Info appears many places, but gleaned directly from here:
www.gamespot.com/news/2005/08/17/news_6131245.html


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


Peter Moore, Xbox corporate vice president of worldwide marketing and publishing, who spoke with GameSpot, reiterated that the Xbox 360 is still on schedule to launch simultaneously in North America, Europe, and Japan this holiday season. Details on the specifics of the Japanese release will be disclosed at this year's Tokyo Game Show, which begins September 16.

Microsoft has confirmed that the "Core System" will not be backwards compatible out-of-the-box. In order to play current-generation Xbox games, owners of the bare-bones system will have to purchase the detachable hard drive. It is unclear whether or not backwards compatibility will work with the smaller-capacity 64MB memory cards.

Moore explained that the idea behind the two choices came from "lessons learned from the first generation , but perhaps more importantly to provide the gamer with choices in pricing as applicable to their gaming habits." In addition, gamers will be able to select from a range of peripherals available at launch:

• Faceplate ($19.99, 19.99 Euros, 14.99 GBP)
• Hard Drive (20 GB) ($99.99, 99.99 Euros, 69.99 GBP)
• Memory Unit (64 MB) ($39.99, 34.99 Euros, 22.99 GBP)
• Wireless Networking Adapter ($99.99, 79.99 Euros, 59.99 GBP)
• Wireless Controller ($49.99, 44.99 Euros, 32.99 GBP)
• Play and Charge Kit ($19.99, 19.99 Euros, 14.99 GBP)
• Rechargeable Battery Pack ($11.99, 14.99 Euros, 9.99 GBP)
• Controller ($39.99, 34.99 Euros, 24.99 GBP)
• Headset ($19.99, 19.99 Euros, 14.99 GBP)
• Universal Media Remote ($29.99, 29.99 Euros, 19.99 GBP)
• Component HD AV Cable ($39.99, 29.99 Euros, 19.99 GBP)
• S-Video AV Cable (US) ($29.99)
• SCART AV Cable (Europe) (24.99 Euros, 17.99 GBP)
• VGA HD AV Cable ($39.99, 29.99 Euros, 19.99 GBP)

________________________________________________

BattleCorps member GBD-0255 | XBOX LIVE Gamertag: crowfoot MI
XFire: crowfootJamie

PUMA PUMA PUMA

A highend PC gaming system will set ya back at least a grand, probably two.

Why is the Xbox 360 pricing a joke? The handheld PSP is $249. The PS3 will by all indications be more expensive than the Xbox 360.

The basic system isn't hamstrung. Why do I need backwards compatability on my 360 when I have a damn Xbox standing besides it to play my 50 Xbox games on?

My last graphics card upgrade along cost just as much as the 360 complete bundle, and that wasn't even the best card out there. In addition to that you need CPU, ram, motherboard, HDD, DVD/CD-ROM, monitor, joystick, soundcard and more.

All in all I've forked over at least $2k on my gaming PC and I still need to upgrade parts of it, like add another gig of memory and upgrade the soundcard to a proper one. A $299-399 complete gaming system out of the box which you just plug into the TV and play with is cheap compared to it.

And the top of the line graphics card go for $699 and more (not counting the FireGL and other professional cards).

I'll get my complete 360 when it arrives, thats for sure.

Øystein

I'm just the opposite though, about the only games I play anymore are on console, so getting the whole thing for $400 makes some sense to me. And as far as the games, I haven't bought a 'new' game in ages, get the pre-owned ones for half the price or less and nothing wrong with em.

Funny how things are...for years I refused to 'waste' money on a console, now I don't even buy games for PC anymore.

Officer Akula on patrol.

http://www.alloutwar.com
All Out War: 4025 - Web based strategy and multiplayer combat

Akula
PUB Administration
"There's gotta be a better way to make a living."

Add this:


XBOX Live 2.0 $70 (year) $20 (3 month) $8 (month)
(current LIVE members should be able to transfer accounts to 2.0)

Crazy packages:
www.gamestop.com/productmerch.asp?groupid=310

________________________________________________

BattleCorps member GBD-0255 | XBOX LIVE Gamertag: crowfoot MI
XFire: crowfootJamie

Bill Gates can suck my positronic balls. I am not paying $400 for some wannabe-computer just because the graphics are better and the internet is less dumbed-down. I played this crap at Wal-mart and was very unimpressed. It's basically just an xbox with updated graphics, smaller size, and potentially halo 3. I played some call-of-duty game and it was very basic. Sure, it looked great, but I expected to feel like I was actually in WW2. Instead, the enemies just stood there and shot me as my teammate NPC crouched in a firing position and refused to move out of my way. I stuck my gum on the back of the controller handle grip.

The graphics are very good, but that's not enough to convince me that this is just going to be another standard console. I heard the internet was supposed to be a whole lot better, but I'm still not paying for an extra net service unless I can go to websites on it and such. Wireless controllers means buying batteries and having the controller die in the middle of a large fight, just like my GC Wavebird did. Needless to say, the wavebird made a final flight into the wall. I might buy one of these once the price goes down, but pLaGuE_DoG doesn't buy anything that expensive unless there's a special button you can press that will dispense gold and make women's clothes invisible (see: iPod).




---------------------------------------
Happiness is a pile of smoking human steaks.

*Medron raises one eyebrow*

I have the XBox 360 preordered. First day. That will be nice. The people at the local gaming stores know me by name. I walked in one day and they told me that something just came up on their computers. A SKU for XBox 360. I dropped a reserve on it instantly and am one of the few people in town who will have one waiting for them on launch day now.

Of course, considering I paid 70 bucks for Suikoden II without batting an eye, I think I know why they know me by name.

As for the consoles versus PC gaming.

Bugs. A console has one setup and all games only need to work for that one setup. Because of this there are rarely bugs in a console game. And when there are they are mercilessly derided by every gaming magazine on the market. In PC gaming however it is much more common to bring a game home and find out that it doesn't work on your PC. That is annoying. Some of my favorite games are and always WILL be on the PC. But if I want to sit down and just have a bit of fun with friends and all I want a console. Turn it on and play with it.

Simple. I like simple sometimes.

Medron Pryde
http://www.pryderockindustries.com - We've got BattleTech programs.

Mitch loves us!

really bugs me that for 400 i can play games on HDTV settings, in order for me to play with that kind of quality and speed, a new puter will set you back almost $4k US or more sigh!...
SgtMagor®™

Not if you know what to buy.


Hammond: As long as I'm in command of SGC, we'll hold ourselves to the highest ethical standard.
Jack: When the Goauld wipe us out because we have nothing to defend ourselves with, I'm sure we'll all feel great about ourselves and our high moral standard