Microsoft's New Xbox Experience storage "solution": Free memory cards, discounted hard drives

Microsoft's New Xbox Experience has been pored over and dated, but now that Major Nelson has revealed it requires "at least" 128MB storage available to work, where does that leave suckers Core and Arcade SKU Xbox 360 owners? Enter the Xbox 360 Memory Upgrade Program, doling out free 512MB MU's or $20 20GB HDDs to Core owners, and a $30 20GB HDD + 3 months of Xbox Live package to Arcade owners looking to upgrade. November 19, Xbox Live becomes a storage-only affair (that goes for Netflix streams too, requiring 8MB of free space), so grab your serial number and console ID from the current Xbox 360 Dashboard and hit the registration website. Impressive customer service gesture to extend functionality for all, or more evidence of a short sighted and flawed dual-SKU launch plan that's cost gamers and developers alike? All we know for sure is we've probably figured out where the profits from those $149 120GB HDDs are going.

[Via NeoGAF]

[ai4281 @ Oct 13th 2008 9:29PM]

Microsoft is doing things right with Xbox these days.

I like this side of Microsoft.

[xcrunk @ Oct 13th 2008 9:57PM]

ahahahaha.....

Stupid core/arcade SKU.

Like the original XBOX, all systems should have come with a hard drive. Everyone knows it. Shit, even Sony knew it.

$20 for a 20GB drive? Jesus H. Christ, how 'bout you just throw it in and charge $10 over the Arcade SKU price and do away with the NON HDD variant? Be done with it already.

[Ignatius @ Oct 13th 2008 9:58PM]

No kidding... I'm tired of seeing a non-HDD SKU...

[Flashpoint @ Oct 13th 2008 10:00PM]

I just wonder how many Xbox360's the update is gonna RROD and brick.

[Ruben @ Oct 13th 2008 10:05PM]

@Flashpoint:

Its equivalent to the number of meaningful and worthwhile comments you have made.

[John @ Oct 13th 2008 10:06PM]

They just did what fit the market - people were willing to buy consoles with hard drives, and they supplied them. If people are willing to buy deficient products, why not sell them cheap stuff and then the auxiliary parts when they recognize their mistake?

[Namarrgon @ Oct 13th 2008 11:51PM]

2001: MS releases Xbox with built-in HDD
2005: Xbox costs MS over $4B
2006: Sony releases PS3 with built-in HDD
2008: PS3 costs Sony over $3B so far

Now you know why the Core/Arcade exists, and why MS are charging outrageously for the add-ons. Yeah OK, it's over-simplified, but MS did say the HDD was the biggest non-reducible cost in the original Xbox. And tbh, compared to PS3, the lack of a standard HDD doesn't seem to have harmed the games much.

[kal326 @ Oct 14th 2008 9:24AM]

Well I agree that its a good thing on Microsoft's part to basically give away drives to the Core users so they too can use the new interface. Part of me still says this is Microsoft's way of getting ride of the stacks of 20GB drives they have left over from the 60GB Pro transition as well as getting a nice PR boost.

[maty @ Oct 14th 2008 10:03AM]

Some of us were on a tighter budget (and still are).

Shame there's no EU thing about this yet - please update us when the EU gets the same treatment, Engagdet =].

[Nick @ Oct 13th 2008 9:29PM]

better than nothing, right?

[kingofwale @ Oct 13th 2008 9:34PM]

just wait for all the Pro/Premium owners coming here whinning about how they paid 100 dollars more for 60GB of harddrive.

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Oct 13th 2008 9:42PM]

60GB ha! I have an overpriced Elite baby!

[IgnorantTechie @ Oct 13th 2008 10:55PM]

Pay Microsoft for an over-priced upgrade? Hell, just do it yourself for actual cost. Even PC World has a how-to on it:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/150970/upgrade_your_xbox_360s_hard_drive_on_the_cheap.html

[Namarrgon @ Oct 13th 2008 11:54PM]

While that DIY approach does work - it *will* get your arse banned on XBL damn quick.

[Money Mike @ Oct 14th 2008 9:00PM]

Namarrgon, that statement is actually false.

Yes, you must use a hacked firmware in order to flash the new HDD and while it is true that doing so could result in your console being banned from Live, there are no reported cases of that happening yet.

Please give people the whole story. Don't spread propaganda by scaring them with just a small part of it.

[Kieran @ Oct 13th 2008 9:41PM]

So now instead of paying extra for the Premium console people can just buy the cheaper ones and only pay $20-30 to get the same thing. Nice way of ripping people off that paid full price for the hard drive, if the cheap people want them they should have to pay full for them as well, they chose to skimp on their SKU choice.

[Ruben @ Oct 13th 2008 9:46PM]

You ripped yourself off for paying retail for the 20GB hard drive.

Ive seen eBay and other retailers sell new (or like new) hard drives for 20-30 bucks. I was looking to pick one up and up the space to 120 so i would have a second 120 drive for full game installs.

Dont complain because your a bad shopper. Thats your own damn fault.

[Kieran @ Oct 13th 2008 9:50PM]

Dude, I was on about how I paid far more than $30 extra to have the hard drive included when I bought a Premium console. Still. if Microsoft can afford to sell it for $30 then why not to everyone?

[zomg0t @ Oct 13th 2008 9:54PM]

Because of course they want people to buy the most expensive console and Xbox Live each month, but if the only reason people aren't using Xbox Live and giving Microsoft more money each month is because they don't have a hard drive, then Microsoft will gladly discount the price on the hard drive (a one-time fee) to get another subscriber to give them more money in the long run. It's not that hard to figure out...

[Ruben @ Oct 13th 2008 9:55PM]

Sorry for misreading your comment.

The Premium now comes with a 60GB so there is no dollar comparison any more, not to mention the penny headset and the penny ethernet cable.

Either way its a nice gesture by them. Then again, they really have no choice but to offer some sort of a free solution, because its the OS after all.

[Kieran @ Oct 13th 2008 9:59PM]

I see, low rank me 'cause I'm right. @ zomg0t, it was a rhetorical question really, of course I know why, but that still doesn't lessen the fact that they are ripping people off here. Also, the 360 is perfectly functional without the hard drive, else they wouldn't sell it without it, but if people want extra functionality they shouldn't have it handed to them.

[Ridgecity @ Oct 13th 2008 9:42PM]

Hopefully they will remind all those $200 xbox360 users to buy that $120 hard drive before they leave the store.

[chefgon_ign @ Oct 13th 2008 9:43PM]

I happen to own one Arcade and one Core. I think I'll spring for the 20gb + 512mb combo platter for thirty bucks. Not bad, not bad at all.

[Nick @ Oct 13th 2008 9:49PM]

What if you bought the core 360 and then bought a HDD separately? Do you still qualify?

It would suck if I didn't. The only reason I got the core was because I was an early adopter, and my local Gamestop had no more regular Xbox 360's by the time I got to the front of the brutally long line.

[Cardbored @ Oct 13th 2008 9:57PM]

I don't see why you wouldn't. It's not like MS is tracking all your purchases... right? RIGHT?!

[Rob @ Oct 13th 2008 10:12PM]

I just ordered a 20gig HDD for my Core system. I bought mine used from a friend which came with a 14gig hdd. It's somewhere in the low teens. Anyway, I also own an Arcade brand new which came with 512MB memory cartridge. I put the hdd in my Arcade system sitting in the living room with the HDTV and left the Core in another room with the 512MB stick.

When I put the number on the 360 website for the Core system, it said it qualified for the 20gig hdd upgrade. So, either the person I bought the Core from bought the hdd separately or maybe the website took a quick look and discovered the 512MB cartridge in it. I have used Live using this console, so maybe it compared the system to what I've used logging on onto Live with.

[JerkfacedFed @ Oct 13th 2008 10:59PM]

@ both above

yes you qualify

your hd has less than 20gb to begin with because it uses some space for original xbox games (they all required a hdd)

[BuddhaBoy @ Oct 14th 2008 5:59AM]

Microsoft IS tracking your purchases. They're also trying out new email tracking software they are developing and because Bill Gates is so rich, he is willing to give his own money to you if you forward the specially tracked email to everyone you know so you can all either get rich or get a free trip to Disneyland.

Believe me, it's true......I just received my check for $21,825.41.

[tiuk @ Oct 16th 2008 4:47PM]

Hmm, should I get a free memory card, or a 20 GB HD? I've thought about getting a memory card before so I could easily transfer my profile to a friend's 360 without doing the whole recover gamertag thing, but I refused to buy one because the price is ridiculous for 512 mb of storage. I'll probably go that route, switching hard drives would be a pain.

[Joe H @ Oct 13th 2008 9:52PM]

What about those of us who didn't buy the gimped version of the system? How come we don't get a free couple months of Live for paying full price for everything?

[John @ Oct 13th 2008 10:08PM]

because you were willing to buy it anyway....

[Rich @ Oct 14th 2008 1:43PM]

You did get free live. You get 1 month gold with anything but the core or arcade. At least I did on my pro & elite.

[Rudolphe @ Oct 13th 2008 9:57PM]

wow could you people complain any less? You bought your shit early and now someone's getting a better deal, so what. I got mine week one, still have a 20g hd paid $400 for it. Was like what... 3 years ago? Why the hell complain now because you paid more than what someone else is paying now. Stop crying.

[maveric101 @ Oct 14th 2008 2:26AM]

exactly. it's just the way things work in the electronics industry. besides, even if people are getting the same thing for $200 less, you got 3 years of fun out of your box for $200. seems worth it to me.

[Joshua Walters @ Oct 13th 2008 10:02PM]

Badass!

Free memory card for my backup system that already has a hard drive (bought it as a red ring core, fixed, added $8 HDD from eBay auction)!

Memory cards still have a place over top the HDD. Good for going from one system to another.

[ED @ Oct 13th 2008 10:03PM]

It appears that the problem with giving out free/cheap stuff is that everyone wants one. And they feel entitled to it.

[Graham Wellington (formerly ronald.raygun) @ Oct 13th 2008 10:07PM]

no discounts on the 60gb hdd though huh? im going to hate having to switch hdds all the time but i guess i'll just have to do it since i am running out of space.

[h0mi @ Oct 13th 2008 10:15PM]

This isn't a bad idea but it's not optimal. It's half assed.

Either no arcade unit should be sold without a hard drive or go with a 512mb (or better yet, a 1 gb) memory card instead of the paltry 256mb card. Even better still, USB storage.

You know.... what is going to happen with Arcade units sold after the NXE is released? I mean if I don't have my memory card plugged in, what then?

[EdgeOne @ Oct 13th 2008 10:17PM]

Wealth redistribution via HDDs. Those that could barely afford are now provided by for those of us that paid the most up front. Anyone that is pissed by this practice finally understand the Republican viewpoint. All those of you who thinks this is fair should consider yourself a democrat. If you want Obama as President then consider yourself a socialist in which case we should all get Xbox 360s for free. Wait, that's not a half bad idea.

[pw @ Oct 13th 2008 10:43PM]

There are no republicans, democrats, or socialists in this game. Just consumers.

[jupiterthunder @ Oct 13th 2008 11:00PM]

George Bush does not care about gamers.

[engadget @ Oct 13th 2008 10:34PM]

I just checked into the program as I'm a core owner and they 20 GB drive they offered me was refurbished which is kind of lame.

[cloud858rk @ Oct 14th 2008 4:10PM]

I'll take it off your hands. :)

[MC Hampster @ Oct 13th 2008 10:34PM]

I still haven't seen this addressed anywhere:

What about people who purchased a premium console, but also purchased a 64MB memory card so you could have a portable profile? Is the profile still going to fit on a 64MB card? If not, isn't it practically useless for what I bought it for?

I'd sure like to see them offer a free 512MB card to those who send in a 64MB card (if the profile can't fit on 64MB's anymore).

[MRCUR @ Oct 13th 2008 10:37PM]

Well this is fantastic...if it worked. I purchased a Core when my Pro worked and I wanted a console to use. The Core was recently replaced by MS, but with a Pro console... Now the upgrade website states that I "have the necessary storage for the NXE!"

I doubt Xbox Support is going to be much help...

[DirtyVegas @ Oct 13th 2008 10:41PM]

You can't please everybody. You know times are changing when a company with god-knows-how-many anti-trust lawsuits make a company that used the 1984 ad look like a megalomaniac corporation.

[sdfsdgf @ Oct 13th 2008 10:44PM]

WTF M$?!

YOU FORGOT POLAND AND CZECH REPUBLIC, SLOVAKIA... and many others from this list: http://www.xbox.com/pl-PL/ChangeLocale.htm

Only these countries are supported

* Australia
* Austria
* Belgium
* Canada (English)
* Canada (French)
* Denmark
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Hong Kong
* India
* Ireland
* Italy
* Japan
* Mexico
* Netherlands
* New Zealand
* Norway
* Portugal
* Puerto Rico
* Singapore
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Taiwan
* United Kingdom
* United States

btw, guys
Come to Poland, 120GB m$ hdd in Media Markt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Markt cost 620PLN (238!!! US dollars)
here its even more http://www.ultima.pl/Dysk_Twardy_120GB_/i5003/
and thats the official m$ prices in this country :D

Dear m$, will you ban my console, because i just bought new 'WD WD1200BEVS 120GB 2,5' SATA' drive in computer shop for ~51usd , flashed it using hddhackr & some hddss.bin from google, and now this drive is fully working in my 360. :)

[pw @ Oct 13th 2008 11:08PM]

I'm running an Arcade model with a hacked 120GB as well. Warranty & Xbox Live are unaffected. Never pay retail. ;)

[Eli @ Oct 14th 2008 12:08AM]

well actually, you forgot poland.

[fnc @ Oct 13th 2008 10:45PM]

Sweet Jesus. Crap like this is why I haven't bought a 360. I play the upgrade game with my PC, don't care to play it with a console.