Author Topic: Xbox 360 to launch on November 25 (Read 2232 times)

Clive · « **on:** August 08, 2005, 19:24 »

Xbox 360 to launch in Europe on November 25 - senior UK sources
Rob Fahey 16:55 05/08/2005

Highly placed sources in the UK industry have told GamesIndustry.biz that the Xbox 360 is set to launch in Europe on November 25th, with the US launch preceding a few days earlier - and the price tag may be as high as UKP 299.

According to our sources, speaking under conditions of strict anonymity, the official announcement of the European date will be made by Microsoft to its trade partners on the 15th of this month, two days before a public announcement at Game Convention in Leipzig.

While they were confident of the dates being mooted, the price of the system remains less certain - with our sources indicating that Microsoft itself may not have made up its mind on the matter as yet.

"The original plan was UKP 249, but now that Sony is talking about the PS3 being expensive, UKP 299 is looking more likely," according to one source - although it was admitted that this pricing is a "best guess" based on information from Microsoft, not an official figure by any means.

Even allowing for the higher tax rates here in Europe, a UKP 299 price point would translate as around $500 in the US, which is significantly higher than is currently anticipated by most market watchers - among whom the general consensus is that the system will launch at $300, suggesting a UK price point of under UKP 200.

One area of pricing which our independent sources were more certain of was the pricing of software, with Xbox 360 titles likely to hit shelves at around UKP 44.99 - a price premium over current generation software which Microsoft is said to be unhappy with, but which has been driven by demands from third party publishers.

Microsoft this afternoon declined to comment on the reports, saying simply that "we have nothing to announce at this time."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=10605

sam · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2005, 21:54 »

i think i will be in the queue, though i am not a fan of microsoft the xbox is a wonderous piece of technology.... decision time though - xbox or ps3!! xbox sounds better from the reviews i have read

Clive · « **Reply #2 on:** August 09, 2005, 13:38 »

Xbox 360 price could rise to match the PS3

The anti-price war
By Aaron McKenna: Monday 08 August 2005, 14:44

UNTIL SONY STARTED mouthing off about how expensive the PlayStation 3 is going to be, things were looking pretty purdy for the price of the Xbox 360. Now with the release coming closer and closer and speculation hitting new highs many are thinking that Microsoft will raise the as yet unannounced price of the Xbox 360 from an expected £200 - £250 to as high as £300.
This is expected to be done for two reasons ? for one, with the price of the PS3 expected to be magnificent, Microsoft can raise the price of the Xbox 360 and still not be the most expensive console on the market. Secondly for brand purposes if the Xbox 360 is significantly cheaper than the PS3 ? up to £100 cheaper, perhaps ? then to consumers not as in-the-know as somebody who has been following every inch of these two machines as they have been developed will see the Xbox 360 as an inferior product.

Maybe this means that Microsoft might actually make a profit off of the Xbox 360? One thing is for sure, the consumer sure as hell won't? µ

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=25239

sam · « **Reply #3 on:** August 10, 2005, 01:16 »

argh! guess i will be waiting a bit longer then. at £200 it aint bad at all but more than that then no way..i have a wonderful games machine in my pc!

Clive · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2005, 20:27 »

Microsoft sets price for Xbox 360

Microsoft's next generation console, the Xbox 360, will cost $299 (£209) when it goes on sale at Christmas.

The company announced the price at the German Games Convention in Leipzig.

A more expensive version costing $399 (£279) will include a 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, headset and remote control.

Microsoft is aiming to launch the Xbox 360 before Sony's PlayStation 3, which is due out in the spring.

Nintendo's next generation console, the Revolution, is also expected to be released in 2006.

Race to be first

The pricing for the Britain, Europe and the US was announced by Microsoft's head of home and entertainment in Europe, Chris Lewis.

The basic Xbox 360, dubbed the Core System, will retail for $299 in the US, 299 euros in Europe and £209 in the UK.

The fully loaded console with all the accessories will sell for $399, 399 euros and £279.

The pricing for the key games market of Japan is set to be announced at the Tokyo games fair next month.

"With both the Xbox 360 and the Xbox 360 Core System, we're offering consumers real choice and real value," said Peter Moore, Xbox marketing chief at Microsoft.

Microsoft has yet to give an exact date for the launch of the 360 but it is expected to be out sometime before Christmas.

The software giant is racing to be the first out of the gate with its new machine.

Microsoft is looking to take an early lead in the battle to dominate the next generation of consoles.

It was a year behind Sony's PlayStation 2 in launching the original Xbox and it never managed to make up the time in sales.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4160076.stm

sam · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2005, 01:18 »

not sounding too bad then

Clive · « **Reply #6 on:** August 21, 2005, 07:27 »

Xbox360 Marketing Brochure Leaked

The Xbox360 Marketing brochure has been leaked onto the internet, and Planet Xbox360 has managed to obtain a copy for everyone to check out. The brochure is divided into several pages, each one pertaining to a different aspect of the Xbox360 console.

Also, here are some "issues" that have been noted on other sites and in their forums:
This brochure implies that the wireless controller will be included with the Core System. This is not the case - it should read optional.
The brochures all confirm that a hard-drive is needed for backwards compatibility (this has been known all along, but it is the first official MS confirmation of the fact).
Likewise for the 30 days trial of Xbox Live Gold that is included with both packages - it is official MS confirmation of the fact.

http://www.winbeta.org/comments.php?id=3440&catid=1

sam · « **Reply #7 on:** August 21, 2005, 10:20 »

still looks like i will be buying one then!

Camstop · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2005, 11:03 »

Looks like the "fully loaded system" is the one to go for with out a shadow of a doubt if your a serius gamer

You can pre-order them now here...

Game.net/xbox360 and play247.com/xbox360

Also watch out for good bundles from "Toys R us" or your local "GAME" store :wink: