Microsoft has officially announced the first batch of Platinum Hits for the Xbox 360. The games are:Perfect Dark Zero
Project Gotham Racing 3
Kameo: Elements of Power
Need for Speed Most Wanted
Conspicuously missing from the list is Call of Duty 2, the 360's first million seller. The first four Platinum Hits will be available for the bargain price of $29.99 starting October 15th -- the second set should be announced in the spring of 2007. It's a far cry from what we considered a bargain last gen, but it's definitely better than nothing. So, for those of you that haven't picked these up yet, will a $29.99 price tag make you reconsider?
See the full press release after the break.
Microsoft Announces Platinum Hits Lineup for Xbox 360
Four Top-Selling Game Titles Included in First Wave of Platinum Hits;
Second Wave to Follow in Spring 2007
REDMOND, Wash. - September 20, 2006 - Microsoft Corp. today announced
the debut of Platinum Hits lineup for Xbox 360 software titles,
available October 15 at retail locations in North America. The first
wave of Platinum Hits games includes "Perfect Dark Zero" (Microsoft Game
Studios), "Project Gotham Racing 3" (Microsoft Game Studios), "Kameo:
Elements of Power" (Microsoft Game Studios) and "Need for Speed Most
Wanted" (Electronic Arts). The games will carry a manufacturer's
suggested retail price (MSRP) of $29.99 USD.
The Xbox Platinum Hits program accounted for more than sixteen million
software sales - approximately 16 percent of all Xbox software sold.
Platinum Hits titles for the first Xbox console included "Halo: Combat
Evolved" (Bungie) and "Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge" (Microsoft
Game Studios), some of the best-reviewed games on the console.
"The Platinum Hits program allows existing gamers and new gamers alike
to have access to great games at a great price," said Mitch Koch,
corporate vice president of Worldwide Retail Sales for the Interactive
Entertainment Business. "Xbox 360 will have a ten million unit head
start by the end of 2006, and there will be plenty of new console owners
eager to jump in to the best-selling Xbox 360 games."
"Not only does the Platinum Hits program offer games at a
great value," Koch added, "it ensures that the platform's best games are
available to new customers at an amazing price. And if you missed
playing a game the first time around, now is a great reason to pick it
up."
"The Platinum Hits program was extremely successful for the Xbox, and we
are excited to see it continue on the Xbox 360," said Bob McKenzie,
Senior Vice President of Merchandising at GameStop Corp. "When you look
at the Xbox 360's fantastic games library, and now the inclusion of the
Platinum Hit program, it is easy to see the great value and choices that
all gamers are able to tap into."
The second wave of Platinum Hits arrives in spring of 2007 after
launching worldwide this holiday, with titles varying by region. Europe,
Asia, Latin America, Japan and Australia will all have Platinum Hits
programs with lineups tailored for the specific tastes of gamers in
those regions.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-20-2006 @ 1:15PM
J.Goodwin said...
Technically, I think these were all priced at $30 already.
This is a rebranding effort to visibly draw attention to low price tier titles, not a price cut.
Reply
9-20-2006 @ 2:43PM
mike said...
I would rather spend full price on a new game everyone is talking about then exeriance it a year later for $20 off. Seriously, Why wait a whole year for a game to drop what you make in an hour or 2 of working?
I might pick up games on the spur for like $9.99 but for $29.99, Im still only gonna get games I wasinterested in.
On a similar note, I laugh at people like oe of my buddies who refuses to buy a 360 until a price drop. Ive reminded him that hese missing out on an entire year (or more) of the lattest gaming just to save $50 (assuming it would be a $50 price drop) which he makes in a couple hours of work. I really dont understand why people wait for these price drops? See im waiting to buy an hdtv. I want a price drop, but I know the price drops on those things go from $4000 Tvs to $2000 or less the next year. If the drop was something like a couple hundred $, then I would just buy the HDTV right now.
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9-20-2006 @ 3:07PM
tanis38 said...
I'm gonna miss the gold old days of $19.99 Platinum Hits. They felt like much more of a bargain.
But, who am I kidding? Two of those titles (Kameo and PGR3) I already picked up from Circuit City, brand new, for $19.99. Kameo a couple months back and PGR3 as recent as last week.
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9-20-2006 @ 3:10PM
tanis38 said...
Sorry, I couldn't let it go. What I actually miss is the "GOOD old days".
I wouldn't have been able to sleep without correcting myself. :)
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9-20-2006 @ 6:55PM
slacker said...
That list is waaayyy too short. this is pointless... I am dissapointed.
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9-20-2006 @ 7:44PM
AoE said...
Hmmm... I was in a gamecrazy a couple of nights back, and noticed they had PDZ for $25 and the limited edition for $5 or $10 more... does this mean come october they'll be jacking the price back up to $30 on that? Personally I don't care much since I bought that POS at launch... But I'd hate to think that the platinum line is artificially fixing older game prices at $30.
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9-20-2006 @ 9:36PM
S.A. said...
Kameo is the only good game out of that bunch.
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9-20-2006 @ 10:31PM
Lithium Mirage said...
$30 is almost proportionate to last gen's bargain price.
For it to be exact they would be $25.
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9-20-2006 @ 10:39PM
J-Tall said...
Richard: I get it ; )
Reply
9-21-2006 @ 3:35PM
Taylor Alexander said...
Hey, does anyone know if Need For speed is going to be compatible with the force feedback of the racing wheel?
Thanks,
-Taylor
Reply