Full-page Kmart ad showing $299 Xbox 360 [update]
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Jun 27th 2008 at 11:30AM }
click to embiggen
Following up on yesterday's rumor that the Xbox 360 Premium model will soon fall to $299, Joystiq has received (from a separate source) what we believe may be the full-page Kmart ad confirming the price drop . However, our new source says that the flyer is actually for the week of July 13 (E3 week!) and not the originally reported week of July 6. We're attempting to get a better quality scan (this latest image is courtesy of another cell phone) and hope to update by this evening.
Update: We now have a very good quality scan of the page. Click the image above to check it out.
[Thanks to everyone assisting in this story!!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jun 27th 2008 11:36AM
If the arcade goes below the cost of a Wii, I may be jumping back in.
Gronk @ Jun 27th 2008 11:54AM
Microsoft would love to be able to say they have the cheapest console on the market. I can just picture the E3 chest banging now :-P
Tiptup300 @ Jun 27th 2008 1:25PM
I'm sure the Wii has the ability to lower it's cost, how much does it cost Nintendo to make the unit? Like five dollars?
deaftly @ Jun 27th 2008 2:33PM
http://www.google.com/products?q=duct+tape&btnG=Search+Products
$5 is about right.
Wes @ Jun 27th 2008 2:38PM
Well, duck tape is about $1.00 a roll but if you get the cheap stuff....
*Just kidding* but in all honestly the hardware in the Nintendo Wii is old, shitty, slight better than last-gen hardware that costs probably around $20.00 or less to make.
Its likely only midly more expensive than a ps2 to manufacturer yet due to the controller sells for double. :| That's where all the jokes about the Nintendo Wii prints money come from.
There's just such a large profit margin and marketup on this old hardware due to advertising, word-of-mouth and a motion-sensitive controller.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jun 27th 2008 3:48PM
You know, I hate to argue this (seriously... me? Defend the Wii?!?) but the Wii is definately more than $20.00 to make. Yes, components drop in price as they get older but there is astill a baseline where it starts to level out. Nintendo is manufacturing these parts, not culling them from clearance bins. I'd say they are at LEAST $120 but I wouldn't hazard a guess beyond that. Wii does have tech in it and no matter how dated it may be, they still have to MAKE that tech.
Robotochan @ Jun 27th 2008 11:38AM
Hrmm... we've had it for about that price (exc VAT) for a while http://www.shopto.net/page.php?page=dettagli&codart=XB23600&n=XBOX%20360%20V.2%20Premium%20Pro%20HDMI%20Console%20(20gb%20HDD)&p=XBOX%20360 £180 including VAT is about £155
10169154 @ Jun 27th 2008 2:22PM
You make no sense.
Plus $1 does not equal £1.
That is all.
RickLiddle @ Jun 27th 2008 2:33PM
I think Robotochan makes perfect sense. Without the VAT (value added tax), it's £155 which is US$308 (give or take a dollar or so).
So Robotochan is saying that in the UK, the system is basically already at the same price point.
ThePerfectCompanion @ Jun 27th 2008 11:38AM
Sweet...
MegaWatts @ Jun 27th 2008 11:44AM
Thats so photoshopped! Fake!
//kidding... LOL!
pockyninja @ Jun 27th 2008 11:44AM
OMG PNY 2G USB $10!!!!
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Jun 27th 2008 12:04PM
HEY I MIGHT JUMP ON THAT ONE!
samfish @ Jun 27th 2008 12:20PM
Me too, actually.
Anticrawl @ Jun 27th 2008 1:05PM
Overpriced, check out newegg.
Tiptup300 @ Jun 27th 2008 1:28PM
Actually, at newegg I got one free!
Artean @ Jun 27th 2008 11:57AM
I can almost confirm it would be the week of E3. If you look at the 2 movies Step Up 2 and College Road Trip both release July 15th.
Obie @ Jun 27th 2008 11:57AM
Who says the economy is going to hell? Gamers deals keep getting better and better!
CJLopez @ Jun 27th 2008 12:03PM
Drop to $199 and 'll consider getting one.
There are so many 360 games I wanna play, Death Rising, DOA 5, Ninja Gaiden 2, Lost Odyssey.
Gbogdan @ Jun 27th 2008 12:50PM
I heard Dead Rising* is pretty good too...
xFenixKnightx @ Jun 27th 2008 1:51PM
DOA4 is pretty good too.
steve @ Jun 27th 2008 8:52PM
$199? here ya go
http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=43323
WiNG [Life in a Game] @ Jun 27th 2008 12:12PM
Man, I shoulda held out while my Wii collects dust.
creid @ Jun 27th 2008 12:26PM
A noble click embiggens the smallest ad.
peztrip @ Jun 27th 2008 4:02PM
It's a perfectly cromulent deal.
Mr. Numeros @ Jun 27th 2008 4:35PM
In fact, its cromulence embiggens all of us.
samfish @ Jun 27th 2008 12:28PM
hmm...
...
Nope. Still too rich for my blood.
...at least until Bayonetta comes out.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jun 27th 2008 12:36PM
I thought Bayonetta was ps3.. could be wrong I guess.
samfish @ Jun 27th 2008 12:56PM
Nope, multi-plat.
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/platinum-games-introduces-bayonetta/
That said, I have no intentions on making a decision until I know what's going on with Mikami's game. I'd hate to buy a 360 and then find out that the Mikami game is PS3 exclusive.
xFenixKnightx @ Jun 27th 2008 1:48PM
Samfish you have wierd tastes.
*gets voted down because everyone loves Samfish because of the Peach avatar.
You mean to tell me out of ALLLLLLL the games 360 has out now, the only one that you are interested in is a game that isn't even out yet or know if its good? Even Fernando has a 360. Another question, I keep forgetting are you male or female? I have nothing against female gamers (wish my wife was one) at all its just that I'm curious as to why you are always so anti-shooters and anything that might be categorized as "hardcore". I'm not trying to be mean or anything this is a genuine question. Oh and what exactly do you play on a weekly basis?
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 27th 2008 2:14PM
Have to agree with Fenix there. It's not that I have a problem with you showing no interest in any 360 game samfish, it's that Bayonette is teh only one you're looking forward to.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jun 27th 2008 3:52PM
samfish doesn't have weird tastes, he has niche tastes. Often, with niche games on a console, it takes one to drive the interest in the console while others are discovered afterward. I mean, let's put it this way, this is a man hyping God Hand (I'm 72 in the Goozex queue.... *groans*). What, on 360, runs alongside that? The closest thing I can think of is the new Guity Gear game and even THAT looks less God Hand, more Dynasty Warrors.
Different strokes and all that.
samfish @ Jun 27th 2008 5:05PM
Aww shucks. Someone finally understands me!
(and if you really want, I have an extra copy of God Hand I could send to you).
Anyway, yeah...I just have weird tastes. Bayonetta isn't the ONLY game on the 360 I'm interested in, though, Fenix. I generally just like it when there are at least 5 games I really really want before I buy a console, even if they aren't out yet.
If I had a 360, I'd own Dead Rising, Kameo, Ninja Gaiden 2 and...that's about it, really.
I was all excited for Banjo 3, but, like a lot of Nintendo/platformer fans, when I saw what it was, my excitement rapidly deflated.
I'd probably buy RE5, but I'd rather have it on the Wii for the controller, since prior to RE4 Wii I found the series enjoyable, but over hyped and not very fun due to the clunky controls.
I don't think I look down on "hardcore" games, either. I think the term is silly in general, even though there's no way to get around using it at this point...
But yeah. I don't really like actual violence, for one. I don't mind crazy, over the top stuff like in Mortal Kombat or Ninja Gaiden...but the kind of games that take themselves SO seriously and all macho and stuff, like Gears/God of War, just make me feel silly playing them and I can't enjoy them very much. Massive violence is also one of those things that wears thin quickly in general.
Actually, I enjoy God of War when I play through them, but when I'm done, it leaves a bad aftertaste in my mouth.
To sum up, to me they those kind of "hardcore" games feel like over blown testosterone festivals and I feel silly/immature playing them. It's a total mental block at this point. I really don't have much of a problem with people who play them, because who am I to judge? Generally, I try not to pass judgment but I find it a challenge at times nowadays, since the Wii has sent so many fanboys who DO like those games into a blind rage.
As for shooters in particular, ever since Quake 1, they've all felt the same to me. It's hard to explain. Just a feeling I get and the truth is, I don't play enough of them to really articulate what about them and their mechanics put me off so much.
samfish @ Jun 27th 2008 5:23PM
Oh, also, since I got off on a tanger there without actually answering your question:
Lately I've been playing Okami Wii, Wii Fit and Crosswords DS...but just the other night, I went to Toys R Us and bought Super Princess Peach, Kirby Squeak Squad and Soul bubbles (all of which are pretty awesome, I should add).
Generally, though, I don't play games every night. Maybe 2 or 3 nights at the most. The other nights are spent either with my girlfriend, Wednesday is new comic book day and new Bleach episode night, or just reading a book or magazine.
And I do believe I gots me a penis in my pants.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jun 27th 2008 6:33PM
Samfish, I might be taken ya up on that offer (would definately free up some points as I attempt to recollect the Tecmo Deception series.... gods how I want a sequel) but I'd feel bad just claiming a copy. Hit me up on AIM sometime soon and we'll see if we can work out a trade.
I shoudl be on ALL weekend since the deadline for that gnomon things is Sunday so I'll pretty much be marathoning photoshop.
Korova *of the highlands* @ Jun 27th 2008 12:31PM
Hei, an official Joystiq scoop! Congratz guys.
xGeneral DEATHx @ Jun 27th 2008 2:18PM
Get a haircut, ya hippie!
:-p
WRE (PSN: WorstReviewEver; Gamertag: HaloKissesBoys; Wii Friend Code: 4204-4590-6106-3583) @ Jun 27th 2008 12:36PM
Can I get a copy of Step Up 2 and College Road Trip free with purchase of 360? Because I'll buy another one if that's the case.
west43rd @ Jun 27th 2008 12:50PM
Agree with the Photoshop comment. That price is way too clean compared with the rest of the image.
Having said this, though, I still believe the rumor itself to be true. MS needs to do something to stimulate sales again.
Bob
rdj75 @ Jun 27th 2008 6:14PM
Its not photoshoped, its legit trust me ;-)
west43rd @ Jun 27th 2008 11:03PM
I'd be glad to be proven wrong. Still not going to buy one, though. Still too much of a Sony fanboy. 8-)
Yoshi @ Jun 29th 2008 11:53PM
Looks just as sharp as all the other prices in that big font on the page IMO...
Ash @ Jun 27th 2008 1:07PM
Shop smart, shop S-Mart
j.howlett @ Jun 27th 2008 1:07PM
i saw a deal on buy.com for the premium at $199 , but upon further review the deals for a recertified system. i wouldn't take that deal just yet but for those that do silly things like buy arcade/cores for when the main box is in the shop, its a deal of the week.
Killer Loki @ Jun 27th 2008 1:24PM
Pfft, don't even have any K-Marts around by me - they shut up shop and left over 4yrs ago.
Jfk Aok @ Jun 27th 2008 1:47PM
It's a shame. Not only is it a nice...let's say People Watcher location but you can guarantee they have the game you're looking for even though they might be sold out everywhere else, because nobody shops there.
Jfk Aok @ Jun 27th 2008 1:43PM
Wow, and that kid is only 569! That DESTROYS the prices in China.
DesertPyrate @ Jun 27th 2008 1:43PM
Well if M$drops the price on a "premium" system to 299.00 that will be a great deal and I dont see Nintendo dropping price until you can actually walk in the store and take your pick at buying a Wii.
Does anyone think that this would cause Sony to drop the price tag of the PS3? Nintendo down to 200.00 is in the future but the Wii is selling like crack in the late 80s so a price drop just isnt needed.What a PS3 at 350.00? I dont see Sony going much lower, that Blu Ray drive is expensive.
Lets be real a 299.00 360 and Gears of War 2 around the corner, sounds look a good holiday gift, hell I bet there are some who would buy another system just to drop their old ones and pick up a new warranty with a new system build thats safer. I wonder if they'll keep the Arcade or just phase it out. If they launch a 299.00 Pro how low would the Arcade have to go?
john paul @ Jun 27th 2008 1:55PM
http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/sony-has-lost-over-3-billion-on-the-ps3/1223467
Can't imagine them dropping it anymore.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 27th 2008 2:17PM
"Does anyone think that this would cause Sony to drop the price tag of the PS3?"
no. For that to happen one of two things need to happen:
1. 360 price drop causes a massive spike in sales
2. ps3 hits a sales wall.