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Xbox 360 Arcade unboxed (and still unannounced)
Over the weekend, we got about a dozen tips sent into our graciously accomodating tips box with info on xbox 360 Arcade console spottings. A couple of you even sent in pics (thanks, guys!). Next door ar Engadget, a tipster snatched up one of the yet-to-be-announced (but expected to be released on Oct. 23) consoles and snapped pics of the contents. What's notable: a 256MB Memory Unit, a wireless controller, HDMI port, and a disc that includes five Xbox Live Arcade trial games: Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship, and Uno. What's not included: An Xbox Live headset, an ethernet cable, an HDMI cable, high-def component cables (the Arcade is composite only we're afraid) ... oh, and the full version of the above listed trial games. Though Amazon listed a $279.99 price point, the tipster reports a price more like $299. Now all we need is a press release acknowledging this thing exists so we can double check that price.[Update: Looks like there's some confusion over whether or not the above games are in fact full games or simply trials. The box lists the five games and says: "Plus Five Trial Games!" Is that "You get the console, the peripherals, plus these five trial games!" or "You get these five full Xbox Live Arcade games plus five totally separate trial games that aren't listed on this box anywhere so as to make this a confusing piece of marketing!"Your guess is as good as ours (see Microsoft, a press release would've really helped out here) but we're trying to get an answer for you guys. Sit tight.]
Xbox 360 Arcade console landing on October 23rd?
C'mon, surely you've coped with the fact that Microsoft's Xbox 360 Core system will likely be replaced with the impending Arcade console, right? If not, now would be a great time for some serious soul-searching, because both Amazon and Toys 'R' Us are listing the system on their respective websites as having an October 23rd ship date. Of course, we're still not sure exactly what ports / extras the Arcade flavor will arrive with, but it's safe to say it'll run you $279.99 when it (probably) ships in three weeks.Read - Amazon's listingRead - Toys 'R' Us' listing
Xbox 360 Arcade console listed on retail sites for Oct. 23
[Update: Though Toys R Us yanked their pre-order page, that didn't stop those scamps at X3F from nabbing a screenshot and the box art!]Listings have started to appear on various retail websites like Toys R Us and Amazon.com for the "Xbox 360 Arcade Console" releasing Oct. 23rd. The system is allegedly the replacement for the Xbox 360 Core as we know it. Rumors regarding the new model began springing up last month. The latest information rumor had it that the new version of the Core would come at the end of October and would have an HDMI port, wireless controller, 256MB memory card, and five XBLA arcade games (Boom-Boom Rocket, Pac-man, Uno, Feeding Frenzy, and Luxor 2) on a single disc at the Core's $279.99 price. All signs point to this Xbox 360 Arcade Console being the Core's replacement.[Thanks Seth]
HDMI-equipped Xbox 360 "Core system" shows up for pre-order
While HDMI-equipped Xbox 360 Premiums are already fast making their way out into the wild, it looks like Best Buy may have now inadvertently added some further confusion to the SKU situation with a listing for an "Xbox 360 Core System w/ HDMI." Such a system would certainly be news to us but, as you can see above, the image for the system in question quite clearly shows a Premium box, which also happens to match the $349.99 price listed (previously confirmed as the price for the HDMI-equipped Premiums). Those willing to take their chances on the mystery system, however, can put in a pre-order now, with it apparently set to ship on September 1st.[Thanks, Bret and Brad]
Best Buy is axing the Xbox 360 Core
Via an anonymous tipster (which are our favorite kinds), Joystiq received picture evidence that electronics retailer Best Buy is getting rid of the Xbox 360 Core system and isn't going to stock anymore. The tipster supplied sheet shows the Core model with a "deleted" status which means Best Buy has discontinued the item with an "out of stock" date of July 27th. The anonymous tipster also mentioned that the Xbox 360 core preference code is set to "y", which means that the retailer isn't expecting any more stock.So, with our rumor hat firmly secure on our heads, we have to speculate to what this exactly means. The most obvious conclusion would be that Microsoft themselves is discontinuing the Core system. But that isn't the case, because Joystiq has since heard back from Redmond since running the story and Microsoft is stating that the Core is still important to the 360 offerings and isn't going anywhere. So, could this just be a case of Best Buy removing the SKU due to inventory sake or could the removal of the Core hint at the rumored price cut? You know, using the logic that Best Buy feels a soon to be priced $349 Premium system would sell well enough that there'd be no need for the Core does make sense. No matter what the case is, we don't have any real answer for Best Buy's lack of Core love, but the news does get our heads thinking crazy thoughts.
UK: 360 Core cut to 150
Yesterday, we pointed out that Xbox 360 Premiums were being sold for £45 less than the standard list price in the UK. Today, we bring you a deal for the Xbox 360 Core system. Usually priced at £199.99, Play.com is slashing the Core's price by 50 quid. This brings it down by a quarter of the cost to £149.99. So, if you don't want to grab a premium for £235, you can get a Core system for £85 less than that. We'll keep you posted if any other retailers decide follow suit after Ballmer's observation. That all being said, which deal would you go for, the Premium at £235 or the Core at £150? Amazon.co.uk has the 20 GB HDD going for £65 making it cheaper than the premium by about £20. From what we can tell, Play.com and Amazon includes VAT in their pricing, so the savings are legitimate. [Via CVG]
512 MB MU falls off face of the Earth
As soon as it went up, it has gone down. The 512 MB Memory Unit listed on Gamestop for $49.99 with a March 1st ship date has since been removed. Microsoft has stated that there hasn't been any announcements of releasing a larger Memory Unit. Also worth noting is that retailers occasionally jump the gun based on information currently available, take some of their listed release dates for example. Until confirmed, those are just speculation and placeholder dates so pre-orders can be made. In any case, time will only tell whether or not we'll hear anything more about increasing the memory card's capacity. So what do you think will be officially announced first, a larger Memory Unit or Hard Drive? Place your bets.[Via Next Generation]
Get 10% off a Xbox 360 at Kmart.com
If you're a big Kmart.com fan and are in the market for a new Xbox 360, then we've got something special for you. Head to Kmart.com and add either a Xbox 360 Premium or Core console to your cart, then apply discount code 004687478018 to your order. You'll get an instant 10% off your entire order! Yes, it's true that this discount will get you 10% off pretty much anything, but you really see the savings when buying a $400 Xbox. You will have to pay shipping, but it looks to be under $10. Just another deal brought to you by Xbox 360 Fanboy, where being thrifty is commonplace.[Thanks, TheGame]
Buy a cell, get a free 360 core, be happy
Over at buymobilephones.net they have an interesting holiday deal going on. New cell phone buyers can get a FREE Xbox 360 core system with any cell phone purchase from their site this Christmas season. It looks as if the site is based out of the United Kingdom and we're not sure how legit this company is, but maybe our fellow fanboys can enlighten us. Also, make note that you'll have to charge £199.99 to your credit card to get the 360 lickity split, but they promise to refund you soon after. We just thought we'd let you know as this is another holiday deal if you're looking to get a 360 this year.[Thanks, Liam B.]
$100 Xbox 360 sold out in seconds
As part of Amazon's Customers Vote internet deals, the Xbox 360 Core package won the people's vote and the right to go on sale. So, this morning you could buy a core system for only $100! The big news is that once the time came to purchase a 360 for such a low, low price at Amazon.com, customers came away empty handed as this deal ended within' seconds! Only 1,000 Xbox 360 Core systems were available for this offer, so it's not all that surprising that a sellout occured, but fanboys have been reporting that 2-3 seconds after the offer became available they couldn't complete an order because the deal was already sold out. If you were lucky enough to get a Xbox 360 Core system for $100 then you get a gold star for today buddy ... if not, at least you tried and didn't have to stand outside for 6+ hours in the cold only to be disappointed.[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]
