Xbox 360: The System of Choice

Microsoft dropped a bombshell on consumers when it announced the dual pricing strategy for Xbox 360™. Response to this news has ranged from elation ("Thank you for giving us a choice!") to anger ("Why confuse buyers with two versions?"). With the shock still fresh in my mind, I decided to throw my two cents into the ring to add some insight. In the end, it's the buying public who will decide which version of Xbox 360 will take hold, but I'm banking on Xbox 360 (with the removable hard drive, Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, and Xbox 360 Headset) as the system people will clamor over during the holidays. Read on to find out why.

The Wireless Controller is standard on Xbox 360.

Standards vs. Options
Some have likened Microsoft's tactic as the same strategy car manufacturers use when selling an automobile. The base model of a four-door coupe does the same basic things that the fully-loaded model does. But when you pay for extra features like air conditioning, a six-disc CD changer, and GPS navigation, your driving experience is more fulfilling.

No matter which Xbox 360 system you buy, both have the same set of base features. Keep in mind, the standard Xbox 360 comes with the hard drive (20 GB), Wireless Controller, and Headset—Xbox 360 Core system does not. You can play the same next-generation games on both consoles, watch the same DVD movies, and play on the same Xbox LIVE®. The main differences between the Xbox 360 system and the Xbox 360 Core system are as follows:

• Xbox 360 (with the hard drive) is backwards-compatible with the original Xbox®, so all the top-selling games from the current generation will play on it.
• You have 20 gigabytes to store your ripped music, digital photos, videos, and downloaded content from Xbox LIVE, Xbox LIVE Marketplace, and Xbox LIVE Arcade.
• It comes with the Headset.
• The Wireless Controller comes standard with it.
• It comes with the Component HD AV cable.
• For a limited time, you get the Xbox 360 Media Remote as a bonus.

If you add up the retail prices of each of these accessories, you'd pay $199.96 to get them all if you purchased the Core system and then added these items later for a total cost of $499.95 plus tax. You get the same accessories for half that price—$100 versus $200—when you buy the Xbox 360 system. Those on a budget get a better deal when they purchase Xbox 360 for $399. Sounds like smart shopping to me, so what's the fuss?

The hard drive unlocks the console's full potential.

Casual vs. Hardcore
Some people feel that the buying public is stupid, that they won't understand the features and differences of both models. I disagree. The facts about both systems are being presented clearly and honestly with the pricing data listed alongside the features; I'm inclined to believe smart game fans will opt for the real deal—Xbox 360, not the Xbox 360 Core system. But not every consumer will need or want all that the Xbox 360 offers and they'll go for the Core system. Here's why.

First-time console buyers who don't already own the original Xbox console have no need for backwards-compatibility. They also might not have a broadband connection where they live, so they won't take advantage of Xbox LIVE downloadable content and Xbox LIVE Marketplace. If they live in a small apartment and game on a small television, they won't require a wireless controller with a reach of 30 feet. For these people, spending $299 may be the obvious choice because of their situation. Either way, they get to save that $100 because they have a choice. They have the option to upgrade later on if they choose.

On the other side of the fence, current Xbox owners who possess a large library of games (like yours truly), a big-screen TV, and high-speed Internet, Xbox 360 is a no-brainer. I want backwards-compatibility, the Wireless Controller, and the hard drive storage for my music, videos, and downloads. Heck, I'm planning on purchasing a Windows Media Center PC so I can record and watch television shows and stream it to my Xbox 360, too. I'm glad I can get the full experience in one shot. It saves me the time shopping and I get $100 off for buying it all at once.

Developer Extras
It's fair to say that some hardcore Xbox fans are worried that with the hard drive not being a standard feature of Xbox 360 Core system mean that developers won't take advantage of all the features that the drive makes possible. For starters, every engineer developing games for Xbox 360 has a suite of tools at his or her disposal to make the design process easier. Xbox 360 features like Xbox LIVE software, custom soundtracks, online matchmaking, and downloadable functions are standard on the platform, so every game can support them. Xbox 360 owners with the hard drive utilize these functions automatically. In other words, the features will be in place, but only the Xbox 360 (with the hard drive) will take advantage of them. You get a more complete experience with Xbox 360 over the Xbox 360 Core system.

Xbox was the first—and only—video game system that came with a hard drive. Perhaps people got spoiled with the nearly endless storage space for their game saves, or they pampered themselves with custom soundtracks blaring from their speakers in-game. Regardless, people who knew of the advantages of the hard drive loved it. Now that people have the option to buy the Core system, these same people fear that no one will buy Xbox 360 and it'll fade from existence. Not so.

Xbox LIVE Marketplace, Xbox LIVE Arcade, and Xbox LIVE downloadable content all guarantee that the hard drive will be supported throughout the console's entire life cycle. How games utilize the drive is up to developers, but it's a fact that you'll get the complete entertainment experience—backwards-compatibility, massive storage space for music, videos, and extra game content—when you buy Xbox 360 instead of the Core system.

I've reserved my Xbox 360 already, and am pretty happy with what I'm getting for my money. Personally, I have no interest in Xbox 360 Core system because, even though you save $100 when you buy it, you end up missing out on all the greatest features available with Xbox 360. To me, the Xbox 360 Core system is a non-issue. But I'm glad that I have entertainment choices and am not forced into buying one system over the other. Aren't you?

By Bobby Stein