If you wanted an Xbox 360, I sure hope you got one — because they're already as scarce as a virgin backstage at a rock concert, and the profiteers have come out swinging on eBay. Prices for the higher end Xbox 360 have already risen as high as $3,000, reports CNN, and at the time I'm writing, I'm seeing prices from just under a grand all the way up to $2200.
Now I almost wish I'd bought one — the extra $1200 from reselling it would have been great to help cover holiday costs this year! But to be realistic, I'm not planning on getting one, at least not until there's real talk of another Halo title. I'm not knocking the first 'box, not really, despite some of my pals bemoaning my Microsoft hatred. For playing online with a variety of titles, there's nothing like the 'box. But in a year that was marked by jaw-dropping gas prices, and a winter sure to be remembered for energy costs, I just can't bring myself to drop $400 on a game system — and that's without even a game.
But it goes beyond price. What are you really getting for your money? In a few months, the price will drop. What will we have missed? Good graphics aren't enough any longer, not for me. Not after Resident Evil 4, which literally had me jumping out of my seat — and this on the "wussy" Gamecube. What could possibly make me drop several hundred dollars at this point? After all, I'm comfortably playing Final Fantasy XI Online on my PC in the three minutes of spare time or so I discover behind the couch each week. So if it's not graphics, what is it?
Unbridled violence, dear reader. And that means a shooter. And when it comes to the 360, that means Perfect Dark Zero. Now, I played the hell out of the Nintendo 64 edition back in the day. We're talking up-all-night, thumbs black and blue obsession here — after all, it was Goldeneye with bots!
Article comments
1 - Ken Edwards
I could not agree more with your thoughts of Call of Duty 2. I am so sick of WW2 FPS games right now.
But I do not think we will see a price drop from $399 in under a year.
Halo 3 would have sold the system, but would there have been enough to sell? I think not.
Also if Halo 3 hit at launch, there goes Perfect Dark Zero. It would be interesting seeing those to franchises go head to head, but my gut tells me that Halo would win that fight.
I bought a 360 because I can't wait to play The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It would have made my day if that had been a launch title. I doubt I would have bought much else.
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
Graphics have never been a big selling point for me anyway.
8 bits or no bits! That would be my campaign slogan.
3 - Tan The Man
That might be why Nintendo is offering downloadable past generational titles. It's something that makes backwards compatibility go full circle. I loved those old Contra games.
4 - Alisha Karabinus
I know... first game I'll download will be Shadowgate if it's there (you could suicide! And then the game would make fun of you!) and then maybe Excitebike. Excitebike was awesome. Man. Thanks, Tan. Now I'm all nostalgic.
Ken, I disagree... I think when we get closer to the PS3 (even though it's going to be more expensive), we'll see a price drop, even if it's just a token, like $30.
Though I do agree with your assessment of PD0 vs. Halo. I just wonder... is PD0 really big enough to stand up to Halo? I don't think it is. It seems like they're throwing a bone to all the folks waiting for Halo 3. But hey, I could be wrong. I will be waiting on the edge of my seat for online gaming reports.
5 - Sterfish
I watched G4's live "Countdown to Xbox 360" and while the eye candy was there, none of the launch titles made me even remotely want to plunk down the money for an Xbox 360. I sat there in disbelief when X-Play's review of Madden 06 revealed that you couldn't challenge a call in the game (is that really true?). To me, at least, the games I'm most interested in for Xbox 360 are the ones coming in the future.
6 - Mary K. Williams
Good write up Lisha : )
7 - Ken Edwards
I knew I should have put my Xbox 360 on eBay! The prices are really soaring, and people are paying more then the PS2 ever saw durring its launch.
No matter. The games I have are fun and that is all that counts.
8 - Ken Edwards
Sterfish - It is true. You cannot challenge a call in Madden 06 for the 360. You can't do a lot of things in Madden 06 for the 360. The entire sports like from EA has been gutted for the 360. It is a shame. All you get is the bare bones game with no frills.
Less features for more money. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it.
I am most eager for the future games to. Namely DOA4 (I can't believe there is no fighting game for the launch) and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. I absolutely loved Morrowind, and was crushed to hear that Oblivion was not going to make it for launch.
9 - Ken Edwards
I would have been glad to tell you what I thought about Perfect Dark Zero, but the place that I ordered all my games at have no games yet. Totally frustrating.
10 - Tyler Willis
Good writeup. I am in perfect agreement about buying a launch console... it just doesn't make sense to me. There's so many older (cheaper) games out there that are still fun to play - they may not have the absolute latest in graphics, but who cares? I, for one, prefer gameplay over shinyness.
And I'll disagree with my friend Ken up there. I think that the 360 will see a price drop before the PS3 comes out. MS is trying to do everything they possible can to garner market share; price dropping right before the PS3 will steal some of its thunder.