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]

Originally Posted by Kyuzo

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

Read Null's first paragraph...