Xbox 360 Arcade confirmed by MS, short on details

by James Ransom-Wiley { Oct 18th 2007 at 3:23PM }

Finally, someone from Microsoft has acknowledged the Xbox 360 Arcade console: "Arcade becomes [for us] the ability to bring in a new set of audiences. They're probably a little bit more casually focused, they're looking for a new family experience or they're more price focused," Robbie Bach told Financial Times, marking Microsoft's first public comments about the new SKU. The FT report also suggests a $279 price tag, but fails to relate sound information about the included "games" (or are they demos?) and an official street date -- maybe that's because Xbox 360 Arcade has already arrived.

When asked for comment, a Microsoft rep fed us the old: "We have nothing to announce at this time. Thanks!" What's the deal?

Tags: xbox-360-arcade, Xbox360Arcade

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

FOXHOUND @ Oct 18th 2007 3:26PM

I'm buying it for UNO.

-waits for it...-

The1 @ Oct 18th 2007 3:46PM

This needs to be the same price as the Wii. When will MS learn.

jovin6 @ Oct 18th 2007 4:01PM

For sure, dude. MS knows nothing about business. I don't think that company has ever made any profits. Ever.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Oct 18th 2007 4:08PM

"I don't think that company has ever made any profits. Ever."

Their games division sure hasn't. Next year might be the very first time they see black.

DemonGSides @ Oct 18th 2007 4:37PM

Which, coincidentally, is something that the Sony brand has never seen.

/ducks

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Oct 18th 2007 4:47PM

Oh snap. Still false, but oh snap.

joho @ Oct 18th 2007 3:32PM

um, i saw these for sale in TRU times square last week...

mfed3 @ Oct 18th 2007 10:03PM

upz nailed it right on the head. to comment on this product, its a great intro buy into gaming. for instance, someone who cannot afford to pay for the full version of the console, say, a young person can get this version as a gift, and later upgrade it for themselves. At least Microsoft is giving the option for the consumer to do something like this. The Arcade pack is not a tard pack like the Core was. HDMI + wireless controller + arcade games = good starter deal, much better than the wii.

robert @ Oct 18th 2007 3:32PM

if they're focusing on the casual gamer isn't there a problem with no HD since Live Arcade is where most of the casual games are and need to be downloaded?

megaStryke @ Oct 18th 2007 3:39PM

That's why they've included a memory card.

robert @ Oct 18th 2007 3:51PM

which will hold 5 of the 50mb arcade games... less if you include a live profile and saved game data.

Vidikron (FU) @ Oct 18th 2007 3:54PM

I think that's actually part of the "trap". As megaStryke points out, there is indeed a memory card... but between the 5 free games, your profile, and game saves that card isn't going to last long. People will buy the Arcade and get hooked on the XBLA games and/or other Live content and will be forced to spring for a hard drive or additional memory cards down the road.

upz @ Oct 18th 2007 4:33PM

Exactly as Vidikron said. If you think any of the Big Three aren't in it for the buck, you're deluding yourself.

Microsoft didn't give you a three year warranty out of the goodness of their hearts, Sony isn't selling PS3s at a loss because they want you to experience unrivaled visual clarity, and Nintendo sure as hell isn't selling you a $50 piece of hardware for $250 because they want your family to finally spend time together again.

Companies make profit. Your satisfaction and brand loyalty guarantee that.

megaStryke @ Oct 18th 2007 3:34PM

And WHAT'S the DEAL with this Master Chief guy? WHAT is he HIDing under that HELmet? [/Jerry Seinfeld]

...

...

I know. Bad joke. Shut up. Who... who the fuck are you?

Henry @ Oct 18th 2007 3:35PM

I can only think of one reason for not confirming the price. That is that they are thinking of a price cut in response to Sony's.

Eric @ Oct 18th 2007 4:35PM

That is exactly what I was thinking, I could see the arcade dropping to $250 to $225 the premium $300 to $275 and the Elite $350 to $325, of course those price ranges may be wishful thinking.

joho @ Oct 18th 2007 3:35PM

by last week, i meant earlier this week :P cause i'm daft. But monday when i went to get my buy 2 get the 3rd off, they had a handful on the shelves

WiNG @ Oct 18th 2007 3:37PM

"but fails to relate sound information about the included "games" (or are they demos?)"

They are demos.

Now taking bets (hint: don't bet against me)

vidGuy @ Oct 18th 2007 3:45PM

The odds tonight stand at an unprecedented 1000 to 0. A bet of zero dollars against WiNG pays 1000 dollars if he loses.

Kenban @ Oct 18th 2007 5:05PM

You already lost. Some review agency already listed exactly whats on the DVD. Its 5 full arcade games and 5 demos plus a couple of other files.

jayeffaar @ Oct 18th 2007 3:44PM

...but if they're going to ship with XBLA demos, why not include a demo of every single XBLA game ever released? At under 50 MB a pop, surely there's room for all of them on a DVD...

joeyg @ Oct 18th 2007 3:45PM

and people say sony has too many sku's?

what's the deal with this system?

FrankTheCrank @ Oct 18th 2007 3:45PM

Classic Microsoft.....once they got you in their grasp, they don't have to answer to you or anyone else. You will take what you get and you will like it.

You will like RROD, you will like paying for Live every year....this is their game. I can't wait to hear about the Live increa$e....cause you KNOW it's coming.

This is why we need Sony and Nintendo around...to keep these guys straight.

Vidikron (FU) @ Oct 18th 2007 4:00PM

It's replacing the Core. It's actually a better deal than the Core since this on will have a wireless controller and memory card included. The "deal" is to to suck people in with the lower price and get them hooked on Live content with the free XBLA games... that will then cause many of them to buy more memory cards or or an HDD down the road.

Dale @ Oct 18th 2007 5:26PM

The difference is, Microsoft's senior executives didn't lambast Sony for different SKUs.

NATO_Duke @ Oct 18th 2007 3:59PM

Once again I am asking myself wtf you are talking about.

How did they get potential 360 owners in their grasp?

CaptainAmericaX @ Oct 18th 2007 4:00PM

Wow do you actually believe the crap that you spew?

Vidikron (FU) @ Oct 18th 2007 4:01PM

Crap... my previous reply was intended for joeyg above your post, Frank.

Evan @ Oct 18th 2007 4:22PM

Less than half of 360 owners pay for Live. It's not manditory, and playing online against rude kids doesn't interest all gamers, certainly not the Arcade version's target demographic!

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 18th 2007 4:53PM

I gotta agree with Vidikron on this one.

JJ Rooster @ Oct 18th 2007 3:46PM

It's gotta be 5 full XBLA games, plus 5 regular game demos like Bioshock etc.

Why the hell hasn't that Emmanuel guy or Engadget ever confirmed this though? The guy bought the friggin thing and said nothing about it. Douche!

robert @ Oct 18th 2007 3:58PM

from the engadget unboxing article:

"a disc that includes demos of Xbox LIVE Arcade games Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship, and Uno"

so it's 5 Live Arcade game demos, not the full versions.

Scott @ Oct 18th 2007 4:27PM

Can you people read?

It's those 5 FULL games....plus demos for more....look at the Engadget gallery; it's pretty clear

zlionsfan @ Oct 18th 2007 4:32PM

The article doesn't have proof. They're just reading what they saw on the box.

If you look at the gallery, there's one picture of the console box that shows a label that says "These 5 Games Included" with logos for the five games listed above.

The picture of the back of the game box has the five games listed with "Plus Five Trial Games!" That's about as unclear as you can get.

There's a picture that shows the dashboard with the available games. However, it doesn't show him trying to play one of the games, so that doesn't say whether or not they are demos.

Seems like Microsoft went out of their way not to explain what you'd be getting.

Mr Slavio @ Oct 18th 2007 4:42PM

Exactly, and the fact they aren't commenting on this is not a good sign.

Scott @ Oct 18th 2007 5:18PM

Look at the FRONT of the box

5 games included

I like to thing MS isn't that shady!

Hasn't anyone bought this thing yet?

robert @ Oct 18th 2007 5:29PM

hey scott, how about you try to read and comprehend what you are reading...

direct quote from the engadget posting:

"a disc that includes DEMOS of Xbox LIVE Arcade games Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship, and Uno"

it initially said: "a disc that includes COPIES of..."
but he apparently had to change it to "DEMO OF" instead of "COPY OF"

seems like if he had the full versions on the disc he wouldn't have to make that change.

how's that for clarity?

Mike @ Oct 18th 2007 3:47PM

just in time to try and counter sony's new offering.

Too @ Oct 18th 2007 3:57PM

I totally agree about the comment that it NEEDS to be the same price of the Wii (or less)

I'm really surprised Microsoft hasn't been more competitive when it comes to pricing against competitors

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 18th 2007 5:04PM

Microsoft isn't concerned about Nintendo because Nintendo isn't trying to muscle in on their Media Center vision/turf.
Hell, Microsoft really isn't even concerned about games, to be honest. Their sights are set strictly on Sony, who IS the threat to their Media Center vision of the future. That's what the Xbox has been about since it's inception. Fanboys will bristle at this notion, but it's true. The more they keep Sony, who is also going ahead with Media Center capabilities, down on the mats, the better their chances are of being the center of everyone's living room in 10-15 years.
So in some fashion they likely see Nintendo as an asset to them. The Core and Arcade models are really only there to get gamers to buy the cheaper units and boost their install base, thus giving them more leverage over getting the console in people's homes. But they REALLY want you to buy the units with Hard Drives built into them. In that sense, they don't give a damn about the cheaper, HDDless versions of the Xbox.
If I were REALLY cynical, I'd say gimping it is a deliberate incentive.