It’s been a while since the last Cracking the Myth column, so it’s due time for me to get something else off my chest – the two Xbox 360 SKUs available at launch.
I don’t know if we can call it debate, since the argument has been largely one-sided coming from the mouthpieces of the internet fanboys and videogame “journalists”, but most people think it’s a bad idea for Microsoft to launch the Xbox 360 in two flavors. For those of you who may not be aware, they are:
Xbox 360 ($399 MSRP), bundled with:
- Wireless Controller
- Hard Drive
- Headset
- Component HD Cable
- Ethernet Cable
- Media Remote
Xbox 360 Core ($299 MSRP), bundled with:
- (Wired) Controller
- Composite AV Cable
The reason behind this is because Microsoft desparately wanted to make the Xbox 360 affordable at launch for the mainstream gamer. With the Core bundle, they are able to offer a bare-bones package for this very reason. The hardcore gamers are going to go with the “full” package regardless, and this is from where the vocal outcry comes. I’ve seen quotes like, “Why would anyone want a bare-bones package?” and “Microsoft is screwing themselves just so that little Johnny’s Mom can buy him an Xbox for Christmas.” Uh, yeah…
Unknown to the legion of basement dwellers who cringe at the sight of leaving their parents’ basements for outdoor activities such as showering, there is a market for this. A very big market. The Core bundle is for people who may not be able to take full advantage of what the Xbox 360 has to offer, for a variety of reasons. Probably the main reason is financial. It takes a very big investment to squeeze everything out of the 360 – high definition television, broadband internet, surround sound stereo. Not many people have the money to allocate toward such a gaming experience. For those, the Core product is just fine. There are other people that just behind the curve in accepting new technology, such as broadband internet. Buying the Core bundle would work just as well for them as well. And then there are those who just don’t want to spend the $400 on a new gaming system. For them, the Xbox 360 isn’t going to be their main gaming console. Maybe their allegiance is to the PS2, or the current generation Xbox. To them, the Xbox 360 just isn’t worth $400. And they know once the Xbox 360 becomes the staple of their gaming experience, they can always upgrade down the road.
What everyone has to keep in mind is that, essentially, there isn’t much difference between the two bundles. Both play the same Xbox 360 games. Both provide Xbox Live support. The extras are merely incidentals. Microsoft has made it perfectly clear to developers they cannot rely on the hard drive for core gaming functions. That means its main function will be to store game saves, music for customization, downloads, and perhaps the closest thing to core functionality is enhanced performance through caching and streaming data. Microsoft has already addressed the last argument by increasing the speed of the DVD drive for faster direct access, so the need for this may be limited out of the box. Not relying on the hard drive also means Microsoft can produce the console cheaper, and in effect stay profitable as the price drops throughout the next generation. Let me remind you – price dops work for the consumer as well.
What about the component versus composite cables? The only difference is if the Xbox 360 is hooking up to a high definition television, which not everyone has. What about the headset and ethernet cable? Xbox Live support is available in both bundles, so it really is a matter of who is planning on using Xbox Live at the onset versus those who might want to wait until they are sold on the idea of an extra subscription fee. What about the media remote? Most likely everyone has a DVD player already, and they aren’t buying an Xbox 360 to watch movies. Wireless controller? Works the same as the wired one, and it’s just a matter of convenience and preference.
Are all the extra accessories are worth the $100? When added up separately, yes. But if I’m not going to use Xbox Live, then that’s $100 wasted that could have been spent elsewhere. Just so everyone knows, I will be getting the “full” Xbox 360 package, because that caters to my gaming expectations.
So kudos for Microsoft for not forcing us into paying $400 for the console, and giving us a choice as to how we want our gaming experience to be. After all, Microsoft wants to own the next generation of gaming, and what better way to do that than to give the consumer a choice?