Seen as the bastard child of the Xbox 360 console SKUs, the Xbox 360 Arcade and its 256MB memory card are officially making their way to Japan's retail stores.The new Arcade bundle will retail for 27,800 Yen (roughly $260 US) and be nearly identical to the United States' Arcade bundle including an HDMI port, wireless controller, 256MB memory card and five XBLA games. It wasn't made clear of Japan's Xbox 360 Core bundle will be going the way of the U.S.'s (see: no more Core), but we're thinking that isn't the highest priority right now. Priority number one is to get anyone in Japan to buy an Xbox 360 at any price. And even though we don't think the Xbox 360 Arcade is going to be the 360's savior in Japan, it's a step in the right direction to make the product a bit cheaper. And that's good ... right?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-04-2008 @ 1:26PM
mattclarkie said...
I always got the feeling that the Japanese like their electronics full featured, like me, and not cut-down to save a bit of money.
I would imagine that taking $20 of the cost of the Premium, or throwing in a free game and maybe controller would do more to sell in Japan than a slightly cheaper but cut-down version ever could. But MS must have done the Market Research so who am I to argue.
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2-04-2008 @ 6:02PM
zerodis2001 said...
man this is Dum Arcade what is arcade about it the Face it come with a lousy 512 meg card ppl is dum to buy this because before you know it your going to have to buy there Gimpy HDD and pay 100+ for it Microsoft sure know how to give to there Fans right in the Crack lol it is for those that are stupid and don't know the Difference between them
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2-04-2008 @ 7:41PM
alienclays said...
i think m$ is under the impression that they need a decent sub $300 console to truly continue to hit mass market potential. without a built in high-def media drive, (and the dying off of HD-DVD), and the animic 20gb in the pro, a lower price is totally nessary to combat the inital percieved value over a $400 40gb blu-ray ps3. (dont argue games because if that's what was motivating you you already bought a 360 and it dosent matter anyway. the key statement is initial percieved value.)
doing this in japan is a nessary cost savings. why waste by making both core and arcade?
ms should cut the bull, kill the arcade and pro add $40 ($300-320) and put in a 40-60gb HD. because in all honesty we all know HD are not that more expensive between 20-120gb.
i have a feeling the reason they wont do this however, has to do with profit margins and money lost on RRoD.
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