Originally posted by Deepblue
:smacks head:
Don't people feel stupid???
Even with the HD the production costs are low enough that Microsoft can undercut the price of the PS3.
Only a few games on the original Xbox took advantage of the HD as a tool for reducing loading times, etc (like Halo). Most games simply used it to store saved games/custom sound tracks.
The only time the console would be without the HD would be if someone feels the inclination to take it over to a friends house instead of lugging around the whole system to share some save games or perhaps games on the HD.
:smacks head:
Hanging around the Gamespot forums is bad for ones health... I never thought it would make it to HLP.
I have a new idea, how about we not speculate about features as an as of yet unreleased console and maybe focus on things that are currently more interesting? Like F.E.A.R.
Why? Because you don't like people saying anything negative about your favourite unreleased console? I mean, you do tend to post positive Xbox360 PR whever the tiniest opportunity arises.
Or do you mean the Xbox360 isn't interesting to people? Must not be that good then.
Originally posted by Deepblue
:smacks head:
I doubt it will drive up prices considering that peripherals are already sold for a LOT more than the production value. Xbox contollers at the Msoft Company store sell for about 75% of the usual price. In addition all new games there sell for 25$ rather than 50$. Plus I think that this will increase the quality of peripherals. I'm tired of seeing so much crap out there...
Competition controls prices through what is called 'competitive pricing'. Licensing increases overheads of competitive peripherals, increasing their cost. Thus, Microsoft can either justify raising their own prices (as manufacturer label controllers tend to always be more expensive, if higher quality, than the 3rd party), or alternatively force competition out and pave the way for later price rises as the result of that monopolisation.
AFAIK the MS company store is only open to US employees (which I presume must include you, then? Very neutral), so frankly I doubt the man in the street gives a flying **** about the prices there. Employee discount isn't really an argument for seeing generally reduced prices, after all; more a perk of the job to increase employee loyalty (After all, MS wouldn't want employees buying competitor stuff).
Given that MS will be losing money on the Xbox360 regardless of pricepoint (de riguer for all consoles on release), they'll want to maximise profits on peripherals, not reduce them.
Remember, developers used to have to ask nintendo for approval of their games (the famous 'seal of quality'); even then you ended up with a lot of ****e. Licensing is simply a revenue stream.
