now, considering the timing with the new heat sinks and the warranty, I would not be surprised to see that this is the improved 90nm console, with more reliable cooling. Hey, if it works, I don't care. Just keep me gaming instead of working on my internship paper that's due on monday....
...oh crap.
Thierry @ Aug 4th 2007 7:17PM
It sounds like Microsoft is releasing this package to counter Nintendo's Wii, competition favours the consumers in that way with the included game. If new the core pack price comes close to the Wii, Microsoft might be able to push a few extra consoles this holiday season.
TEK @ Aug 4th 2007 7:19PM
I really think this will be the new 65 nm chipset. I've been reading a forum link on the official xbox forums and a user named MRCUR seems to know a lot about lot numbers and what not. He indicated that there would be some sort of change in packaging to denote consoles manufactured in a certain lot number or later and were made in late July...this could be that sign.
I doubt MS would openly advertise the 65 nm reduction. The general public probably wouldn't know what that means.
http://forums.xbox.com/18/13882627/ShowPost.aspx#13882627
Check out the thread - its 18 pages and counting.
Blizz4l9 @ Aug 4th 2007 7:24PM
Nothin bad about a free game and if it has the 65nm chip even better.
The1 @ Aug 4th 2007 7:26PM
I would have added Halo 1 and Halo2 to the mix as well.
Papa @ Aug 4th 2007 7:26PM
I like the bundle I got from Fry's back in Oct. 06.
It came with Saint's Row, Dead Rising and Test Drive.
Neebs @ Aug 4th 2007 7:35PM
In your face, Wii Sports!
Luigi193 @ Aug 4th 2007 7:40PM
Cool! Thats a good expanded audience game...probably what MS wants.
Imadogg @ Aug 4th 2007 7:45PM
Hell yes. This bundle is coming out just in time for Balls of Fury. Nice job M$
James @ Aug 4th 2007 7:51PM
I could never get into this game, it's a nice try to oust Wii Sports, how about bundling some free points cards with the system so users have a choice?
But I already have a 360 so it'd mean bugger all to me!
Champloo @ Aug 4th 2007 8:09PM
This is what I've been waiting for since the Xbox 360 launched. I love all the next-gen consoles, but the 360 is my console of choice from a value/game/etc perspective. Come shortly after Christmas time I'm almost certain I'll finally have the console.
I've been waiting for better hardware (IE: the extra heatsinks, the 65nm chips, and other internal revisions), better backwards compatibility, stronger firmware, and a price drop; as most people have. And now all of those are either finally happening, or on there way within the next couple of months.
Beyond that I'm pleasantly surprised to see that not only are they dropping the Premium's price by $50, but they're packing in a game for added value. With the Wii I knew I was paying a little extra for Wii Sports, regardless if I wanted to. But with this, the price is lower AND there's a game, it's a win win scenario. Plus there's the whole extended warranty bit, so even if the hardware does malfunction, it will be fixed in no time.
Only two things could possibly make this better for me: a larger HDD (40-50GBs is my ideal number), and another $50 knocked from the price. All in all though, I'm rather pleased. I've been waiting a long time for this, and now finally the time has come.
AlexP @ Aug 4th 2007 8:37PM
Dude, it's f'ing Table Tennis! TABLE TENNIS! LOOK AT ALL THE ADDED VALUE!
SHIT MAN I'M HAVING AN HEART ATTACK THAT'S TOO MUCH VALUE AT ONCE, A SHIT CONSOLE AND A PSEUDO-SPORT GAME ALL IN ONE SHITTY OVERPRICED PACKAGE
Massivesoft will never cease to impress me. :D
... Or not.
AlexP @ Aug 4th 2007 8:39PM
How about a coupon for a game of my choice, instead? Seriously, Table Tennis... Urgh.
Mudkips could work, too.
Champloo @ Aug 4th 2007 8:42PM
Errr... that's not really what I meant. I'll probably never really play the game, but the fact of the matter is that *A* free game is better than *NO* free game. Even if you don't like it, you could sell the game and make a little bit off money off of your purchase.
If someone comes up to you and offers you a car for a lower price than you've seen that car anywhere else, that's a deal. But then if they say they want to give you a free blender as well, where's the harm? You get a cheaper car AND a free blender. A less pricey console AND a free game. Free = good no matter what you're getting.
Babel @ Aug 5th 2007 6:09AM
If only the 'heart attack' hadn't been sarcastic...
Sidepocket @ Aug 4th 2007 8:45PM
Before: Look! Sony is dropping the price and adding a game! BWAAHAHAH! That shows they are in the lose! Also, who the hell would want to buy Wii Sports? Its not even a game!
After: Microsoft is a genius! They lowered the price and packed in a game! Not any game, but a sissy non-hardcore casual game! MUST BUY!
Don't you just love fan boys? :D
Deckard3 @ Aug 4th 2007 9:14PM
Let's not forget everyone who was saying GTA is Rockstar's only decent franchise after they announged a PS3 exclusive title was coming .
bounchfx @ Aug 4th 2007 9:15PM
that's funny, because sony didn't drop the price and add a game. they just added a game. that you can get a hell of a lot cheaper online.
in fact they basically raised the price.
should have stayed at 500.
Sidepocket @ Aug 4th 2007 9:18PM
@ bounchfx
Thank you for missing the point Mr.Douchelick :D
captainawesome @ Aug 5th 2007 2:38AM
The people who want to buy Wii Sports are the people who aren't posting on gaming blogs.
Sidepocket @ Aug 5th 2007 1:01PM
@ captainawesome
Yes, and fanboys cried out that no one would like the game. Your point?
captainawesome @ Aug 5th 2007 1:35PM
I was replying to sidepocket's post, where he said no one wants to buy Wii Sports. For a lot of non gamers, Wii Sports is the REASON they buy a Wii.
bounchfx @ Aug 4th 2007 8:44PM
just the fact that some of you are going 'ugh' means you've probably never played it.
it's the best ping pong game ever made.
but in total seriousness, it's a fun ass game
ohayes @ Aug 4th 2007 10:46PM
hey i dont think this is a bad idea really..... kinda reminds me when the master system came packed with Alex the Kidd or the Mega Drive (Genesis to the Americans) came with Columns and Altered Beast... a fun game that anyone can play (table tennis on 360 has helped pass many a drunken night with friends for me)
steve @ Aug 4th 2007 9:04PM
I work at best buy and we just got some of these premiums with top spin included. Also i looked at the manufacture date on the system and it was from October of last year, so unfortunately these wont have the new 65 nm processor.
Sidepocket @ Aug 4th 2007 9:20PM
Oh and those were two a separate things. Sony lowered the price AND packed in a game. Not into the same box mind you, but that is what they did. Learn to fucking read next time. :D
SoxFan13 @ Aug 4th 2007 10:03PM
Hello? That's the point. Since Sony did it in two separate SKUs, your first point doesn't compare to what MS did. Learn to make a salient point next time :D
Sidepocket @ Aug 5th 2007 1:01PM
@ SoxFan13
Both Mario and Banjo jumps. "Oh! But one is a plumber and one is a bear!" Fuck you, they both jump.
Microsoft and Sony both lowered prices and added in games. End of line. Either this method is seen universally as a good thing or its not. Make up your mind.
Oh, and fucking "salient"? Yea, nice to have Dictionary.com ready so you can pretend you graduated from fucking Harvard. By the way, you and your baseball team suck anus. :)
IAMDUDE70 @ Aug 4th 2007 9:35PM
I got a bundle that included Kameo and PGR3.
hvnlysoldr @ Aug 4th 2007 9:52PM
Pssh. They missed it. Casuals like Wii Tennis and Wii Bowling and there's no standout bowling game to win them over on 360.
emax @ Aug 4th 2007 9:56PM
This is not limited to Best Buy. I was just in my Houston Micro Center today and I saw these packages behind the counter. Should've nabbed a pic...
dsub @ Aug 4th 2007 9:59PM
This would explain why we've been out of Premium & Core 360's all week.
dsub @ Aug 4th 2007 10:00PM
Forgot to mention. Sony has stopped sending the 60GB PS3's to gamestop. We have 8 left at the store I work at. Once they are gone it's back up to $599.99.
ForceUnleashed @ Aug 4th 2007 10:14PM
Thanks for the heads up dsub...
I think this is a good move by MS. Everyone loves free stuff and this is a sports game as well which will appeal to SOME consumers.
Coupled with the price drop it should have some impact.
As for sony....business as usual. Its hilarious how they're saying that no rumble controller is in the works though Joystiq and other websites have claimed that developers already have it in hands. However I would like to know for certain...is it true rumble? Or is it something different? I've been hearing about this "TouchSense" stuff. Is it something new and unique or just some bs made up by sony to cover up the fact that it is rumble?