Xbox 360 Premium Bundle w/ WebTV

[MuGen]

Microsoft is still planning to ship two different versions of its Xbox 360 console at launch, according to sources close to the company - while reports suggest that the high-end version may feature the firm's WebTV system.

It's long been thought that Microsoft plans to ship two different Xbox 360 bundles, one with a hard drive and one without, and give users the option of upgrading the low-end system with a hard drive accessory.

Sources close to the firm have confirmed this week that there's much talk of two distinct price points, which seems to indicate that this is still the plan for launch - while a report on well-connected gaming blog Kotaku gives an indication of how the two different models will be differentiated.

The site reports that the basic edition of Xbox 360 - the version without the hard drive - will not have backwards compatibility, while the "premium" version with the hard drive will ship with Microsoft's WebTV functionality built-in.

WebTV is Microsoft's effort at bringing internet communication and media functionality to the living room, and includes basic functionality such as web, e-mail and IM access along with the ability to stream music and video channels from the 'net or from local PCs.

Integrating the system with Xbox 360 would be a logical move, and a major land-grab for Microsoft in this space - which is tipped to become more important in the coming years as increasing amounts of content are broadcast over the Internet as opposed to over traditional TV networks.

A major question mark over the possibility of a the two-tier Xbox launch, however, lies with the question of customised content - one of J Allard's most vaunted goals for the new system - and how that would tie in with a low-end Xbox 360 without a mass storage device.

One part of the answer to that question is the inclusion of a high-capacity solid state memory device with the system, which wouldn't be large enough to store music or movies in any significant volume - or to act as a cache for Xbox games, as the existing Xbox' hard drive does - but would be able to act as a cache customised game assets.

Indeed, last year Israeli flash memory specialist M-Systems confirmed that it is working on a memory solution for Xbox 2, with CEO Dov Moran stating that "when users want to save their e-mail messages, copy music, or anything like that, the only storage they’ll have is what we give them."

Another part of the answer to that question may come from Kotaku's sources, who indicated to the site that around 80 per cent of the systems produced for launch would be the "premium" version - suggesting that the lower-end model is, more than anything else, a concession to launching a competitively priced "games only" system.

Sony is also widely expected to launch multiple versions of the PlayStation 3 console, which is due to arrive in 2006, with both "home media server" and stripped down "basic console" versions believed to be on the cards.

Analysts suggest the retail price point of the XBOX 360 Premium Bundle w/ WebTV and HD to be close to $499.99. While the XBOX 360 Console will retail at $299.99 with a 100GB HD Accessory sold seperately at $149.99.

External Link: Kotaku

That might be interesting. But to spend a bit more on a bundle for WebTV is a bit unecessary. I see people going for the low-end X360 first, then buying a HD accessory.

[Neo]

$500?? That's insane. It's hard to believe that 80% of the Xbox360s will cost $500 each. The demand for the low-cost model could easily outpace supply. Not having backwards compatibility is going to suck dead deer testicles.

[Null]

thats bad news for MS IMO, i can understand a package with webtv and one without. Perhaps even justify one with backwards compatability and one without. but the idea of one with a HD and one without is really going to hurt them, im suprised they still cant see that.

then add a 100 gb hd addon for 150? that is CRAZY over priced. i can get a 100gb HD for 80, maybe less. so i dont know what they have come with it that woudl justify the extra cost there.

addons dont work tho, and if they follow through with this idea. and Sony released every unit with a HD in it. sony gots a HUGE upperhand in the online game for next gen then.

[GameMaster]

The only people who use WebTV are grown-ups and senior citizens who aren't computer savy or don't like computers. Even then, it seems like WebTV died a few years back. I never hear advertisements for it anymore. What a terrible, terrible bundle.

[Dark Samurai]

$300's not bad for the Xbox 2, but is that 6 different packages I see?

[MuGen]

Where do you see 6? X360 w/ HD and WebTV is one bundle
and X360 console is another bundle.

[Dark Samurai]

Where do you see 6? X360 w/ HD and WebTV is one bundle
and X360 console is another bundle.

Read Null's first paragraph...

[Null]

Read Null's first paragraph...


:hmm:


think you need to read it. im talking about the same 2 packages, not some how getting 6 out of it.

[Jonbo298]

Yeah, I thought WebTV was a failed attempt at bringing internet "in the comfort of your living room" and then kinda-sorta embraced by old people and computer idiots then died

[MuGen]

No no no, WebTV is still used widely by those of the senior citizen pursuasion. RCA has a WebTV out and also Microsoft.... but it's not as popular as the traditional PC internet. But they are probably making the X360 HD w/ WebTV bundle, so you can surf the net, possible download your own skins for characters and what not, allowing for complete customization... almost like playing unreal for the PC... and getting models for your character.

[GameMaster]

How will Null feel when his precious PC gaming is ousted from it's customizable throne by the XBox 360? Shafted? Robbed? Swindled?

[MuGen]

neglected maybe...

[Blackmane]

No such ousting will occur because WebTV is super dumb.

[Null]

How will Null feel when his precious PC gaming is ousted from it's customizable throne by the XBox 360? Shafted? Robbed? Swindled?


hehe, i wouldnt mind at all. infact if PS3 or xb360 could have that level of customizability and support monitor / keyboard / mouse. then i would gladly hook it up to my monitor and play some games.

However it wont be that customizable, at least not for quite a while. sure you might be able to download some new stuff. but without giving each game its own tools to make your own mods and addons, it'll never reach that level.
With pc games you can pretty much mod them to do whatever you want if you learn how.

but consoles will eventually just become computers themselves. thats where they're heading. and when they make consoles and computers work together, then we have something. each console games comes with the tools to make things on the PC, then transfer them over to the console HD. we're a ways off from that tho.

[Jonbo298]

How will Null feel when his precious PC gaming is ousted from it's customizable throne by the XBox 360? Shafted? Robbed? Swindled?

haha, thats laughable. PC gaming will live on forever. Its consoles that are becoming PC's (sadly). Until I have the ability to customize the guts of my console(s) HOWEVER I want to (ie: hardware upgrades, etc..), I'll still call PC gaming better :D

[MuGen]

It may seem like consoles are becoming PC's or heading in that direction. But the fact of the matter is that the console gaming is only headed in the PC direction in terms of graphics. But the PC is ever evolving with new graphics chips and processors, whilst consoles are manufactured in time.

The purpose of the console was so you can get to the action, and play a game without loading up your computer or worrying about installing new games and storage. Consoles were made to be a basic example of plug-n-play. And while they're approaching PC level graphics, and PC level utilities, it will always be insert game and play.

The day when we buy games for a console and INSTALL it to play it, will be the day when console gaming has diminished into PC gaming. But right now, even though there are similarities to PC and Console gaming.... there are a lot of differences in the fac tthat console gaming was made so you can just unplug it, and take it to any TV you want, and put in a game and play from there... no installations.

[Null]

No one said Consoles are PC's right now. but they are indeed becoming PC's believe it or not.
graphics on consoles is ALWAYS approaching pc levels, has has and always will. because PC's constantly get better graphics while consoles wait every 5 years.

But consoles are getting ports to add monitors, they're having usb's to add other devices, they're going online, they're downloading more things, they've expanded out of playing games, playing movies, perhaps doing tivo like things etc, they're getting PC parts and PC manufacters making the parts for em. They are most def. becoming more and more of a PC every generation.

now im not saying they will go away. but basically they will end up being just a computer with its OS focused on just games, instead of having an OS to do multiple things like windows and stuff.

They're becoming more PC in a lot more ways then graphics.

[MuGen]

uhhh no..... ;)

[jeepnut]

haha, thats laughable. PC gaming will live on forever. Its consoles that are becoming PC's (sadly). Until I have the ability to customize the guts of my console(s) HOWEVER I want to (ie: hardware upgrades, etc..), I'll still call PC gaming better :D

Until I can:
- gurauntee that any game I buy for my PC will work on my computer no matter what and look its best doing it without me having to go out and purchase a 300 dollar video card every 2 years

- put 3 other people on the couch beside me for a game.

- rent games I don't want to buy.

- purchase a system and know that I can get a good 5 years of gaming out of it

I'll still call console gaming better.

[Jonbo298]

[QUOTE=jeepnut]Until I can:
- gurauntee that any game I buy for my PC will work on my computer no matter what and look its best doing it without me having to go out and purchase a 300 dollar video card every 2 years

Games are ever-evolving for the PC. You may not like shelling out the cash (I do if I can :D ) but in 2 years, your current video card will work on the newer games. Granted, it may not look 'pretty' but its playable. Hell, PC gaming is constantly evolving which I enjoy. Console gaming is cheaper but meh, I like my technology, thank you.

- put 3 other people on the couch beside me for a game.

You could if your PC had video output to TV and ability to have some wireless gamepads :D

- rent games I don't want to buy.

*cough* Pirating. Why buy? ;)

- purchase a system and know that I can get a good 5 years of gaming out of it

You can with PC's. Be prepared for it to get uglier but sacrifice and deal with it or dont PC game at all. Thats that

I'll still call console gaming better.

Both have strenghts and weaknesses. I just prefer PC gaming now since Console games are getting more stale by the day.

[Null]

Until I can:
- gurauntee that any game I buy for my PC will work on my computer no matter what
you cant do that on console. you have to keep upgrading your console every 5 years to play the newest games. Do you need to do that on PC? nope. if you dont want to spend the money, turn some graphics down and play the newest game on a system you already have. to me thats better.

and look its best doing it without me having to go out and purchase a 300 dollar video card every 2 years
if your purchasing a new vid card every 2 years you have a problem. you dont need to do that at all. i spend about the same amount on keeping my computer up to date as i do buying a new console every 5 years. Then ontop of that, theres only 1 PC, and theres 3 consoles. my PC can play ANY PC game, can my console play ANY console game? nope, i have to buy multiple consoles to play every game. and you call this an advantage?
Consoles games are limiting the graphics, you think the games your buying new right now on PS2/Xbox/GC are the best the games can look? hell no, they're just what the current consoles are limiting them to look like. Is that a big difference from what PC does? im not seeing much of a difference at all. want it to look better? upgrade it, that goes for Console and PC.
Just because new parts come out that are better for PC doesnt mean you HAVE to buy them, it doesnt even mean you NEED them.


- put 3 other people on the couch beside me for a game.
you can do that with a PC, and you know what? its not very expensive at all to do. i'd bet you could do it for under $10 by buying a couple adapters.


- rent games I don't want to buy.

guess that ones personal choice, i'd never rent a game, if i dont plan on buying it, its not worth playing. waste of money to rent IMO. but thats good for some people. im not knocking you at that one at all. thats your personal pref.


- purchase a system and know that I can get a good 5 years of gaming out of it know what your buying and you can get that and a lot more out of a pc.

I'll still call console gaming better.
I call it equal. Gaming is gaming. a good game is a good game no matter what its on. PC is just a whole lot more adaptive.