Xbox price, release date, all here

[Ozzkev55]

despite this being a geuss, its from an investement firm, to whom have incredible genius to them
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/04/12/news_6122127.html
post back on the reactions

[punqsux]

im not saying they are wrong, but i could have told you those dates and prices...

[Lina]

If it's less than $300, I'd be very surprised.

[punqsux]

If it's less than $300, I'd be very surprised.

please elaborate. no system has launched above $300 in the us since the playstation 1, why would they start now?

[help1]

if its 250, then im def. getting it soon.

[Lina]

I don't think any lower than $299 would be smart.

Tons will sell at $300, and that seems to be the limit for a lot of people. And what person will go into a store as say "I'm paying $250 for the new system, but not $300!"

$299 just seems like the right price.

[Ozzkev55]

im not saying they are wrong, but i could have told you those dates and prices...
damn why the hold out then, here i am thinking 600+ due to what other cags have told me, i can afford it now, its great

[RedvsBlue]

Has the rumor of three different XBox2 (no HDD, with HDD, and low scale computer) packages been abandoned now or what?

[punqsux]

I don't think any lower than $299 would be smart.

Tons will sell at $300, and that seems to be the limit for a lot of people. And what person will go into a store as say "I'm paying $250 for the new system, but not $300!"

$299 just seems like the right price.

oh i totally agree, $299 is money. from your post, it sounded like you were expecting it to be more.

[punqsux]

damn why the hold out then, here i am thinking 600+ due to what other cags have told me, i can afford it now, its great
you should have asked ^^
i hope you were joking about the $600 thing though..

[Ozzkev55]

i was thinking around there honestly, i forget why though

[manofpeace20]

I figure if a portable system could go for 250, the next gen systems will go for 300. Of course, when you factor in games and accessories add about another 100 dollars to that figure.

[Lina]

N-Gage launched at $300. Lolz.

XBox Turn in a Circle can be $5000.

[epobirs]

Has the rumor of three different XBox2 (no HDD, with HDD, and low scale computer) packages been abandoned now or what?

The low scale computer thing was always nonsense pushed by dolts with no concept of business models. It doesn't make any sense and give Microsoft nothing they don't already have.

The HDD as add-on is viable. They just have to do a few things right, unlike Sony. First, it has to be available at launch or almost immediately after. Developers don't want to support a device that isn't a major protion of the installed base. If the basic caching function of the Xbox hard drive is supported and the drive price is kept reasonable, then people will buy it just for making games execute better and the effectively unlimited save space. It doesn't have to be forcibly bundled with a supscription driven MMORPG that only a fraction of the market wants.

Xbox developers are already accustomed to using the hard drive for caching, so making it a required yet optional feature of all Xbox 2 games is not asking much so long as they make it worth the developers' time.

[Monsta Mack]

I'm actually shocked It's only going to be $299.99 or less. If this is true.

My reasons?

1) MS lost ALOT of cash on the production of the XBox, and didn't see any major profit till Halo 2's release. They still have alot of cash to earn, so I figured they would up the price on their console a bit to regain some losses. But then again, this is MS we are talking about. They got big pockets, bigger then Sony could EVER dream of.

2) With the PSP releasing at $250, and people still paying $250 for a portable system, thats another greenlight to companies to charge more on their consoles.

3) The hardware. As said before, the hardwares looks ownage. I think the hardware looks comparable to the so called PS3, even though the PS3 might slightly edge the XBox2 in graphical power, the XBox2 will still have a good years jump if It comes out on the fall. I just couldn't see the price being so low for such great hardware.

That's about it.

[Snake2715]

I'm actually shocked It's only going to be $299.99 or less. If this is true.

My reasons?

1) MS lost ALOT of cash on the production of the XBox, and didn't see any major profit till Halo 2's release. They still have alot of cash to earn, so I figured they would up the price on their console a bit to regain some losses. But then again, this is MS we are talking about. They got big pockets, bigger then Sony could EVER dream of.

2) With the PSP releasing at $250, and people still paying $250 for a portable system, thats another greenlight to companies to charge more on their consoles.

3) The hardware. As said before, the hardwares looks ownage. I think the hardware looks comparable to the so called PS3, even though the PS3 might slightly edge the XBox2 in graphical power, the XBox2 will still have a good years jump if It comes out on the fall. I just couldn't see the price being so low for such great hardware.

That's about it.

What your not realizing is that Microsoft is trying to gain the uperhand by launching a year early. If the price is to high then people will jsut wait for the PS3.

They need to get the pricing right. Maybe $250-$299. Think what a $250 price point would do to PSP sales? I cna have a portable PS2 or a brand new Xbox 360 for $250 (Yes I know it will be less by then but how much?)

They get the base and at the PS3 release they release Halo 3 and a price drop or bundle it in the new systems and bam they have halted the PS3.

[Kayden]

The playstation was more than 300?! what did it launch for? I got mine for about 100.

I know the 3do and neogeo were insanely expensive too.

[munch]

2) With the PSP releasing at $250, and people still paying $250 for a portable system, thats another greenlight to companies to charge more on their consoles.



The fact that PSPs are sitting on shelves everywhere may make realize that $250 is too much for a handheld. So really, the PSP price isn't a greenlight to do anything. If nothing else, it tells the companies to keep their prices down.

[chickenhawk]

They get the base and at the PS3 release they release Halo 3 and a price drop or bundle it in the new systems and bam they have halted the PS3.

I'm not sure that would halt the PS3. Halo 2 didn't stop people from buying the PSTwo. And that was just a new version of an exising console. The PS3 will be a NEW console. I think it would be dangerous to release Halo 3 at the same time as the PS3. Not saying that Halo 3 wouldn't sell, but it might get passed over by more people than it would otherwise. Plus there will be enough Sony fanboys that will buy the system at launch even if they already have an Xbox 360 sitting in their game room already.

[chickenhawk]

The playstation was more than 300?! what did it launch for? I got mine for about 100.


Yeah, me too. Then again, I bought very late.

[Monsta Mack]

All very good points, and I think I should reconsider.

Starting at $250-$300 would be a awesome price and make even Sony fanboys turn their heads when the PS3 isn't out for another year.

Releasing Halo 3 at the same time the PS3 comes out is a very good idea, because when Halo 2 came out everyone and their mom grabbed a copy, and if people don't own a XBox 2 right away they may go out and buy a XBox2 just for Halo 3, as many people did when the XBox originally came out, but only for Halo 1 back then.

Either way I'll take the XBox at $200-$600. I'm willing to throw down all the cash that is required to own one, and I know I'm in the minority.

[doubledown]

I'm willing to pay $300....that seems like a fair launch price. I already have $150 in credit at GameRush, so it's less of a hit on the wallet. I'm sure I can get some more credit too...although, I don't double dip as most people do.

Anyways, hopefully they have some good launch titles and the LIVE service is the same as it is now....since it's great.

[Girion47]

I wont put any money down for it until I know if my Live subscription will be supported, my games compatable, and I know I wont have to buy any memory card bullshit.

[Ozzkev55]

please check out legolas' thread if you have not done so already

[usickenme]

I predict $199 for the basic model and $249 for the HD/backward compatible model that is ,if MS is serious about destroying the PS3.

They could do this and make up $$ on the back-end through various sorts of Live pricing.

[Ozzkev55]

halo 3 is not going to be released on the same day as the ps3, thats a fact, nothing to debate

[Lina]

I predict $199 for the basic model and $249 for the HD/backward compatible model that is ,if MS is serious about destroying the PS3.

They could do this and make up $$ on the back-end through various sorts of Live pricing.

And serious about losing a shitload of money. ;)

I think the video cards themselves are worth over $300 each.

[Ozzkev55]

And serious about losing a shitload of money. ;)

I think the video cards themselves are worth over $300 each.

hahahaha, thats funny, microsoft lose money on purpose, 300 dollar video cards in mass production, sorry girl, but thats how it is, you want to tell old willie to raise the price you go ahead, but its going to be under 300

[Lina]

It will be $299, so I agree. ;)

[Michael Bolton]

not a bad price

[spoo]

I am jumping wagons next generation. Sony has disapointed me again and again. Sony needs to step up on the hardware end and make components that will withstand the test of time. I am on my 3rd PS2 and I bought two PS1. I did not buy a Xbox this generation but I am jumping the MS bandwagon with the Xbox2 next generation. $300 is the magic price point for me.

[alongx]

The playstation was more than 300?! what did it launch for? I got mine for about 100.

I know the 3do and neogeo were insanely expensive too.

PlayStation launched for $299 in the US. I think what was referred to was the Saturn, which launched for $399.

[RAMSTORIA]

playstation 3 will counter with the ability to play umd games, not only would i buy a ps3, but id crack and get a psp

[FriskyTanuki]

Meh, nothing all that new here and definitely nothing that tells me I need an Xbox 360. I'm waiting until I get all of the info before I make a decision.

[Duo_Maxwell]

Pffft way to go Goldman Sachs you predicted a bunch of stuff that has been rumored at for many moons now... I also think the figure of 3 million in what could be about two months time is abit off unless they know something we don't which it doesn't appear like it. And for some reason I still don't trust stock market analysts when it comes to predicting video game sales.

[generalpatton71]

I doubt we will see a 199$ price point even if there are two versions sold. I think it would be a great idea to sell a version at 249$ and one at 299$ though. I certainly think it would be a mistake to launch a system over 299$. I think the Saturn proved that and evrey other system like the Neo Geo and the 3do. I'm actually more worried about the price of games going up over anthing actually. I'm hoping that if "people" try to raise the price of games comptetion alone will be able to drive the cost back down. To me a 10$ raise in game prices is worst then a 399$ system price point.

I think the launch date will be determined by the state of the games. If the Rare and EA games are ready to go sooner then November I wouldn't doubt we could see a October 9 launch instead of a November launch. There are several advantages to launching in October rather then November. It gets the word out sooner for the "casual" gamer and gives them more time to beg for one for Xmas. I also think it help in terms of manufacturing planing. It would get the more Hardcore gamer taken care of first and out of the way. The hardcore gamers will proably buy 750,000-1.5 million units in the first month if then can get them made. The other 1.5-2 million units could then be shiped in November and December in time for Xmas. If they launch in November your going to creat a possible launch mess like the PS2 had. If there are ANY manufactoring problems then your going to loose sales you proably can't get back after Xmas.


Just look at the DS launch before Xmas here in the US in terms of the power of Xmas and sales. They sold over 1.5 million units like it was nothing over night LOL, and lets all face it the DS is a piece of crap right now in terms of sofware and nobody cared before Xmas about this. It was the new hot gadget that all the kids and many gamers wanted (even I own one LOL). The thing was sold out evreywhere and if they could have made another 1.5 million before xmas all of them would have sold. Now look at the PSP launch last month. By all means a much more atractive product to consumers with alot more and better games. It sold well but didn't do near the number the DS launch did and I'd say the Xmas launch is 80% of the reason. The other 20% is the price point.

So I guess my point is if they can launch in October with strong software they should. It helps retail out knowing what is selling and how much they need to order to meet demand. This helps microsoft out because they don't risk OVER producing any units (I doubt this would happen though). It also gives them the security of having orders for more units so they can open new plants or hire extra workers to meet demand for the Xmas season.

[epobirs]

playstation 3 will counter with the ability to play umd games, not only would i buy a ps3, but id crack and get a psp

You do realize that 'photo' of the PS3 with a UMD drive built-in was a hoax, don't you? Forcing that function on consumers at a minimum addition of $50 to the retail price would not be a wise move for what will already be a heavily subsidized box. As it is, committing to Blu-ray before it has become a genuine market standard is iffy and costly.

There may be an equivalent of a Game Boy Player as an optional purchase but I really doubt it.

[jkam]

I think this gen is going to be hard to decide on out of the gate. I'm sure the XBOX will WOW early on with the graphics and all. If it has backward compatibility I may grab an XBOX 360 as I don't have an XBOX. Then again I hardly have the time to play my PS2 and GC sometimes. The price at $300 is right. I agree Sony's shitty hardware has to go....I won't be buying something from them at launch ever again. I am also very intrested in what Nintendo has coming to the table.....E3 can't come soon enough!!!!!

[punqsux]

PlayStation launched for $299 in the US. I think what was referred to was the Saturn, which launched for $399.

i was under the impression that the playstation also launched for $399. ill look it up when i have a chance.

[punqsux]

you are correct, the ps did launch at $299. heres a paragraph from a wsj article from 1995:

The issue of pricing, however, has been a sore point inside Sony, with
Japanese executives earlier this year arguing in favor of a higher price,
and Mr. Olafsson insisting on the $299 level in hopes of quickly gaining
market share.

looking back, all i can say is bravo sony, dont fall to your own marketing plans.

[gaelan]

Plus there will be enough Sony fanboys that will buy the system at launch even if they already have an Xbox 360 sitting in their game room already.

I thought they just bashed microsoft. I didn't think they actually owned or played Sony products.

[YeahRight13]

the xbox 2 sounds really tight ill get it if under 300 or at 300

[RAMSTORIA]

You do realize that 'photo' of the PS3 with a UMD drive built-in was a hoax, don't you? Forcing that function on consumers at a minimum addition of $50 to the retail price would not be a wise move for what will already be a heavily subsidized box. As it is, committing to Blu-ray before it has become a genuine market standard is iffy and costly.

There may be an equivalent of a Game Boy Player as an optional purchase but I really doubt it.

i know it was a hoax but that doesnt mean that its not a great idea. it would be appealing to psp owners and push more psp sales, and as long it didnt make the price outrageous then itd be a very smart move. but even if they didnt make it built in, like you said a psp playing type add on would also very nice...

but in either case i wont be buying the xbox 360 at launch, ill wait at least until the ps3 comes out, i cant afford both and it really depends on which system gets the good rpgs, one of the reasons i never liked the xbox

[Ozzkev55]

im buying xbox 2 at launch, since the ps3 will probably launch a while after that, i might have enough by then to own both, and if backwards compatibilities and option, ill sell my xbox, ps2, but ill keep the cube, since its got mad first party game skills

[Graystone]

300 is reasonable if all the stuff they talking is not hype but actually a good system, it kinda make me made I have only had a xbox like 2 years or so. I have had a PS2 since release and they are older then xbox so they should be the first with new console. Not xbox, but as long as backwards compatibility is true I am fine with it.

[epobirs]

300 is reasonable if all the stuff they talking is not hype but actually a good system, it kinda make me made I have only had a xbox like 2 years or so. I have had a PS2 since release and they are older then xbox so they should be the first with new console. Not xbox, but as long as backwards compatibility is true I am fine with it.


I really don't understand where people get this 'Mother May I?' mentality about the console business where the previous first mover has dibs on the position for the next generation. (Leaving aside Sega's abortive attempt at taking that role.) The only thing that matter is economic opportunity.

The thing to remember is that Microsoft has ample reason to stop production of the current Xbox as soon as possible. Due to the rushed development of the Xbox it used expensive parts with functionality beyond what was needed for a game system. Even worse, because Nvidia's business model for what was at the time their most powerful chip required high margins, as seen in the PC video card market, the Xbox needed to sell in much greater volumes to make up the difference. Since it took a long time for Microsoft to build up a good software range beyond Halo those sales didn't happen but that didn't stop the need to keep parity with Sony when they planned a PS2 price drop.

This led to them putting pressure on Nvidia to cut the price on their chips. Unlike most game consoles in recent time where the company owned outright the chip designs the IP for the Xbox co-processors remained with Nvidia. Nvidia manufactured the chips through their foundry partners and sold them to Microsoft. This meant MS wasn't free to shop around for different manufacturing partners and had to negotiate with Nvidia for the die shrink that would have reduced the cost of producing the chips. Nvidia had no incentive to make them a good deal on this since they had already moved on to more elaborate designs and this would only offer more low margin sales at best.

That die shrink was critical to making a cheaper xbox cost effective. Once the cost of the design itself is covered the much increased number of chips per wafer means a much lower cost per chip. It also means the chips can run at a lower voltage with lesser cooling requirements. It was die shrinks to the respective chipsets that made it possible for Sony to reduce the size and cost of the PS1 so drastically and has already done the same for the size of the PS2. The retail price of the PS2 can be dropped any time Sony sees sales drop below an acceptable level, keeping the platform growing for fra longer than if the original chipset were still being used.

Microsoft already takes a loss on each Xbox they sell. An Xbox owner must buy several games before Microsoft sees a penny of profit on the unit. Keeping parity with Sony's next price drop will only make this worse. Unless Nvidia suddenly has a change of heart, which is extraordinarily unlikely considering their partnership with Sony on the PS3, the only solution is to retire the hardware while still allowing for platform growth.

Enter Xbox 360. IBM as a partner is far better suited to the console business than Intel since they are well invested in doing custom designs for low margin products, as seen in the Gamecube. On the video side, given the greater experience and time to work out a better contractual relationship, ATI has to have guranteed at least one die shrink as part of the deal. so long as Microsoft can get the software in place to make the Xbox 360 sell on its own merits, they can afford to effectively give away Xbox compatibility with the hard drive. An Xbox 360 hard drive sold along with one Xbox PH game will actually make some money for MS while the same game sold alongside an Xbox is barely working off the deficit.

[epobirs]

i know it was a hoax but that doesnt mean that its not a great idea. it would be appealing to psp owners and push more psp sales, and as long it didnt make the price outrageous then itd be a very smart move. but even if they didnt make it built in, like you said a psp playing type add on would also very nice...

but in either case i wont be buying the xbox 360 at launch, ill wait at least until the ps3 comes out, i cant afford both and it really depends on which system gets the good rpgs, one of the reasons i never liked the xbox

But it isn't a great idea, for exactly the reasons I listed. Unless Sony takes a really big loss on the hardware sales, moreso than they will on the essential hardware at launch, there is simply no way this won't add significantly to the retail price for a feature of dubious value. The big selling point of the PSP is how close it comes to the console experience compared to the limitation of previous handhelds. You're forking out a lot for that screen. Playing PSP games on a TV would cast doubt on that value and raise the question of why the consumer shouldn't just stick with the console version of the game.

[$hady]

i'm buying at release whatever they ask for it i'll pay. This will be the only console i've bought on release day besides the PS2.

[el bobo]

I can wait until Christmas to get it, thanks for the info Ozz.

[Ozzkev55]

I can wait until Christmas to get it, thanks for the info Ozz.
your welcome, but i may also add these are all estimates, however educated they are. It appears that there price estimates may also be off

[Gameboy415]

PlayStation launched for $299 in the US. I think what was referred to was the Saturn, which launched for $399.

Yeah I remember getting my Saturn for $200 (brand new) the day after X-mas during its launch year at a JCPenny Outlet store. They used to do 50% off everything the day after X-mas and I just happened to find a Saturn in their electronics display! Good stuff.

[zer06ame]

that makes me kinda mad that they plan on it being around $250-300, after i just dropped $250 + $20 + 100 + tax on psp stuff, although that's basically what i blew on pstwo that i never play anyway. see, right now, i have no intention of buying xbox360 because i never really play video games that much (i actually play my psp a lot, because i don't have the patience to wait for other systems to load up), but about a month before xbox360 is released, i know i'll go out and reserve it just so i have it so i can be like "yea, i got xbox360" lol
one reason i want to get a v1.0 xbox360 is for the same reason i got so much use out of my v1.0 xbox...easily modable compared to the measures they're going to later take to prevent it

[Monsta Mack]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/05/03/news_6123491.html

Someone prolly already beat me to it. XBox2 in 2005

[epobirs]

that makes me kinda mad that they plan on it being around $250-300, after i just dropped $250 + $20 + 100 + tax on psp stuff, although that's basically what i blew on pstwo that i never play anyway. see, right now, i have no intention of buying xbox360 because i never really play video games that much (i actually play my psp a lot, because i don't have the patience to wait for other systems to load up), but about a month before xbox360 is released, i know i'll go out and reserve it just so i have it so i can be like "yea, i got xbox360" lol
one reason i want to get a v1.0 xbox360 is for the same reason i got so much use out of my v1.0 xbox...easily modable compared to the measures they're going to later take to prevent it

You might want to try out those Shift keys, they really do marvelous stuff.

If you think the new machine is going to be as receptive a platform to modding as the Xbox, you are in for a huge disappointment. For starters, this isn't going to run an off the shelf OS just by replacing the BIOS, nor is the hardware going to be essentially an ATX board. This isn't a rushed product adapting an existing platform that is readily converted to using that platform's tools.

[Dr Mario Kart]

now it seems there is a lot of argument over what is best from a business perspective. I cant exactly say what is best, I can only surmise that whatever IS best, the MS game division wont be doing. Unless making money is suddenly something they'd like to pursue.

A good point is that if the price is too high, then people can wait for PS3 or Revolution.
On the other hand, MS is no stranger to buying market share out of their own pockets.

My guess is that their best best is to have a lower rather than higher price point.

[javeryh]

I don't know what to make of all this. Yeah, I'm excited to see some next-gen stuff but I'm a little wary that these new consoles are striving to be all-in-one media hubs... I mean, I have a DVR to record TV, a receiver for audio, a DVD player for movies, etc. The thought of cramming a PS3, Revolution and 360 into my entertainment center kind of makes me nuts.

[rafissaying]

I don't know what to make of all this. Yeah, I'm excited to see some next-gen stuff but I'm a little wary that these new consoles are striving to be all-in-one media hubs... I mean, I have a DVR to record TV, a receiver for audio, a DVD player for movies, etc. The thought of cramming a PS3, Revolution and 360 into my entertainment center kind of makes me nuts.

i have to agree with you. i hope that all the next-gen systems are what we are anticapating....GREAT GAME SYSTEMS! i think that sony, microsoft and nintendo are trying to make it the best entertainment module. but all im looking for is something that can play great games. i could care less if it has a dvd player or whatever. just make a great game system and i will be happy

[epobirs]

I don't know what to make of all this. Yeah, I'm excited to see some next-gen stuff but I'm a little wary that these new consoles are striving to be all-in-one media hubs... I mean, I have a DVR to record TV, a receiver for audio, a DVD player for movies, etc. The thought of cramming a PS3, Revolution and 360 into my entertainment center kind of makes me nuts.

The most important consideration is, does the additional capabilites add anything to the hardware cost of the console? For example, the Media Extender for the Xbox is just software. It doesn't require any functionality the Xbox doesn't already have for games. While you could rack up some costs if you put a lot of this stuff in firmware, having it on a hard drive, especially an optional hard drive, is pretty harmless. Everybody has seen what happened to machines that tried to do too much in a way that wasn't practical to the core functions of the game console, the latest being Sony's PSX. The smart way to go is to give consumers option but don't them buy something they don't want.

DVR is still a struggling category. Nobody has made any real money on it yet. Doing things like the Media Extender adds strength to both the DVR market and the console that supports it. nintendo has no direct involvement in that market but could score a lot of points by allowing a third party to create a product that works with TiVo's option for remote viewing stations. That way they'd get all of the benefits with none of the risk and consumer with no interest are completely unaffected. Not terrribly different from having Majesco publishing their GBA video series. Nintendo gets the royalties, a boost for their platform if it's successful and if it isn't, well, it was Majesco's fault.

[gameprozero]

Dont listen it's all lies.

[YeahRight13]

i cant wait till this comes out its goin to be the biggest hit ever!

[rocksolidaudio]

yeahright13, you don't need to post in two different threads saying the same thing, then start your own thread about it. chill dude, no one here cares about post count.