$400 Xbox 360 Elite Games of the Year bundle with Halo 3 and Fable 2 gets official
By Nilay Patel 
posted Apr 20th 2009 12:52PM
posted Apr 20th 2009 12:52PM
Update: Microsoft pinged us to let us know that the free Live subscription and DLC tokens were just for the giveaway bundles they made up for us -- the regular GOTY bundles just have the games and the Netflix trial. Lame, we know.
Recession antidote? :)
No, this contest already happened-- engadget was to give away two of these but wouldn't reveal that the prize was at the time. See here: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/engadgets-5th-birthday-giveaway-part-2-win-one-of-two-mystery/
Now the important part: engdgeteers, WHY oh WHY do you make us send in a self-addressed, stamped envelope (seriously?!) to find out who won? Honestly, wouldn't it be better to post an update with a link to the winning comment?
what, you don't think they ACTUALLY give that stuff away, do you?
It's a brilliant scheme to get thousands of hits a day to sell more add revenue without having to give up a single thing.
"OMG, check it out Nilay! You won again! I guess we don't need to ship this to the other side of the country. Woo!"
It’s because this is really a scam by the post office to collect more revenue in stamp sales. Devious indeed!
I dont know about you guys but I won something on here and they ACTUALLY send it
If I didn't already have an Elite, I'd be jumping all over this. Sweet deal.
If I had a HDTV, or any TV for that matter, this would be relevant to my interests.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just upgraded to an elite like 2 weeks ago and it came with lego indiana jones & kunfu panda
i wanna kill my self ..halo 3 and fable 2 plus 1 year gold live ...
Admit it. You wanted Kung Fu Panda.
two weeks isn't that long. if you bought it at best buy or someplace similar, you may still be within the 30-day return policy window.
Return it now and get a gift card. When you see the new bundle drop the gift card on it. The bundle is just an elite with Halo 3 and Fable 2, not all the extra goodies Endgadget threw in.
Was either of those games 'Game of the Year'?
Also, it includes 'Two Full Games'.... As opposed to what? Two half games?
Remember when systems would come with a demo disc and that's about it?
Those were the days...
Xbox 720? Is that you I see around the corner?
nope. it's just my foot up your ...
no, you'll probably be waiting till 2011-2012 for the next xbox.
Hmmmm sounds pretty good for an upgrade....
I have an Xbox. It's black. It also is about seven years old.
I'm getting one.
i see what you did there!
Not bad.
YEEESSS!!!!!
When can I BUY!!!?!?!?!!?!?
I've been soo stoked about this bundle.
I can't wait to give someone my money for this.
Just ponied.
Circuit City bankruptcy -> MS Halo 3 buyback for pennies on the dollar -> "Hey look! New bundle!"
Still, not bad at all.
Circuit City bankruptcy -> MS can't get the money CC owed them for product.
Since when did Engadget start withholding info on new stuff for Microsoft. Since when did Engadgeet become M$ lackeys? This used to be a gadget blog, and not the mouth of manufacturers or some instant win club. Please don't follow Gizmodo into the abyss.
Microsoft wanted to give away these bundles for our birthday, and we agreed to keep the contents under wraps until launch -- nothing too shady there. If it had leaked out from somewhere else we would have covered it.
Hey, Engadget is still much better than Gizmondo. The Giz is always full of BS news no one cares about.
What are the odds?
This is all I get for 4/20? AAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!
Where's the REAL NEWS?!?!
It's a national holiday and its run by a bunch of writers. Thus all the good writers are celebrating and the other ones are here.
(this, was a general joke, all the engadget writers are awesome, except you know who)
@templarian
look what you started! i bet they're all in a room somewhere debating over who's person thats the "who" you're referring to...
I may finally get a 360. Anyone know if the 1 year can be used to my existing Live account? What about the free Netflix? Can I get a break on my Netflix bill?
I'm assuming that the Live subscription would be able to be added on to your current account. Although I think the Netflix thing is just the standard trial period which is only for new subscribers. It's still a pretty good deal if you ask me. Which you didn't, but still.
Not upgrade style, but this may be where I finally get a 360.
I'm seriously considering this bundle, I just need to find it.
i am all over this!
finally a reason to drop $400 for an elite
I for one actually prefer the old bundle... I have H3 and F2 allready, but don't have either Leggo Indiana or KFP... my kids might like both of those.
tempted
By the fruit of another
Lmao
Vote me down if I am wrong, but I think the budle is just Halo 3 and Fable 2. I think the contest threw in the 2 tokens for DLC and 1 year of Live.
This isn't very interesting, just sayin'...
Two things:
1) How do we know these will be Jasper consoles? Just because the RE5 consoles are doesn't mean this bundle isn't repackaged Falcon consoles (as has been done in the past).
2) I've heard availability in May. At least it's not that "soft" a launch...
Wait, free Netflix trial? Yeah baby!!!!!
Oh man, I got excited for a second. I thought that this was today's "Engadget's Recession Antidote." Better luck next time, I guess.
Aren't Netflix trials free anyways?
Yes they are which is why it's dumb that they even mentioned it here. The XBox streams Netflix directly to it though so maybe they're just trying to point that out. I wish my PS3 had netflix streaming. :-(
With the PlayOn software installed on your PC, you can stream Netflix to your PS3 or 360(Without paying for a Gold account). Your getting your PC involved in the process, but it's still better then nothing beside all the other streaming PlayOn does.
The PlayOn solution is STUPID.
Why?
Because you're tying up your computer AND your video game console as well as using way more electricity just to watch a movie. It's twice as noisy, twice as wasteful, and requires a bunch of set-up that other people in the house won't be able to do easily.
Seriously, just spend $99 and get a Roku Netflix player. It's completely silent, uses a tiny fraction of the electricity of ANY of the other devices you'd need for PlayOn, has a dedicated remote control, doesn't require any confusing menu-surfing or set-up, and has the added benefit of playing Amazon Video On Demand, with more to come (rumors of Hulu on the horizon). You're also getting a dedicated device that will handle the movie streaming on its own, so your game console and computer are free to do other things or be used by other people.
Maybe PlayOn is great if you're single and like to tinker with your computer, but it's absolutely stupid if you're trying to set up an entertainment center for laypersons. Especially when the Roku alternative is so inexpensive.
Hmm..if Dell carries this and runs another one of their 20% off coupons I may just have to get a 360.
This might be a good opportunity to finally get a 360. Now that I have a nice TV to play it on, could be worth it.
So Engadget (reviewing site) gets extra bonus items as a bribe? Say it's not so!
Do you actually think they pay for the stuff they give away for free?
you gotta change your username man.
i was here first.
Oo ooo me. Pick me. Pick me.
whats the good deal in this? microsoft sucks.
better if u invest in a ps3,way better than 360.
i have both console ,xbox is just collecting dust.i hate the power brick and its still sounds like a f.....hair dryer.
jasper or not the console still failing big time!
;-;
My old 360's disc tray crapped out right when the rumor started to come out. I was hoping I'd be able to get one, since my 360 was no longer under warranty. Luckily, Sam's Club's 100% satisfaction policy is awesome, and they got me a new 60GB Pro.
Ah, well, maybe next time.
Hey i got one at Sam's around when the ps3 came out (during Christmas time). Mine had a bad dvd drive too, does this mean I could have exchanged it at Sam's for a 60gb instead of sending it into M$ for warranty service?
Any ideas when these may start dropping at Best Buys and such?
Netflix free trial?? How is this a bonus? It's free regardless, if you are a new customer.
Great deal, especially when the eventual Dell sale hits...
more xbox
GAME ON DUDE!
This is good but I'm still waiting for a price drop to convince me in picking up a Xbox 360.
Me too!
Basically all they did with the Xbox since it's launch over 2 years ago:
Added HDMI - which is almost a requirement nowadays.
Fixed SOME of the RROD -
and also added a 120gb harddrive instead of a 10gb one - We all know harddrives have dropped drastically in price since then anyway.
and added 2 games that have since dropped in price.
I mean these are great upgrades! But I would be more happy with $250 console that I can add whatever I want. (I know there are other models that run that price) but I want an Elite for $250. Delivered. - Then I will buy the games that I want!
I know this is random, but i have a school project due tomorrow, and i need a few people to fill out a poll for me.... it's about C++
http://pingme.ca/
It won't take but about 30 seconds, i promise :)
Oh, and i need a new xbox. Mine died :(