OK, so Microsoft announced the pricing for its new Xbox 360 this week. Actually they released - prices. The revolutionary video game console will come in two flavors: lite and right.
Lite or the “core’’ system if you want to use the technical term, will run $299 when it’s released some time around Thanksgiving.
The standard (and more expensive) version includes a detachable 20 GB hard drive, some high-def cables and an Xbox Live headset.
Anyone who calls themselves a gamer will get the $399 package, while parents may laud the option of a lower price point. There is one huge problem with all of this. The hard drive is essential for quality next-gen titles as well as allowing Xbox 360 owners to play games from the original Xbox.
The hard drive can cache or save the next level of a game to eliminate load times, save music for soundtracks and hold new maps for online Halo matches. If you buy the core system and change your mind about the hard drive, you can still pick it up for $99. But since the adoption rate of peripherals is low, game developers may be hesitant to utilize the hard drive to its full potential.
I’ve seen the beast perform up close when I visited E3 in May, and it looks to be worth the scratch. But if a tiered pricing system causes the quality of games to take a hit, this beast may have one short life span.
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