Adam Creighton, Computer and Video Gaming: Xbox 360 pricing announced; Game trailers you should watch

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Adam Creighton, Computer and Video Gaming (Subscribe)

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Xbox 360 pricing announced; Game trailers you should watch

Xbox 360 pricing announced
Accessorizing and maintaining your Xbox 360 is gonna cost you
Game trailers you simply must watch
X05 in Amsterdam
New Xbox hardware licensing from Microsoft
I'm getting to hate Halo 2 and Xbox Live

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NEWS:
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Xbox 360 pricing announced
- After being leaked via the LA Times, Microsoft has formally announced the pricing for two Xbox 360 packages, as well as official estimated MSRP pricing for accessories.
- Xbox 360 packages
  - Xbox 360 Core System Package
    ($299.99 U.S./€299.99/£209.99)
    1. Xbox 360 console
    2. Xbox 360 Faceplate ("stylish 'chill' (white)")
    3. Xbox 360 Wired Controller
    4. Xbox 360 standard-definition AV Cable (RCA audio/video (red/white/yellow)
  - Xbox 360 Premium Edition Package
    ($399.99 U.S./€399.99/£279.99)
    1. Xbox 360 console (distinguished by signature metallic detailing on the console itself)
    2. Xbox 360 Faceplate ("stylish 'chill' (white)")
    3. Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
    4. Xbox 360 Component HD-AV Cable (high-definition and standard-definition connections)
    5. Xbox Live Silver membership (out of the box, chat with friends online, send/receive voice/text messages, and access content from Xbox Live Marketplace (demos, trailers, etc.) and casual games from Xbox Live Arcade)
    6. Xbox 360 Hard Drive (20 GB). 20 GB and detachable (store games, music, trailers, levels, demos and Xbox Live Marketplace content).
    7. Xbox 360 Headset (initial version will be wired to wireless controllers; wireless headset slated for "2006")
    8. Media Remote (a limited-time bonus, this is a single remote for Xbox 360, Windows Media Center 2005 PCs, and possibly existing Xboxes)
  - Xbox 360 Accessories
    - Xbox 360 Hard Drive (20 GB) ($99.99 U.S./€99.99/£69.99)
    - Xbox 360 Memory Unit (64 MB) ($39.99 U.S./€34.99/£22.99)
    - Xbox 360 Wireless Controller ($49.99 U.S./€44.99/£32.99)-- Range and battery life of up to 30 feet and 30 hours of life on two AA batteries.
    - Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit ($19.99 U.S./€19.99/£14.99) -- Plug it in for uninterrupted play, and probably includes both a battery pack and charging cable (so, why is this not included with the wireless controller? Oh, it's the mobile phone model.)
    - Xbox 360 rechargeable battery pack ($11.99 U.S./€14.99/£9.99) -- Provides up to 25 hours of gameplay for wireless
    - Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter ($99.99 U.S./€79.99/£59.99) -- 802.11g.
    - Xbox 360 Headset ($19.99 U.S./€19.99/£14.99)
    - Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote ($29.99 U.S./€29.99/£19.99)
    - Xbox 360 S-Video AV Cable (U.S.), Xbox 360 SCART AV Cable (Europe) ($29.99 U.S./€24.99/£17.99)
    - Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable ($39.99 U.S./€29.99/£19.99) -- Flat-panel TV or VGA monitors, so this'll likely be a VGA plug -- will their be an adapter for RGB analog component?
    - Xbox 360 Faceplates ($19.99 U.S./€19.99/£14.99)
Accessorizing and maintaining your Xbox 360 is gonna cost you
- So, Microsoft is creating compelling, well-coordinated accessories for the Xbox 360. More significantly, they're taking a nod from the mobile phone markets, where carriers subsidize handsets, and make money with accessories and value-add services -- The Xbox 360 is the handset, and Microsoft is the carrier.
- Xbox Live and Xbox Live Arcade will continue and grow as value-added services, but check out the accessorizing -- swappable face plates (like Nokia phones); first-party wireless controllers (finally); Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit, so you can play while your wireless controller charges (interesting this doesn't come with the wireless controller); rechargeable battery packs (which I'm assuming also don't come with the wireless controller); etc.
- They've also got at least one example of a compelling add on that services more than just the Xbox 360 -- the Universal Media Remote -- which not only services the Xbox 360, but Windows Media Center Edition 2005 PCs, possibly current Xboxes, and may double as a universal remote, according to some reports. A value-add accessory that services more than its core product is dicey, but nifty if done well.
- Just watch, though. I expect M$ to catch on to other possibilities based on the mobile phone market -- like quick charging or high-capacity batteries (like we want slow charging and low capacity batteries for our phones or controllers).
Game trailers you simply must watch
- I talked about this in my rant in my other blog, but there are 3 next-gen game trailers that absolutely floor me. The fine boys and girls in green over at TeamXbox.com have got high-def versions of these trailers available -- and they speak for themselves.
  - WarDevil (from Digi-Guys Studio) -- This thing is going to be short film and video game, and this clip is allegedly real-time renderings (as opposed to the recanted Killzone2 E3 footage).
  - Project Offset (Offset) -- Sword and sorcery that feels real-world? Wow. Somebody fund this game!
  - Huxley (Webzen) -- Freakin' awesome looking MMOFPS with style and meat (I've mentioned this game a few times already on this blog).
  - Add these my oft-mentioned Gears of War (Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios), and the next generation is looking sweet, indeed.
X05 in Amsterdam
- X05, Microsoft's international Xbox event will be held in Amsterdam on October 4th and 5th. Chris Lewis, Xbox Europe regional VP made the cryptic statement, "We put a great deal of thought into determining the location for X05 ... To tell you our rational for choosing Amsterdam would reveal some of our plans and we want to keep those as secret as possible!"
- Uh, when I think "Amsterdam", I think "red lights" (no reason). I'm hoping there's a better reason for the locale.
- More interesting is Lewis's PR smakc-talk, "Suffice to say that after X05 it will be clear that the next generation starts with Xbox," which is a direct lob at Sony's Ken Kutaragi, who successfully 9arguably) killed the Sega Dreamcast by convincing gamers that the next generation didn't start until the PlayStation 2 was launched, and has made similar comments for the PS3.
New Xbox hardware licensing from Microsoft
- Microsoft's new royalty program for the Xbox 360 that will only allow authorized third-party accessories to work with the console. Supposedly, the new console will include a security mechanism that will be available to only those manufacturers who pay the royalty to Microsoft. Peripheral manufacturer Mad Catz is already a licensee, but the program smaller manufacturers (some of whom have recently declared bankruptcy, anyway).
- I've been disappointed by a bunch of the press on this, with folks taking shots at Microsoft for "strong-arming" additional revenue, or that they may use this "to prevent accessories they don't want" (examples have been a mouse and keyboard). The reality is Microsoft is going to encourage as much innovation as possible (a picture of a first-party keyboard was already leaked in a presentation in Spain), and this may improve QA of accessories (I've bought some abysmally bad ones). More importantly, Microsoft has been taking it on the chin, selling consoles at a loss, and third-party peripheral makers have been getting a free ride by offering products, without shouldering any of the platform or licensing costs. They're due.
I'm getting to hate Halo 2 and Xbox Live.
- Check it out my rant here. Are you listening Microsoft? Bungie?

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SOURCES: Gamespot.com, joystiq.com, kotaku.com, Xbox.com, IGN, GameInformer, Official XBox Magazine, CNN, gamesindustry.biz, and others.

Adam Creighton, Computer and Video Gaming (Subscribe)

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Xbox 360 pricing announced; Game trailers you should watch

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