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Pro-Idee kicks out pricey, portable go-cart funfest
We're down with fanciful portable gaming, and we're certainly crazy over limited edition toys from overseas, and Pro-Idee's suitcase-based go-cart track fits both bills quite nicely. Even if your work regulations won't allow you to toss a PSP or DS Lite in the otherwise pointless front shirt pocket, your boss will have no idea that the sleek, silver briefcase you're toting actually contains a two-player cart racing game, complete with a two-meter long track, stop watch, and a built-in battery pack for "five hours" of rubber-burning madness. Sure to make those long flights zip by, this jewel will be supposedly be limited to 60 units and will demand a whopping €598 ($766), which is probably a good bit less than you'd pay for an oh-so-coveted Playstation 3 right about now.[Via TRFJ]
Xbox 360 HD DVD price rumors: 199?
Gamesindustry.biz is reporting that is the price expected for the UK version of the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on coming this holiday season. £199 GBP converts to 293 euros, and $376 (US). The Xbox 360 Core System recently dropped to £199 in the UK, while still retailing in the US for $299. The same source indicated there would be a bundle available for £375-£400 GBP, which would be slightly less than the £425 GBP 60GB HDMI-equipped Playstation 3 now delayed until next year in Europe. That £375 figure converts to 553 euros, and $708 US. However given the fact that UK prices have tended to be slightly higher than a straight-to-euro conversion, and the current $399 US/399€ pricing of the Xbox 360 Premium, if these rumors are accurate such a bundle would probably run $500-$550 US. The separate add-on drive carrying a price equivalent to an Xbox 360 Core System however would likely be a bitter pill to swallow for many Xbox 360 early adopters, even with two movies included in the package. Microsoft has not yet commented on these rumors, all we've managed to get out of them up to this point is that it "will be the cheapest HD DVD player on the market for consumers who already own an Xbox 360 console". We're hoping the $200 rumor is the right one, being an early adopter is bad enough without getting charged extra.
EuroGamer: MS pwned Leipzig
EuroGamer discusses Microsoft's dominance at the Leipzig Game Convention. Choice quotes: "The PR victory scored by Microsoft here cannot be underestimated. The power of the company's spin machine continues to leave the rest of the games industry in awe even after an entire console generation of experience" ..."There is a very clear winner, and a very clear loser, in the Leipziger Messe this week, as 150,000 consumers are currently finding out - and hundreds of press types have already discovered. The winner is Microsoft." Being European, these guys make a big deal out of Microsoft cornering the soccer market. However, 1up reports that MS may have..gulp..exaggerated (normally a Sony trademark) the extent of that coup (It looks like Pro Evo/Winning 11 and FIFA are "exclusive" only until the Konami and EA can finish developing them for the PS3). Was Sony's lack of a response due to calm knowledge that MS was over-selling its football shut out, or just their usual "Riiiiidge Racer" corporate buffoonery? [Thanks Charch & Lorul2]
Price parity for Wii in Europe, UK
A Nintendo UK spokesperson has confirmed that the Wii will go on sale in Europe at around the same price point as has been announced for the US and Japan. Yesterday we got word that the Wii won't cost more than $250 (around £135) so if we combine that word with this latest statement we can conclude that the UK could see a launch price of around £150 (if you add 17.5% VAT) with Europe seeing a price point of around €200.We've complained endlessly (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) about the price disparity between the U.S., Japan and Europe so it's great to finally see that Europe is getting a fair deal. Hopefully this will set a precedent that Microsoft and Sony will follow.[Via Engadget]
