If you've yet to get yourself an Xbox 360 in this post-Halo 3 world, Microsoft is of a mind to sway you with fast cars and terrifyingly tight pants this holiday season. New Xbox 360 bundles (yep, these ones) are set to arrive "retail-wide by the end of October," with both the $349.99 "Pro" and the $449.99 Elite models offering two games at no extra charge -- racing sim Forza Motorsport 2 and supervillain clobberfest, Marvel Ultimate Alliance.
Though Project Gotham Racing 4's arcade styling would have held more general appeal than Forza's serious nitty-gritty, the latter's unquestionably a fine game for a freebie. The same holds true for Marvel Ultimate Alliance, a fun and accessible adventure both online and off. We rather like this bundling business.
Reader Comments (67)
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:03AM (Unverified) said
Meh, retailers have been doing their own bundles since the beginning.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:07AM Fernando Rocker said
Yeah, but an extra charge. This are free.
Noob.
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Noob.
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:08AM (Unverified) said
Yeah. They have, but I think it's much better when the company them self does it. Because retailers tend to charge you ridiculous prices for their bundles.
I'm thinking of picking up the Go Play! arcade edition. Especially since they are all supposed to have HDMI now, and I just picked up a nice HDTV!
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I'm thinking of picking up the Go Play! arcade edition. Especially since they are all supposed to have HDMI now, and I just picked up a nice HDTV!
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:41AM FrankTheCrank said
eh, this bundle doesn't do anything for me. I'd rather they keep the games and give me an additional $50 off the Pro price. Also, make sure it says FALCON somewhere on the box.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 12:10PM (Unverified) said
frank you could trade the games in for probably over $50 worth
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 1:32PM (Unverified) said
Actually, and I really hate to support Phattie here, but there have been retailer exclusive bundles in the past. I've seen em.
Walmart is the prime offender where I've seen Call Of Duty 2 bundled and PGR3. Naturally only one game. These will likely be on a single disc to prevent people from store crediting them.
I'm just upset these aren't coming in the arcade bundle. Why? Well, once I get my 360 back again, I'm selling that fucker and buying an Arcade machine. Sorry, MS, but five refurbish jobs are my limit before I call a system Shite and grab the latest revision. I know the falcons won't solve the problem but they'll be another 3 year warranty and not compete directly against my Dreamcast for "loudest system ever."
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Walmart is the prime offender where I've seen Call Of Duty 2 bundled and PGR3. Naturally only one game. These will likely be on a single disc to prevent people from store crediting them.
I'm just upset these aren't coming in the arcade bundle. Why? Well, once I get my 360 back again, I'm selling that fucker and buying an Arcade machine. Sorry, MS, but five refurbish jobs are my limit before I call a system Shite and grab the latest revision. I know the falcons won't solve the problem but they'll be another 3 year warranty and not compete directly against my Dreamcast for "loudest system ever."
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:47AM (Unverified) said
no official word but the way it worked with xbox 1 was they had a bundle until right after christmas, then they price dropped again. if that lower priced ps3 ever comes out this holiday in the us, i can immagine that speeding up even faster than what happened last time. all ms has to do is keep the elite on line with the ps3's price and theyll always be ahead this gen since they inherently have a much better game catalogue.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:14AM (Unverified) said
Sony, remove PS2 support.
Microsoft, two free games.
Nice.
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Microsoft, two free games.
Nice.
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:11AM Lou3000 said
I'm not in the market anymore, but this definitely would help offset worries about RROD for Christmas if for $349 I can get a 360 and 2 games (both are still $60 too). Or I could spend $399 and get a PS3 with no Backwards Compatability, no games, and a controller that is already essentially discontinued.
I would also assume that since these are all new bundles, they will all have HDMI and will probably be sporting the new Falcon chipset.
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I would also assume that since these are all new bundles, they will all have HDMI and will probably be sporting the new Falcon chipset.
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:11AM Fernando Rocker said
The games will come each one in one disc and in the original packaging, like the retailer version?
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:15AM Fernando Rocker said
Im asking cause I dont like the Greatest Hits, Platinum Hits and Players Choice versions.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:16AM (Unverified) said
That could be unlikely.
They did the same thing with the original Xbox. Jet Set Radio Future, and Sega GT Rally. Both games and some demos on one disc. It rather sucked. But I have to say JSRF was a damn fun game.
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They did the same thing with the original Xbox. Jet Set Radio Future, and Sega GT Rally. Both games and some demos on one disc. It rather sucked. But I have to say JSRF was a damn fun game.
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 7:01PM (Unverified) said
Remember when bundles came with the cream of the crop games?
The Sega Genesis came with Sonic 1 or 2 at different points. The Super Nintendo came with Super Mario World for crying out loud!
Those were the days...
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The Sega Genesis came with Sonic 1 or 2 at different points. The Super Nintendo came with Super Mario World for crying out loud!
Those were the days...
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:26AM FrankTheCrank said
They've almost got me as a customer. 360 and I have the trifecta of next gen systems.
I just have to be assured that my console with not break down(RROD).
Is that too much to ask for?
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I just have to be assured that my console with not break down(RROD).
Is that too much to ask for?
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:32AM (Unverified) said
frank it's ok. mine hasn't rrod's in 2 years, and now they supposedly do it even less often! and the 3 year warranty is from whenever you buy it
seriously, the games are worth the slight chance of a rrod. just don't leave the 360 on for a week at a time and you should be ok
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seriously, the games are worth the slight chance of a rrod. just don't leave the 360 on for a week at a time and you should be ok
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 4:43PM (Unverified) said
This is funny coming from Captain America. YOU of all people cannot call anybody a troll.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:27AM (Unverified) said
This is what I love about the "Blue Ocean Strategy"
Microsoft and Sony release a new SKU every 2 months, each with minor upgrades like the PC market. They add this, take that, do this, bla bla bla. Each trying to out do last months model. Meanwhile Nintendo launches one Wii and it spreads like Wildfire.
When you buy as Wii, you get a Wii. Everything in that package is all you need to play. Simple. Efficient.
I have actually watched parents go to Best Buy and Game Stop. They ask for a 360/PS3. The guy then tells them which version and they are shocked. So the guy explains each version and it hits the person like the 2000 elections. They go away buying nothing or buying a game for the last gen system there kid has.
Hell I have even seen kids do this! Nothing made my day than when a 12 year old kid looked at a PSP, then was told how much it was and the kids yelled "SCREW THAT! DS IS $40 CHEAPER GIVE ME!" :)
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Microsoft and Sony release a new SKU every 2 months, each with minor upgrades like the PC market. They add this, take that, do this, bla bla bla. Each trying to out do last months model. Meanwhile Nintendo launches one Wii and it spreads like Wildfire.
When you buy as Wii, you get a Wii. Everything in that package is all you need to play. Simple. Efficient.
I have actually watched parents go to Best Buy and Game Stop. They ask for a 360/PS3. The guy then tells them which version and they are shocked. So the guy explains each version and it hits the person like the 2000 elections. They go away buying nothing or buying a game for the last gen system there kid has.
Hell I have even seen kids do this! Nothing made my day than when a 12 year old kid looked at a PSP, then was told how much it was and the kids yelled "SCREW THAT! DS IS $40 CHEAPER GIVE ME!" :)
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 5:55PM Korova Pamplona said
You, my curious and nosy friend, witness a bad sales person in action, not a multiple SKU problem. Car dealerships do not suffer from multiple car trims turning customers away - they upsell.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:33AM (Unverified) said
$600 for a ps3 with 1 game or $350 for a 360 with 2 games, REAL tough decision there, r.i.p. ps3, we hardly knew ya
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:38AM (Unverified) said
Its a great deal indeed. And, with the RRoD coverage, you end up getting at least 3 or 4 360s for the price of one... hope you're friendly with your delivery person.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:48AM Vegeta has a ps3 said
oooh looks like someways a bit jealous that their company isn't being as nice. I mean while we (xbots) get a nice bundle, you get a 40gb ps3 with no backwards compatibility.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 12:34PM (Unverified) said
can't help but feel sorry for people like phattie, wasting $600 would prob make me have a shitty attitude about everything to
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:37AM (Unverified) said
I'd be more interested in this bundle if I wasn't afraid my 360 would brick on me in the middle of playing them.
Until MS sorts out their hardware problems and REALLY fixes their console (note: the Falcon chipset won't help; the problem's with the GPU, not the CPU), I'm not confident in buying their system.
For all its lack of software, the PS3 provides a built-in Blu-Ray player, built-in Wi-Fi (even the Elites don't have Wi-Fi out of the box; you have to "unlock" it with an adapter), and built-in Bluetooth functionality. When the long-rumored $399 SKU comes out, it'll be a fantastic deal. And the games WILL come.
I love the games on the horizon for the 360 and am eager to play them, but I'm pissed-off at MS's inability to fix a CATASTROPHIC flaw in their design process.
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Until MS sorts out their hardware problems and REALLY fixes their console (note: the Falcon chipset won't help; the problem's with the GPU, not the CPU), I'm not confident in buying their system.
For all its lack of software, the PS3 provides a built-in Blu-Ray player, built-in Wi-Fi (even the Elites don't have Wi-Fi out of the box; you have to "unlock" it with an adapter), and built-in Bluetooth functionality. When the long-rumored $399 SKU comes out, it'll be a fantastic deal. And the games WILL come.
I love the games on the horizon for the 360 and am eager to play them, but I'm pissed-off at MS's inability to fix a CATASTROPHIC flaw in their design process.
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:51AM (Unverified) said
new heatsinks, new falcon chips, problem has been fixed since summer, enjoy your 360
ps. ive had my 360 since feb 06, not 1 problem ever and i play just about every day for hours.
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ps. ive had my 360 since feb 06, not 1 problem ever and i play just about every day for hours.
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:53AM Vegeta has a ps3 said
same here. No problems. I had mine since Jan 2007.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 12:04PM (Unverified) said
"new heatsinks, new falcon chips, problem has been fixed since summer, enjoy your 360
ps. ive had my 360 since feb 06, not 1 problem ever and i play just about every day for hours."
Good for you. You'd be one of the exceptions to the rule, unfortunately. If you spend even a little bit of time on the official Xbox forums, you'd see dozens upon dozens of topics dedicated solely to the RROD issue, which btw is CONTINUING even with people who bought the newer systems that have improved heatsinks. I can show you a few pretty pictures of new Elites with the 3 RROD emblazoned on the front.
Also, like I said earlier, the Falcon won't solve the problem. It might *help,* but the overheating issues stem from the GPU, NOT the CPU, and this has been well-documented by now. The GPU is still at least several months away from going down to 65 nm.
Plus, there's only been one supposed sighting of a Falcon 360 so far, and even that one case hasn't been confirmed. So there really hasn't been any real-world proof that the Falcons have helped with anything.
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ps. ive had my 360 since feb 06, not 1 problem ever and i play just about every day for hours."
Good for you. You'd be one of the exceptions to the rule, unfortunately. If you spend even a little bit of time on the official Xbox forums, you'd see dozens upon dozens of topics dedicated solely to the RROD issue, which btw is CONTINUING even with people who bought the newer systems that have improved heatsinks. I can show you a few pretty pictures of new Elites with the 3 RROD emblazoned on the front.
Also, like I said earlier, the Falcon won't solve the problem. It might *help,* but the overheating issues stem from the GPU, NOT the CPU, and this has been well-documented by now. The GPU is still at least several months away from going down to 65 nm.
Plus, there's only been one supposed sighting of a Falcon 360 so far, and even that one case hasn't been confirmed. So there really hasn't been any real-world proof that the Falcons have helped with anything.
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 12:10PM (Unverified) said
Same here vinny. Had my 360 since March 06. Not one problem. And with the new 360's having the better heatsinks and the falcon chip I can say that the system will be better than ever no problem.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 12:52PM (Unverified) said
Yeah, yeah, yeah, how in the hell is bluray and wifi improving my gaming experience on the ps3 when there really isn't anything worth playing on it(except for two or three titles or so)? Now I will also say this, I have a core360 in my room that has lasted with no issues at all since Jan06 and at the same time I have a premium in the living room of my house of which i am on the fourth premium. Even though I have had rrod issues three times with my premiums, I am still getting way more enjoyment out of my 360 compared to my ps3 and I have had a ps3 since day 1.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:40AM ZapBranigan said
What about the Arcade (Core replacement) bundle?
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:41AM Vegeta has a ps3 said
So I think we can officially say that the 360 won this holiday season.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:44AM Fernando Rocker said
Well... we have to wait. Maybe Nintendo will offer some free game too (Super Paper Mario or something like that) and new Wii colors.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:47AM Vegeta has a ps3 said
maybe. If that happens I would defiantly buy a Wii.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 6:03PM Korova Pamplona said
Man, if they offer us colors, there will probably be massive hysteria and it will be dangerous to walk past the Nintendo store.
I would go for a hot pick one, though.
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I would go for a hot pick one, though.
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 2:05PM (Unverified) said
Does anyone know what percentage of 360s have suffered from the RROD? I've had mine since launch and experienced no problems whatsoever.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:55AM (Unverified) said
Sweet
So much better than the 40gb Ps3 deal...I cant even call that shit a deal
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So much better than the 40gb Ps3 deal...I cant even call that shit a deal
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 11:55AM (Unverified) said
I hope all this bundling carries over to the launches of the next generation of systems. It was great back in the day when you could just go buy a system and one of the greatest games for the system was already right there with it.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 12:10PM (Unverified) said
Just doesn't make sense, why would you include one of the greatest racing games of all time with one of the worst games of all time.
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Posted: Oct 8th 2007 12:25PM Vegeta has a ps3 said
woah woah woah WOAH!!!!
you take that back or I will personally send Deadpool to kill you.
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you take that back or I will personally send Deadpool to kill you.
Posted: Oct 8th 2007 1:00PM Vidikron said
Say what? Ultimate Alliance isn't for everyone, but it's not even close to being the worst game of all time! It's actually a pretty damn good game... especially if you can get some friends together for a little co-op. I think it makes a great pack-in game due to its co-op support.
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