Wednesday, August 17, 2005 2:04 PM szurgot

XBOX 360 - Base (Core) configuration doesn't make sense

Been reading about the XBOX 360 pricing, and all the discussions around it, and I've been trying to figure something out... The Core package doesn't come with a HDD or a memory unit, so you've got no place to save anything. Which means it's going to cost $340 to really do anything with it anyway, which not just go with one package and be done with it.

And what's with only having HD cables in the premium box... Not that many people are going to have HDTV's lying around :)

Personally, I'll go with the Premium because I should have my HDTV within a few weeks, wireless controllers are a favorite, so it just makes sense anyway, but the core package doesn't quite add up...

Comments

# re: XBOX 360 - Base (Core) configuration doesn't make sense

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 4:00 PM by Kevin Jensen

I'm guessing they will have memory cards. Remember the Sony PS2 is doing just fine without a hard drive.

# re: XBOX 360 - Base (Core) configuration doesn't make sense

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 4:03 PM by Robert McLaws

That's the point... the core model is for poor people who can't afford all the good stuff. But for another $100 you get a ton of extra crap. For people leery about spending $100 more than any other console has ever been priced at release... it becomes a nobrainer when you have the stripped-down model priced so close to the souped-up model.

If you think about it though, the core model is basically the same as what you got in the original Xbox, minus a hard drive.

# re: XBOX 360 - Base (Core) configuration doesn't make sense

Monday, August 22, 2005 1:40 PM by Shawn Oster

I've been having the same musing about the core vs. standard but from a market stand-point it makes perfect sense to me. When I first bought my PS I also had to buy a memory card, if memory serves me right it didn't come in the box. There is also the case of the people without any games and as I understand it none are shipping bundled with either system so that's actually $299 + $39 + $49 for a game.

Most people understand that the purchase of any electronic gadget means buying some other "things". You buy a new surround receiver you are probably going to be buying new cables, buy a digital camera and the first thing you do is toss the weenie memory card and buy a bigger one.

Microsoft took into account a major market, that of the parent or grandparent. For many the gulf between getting two items (core + memory unit) for $340 and one item (standard) for $400 is much bigger psychologically than just $60 bucks. Just say "wireless" to a nerdling and we get shivers of pleasure but does a parent or even an eleven year-old care?

There is also the limiter factor, a lot of parents don't really *want* their kids to have everything the standard system comes with. Either they see it as wasted money or as more reasons for their kids to want to spend longer in front of the TV. They also may really like being able to buy the bits and pieces separate because now they have something to tell Uncle Bob or Grandma to buy at Target for Little Timmy.

It seems most people that don't get the Core SKU are the hard-core or at least adult gamers with our own cash flow. Parents of the pre-teen and young teen monsters are very happy with the Core SKU because for a family $60 is a big deal.

I've thought quite a lot about this and I used to have an opinion more in line with yours but after talking to friends with young kids the Core system is the one they are all queued up to get.