Droves of gamers came out of their holes today to line up hoping to snatch the latest gizmo, the Xbox 360 from Microsoft. The Xbox 360 is a new generation of gaming console from Microsoft capable of delivering high-definition graphics pushing the envelope in the gaming experience. What are the new features of the Xbox 360? I wrote a preview of the Xbox 360 several weeks ago. You can read it here.
Microsoft wants the Xbox 360 to be the centerpiece of the living room. Not only the Xbox 360 can play games, but it is also capable of playing DVDs, displaying photos, and playing music in multiple formats. Microsoft intends to tie the latest Xbox to its online initiative called “Windows Live.”
How much does it cost to get the Xbox 360? Well, for starters, the basic unit costs for about $299 quid. You can get a souped-up version for $399 which comes with a 20gb drive, a wireless controller, wireless headset, cables and a remote control. The gaming unit doesn’t include any games, so be willing to cough up $50-60 a game.
Potentially, a typical gamer will probably spend about $500-600 today. Not bad. Will the units sellout? Probably. It will be interesting how the Xbox 360 competes with the Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Revolution when they come out six months from now. Microsoft is in an unique position with a product six months ahead of the competition.