Spin, spin, spin! The E3 hype machine is starting a bit early this year with some mighty spin coming from Redmond, Washington.
Microsoft announced a few things “officially” this morning, including the “temporary” price drop of the 20GB Xbox 360 Pro model… I say temporary because this is nothing more than a clearance sale to purge those models from the pipeline. The only way to get rid of those in any speedy fashion is to lower the price and entice retailers to add their own incentives to them in the form of “bonus” gift cards. For someone wanting an Xbox 360 and not minding the hard drive is only 20GB* (*barely over half that is usable by you,) then yeah, your deal just got $50 better.
If anyone thinks I’m going to let a move like this “slide by” as a “price drop” after all the crap everyone gave Sony about the 60GB PS3 price drop being a clearance sale, well… that’s just not going to happen. This is 100% “turnabout is fair play” and 0% related to my dislike for the 360. I love tossing Xbot logic back in their own faces. They usually resort to ALL SORTS of hilarity when that happens.
In addition to lower the price (temporarily, remember) of the 20GB model, the announcement from Microsoft also brought some more information with it. With the push(es) for various forms of digital content, apparently Microsoft has deemed it “acceptable” to expand on the “bend over if you want more than 20GB” plan of theirs, now offering a new 60GB Pro model (at $349 or as they say “no extra charge.”) No extra charge? Holy crap Microsoft, you’ve reamed us FOR YEARS on the price of that hard drive… $99 for 20GB of storage space is what you felt was an acceptable and justified price (not to mention $179 for the 120GB model.) “No extra charge,” wow… how blatantly rose tinted that half-full glass of water must be at your mid-day “pat yourself on the back” luncheon.
There are still some recently rumored details that were left out of the official announcement such as the price for a stand-alone 60GB drive, or a reduced price for the stand alone 120GB drive, but as of this morning, the contents of the announcement are all we know “for sure.” Don’t get me wrong, this is a relatively positive move, but if the rest of the rumors pan out to match what was announced today, the reaming we’re taking over hard drive prices for the 360 is only marginally better (but still overpriced.) I liken it to someone being tortured every day… they look up to see someone heading toward them with a scroll proclaiming they’ve just been offered some leniency and will now be whipped 10 times a day instead of 30 times. You’ve got to feel somewhat better, but at the end of the day, someone’s still beating the crap out of you.
Microsoft… here’s my advice (and this is from someone very critical of you… someone that went in with an open mind and got shafted seven ways to Sunday by you, your console, your customer service, etc.) Drop the frickin’ arcade SKU completely… make EVERY Xbox 360 ship with a hard drive. Stop pricing hard drives like they’re made out of solid gold. Release a hard drive “kit” that ships with just the shell and allows people to add their own 2.5″ drive like Sony has… they’re making you look “redonkulous” (as Frawlz would say) by charging what you are for hard drive solutions. You should be able to price your models ~$50 cheaper than Sony’s PS3 models and do well with that.
Bend over backwards to appease the millions of customers that are begrudgingly sticking with you in spite of the crap you’ve shoveled their way this generation. It’s not something to be proud of that your customers are sticking with you after 2, 3, or more failed consoles. They’ve got hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars invested in their 360 systems and libraries… of course a lot of people will still keep going through the send in for repair, wait for refurb that’ll probably fail cycle. They’ve got no other choice! If you keep screwing around, the competition’s going to catch up and you’re probably going to wish you’d done more to erase the bad memories some folks have. Your company mission right now should be to “undo” all the screwups you’ve made and to not only erase the memories of hassles people have had to endure, but to OVERCOMPENSATE to the point that a level headed person would say “Wow, Microsoft’s customer service and policies are really impressive.” Nobody’s ever said that sentence without a healthy dose of sarcasm or a 4 foot long wooden nose, I can assure you.
Keep in mind that all these changes and updates to your SKUs do exactly NOTHING for your existing customers… well, except the ones that tire of sending in their failing units and getting refurbs back, selling them off cheap to buy brand new 360s, hoping to get a newly revised model that will be less trouble. You should be ASHAMED of the fact that people do that. I’m not talking 1 or 2 people, I’m talking thousands of people. I could give two sh*ts that you’re bringing new customers into the fold at slightly higher hard drive capacities or lower clearance sale prices… what are you doing for the EXISTING customer? If you mumble anything about expanded install base or software attach ratios, I’d smack you upside your head with a large log… if you were, well, a real person. Nobody cares about those things but you and developers…
Wow… this is going to be a great week (in terms of material) if today’s any indication.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Wow, great rant Rothbart! Really good insight and commentary plus all the biting sarcasm made this one especially good.
its like you read my mind
Wow.I’m a firm ps3 hater/Xbox360 clan leader (xFEARxPHOENIXx) and even i have to agree with homeboy’s rant.I remember when at the beginning of 2008,when xbox was up and down for like three weeks and our gift for the downtime was a free garbage-*ss game.My 10 year old loves it though!Gotta love mirosoft.
Perfect…. you said it all. Those Satan worshipers must stop screwing customers left and right, the community should be more active and demand Microsoft to at least show some respect.
But I guess all those 12-13 years old XBOX Live kids are too dumb to form an opinion and demand better treatment.
XBOX is a fail all together.
My bad.It was a garbage-*ss xbox live arcade game.(Undertow)
I feel like this is the first real rant we have seen in a while. Good to see you still got it in ya Rothbart.
Wow… very good article, very good points. I don’t understand why anyone would invest in these “new” SKU’s now, when the track record for 360’s has been so awful up until this point… oh well. Whatever floats your boat, I guess.
I hate to burst your bubble but didn’t sony do the same thing with the 20gb and 60gb sku’s ?
CASEY Quote ” I don’t understand why anyone would invest in these “new” SKU’s now ” . What the heck are you on casey ?
Then why would anyone buy a 40gb PS3 then ?
The best RANT I have seen so far….he really sounds angry….even if im just reading.
@patrick1455:
He specifically mentions that in the third paragraph.
I must say very good rant. I never understood this whole multiple sku approach from the beginning from both companies. In my mind, both sony and microsoft should have released one sku with a 20gb hard drive giving consumers the option to upgrade to any hard drive of their choice.
MSFT has stiffled the 360 user base with the arcade sku
and sony has stiffled the ps3 user base with mandatory installs.
and I’m a victim of both. Fool me once guys, fool me once.
Next gen I’m going with one console. The one console that treats us gamers fairly and delivers on promises.
@CrazyMantis lol You made me laugh because you are in idiot how in hell is XBOX a fail really man do you own one really. Or are you a wii or PS3 fanboy
Well, it could be worse. They could have released a firmware update that bricked consoles, then claimed it was a minor problem!
Or, they could build-up hype over their games, only to disappoint their gamers.
Or even better yet, they could have shipped their console without the ability for gamers to play/chat online together.
Or even-even-better-yet, they could have shipped at $700 fricken bucks!!!
Not saying the 360 is perfect, but I can play online with my friends, on good titles, for cheap, and thats all I really care about.
Dude, well said man…well said. This part especially cracked me up.
“If you mumble anything about expanded install base or software attach ratios, I’d smack you upside your head with a large log… if you were, well, a real person. Nobody cares about those things buy you and developers…”
…xDDDD So true man, so true.
Oh and installs aren’t mandated by Sony, it’s up to the devs, otherwise my HDD would have been full ages ago
paulmess7 “Not saying the 360 is perfect, but I can play online with my friends, on good titles, for cheap, and thats all I really care about.”
And how do you play online when your console is being repaired for RROD?
@paulmess7
You don’t own a PS3 do you? ‘Cause all that stuff coming out of your a$$ is all a load of B.S.
I mean, Sony could be selling a console who’s online goes down at the drop of a hat.
Or, they could be selling a console prone to periodic summary bannings of innocent gamers, and then tell them to F*** Off when they demand aid.
Or they could be selling a console that had a 33% failure rate.
Or they could charge for a service that everyone else gets for free.
Need I go on?
Of course the price drop is a clearance sale, my only question is why is that a big deal? Also, I have an original 2005 360 that has never had even the slightest problem with it. Good ventilation FTW.
@Lord Butters I: It’s a big deal because it was a big deal when Sony did it and I’m making sure all those bitching and moaning back then remember it’s time to do it again.
BTW, the surest way to jinx yourself is to publicly brag about the resilience of your 360. Remember, you brought it on yourself.
@paulmess7: What the hell dude, you have amnesia? Of COURSE Microsoft has updates that have bricked 360s before…except people seem to ALWAYS forget the bad stuff they’ve done: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061208-8381.html
MS really hasn’t been treating gamers well this gen. It’s not just the defective hardware. From charging for online, gamerpics, and themes to insane prices for accessories like hard drives, MS treats it’s existing cutomers like cash pinatas who will drop piles of money every time you ram a stick up their ass.
Although, if the 360’s total sales are any indication, gamers like it up the ass.
@Jolley22
360 is a hardware fail (no argue about that), a bomb that user are trying to pass on to uninformed gamers who are willing to buy a new system and get shafted by MS in so many ways.
Good luck to 360 users, it might get better with a new hardware revision and better prices, but the 360 so far was nothing more than a joke.
@CrazyMantis;
If a stellar lineup of games is a joke. MSFT is one hell of a joker. I understand what your saying about the hardware believe me I had RROD twice, but my new falcon 360 has no problems at all. Then again I went thru 2 ps2’s Yes I was pissed but I couldn’t deny the library the ps2 had.
What I’m trying to say is you hang all your hatred towards the 360 platform on the hardware but hardware is nothing without software. I bet you were a little more forgiving with the ps2’s d.r.e issue. A issue they still don’t acknowledge even to this day. I’m not putting one console over the other nor am I putting one company over the other. I feel what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. If your gonna criticize one criticize all.
I notice that when some idiot fanboy writes an article bashing the PS3, about a dozen PS3 fanboys come out of the woodwork and demand that freedom of speach be suspended and opinions that are in contrast with their rosy view of Sony be stifled. Yet when some idiot fanboy writes an article bashing MS and or the 360, we see the same snot nose brat fanboys coming to pat the writer on the back.
This what we see here today is proof that PS3 fanboyism is a far greater reality on the internet than 360 fanboyism.
You Ps3 fans are simply more obnoxious, more vulgar and just plain more stupid. And annoying PS3 fanboys are far greater in number than annoying 360 fanboys.
I think you went a bit overboard Rothy… but I would like to know how much the 60 gb hdd is gonna cost…
That’s so true. It’s funny how nobody remembers the bad parts of the 360, and everyone remembers the bad parts about the Ps3.
@ Jackson
You said:
“You Ps3 fans are simply more obnoxious, more vulgar and just plain more stupid. And annoying PS3 fanboys are far greater in number than annoying 360 fanboys.”
Do you have any proof?
@Jackson: Yo Im a Sony PS3 Fanboy and GodDamn Proud Of It!!! Can any 360 losers say that about it? U claim the 360 is heaven on Earth when in fact its nothing short of Hell. Yea u pay JUST $5o bucks less for the poor excuse of the 360 but u gotta pay for Live, then u still got ads on it, u gotta pay for gamerpisc, themes nd all the random bull they create so u brain- washed middle-aged losers pay for it when instead u shoild spend it wisely, so u would be able to support ur family.
In the long run ur paying much more than what u would be paying for the PS3.
Every flaw the PS3 HAD the 360 STILL has them. So dont go talkin shyt about the PS3 when in turn u urself are bashin the 360.
Despite all of MY ranting…..I Thank u 360 losers. Why? Because of u it will feel oh so much better when the PS3 pwns u.
What an awsome rant I have to say and wow their is like one hell of a fanboy war going on ere. I just wish u fanboys would STFU for once in your life! I own both 360 and PS3, well I have to say there both great systems but they also have their bad points. I do agree 100% with Rothbart that M$ is pissing on their consumer base and all they care bout is all that dosh in the consumers pockets, like why else would they price their hdd so high alone with other accessories and not to mention charging for live. Personally I never go on live cause I dont want to pay for it when I can just play on my PS3 for free. Dont get me wrong live is a good service, I just preferre PSN (No I am not a ps3fanboy). xbots always bitch bout how much the ps3 cost at launch and im sick off it, if you guys realise why it was that price and that sony was sacrificing alot of money to make the ps3 a very powerful system and last for 10 years. wonder what 360fanboys are going to say when M$ discontinues the 360 in bout 2 or 3 years to bring out the next xbox and like the 360 it may not have BC with ur 360 games. I feel with the ps3 you have alot more freedom and your not stuck having to fork out cash for online, RROD repairs, new sku’s, Hard drives etc. anyway good rant, looking forward to the next one.
This whole “my console’s testicles are bigger than your consoles testicles” debate is getting seriously old and very embarrassing for people joining in on it.
This is in no way aimed at “Rothbart”. I’m talking about “MainDude”.
I own both consoles, and though I would say I show greater allegiance to the PS3, and I would actually consider myself and PS3 “fanboy” if you want to go that far. I wouldn’t say I was a 360 “hater”. I don’t understand why people need to feel like they have invested in the best console ever built and give hell to anyone who disagrees. Can’t you just be happy with your PS3 playing the exclusives you bought it for? And vice versa for the 360. I like the term “healthy competition” and to be honest I wished there were more exclusives for each console, not because I own both, but because it means that both sides have to keep trying to better each other and in the end that makes for better games.
Also, you cannot get away from the fact that Microsoft are charging WAY too much for accessories, especially the HDD’s. All Microsoft have to do to get me to start buying games I’m going to play online for their console, is make XBL Gold free. I wouldn’t have even minded paying a little more for the console if you got free Online gaming. As far as I’m concerned they can’t criticise Sony for releasing a $600 console when they are asking for $100 just so that you can use a Wi-Fi connection on your console. But, just to balance out the argument, I would agree with anyone who said that Sony’s console was expensive when it came out and there were a lack of decent games. What I’m saying may seem timid and a bit like I’m “sitting on the fence” but I don’t see why people who have invested in one console, and that’s all the want to invest in, don’t just play on that and be happy with it. I would have been happy with just having a PS3, I’m fortunate enough to have a 360 as well and I probably would have been happy with just that too. If you want a less fence sitting opinion, then I’ll be honest, the only game I would miss if I didn’t have a 360 would be Mass Effect. But thats just my opinion, and I have no doubt people would feel the exact opposite and say that if they didn’t have a PS3 they’d only miss MGS4. I just can’t see any point in “hating” another console. I can only put it down to jealousy, or straight up idiocy.
@Maindude.
You do know that your rant just adds fuel to the fire that Jackson tried to start. Based on your statement it’s obvious you don’t have a 360 nor have access to one and your only going off what you have heard on the interwebs. Do themes cost? Yes. Do gamerpics cost? Yes. Do all of them cost? No.
Then you stated the 360 STILL has the same flaws the ps3 had. My question to you is “what flaws did the ps3 have? and how does the 360 still have them?
The only flaw the 360 had was RROD.
The ps3 had a crap launch lineup. The online service leaves a lot to be desired. and the same way 360 fanboys lap up MSFT’s corporate BS, a ps3 fanboy like yourself has little room to talk especially when you’ve licked sony’s corporate ass for 3 console generations.
And unlike some people you insult. I pay for Live and I enjoy my experience. Then again I have enough money to buy a 360 with live as well as a ps3 so I have the best of both worlds. Only fanboys would rant on the way you and Jackson have. Proved by the fact that both of spewed hatred for the competitions console with not a ounce of fact to back up your claims…..
the way i see it is i’ve been enjoying great exclusives on my 360 for 3 years. so even if they do release a new console in 2 years thats 5 years of gaming out of my console which is pretty dam good imo (1 RROD about a year after launch 2 week turnaround no problems since) how many good exclusives has the ps3 gotten up to now maybe 4-5? i just wanted the system that has the better games and at the moment it is the 360. now that the ps3 is finally putting out some quality stuff and getting their online somewhat up to par with LIVE i may pick one up. but at launch when they were asking 600$ for the console with a VERY week game library i had to say no. anyone who said it was a good deal at 600$ with that game lineup is a fanboy and you won’t change their mind. i really don’t care about blu-ray which is the biggest justification i hear for buying the console at launch i want a gaming system not a movie player. now that the ps3 is finally putting out some quality stuff i may pick one up. i think sonys console was too advanced for their own good and it takes the devs time to figure these things out i’m sure that the ps3 will put out some amazing titles if they can put out more games like mgs4 that really use the console to its potential. i guess the point im trying to make is the 360 has had the better game lineup up to now, will the ps3 pass them maybe. but with microsoft already developing their next console and sony saying the ps3 will last 10 years i don’t see sony leading the market for very long even if they do mange to pass the 360.
the way i see it is i’ve been enjoying great exclusives on my 360 for 3 years. so even if they do release a new console in 2 years thats 5 years of gaming out of my console which is pretty dam good imo (1 RROD about a year after launch 2 week turnaround no problems since) i just wanted the system that has the better games and at the moment it is the 360. now that the ps3 is finally putting out some quality stuff and getting their online somewhat up to par with LIVE i may pick one up. but at launch when they were asking 600$ for the console with a VERY week game library i had to say no. anyone who said it was a good deal at 600$ with that game lineup is a fanboy and you won’t change their mind. i really don’t care about blu-ray which is the biggest justification i hear for buying the console at launch i want a gaming system not a movie player. i think sonys console was too advanced for their own good and it takes the devs time to figure these things out i’m sure that the ps3 will put out some amazing titles if they can put out more games like mgs4 that really use the console to its potential. i guess the point im trying to make is the 360 has had the better game lineup up to now, will the ps3 pass them maybe. but with microsoft already developing their next console and sony saying the ps3 will last 10 years i don’t see sony leading the market for very long even if they do mange to pass the 360.
stupid website took forever so i stopped sorry for the double post.
Reading this couldn’t have come at a better time!
Just this morning I sent my 3rd broken Xbox 360 out to an eBay buyer at a cheap price.
$100. Think about what $100 in video game money can get you. Not a lot. The price was right for me to get the bad taste Microsoft has left in my mouth for the past 3 years.
I’ve been loyal. I’ve slugged through the snow and sludge to get the console. I’ve red ringed twice and had the DVD drive fail once. I’ve spent countless hours on the phone with Mexico and a ton of money on games.
My loyalty should never have been questioned. But enough is enough. Between continually getting the shaft and Microsoft’s underhanded retail policies I’m done.
The $100 from my broke ass 360 will make a nice downpayment on a PS3 which I’ll put right next to my Wii.
Never again will a Microsoft console (dis)grace my home entertainment set up.
almost every xbrick fanboy on here is on there 2nd or 3rd 360. how can you defend a company thats been screwing people with inferior hardware & software since the early 90’s. now microsoft is telling people that there going to have to buy a new system in a couple of years, WTF. Oh, and anyone who says blu-ray is’nt a selling point probably does’nt have a HDTV.
Slashlen said it best “MS treats it’s existing customers like cash piñatas who will drop piles of money every time you ram a stick up their ass.” Just awesome…
Good on you Sean for calling out this clear hypocrisy that others would have probably glossed over.
Great read Roth. I was like you, I bought one, after my third cardboard coffin, I just stopped playing the thing. My PS3 hasn’t give me a moments trouble (I’ve had it since 3 months after launch) and I couldn’t be happier. As far as I know, my 360 still works. Only game I’m buying for it is Infinite Undiscovery and maybe fable 2.