D

It appears we have division amongst the ranks already. Rowan is right. They are going to have a tough time pleasing everyone. Personally i would like something more old school but with a few of today's innovations thrown in. Loved the first game back in 88. Damn that's a long time ago. The era of forbidden forest and temple of ashphai.

wow, a the full MK2 game with online play and it's cheaper than 3 Guitar Hero II songs on the Xbox 360. I think it's time we start referring to MS as M$ again.

Cheap shots aside, this is a definite buy for me.

Also, @22 - I'm not sure if you've checked but there are some good games out for the PS3 now. My hands down favourite (and everyone who sees and plays it) is still MotorStorm.

I like my PS3/BluRay combo - i do admit the movies are a bit pricey so I choose to buy only quality ones (Superman Returns, Casino Royale and MI:3).

If the price were to drop by 1/3, I would pick up more. That being said, I think the this format is a stopgap for the streaming stuff.

I have to say that the Xbox fans are reaping the seeds they've sown.

* Xbox users were happy to pay for to be online
* Xbox users were happy to pay for extra content that was previously free in the PC world
* Xbox users were happy to pay extra for a new console that has outdated HDMI standards
* Xbox users were happy to allow Oblivion Horse Armor to be over priced.

The reason why I say that Xbox users are happy is because they haven't done anything about it. Sure they gripe a bit but if it really bothered them, they would vote with their wallet and stop supporting this kind of corporate shilling. I have no problem paying for a game and for a game, but stuff that can be had for 1/2 the price on another console is ridiculous. And yet, the Xbox community continues to support this system? You think it's bad now, give it another year of your support for this model and you will see that your Xbox 360 is costing you a LOT more than the $479 that everyone thinks is a great deal.

The biggest question I have is why are people surprised at the shoddy quality of the Xbox 360?

Look at other products that MS has produced and you got yourself a proven track record of mediocrity. Some of the Xbots may whine that this story is getting old but so is the poor quality of software (Windows/Office) and hardware (Xbox/Zune) they attempt to produce.

Heaven forbid should they start developing their own PDAs or cell phones. Can you imagine the number of dropped calls and missed appointments?

@23
Xbots have no sense of humour - they are still worrying when the Super-Elite-Premium-Core+ version of the 360 will be announced and they are scared that they will not have saved another $480 for a half-baked console. Maybe the next one will have WiFi built into it because it MAY be important then. Or at least that what Microsoft will tell them.

Personally - I think the article was pretty funny - it's lost on the people who think it's a slight against the Xbox and/or Halo. Again, no room for independent thought in that crowd.

Ahhh I see the console world is getting a taste of what the PC world has had to endure for the past 10-15 years. We warned you - it was only a matter of time before MS did what they do best - Gouge, Gouge, Gouge.

I would like to say formally here and you remember this when it happens. This will not be the last upgrade for the 360 and you will pay through your nose over and over. Windows, Office, Studio... trends that don't change...

Well "Digi Smalls" and "Xbots suck",

You guys win for the rant war. ;)

Not to throw too much fuel onto the fire but Sony had a press release that was actually pretty good for once.

"Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment America, said: “We think every PlayStation 3 owner should have an “elite” experience, which is why we include an internal hard drive and HDMI output in every PS3 we sell, along with the 50 GB of storage capacity on a high definition Blu-ray disc. Sony has been the strongest advocate of high definition as the future of next-generation gaming. This requires high-definition components, including HDMI output, and large storage devices to deliver and store all that rich and vivid HD content. Microsoft’s announcement today not only legitimizes Sony’s PS3 strategy, it moves us closer to adopting universal standards in the area of high definition gaming that will benefit game developers and ultimately the end user.“"

I think that MS made a BIG mistake in naming the system "Elite" and making it black (though making it white made it into a "I can be cool like Macintosh too" type of way just when the whole "let's make everything" white was going out of style 18 months ago.

To me, the random battle has always been a welcome addition to a RPG as they give you the option just to go out and find some creatures to pound on so you can find some good loot.

Otherwise, it feels like I'm on rails with no option to deviate if I can only fight x amount of creatures and after that, there is nothing left to fight. Of course, most games incorporate an "arena" concept to allow people to fight an unlimited amount of times. :)

how does a MS bashing Nintendo article get twisted into a "we hate sony" article?

Just read the post of any xbox fan and they will try and twist it around (even when it doesn't make sense)

xbox fans are people who support blowing whistles during Sony release events to drown out the representatives who are trying to make an announcement. Hmmm sounds like a George Bush or Bill O'Reilly style of doing things. "Say it loud and say it often and people will believe you."

I wonder if MS is trying to emulate the Bush administration with all the confusion tactics (contradictory statements, multiple SKUs for the Xbox, etc....)