Xbox 360 Arcade finally official, released today for $280

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 23rd 2007 at 12:08AM }

It's about time! Microsoft finally announced the Xbox 360 Arcade (the replacement for the Core) will go on sale October 23 -- that's today, folks -- for $280. Even after being found in the wild and unboxed, Microsoft still refused to acknowledge the console's existence until this past Sunday. The console comes with a 256MB Memory Unit, a wireless controller, HDMI port, and a disc that includes five full Xbox Live Arcade games: Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship, and Uno. Despite the unit having an HDMI port, it only comes with standard-def composite cables (the red, white and yellow one), instead of the high-def component/composite hybrid cables bundled with its big brothers.

Also note, the inclusion of a 'Superman Indian Air' silhouette on the retail box (see the guy on the bike?) is not confirmation that an actual BMX game is forthcoming.

Update: Major Nelson just pinged us to correct the status of the packaged Xbox Live Arcade titles; they are full games, not trials; 2: Europe gets it Oct. 26 for £200 (no € given).

Gallery: Xbox 360 Arcade

Tags: arcade, breakingnews, xbox360, xbox360arcade

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

chad @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:15AM

According to the xbox website, the games are full games, not trials.

gonk @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:16AM

yeah, someone posted the disc contents and it's 5 full (arcade i think) games and 5 other varios demos

chad @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:21AM

It even says on www.majornelson.com that they are the full version.

rTwelve @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:35AM

Superman Indian air? What the heck did you get that from?

It's clearly Evel Knievel.

JL @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:35AM

"Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship, and Uno"

Damn. MS is really pulling out all the stops on this one.

gonk @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:15AM

today's only the 22nd

Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Oct 23rd 2007 5:59AM

He-he...

Check the date of post: 8 minutes into 23rd ^_^

Wilhelm @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:16AM

I have to say, that 5 'Trial' games disc is retarded. That's just mean.

gonk @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:17AM

i don't know why people keep saying that, someone posted the disc contents and it's 5 full arcade games and 5 demos

Wilhelm @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:24AM

I keep saying it because: "...includes five Xbox Live Arcade trial games..."

That's why. If that isn't true, then cool.

NATO_Duke @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:14AM

Christ man - "Update: Major Nelson just pinged us to correct the status of the packaged Xbox Live Arcade titles; they are full games, not trials."

It has been said over and over that they were full games. Move on to dissing it for whatever other lame thing you can, but this point is dead.

Wilhelm @ Oct 23rd 2007 4:53PM

LMAO. I like how I posted my comment less than 10 minutes after the article was posted, thus BEFORE the update was added to it. Wait, wouldn't that mean that as far as my knowledge went, that it was only trial games. Oh jolly gee, it does.

Dissing it? Why would I diss it? I'm not a Sony fanboy... far from it. I have a 360 and couldn't be happier with it. This 'Arcade' bundle is a really good deal, now that's it's confirmed those are the full games. Thanks for being suck a jackass about it NATO.

Charron @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:19AM

So, how long until the 5-game disc is available used at Gamestop? They had the Forza/Marvel disc pretty much day one, IIRC...

JJ Rooster @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:35AM

I wonder when it will be on Newsgroups!

nxtiak @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:19AM

Major Nelson posted it's 5 full arcade games on disc.

Scott @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:21AM

Haven't we went over this 12897341 times???

the game ARE F'N FULL!!

FULL

FULL

FULL!!!!!!

http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/10/22/officially-announcing-the-xbox-360-arcade-finally.aspx

Huey2k2 @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:23AM

That's actually a fantastic deal if you don't care about playing on live. I know if I didn't already have a 360 and I was shopping around for a cheap console it'd definitely be my number one choice.

gonk @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:28AM

hell yeah, my friend in cali is gonna get one this week.

way cheaper than $400, right? hahaha

ruibing @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:28AM

But don't a lot of the new full games (not XBLA ones) require a HDD?

gonk @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:38AM

well a memory card, to save your spot

ruibing @ Oct 23rd 2007 2:01AM

I was referring to this article I read awhile ago. It seems limited to a few games that has a requirement sticker and just enhances experience for others, but it might be an issue with MS's proprietary interface.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161805

Hirsbrunner @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:31AM

If a memory card is all that's necessary to save games (and not a HDD), I may just pick this up.

Been on the fence for a while about a 360, but the price w/a wireless controller might just be the tipping point.

Plus, I want to see what that BIOSHOCK game is about. Looks and sounds pretty cool.

CaptNink @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:59AM

"Plus, I want to see what that BIOSHOCK game is about. Looks and sounds pretty cool."

You will love Bioshock! Best game I have played in a long time. :D

Jose El Maton @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:25AM

Please, please, please... Let Engadget not make an, "Xbox 360 Arcade Officially Official," post. Por el amor de Dios...

jc @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:26AM

Joystiq... please correct. All the arcade games listed are full version. The thing that is tripping everyone up is it also includes 5 additional trial games.

alhogar @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:36AM

What might be helpful to end this confusion is if SOMEbody would also tell us what the 5 trial version games are!

popozao @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:41AM

Meh. Xbox360: The good enough choice.

FM @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:41AM

Gotta love the PR spin..MAYBE one TV show on a 256mb card. XBL users,what is the avg filesize for a TV show?

gonk @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:44AM

i dunno, you'd have to be a retard to pay money for tv episodes

Wes @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:21AM

@gonk
Not necessarily an idiot. You could just love high definition video which is hard to find as dl in actual high defintion reoslutions and takes a while to dl thorugh traditional methods and don't have a high def cable or satalite set top box.

Also, xbox live video marketplace has high definition anime. If your an Anime fan its easier to get high def anime on xbox live and cheaper than buying blu-rays or hd-dvds or much easier than trying to find satalite/cable channels that offer high definition anime channels. Is there any?

gonk @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:40AM

if you like anime, download it subtitled a day after it airs in japan, instead of waiting for it to be dubbed over a year later

jovin6 @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:46AM

QFT. Dubs make baby Jesus cry.

megaStryke @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:30AM

Fansub elitists make Baby Jesus cry.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:08AM

I think waiting a full year is what makes baby jesus cry. Got nothing to do with dubbing (as long as the dubbing is good)

Also, you don't "own" anything you download on XBL video. You have 2 weeks to watch it and then your 5 dollar license expires.

Bittorrent is still the fastest and most feature rich way of digital distribution. If I could buy something on XBL and then own it, and transfer it to my PC, I'd be all about it. Until then, mininova is my friend.

Mr Slavio @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:15AM

FUD. Marketplace TV shows stay on your hard drive. Movies are the ones that expire.

FM @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:42AM

Gotta love the PR spin..MAYBE one TV show on a 256mb card. XBL users,what is the avg filesize for a TV show?

phattie @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:45AM

I wonder if they will write in large letter across the front: NOT COMPATIBLE WITH XBOX GAMES

... i know people were bitching that Sony do the same when news broke of the 40gb units.

Poisoned Al @ Oct 23rd 2007 4:32AM

Because you need a hard drive for BC on the 360. It was the same with the Core. All the hooting over the PS3 is because Sony made a big song and dance about BC when the bloody thing was launched, THEN dropped it.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:27AM

Microsoft made a big deal of it, promised full compatibility and never delivered it. They still promise it in their BC FAQ ("100% compatibility is our goal"), even though they haven't increased BC in some time.

Sony promised it, delivered it, noticed that people were buying 360s despite lousy BC and then made new models that didn't have full BC (and now no BC).

Yes, Sony changed directions here. But given the success of their competitor, wouldn't you be inclined to copy their tactics too?

CaptainAmericaX @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:45AM

$280 vs $250

NOT too bad if you ask me. Especially if you consider all the stuff the 360 has to offer a consumer.

Better graphics. More expansive library. Wireless controller (just like the Wiimote) and a memory unit.

I think its a great deal.

Should sell decent enough. Its marketed perfectly.

I'd consider a 4 sku for MS. The Arcade, The Core, The Premium, and The Elite

The Halo 3 version is a special edition Premium. And all cores and premiums are probably being made with HDMI so that argument is useless (not to mention very nitpicky).

Sidepocket @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:45AM

Wireless controller (just like the Wiimote)

Are you high?

Saying the Wiimote is the same as the 360 Pad is like saying a Alligator and a Dog are the same because they both have four legs and a tail.

WTF? And puff puff pass!

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Oct 23rd 2007 2:19AM

I think what he meant is that the XB360 wireless controller is also able to smash your TV like a Wiimote just play the wireless controller with sweaty hands moving it around like an idiot and there you go.

CaptainAmericaX @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:20AM

@ GuyBelow

Ummm are you retarded?

Clearly they're the same thing...wireless. As in no wires required. As in it sends some kinda electronic signal or w/e to communicate between the console and the controller?

I mean I don't know what else I can say to make it clearer for you...

tga @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:50AM

Hi,

There's no backwards compatibility on this...

Check out the comparison chart at the bottom of this page:

http://www.xbox.com:80/en-US/hardware/compare101.htm

I posted this on engadget too

Exo @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:00AM

It has no BC because it doesnt come with a harddrive.

So you can have bc on it provided you pick up the HDD later.

and posting it on Engadget only means you made yourself look stupid there too

tga @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:26AM

Exo,

Nowhere on that page does it mention that you can get backwards compatibility.

Take a look.

Synner @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:40AM

You are a fucking idiot. The only thing you have to do to get BC on ANY 360 is add a hard drive moron. It is all done in software. When you go online you will be updated to the newest BC software and you are gtg. lurn 2 reed.

Exo @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:40AM

And you need to learn how to read. BC is done through software emulation, and you need to have a HDD to have that feature, 360 arcade pack has no hard drive with it so you can play out of the box, but you can with a hard drive once you buy one.

Its not rocket science, but it may be hard for the average fanboy to understand.

tga @ Oct 23rd 2007 2:01AM

wow...

you guys are sure upset about this.

Thanks for the useful comments though. They are duly noted.

For the record, where should you read this useful info Msoft doesn't put it on their main page explaining the differences?

Obviously, your opinion is that I should have known this already. I'm curious how this would be the case for a first time xbox 360 customer?

This is not a dig on Msoft or the xbox 360.