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 (Page 1 of 2)
phattie @ Oct 8th 2007 11:03AM
Meh, retailers have been doing their own bundles since the beginning.
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 11:07AM
Yeah, but an extra charge. This are free.
Noob.
Vidikron (FU) @ Oct 8th 2007 11:07AM
Sure, but two free games? I've seen plenty of retailer bundles, but the bundles are always more expensive than the just buying the system alone.
StrangeBum @ Oct 8th 2007 11:08AM
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!
Exo @ Oct 8th 2007 11:08AM
meh, you have been making idiotic posts from the beginning.
Theres a big difference between this bundle and a retailer one, cause this one isn't adding the game price to the package,
FrankTheCrank @ Oct 8th 2007 11:41AM
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.
blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 12:10PM
frank you could trade the games in for probably over $50 worth
sheppy2.0 @ Oct 8th 2007 1:32PM
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."
Vidikron (FU) @ Oct 8th 2007 11:09AM
Any word on how long these bundles will be around? Will they last through Christmas or will they disappear before then?
mfed3 @ Oct 8th 2007 11:47AM
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.
Louis @ Oct 8th 2007 11:11AM
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.
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 11:11AM
The games will come each one in one disc and in the original packaging, like the retailer version?
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 11:15AM
Im asking cause I dont like the Greatest Hits, Platinum Hits and Players Choice versions.
StrangeBum @ Oct 8th 2007 11:16AM
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.
Princess Skittles @ Oct 8th 2007 11:14AM
Sony, remove PS2 support.
Microsoft, two free games.
Nice.
FrankTheCrank @ Oct 8th 2007 11:26AM
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?
blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 11:32AM
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
Mr Khan @ Oct 8th 2007 12:09PM
Yeah, you buy a 360 at this point, its essentially insured until the end of the 7th generation (2010)
That was the beauty of a 3 year warranty starting in 2007
CaptainAmericaX @ Oct 8th 2007 12:52PM
You are such a troll...
ulovemikeroch @ Oct 8th 2007 4:43PM
This is funny coming from Captain America. YOU of all people cannot call anybody a troll.
Sidepocket @ Oct 8th 2007 11:27AM
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!" :)
License to ill @ Oct 8th 2007 11:47AM
Nintendo thanks you, now go wipe your chin...
Vidikron (FU) @ Oct 8th 2007 11:50AM
It's a bundle... Nintendo does bundles with their DS and it seems to sell fine. I really don't think mulitple SKUs really have a big impact on sales in terms of causing confusion and lowering sales.
Korova @ Oct 8th 2007 5:55PM
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.
JodyAnthony (FDF - Hedonism Bot) @ Oct 8th 2007 11:28AM
I may have to pick me up one o dem elites
vinny @ Oct 8th 2007 11:33AM
$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
phattie @ Oct 8th 2007 11:38AM
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.
Ska Oreo @ Oct 8th 2007 11:48AM
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.
vinny @ Oct 8th 2007 12:34PM
can't help but feel sorry for people like phattie, wasting $600 would prob make me have a shitty attitude about everything to
YATTA! @ Oct 8th 2007 11:37AM
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.
vinny @ Oct 8th 2007 11:51AM
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.
Ska Oreo @ Oct 8th 2007 11:53AM
same here. No problems. I had mine since Jan 2007.
Starlord1138 @ Oct 8th 2007 12:04PM
"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.
StrangeBum @ Oct 8th 2007 12:10PM
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.
rdj75 @ Oct 8th 2007 12:52PM
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.
ZapBranigan @ Oct 8th 2007 11:40AM
What about the Arcade (Core replacement) bundle?
Ska Oreo @ Oct 8th 2007 11:41AM
So I think we can officially say that the 360 won this holiday season.
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Oct 8th 2007 11:44AM
Well... we have to wait. Maybe Nintendo will offer some free game too (Super Paper Mario or something like that) and new Wii colors.
Ska Oreo @ Oct 8th 2007 11:47AM
maybe. If that happens I would defiantly buy a Wii.
Korova @ Oct 8th 2007 6:03PM
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.
mfed3 @ Oct 8th 2007 11:48AM
two discs original two cases
Gamer98 @ Oct 8th 2007 11:55AM
Sweet
So much better than the 40gb Ps3 deal...I cant even call that shit a deal
Kazi @ Oct 8th 2007 11:55AM
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.
phattie @ Oct 8th 2007 12:03PM
You got that with WiiSports.
toLkKi @ Oct 8th 2007 12:10PM
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.
Ska Oreo @ Oct 8th 2007 12:25PM
woah woah woah WOAH!!!!
you take that back or I will personally send Deadpool to kill you.
Vidikron (FU) @ Oct 8th 2007 1:00PM
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.
Mr Khan @ Oct 8th 2007 12:13PM
It is honestly getting a bit confusing at this point, with both of them
different region models, different tiers, different capabilities, different bundles
I mean choice is good, but lets not go crazy
Leobebes @ Oct 8th 2007 12:24PM
I have had my elite since the first day they released the elites. Not one problem. No freezing issues, not framerate issuse, nothing! I play like 4-5 hours a night. It would be naive to think there are no more issues regarding the dreaded RROD, but maybe the defective rate has finally been dropped to industry standards. Also to say that a non RROD xbox 360 is the exception to the rule is a pretty ignorant statement. I highly doubt the majority of the systems were burning out. Sure it probably was 40% of systems dying but still that is less than half which does not make healthy 360's the exception to the rule.
Starlord1138 @ Oct 8th 2007 12:40PM
The statement was a bit imprecise, I'll give you that. I was shooting too much for hyperbole there. ;)
But your comment that "it probably was 40% of systems dying" isn't exactly a heartwarming vote of confidence, either. A 40% -- or even 25% -- hardware failure rate on such a high-profile product is abysmal, even laughable.
It's also equally naive to think that the Falcons will solve anything when NO ONE has even had a Falcon 360 long enough to confirm if there's an improvement.
Just trying to be realistic here. Believe me, I'd love to get a 360 that ends up being as reliable as yours. Recent statistics don't support that possibility, however.