Xbox 360: Too Expensive?

Microsoft today announced pricing plans for the upcoming Xbox 360. Here’s the breakdown that I got from Gamespot’s article:

Xbox 360 Core System – $299 (299 Euros, 209 GBP)
•Xbox 360 console
•Wired controller
•Detachable faceplate
•Xbox Live Silver membership
•Standard AV cables

Xbox 360 – $399 (399 Euros, 279 GBP)
•Xbox 360 console
•20GB detachable hard drive
•Wireless controller
•Wireless Xbox Live headset
•High-definition AV cables
•Ethernet cable
•Xbox 360 Media Remote Control (limited time)
•Detachable faceplate
•Xbox Live Silver membership

Alternate names considered for the Core System were “Dork System,” “n00b System,” and “Pokemon Edition.”

In my E3 2005 wrap-up, I posited a $500 price tag for the PS3. I didn’t say it, but I anticipated a $300 price tag for the Xbox 360 with hard drive. I’ve always felt that three bones is acceptable, but four bones is a tad steep. Now it’s looking very much like both systems will hit the middle ground, and drop for four hundred bucks.

Obviously, the Xbox 360 is “available” for under three hundred dollars. But let’s look at that package. No wireless controller, the latest promised addition to baseline console equipment; and no hard drive, the latest promised addition to baseline console equipment — five years ago. The pricier package comes with both, along with a wireless Xbox Live headset, HDTV cables (instead of standard RCA cables), an ethernet cable, and the mouthful Xbox 360 Media Remote Control (let’s just shorten that to 360 Remote). Both packages come with a detachable faceplate and an Xbox Live Silver membership, which is basically the crap version. Also, according to this News.com article, the Core system will be green, while the full version will be cream colored.

But let’s be serious. No one is going to want the dumbed-down, crapped-out, stripped version of Xbox 360. First and foremost, Halo 3 won’t be out until April at the earliest, so anyone who owns Halo 2 will want the backwards compatibility. Include that group when you consider people who don’t want to keep two Xboxes sitting on their entertainment center.

Analysts speculate that Microsoft may drop the price from $399 to $299 in time for the PS3 launch. I’m inclined to agree, and I suspect that rather than offer the light version for $199 or $249, Microsoft will simply phase it out.

I was going to say that the Xbox 360 will be the first system I get so early in its life cycle since the Super NES, but I forget that I got a Gamecube on day one. Poor Gamecube. Poor, stupid Gamecube.