"The timing is excellent, and we'll work closely with Microsoft to give customers all the product and advice they need in the run up to Christmas," Tricia Brennan, MD of Game UK, told GamesIndustryBiz.
While the executives from GAME, HMV and top indie retailers could only speculate that a budget Xbox 360 could deal a blow to Sony this holiday, they do agree that the current economic climate may play a factor for those in search of cheap entertainment.
"I think prematurely devaluing the market is a danger, but the reality is the economic down turn is not going to go away tomorrow so anything which combats the rising prices of living helps the entertainment market as a whole and we'll see the benefits of this price cut way into 2009 reflecting in software sales," offered Steve O'Brien, of respected indie stores Action Replay and Gameshop.
Beginning September 19, the Xbox 360 Arcade will be priced at GBP 129.99, the Xbox 360 (Premium) unit will sell for 169.99 and the Xbox 360 Elite will be reduced to GBP 229.99.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-18-2008 @ 2:58PM
Jake said...
Funny, this just seems like usual Microsoft late summer spin.
Actually in the UK, there is stagnent demand for 360. Retailers have massive amounts of overstock, there are huge numbers of used consoles in Game/Gamestation, that nobody wants for some strange reason (would you buy a used 360, I surely wouldn't, the new ones are bad enough).
The 360's reputation is in tatters in Europe, with the seemingly never ending hardware revisions, none of which actually fix RROD, the noisy and unreliable DVD drives, are perhaps most importantly, the constant price reaming from Microsoft, for things everyone else gives for free (online, Wifi, both free on Wii/PS3, HDD and Blu-ray both on PS3 for free).
Aside from Gears2, I don't see much else that's a must-have game this year. There are many titles that Microsoft are talking up (Viva Pinata, Fable 2, Banjo-Kazooie, Lips, Scene It), but they reality is, either nobody is actually interested, or they are sub-standard ripoffs of established Playstation franchises.
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9-19-2008 @ 7:26AM
Adam said...
lol what you on about.
9-19-2008 @ 9:56AM
L said...
sub-standard ripoffs of established Playstation franchises........
to ripoff sony is to ripoff yourself
9-22-2008 @ 4:50PM
PRaDiUS said...
Spoken like a true ps3 fanboy. We know you guys are upset over the ps3 sucking and everything... no need to take it out on the better system just because you losers are bitter about the way this console war is going.
9-18-2008 @ 3:23PM
Tim Malin said...
Jake must live not only in a different Europe than I, he must be living on a different planet!
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9-18-2008 @ 3:33PM
bambino said...
As opposed to no demand?
*runs*
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9-18-2008 @ 5:18PM
Jake said...
No demand was 2 weeks back in Japan. 840 360 units sold is embarrassing...
9-18-2008 @ 5:44PM
maynard said...
jake/digdug lol
jake/digdug is beginning to sound like a broken record. "Europe, blah, blah, blah. RRoD, blah, blah, blah. No demand, blah, blah, blah. Japan two weeks ago, blah, blah, blah." Good grief.
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9-18-2008 @ 7:06PM
jarhead906 said...
Um...what makes them think that sales WONT be large because of price drops?
Last time I looked, the people are looking for deals during the Holiday season.
I don't understand why M$ is bragging about more sales...its kind of...obvious
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9-18-2008 @ 8:50PM
wolfster said...
Hahaha....jake is using the ole PSN has free service vs the live 50 a YEAR. What he didn't mention is that the PSN has hardly any DLC and most of the stuff on there we've already played it if we've had a PS2 or PS1 before.
Not only that, but the RROD is a thing of the past.
Now go suck C**K!!! Preferably mine...
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9-18-2008 @ 11:47PM
Ejab said...
I have a 60GB and I can vouch for that RROD comment, also, its not loud at all anymore.
9-19-2008 @ 5:15AM
robin dunscombe said...
I don't personally think the RROD is over. I just sent my 6th 360 back for repairs. This one lasted about a week. They should be withdrawn from market until the issue is resolved properly.
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9-19-2008 @ 6:19AM
woodfell said...
I'm on my 7th 360. Last one worked for 1 week. So, RROD is still alive and kicking.
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9-19-2008 @ 10:45AM
Random Hangman said...
I'm on my 4th console now but as it's my son's birthday tomorrow and I'm sick of him blagging mine all the time (and personally I blame him for the RROD), I utilised the pricedrop to buy him his own.
Just went into game and the 60gb machine was £169.99 with Star Wars: Force Unleashed. Result! Star Wars goes on ebay for £30 and I just bought a 60gb machine for £140. Not much to complain about there.
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