A few days ago, we talked about how greedy Microsoft used the Modern Warfare 2 price hike to sneak in a price raise of its own, adding an extra £20 to the cost of an Xbox 360 Arcade and piling a few extra quid onto a number of accessories. Microsoft won't admit that it's just being a greedy, parasitic bitch, instead trying to contrive a reason for raping the British consumer.
"We are making modest increases on the Xbox 360 Arcade console as you can see," snivels Xbox Europe boss Chris Lewis. "The reality now is partly to offset currency exchange rate fluctuations which have impacted us in local market conditions -- particularly in the UK. And you’ve seen other consumer products operate in the same way. But I think even with that we still offer the most affordable console in the marketplace out there.
"So we’ve reset the price point largely based on exchange rate fluctuations, but are still very happy we offer great value through the Xbox 360 Arcade."
You don't raise the price of electronics. Simple as that. It doesn't work that way, and in a country that already pays more than it should for electronic equipment and videogames, it's about the scummiest thing you can do to your consumers. The exchange rate is an absolutely terrible excuse, especially since the economy is doing better this year than it did last year. Microsoft saw that Activision raised the price of Modern Warfare 2 just because it could, and wants to do the same. If that wasn't the case, why would MS also be offering a price drop for the 360 Elite?
Pathetic move by Microsoft here. Utterly pathetic.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
8:20 AM on 08.27.2009
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Everyone with an xbox is already a victim to Microsoft faulty purchase claws (drinking the kool-aid!) and there is nothing you can do about it except buying more consoles while you ship off the RROD one.
You can bitch and whine about it, but you will still pay them in the end. Truly sad.
I've got a feeling that MS has the Arcade at the absolute bare minimum it can sell for without taking major losses. Otherwise, MS would have priced the Elite down to $250 to better compete with the PS3 at $300. The 360 Elite just doesn't compare value wise to the PS3 at the same price.
doesn't matter, you can't be without your xbox while its shipping. So you go buy another one :)
don't believe me? ask couple of the Dtoid community who do this. Yes, they don't NEED to buy an extra one, but they still do, why? because they want to play games and not be sitting at home doing nothing while waiting for their next brick to come.
So sad. That is the most childish reason one can ever come up with.
But I think even with that we still offer the most affordable console in the marketplace out there.
Think again Mr. Lewis...
I can't believe people still fall for this nonsense.
Nice.
They have encouraged this behaviour by buying and supporting 360's despite being fucked over by failure rates and unfair additional charges and appaulingly priced peripherals.
Some people need to man up and say look, I'll put that little bit extra in this time and rather than get another E74 / RRoD failbox I'll get a real fucking console.
On the other hand...well, it is economics...supply and demand. So if people still buy the system at the rate that Microsoft is hoping for then Microsoft wins. A pathetic win...but a win nonetheless.
Either way, it's still a horrible PR move.
Some have encouraged this behavior by reading and commenting on Sexualchocolate dispite being fucked over by fail comment and unfair additional trolling and appallingly bad grammer.
Some people need to man up and say look, I'll give him that little less attention this time and rather than replying in his fail comments and give a real fucking shit.
HAHAHAHA - god that made me laugh just typing it.
Sony fanboys - get bored of saying the same valid reasons for the Ps3 being so much better than the 360.
360 fanboys - impress me with their rock solid skin and unbreakable grasp on their broken, rip off console and their completely outdated arguments. - They continue to replace their RRoD's and their E74's and STILL come here to call me a troll and tell me they're right.
Fuck off.
Microsoft, therefore, is doing you a favor.
I rest my case.
As for "who buys an arcade", I did! It ended up being cheaper for me to buy one and then get a 120gb Hard Drive off ebay. Honestly, buying the stuff separately refurbished *was* a better deal until they dropped the elite's price.
On another note, the comparison to Blu-Ray being a waste and not successful, and Netflicks being great for Xbox doesn't make any sense. The idea behind Blu-Ray not being worth it is that the media is expensive, and large portions of the population are moving toward digital media, just show why Blu-Ray is not attractive to many. Netflix resolves many of these issues, its digital, you watch it, not physical media taking any space, and you don't pay $25+ for a single movie.
So it actually makes complete sense that people who feel Blu-Ray is not worth it, would like Netflix, since it carries none of the issues of Blu-Ray. Still not sure what took the PS3 so long to drop in price since the blu-ray drives dropped long ago.
Just to clarify, sales of physical media have been on the decline for years, so some argue, winning the format war was never actually a good thing.
So yeah keep it coming it makes my afternoon pass all the quicker!
SexualChocolate and The Reborn, didn't your mommy always tell you, "If you don't have something nice to say about the other console than stfu"?
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
>_<
XBOX 3FIXME
MICROSHITTING FAGTARTS
DERP DERP
Seriously how many companies have boned europe this year alone, I'm starting to feel awfult for gamers in that area, your $$$$$ gets screwed no matter what company you go too.
Back on topic.
This is a shitty move by Microsoft. They're doing this simply because they can and people WILL pay it. Why? Because people are idiots (or maybe just ignorant?)
I suspect that if I were to call up Mummy Mashu and ask her to pick me up an Xbox 360 Arcade, first of all she'd say "Why? You're old enough to go out and get one yourself" and secondly "Haven't you got a 360 already?" After a lot of confusion, should she have sufficient pennies she'd go out and buy one. My point is, My mum doesn't know jack about console prices (especially yesterdays) and I suspect a lot of other parents don't know about this stuff either.
but don't pay me any attention i'll never own a 360 i work for my money and i really don't believe in spending it foolishly. to think all it took was a $100 price cut and now everyone is screaming it from the rooftops the ps3 is better than the 360. they can buy exclusives from now to the next generation it really doesn't matter in the end.
You'd think Sony finally stepping up to the plate and offering more competition would force MS's hand. Hopefully it will soon
You'd think Sony finally stepping up to the plate and offering more competition would force MS's hand. Hopefully it will soon
Also isn't the Pound stronger than the Euro anyways? This is probably just so they can try to make the Elite look better.
On topic: I'm unsurprised this has happened, in fact I'm surprised it's taken this long. Microsoft aren't exactly known for being generous to consumers - particularly in Europe. It's a sad fact that we British get shafted on a regular basis.
Um, yeah. I go to college, am married, and don't live in my parent's basement so I actually have to budget my money. The arcade was on sale from Dell for $150, I paid another $30 for the 120 GB HDD, $5 for an HDMI cable, and $3 for a headset. Total, pretty sure thats still below the Elite's price point at that time (and currently).
My disc drive isn't silver, oh no! But other then looks it isn't any different.
And yes, I realize I just fed the troll. :/
That said, I think the Price hike was Microsoft giving people more reason to buy the Elites and less to buy the Arcades. It's a shitty move for damn sure, but realistically the 360 should have never been offered without a hard drive in the first place.
(yes that was sarcasm, just so I don't get a bunch of responses like last time)
Am I too late?
I tried to find a cancellation instruction form on the ms website and all over live, nowhere to be found (big suprise)....ended up cancelling my debit card and ordered a new one.....sent them a nasty email, and ms had the audacity to send me an email saying that my gold subscription was going to expire if I didn't update my credit card info.....so basically I replied and told them where to shove that gold subscription along with the 360 and the original xbox console.....sideways.....its good to be back with sony.