Next-Gen Gaming Breaks the Bank

Posted in Games and Electronics 3 years, 3 months ago.

Although Sony and Nintendo have yet to announce any pricing details on their next-gen gaming systems, the PS3 and the Revolution, Microsoft has broken the ice today at the Leipzig Games Convention in Germany. The Xbox 360 will be offered in two varieties starting from $299 US. Dubbed as the ‘casual gamer’ package, the $299 package includes an Xbox 360, a wired controller, and the standard a/v cables. If your willing to drop $399 US for the ‘hardcore gamer’ pack, you’ll return home with a Xbox 360, a wireless controller, a 20GB hard drive, a Xbox live headset, a Xbox Live Silver membership, and for a limited time a bonus media remote. Those are the facts and the following is my reaction.

Video games are getting out of control. I’m a gamer, I enjoy games, but I’ve continually been feeling like the industry is beginning to force gamers to make a choice. ‘Hardcore gamers’ will always buy the newest system almost regardless of price and in the past I’ve considered myself part of that niche group. Lately, I’ve moved away from that stance for purely financial reasons. At $399 for the ‘anything worthwhile’ Xbox 360 package I feel like I’m going to be waiting until a price drop for the new console before I buy. With games most likely making the move from $50/each to $59/each, buying an Xbox 360 with one game plus taxes will run you very close to $500. That’s just too much.