It's been made official by Microsoft Australia, the price of the Xbox 360 is set to fall. According to the Xbox group product marketing manager, better currency conversion, and lower costs of production mean the 360 can be sold in Australia a little cheaper. Many of course, will be stating reduced demand as the true driver, with the Wii leading the market, and PS3 also now making up good numbers after a slow start.

Here is the breakdown for the RRP:

Xbox 360 Arcade - $AU349
Xbox 360 Premium 20gb - $AU449
Xbox 360 Elite 120gb - $AU649

Retailers will probably be offering the consoles a little cheaper than this in stores.

This is a good move. Competition is certainly going to heat up over the next few months.

The elite should be under $600 by now. Hopefully some shops will sell it for $599

But the premiums have HDMI now too, right? All you're getting is a bigger hard drive?

I'm tempted...but I'm still not gonna do it. A new PC would do much better for me than one of those things.

If Banjo turns out to be awesome, I might be tempted.

Bigger hard drive, and of course the black case.

Also apparently there haven't been any reports of the newer Elite models RROD'ing on people. The first lot did, but newer ones are pretty solid.

Not sure if it will be enough to really drive a heap of sales, but it can't hurt.

The arcade for ~$300 on theoretical special would be tempting for some.. You don't need the hard drive if you don't download demos or game videos.  although not sure how long 256mb would last for save games.

The elite is still a rip - $200 more just for 120gb of hard drive space.. 2.5" drives are like $60 now 

But the premiums have HDMI now too, right? All you're getting is a bigger hard drive?

Even the arcade has the HDMI..

With the arcade pack costing about the same as a Wii I don't see why more people wouldn't buy it. I mean, there are more games, the games are better, there's online play, it can play DVDs ()... why the hell wouldn't you?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?! etc.

With the arcade pack costing about the same as a Wii I don't see why more people wouldn't buy it. I mean, there are more games, the games are better, there's online play, it can play DVDs ()... why the hell wouldn't you?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?! etc.

You're a 40 year old mum.

With the arcade pack costing about the same as a Wii I don't see why more people wouldn't buy it. I mean, there are more games, the games are better, there's online play, it can play DVDs ()... why the hell wouldn't you?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?! etc.

You're a 40 year old mum.

I don't get it? Last time I checked I was 21 and child-less. 40 year old mum's usually don't care about gaming consoles. I think your logic is broken somewhere... might want to get it fixed.

I think the point was that the target market for each device is different. Right now, you're in MS's target market, young, nerdy, cool, expendable income, all that shit.

At least, that's what I *think* his point was. I had to guess, because it wasn't very clear.

I can't believe MS are still trying to charge $120 for a $20GB IDE HDD. That's just fucking ridiculous. I can get a 500GB SATA-II HDD with a 16MB cache at 7600RPM for less than that. It's a pity some games require the HDD now, or else I'd just buy an Arcade for cheap.

Did someone just call for a 40 year old Mum ? 

I didn't realise that your age group dictated console use.    lol

With the arcade pack costing about the same as a Wii I don't see why more people wouldn't buy it. I mean, there are more games, the games are better, there's online play, it can play DVDs ()... why the hell wouldn't you?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?! etc.

It's all subjective. The games might seem "better" to you as a fan of the genres that you get on the Xbox, but if people want to play 'that tennis game' they go to Wii. If they want something they perceive as 'family friendly', they go to Wii. There's still a perception of it being the most affordable because it has the lowest specs, while the Xbox has the ongoing Live subscription costs and the overhanging threat of hardware failure, as unlikely as it would be with a new system. Plus, Wii is just advertised more down here - I haven't seen Microsoft spruiking a game or the system in yonks, but there was masses of Mario Kart and Wii Fit ads.

So yeah, it's all about what people think the systems are like and what they want from it.

I know the Wii is advertised more, but I'm not making a point about advertisement. I made a simple, straight forward comment. Considering specs 360>>Wii there's more value. Also, even with the threat of the RROD the 3 year warranty covers you anyway. Plus since it's been an issue for so long chances are the newer 360s aren't as bad.

I don't think the Wii is more family friendly either. The 360 has plenty of kid friendly games (Viva Pinata and Katamari for e.g.). As a console for a family I think it is better as it can appease everyone. Plus, what kids don't like racing games? There's heaps of those of the 360 .

Either way, those who are uninformed will go by what the ads will say.

Plus, of all the people here I think I'm waaay from the top of game nerdiness.

You asked 'why the hell wouldn't you?' and I provided some reasons why.

With the arcade pack costing about the same as a Wii I don't see why more people wouldn't buy it. I mean, there are more games, the games are better, there's online play, it can play DVDs ()... why the hell wouldn't you?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?! etc.

People still like the controller and as they have said the games aren't necessary better that is your opinion. If we ignore FPS wich I would rather play on my PC and racers and sport games cause I don't like them, the xbox line up looks a lot worse. It is a matter of opinion. Oh and as a kid I hated racing games.

"That tennis game"

Top Spin 3.....

nuff said?

I'd play real tennis over Wii Sports tennis any day. It was a fad and now it's dead boring (IN MY OPINION).

-late edit-

oh, and WTF BATMAN?

I don't get it? Last time I checked I was 21 and child-less. 40 year old mum's usually don't care about gaming consoles. I think your logic is broken somewhere... might want to get it fixed.

No.

A lot of Wii owners are casual users new to the market excited by Wii Sports and Wii Fit. A lot of these new owners are mums and other ~mature~ audiences.

A reason you'd go for a Wii over a 360 is if you were in this age group.

Derp.

With the arcade pack costing about the same as a Wii I don't see why more people wouldn't buy it. I mean, there are more games, the games are better, there's online play, it can play DVDs ()... why the hell wouldn't you?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?! etc.

You're a 40 year old mum.

k.

[quote author=Julz link=topic=15828.msg171119#msg171119 date=1214978437]
With the arcade pack costing about the same as a Wii I don't see why more people wouldn't buy it. I mean, there are more games, the games are better, there's online play, it can play DVDs ()... why the hell wouldn't you?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?! etc.
[/quote]
You're a 40 year old mum.

k.

Eh, it was pretty obvious from the start that it'd be misinterpreted and the defence force would come out.

What do I care? I'm Batman.

[quote author=Batman link=topic=15828.msg171122#msg171122 date=1214978589]
[quote author=Julz link=topic=15828.msg171119#msg171119 date=1214978437]
With the arcade pack costing about the same as a Wii I don't see why more people wouldn't buy it. I mean, there are more games, the games are better, there's online play, it can play DVDs ()... why the hell wouldn't you?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?! etc.
[/quote]
You're a 40 year old mum.
[/quote]

k.

Eh, it was pretty obvious from the start that it'd be misinterpreted and the defence force would come out.

What do I care? I'm Batman.

No you're not.

You're the GODDAMNED Batman!

Anyway..........

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/familygamenight/

I've heard that Big W have a sale on stuff this week, starting tomorrow. The 360 Arcade will sell for $278, and they will have 20GB HDDs for $80.

Win!

If this is true, this is awesome. I'll buy one, import some region free games from Play Asia (Ninja Gaiden II and Devil may Cry 4) and get Dead Rising Classics from DVD Crave for $30.

Nice.

DOUBLE POST!!

I've heard that Big W have a sale on stuff this week, starting tomorrow. The 360 Arcade will sell for $278, and they will have 20GB HDDs for $80.

Win!

If this is true, this is awesome. I'll buy one, import some region free games from Play Asia (Ninja Gaiden II and Devil may Cry 4) and get Dead Rising Classics from DVD Crave for $30.

Nice.

Predator made a post about this yesterday, I think. I've been trying to sell people on getting a 360 since I found out. I do think it is a much better console than the Wii now that I actually own one.

[quote author=Batman link=topic=15828.msg171122#msg171122 date=1214978589]
[quote author=Julz link=topic=15828.msg171119#msg171119 date=1214978437]
With the arcade pack costing about the same as a Wii I don't see why more people wouldn't buy it. I mean, there are more games, the games are better, there's online play, it can play DVDs ()... why the hell wouldn't you?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?! etc.
[/quote]
You're a 40 year old mum.
[/quote]

k.

Eh, it was pretty obvious from the start that it'd be misinterpreted and the defence force would come out.

What do I care? I'm Batman.

So thats why most of your post are non- productive or informative
you're a fictional character

PS hows Robin these days

So when was everyone except Batman, Moodycj, RJG and Nshady not allowed to express a personal opinion?

So when was everyone except Batman, Moodycj, RJG and nshady not allowed to express a personal opinion?

Dude, don't get all defensive - you started off the conversation with your opinion, which led to us providing ours.

I've decided not to buy a 360. Because I can't be assured that I'll actually get a good one.

I'm buying PC parts instead. Building myself a nice gaming rig. I figure there are already a couple of 360s available for Sliced Gaming, but no one here really has a nice rig for handling PC games. So that's me, I will be the resident PC nerd. I don't mind, consoles are pretty much PC-Lite now anyway, but without the extra features and goodness.

no one here really has a nice rig for handling PC games.

dot dot dot confused face

Plus, what kids don't like racing games?

My 12 yr old son enjoys playing car racing games as well as soccer,movie-based games and games that involve blowing things and people up(which usually also includes trying to blow up  his 7 yr old sister's character as well),but lately he's been more interested in playing online games like WoW & Runescape with his friends who play as well so the PS3 has been taking a bit of a break.

However, we had previously been discussing the possibility of getting a Wii as well as some have been coming into Rendar's work at Cashies lately and it's just a matter of paying it off if we do decide to get one.

Personally speaking though and no offence intended,I'm not particularly too fussed when it comes to what console we own/don't own as it's usually the kids who get the most use out of them in the long run and at the end of the day,as long as they're getting some enjoyment out of playing them that's what matters the most.

Sorry Chief, didn't know you had a high-end gaming rig. I knew you played WOW but, you know, every computer can run WOW.

My computer is high end as .. well, no, but it will play most things at 1680x1050 now which is all that matters when that's all my LCD does anyhow.

For "families", some would say Guitar Hero III is reason enough to buying a 360, etc. Hardware failure is a good reason for a family *not* to buy a 360, and MS stuffed up big time there. If it's a major purchase for a family, they want it to last.

People of different ages obviously would trend towards certain games, systems, or genres. It's always been that way.. Obviously there is an exception to everything, and some in each group might play some of the games that might even be targetted towards another demographic.

No rush to buy anything really.. they all come down in price eventually, and it's not like they'll never be available. I do like owning a few different gaming machines, as usually there is one or two killer games on any console (or PC), and it sucks not to be able to play them.

My PC can handle Crysis fairly well, UT3 runs like a charm, and DiRT/GRID also run really smooth at 1680x1050.

I'm still waiting to get Gears of War PC, was meant to get it from MS a long time ago =(