Microsoft?s New Deal

[Under9000]

-snip-

A pretty damn good gaming computer is easily buyable online for $400-500 so if consoles start overpricing themselves out the ass hole it's computers for everyone.

besides, consoles for games like skyrim and such are complete shit without editing/modding tools since devs constantly say "fuck it" and stop patching the games and never add anything unless we pay them even if it's supposed to be in there or is simply missing some stuff.

This has what to do with my post?

Last paragraph obviously. You fear consoles overpricing. I replied to that. wtf?

Don't follow, I was talking about the future price of consoles under a rent to own system, not about PC's.

His point is that if, as you said in your first post, consoles shift to a rent-to-own model within two gaming generations, then a gaming PC will be a more economically viable option. If you can pick up a PC capable of playing The Elder Scrolls XIII: Oregon for $500 or a console to do the same for $1500 over four years, the PC is the better option by far.

Of course, console would probably still have a niche in the market for those who don't understand PCs for whatever reason.

 

[Epona]

-snip-

A pretty damn good gaming computer is easily buyable online for $400-500 so if consoles start overpricing themselves out the ass hole it's computers for everyone.

besides, consoles for games like skyrim and such are complete shit without editing/modding tools since devs constantly say "fuck it" and stop patching the games and never add anything unless we pay them even if it's supposed to be in there or is simply missing some stuff.

This has what to do with my post?

Last paragraph obviously. You fear consoles overpricing. I replied to that. wtf?

Don't follow, I was talking about the future price of consoles under a rent to own system, not about PC's.

His point is that if, as you said in your first post, consoles shift to a rent-to-own model within two gaming generations, then a gaming PC will be a more economically viable option. If you can pick up a PC capable of playing The Elder Scrolls XIII: Oregon for $500 or a console to do the same for $1500 over four years, the PC is the better option by far.

Of course, console would probably still have a niche in the market for those who don't understand PCs for whatever reason.

PC is the better option right now but that's not the point of this thread.

 

[Epona]

The lower upfront cost but higher overall cost is exactly the problem for people without financial means-- everything gets this pricing model; TVs, cars, now video games-- the result being that people who should not necessarily be spending their meager funding on luxury goods do. This is great for microsoft, but one of the biggest reasons poor people stay poor is a lack of financial training. If you see everything as a monthly cost and what can i afford now, you'll never accrue significant wealth on a modest to low income.

i mean, theres nothing illegal about it, but I really feel sorry for the people who go into a CHECKS2CASH place and come out with the money for the 100 xbox.

You know though, buying $420 worth of gaming stuff on your Mastercard is the same damn thing. I'll bet it's even more expensive with interest. Using a credit card is the same as financing, not the same as paying cash.

When I was in the military years ago I got hooked on those check cashing places too. Luckily it was only about a month and I stopped but those places are far worse than a credit card or financing through Microsoft.

 

[Epona]

No, the going rate for Live Gold is $60 a year. You can't compare sale prices to regular prices.

To be fair, when you're considering buying options, you really can.

No, you really can't. Regular prices are consistent and the regular price of Live Gold is $60. Sure you can get it on sale but you can get a 360 on sale too. I don't see you saying "well, since you can get a 360 4 GB for $150...."

Well that IS the point. Service agreements hold you into long term contracts to offset the price. Game consoles prices invariably drop. Knowing this if your shopping that IS a factor you have to take into consideration.

Should I pay 100$ up front and a higher price for the XBL service and be locked into it for 2 years Or do I patiently shop around for a 150$ 4gb console, pick up the kinect sensor used seeings how they are worthless now, find a refurb'd HDD, and next time I check woot or Newegg to find a 35$ XBL card, pick up two. Hrm, Do I want to go through all that hassel, or do I just do one completely wrapped up deal where everything is completely laid out. Decisions decisions.

I dont get where you suggest you CANT compare the two, because invariably just about every consumer WILL compare the two.

I honestly think what this "deal" is is a pilot program in preparation for the release of a new console generation to which MS wants to turn consoles into cell phones in their structure. It makes sense because if people will buy into a 2 year agreement for a console that is on its last legs, then when the new console comes out with a 800$ pricetag no one will bat an eye when they offer it for 250$ and a 2 year service agreement. Its an attempt to see if the market will allow them to further dictate higher prices to generate more profit.

If you take "well the price will probably drop within the next 2 years" into account for every console purchase, you wouldn't have any consoles right now because you would still be waiting for the next price drop.

I bought the 360 Pro with a 60 GB HDD in 2009 for $300, now the 60 GB model is completely obsolete and for that same $300 I could get the 250GB model today.

Sure you could shop around for sales, used stuff or even refurbished stuff but that has shit to do with comparing this bundle to the price of buying this stuff separately at the MSRP. I am just saying that you need to compare new, regular prices with new, regular prices.

Your last paragraph is spot on.

 

[Something Amyss]

No, you really can't. Regular prices are consistent and the regular price of Live Gold is $60. Sure you can get it on sale but you can get a 360 on sale too. I don't see you saying "well, since you can get a 360 4 GB for $150...."

The difference being, you can shop around for that stuff while you are locked into a fixed price with the Microsoft service plan. We're talking a fairly big difference. I do not bring up the potential pricing of a 360 on sale because that portion can apply to both,

You aren't being fair. You need to compare everything in the bundle with the regular retail price of everything separately.

If you don't want Kinect or two years of Live Gold, then don't buy this bundle. Doesn't mean you can't draw a comparison here.

The point here was that they are not necessary to buy UP FRONT, not that you're not buying them at all. You artificially rigged the up front price, when these parts can still be bought at a future date. The only thing absolutely necessary up front is a 200 dollar unit. You may then purchase all the other parts at a later time. Saying it's 420 now or 460 with financing is freaking dishonest.

 

[Tradjus]

The media showing respect for video games and covering angles other than negative ones?
Yeah, when pigs strap rockets to their own flanks and blast off too colonize the Moon.
Even if every single person in the world had three Consoles in their house handling their entire families media needs, games would still be mocked as children's toys or derided as a corrupting influence, because the media and politicians -need- a scapegoat.
The only thing that will change that, is a better scapegoat becoming available.

 

[Kahani]

The complaints were... rumors of Xbox 720 development kits implied the program might leave customers with obsolete hardware that wasn't even paid for yet.

To be honest, I don't see how this complaint even makes sense. There are two options:
1) Pay up front, then two years later you're $400-odd down and have an obsolete console;
2) Pay over time, then two years later you're $400-odd down and have an obsolete console.

Ignoring the argument about whether it would actually be obsolete or not (frankly, with a 4 gig hard drive I'd say it's been obsolete for several years already. I didn't think it was even possible to buy drives that small any more), I don't see how there's any difference between the two cases. Either way, you've paid essentially the same amount of money and had exactly the same product for exactly the same length of time. It makes no difference whatsoever to either your finances or your enjoyment of the product if a new console comes out during those two years, so what is there to complain about?

 

[grigjd3]

I don't understand why people are griping. You can still buy a 360 up front. What's the problem?

 

[Dennis Scimeca]

@Everyone Upset About Kinect Being Part Of This Deal -

First - remember that you're probably not the audience for this deal.

Second - remember that people who might use the Xbox 360 as a media hub probably *are*, and it's in that light which I do not understand resistance to Kinect being part of this package. I don't use Kinect for games, nor do I care. I love it strictly for the voice recognition.

If you watch a lot of streaming Netflix or HBO Go, the Kinect is a godsend. I was in the kitchen the other day cooking breakfast, and I wanted to listen to an episode of Home Movies while I worked. The episode ends. Our kitchen is around the corner from the living room where the television and the 360 are hooked up.

I say, in a regular tone of voice, "Xbox: next episode," and damned if the thing didn't pick me up from the kitchen and start the next episode.

It's at the point now where I can be sitting down at my computer, also in the living room, about to finish writing something or doing bills or whatever, and as I'm wrapping up I say: "Xbox, apps. HBO Go. Series. All Series. Curb Your Enthusiasm. Sort by seasons. Season 5," and then I turn to face the television for a few seconds to speak the name of the episode and queue it up.

Sure it's gimmicky, but if I also had children the Kinect would be a no-brainer. I hear Star Wars Kinect is awful. My friend has two sons, 5- and 3-years-old-ish, and they LOVE it. They play the hell out of all those Kinect games which seem so stupid to me...but they're not *made* for me. I'm an adult.

I think that as videogames and we grow up the old-school, hardcore gamers need to accept that we're not the solitary audience anymore. I personally love it. Whereas *I* was the weird one a decade ago for being into videogames, now the person who *doesn't* play videogames, or who isn't familiar with them *at all*, as in even on iOS devices, or who isn't even aware of what the hardware is looks like the square not only within my immediate circles, but even within mixed social circles I'm a part of.

It's such delicious irony. I eat it with frosting and I savor every bite.